GSRBC has no room to take her into our care at the moment. All our fosters are full. Mona is quickly slipping through the cracks and while she is not in our care, we are working with the shelter to give Mona the best stimulation we can and find her that fantastic home that we know is out there for her somewhere. 

We have hired a trainer to go in and work with Mona and help her to gain some coping skills for shelter life. 

In the meantime, we will continue to seek out a foster home for Mona so that we can take her into our care and begin to work with her on a more consistent basis. 

Mona's energy level would easily overwhelm small children and we would recommend her for an adult only home.

She seems to do ok with other dogs if introduced properly.

Cats? humm... likely not a good idea for this ball of energy.

Mona will need an dog savvy owner, and breed experience would be an asset. She is an energetic and would love to be with a companion who has an active lifestyle. 

Due to the stress that Mona is under in the shelter environment, she has developed a stress induced habit of she obsessively chasing her tail. Some dogs, no matter how good the shelter, just can not adjust to the high stress of it all. They can't cope with the never ending line of people coming through to peer at them in their kennel. Even though Mona has a set of volunteers that take her out on long walks and try to interact with her when they can, it is not enough, and Mona needs out! 

The staff at the shelter is working with Mona to stop this obsessive behavior, but there is only so much time and so many people to go around. Mona needs more. 

October 28th 2006

Lucky Mona has found herself a short term GSRBC foster home in Kelowna. She will be back at the shelter on December 1st, and hopefully we will have more information to share about her at that time. 

Please check back for updates on Mona!

November 3rd ~ Update from Mona's foster:

Mona has settled down considerably, but still having issues when outside off leash.  She roams the house when we're there, and is pretty much relaxed, unless we start to move around, and then she is right there and starts to breathe heavier.  She definitely has separation anxiety, so I try not to make a big deal about leaving.

It will be a while till I trust her loose to roam the house when we're not there, as she is a chewer and anything goes.  I gave her an old throw pillow, as she was fascinated with the ones in the living room and I didn't want her chewing those.  She loves it.  She'll lay down and just gnaw on it, almost sucking it. Hasn't torn it yet, but it's getting a good chew.

Today, she finally decided to eat the dentabone I gave her on the ride home. She's had it in her kennel the whole time, and hasn't touched it, but today, she retrieved it and proceeded to try hiding it in various places around the house.  Finally, she settled down with it and ate about half.

She walks very well on the lead, responding to heel, and I make her sit each time I stop walking and when we come to a road to cross.  We walked thru the park beside a flock of ducks and she didn't do more than look at them, hardly a response at all.  She growled at a man as we were walking, but after a correction of the lead, settled down.

She is a very gentle eater and doesn't make much of a mess around her bowl. When I hand food to her, she takes it gently and doesn't have a problem with me being near her food bowl.  Today, she finally ate a meal at breakfast and another for supper.  

When we play in the house, she drops the ball in order for me to pick it up and throw again, with the occasional tease, but in general she brings it back.

I've been putting Cherry Plum Bach essence in her drinking water, as it is known to help with obsessive habits. She has quieted down a fair bit in the house, and she'll quietly follow me around as I go thru my morning routine, or she'll lay down and watch me prepare dinner, etc.

She's become quite attached to Dave!  She clings to him like glue.  If he goes, so does she.  He was working on the furnace yesterday, and she was right in there, watching and keeping him company.  She gets quite upset when he leaves the house.  I call her his little buddy.  Now I know what Dave felt like with our last 2 GSD's who clung to me!

She might have lived with someone who had allergies, as she goes crazy when you sneeze!  Can't think of any other reason, but sneezes set her off.  She also doesn't like the vacuum or a hairdryer - sets her spinning.

I tried to see if she was any calmer outside by letting her loose again today.  No go.  She ran and spun in circles almost immediately and it lasted for 10 minutes or so.  If I have her on the 30' lead, she's better, but not loose.  

She wanders the house freely, checking that we're all accounted for and ends up settling usually with Dave or I.  

She is definitely a changed dog.  If I can get a video of her, I will.  She has made wonderful changes, just has some deep underlying issues.  She's become much more playful in the house, and we're currently breaking her of the chew my hand habit, as she wants to mouth you quite a bit.

I would say that a home without children would be best, only because she becomes hyper at the slightest activity, so active children might stress her.

December Update:

Mona is currently back a the Coquitlam animal shelter. 

Mona is finding shelter life extremely stressful. She is a very sweet girl with a very high energy level. Mona will need an experienced owner, and breed experience would be an asset. Mona is an energetic girl and would love to be with an owner who has an active lifestyle. An obedience class is mandatory for Mona and her new owner. Please consider opening your heart and home to this very special girl!

January Update:

Adopted!!!

Thank you to all Mona's sponsors:

Kelli Taylor

Alec Lovely in honor of Sasha