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Sweetie & Murphy
Montgomery, Alabama
Sweetie: Female Murphy; Male
Age: Sweetie 7 (DOB 5/1/2016)
Murphy 7 (DOB 5/26/2016)
Sweetie 13# (needs to lose a couple)
Murphy 14#
Sweetie: Loose knees
Murphy: Mild asymtomatic murmur
Adoption donation: $600 ($300 each)
BONDED PAIR | AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
💜 Someone home much of day/low alone time
🌱 Safe and secured fenced yard
🏡 Quiet, adult only home
🚘 Within driving distance to vet cardiologist
🛑 If you do not check ALL of the above requirements, your application will not pass the screening process for consideration. We do not compromise on these requirements as we feel they are essential to a successful adoption with Sweetie & Murphy.
MEET SWEETIE & MURPHY 🐶🐶
Darlings Sweetie (female) & Murphy (male) have been together their entire lives and came into our care earlier this year when their owner suffered unexpected health issues. While their world was turned upside down they've thankfully had each other to rely on for comfort. This precious pair just celebrated their 7th birthdays this month, and they are now ready to find their new furever family - together, of course.
MEDICAL 🩺
7 year olds Sweetie & Murphy are in good overall health! They are both up to date on vaccinations, spayed and neutered, microchipped, on monthly preventatives, and are not on any prescription medications. All of their labwork including their heartworm and tick borne illness test, fecal test, urinalysis, and bloodwork is normal and negative. They had dentals last year before coming into our care where Sweetie lost the rest of her remaining teeth, and Murphy had cleaned his few remaining teeth in good shape. Sweetie's eyes, hips, and heart are clear and congenitally sound but she has luxating patellas (loose knees) which don't currently give her any trouble. Her family can help keep it that way by ensuring she remains at her ideal weight. Murphy's eyes, hips, and knees are clear and congenitally sound, but he has an audible heart murmur due to mitral valve disease (MVD) which plagues the breed. His family should be prepared to get him a baseline echocardiogram performed by a veterinary cardiologist so that any progression of the disease can best be monitored and managed.
FOOD & POTTY HABITS 🥘
Sweetie & Murphy are precious blenheim Cavaliers who are on the smaller side. Murphy weighs his ideal weight of 14 pounds, and Sweetie is currently weighing 13 pounds. She arrived overweight, has already lost a couple pounds in rescue, and we feel is now just about a pound away from her ideal weight. This is important because of her luxating patellas and their family should remain committed to continuing them on their strictly portioned meals, limited healthy treats, and daily activity to ensure they remain in their best health and best self! They are both good eaters, always licking their bowls clean, and prefer to eat their twice a day meals alongside each other although supervision is needed during mealtime to ensure Sweetie doesn't infringe upon Murphy's bowl which she otherwise would have a tendency to do. Their lack of teeth certainly doesn't affect their eating or slow them down!
Sweetie & Murphy are now reliable in their foster home as long as they are given plenty of opportunities outside to be successful - they should be taken out first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every few hours in between including immediately after meals. They are let out into the safe and secured fenced yard in their foster home for pottying and because they are food motivated, a small tasty treat following good potty behavior will be wonderful reinforcement for them. They did have an occasional accident initially when they were transitioning and learning their new environment and routine, and we would expect the same when they transition yet again as they need time to adjust.
PERSONALITY 💕
In true Cavalier fashion, both are extremely sweet and snuggly and love to be with their people, and of course, with each other. Their foster mom describes them as primarily couch potatoes who enjoy a slow, relaxed, quiet, leisurely pace and day where there is plenty of couch time, lap time, and cav naps on the agenda. That said, they do come to life outside in the safe and secured fenced yard where they really enjoy themselves running, exploring, and sniffing. Their furever home should have a safe and secured fenced yard, with room to run, for pottying purposes and should be given plenty of opportunities to go outside so they can continue to enjoy their outdoor freedom in. Like most Cavaliers, they want to be with you and will follow on your heels. They thrive off of your attention and affection and need a family who has the time and desire to shower them with lots of gentle love.
