Kassy Chocolate Labrador Retriever Female 5 Years Old ID#3064

Meet Kassy!  She is a sweet 5 year old chocolate Labrador that into Brookline’s care from Juniata County with her sister Lexi #4.

Please read Kassy’s blog from the bottom up.

April 23, 2023

Kassador checking in with everyone to let them know what has been doing on the past two months.I got to celebrate Saint Patrick’s day! Checkout the bandana that the awesome people at Brookline sent me.My separation anxiety has shown some improvements over the last two months! I am definitely enjoying the comforts of home and I am at the point where I will go lay on my bed even when no one else is in the room. My parents are super happy about that progress.

I love going on walks. I like to pull so mom and dad tried out several different options to see what works best. They ended up deciding that a Gentle Leader that goes around my head and nose works best. It’s my least favorite option but I am learning to work with it. I love taking morning walks and the morning dew beads up on my nose. I got to celebrate Easter and wear Easter bunny ears.On a few occasions mom and dad have let me roam around the house while nobody was home. It was only a few times for short periods of time but I did great while they were gone.

Mom and Dad think I am in heat based on things they have said. I don’t know what that means but I’m glad to hear it’s almost over.

Unfortunately the last two weeks my leaking  incontinence has really picked up. While I am in the house I now need to wear “fancy pants.” Fortunately, so far I don’t seem to bother with them.Today I learned how to use my front teeth and gently eat watermelon off of the rind. I was so gentle.I am excited to see what spring and summer has in store for me.

February 24, 2023

It’s Kassy with another checkin and update. I have been really busy the last two weeks so here is what I have been up to.

Two weeks ago I watched the Super Bowl. The Eagles didn’t win but I sported an awesome Eagles bandana that was mailed to me by the great folks at Brookline. 

I am really living the dog life dream right now with all the love I am getting. I’ve been on a walk almost every day and love sniffing around the neighborhood. My favorite thing to do on a walk is go to the bathroom shortly after we start. Mom and dad love carrying bags home.

I am getting super comfortable inside of the house. I love to play with all my toys. I love walking around the house with the toys in my mouth and taking them into my crate. Earlier this week I thought it would be a good idea to chew on what turned out not to be a toy but the tv remote control. I now know that it’s not a dog toy and dad wasn’t super happy about it.

I am happy to report that I’ve been told that my separation anxiety is continuing to improve!

I am continuing to work on things like sit, down, paw and catching treats that are thrown into the air.

On Valentine’s Day I got some special dog treats from a canine bakery. One looked like a chocolate covered strawberry and the other was a heart shaped cake. They were incredible. 

My family really wanted to to be able to cuddle with me on the couch but I still leak a little bit. So long story short we ordered a waterproof dog blanket off Amazon and boom, now I cuddle on furniture with my family. 

My family is big college basketball fans and we root for the Kentucky Wildcats. Dad put one of his sweatshirts on me and I entertained that while we rooted for Big Blue Nation. 

See everyone on the next update.

February 11, 2023

Hey! Kassador checking in again.

Last weekend Dad and I ran an errand to Harbor Freight. I picked out a shovel to help Dad clean up the yard. This is the one I approved of. The workers at Harbor Freight were very nice and 2 of them gave me love.

On Monday Brookline brought me a thing called a “gorilla crate” because I kept bending a normal wire crate and hurting my nose. This crate looks like something you would harbor a tiger in. Dad put my bed in it and they leave the door open when their home and I love laying in it. I am adjusting really well to the new crate and most importantly I can’t hurt myself in it.

I got to take a walk to the bus stop Tuesday morning for the first time ever and that was super fun.

My good friends at Brookline sent me 3 big boxes with all kinds of goodies. There was dog treats, collars, toys and all kinds of fun things. I am really beginning to like playing with toys around the house. Check out this picture of me with a toy cake that was in the box.

I am adjusting to life inside of a home and I absolutely love it. I am starting to learn all the sounds of a home. I know that when the garage door opener makes noise it means my family is home. I know that when the front door makes the sound of opening I am about to get greeted with pets.

I learned that when mom packs lunches at night and if I sit in the kitchen while she does that  I always get a sneak preview of what’s going in the lunches. I love snacks.

I am becoming more comfortable with my family and I trust them enough to sit and lay on them while I get pets! I always get the love I need here. When I first came I didn’t feel comfortable enough to lay on them.

I am continuing to learn the rules of the house and work on my manners.

