Macey Black Labrador Retriever Female 10 Years Old #3606

Meet Macey! This adorable purebred black Labrador was living on a farm when her owner decided to downsize and needed to re-home her.  The owner reached out to Brookline for help. Please read their blog from the bottom up to learn more about Macey while in foster care.

April 29, 2026

Yesterday on 4/28/26, Luna and Macey had their vet appointments; moved up from originally scheduled day of Friday May 1.

AGAIN A HUGE THANK YOU TO VALERIE AND MARK, two of our wonderful volunteers, for their MOST kind offer of time and travel from Camp Hill to Lancaster to help me load the girls in the car and overall assist with taking one while I had the other, both leashed, to navigate the doorways and exam room for their double visit.

They did exceptionally well…!

Given that we were at the vet clinic collectively for a solid 2 1/2 hours.

I collected and brought in urine and fecal samples for both to be tested in addition to the full blood panel as per protocol. Results are not yet back.

However, as I suspected from frequent scratching, they both have ear infections, inclusive of both yeast and bacteria. For now, an ear wash was sent home with us but reveiws and approval await for a more effective protocol to address this matter via a another visit, with vet tech administering a med.

What we do know is that MOMMA MACEY is coming in at 107.5 pounds and Luna TUNA (my nickname for her) is weighing in at 93 pounds…!As shared prior, the girls much prefer being outside and would rather not be tethered or tied out. However, they must where I am as my yard is not completely contained.With that said, they do settle well and easily inside the house. Pics to confirm that…Also, they have shown NO signs of destructive or naughty habits like taking things and chewing them, counter surfing, trash surfing or the like. They are really good. They just need leash work and consistency with a schedule and an environment where they can be outside mostly to more easily transition from what they knew being on a farm.

Also notable is their ability to listen, come when called, or redirect an action if given a no or stern guttural grunt to get their attention. Refined training to a higher level that will make them beautiful family members, I feel, will be easier achieved with them separate from one another for focus and such.

And it would not take much. They are both smart but have had no “curfews” being free range farm girls, so they need to understand what is expected of them within healthy, positive and attainable boundaries.

Easily settled at my feet at the table. They also do not beg for food when you eat nor do they give you the lan stare down. Which I find quite nice!

Macey with her established knowing of her space and place exhibiting her alert woof to a passerby in the alley.

April 27, 2026

One day shy of being in foster for a whole week, Luna and Macey continue to exhibit the lovable Labrador traits that make them a popular breed.

They easily exhibit and offer love, friendly and very approachable demeanors. They crave attention, especially hands on belly rubs and the “armpit tickles”, as I like to call them, with their prompting your hand by a gentle yet expectant pawing at you.

They do well in their crates over night.

There have been a couple of nights I have gotten up due to some stirring that I can hear coming from downstairs. In the interest of keeping them comfortable, I have of course gotten up and let them out on an occasional 3:20 am potty break.

Honestly, that “need” has likely been driven by the fact that I have chosen a needed and earlier than “normal” bedtime for myself; with a last call potty happening as early as 7:30/8:00 pm instead of a 9:30/10:00 pm one.

They are happy to eat but often leave some food in their bowls. Not sure if that is a “reserve” mindset they deemed necessary from whatever feeding schedule or lack of they may have had prior to foster. Although neither is lacking poundage.

Treats are offered as a reward for successful outside potty and as a lure into their crates for the evening or when I need to leave the house.

I tried apple slices today as a treat and neither took to them. I don’t think they have had the delicacy of much, if any, “human” food prior. As someone who has made homemade dog food for years for my own, it is hard to not want to offer up some dog friendly people food. Nonetheless, they seem more than content with the “classified canine cuisine”.

They both show an interest in engagement of fetch but they do not stay on task and do not return the ball to keep the game going. “MOMMA MACEY” even at 10, seems to show interest but they overall are distracted in the yard.

We made an ATTEMPT at leash walking yesterday.

It was not successful. They have had farm free range movement prior to foster, so leash walking has not been part of their repertoire. Being that they are both substantial in size and weight, a more successful attempt might be made trying to leash up and walk one at a time. Also the attempt was made with just a leash clipped to their collar and NO harness or halter. Those could possibly help but successful and accomplished leash walking will be a project in the works. And I am not sure they would be interested from an exercise standpoint, as they are used to strolling around on their own terms. However, in my opinion, happy and healthy dog family members need to be acclimated to leashes and walking with such restraint, even for the basic need of a vet or grooming trip, if nothing else.

As shared prior, these girls have a sense of their space and place in foster by continuing to exhibit a deeper alert woof to anything they seem in question about outside. Yet, NOT at all an aggressive or incessant vocal communication. Just enough to be alert and share that with me when they feel needed.Lastly, while everyone is still adjusting, my squirrel friends are not too sure about the girls. But one who loves to come up close to get food or ask if I have been lax, decided to do a porch visit with the girls at the door inside the kitchen. The stare down was too good not to share in this update. Enjoy….

