Adopt This PAWS Pet

Zeus My name is Zeus and I'm a special needs pet (and that's mud on my nose in the picture). I’m looking for a new home at the tender age of 3 years. I was surrendered to PAWS because I had, and sometimes still do, a really weird issue of growling at what appeared to be at nothing. I have NEVER attacked or bitten anyone or anything. I just growled! My owners didn’t know what was wrong with me and were not able to cope and due to a huge change in their family, they tearfully let me go with the hopes that someone could help me. I was hurting somewhere, everywhere! My foster mom discovered my restlessness and muscle spasms, especially at night and early morning. It’s very possible that I may have been this way as a wee puppy and it just never went away but slowly got worse. And so did the growlies – this becoming a bad habit. After a couple of hospital visits that included blood work, x-rays, eye exams and a good healthy general check up, it was concluded that I am one very healthy and sound dog. I have good hips, elbows and spine, no arthritis, and my organs are healthy and where they should be. So what is wrong with me? Could I have Fibromyalgia? My muscles were one huge massive knot that took some work for them to relax. I wanted to be touched and hugged but I was afraid it would hurt and if it did, I growled and this would make people afraid or sad. I was sad about being this way. This pain and discomfort was making me frustrated and protective of my body. With the help a very special person that came to my foster home every week to give me massage therapy, Reiki, and other stuff, I am positive I am on the road to recovery. I feel so much better. I am actually moving more freely and am proud to say I now have a “retriever sashay”. I am sleeping better because I am able to be more comfortable. My foster mom has put a stop to the growling. Well most of it. I still sneak in the odd one when she’s not around. The other dogs in the house aren’t afraid of me anymore and that makes me happy. I love going for long walks and you can trust me that I won’t run away. I like to stay close. I will need some obedience training though. My dog friends put me to shame with how much more they know. I’m not a bad dog, I have good manners, I just need to learn more. My foster mom says I’m very handsome but sometimes she laughs at my tail because it is not a proper Lab tail. She says despite my growling I’m such a happy boy. She knows I wasn’t being mean or vicious. It’s probably best that I am adopted to a family that is active and is okay with my disability. I could have some days where I need a lot of patience and not be allowed to get away with the growling, in case it becomes a habit again. I may need an occasional visit with my massage friend to remind me how to relax.