Page 17 - Assisi Paw Prints issue 95

epileptic seizures. Once the results came in a diagnosis
of epilepsy was confirmed. This means Storm could
go into fits/seizures when over stressed, over excited,
or sometimes just randomly. She was prescribed
medication that must be given 12 hours apart and
immediately we started to see a massive difference in
her! It isn’t easy for a dog to deal with this in kennel life,
but Storm makes us proud each day with the way she is
coping. However, while she has improved massively, she
still has some behavioural traits on top of her medical
issues.

Storm’s behavioural issues vary from mouthing on
clothes and arms when over excited or stressed to
reacting badly to other dogs such as barking, lunging,
and pulling. Storm also has a luxating patella and is on 4
different types of medication which help with the pain in
her leg, her epilepsy, and the stress of kennel life.

Taking on a dog isn’t just about having a cute companion
to snuggle with. Some, like Storm, have issues that
they can’t cope with on their own and need help to
overcome. This means training with a behaviourist or
trainer to help them deal with the things that stress them
out. This can be costly so it’s something that needs to
be taken into consideration when thinking of rehoming.
Storm is currently working with our own behaviourist
who has high hopes for her. She will need an individual

or a couple who have the space and time for her training
and medical needs and preferably a home in a rural area
where she won’t encounter many strangers, other dogs,
or lots of traffic. Storm loves people when she gets to
know them but can be very jumpy and mouthy, grabbing
things like clothing. We need the person or people
who take on Storm to understand that she isn’t being
aggressive in any way, it’s just that she can get over
excited or stressed about something and needs the time
to calm back down.

I work with Storm every day and there isn’t a bad thing I
could say about her. She is just a dog who needs help,
and we want to try and provide the help she needs as
best we can. She makes me laugh everyday with her
personality and those beautiful slobbery kisses she
so wishes to give me and the other staff. She has the
sweetest soul and will win someone over as soon as they
meet her so I know we can find her a forever home, but
we need your help to spread the word that Storm needs
a very special home. Let’s get her that special home she
so deserves!!

If you can offer a foster home or permanent home for
Storm, please email us at dogs@assisi-ni.org and we will
get back to you as soon as we can.

Connie Gilmore

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