I figured you’d be looking for an update on Marley after having, I’m sure, fallen in love with him last week.
After one full week in foster, I’m happy to say that Marley is still considered by many to be pretty much the most perfect dog. His happy spirit is shining though and as he becomes more and more comfortable he’s becoming more puppy-like in his happiness.
In the past week he has had a handful of visitors, all of whom have promptly fallen in love with him and been treated to an assortment of tasty dried body parts such as elk antler, beef trachea, duck feet, bully sticks and pig ears. But most importantly he has begun his heartworm treatment protocol.
This is important for a couple of reasons. Obviously because successfully treating the heartworms should save his life, but second, speaking of saving his life, never have I pulled a dog knowing that his chances were 50/50. If in a few days to a week he didn’t decompress enough to pass assessment and show that he was adoptable, he would be sent for humane euthanasia. How happy I am that he didn’t need days or weeks to decompress. How happy I am that he showed his true gentle, loving self the moment he realized he was about to embark on his next grand adventure.
Sure, part of his future is uncertain. Heart worm treatment is rough on a dog but being as pragmatic as possible, I know that if he (dog forbid) were to have complications tomorrow from which he couldn’t recover, he will have passed in the loving company of his foster dad, and with the love of the village who are pulling for him.
Peace-a-bull Assembly 
Having seen our Ray through Stage 2 Heartworm, I would stress the importance of keeping Marley’s heart rate as low as possible once the treatment starts ( = no excitement). Remember the dead Heartworms are going to start breaking down and will circulate in his body. The greatest risk is an excited Marley = increased circulation = potential blockage = congestive heart failure. Wishing you both an uneventful and successful treatment program.
Yes, we have him in foster with a single, retired gentleman who has no other pets. A hopefully uneventful six months or so.
Thanks for the good wishes.
I assume you had no choice? Every time he sees you, won’t he get really excited? Does the “foster Dad” take him for walks, and understand all the “triggers” that must be avoided to keep Marley calm? If it is possible for you to nurse him through his injections etc., it is a huge bonding opportunity, and one which we would not have missed.