When mom and dad leave for work, I am working on my anxiety. They bought a camera to watch me while they are gone and they say I no longer bark the entire time they are gone. I do have anxious moments while they are gone but I can usually settle in and take a nap for some time before getting anxious again. Dad said this is a big improvement.

This morning, Saturday I finally figured out what to do with a Kong. I played with it for over an hour. It took me a bit to figure out that if I put it in my bed I can trap it with my paws. I am super smart and pick things up eventually.

February 1, 2023

Hey! Kassy checking in again. 

It’s been a busy past few days. 

On Tuesday I had a surgery follow up with Dr. Sadanaga at VRC in Malvern. The Doc told me when I went in for a reconstruction surgery he was unable to do it because it was discovered one of my kidneys was no longer functional due to scar tissue buildup from a previous laser procedure. The Doctor said he had to do a “Hail Mary” type procedure to see if he could help out my leaking. 

Based on some questions FM and FD answered it sounds like my leaking has vastly improved from where it started but I do still leak a little bit on occasion. The Doctor increased my dosage of Proin and we will see if that can continue to help my leaking as well. 

They took my stitches out and I am so happy about that because they started to itch me. We left the appointment and I didn’t get one treat.  I am still a little bummed about that. 

When FM and FD leave for work I have some separation anxiety. It’s hard not to miss them, they are great people. I also get some anxiety in the evening. 

I don’t mind going in the crate but mom and dad had this wild idea of putting it downstairs while they sleep upstairs. After a few sleepless nights I negotiated with mom and dad and the crate is now in their bedroom. I can tell they love that I am in their room at night. It makes me warm and fuzzy and I sleep quietly all night now. 

My medication helps a little bit but I have a doctor appointment on Friday to see if there is anything that would better help me with anxiety. Sometimes when I am real anxious they hold my bowl for me while I eat.  I don’t think that’s dramatic at all!Life inside a house is great. I have a bed that I love napping on. I am continuing to work on sit, stay, down and paw. I also have to sit before going in and out of doors. Apparently I like to barrel through doors. I keep hearing that I am extremely food motivated but dad says that’s ok he is also. 

Around the house I hear that I am a nudger. If someone looks busy I like to nudge my nose into their leg so I can get head pets and belly rubs. When nobody is looking one of my favorite things to do is steal slippers and hide them. It seems to always make people laugh. 

On Wednesday night we went to Tractor Supply for dog food and a thing called a Kong. I’m not sure exactly what that does yet but I heard something about I’ll find out tomorrow. While I was TSC, the worker gave me a big dog treat and petted me. So far TSC is a top 3 errand. 

January 28, 2023

Hi all, Kassy here! I have so much to report. 

On Friday I got picked up from Kamp by my FD. Everyone at Kamp is definitely going to miss me.  I am pretty sure I was a favorite there. 

I hopped in the car all by myself and settled right in for the hour long drive to my new home. I slept the whole way. When we got to the house I got to meet my FM again and see the house and the yard. My 3 sisters came home from school and they absolutely love me. They are 7, 9 and 13. Between mom, dad and my 3 sisters they have 10 hands. At one time all 10 hands were rubbing my belly and showing me lots of love.  Belly rubs are the best. 

On Saturday morning I got on a long walk and saw the whole neighborhood. I know I have lots of walks in my future. I walk pretty good on a leash and dogs bigger than me make me feel a little uneasy. 

I am starting to accumulate lots of nicknames around the house. My FD calls me Kassador. He says it’s because my name is Kassy and I’m a Labrador. I hope he has better jokes. My FM calls me Mama Bear because she thinks I look like a mama brown bear. I am showing them that I really am the sweetest girl and I don’t care what they call me as long as it’s not late for dinner. 

I also got one nickname that you can’t tell anyone about. FD caught me in a moment of weakness and called me the hopper slopper. I promised I wouldn’t do that again and I don’t think mom and dad believe me because, well now all of the toilet lids are down. 

I have got a million and one hugs, kisses, belly rubs, head pets and I am in a great place. Over the next few nights I hope to work on some of my separation anxiety that it seems like I have. 

I have a doctors appointment next week to get my stitches out from my last surgery. Until then please check out my pictures and see what I have been up to.

