Finn #5 Yellow Labrador Retriever Male 4 Years Old ID#3232

Meet Finn, the sweetest 4 year old yellow lab male you will ever meet!  Finn came to the rescue as an owner surrender so that the Brookline team can help him with some health challenges.  His family clearly loved him deeply and taught him how to be a perfect gentleman, so we know he will make a wonderful companion and loving family member to a lucky adopter someday soon.  Please read his blog from the bottom up to learn all about his journey in foster care.

April 29, 2025

Greetings from mellow yellow Finn on this lovely spring day.  He just completed a one mile walk, including coming home the tough way (uphill!) and is now recharging his batteries with a nap on the couch.

Finn Fact: He gets his rest when he needs it, but rest is best on a soft couch. Last week Finn completed his final underwater treadmill session with the wonderful staff at 4 Paws Adrift in Allentown NJ.  Over the course of ten sessions he increased his workouts with longer durations, higher speeds and improved motion in those injured back legs.  This video shows him in the tub for his final visit where he walked for 25 minutes with speed intervals keeping the workout productive.  Take a look at the side view in the mirror next to the tub to see how well his legs are moving.

Finn Fact: He has graduated from Underwater Treadmill U with a masters in mobility.

Here is a photo of his therapist Joanne giving him a big hug after he finished his last day.  Joanne and her colleagues helped him so much and she felt a deep bond with him from his very first visit so graduation day was filled with mixed emotions. Finn, FM and FD want to thank Joanne, Julie, Jessica and Erica for such great care!He has benefited greatly from the treadmill work and would definitely love to keep up his workouts in his forever home.

Finn enjoys himself no matter what’s on tap for the day, including trying to keep up with the speedy foster girl Sandy. Having doggie friends will be great for him whether they live in his house with him or are regular play dates.  He also continues to do very well meeting new people.  We have had some family visits and Finn is a total gentleman who is so happy to introduce himself and get pets.

Finn Fact: He is a classic extrovert and ready to show everyone he meets what a good boy he is.It’s almost time to make Finn available for adoption, so we hope there is a Brookline adopter out there ready to make this special guy the center of their life and help him continue his health and wellness work.  He will reward you with sweetness and love and will be the most wonderful companion you could ever want!

April 17, 2025

Tomorrow marks the 2 month anniversary of Finn coming into Brookline foster care.  Time has definitely flown while we have been having fun with this big sweet boy.

He is almost done with his 10 water treadmill sessions and has become a favorite of the staff.  This morning he did 23 minutes (his new personal record) and some faster speed intervals.  His mobility in the injured back legs is showing nice levels of improvement which reinforces how wonderful it has been to be able to give him this therapy (due to the generosity of Brookline and all its donors!).Finn Fact: His back legs are getting better and he is happy to put in the hard work!

Finn had a weigh-in last week and he is now at 123 pounds (after starting at 126).  He hasn’t dropped weight as quickly as we had hoped, but we know from his former owner that he started last spring at 146, so all things considered he has really come a long way.  This morning his therapist checked his chest and hip measurements to compare to his size in March when we first started his exercise regimen.  He dropped 2.5 inches from his chest (where he carries most of his weight) and 1 inch at the hips!  We think he must be adding some new muscle tone which offsets the fat he’s losing.  All in all were very happy with his progress!

Finn Fact: He might need to buy some smaller clothes soon as he keeps losing inches on that chest!We’re enjoying some nice spring weather and Finn has shown us that he’s very much a fan of outside time.  He loves to smell the fresh breeze and soak in the warm sun so much that today he didn’t even want to come back inside when it was time! Finn Fact: His favorite side is outside!

And finally for today’s update, Finn got a new foster sister this week!  3 days ago we brought petite yellow lab Sandy home for fostering and Finn has been amused with this energetic 2 year old and her high energy antics.  It’s nice to see him happily welcome a new friend and adjust easily.  He still wants to know that he has a special spot in the pack and that his people will be giving him the love and attention he wants (which of course we are giving him!) but he has adjusted to the change well.Finn Fact:  He is a very agreeable roommate and eager to make new friends.

