Newman

Newman is a 3-year-old brindle male born in 2007. His registration tattoo is illegible, as is the month of his birth. Newman was turned in as a stray to the Amarillo Humane Society. Newman has been evaluated by Dr. Christy Soileau and Dr. Jeff Ellis of VCA Preston Park Animal Hospital. His right shoulder muscle is atrophied due to a previous traumatic injury which has caused permanent nerve damage. He does not seem to be in any pain at all, but occasionally limps. It is obvious that Newman was psychologically traumatized sometime in his past, as he is very frightened of people. His foster home is being very, very patient and working with him daily, and improvement is being made slowly.

Newman is cat tolerant and small dog tolerant.

We will never know just how far Newman has come, because we don't know where he crossed the starting line. We do know his thriving began with his first foster family, who gave him what may have been his first taste of unconditional love. When he came to us -- new surroundings, new faces, new routine -- he retreated into his shell a little.

But then he met the little foster scamp called Bessie (now in a forever home with the forever name of Penelope), and he began learning to be silly. We will be ever grateful to her for showing Newman how not to be self-conscious, and for inserting a little mirth into his life.

In large part because of her, no doubt, he goes absolutely loony when the leash is picked up, spinning in circles until we manage to clip it onto his collar. Once outside, after being with Bessie, Newman began to burst with happiness. How could anyone, he now seems to say, be this lucky to be walking down a street -- especially when there's a fellow greyhound walking next to him?

He is a master at holding his pee, and therefore one at tinkling a very long time -- long enough, quite often, for me to do significant hamstring stretches if I happen to be walking him after I've just finished a run.

Inside, Newman mostly sleeps, and mostly in the same spot. He has though, begun moseying out to the den where our Boogie spends most of his time. And in the last week or so, Newman has begun coming to the door when we arrive home. If he's not there immediately, he is after we call his name. He doesn't play all that often, though sometimes in the middle of the night I'll hear the squeak of a toy he's surreptitiously snuck into the bed with him.

Newman loves being brushed and talked to. He ignores our cats, and has gotten along with every foster who has shared the house with him. He is still basically shy (and really, aren't we all to some degree?) and will benefit from lots of love (and really, don't we all?)

He is eager to please, plays well with others, and -- well, a dog with a sweeter disposition you'll be hard-pressed to find. Oh my gosh, we love Newman. Someone out there will love him even more than we do (if that's possible). Might it be you?

Newman's Foster Mom