SHERRI'S GEORGE AND GRACIE

PLEASE BY MY EYES AND MY FRIEND

I got George when my girl Gracie, a merle Dane from questionable breeding, was four months old and having problems. She was extremely anxious when left alone, even if I was in the next room. Behavioral modification was not enough to help her cope. It was becoming apparent that in addition to having separation anxiety, she couldn't see very well. Due to a genetic eye defect, she can't see very far and doesn't have much peripheral vision. Her poor vision increases her anxiety levels, because she has difficulty distinguishing what is going on around her. I decided to get a companion for her. I was looking for a harlequin and I found a lifter in South Texas. The breeder told me about a male fawnequin in the lifter that was the sweetest puppy of the bunch. His unusual color was due to mixed color breeding a few generations back in his pedigree. I sent my deposit check, and shortly thereafter drove five hours to San Antonio to pick up the puppy. I fell in love with him immediately. So did Gracie. He was such a charmer that I named him Prince George de Tejas.

George and Gracie quickly became inseparable. If she was upset, he would come over to be with her and she would calm down immediately. George loves to play and wrestle. He doesn't mind if Gracie gets carried away and plays too rough, he seems to understand that rough play is one of the ways that she deals with high anxiety levels. The two dogs slept in a pile from their very first night together. It wasn't long before I noticed something else. As George matured, he seemed to understand that Gracie doesn't see well. If she was hunting for a toy that disappeared from her field of vision, George would get up, grab it, and place it within her visual range. VYhen going in and out the back door, George would go first. He would block Gracie from the edge of the back porch which she doesn't see well- so that she wouldn't fall off. When we all go for a walk, George gently leads the way so Gracie won't be surprised by approaching people or changes in terrain that she can't see. When she senses something or someone approaching her, she looks to him to determine how she should respond. If he's calm, she remains calm, trusting his assessment of the situation. In addition to a variety of behavorial routines, Gracie now takes daily medication for her severe separation anxiety. The medication has helped her tremendously, but the biggest help has been George and his ability to

assist her and calm her when she needs help.

George is 18 months old now, 39 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. The vet is estimating that he'll weigh close to 180 pounds when full-grown. He is extremely gentle and an expert couch potato. He adores people and loves to be the center of attention. When I take George and Gracie on walks, we visit certain neighbors who always have biscuits waiting for them. George has learned to ring their doorbell. He then sits and waits until they come to the door. When the door is answered, he pops off the lid to the biscuit bucket and helps himself. One day George got loose and made his way down the street, ringing doorbells and waiting patiently for people to answer the door with dog biscuits in their hands. I caught up with him at the fifth house, praying the whole time that an elderly lady wouldn't open the door and have a heart attack when she saw a big dog sifting on her porch!

George is also a hero of sorts. George donates blood at Fort Worth Animal Medical Center, a vet clinic and 24 hour emergency hospital that always has a vet on duty. George is on call for blood donation in six-week intervals. The first time he donated, George's blood was given to a Cocker Spaniel swarmed by ticks, a Sheitie-mix undergoing surgery, an anemic Chihuahua, and a mixed-breed puppy with Parvo. Unfortunately the puppy didn't make it, but the other three dogs survived to go home to their families. It makes me really happy to know that George is helping to save other dogs and that those dogs' humans will have extra time with their beloved pets.

George thinks donating blood is a grand adventure. After they draw his blood George gets a nutrient-rich food to help his body recover. Then he holds court on a quilt on the surgery floor while the clinic workers come in to pet him, ply him with treats, and tell him what a good boy he is. He has a great time. If the clinic workers don't come fast enough to suit him, he'll push open the surgery's swinging door and go visiting! George's blood donations have now saved the lives of 8 dogs. Because of his size, George can donate enough blood at one time to help several smaller dogs. He doesn't even miss it--he is usually hard at play several hours after he's given blood. Vets in the metroplex often have a need for canine blood donors. A dog must weigh at least 85 pounds, be healthy, heartworm free, and have a gentle, calm temperament to be able to be a blood donor.