Princess Leia

UPDATE: May 29, 2013
Leia got a hair cut today! She looks so much smaller, but just as cute. We also got the results of her antibody test. She has never been vaccinated, so we started the first round of vaccinations today, which will be finished in 6 weeks. As usual, she was an angel at the vet's. It's so hard to believe that this loving dog was abandoned. She deserves a family that will love her forever. Please contact me if you are interested in adopting Leia! Of note, if you get Leia spayed, we will donate the adoption fee money toward her spaying.

UPDATE: May 23, 2013
This puppy is amazing!!! Please adopt her!!
Leia went to the vet again this week who confirmed that her ears are completely healed up and her skin condition has improved greatly. We are still cleaning and dressing her paws to help the skin heal. She is down in weight, from 6.1 to 5.6kg, but is happily gaining it back. The meds she was on caused significant appetite reduction, but now she's eating her entire meal as soon as we give it to her. The best news we got was that she is HEARTWORM NEGATIVE!! We gave her preventative medication that lasts for the next month. I also asked for an antibody test so that we can learn whether her vaccinations are up to date or not. As soon as I get the results, I will post here.
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Leia is a lost dog who hasn't had any luck finding her owners. Despite putting out posters and listing her on various websites, no one has contacted us. She was found on Bugil Academy campus in Cheonan on April 19th with no ID and no collar. I couldn't bear the thought of her being taken to a shelter, so I offered to house her for the weekend. After taking care of her for a few days, it was obvious she was someone's pet, and a princess at that. Hence the name Leia.

In 4 weeks, Leia has progressed immensely. She was timid and shy at first, scared to even take a walk outside. But now she loves her daily walks and even runs on occasion. She has become more playful and her tail, which used to be tucked between her legs, is up and wagging. Leia is certainly a lap dog; she is very affectionate, likes to be in the same room as us, and especially loves cuddling. She is not allowed on the furniture at our house and, for the most part, obeys these rules. She sleeps in a confined area not in the bedroom, and while she protested this in the beginning with barking, she has since adjusted. She is crate trained, not pee pad trained, and she will hold it for up to 12 hours while we are at work rather than using the pee pad. When we get home, Leia is always so excited to see us and her whole body wags. When she smiles, she lights up the room.

Leia is a saint at the vet's. We took her for a check up the first week we had her and she waited very patiently in the waiting room. The vet estimated Leia to be less than 4 years old and she weighs around 6kg. She is not spade (which we confirmed a week later when she went into heat). As is common with Shih Tzu's, Leia has malassezia dermatitis, which is a skin infection characterized by an overgrowth of yeast. This meant that the skin on her paws was raw and flaky. Her ears and belly also had the presence of yeast. After 3 weeks of drugs and medicated shampoo, Leia is looking much better.

We love Leia and are confident that she would make someone very happy. She has so much love to give - you would be very rewarded. Unfortunately, we travel too much and it is impossible for us to keep her. This was supposed to be a temporary situation, so we are looking to find her a good home as soon as possible. We are flying back to Canada in July and would be willing to transport her to North America if we can find her a great home across the pond. Please share Leia's story!

Videos of Leia walking in Cheonan
http://youtu.be/t0UlK_5NNnA
http://youtu.be/Njtw2sZVgVY