Welcome back, Haricot! Do you remember our pied girl with the spinning back wheels? Well it turns out that Haricot and the pug in her new home took a disliking to each other, and Haricot is now back in the arms of her doting foster dad. Both foster dad and Haricot know it won’t be long before she zooms out to her new forever home! Could it be yours?

If you recall, Haricot had originally come to FBRN when she became paralyzed in her hind end, and during her stay with FBRN she made all kinds of improvements because of her foster’s dad’s diligence in taking her to see numerous doctors and getting her on a course of swim therapy to strengthen her back legs. Haricot now happily enjoys trips to the dog park where she outruns dogs who use all four legs! Compared to the Frenchies whose idea of “exercise” is to move from the couch to the dinner bowl, Haricot is in Olympic training—just take her to the park and she’ll show you her fast and agile moves!

Dogs that have experienced hind end paralysis are susceptible to urinary tract infections, and must be regularly monitored for signs of them. To avoid this possibility of UTIs, Haricot needs to have her bladder expressed several time a day to ensure her bladder is completely empty. If you’ve never expressed a bladder, it is a simple procedure that is easily learned. Because of her disability Haricot can be somewhat incontinent but does quite well when kept on a schedule. She is able to hold it all night and during a quiet, eight-hour day, but she must go out immediately upon waking up or coming home. With a walkout or ramp, Haricot is able to go out and do her business on her own (she uses her reflexes to walk in the house; and, with the assistance of a ramp, doesn’t need the cart to do her business in a fenced yard). Haricot is crate trained and will also remain in her doggie bed all night, sleeping peacefully until the morning greets her with promises of new adventures!

Haricot LOVES everyone she meets (and most everyone she encounters adores her right back!) But, Haricot has a few quirks that, once understood, can be easily managed. Because of her disability, Haricot can be very protective of herself. If a dog persists and comes into 'her space' repeatedly, despite her warning signals, she will tend to defend herself more readily.  In this setting, Haricot has bitten another dog. But without provocation, Haricot gets along great in a pack and tends to fit right in. If there are other dogs in Haricot’s home, they need to be calm, friendly, and playful.

Besides loving the people she meets, and most other dogs, Haricot LOVES to play, play, and play some more. She is an extremely happy pooch! Haricot’s cheerful and enthusiastic mood is infectious to those around her, and there's nothing she enjoys more than a good wrestling match with her human or canine companion. She loves just about any toy but stuffies beware, they don’t stand a chance with her! If she’s alone, Haricot will play by herself by throwing her toys and then chasing them, and a good Nylabone chew will keep her occupied for a while. Her favorite place is the dog park, where she loves to chase dogs her size. Haricot loves to be where people are, and will go for walks, run errands, and ride in the car with you.

Haricot would do best with someone who is home during the day but could adjust to someone who is out infrequently or who works part-time outside the home. If her person or people work full-time, she’d do fine with a mid-day dog walker. A one-level home would be best for her, as would a fenced yard. Either the city or the country would be fine for her. Haricot would prefer to have another similarly sized, playful dog to wrestle and run with in her new home. And, gentle dog-savvy kids would be a plus for this loving and active girl!

Haricot would love to go to work with someone and would happily greet everyone she meets. She would also make a fine Therapy Dog because she is such a happy, positive inspiration for everyone she meets, and especially anyone with a disability. Haricot does not think she is “different” from other dogs. She has completely adjusted to her go-cart and simply wants to play with and be a companion to her people.

Haricot’s foster dad has this to say about her:

“Haricot is a super sweet dog who loves everyone and just loves life. She has no idea she has any kind of disability and makes the best out of everything. She is always happy and up for any activity you choose, whether that is going hiking in the woods or curling up on the couch for a good movie. Sure, Haricot is a ‘special needs’ girl who may need a little more work than other dogs, but the bond you end up forming with her makes everything you do for her so worthwhile and rewarding. Haricot will do absolutely anything to please her people and is quite the entertaining and comical girl.”

This afternoon, Haricot is speeding around the dog park with her pals in tow, and tonight she will be by her foster dad’s side to watch the evening news and help with the crossword puzzle. Haricot is located in Southwest Ontario, and while she’d happily walk or ride in the car to her new home, she will not be shipped.