January 16, 2023

Last week, Kassy went back to the specialist for surgery in hopes of eliminating her urine leaking issue.  Her sister, Lexi recently underwent the same procedure.  Brookline has provided Kassy with other procedures, but it had not totally resolved the problem.  Unfortunately, when she was opened up it was discovered that one of her kidneys was not working correctly due to scar tissue, and the full procedure could not be completed.  The specialist instead did a simpler, less invasive procedure that will  lessen the leaking. Because the complete revision was not able to be done, she will be prone to UTI’s which will create some issues over time with her remaining kidney. However, within the rescue, we have had other dogs with similar issues, and adopters who have had success with meds and supplements to keep the infections at bay – we would be happy to share what has worked.  After 5 hard years of living on a farm, and not knowing about the comfort of a caring home, Kassy deserves to spend the rest of her days in the warmth and safety of a loving family. We hope that in reading Kassy’s plight, you will be able to find the space in your heart and your home to take her in as we currently do not have any available fosters.   Please reach out to us if you are interested or would like to learn more info@brooklinelabrescue.org.The good news after surgery is that Kassy is back to her fun loving energetic self!  Once she is healed from her surgery, she will be back running and playing with her buddies at Kamp – something she absolutely loves!  And she will be greeting everyone with her usual wagging tail, checking to see if you might have any tasty morsels to share with her.

December 16, 2022

Hello!  Kassy reporting in.  Well, I continue to work and play hard here at Kamp.  My trainer brought out this new thing that makes these strange clicking noises when she asks me to do something.  Boy does it really make me pay attention to her.  I don’t know what it is but that click, click, click perks my ears right up!

I’ve been meeting a lot of friendly dogs.  I still prefer meeting other dogs that won’t bark at me first or I’ll bark right back.  Those noisy ones really get me going.  The trainer says to just ignore them and focus on her.  I’m working on it and that clickity, clack of that clicker thing is really helping.

I met a great new friend, Senna.  We like to hang out together and check out what going on in the yard.

December 2, 2022

Kassy is still at Kamp, and still awaiting her surgery to help with her leaking.  She was scheduled for the surgery but unfortunately went into heat.  Now the specialist can’t fit her in again until January.

In the mean time, Kassy has been enjoying play time and walks with fellow foster Charlie, and has also made new friends with boarder, Murphy.

We are still looking for a foster for Kassy so that she can recover from her surgery in a loving home instead of at Kamp.  Please contact Info@BrooklineLabRescue.org for more information!

October 28, 2022

Hey Y’all!  I’m reporting back in. Well, I am still here at Kamp and the nice people here said that Brookline is still looking for a foster home for me since I came from a farm, and have never really lived in a nice home.  I love to take walks, and play with other dogs, as long as they aren’t the small yippy type, and please no cats.

If anyone out there is looking to have a temporary furry friend, please send my friends at Brookline a message and let them know that you are interested fostering me at:Info@BrooklineLabRescue.org

This week, I met a cool friend named Charlie!  He likes to play chase and wrestle just like me.  He said that he thought he was the fastest kid at Kamp but I think I gave him a good chase.  Maybe my new home with have a fun friend like Charlie…

Gotta run!  I have to get my afternoon playtime in!

October 10, 2022

Kassy had a follow up with the vet, and was put on antibiotics for a UTI.  She has still been leaking a little bit so she has a follow up with the specialist coming up soon.Kassy continues to make new friends and loves running around the yard with them.

She is always curious and friendly when walking past other dogs that are in their runs or crates, and gets excited and would love to go and meet them.

Kassy also likes her stuffed toys. Stay tuned for more updates!

September 28, 2022

Hello Everyone!  I’m so excited to let you know that I have a new friend here at Kamp!  She reminds me a lot of my sister. Lexi!

I love playing chase and going for walks with her. The trainers say I’m helping her get more exercise so she can loose some of her baby weight.  Win, Win for the both of us!

September 6, 2022

This is Kassy checking in!I am back at Kamp, and playing with my furry friends.  I really like playing chase with one of my friends.  He doesn’t bark at me so we get along really well.

My favorite friends at Kamp are the easy going type that just like to hang out in the pool after a good game of chase. I’ve meet some little people that love giving me scratches.  I like scratches a lot.  They say I’m really sweet and I can tell you I love soaking up all their affection!

They’ve been trying to get me to play with hedgehog but all it does is sit there and never runs around so I’m not very interested in playing with him.  I’d rather go out for walks and go exploring.  There’s so much to sniff outside!

I’m really looking forward to finding my forever home!  Summer is over so I’m hoping that my time at Kamp will be done soon too, and I can have some quiet time in my new home.

