2009 dogs in review - MASON

Early in January 2009, Vancouver Animal Control alerted us to a sick senior AmStaff who had been seized. He was in bad shape, with a scabbed and puffy face - so swollen he could barely see. He was also mostly deaf, but if he smelled or sensed a person around he'd approach without hesitation, wagging and smiling.

Poor Mason was an itchy mess. His face was the worst problem, but the bald, scaly patches covered his entire body and he scratched constantly. No one knew if it was mange, infection, or something worse, but HugABull director Shelagh knew he needed out of the shelter ASAP. She took him home and started him on a regimen of testing, medication and an allergy-controlled diet - treatments that wouldn't be available at the shelter, but made possible in foster care through the Lovely Fund.

Mason's skin problems turned out to be allergies run amok, and after a few weeks of treatments he was recognizable as a dog once more. His sweet, mellow and loving personality never changed. Mason has an easy smile and wag for humans and dogs alike, and is so dog-social that Shelagh often uses him for shelter dog assessments and socialization training with reactive dogs.

At 9-10 years of age with health problems, Mason is going to be a long-term compassion foster through Shelagh and HugABull. With his puffy little face and soft temperament, he has become somewhat of a HugABull mascot. He's also an example of a dog that has every strike against him: he's a senior, he's dark in colour and not traditionally attractive, and he has health problems. He'd have very low adoption potential in a shelter, but is one of the sweetest, most affectionate, and easygoing companions one could ask for.