Finn Fact: He wants to help with your gardening but wants you to know that it’s thirsty work.

April 4, 2025

Time for another update on everyone’s favorite giant yellow fellow Finn!We have been focused on weight loss (down a few pounds so far and we hope that speeds up soon!) and exercise for our big buddy. He continues to do very well with his underwater treadmill sessions at 4 Paws Adrift in Allentown NJ.  His therapists adore him and twice a week he goes in for his workouts with a wagging tail and full body wiggles.  Each week he walks a little longer and we have been speeding up the treadmill and adjusting the water levels to increase the difficulty levels.  He has been keeping up with all of it and the team are very pleased with how his back legs are looking.  He has decent motion in those injured knees which has given us optimism that he has a healthier future in sight.

At the advice of his therapist, we also set up a little obstacle course in our yard to help him heal those knees.  The exercise requires him to walk over a set of low hurdles so that he has to bend his knees to get those back legs over each hurdle.  The objective is to strengthen the muscles around his knees but more importantly to stimulate his body to create the natural fluids which help lubricate his joints. We took a video today to show how well his back legs are doing with this key exercise.  This is a relatively easy activity to set up and do with him and you can use anything to create the barriers.  We hope that whomever lucky adopter brings him into their home will be able to continue this with him.

Finn Fact: He is training to be an Olympic level hurdler and underwater marathoner.

He is also now able to walk on the leash for a full mile (including some uphill stretches) without being overly tired or sore afterwards which is a big improvement from just a few weeks ago.  He does recuperate with plenty of indoor lounging and nap time to make sure we keep his batteries well charged.Finn Fact: He is also in training to be an Olympic level Nap-tathelete.

Finn definitely thinks he’s a lap dog even though he’s a bit bigger than most cuddle bugs.  FM and FD have been enjoying his company on the couch and are happy to indulge him.Finn Fact: His favorite pillow is one of his people’s laps.

A few other things were learning about him include:

Finn has zero worries around loud noises.  He will sit and watch you vacuum and he has been completely relaxed during some very loud spring thunder storms.

He has found his enthusiastic voice when it’s mealtime and gives some happily excited woofs when his food bowl is being prepared for him.

Finn loves to meet new people and behaved himself with happy good manners when a contractor came to the house to fix something for us.  He is all wags and wiggles and makes everyone he meets smile.

He has the cutest facial expression when he sees something he wants to pay close attention to (like a treat or a squirrel outside on a tree).  He wrinkles up his forehead, cocks his head and raises his ears making himself look so serious like this:Finn Fact: When the brow is wrinkled, you have Finn’s attention!

March 22, 2025

Finn has now been a foster dog for one month!  He has been such a joy and time has flown while we’ve been having fun fostering him.

This week a special box arrived in the mail from the very kind team at Brookline.  Finn was so excited to find out what mysteries it held and was not shy about nosing his way into the box of surprises.He loves every single item and spent time playing with everything.  The stuffed bear, the braided tug toy, the flat raccoon and the Nylabone were very big hits (not to mention the bag of dog treats which he gets one at a time as a reward for being the very best boy).Finn Fact: He loves to play with toys and especially enjoys time gnawing on a nylabone!

Finn Fact: Finn looks very debonair in his new nautical themed kerchief.Huge thanks to the kind BLR volunteers who put these care packages together and mail them to the foster dogs.  It’s such a fun and thoughtful gesture!

One day FM was getting ready to do her yoga workout and Finn decided he also wanted to try this interesting activity.  He was probably not the best yoga assistant since he’s not really a very zen fellow when he’s excited, but FM had a good laugh as he tried to help show her where she should put her mat. Finn Fact: He doesn’t know his Warrior Pose from his Downward Facing Dog… but he likes the idea of yoga and will be happy to assist you with your gear!

