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Libby is a sweet and lively Jack Russell Terrier of 10 years who came into rescue after her owner passed away. She’s in an Oldies Club foster home in Gosport, Hampshire while she waits for the perfect person to find her.
Summary: Libby loves people and squeaky toys – see the video further down this page! She is completely blind and so needs help with stairs. A couple of steps are OK for her but not a whole flight of stairs. She needs a home on one level, or where she can safely be carried upstairs. She doesn’t want any other pets at home but would be fine with older children. She has a special diet to manage a kidney condition. She’d like someone to be with her most of the time so she can relax and bask in the sunshine or snuggle up to them on the sofa.
Happy girl in foster: Libby took only 2-3 days to settle in to her foster home. First she explored everything, to get her bearings, then was very quickly up on the sofa making herself comfortable. Being a JRT, she is extremely bright and not daunted by anything so she is highly adaptable. She quite likes to sleep on the sofa at night but will sometimes wander into the bedroom and settle in her bed there instead.
Prefers company: Libby can be left for a short time when necessary but she feels safer when she knows someone’s there with her. She has been left for 3 hours and was OK, just extremely pleased when her foster carer returned! A home where there’s usually someone about would suit her best.
Only pet at home: Libby doesn’t like close contact with other dogs. The smell of cats is a trigger for her and she will tell them to jolly well jog on!
Older children only: Libby can live with older, respectful children. She’s had a family Christmas with a full house and was loving all the attention.
Enjoys her walks: Obviously, Libby stays on the lead for walks. She doesn’t pull but she does zig-zag, which is usual for blind dogs. She gets very focussed on interesting smells and will sometimes go back to double check an especially good one. She responds well to simple commands such as ‘up’ or ‘down’ when navigating a step or a kerb, ‘mind’ to avoid obstacles and ‘good girl’ when she is going in the right direction. She’s used to having 2 walks a day of about half an hour each, however, she’ll want to cut that short if it’s bad weather. She’s an intrepid explorer but she’s not daft!
Just about OK in the car: Libby isn’t a fan of car journeys but will tolerate them. She acts quite stressed at first, whining and panting. She travels in a crate for safety and is always thrilled to get out at the other end! She has managed a few 4 hour journeys with breaks but wouldn’t want to have to travel very often.
Libby’s favourite pastimes: Eating, barking at foxes, and snuggling next to her humans. She loves playing with her squeaky toy – she barks when she can’t find it!
Libby’s ideal home: Libby needs a home which is all on one level, or where she can be carried upstairs safely. She will come down the stairs, as long as you are with her, telling her ‘down’ so that she knows there are steps, but stair obviously need to be carefully managed for Libby’s safety, with a stairgate for example. She would like a safe garden to potter in, human company most of the time, no other pets, plenty of toys, plus walkies and sofa snuggles!
Health notes: Libby is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea-treated. Libby became completely blind only recently, but this hasn’t set back her natural ability to live life to the fullest. She has a kidney condition which is managed perfectly well with a commercial special diet and a supplement that does not need a prescription. Her irrepressible JRT enthusiasm keeps her spirits buoyant.
From Libby’s foster carer: “Libby is cheeky; noisy when excited or wants your attention; affectionate and nosey. Libby is a delight, and has taken changes in foster parents all in her stride. She is a robust little girl who, according to the vet, could have a long life as long as her diet is adhered to. She was jumping up on the couch within 2 hours of arriving at her current foster home, and is quite fearless as long as you tell her it’s OK to jump up and down from the sofa. She is a typical Jack Russell: a massive personality in a small body.”
More from Libby’s foster carer: “Libby likes to use me as her own personal yoga or should that be ‘doga’ mat, stretching up until she is nearly nose to nose with me, just to.make sure she has my full attention! At night she likes to burrow under the blankets on her bed, or for me to cover her with one of the blankets. Often you would never know she was there until you call her name and a nose appears from within the blanket.
Despite being blind, Libby will find her way into the bungalow and onto the sofa or into her bed easily. As her diet is quite restricted, she cannot have traditional treats,but loves carrots, banana, apples pears and melon. Basically, any food as she is very food motivated. When she barks in excitement her front feet lift off the floor, as if to give her bark more momentum. Once she realises someone wants to pet her, her tail goes into overdrive, she likes meeting people, especially if getting fussed over!”
If you would like to offer Libby a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact an Oldies Club Rehoming Coordinator as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk
Telephone: 0844 586 8656
She can be rehomed anywhere on the UK mainland – the closer to her foster home the better – subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect her.
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If you would love to offer a home to an oldie but your circumstances aren’t suitable, perhaps you would be kind enough to sponsor one of the special oldies we are caring for that, due to health problems, are unlikely to be offered a permanent home.