ROUTINE ⏰
Sweetie & Murphy start their day out in the yard for pottying and then in for breakfast. They then spend much of the day together with their foster mom in the home office while she works from home where they are perfect co-workers, making themselves comfy and cozy on a dog bed by her desk. They enjoy frequent trips into the yard throughout the day for pottying, play, fresh air, and sunshine. During short periods of time when no humans are home, Sweetie & Murphy have free roam of the downstairs puppy proofed area of the home where they have plenty of space, comforts, and of course companionship. They have not been strictly confined while in our care and they do not need to be nor do we recommend that they are. They do well being left for short periods of time but they certainly are happiest being with their people and so we are seeking a family where someone can be with them much of the day and where they will have low alone time. In the evenings after dinner they love couch time with their foster family while they watch their favorite shows. At night, they sleep in the big bed with their foster mom and Cavalier foster siblings where they sleep soundly knowing they are safe and loved with their person close. We are seeking a family who will continue to invite them into the big bed.
SOCIALIZATION 💜
We do not believe that Sweetie & Murphy have had a lot of socialization opportunities with meeting different people as they are both rather cautious with new people - Sweetie will simply avoid, while Murphy will act standoffish and bark initially. They both warm up rather quickly though with time and once shown gentle love. And of course once trust has been established and a relationship formed, theywant all your love and attention- especially Murphy who seeks your affection out more than Sweetie, who is a bit more reserved. We do not believe they have had any exposure to children and feel they would be happiest and do best in a quiet, adult only home without too much noise, activity, or people in and out.
Sweetie & Murphy share their home with other Cavaliers and get along with them very well. As long as they could be with someone much of the day we feel they could do okay together as only dogs in the home, but having another resident dog to show them the ropes certainly helps with their transition so that they know what to do, where to go, and how to act. Because they are couch potatoes who like their peace and quiet, they would do best paired with another mild, adult Cavalier or other dog of similar size and gentle temperament. They can be overwhelmed with dogs that are large, loud, or too active. They have not been exposed to any cats while in our care so we are unsure how they would do with a feline friend in the home.
IDEAL FAMILY & HOME 🏡
Most importantly, Sweetie & Murphy need and deserve a family who has the time and ability to shower them with so much gentle love and attention and make them important and included members of their family. Therefore, we are seeking a family where someone can be with them much of the day and where they will have low alone time and an abundance of snuggle time. They would do best in a quiet, laid back, relaxed adult only home environment where they can enjoy leisurely days napping on the couch and soaking up the sunshine in the yard. They are small dogs and need pet steps to be able to safely access on and off furniture and need a lift on and off the bed. Especially because of Sweetie's luxating patellas, she should not do any jumping and would do best with carpet or treads on stairs for traction and to reduce slipping. It is important that their family is patient with them and understands it will take some time for them to adjust and acclimate to yet another environment and family and that they need time, patience, and gentle love while they learn to get comfortable and settled in.
They need a home with a safe and secured fenced yard for pottying purposes and so they can continue to enjoy their outdoor freedom in. They love being outside and would love a family who also likes to spend time outdoors with them. They are comfortable being on a leash but prefer the freedom of the yard over leash walking. They enjoy car rides and ride safely and comfortably in a boosted car seat which we will ask that their family also provide for them - they love to be able to tag along with you whenever they can. Lastly, their family should live within reasonable driving distance of a veterinary cardiologist and should be prepared to move forward with Murphy's baseline echocardiogram.
HOW TO APPLY 💻
Sweetie & Murphy are darling pups who will do fantastic in their perfect fit home and will be wonderful additions to a very lucky family. If you feel you’re a perfect fit for this sweet precious pair and meet all of their requirements, please fill out an adoption application found on our website (TheCavalierRescue.org) then email us at CavalierRescueAL@gmail.com to express your interest, letting us know why you feel you are a match. Sweetie & Murphy are located in Montgomery, Alabama, and travel there is required. Their requested adoption donation is $600 ($300 each). Sweetie & Murphy are available for adoption now so please only apply if you are ready and able to adopt now.