Another thing we have discovered about Finn is that he does quite well when left alone in the house with only his foster sister Ruby.  We set up our webcam and watched him while we ran a few errands and Finn relaxed on the couch without any stressful behavior.  When one of us leave or take Ruby out to do something without him, he does get a little bit vocal and disappointed to not be invited along too, but that’s just because he wants to have all the fun he can.

Twice this week he was trusted to relax inside while FM and FD were out doing some yard work and he took the opportunity to sneakily try out more comfortable chairs.  There’s definitely a bit of Goldilocks in there trying to find just the right fit.  He has shown us that he’s very careful getting up and down so we are confident that he won’t injure himself which means we can let him indulge his comfy seat hobby. Finn Fact: Some chairs might be too hard and some too soft, but for Finn most every piece of furniture it just right.

This week we will have two sessions on the underwater treadmill and FD is going to try to get him in at the vet for a weigh in.  We hope to see that he has dropped some pounds!

March 13, 2025

Finn continues to be a wonderful house guest and has fit right into our routines smoothly.  He and Ruby are easy friends and every day is a little bit happier here with Finn’s energy brightening the mood.

With a bit of sunny weather lately we got Finn some nice fresh air which he really enjoys.  He even posed for a little photo shoot in the sunshine so that all his blog readers can see what a beautiful boy he is!

FD caught him mid yawn which resulted in a photo showing what a big smile he has LOL.

Finn Fact: His mouth is big and long but that just makes his smile that much more impressive!

We have been getting him out into the neighborhood for walks several times a day to help him build up his strength and speed his weight loss.  Foster sibling Ruby usually wants a longer walk than Finn is ready for so we set up our dog stroller to see if Finn would appreciate a ride when he needed a break on his walk and he hopped right in and let us push him down the street while Ruby stretched her legs.  Once again he showed us how open he is to trying new things and made it very easy for us to get him in and out.  With the help of his cart we can now take him further and further into the neighborhood and even tackle some uphill routes that would be too tough for him right now (with the caveat that FM and FD have to do the hard part by pushing him up the steep slopes around here… what a work out!!).

Finn Fact: He is happy to go for a stroll and also happy to ride in a stroller if you want to keep going once he gets tired!

He also finished his 2 week antibiotics course to treat the anaplasmosis infection we discovered with his bloodwork.  As mentioned previously, that infection can cause joint pain and inflammation.  Now that he has had his 2 weeks of meds, Finn seems to have more energy and less discomfort when moving, so perhaps getting that issue treated has been another nice change for him.

Our last big update for this post is to share the exciting news that the amazing team at Brookline approved Finn for underwater treadmill therapy sessions which will help him shed pounds more quickly and hopefully aid in strengthening his hind legs.  We had our first session at a terrific facility in Allentown NJ called 4 Paws Adrift.  The owner and therapy staff are so amazing and Finn was an excellent patient.

Today was his first evaluation so he got some e-stim therapy on his injured knees and then hopped right into the treadmill tub for a low-impact stroll.  He had a blast and seemed to really enjoy the cool new adventure he was on.  We did a short session at a low speed to get him started and now we’ll be going back for biweekly sessions over the next weeks to help his weight.

Finn Fact: Finn clearly loves water and should be a champion swimmer for his forever family!

Finn Fact: Finn is sweet and friendly with his therapist and happy to try new things without worry!

Now he’s back home for a well-deserved nap.

Finn Fact: Sometimes one bed is not enough for this big guy.

March 3, 2025

Finn has been here with us at his foster home for 10 days now.  He continues to show us that he’s a very happy, loving and friendly fellow who has fit into our home seamlessly.

Finn Fact: Happy and Friendly are Finn’s default factory settings.

