Nobu

UPDATE 29 Oct 2013:
Two weeks ago I thought to myself, "If I sit on the floor and Nobu climbs on my lap, I'm adopting her". She had never, ever climbed on my lap before. Guess which little fluffy white dog then climbed onto my lap? Yup! Nobu! :)

That could only mean one thing. She's mine! I'd been getting quotes to fly her home along with her brother, Noodle, and it turns out it mightn't be as expensive as I'd previously thought to fly both home (compared to just the one). I've known for a long time that she belongs with me. She has taken well over a year to get comfortable and confident with me...there is no way I'm giving her to anyone else. This little lady is my princess. I can't wait to take her and Noodle home with me to RSA.

As for a health update, she still needs to be spayed (which I will be doing in the next month, hopefully) and she also needs to have her cataract operated on. Other than that, she is super healthy and her hind legs are in great condition after the surgeries she had on those. Thank you for all the support over the last year and a half. I am so happy to be able to say she is mine!!

Here is her Facebook album:
https://www.facebook.com/clare.mills.902/media_set?set=a.101519474992004...

I will also try to upload more photos of her on here. <3 Loooove <3 !!!

UPDATE 18 Sept 2013:
NOBU BARKED!!! Since I've had her (one year and 3 months?) she has not uttered a single bark but today she barked, twice, in happiness and excitement!! (I was preparing the doggies dinner). My heart nearly exploded and I couldn't help laughing! She looked as shocked as I was, and hastily reversed into her bed. Since then, she barked once more when I came down the stairs in the morning two mornings later. This little girl has blossomed like nothing on this earth. It's safe to say there is nothing more rewarding than fostering a dog like this.

UPDATE 11 Sept 2013:
Nobu is extremely happy these days. She has had a haircut and looks very beautiful! She wasn't a fan of the puppies I fostered who enjoyed jumping on her and tugging on her beard, tail and ears, but she was never mean to them. Poor little love just tried to warn them off with a little growl or two. Nobu likes peace and quiet like all seniors do. She enjoys lounging on her bed and getting some loves. After her recent haircut I've realised she has two beautiful pure white patches on her shoulders which look like angel wings could bud out at any second. That makes complete sense because she IS a little angel!

UPDATE 21 July 2013:
Nobu still gets braver every day. She often comes up to me with her tail wagging and nudges me with her little nose. She is such a princess! Her left front leg is a little sore due to the angle between her "wrist", "elbow" & "shoulder" not being quite right. This is due to her poor muscle tone, because she won't walk outside... :( Ideally she needs to swim to build up muscle tone...but where and how? Otherwise, her hind legs are really good after having both knees done. Her appetite is great and she is a very happy little girl!

UPDATE 27 May 2013:
MAJOR milestone people!! I was sitting on the couch and Nobu put both her front paws up next to me! Standing on her back legs! Oh my goodness!!! :D Clever, clever girl!!

UPDATE 15 May 2013:
Nobu is all fuzzy and adorable. What a special little lady she is. She puts a smile on my dial every day, without fail! My sister is visiting from overseas and Nobu has proven to be so much more confident than before. She still likes to retreat to her bed in the corner sometimes but she will come out to ask for some cuddles, which is a huge achievement for her. She is also completely chilled with other dogs AND cats.

UPDATE 29 March 2013:
Nobu is doing so well after her leg op. I can see that she walks with less difficulty than before, but other than that not much has changed. She is such a tough, happy cookie! She welcomed 2 new dogs into my house over the past few weeks with very little interest. She doesn't mind who comes and goes as long as I am a constant. She loves to curl up on her bed while I sit next to her and work on my computer or something. She still hasn't worked up the courage to climb onto my lap and I think she might never do so, but that's ok! A sweeter dog you will never find.

UPDATE 17 March 2013:
It's only been 10 days since her surgery and already this girl is scooting around the house. It's incredible! She's such a sweetie and never protests when I put the cone back on her head. (She has been licking her stitches when it's off so I've had to keep it on her when she's not eating her meals.)

