Mozart was seen by the ophthalmologist last Wednesday.  We did not get the news we had hoped for as there is nothing medically that can be done to restore any vision.  It may be congenital but head trauma from a motor vehicle could also be a cause for his loss of vision.  Although this is sad, I am thankful we were able to get an evaluation quickly so now we can move on with Mozart's plan for great life.  The good news is that he can hear!

We go outside several times a day.  I just take the top of his collar to get out the door and down the steps and then let him be without the leash. This has been a very positive move and almost seems like a self esteem boost for Mozart.  We live in the country and have a large yard which makes this possible.  Homebase is my outer thigh and he will walk around and even trot once in awhile.  If I call or pat my leg, he will come back to me.

When  he first gets up and we go out, I notice Mozart takes high steps with his front legs.  His gait seems normal once we have been out for a couple of minutes and he has his bearings.  There are areas with inclines in the yard
and we walk around those to improve strength in his leg muscles.  When it is time to go in, we head to the sidewalk and he is able to get to the front door from there almost independently.  He knows that two steps are coming and after the door opens, there is another step.

After we come in, our routine is to get a drink and then find the homebase inside - which is a fleece bed in the family room.  Last but not least, he gets a treat!  Mozart does this without the leash now by following my voice and leg pats.  He bumps into things once in awhile, but he walks very slow and just backs up or goes a different direction.

Mozart's hearing seems to be quite good.  He knows several commands, including sit, stay, and lay down.  He is up like a flash and finds his way to the kitchen if he hears cereal pouring in a bowl or a chip bag rustling!  I don't reward this with treats but it leads me to believe that this dog at one point did have a home.  He loves his food and knows where to go when I shake the dry dog food in his dish.  He eats slowly and crunches and chews every piece which is pure torture for poor resident, Ole, who inhales his food in about 12 seconds.

Mozart seems to need some time to get used to a new person (which is understandable with basically no vision) but I don't anticipate any issues with people.  He is fine with people stopping and petting him.  I notice if there are more people around, he gets quiet and just stays on his bed.  I think it is hard for him to filter extra noise.  He is definitely attached to me, so we will be working on more frequent interaction with other people.

This is a delightful, sweet, loving dog that has turned out to be a very easy foster.  Look for more updates and pictures very soon!

Did I hear that cereal box?!?

Mozart continues to make great progress. He now wanders around the house independently and finds his way into our bedroom to sleep at night. We've seen him start to play and warm up to new people more quickly.

He was scheduled to be neutered last Thursday but that has been postponed for about 3 weeks since his hemoglobin is still a bit low.  It's improving but just not to the range the vet wants before she does the surgery.  His appetite is great and he has gained just over 2 lbs!  Mozart was very underweight and covered in ticks when he was found as a stray.  This is an absolutely wonderful, gentle, quiet dog  (one bark in 3 weeks) who is teaching us many life lessons and is nothing short of amazing.  He is now known in our home as "Magnificent Mozart"!

I'll be sending more details and photos soon.

Mozart had a wonderful 4th of July at a lake near Ashby MN. I worried about how he would handle a new place but he was just a champ. He gets a little quiet until he gets used to new surroundings but it was obvious he loved being  there. We went for walks several times a day and I noticed a little extra spring in his step and he ran for the first time! He is not afraid of the water but  did not like the firecrackers that never  seemed to end on Saturday night. Was anxious, had to be close and finally slumped on the couch and curled up next to foster dad. Just FYI this is the first time he has ever been on the furniture. This dog has been shot at so is understandable that he would be  scared of these sounds. He still has BB's imbedded in his ears which will be removed at his scheduled neuter on July 21st.

He is moving about the house independently, finds his way to the water bucket and seeks us out when we are watching TV for some attention. This week we have been introducing other dogs and that has gone well.  The biggest issue is that he will bump into them since he can't see and so far other dogs have tolerated this without incident. He has really started to enjoy our resident dog Ole.

Mozart takes big high steps when he gets up to go out and when he is coming up the sidewalk to come into the house. I call him my " Little Drum Major" . He is so excited in the morning when he hears people getting up and does these little spin moves along with his high steppin.

This is just a wonderful, easy, loving dog that is just a JOY to foster. Wherever his forever family may be I hope to be on the list for dog sitting or maybe I can make that a prerequisite!

Mr. Mozart was neutered last Tuesday and came through with flying colors.  He had a lump removed from his upper right shoulder area that is thought to be an extreme reaction from all his immunizations but it will be sent to the U of M for evaluation just in case.  The incision has a drain tube which will be removed tomorrow and stiches come out next week. He has gained 4 lbs. and his bloodwork was perfect!

His personality just continues to blossom. When we go outside now he will stop, start leaning, and then hit the ground and roll on his back.  This new and silly signal for a belly rub has gotten to be quite funny and entertaining. He is getting good at competing for attention and in turn, I am getting quite good at petting 2 dogs at once.  

Meeting new people is going much better and it seems as if he is starting to believe that all people are good.  If it gets too noisy, he retreats to our bedroom and finds his way to and from there independently.

Mozart will need a laid back family in a quieter neighborhood for his forever home and would love the company of another dog. Safety will be a priority for this vision impaired gentleman.  Mozart won't require a fence but I think he could be out independently for short periods if there was a fenced yard.

In closing this update, I would like to send a special thank you to Ellen Sanchez for sponsoring this wonderful dog who has lost his vision but still sees so much in so many ways.