August 15, 2022

Hi everyone!

Guess what? I have an honorary Grampa! He’s FM’s Dad and he came to visit yesterday. I never had a Grampa before, but I really like him! Since I’m recuperating and need to take it easy, Grampa and I watched baseball ⚾️ all day yesterday: he sat in the recliner and I laid at his feet and got belly rubs (and cookies). I love to be near people who want to pet me. And, by the way, TV is fascinating!! (FM said “major head tilt action”)—how do the people get in there? And why can’t I have that ball?

Today we sat outside in the shade while FM did some schoolwork (yuck); now I’m snoozing beside FM and my foster fur sister. I still need to wear a diaper for the next couple days to keep track of how well my ureter repair is working. I don’t mind—I’m so good about letting FM&D put it on and I don’t bother it overnight. I see Dr. S for my checkup next Tuesday, 8/23, and I’ll be ready for my furever family soon thereafter. Please help me find them!

Love, Kassy

August 8, 2022

Hi friends!

I hope everyone is keeping cool. FM wanted me to share the news that I made a new human friend today, Abby. She’s 13 and loves dogs; I decided I liked her right away and promptly sat down for her to rub my head and then my belly.

I met her mom, too, who thinks I have the softest fur and prettiest matching coat and eyes.

FM and I have been working hard on getting me to come away from the fence when I get distracted by other dogs. Look at my progress!

FM & FD are working on my Foster Placement Questionnaire to help me find my furever family. As soon as Dr. Sadanaga clears me after I have my procedure this Friday, I’ll be ready for adoption. If you know anyone who wants an awesome cuddler, I’m the best! I’m doing well with crate training, and signal to go out to potty by going to the door. I’ve mastered the carpeted stairs and lie quietly next to the table while FM &D eat supper.

Love,

Kassy (aka BrownDog, the Kassador Retriever)

August 7, 2022

August 5, 2022

Hi everyone,

Kassy here! It’s been an interesting week and I want to tell everyone how I’m doing and what I’m learning.  FM took me to see a specialist on Tuesday to determine what might be causing me to leak. I’m scheduled to have a procedure next Friday, 8/12, which will hopefully stop me from leaking and then I can start looking for my furever home.  If the procedure works, I won’t have to wear diapers anymore. Hooray!

I really like my foster Lab siblings, but I relish getting snuggles and belly rubs from FM & FD, so they think I’ll be happy with or without a canine buddy. So long as I get lots of love and ear rubs from a human, I’m a happy girl. My favorite thing is to curl up against FM or FD and get my ears rubbed (and my belly rubbed. Or both). I also love to chew on antlers and bones, and even Nylabone-type chews, too. I’ve tried chewing a few non-dog items (a cookbook, the edge of step ledge, but FM told me those were off limits. Oops!

We had loud thunderstorms last night and I wasn’t afraid of the thunder this time. Myles and Quinn weren’t bothered, so I decided I was okay, too. I learned what a vacuum was this week and it’s loud, but it doesn’t scare me, either – and neither do lawnmowers or edge trimmers. FM says I have a pretty solid temperament and everyone who’s met me tells me I’m a sweetheart.

I am getting used to being crated for short periods (90 minutes) during the day while FM & FD run errands; the other Labs spend that time in their crates, too, so I don’t feel like I’m being singled out. I also get a yummy PB Kong then, so what’s not to like?  I sleep in a crate in FM&D’s bedroom at night, and I go in with a cookie around 9:30pm and after snuggling into my blankie, I’m quiet. The other dogs wake up around 5:30am, so I follow their lead, but I think I’d sleep in longer if they did (FM says she would, too).

I love exploring the fenced-in backyard and run back and forth to smell the scents and see what other critters have been around. I also chase butterflies and hummingbirds, but they’re quick (I’m quick, too). Since there’s still a possibility that I’m in heat (the specialist vet wasn’t 100% sure, so FM isn’t taking any chances), we haven’t gone on any walks outside the fenced in yard. There are a lot of dogs in this neighborhood and FM said some of them are young males who aren’t fixed yet (I wonder if they’re broken? They look pretty cute to me…) and she doesn’t want me to have any trouble.  I don’t like trouble – if I do something naughty (like run into FM&D’s bathroom and pull down the ceramic Q-tip holder and accidentally smash it, or chew up one of FM’s makeup brushes), FM and D tell me “no” sternly and I put my head down. I’m trying really hard to be a good girl and FM&D said they need to remember I’d never lived in a house before and everything is new to me. I love being praised for doing things right and being a good girl, and I like the treats they offer and take them gently. Sometimes when the resident Labs get petted, I try to push my way into the love-fest, but I need to learn to wait my turn and not hog all the love. I’m working on it. It’s a good thing they’re patient.

