GEMMA

Gemma is a good natured young female with even more positive attributes than there are breeds in her DNA. Beneath her flashy Border Collie coat, there’s a substantial percentage of herding breeds, a soupçon of hound, a touch of terrier, some retriever, and the inevitable molecule of Chihuahua.  She is kissy, mouthy, cuddly, and can sometimes be pushy. When she’s not zooming and wrestling with her dog playmate, she sticks close to her people, especially when those include children. She loves to play soccer with kids and is very appropriate—does not jump up or nip at heels.  
Gemma has excellent recall and is house trained to a dog door, always eager for a walk, and  ready for a solid night’s sleep by sundown. 
SPECIAL NEEDS:  Gemma swallowed some rug yarn, incurred an obstruction, and required back-to-back emergency surgeries, first, to remove the obstruction and, second, to resolve a septic abdomen.  She’s a good eater, but she must never be left to her own devices. Scarring and adhesions in her stomach and intestines make Gemma unable to be trusted with a stuffy toy, a house slipper, or a rawhide chew.   Surgeon says:  Nothing larger than a Hickory Nut must enter Gemma’s GI tract!   
Gemma will do best with a playful dog buddy to keep her company in the household.  Otherwise, provision must be made for doggy day care, a pet sitter, a friend or family member to monitor her when nobody is home.  She may be crated for no more than 3 hours at a time and, even then, must be provided a selection of tasty treats and indestructible chews (benebones, kong stuffed with frozen wet food or peanut butter, and her inimitable Treat Dispensing Pickle).
Gemma is Thunder phobic.  She pants and huddles close to her person during storms.  A thunder shirt and a dose of Sileo calms her.
Gemma experiences anxiety and motion sickness during car rides.  Gabapentin soothes her anxiety and Maropitant (Cerenia) addresses the motion sickness. You can’t expect her to enjoy a road trip right off the bat, but slow, step by step, day by day introduction to a vehicle has been known to be effective for some dogs.
Gemma is being fostered in Pittsboro NC. To learn more about her please email pearson9184@gmail.com.

GEMMA is located in Pittsboro NC. For more information, contact Ellen Pearson at pearson9184@gmail.com.

If you have submitted an adoption application to CBCR within the last three years and you have not moved, please contact the foster parent before submitting another application. The foster parent will let you know if another application is required.