Sponsor a Dog: Clancy

Clancy joined the League's Sponsor Program in 2003. Clancy is a white and fluffy male terrier-mix who's got a lot of spunk! Clancy was rescued as a puppy from a municipal shelter as a scrawny, but happy go lucky dog – he was spotted by his wagging furry tail! A member of the League's rescue team knew that Clancy was a “diamond in the rough!” Upon the League veterinarian's evaluation, Clancy was diagnosed as having a severe heart murmur. Sadly, it is estimated that the severity of his heart murmur could significantly shorten his life.

X-rays from the League's state-of-the-art Medical Center revealed that Clancy's heart is close to three times its normal size! If you were to hold Clancy close to your own heart, you'd feel his heart actually beating furiously inside his ribcage. No matter how long Clancy has to live, with your generous monthly donations, the League will do everything possible to keep him as comfortable and happy as possible.

Clancy's Updates

4th Quarter 2009
Our adorable, white Terrier mutt-i-gree, Clancy, is doing just fine! It's hard to believe that Clancy has been in our care since 2003. He was only a puppy when he was rescued by the Animal League. Back then, rescuers knew that he was a diamond in the rough and now look at him! Forever wagging his tail, Clancy enjoys running in the backyard of his foster care home and chasing the squirrels along the fence line. His severe heart murmur, a heart that is close to three times its normal size, will remain closely monitored.

3rd Quarter 2009
Clancy's very happy when the sun is shining bright. Then, he's allowed outside in the backyard to play. He enjoys chasing the squirrels that dare to run across his path. The squirrels often run along the cables that hang high above the house and into the trees. Clancy's foster mother thinks the squirrels tease Clancy by running back and forth and dangling themselves as if they are going to fall into his reach. Clancy gets very excited by them and keeps a close eye on them at all times. It's harmless play and seems to keep him content for hours.

2nd Quarter 2009
Clown dog Clancy is feeling well and up to his tricks again! His latest trick is rolling around on the freshly cut grass which ultimately turns his white, furry coat, green! He very much enjoys going outside in the nice weather. He is a very capable runner for a pet with special needs. He's pretty sharp too when it comes to chasing the squirrels, but hasn't successfully caught one yet. As always, he remains the master of goofing around for attention!

1st Quarter 2009
We are happy to report that Clancy is feeling great! His foster mother tells us that, thankfully, he seems to have adjusted well to his new sibling dog, Guinness. She says that Clancy still thinks he's a lap dog. Any chance he gets, he'll jump on to his foster mother's lap and try to take a nap. If she's not home, Clancy's favorite hiding and napping spot is under her bed. She also gives Clancy his haircuts, but he refuses to let her cut the hair on his legs. We're not sure what that's all about, but are happy as long as Clancy is happy!

4th Quarter 2008
Clancy came to the Animal League's medical center to see a veterinarian due to a foot infection. His foster family thinks he got a splinter from jumping into the wood pile by their home. He is doing fine now. His foster mother reports that Clancy was not a good boy the day she brought him to the medical center, where she works too. He wanted to go after any dog that he saw and after a while, she had to distract him with a towel over his cage so that he could relax.

3rd Quarter 2008
Clancy's foster mother reports that Clancy is well medically, but has not been himself lately. He's been acting out and testing his limits. His favorite foster-sister cat, Precious, passed away a few weeks ago and his foster family thinks that he really misses her. Clancy seems to sense that she is not coming back home. Maybe he is still waiting for her to return. He used to always lie in her bed, but now he won't even try. This goes to show that even dear canines can mourn their loved ones, both humans and animals. Let's keep Clancy in our thoughts during this difficult time in his life.

2nd Quarter 2008
Clancy isn't warming up to the new dog that moved in next door. This dog is disrupting his normal outside routine. Instead of Clancy enjoying his backyard, especially now that spring has arrived, he can be found by the fence barking and growling at his new neighbor. His foster family is trying to teach him to be nice and to get used to his new neighbor. Hopefully, we'll be able to report that this dog will soon be Clancy's new best friend...or sweetheart!

1st Quarter 2008
Clancy recently celebrated his 5th Birthday! He received a large bone that he did not want to share with any of his housemates! He preferred to enjoy his gift in the comfort of his very own dog bed and in the privacy of the upstairs of the house. His foster mother tells us that he is extremely close to her, a “Mamma's Boy, if you will! In addition, Clancy is the protector of his backyard and chases away any bird or squirrel that enters his turf. Wishing you many more happy and healthy years to come, our dear Clancy!

4th Quarter 2007
It seems Clancy knows how to tell time. Every morning at 6:30 and every evening at 7:00, Clancy gets a cookie. So when the time is right, he goes and sits by the garage door and waits. If the cookie doesn't come to him, he'll bark until he gets one. Clancy is also becoming a little more social and is willing to meet new people without trying to bite them. It seems that with age comes wisdom. Clancy will be five years old in December!

