7/6/10 - Mugsy is doing very well with us but still longs for his forever home.  It's so easy to care for this wonderful dog - a couple of enzymes in a pill pocket about a 1/2 hour before he eats and he's good to go!  You can get the enzymes on-line for about $20.00 for a bottle of 100 and the sensitive stomach food you can get in any pet supply store at no more cost than regular dog food.  Mugsy is a happy, loving dog who would be a great addition to any family who wants a dog to play with and cuddle with and laugh with. He knows basic commands and walks very well with his harness and lead.   He is very popular in our neighborhood with adults and kids alike!

5/26/10 - Great News!  The medical hold has been released!  Mugsy is available for adoption!  You'd better hurry and put in your applications - he is one of a kind! We've never seen a dog with such a sweet and loving nature - he just loves to cuddle with you on the couch and play. He'll give a good family many years of fun and love! The only issue he has is his sensitive stomach.  He cannot digest most foods and will always have to take the pancreatic enzyme before each meal.  The enzyme is not costly and can be purchased on-line.  He needs sensitive stomach food and as I've stated previously, I've found sensitive stomach treats.  He can, of course, have some "people" food like plain chicken, plain rice, plain pasta - nothing spicy or fatty.  Mugsy gets along well with our cats - he wants to play - they don't.  Please consider Mugsy- he will be a great companion - he loves everyone - adults, kids, other dogs! We've had him for about 5 months and each day he does something to make us laugh!  We'd keep him but he really needs someone who can spend more time with him and give him more exercise

5/1/10 - Mugsy's visit to the vet on 4/15 went very well.  The Dr. and his staff are very happy with the weight he has gained and how good he looks.  Mugsy needs to stay with us for another month to gain more weight.  We'll take him to the vet again approx May 13.  He will always have a sensitive stomach.  We've been giving him Science Diet Sensitive Stomach dry food with a little non-fat vanilla yogurt and a little canned puppy food from a local pet supply store (not a chain like Petsmart or Petco) and he is doing very well. He also needs to take Pancreved (pancreatic enzymes) before each meal and will most likely be on this medication for the rest of his life.  The cost is small and we give him 2 or 3 before each main meal.  I've also found sensitive stomach treats in Petsmart and he loves them.  Otherwise, Mugsy is a robust, energetic young guy who loves to play, run, cuddle on the couch and just be around people.  He wiggles that butt every time he sees someone he wants to meet and loves all the attention people have been giving him.  He can get rough if you wrestle with him-he's a very strong boy and the growls that come from him when playing can scare you if you didn't know him.  But you just need to tell him no! and to sit and he calms down again. Jerry and I love him to death but we're an older couple who both work and Mugsy has a lot of energy and needs a lot of excercise.  A home with older children would be best - he wouldn't hurt anyone, but he's strong and doesn't realize his own strength.  We'll let you know what the vet says later this month. 

4/9/10 - Well, it has been a difficult few months for Mugsy and us.  He would get better then when the round or antibiotics for his stomach were done, he would start vomiting again and not eating and back to the Vet we would go.  He lost 4 of the original 9 lbs that he gained.  But through it all, Mugsy's been a wonderful dog.  He just wants to be loved and to love and play.  He'll cuddle on the couch with you as long as you want. He wants to meet everyone he sees especially kids and greet you with big boxer kisses.  He loves to play with Jerry and I but can get a little rough and mouthy.  We just tell him no and he calms down.  He has vomited a couple of times during the past week but it was mostly water.  He probably needs to be fed three small meals throughout the day instead of two large ones and we do that when our work schedules permit.  Mugsy is a beatiful boy - he's gained a total of 11 lbs including the four lbs that he lost. I've sent a couple of recent pictures.  He loves the outdoors and when the weather is good, will sit on our deck in the sun. We have one more visit with the VET on 4/15 and will let you know the outcome.  We are going to miss Mugsy very much, but he really needs an active family to run and play with and love.

1/26/10 - It's been about a week and 1/2 since Mugsy's been taking the pancreatic enzymes and the difference it's made has been remarkable. The antibiotic fot the stomach has worked well too.  He has more energy, is playing with toys, and looks like he's been gaining weight.  Jerry is taking him to the vet on Friday to see how much he's gained.  We used to have to drag him out of the house for a walk, now he scratches on the door when he needs to go.  It is amazing what a few pills a day and lots of TLC can do!  Mugsy is still very much a loving dog and likes nothing better than to sit on the couch with his head and paw in your lap.  We'll keep you updated on his progess.

1/13/10 - Mugsy's pancreas is missing an enzyme, and he is taking a medication called pancreazyme will help in the digestion of food.  He is on Flagyl, which is an antibiotic for the stomach.  Hopefully, that will take away the inflammation of the GI tract ( he has colitis).  Mugsy will have to be monitored over the next month or so.  For this reason Mugsy will be placed on MEDICAL HOLD.