Her stitches came out 2 days ago her medicine was finished this morning. Now she just needs to take it easy and slowly heal that leg. Luckily for me, she is far from being a hooligan, so I don't need to worry about her hurting herself. Right now she is snoozing in her bed with the cone on her head, looking adorable!

Thank you all once again for your donations which enabled her to have these surgeries!

UPDATE 7 March 2013:
Nobu had her surgery and is recovering well in the hospital. She is eating well, so that makes me happy. The doc said the leg had worsened to a "severe Grade 4" and showed me the photos of the surgery. Even my untrained eye could see where the bone-on-bone rubbing had caused a roughening on one side and an ulceration/inflammation around the area. She must have been in such pain, but she never showed it other than the occasional limp. What a strong girl! (Oh, and the doctor also removed the pin from her other leg where she had been operated on before.)

UPDATE 4 March 2013:
Princess Nobu is going into hospital tonight and is to have her second luxating patella surgery tomorrow morning. Please send positive thoughts and prayers in her direction. I hate sending this sweetie to the hospital :(

UPDATE 13 Feb 2013:
Nobu started a little while ago to come up to me for cuddles. She also bumps my hand with her sweet little nose to get my attention. She gladly accepts kisses and sits as good as gold while I clean her eyes and trim the fur on her face. She has the tendency to always look down... :( sweet baby. I often lift her chin and tell her how much I love her and what a special princess she is. She is nearly finished her antibiotics and when she is, she will go for another lung x-ray. Really hoping the infection is gone! She is peepad trained and will do her best to hold her bladder until I've gone out of the room. Little girl likes her privacy! :)

UPDATE 31 Jan 2013:
Poor Nobes, while I was away she was due to have her second luxating patella surgery. In the pre-op tests they discovered (via x-ray) that she has pneumonia. :(( I feel absolutely awful but the vet says that there are little to no physical symptoms. They only knew because her lungs showed white patches of infection. :( Luckily we discovered that and she is now on her 2nd week of antibiotics. A follow-up x-ray showed that the medicine is working and the "white patches" have clearly decreased in size. In another 2 weeks I will take her for another check up and x-ray. Once all that is done, she should be ready to go with her surgery.

Honestly, this poor darling is the joy of my life and she just deserves to be healthy! I should also add that I will more than likely be leaving Korea at the end of April and she needs to be in her forever home by then. I would do anything to adopt her myself, but I simply cannot afford to fly her to South Africa. :(

Please consider Nobu! She will light up your life and she is such low maintenance!

UPDATE 19 Dec 2012:
Nobu had her 2nd Caniflu injection today. She was, as always, a very good girl in the vet's. She also had her anal glands expressed, some ointment put down her ears (very mild inflammation) and is now snoring next to me on her bed. Love, love, love this little girl!

UPDATE 12 Dec 2012:
On the 5th of December Nobu went to the vet for a checkup and to receive her first dose of Caniflu. Her second injection will be on the 19th. Thereafter, I will be able to schedule for her to have her 2nd luxating patella operation. While I hate to send her back into hospital again, I know it has to be done.

Since my last update, Nobu has become even more playful with my other dog, Noodle. She also explores the house more and does a happy little dance when I come home and when I'm making her dinner or breakfast. She really is the sweetest little thing. <3

At the vet we discovered that she has now caught an annoying skin fungus from Noodle, the fungus factory >.<, so Nobu will have to have some medicine for that too. I will have to work hard to get rid of the spores I know are lurking in my house. :( (Any tips would be appreciated!!)

We also discovered a lump in her mammary gland, which the vet said is probably due to her coming into heat at the moment. (Her spay will be done after her patella.) He did an aspiration of the lump, where he stuck a needle right into it and sucked up some cells and she did not even FLINCH! Not one little bit! (I know because I was holding her head.) The cells appeared normal, but the aspiration method is only 50% accurate so I need to keep and eye on the shape and size of her lump. Let's HOLD THUMBS that the lump is just a benign little "nothing". Nobes deserves to have an easy life from now on!

I have ordered Nobu and Noodle a Rudolph outfit each for Christmas so watch this space for a head-explodingly cute photo, coming soon!