The only rule that he has broken is one that we only set for him recently: getting up on the furniture.  We have been leading him to his dog bed on the floor to be as safe as possible with his rear ligament injuries, but a few times we left the room and then returned to find him wagging at us from the couch and very proud of himself for getting there.  Our vet did tell us that she doesn’t think he’s in much danger of exacerbating those back leg issues, so we’re going to give in to this big guy’s requests and let him have some couch surfing time when we can supervise it and make sure he’s being careful.  He is surprisingly agile for his weight and injury history and does a good job of smoothly navigating up and down.

Finn Fact:  He displays the skills of a gymnast when it comes to dismounting the couch apparatus.

On the topic of the vet, Finn got the good news that his bloodwork and parasite screening showed that he is free from heart worms, intestinal parasites and Lyme disease.  The test did show that he is positive for anaplasmosis, a tick born infection that can cause joint pain and lameness if untreated.  He’s now on an antibiotic to knock that down and we’re hoping that clearing that issue might help him feel less painful in those injured back legs.

We’ve begun getting him out for short walks in the neighborhood and he absolutely loves exploring the new sights and smells.  When you ask him if he wants to go for a walk and put the leash on he wags so hard that it moves his entire body.  He also has the cutest habit of grabbing his leash in his mouth as if he’s going to walk himself for you!  We’ll be starting with short distances but hope that he will build endurance quickly and that should help jump start his weight loss in earnest.

Finn Fact: He loves to go for walks and will take the leash himself to make it easier on you!

We also had some nice weather this week which gave us a chance to let him hang out in the fresh air.  He really enjoys sitting on our deck and also said a friendly hello to our neighbors through the fence.  He is super happy to meet new people and shows no signs of shyness or nerves.

Finn Fact: He’s a fresh air kid at heart!

The other fun thing we’ve learned is that Finn is a natural when it comes to sticks.  He helped FM and FD clear some downed branches in the yard and we have given him the job of Branch Manager as a reward.  I expect he’ll be climbing the corporate ladder here quickly and looking for a promotion to VP of Branch Management by the time spring arrives.

Finn Fact: He has yet to find a stick he cannot handle!

February 25, 2025

Finn has now been here with us for 3 days and continues to adjust well and fit right in with a lot of tail wags and happy friendliness.  Instead of letting him climb up on the furniture (which is tough for him at his current size), we introduced him to a big cushy dog bed and he seems to like that just fine.  He’s a fan of nice soft fleece blankets (including the one his former family sent with him) so we have draped his bed in luxurious softness and he is power-lounging in the bed as I type.

Finn Fact:  He loves cushy places to rest and is a very good sleeper!

He has been great with his house training and we have had no accidents whatsoever.  He’s also an enthusiastic eater so we haven’t had to worry about making sure he has his meals in time for his meds.  Like many labs, he can polish off his kibble in a blink of the eye, so we’re using the slow feeder bowl from his former home with nice success.  That keeps him engaged and eating at a safe pace.

Speaking of Finn’s diet, we’re going to be very focused on calories to reach his weight loss goals.  His FM and FD are checking out what healthy things he might enjoy (so far we know that small bits of apple and banana are on his YES PLEASE list while carrots are on his NO I DON’T THINK SO list much to our consternation).  To help inspire good dietary habits we dug some appropriately themed plush veggies out of the toy bin to see what he thinks.

Finn Fact: He may not love the healthiest treats, but he is up for “healthier” treats!

The main big news comes from our first visit to the vet to get Finn tested for parasites, updated on his vaccines, microchipped and examined to see if we can learn more about his injured hind legs.  He was a perfect gentleman with the staff and doctor, although at the end of his visit when it was time to trim his nails, he did not enjoy that one bit whatsoever.  The vet techs clipped away without any nicks or bleeding and they did their best to calm him (spray cheese on a stick to lick!) but he still got scared.  We might need to explore a nail grinder for this big guy to see if that’s easier for him.