April 24, 2026

Day 3 since Luna and Macey came in to foster.

BOTH girls have the quintessential happy Lab temperament. They LOVE attention and offer it out with their LAB LEANS, kisses and wanting to get as close as possible to you face and body.

BOTH have exhibited a level of protectiveness of me and of what they are likely realizing to now be their “space and place” during foster. They have each let out a deeper woof/ alert/ attention bark when seeing people walk by the house in the alley. Not an ongoing incessant loud bark. Just a “letting you know we are here and keeping an eye out” bark.
No scolds of course, only a calm reassuring voice saying “thank you and it’s ok…” from me.

Additionally, they offered their lab welcomes to someone who came to mow my yard; because time is never abundant enough. They could sense he was welcomed into the yard and Luna leaned right in for pets from a stranger, who also has rescued and fostered dogs.  I think dogs just KNOW who their “kind of people” are…

To say we have been without some challenges though would not be correct. Having had free range on a farm with no set routine or schedule, potty issues in the house have been daily. I have offered ample and frequent outside time for business to be made there. It has been a trial and error to come to realize that they don’t really take to eliminating well or fully while tethered. So I have adapted to letting them wander, with me right around them after sensing they are not a flight risk. Although I would not let them out unattended and untethered, as part of the yard towards the front of house is not fully contained behind fencing.I have put each out on a lead of linked leashes and they revel in laying in the grass and hearing the bird song. The only fur friends of mine not too happy for the dogs infiltration of the yard are my squirrels. I have fed them as well as the birds and also provided a squirrel box, as shown in the little video clip with the squirrel looking down and chattering unhappily at the girls. I guess everyone is adjusting…!

The girls have their routine rescue/ foster vet appointments Friday May 1. I am suspect there might be UTI’s with the frequent peeing.

Beyond the adjustment and attempts at reading and understanding each other, the girls are truly fabulous and I stand by my prior thought that they will be amazing additions to a family/ families that see them and connect with who they are. I am not yet decided if they are bonded. But true to many parent child relationships, the child can test the waters. LUNA does that by butting in front of MOMMA MACEY. That is what I have come to call Macey. And MOMMA MACEY still exhibits nurturing parental tendencies by grooming/ licking at Luna. And at times, putting her paw over her face as if to say “no”.

I am crating them during my absence and at night while sleeping. They are doing well overall with that as I am sure that has not been done prior to foster.

Enjoying the birdsong

Squirrel not happy to see the dogs

Luna with some fetch. Momma Macey was briefly interested.

Luna Squirrel watching. Momma Macey keeping guard of passerbys.

April 22, 2026

Yesterday right after driving off the farm, a stop to bathe them was made as they ABSOLUTELY NEEDED IT! Honestly, we could have been there twice as long as we were for more rounds of lather and rinsing! They were super sweet and acommodating of the task! Arrival at my home went well with steps up the porch, doorways and general inside space, of which neither have had the luxury of enjoying prior.

Beds and treats a plenty waited them. They finally took to the beds (baby crib mattress)! Thank God for Facebook Marketplace!

Dinner was a quick intake. Hey, they are labs even in a new place food has its appeal!

Having been spending days prior prepping for their arrival, I was wiped and reluctantly headed to bed early at 8:15, anticipating a wake up as / when needed from them. Which came with a soft whimper at 3:30 ish am. A leash up and outside we went for a successful potty break. Luna has some loose stool though and likely from change/ stress/ and new food. Macey finally went poo this afternoon! Isn’t being on alert to the release of waste and bodily actions on every mom’s mind, regardless of 2 or 4 legged kids…?!?! Today has been another slow and easeful day. My yard is not fully closed in so I am most mindful of keeping them tethered for now. No doubt a huge adjustment from their free ranging on the farm!

I brushed them both today with 3 different types of brushes and they happily accepted the attention and tolerated each type of brush.Tonight I head to Philly to see Mel Robbins on stage with tickets I bought way back last September before joining Brookline. Although they will be crated for about 7 hours, they will have been fed, pottied and given treats before I leave and given how things went last night I think all will be good.I will likely put on soothing music, for sure nothing like morning doves cooing in the barn they are likely familiar with!

These two are SUPER SWEET, LOVING, FRIENDLY AND SOCIABLE GIRLS!They will be amazing family members when the time is right and ready!

April 21, 2026

Beautiful 10-year-old black Macey and her 4-year-old yellow daughter Luna had their Rescue Ride off the farm this morning. Their new foster met us to pick up the girls. Our first stop was a Pet Supplies Plus store for much needed baths. The girls did smell like the farm. They are both incredibly sweet and friendly girls. We then went to Kim’s house to help the girls settle in. I am so thankful Kim was willing to foster both dogs. While we don’t think they are bonded, time will tell. I will look forward to reading their blog updates. I know they will thrive in her care.Welcome to the good life Macey and Luna.