3rd Quarter 2007
It's no secret that Clancy is a fan of summertime and being outside. He stands guard in the garden and will not let any squirrels or birds in the yard. Now if only we could get him to plant some vegetables!

2nd Quarter 2007
Beautiful Clancy – with his gorgeous white tresses – looks like a springtime dandelion. He is such a splendid dog with a booming personality. Just when you thought he couldn't be any more handsome, he gets a fabulous haircut. Not only does he look marvelous, but he's going to really appreciate his lighter mane as the weather gets warmer. Someone blew the fuzzy petals off the dandelion. I hope they made a wish!

1st Quarter 2007
Clancy was having a bit of an infection on one of his toes, but nothing serious and nothing that could hinder his jolly spirit and strong will. He is one beautiful and happy dog! Warm, friendly and affectionate, Clancy makes everybody look forward to his visits. He'll have another checkup soon so we can keep an eye on that toe and his overall health. Regardless of his various medical conditions, Clancy always perseveres with a grin on his face and a wag of his tail. Your support of Clancy is greatly appreciated!

4th Quarter 2006
Clancy is sporting a new haircut which he seems quite proud of! His legs still appear to be bothering him, but that hasn't stopped him from playing and chasing after his friends! His newest game is "Hide and Seek"! He hides under his foster Mom's bed until she comes to find him! We are happy to report that there have been no more biting incidents. His foster Mom feels Clancy learned his lesson. Now he is getting along with everyone and is truly one happy dog! Your support of Clancy is greatly appreciated!

3rd Quarter 2006
Clancy was seen in our medical center recently for a routine check up. His foster mom had noticed his back legs had been bothering him. The doctor added another medication to what Clancy already takes hoping this will alleviate Clancy's leg problems. Blood work was taken to make sure all of his levels were ok. Sometimes Clancy likes to test his boundaries with the other animals in the house and with his foster mom. He recently went after one of the other dogs in the house and when his foster mom stepped in he bit her instead! She corrected him by telling him 'NO!', pointing to his crate. He went into the crate and lay down without a problem. She could tell Clancy knew he had done something wrong and for a few days after was trying to make amends with her. How could anyone be angry with Clancy for too long? Sure enough, they were back to being the best of friends in no time.

2nd Quarter 2006
Clancy sure is a real trooper. As we told you last time, he's been diagnosed with hip dysplasia in both hips. He's also been diagnosed with bilateral patella luxation which is a fancy way of saying his kneecaps don't stay put! The great news is that for now surgery is not necessary; his condition is being monitored with medication and supplements like glucosamine. Because of Clancy's heart condition, surgery would be more of a risk than for a healthy dog, so we're sure are glad that he doesn't have to have it. His foster care mom says she can tell that his legs bother him sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from running around and jumping up on things he's not supposed to. We're so happy to hear he's still got all that energy and spunk!

1st Quarter 2006
Clancy has really been settling in for the winter. We're pretty sure he's glad that everything has gotten back to normal since his mom's been back from rescuing animals affected by Hurricane Katrina. He's been especially fond of playing with one of his canine sisters. They love to romp and chew on each other. As per Clancy's foster care Mom, he can be somewhat annoying to his sister but she always manages to get back at him. She knows how to keep Clancy in his place. Despite all the fun and games, Clancy's been diagnosed with hip dysplasia. It would do his hips well to have corrective surgery, but because of his special heart condition, he might not be a candidate for anesthesia. Clancy recently visited us to have bloods pulled. The blood work will tell us if he's strong enough to be tranquilized so that radiographs can be taken. It's always sad when something as routine as obtaining x-rays needs so much careful planning. With a cardiac patient, you can never be too careful. We want Clancy to live a nice long life free of pain. We will keep you updated on Clancy's possible hip dysplasia surgery.

December 2005
Clancy has shown his Foster Care mom a new side to himself—the hunting dog. He's really taken to chasing squirrels and birds in his yard. He really doesn't want them on his property and is having a great time patrolling the yard! His foster care Mom and Dad have to keep a real close eye on him when he's out in the yard now. Also Clancy got himself a bit of a haircut recently. Or we should say a partial haircut. He'll let his foster care mom only shave or brush so much before Clancy gets too antsy and wants out! We're thankful for his spunk and good spirits, though even if it leaves him with only half a haircut! Thank you for your continued support of Clancy and all of the Sponsor pets.

November 2005
Poor Clancy missed his foster care Mom terribly while she was away – so much so that he developed severe diarrhea and sudden lameness. His foster care Dad immediately brought him to the Medical Center to be checked out. Clancy often came to work with his Mom at the League, so once he arrived here he assumed he was going to see her and pulled his Dad towards her office – miraculously without any lameness. The tummy trouble was attributed to stress and medication was prescribed. Needless to say, Clancy was thrilled when his Mom returned – so much so that he wouldn't let her out of his sight and insisted on sleeping in the bed with her! We can't thank you enough for your love and support. It is because of your kindness that Clancy and the other special needs animals have been given a second chance at happiness.