UPDATE 13 Nov 2012:
Nobu is progressing very nicely! Her personality opens up more and more each day. She still likes to sneak around when she thinks I'm not looking, it's really funny! I've caught her and Noodle "playing" a few times when they thought I couldn't see them (my bedroom is in a loft above the living area so I can peek over).
Hopefully towards the end of this month I will have her other luxating patella fixed (that would be her 3rd surgery). She is such a sweetheart. We've been having lots of snuggles lately as it gets colder. I am SO glad that she is in my warm home rather than outside at the shelter!

UPDATE 23 Oct 2012:
Yesterday I took Nobu for her post-surgery x-rays at the vet's. He is VERY happy with how her bones are looking. The surgery was a success! Yay!!!

In addition, Nobu had a fecal smear done which came back normal, an ear check (they are perfect) and everything else was good too (teeth, heart, lungs etc.). She also had her kennel cough and rabies vaccinations! In two weeks she will have the Caniflu vaccines and then she will have her next patella surgery, using the funds raised via ARK. She is one happy little camper!

UPDATE 9 Oct 2012:
Yesterday Nobu was so excited to see me that she jumped! She jumped people! That's all I have to say about that.
:)

UPDATE 25 Sept 2012:
Nobu had her stitches taken out today! She was such a good girl, as always. The vet is happy with her leg and SO AM I! It's amazing! She can walk on it already, albeit very lightly, but still, she's far more mobile than she was before. I'm so happy! She will have an x-ray in one month to check out the bones but so far, so good!

UPDATE 22 Sept 2012:
WOHOO!! Nobu came home today!! She was VERRRRY forlorn at the vet and I was worried she'd be traumatised by the experience but nope! Not this gal! She came home, made herself comfy on her special recovery bed, ate ALL her dinner, did a wee and a pooh on the peepads and greeted me with a wagging tail when I came home from dinner. All-in-all, looking good! She limps but she is using her leg again, just a little. She has a cone on and the stitches will come out soon. She's finished her medicine, now all she needs is some time for the bones, muscles etc. to recover :) Welcome back Nobu!

UPDATE 19 Sept 2012 (pm):
Damn, the doctor wants to keep her there until Saturday. He says she is doing just fine though, and only wants to keep her under observation for a little longer. I felt terrible leaving her there in her lonely cage :( See below in comments section for a photo of a very pitiful little Nobes! <3

UPDATE 19 Sept 2012 (am):
Today I should be able to bring Nobu home! I can't wait for her to be back with Noodle and I, in comfort :) A special friend has made her a very comfy and squishy "recovery" bed which I know she is going to LOVE! Updates to follow!

UPDATE 14 Sept 2012:
I have started a fundraiser to help with the costs of Nobu's luxating patella surgeries. If you would like to help out, please have a look here: http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/blog/clarebell/nobu-2-surgeries-down-3-... :)
I have also added some photos from Nobu's surgery which my vet was kind enough to give me. Please see the comments section below. (Don't look if you don't like blood!)

UPDATE 12 Sept 2012 - evening:
Nobu had her surgery today. Please check my comments below for a photo, video and update. Thank you for all the good wishes!

UPDATE 12 Sept 2012 - morning:
My sweet little Nobu is having surgery on her grade 4 luxating patella today at 12-ish. (Her left hind leg). She will need to be in hospital for a week and the recovery time is about 2 months. There is a 50% chance that it will be successful, given that it is a grade 4 (the worst). After she has recovered from this, she will have her right hind leg done, which is a grade 3 and thus has a 75% chance of being successful. PLEASE keep her in your thoughts, prayers etc. that she will come out OK. She deserves to feel good again and not in pain. I'm feeling anxious about my little princess <3 :(

UPDATE 3 Sept 2012:
Did I mention that I have not once, ever, heard Nobu make a peep?? The loudest sound I've heard come out of her was once in a dream when she made a little grunting sound. Once. I'm pretty sure she has a voice but I don't think she realises it! :( She also got a little bit of a haircut last night...um...it was my first time armed with a pair of clippers. So I shan't be posting any pics of her until I've made her beautiful again! :D