I am good with other confident dogs, but no cats for me – I’ll chase them. I like watching the little kids playing next door and FM says she’s going to have me meet some kids this weekend. I heard kids laughing on TV last night and popped up from snoozing to look for them, happily. I make great eye contact and have a killer head tilt, too, that works on FD to get extra cookies.

Keep cool, everyone. I’m going to spend time in the puppy pool with my foster siblings this weekend and maybe get a bath. Remember, if you have any questions about me, email my foster mom.

Bye for now!

July 27, 2022

Kassy continues to get acclimated to life in a foster home. Today we had a girls’ day while foster siblings M&Q went to daycare for some normalcy and foster dad went in to work.

Kassy helped me pick up groceries and prescriptions at the CVS drive-thru; she was a little leery of getting in the car but some yummy treats and gentle coaxing helped.

She was a placid passenger in the backseat of my SUV: she didn’t make a peep during the entire (short less than a 30 minute) trip.

We came home and enjoyed sitting out on the patio and watching the neighbors’ kids play ball; then Kassy got a quick sponge bath and enjoyed a towel massage (leaving her smelling like a lavender retriever).

It must’ve relaxed her, because she napped soundly afterwards. 😄

We took a quick trip to the vet later in the afternoon to get Kassy checked out because she’s been leaking urine (despite being on Proin), licking herself, not fully squatting to urinate (and walking while she goes), and she isn’t fully emptying her bladder. Thankfully Kassy is negative for another UTI, but her vulva is swollen and she is clearly uncomfortable. The vet prescribed some Rimadyl to make her more comfortable until Kassy is spayed on Friday. He thinks Kassy’s hormones are likely exacerbating the urine symptoms and wonders if she may have an ovarian cyst pressing on her bladder. (We’ll know more on Friday.) For now, we’ll continue the Proin and hope the Rimadyl gives her more relief, too.

Kassy was a very good patient-she allowed the vet and tech to give her a thorough exam (they got down on the floor with her and she was all wiggles and kisses).

Kassy ate her dinner when we got home, and then (best news of all!) BOTH of her foster siblings wanted to play with her (even mopey Myles)! Hooray for progress!!

Kassy is a very sweet, curious, playful girl who is happy to snuggle and get belly rubs. She follows us wherever we go inside, but also is getting braver exploring our fenced in yard. I’m referring to her, Myles and Quinn as the “Fuzzy Dozen Paw Patrol” from now on: they don’t miss a trick (or a delivery truck)!

July 24, 2022

Kassie came into foster care today. She is acclimating to having two furry foster siblings and being in a house. So far, so good. She played in the pool with her foster sibs at BCK, then rode quietly in the back seat of the car on the hour trip to foster home. She enjoyed learning about peanut butter kongs from foster dad, too.

July 14, 2022

Kassy loves exploring the big yard, going for walks and playing in the kiddie pool and the pond! Both she and her sister, Lexi, are very curious and friendly and are enjoying lots of love from the staff at BCK.  They have also met and played with several other dogs.  They are still not interested in toys, but like bones.  Kassy’s leash walking is improving on just a regular flat collar – good girl, Kassy!

Kassy will be spayed soon – send good thoughts for an easy spay, and stay tuned for updates.

July 7, 2022

Kassy is loving her new found freedom at BCK.  She loves being able to run around the huge fenced yards, but especially loves the pond!  It turns out she is a real water girl, and loves nothing more than to splash around on these hot days.

She and sister Lexi are learning how fun life can be now that they are done having babies.

Kassy loves exploring all the new sights and smells, and is working on her leash skills, which are improving.

Kassy is super affectionate with people and very curious and friendly with other dogs.

Kassy and her sister, Lexi, are still waiting for a foster home so they can learn more about all the good things that life has to offer!  They’ve heard that living with people full-time is awesome!

June 20, 2022

Kassy has been settling in to life at Kamp.  Her trainer reports that Kassy is super sweet, but has some work to do as far as walking on the leash is concerned.  They are still trying to get her interested in treats and toys since she never really experienced those kind of things on the farm.  Stay tuned for more updates to come as they learn more about this pretty girl’s personality!