Special Needs: She is partially deaf

Description:
Life has been most unkind to our beautiful Xora. This gentle soul has endured years of severe neglect, never knowing a friendly touch, or a loving pat. She was rescued from a small outdoor pen, filled with feces and saturated with urine. The smell when we removed her was overwhelming. Her food was thrown out on the on the filthy ground. She didn't even have the "luxury" of an old bowl. Her water, when she had any, was filthy. But the worst was the condition of her ears. She had endured years of unbearable pain from ear infections, leaving her with terrible scarring deep in her ears. She has now been taken to a vet and her ear infections are being treated. There is some hearing loss to be expected from such long neglect, but we are so happy that at last she is pain free and the ears are healing. It takes so little to make Xora happy. Being able to feel safe and loved in clean surroundings is almost more than she can believe. She now races outside to relieve herself and then comes rushing back in to curl up on her dogbed, as if it might all go away, or maybe it is really only a dream. She is such a sweet dog. We would love to see her find a home where she will be loved for her gentle ways and her grateful heart. Never having had anyone to love her before, she would like to find out how it feels. It would open the world to her for you to show her what it would be like. And she would love you more than you could ever imagine, as you give her life. 
NEW UPDATE ON XORA FROM HER FOSTER HOME;
Xora is adjusting to life in a home, but as you can imagine it is taking her a little longer because (1) we didn't know much about her background except for the awful aftereffects and (2) she's not a puppy any longer.  I don't keep her in a crate - and I don't recommend that for her.  I do have a nice size kitchen (I'm guessing 15' x 15') that I have secured with babygates.  In this environment she has not had one accident.  However, she doesn't seem to understand yet that her space is the entire house, not just the kitchen.  By that I mean there are occassional accidents - she just requires monitoring and all the steps of reinforcing the housetraining.  Because of that condition, she sleeps on a bed in the kitchen, surrounded by her toys. 
Xora is fine playing with my other dogs, but she doesn't like to share her toys with them.  Not at all aggressive with people - I can take anything, even food, out of her mouth.  But if one of the other 4-legged family members gets close there is a grrrrr...... I think it's a girl dog thing - my other 8 year old cocker (female) does the same thing - but the boys don't at all.  It's something they have to work out for themselves.
Xora wants lots of love and affection.  She doesn't jump on furniture, and I haven't encouraged that because I don't know what manners a future "parent" might want for her.  But I think she could be the perfect couch potato as long as she's next to someone.   I"ve had her on a leash a few times - sometimes just to get her to go outside - she's afraid I won't let her back in, I think.  She walks well on the leash at those times.  But she has also pulled when excited to get into the car.  She's a perfect car rider - loves it. 
Xora has not chewed anything but her toys - perfect lady in that regard.  Now she does have one little habit that needs to be cautioned - she will counter surf!  She stops as soon as you say "NO", if you catch her.  Otherwise, that sandwich which you thought was lunch is going to be her snack!  And that's not a good thing - she does need to be a on special diet (I think I mentioned that). She eats it well, as long as I add a little beef or chicken gravy or bouillon for flavor! 
I would not say she barks a lot.  She will join in with the rest, or if she specifically wants your attention.  But is not at all yappy.  If I let her outside (the yard is fenced) and go put in a load of laundry she will bark to make sure I'm coming back.  Or in the middle of the night if she does have to potty she will bark to let me know - the others just come in and wake me up.  So I would say she uses her bark effectively.  One of mine, another rescue, was so timid he didn't bark for about 4 months - and still doesn't say a lot.  I think it's a good sign when they bark some -
Xora matches her energy with her "person".  That is to say, I don't think she'll ever be a jogging companion any more.  But she loves to walk, she does an excited little dance when she sees you, and she's very alert.  Her eyes are bright and her little tail is always wagging. 
I don't sense tremendous hearing loss either - she comes when called.  She can sit, and knows to give paw. 


Xora is a courtesy posting . If you are interested in her, please contact : ascott@embarqmail.com

EXTRA UPDATE: Xora is a very special sweet girl.  She is working on her housetraining, and doing well.  Because we don’t think she ever had the luxury of an indoor home, and in rescue was in a modest den – kept clean at all times, the final touches of her housebreaking shouldn’t take much time at all.  Xora currently stays in a fairly large kitchen during the day (or whenever foster mom is away) and NEVER has an accident.  But sometimes if not confined there are accidents. 

 

She is currently playing with her canine foster brothers and sisters, but would truly prefer to be the special object of your attention in the home.  Xora craves your hugs and cuddles and returns them enthusiastically.  Not a jumper on furniture, I venture to guess that if encouraged she could be the ultimate couch potato next to you.  Probably not a jogging companion, she does like to walk by your side and is playful.  Because of her eagerness for attention her perfect home would be where any children are over 8 yr of age, as she might accidently knock a toddler down.  And Xora is much more beautiful than her photograph – her coloring and markings are very much a part of her colorful personality!

 

I don’t detect any significant loss of hearing at this time.  She comes every time she is called.  Xora wants to be close to her family, what a very small request!