UPDATE 29 Aug 2012:
Since coming home after her stay at the hospital (while I was away) and with a brand new mouth, Nobu's progress is even more visible. Each day she surprises me with something new. Mostly this is to do with her confidence. It's wonderful to now have her come towards the door when I come home, or to the table with a very waggy tail when I'm making her meals. Lately I've had a mattress on the floor and have been trying to entice her for cuddles. It's working! I can see that she desperately wants to, but can't quite relax just yet. Now when I stand up she doesn't run for her corner and I can even step right next to her and she stays put. All in all, there's a little reward every day for me and I love it! She is a wonderful little lady!

UPDATE 22 Aug 2012:
Nobu finally had her dental surgery!! Now her mouth is wonderful and I can tell she is feeling soooo much better!! How do I know? Well, as soon as she came home from her hospital stay, she started chomping on a rawhide! I've also noticed that she now audibly crunches on her dog biscuits which she never used to do. Before the op she was a picky eater which I knew was because of her teeth. I had to mix her dry food with some wet food and a little water. If I didn't she'd eat only a few of the biscuits and leave the rest. Not anymore! Yay! See below for some photos of her and some videos.

UPDATE 6 Aug 2012:
Some wonderful news on Nobu's health status. Please read below my comments for more details :)

UPDATE 30 July 2012:
Nobu came into foster care with me a few weeks ago and every day a new hurdle is overcome. She is coming out of her shell slowly but consistently and it is SUCH a pleasure for me to watch her transition from one of the most timid dogs at the shelter, to a braver, happier, waggier-tailed doggy in my home. I know that the person(s) who adopt her will count their lucky stars that they found her. Please keep reading the updates below to check on her progress and see her new photos.
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By Michelle, initial profile author:

Please give this sweet old gal a chance!

Nobu caught my eye as she shivered in the corner of her cage. She was so scared, and would not let me pet her. I tried for many weeks, bringing her the finest treats and would just sit with her for a few minutes and try not to scare her. She was recently moved to the small dog pen where the floor is heated and the houses all have a lot of straw so all the dogs stay nice and toasty warm. She still was too scared to come out but the director, Mr. Park, was able to get her. Once out, she just cuddled calmly with anyone that wanted to hold her. She gladly ate a can of dog food, but only in seclusion and after a lot of reassuring. She is a very scared pup. She let us look her over and we found that she has some broken teeth which we are guessing is due to being pretty old. It appears as though her right eye has a cataract and she may be blind in it but her left appears just fine (and beautiful!). She looks like she has had many litters, and she also has something wrong with her left back leg. She is probably white under there and may be a maltese. She has been at the shelter for almost a year, but her extreme timidness makes her easy to overlook. Please consider Nobu-she just wants someplace warm and someone patient and gentle to spend her days with.

3/3/12: I did not get to visit individually with Nobu today. She sat back in the heated area while all the other dogs ran around shouting "Pick me! Pick me!" She really isn't asking for much- just a nice, safe, warm place with cuddles. She won't be demanding and will just give you loving back. :) Come visit her! You'll fall in love!

4/9/12: Nobu had a health check and is HW positive. She is currently undergoing HW treatment. Please send her love and consider taking her in to be in a calm, stable, low stress home! She will repay you with love!

5/9/12: Nobu should be finished with her heartworm treatment now! I will check up on her on Sunday and let you all know how she's doing! Please consider this lil old gem! She will keep you company and make you smile. I promise!

6/3/12: Nobu has been getting lots of cuddles with her BFF, Chloe! She is feeling much better as her HW treatment is about finished. YAY!!!!! She knows her forever home is out there somewhere!!! She's been waiting a long time to be loved and is ready!

6/30/12: Nobu's bestie Chloe got adopted and volunteers could not bear seeing her alone in the shelter so Clare Mills took her home with her! Please see below for her update! This poor girl has a lot of medical issues to overcome but she is a tough little sweetie and overcame the first obstacle of getting out of the shelter- she's just going to keep going up from here!

7/8/12: Please read the comments below to see how Nobu is doing in foster care! YAAAAAY!!!