October 2005
Clancy is a bit sad these days – his foster care Mom left to help animals affected by Hurricane Katrina. He misses her very much – she was the one that rescued him from the pound when no one else wanted him, so they share a very special bond. Clancy is always by her side, and will even sit in her lap – despite his large size! While Mom helps out on the Gulf Coast, Clancy's foster care Dad is taking good care of him, lavishing him with lots of extra attention. We truly appreciate your continued support of Clancy and the other special needs animals. We couldn't care for them without you – thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

September 2005
Usually Clancy wants no part of a haircut, but this hot weather may have changed his mind. Recently his foster care Mom was grooming the other dogs like she always does (she would bring Clancy to us for a trim since he was so difficult) and Clancy watched carefully as she clipped away their hair. When she was done, she called Clancy to her – surprisingly, he came. More surprisingly, he let her shave him like a sheep – he sat still for the whole thing which took almost an hour! There were a couple of areas he wouldn't let her do right then, but the next day she was able to finish him up. Now Clancy's much cooler, and he is much easier to bathe. Best of all, though, his foster care Mom is very proud of him. Thank you for opening your heart up to Clancy and the other special needs animals. Your generosity allows us to provide them with loving homes and needed medical care.

August 2005
Clancy just loves to dig. Unfortunately, he doesn't love taking a bath after all that digging. He wiggles around so much in the tub that his foster care Mom can't seem to get him clean. So she brings him to the League where there's a nice big tub that can handle Clancy's squirming and fidgeting. Once Clancy's coat is spotless, he's back to his foster care home – and his new doggy best friend. Yes, Clancy's got a new pal – and it's the cutest thing to see. His new playmate is a very small dog, and, well, Clancy's rather large. They just love romping together and they've also got something in common – ironically both dogs have difficulty getting along with other dogs. (Except with each other, of course!) It is because of your kindness that we are able to give Clancy and the other special needs animals the best possible care.

July 2005

Clancy has begun a new summer hobby – excavating the backyard. He will dig deep holes anywhere – in the middle of the yard, near the house, and of course in the flower beds. Dirt flies everywhere and, naturally, Clancy is covered in it. And, once he digs the hole he has to lie in it. Luckily, his foster care Mom adores him no matter what he does – holes and all! Thank you for opening your heart up to Clancy and the other special needs animals. Your generosity is making a huge difference in the quality of their lives.

June 2005
When Clancy first came to us, his heart condition was so severe we really didn't know what the future would hold for him – or how long he'd be with us. To our amazement and delight, not only is Clancy here and doing well, he's full of energy and requires no medication for any symptoms. Of course we still watch him like a hawk – and he loves the attention! He absolutely adores his foster care Mom, especially when she gives him belly rubs or lets him sleep with her. She tried to keep Clancy out of the bed, but one look at that sweet fluffy dog and she was butter in his paws. Who can blame her? Thank you for your love, support and generosity. It is because of you that we can provide Clancy and the other special needs animals loving homes and needed medical care.

May 2005
Some days Clancy can be an absolute angel, other days he's not. On those days his foster care Mom has to separate Clancy from the other dogs in the house because he's playing too rough. Clancy just loves to wrestle with his housemates, but sometimes he forgets that he's nearly twice their size! Thankfully it doesn't happen often, and under the watchful eye of his foster care Mom, everyone usually plays well together. The Sponsor program relies on your kindness. It is because of your generosity that we are able to provide Clancy and the other special needs animals with loving homes and needed medical care.

April 2005
While most of us are looking forward to spring, Clancy will hate to see winter go. He just loves the snow – diving in it, running through it, then digging and rolling in it. He even makes doggy-snow angels – by the time he's finished, he's completely covered in the white powder and looks like an abdominal snow dog. You would think that after all that playing that he'd want to take a rest. But no – once inside Clancy wants to spread his wintery coat all around as quickly as possible. Thank you for caring so much about Clancy and the other special needs animals. Your generosity and love allows them a new leash on life.

March 2005
Clancy had to visit a groomer recently – he had some matted hair that he wouldn't let his foster care Mom get anywhere near. He wasn't too accommodating for the groomer either – to say it was a real wrestling match would be an understatement. Whoever said being beautiful is hard work must have had Clancy in mind! Your support of Clancy and the other special needs animals means the world to all of us. It is because of your kindness that they are living happier and healthier lives.

February 2005
Clancy's foster care Mom brought him in for a scheduled check-up recently, and he weighed in at a healthy 31 1/2 pounds. For a dog with such a fragile heart, he's sure got a lot of spunk! We couldn't be more pleased with how well Clancy is doing - especially given his guarded prognosis. Thank you for giving Clancy and the other special needs animals a second chance. Your love and support makes all the difference in the quality of their lives.

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