Toby Update

Toby is settling in nicely, and has remembered all the household routines.

After his long car trip and an initial clean-up, he took a trip to Arlington on Friday to visit Marcey of Grooming by Marcey. She gave him a "puppy cut" to remove all the close mats, and a bath to soothe the dry skin and the scrapes from his month long trek. Thank you, Marcey, for repeatedly donating your services to A Forever Home for our foster dogs.

On the way home, we stopped and got him a doggie sweatshirt to keep him warm.


Toby and Jessie, who spent many hours looking for him in Leesburg (Schmoe beagle is on the other end of the couch)



Toby snoozing on the doggie bed strategically placed between the space heater and the dog food


As he gets more rested, he has been playing with the squeaky toys and chew toys, and has even spent a few minutes romping through the house with Jessie.

He is home to stay as I will be adopting him - hopefully he will be content with occasional bits of Chic-fil-A.

Thanks to everyone for bringing this little guy to safety.

Roz

Update on Toby

Toby and I finally made it home at midnight after leaving the vet in Purcelliville at 4pm - a trip google maps says is 41.1 miles and should take an hour.

Other than lack of restroom facilities it was not an unpleasant trip. Toby slept most of the trip in his crate on a dog bed doubled up to fit the crate. The traffic didn't even bother me because I would look over at Toby, sound asleep - sometimes just stretched out, sometimes on his back with his belly exposed and completely relaxed. He would wake up every now and again and enjoy some of his favorite Bil-Jac liver treats. We used the 4-wheel-drive the entire way and never got above third-gear.

Thankfully we had power when arrived home and he laid next to me on the couch while I started cutting off burrs and mats. He had a bath just to remove the outer layer of filth and stink and cutting out more burrs.

Once he was wet you could clearly see how emaciated he is. His tail is still heavily covered with burrs too deeply entangled to trim, some under his chin and on his paws and a big wad of burrs under his armpit that he won't yet let me cut that has rubbed him raw. I will be scheduling him for a proper grooming a soon as possible.

He looks pretty good and you can hold and pet him. He has been eating frequently, slept next to the heater last night, and has been checking the toy inventory and played briefly with a squeak toy this morning.

He is not back to his same level of interest and activity but seems to remember everything and our routines, but is probably still exhausted.

Roz

TOBY HAS BEEN FOUND!!!

On Tuesday January 25th Toby was found by a family on Evergreen Mill Road. He was seen chasing their chickens. He caught a chicken and killed it, but the family, seeing he was so skinny, chased him down fearing he would not survive. They called animal control but tried to not mention the chicken for fear they would put him down. Animal control, however, were also looking for him and was just as excited to have Toby safe. He was taken to Blue Ridge Veterinary Associates in Purcellville where he was treated dehydration, dewormed, given a check-up and grooming as he was filthy and covered with burrs. He lost one-third of is body weight but will be just fine and should be able to come home today - Wednesday.

I cannot express the gratitude to all the people who worked so hard to find Toby, track Toby, establish and monitor feeding station, get the word out and keep Leesburg aware and watching. It was this awareness, supported by all the contacts you made with people on a daily basis that led to his safe return and such careful handling upon his recovery. Thank you on behalf of Toby, A Forever Home Rescue and from the bottom of my heart.

Roz