We got wonderful news last week when we went to have Mozart's stitches removed:  The lump in his neck was not cancer and according to the pathology report from the U of M, it was likely a severe reaction to his immunizations. His fur is filling in nicely and soon his scar won't be visible at all.

Mozart spent a few days with another wonderful Ragom foster while I was out of town and he did just great. Of course they fell in love with him too just like I knew they would. Thank you Sue and Chris for taking such great care of this special guy!

I have seen so much improvement socially the last week. He is still cautious around new people but is now used to the grandkids and doesn't immediately retreat to the bedroom when they come for a visit.

We are at the lake again for a few days and somehow it seems as though he can see when we are here. He trots down the 3/4 mile driveway down and back with ease with an occasional stop to raise his head and smell the country air. This is a wonderful, loving dog that will make a special addition to one lucky family or individual and Mozart is ready to meet you!

Mozart is doing just great and I realized last week that I have to actually tell people that he is blind because he does not act blind. He moves about our house at a quicker pace and tends to follow me more now and lays  wherever I end up. He often lays on my feet and would rest his head on my laptop if I let him. He loves our walks/jogs and plays more with toys and wrestles with resident Ole.

We had visitors with who brought another Golden last week and at first was intimidated by all the new voices and activity so he went and stood by the front door. Pretty soon he made his way back to the action ,tail wagging, seeking out attention  and interacting with the new dog. He just continues to blossom socially everyday.

Mozart has excellent hearing and if Ole is getting some attention he quickly jumps up from a deep sleep to make his way for his share  of petting and hugs.

This gentle, quiet, amazing dog  is looking for a forever family who will be understanding and patient as he learns your home, family voices and surroundings. He will not need a fenced yard but as I mentioned in past updates, he could go out independently in a fenced safe area. He loves other dogs and has not been cat tested. He is great company and will make a wonderful companion.

It's  a little challenging wrestling when you are blind, but I've figured it out.

My foster brother Ole and I have gotten quite fond of each other. Not sure what he is going to do when I find my forever home.

Mom always pets me when I rest my head on her lawn chair.

Foster Mom says I just get cuter everyday

Mozart is doing great and continues to be a total joy to have around. He spent some time with another foster a couple weeks ago and did well. She did take him to one of RAGOM's pet expo events and that ended up being stressful for him but without vision, in a new environment with new noises and lots of activity, it was understandable.

He loves to go on  our 1-2 mile walk/jogs and it's been so fun to see the strength he's gained. He is getting less fearful of cars and trucks and has learned it is not necessary to leave a room when visitors come...unless it's that 3 year old granddaughter who gets kind of wild.

Seeking out attention is something he does often now and he has figured out that on the other side of the couch there are very often people who need their feet warmed and in turn will scratch ears and rub bellies.

Mozart is a quiet, gentle, sweet loving dog who is wonderful company on a cold rainy fall day.

Here I am walking into the house all by myself. Foster mom doesn't even need
to say "step" anymore because I just know where they are.

Here I am on the new blanket foster mom bought for me on the silent
auction at the Ragom picnic in September. I just love it!

Mozart has been staying at another foster home for the last several days while his regular foster mom has been out of town. He's been the BEST houseguest - very gentle, sensitive, and polite. He gets along fine with the resident kitty, and has been finding his way around the new household quite well.

He was pretty down at first because he missed his dog buddy.  New changes are just harder when a guy can't see!  As he got used to things, he became more relaxed and comfortable. Now he walks up and down the block very confidently, and he's handling all the traffic very well. At first, he would freeze and lay low every time a car went by. He just slows down now and leans against his human's leg for reassurance.

He's so cute when he goes out on walks -- the way he'll stop and turn his head to make sure his human is right there. She just touches his cheek gently, and then off he goes again. He's in his element at the park! He walks so fast when they first go to the park that his temporary foster mom can hardly keep up! It's been a delight to see him open up and be so happy when he goes outside. He loves the fresh autumn air and the sounds of geese on the little lake in the park. He greets every dog with a wag, and he's friendly to everyone.

Mozart can hear someone walking or riding a bike quite a distance away, but he can't tell exactly who or what it is. So his human just calls out "Hello" and when the other people respond, he relaxes and goes back to walking and exploring.

Mozart is a terrific dog. Everyone who meets him loves him. What a sweet guy!

"Hey! Did I just hear some geese honking?"

Susan Myers                                   In memory of Bob/Roy 07-615

The LeTourneau Fur-Kids - In Memory of Our Fur-Angels

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Mr. Mozart is doing great and recently spent a few days with foster Liz again. This time he got to bring his buddy Ole along and he wasn't nearly as lonesome. He truly loves his foster brother Ole.

His new name is "The Little Ant Eater" because he now slowly walks and surfs the floor for toys and pounces and does his trademark spin move when he finds a toy (or shoe).

Social progress is the biggest change since the last update. Those busy granddaughters don't stress him at all anymore and he no longer moves to another room when they arrive. He even gets up to check out people who have come to the door!

It would be hard to recognize the skinny, traumatized, scared dog that arrived at my home 6 months ago. His progress has just been remarkable and I am so very proud of this dog.

Mozart will do best with a laid-back family in a quieter neighborhood and would love the company of another dog.

Happy Holidays and special thanks to sponsor Ellen Sanchez from Mozart and his foster family!!