Finn Fact:  He is afraid of getting his nails trimmed, but everyone’s afraid of something, right? (FD does not like snakes)

Finn will need to lose a lot of weight to be at his healthiest.  Today he tipped the scales at 126 pounds which is 4 pounds lighter than his November weigh-in. (GOOD JOB FINNIE!).  All of that extra weight has unfortunately contributed to the injuries to Finn’s hind legs.  Dr. Chabot diagnosed him with ruptured cruciate ligaments on both his hind legs, although his body has developed scar tissue around his knees to compensate and create some stability.  It’s possible that Finn could benefit from surgery in the future when he is thin and light enough, but he may not gain a significant improvement so that’s a puzzle to put together in the future after he weighs less.  In the meantime he’ll have pain meds to help and we have been given the OK to get him exercising with walks since his doctor felt confident that regular movement won’t make his issue any worse.  Getting him thinned down will bring the most relief and going on walks (and some swimming when the weather warms!) is the best way to help him lose weight.  FM and FD will start with short walks and let him show us when he’s ready for more.  He loves the leash, so this will be a lot of fun for him.

Finn Fact: He has injured hind legs and pounds to lose, but there is a good plan in place to help him feel much better!

Finn Fact: He loves to go for a walk and will be an enthusiastic participant in his recovery!

Through all of this adversity he remains the sweetest boy overflowing with love and happiness.  We’re really looking forward to our time preparing him for his forever home!

February 23, 2025

Finn has been here at his new foster home for one day where he immediately showed us that he is an absolute sweetheart.  His foster mom (FM) and foster dad (FD) met him at his home where his family said goodbye to him with hugs and pets.  Finn hopped right into our car, waved goodbye to his family and enjoyed the drive to his new foster home across the river in NJ.

Finn Fact #1: He is great in the car!

When we arrived home Finn was excited to sniff the new smells around our yard and then noticed his new foster sister Ruby was looking at him through the sliding door with a wagging tail waiting to meet him.  We let Ruby out and they got a chance to say hello, do a little sniffing, and introduce themselves.  Finn was a good boy and next we went inside to let him explore the house where he did some more sniffing and checked out his new digs.  FM and FD were on high alert in case Finn wanted to mark his territory on the carpet, but he once again showed us what a good boy he and that he knows that potty breaks are only for outside.

Finn Fact #2: He is good with other dogs!

Finn Fact #3: He is house trained!

Now a little bit about Finn’s current health situation.  Labrador Retrievers come in many shapes and sizes.  Finn is from the Big & Tall section and is a really big boy.  Several months ago he began to limp on his right hind leg and has been on anti-inflammatory meds to combat the pain.  His mobility is most impacted when it’s time to stand up and he clearly struggles with stability in his back legs.  Once he gets up and moving he loosens up and walks nicely on the leash, but we will be getting him to the vet this week to explore the underlying issue and begin a health journey which will include a weight loss goal to help him move more easily and heal.

Finn Fact #4: He is good on the leash and loves getting outside!

Finn is also a natural cuddle bug and his owners told us that he is a big fan of a nice soft couch.  We helped boost him up and he settled right in next to his FM for a nap and an attempt at the record for World’s Biggest Lap Dog.  After a refreshing nap, Finn ate his dinner and had his evening meds and then we played a little tug of war, which seems to be a favorite game of his.  He also showed us that he’s a “talker”.  He vocalizes freely to tell you what he’s thinking, making very cute sounds and really showing his sweet, friendly, goofy personality freely.

Finn Fact #5: He is a lap dog at heart and a couch connoisseur!

Finn Fact #6: He loves tug games and rope toys!

Finn Fact #7: He is a talker!

FM volunteered to spend the first night sleeping on the couch to keep this big sweet boy company (FD’s turn is tonight) and he slept soundly on the love seat all night with only one hop down to stretch and then hop back up.  When the sun came up he went outside for a walk around the yard where he took care of his bathroom needs like the very good boy he is and then we had breakfast and another short walk before the morning naps began.

We will be visiting Finn’s new vet in a couple of days and will keep all the Brookline community updated on his adventures here on this blog.Finn Fact #8: He is the sweetest good boy and he will make a lucky family so very happy when he finds his forever home!