6/4/21 – Cutie-pie Kai has gone to his lovely new home!
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Kai is a very cute 14-year-old Terrier who is in an Oldies Club foster home in Cardiff, South Wales, waiting for someone to offer him a permanent home. Kai can be rehomed within a 2-hour drive of Cardiff, or anywhere within Wales. Kai came into the Oldies Club via another rescue. His owner simply no longer wanted poor Kai.
Overview: Kai settled almost immediately at his foster home but he gets upset when left alone so needs someone with him all the time. He needs a pet-free home and is best walked in areas with few dogs. He is good with older children.
Doesn’t like to be left: Kai gets very anxious if left alone and will bark. His foster carer has managed this by either taking him to a dog sitter’s house or having someone dog sit Kai in her house when she needs to go out. She has tried to gradually desensitise Kai with short periods alone, and interactive treats, but hasn’t had much success so far.
Needs careful introduction to dogs: Kai shared his foster home with another dog for about 6 weeks. He had extremely careful introductions, and the initial few days were difficult, with barking and humping behaviour, but he eventually settled and the two dogs became very companionable. He is reactive to dogs he sees when out walking and so is kept on the lead when there are other dogs around.
Needs a cat-free home: Kai has read the terrier rule book about how to react to cats, so he needs a cat-free home.
Seems fine with children: Kai is very relaxed around children and has happily mixed with a number of children aged 6 and upwards. His foster carer thinks Kai could live with children if they were old enough to respect his age and space.
Enjoys walks: Kai is a fit little dog and will happily walk for up to an hour twice a day. He doesn’t pester to go for a walk though and is happy to have two short walks if, for example, the weather is cold and wet. Kai walks very well on a slack lead, he doesn’t pull and walks at a steady pace, but this changes if he sees another dog. His foster carer manages this by either changing direction to avoid face to face contact, or walking past briskly. Ideally Kai should be walked in areas where Kai won’t meet lots of dogs. You need to be vigilant about dogs rushing up to him, as he will snap at them. This simply seems to be a fear reaction. His foster carer is practising recall in the house, e.g. when he barks at passers by, and Kai is steadily learning and improving.
Loves the car: Kai LOVES car rides! He wears a car harness and sits on the passenger seat very quietly and happily.
Kai’s favourite pastimes: Watching the world go by the front window; Napping on the sofa, particularly on a heated overblanket; Going for walks; Licking pate or cream cheese from his Kong; Pootling around the garden when his foster carer is gardening.
Kai’s dislikes: Other dogs outdoors; Dry dog food; Being alone; Postmen.
Kai’s ideal home: Kai’s perfect home will be with someone who is at home most of the time and who can arrange for a friend or relative to step in to Kai-sit if need be. More than anything Kai just wants to have a human to bond with. He needs a secure garden, and a neighbourhood where he will not meet lots of dogs. He is a typical feisty little terrier and someone who understands terriers will understand him immediately. The person walking him must not be too frail as he needs firm control when passing other dogs.
Health notes: Kai is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea treated. Kai arrived with a number of decayed teeth. These were removed and he breezed through the operation. Blood tests were carried out, and the results were normal. The vet’s verdict was that Kai is very fit for his age. He has two fatty lumps, one on his belly and one on his neck, which cause no problems. He is not on any medication.
More from Kai’s foster carer: “Kai is happy, alert and companionable. He is great with male and female visitors to my home. He just loves any human contact. He has had two accidents in my home but that was before we had established his toileting routine. Now he is 100% clean in the house. He asks to go out with a little bouncy dance. Because of his missing teeth he is on soft food but he likes carrots and chew sticks, which clean his teeth. I have also been introducing toothpaste into his routine. He chooses to sleep on the bed with me at night and is very settled at night and sleeps like a log until I wake up.”
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If you would like to offer Kai a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact an Oldies Club rehoming co-ordinator as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk
Telephone: 0844 586 8656
Kai can be rehomed within a 2-hour drive of his foster home, or anywhere within Wales, subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect him.
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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.
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