Dixie Gleeson

A VERY HEART-WRENCHING TALE

We were told little Pixi and Alex (a blind Golden Retriever) were seen being dumped out of a car on a busy main road in the Balkans. The local rescue started looking out for them when they were also spotted wandering along the highway.

Alex was exhausted but, the story goes, when he collapsed by a tree, Pixi refused to leave him. A kind man found them and took them in but he had no money to look after them so they were fed by people from the rescue then went into their care.

IN THE BALKAN RESCUE

Little Pixi was a very attractive, small, gentle and loving Crossbreed dog. The rescue arranged for vaccinations etc so he and Alex could gain their Pet Passports.

Pixi & Alex travelled to the UK at the beginning of December 2014.

IN FOSTER IN THE UK

Pixi was very underweight on arrival but, with a good feeding regime, originally 4 times a day and then down to three, he went from 5.5kg to almost 9.4kg with a goal weight of about 11kg.

He was a dear little boy aged only about 8 to 9 months who needed to be neutered

ASSESSMENT

Both dogs were fostered in the Midlands by Joe who said of Pixi:-

Character and Temperament: Pixi is not naughty but is a typical playful puppy of his age with needle-sharp teeth which Alex doesn’t appreciate having sunk into him in play especially when he can’t see his tormentor.

He just needs a normal puppy training regime but, with both dogs having such different training needs, it has been difficult to make as much progress as the fosterer would have liked. We are sure, if he can work with just Dixie until he is rehomed, then he will come on in leaps and bounds.

Social Learning: He is now fully housetrained and quite good on the lead.

Dogs and cats: He is fine with other dogs, if still a bit full on as puppies can be. Interestingly, he and Alex were not that close as Pixi was a bit OTT for his older blind friend. For that reason, Pixi stayed with Joe and Alex went to Lyn in Bristol.

His suitability for a home with a cat or cats is unknown although, initially, he may well be a bit too full on for them too.

Children: Pixi would prefer not to live with children.        

PIXI’S DREAM HOME

After an appalling start to his young life, Pixi just needed to be rehomed somewhere warm and safe with kind people who would love him and be prepared to take the time to train him. He would probably benefit from living with an older, calm resident dog, but one with no special needs, who could show him what’s what.

Once Pixi has a home where he can live safely for the rest of his life, he would reward his forever owners by being a lovely happy companion.

THE BEST NEWS (January 2015)

To nobody’s great surprise, having got a nice new name, Dixie’s foster home became his Forever Home and Joe joined the ranks of ‘failed fosterers’.

Incidentally, Alex also went on to be adopted by his fosterer too.