**SPECIAL NEEDS**

Meet Dante-from New England Border Collie Rescue.
He is a very sweet, loving, very outgoing, and playful 10 month old registered BC who has been diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy. Brain tumors, encephalitis & other diseases have been ruled out through extensive testing (including MRI). Dante is now stablized on 2 pills of phenobarbital a day, but he will most likely continue to have cluster seizures periodically throughout his life. A cluster seizure can be life-threatening unless a human intervenes with medication.

Dante's 'forever home' will be with someone who can be with him at all times and who is structured enough to NEVER forget to give him his pill every 12 hours. Even being 2 hours late is enough to throw him into a seizure. Nebcr will teach you how to deal with seizures, including giving him Diazapan rectally. Dante's 'forever home' will be calm & able to cope during a crisis and able to deal with his seizures in a loving, gentle but capable way.

The good part is that Dante is well worth the side-effects of epilepsy. He is young, playful, lovable, athletic, smart, and willing to please, and knows all his basic commands quite well. He gets along great with other dogs and

Dante loves children

as well as other dogs. He would be delighted to share a home with older kids, but small children might be frightened during a seizure and he doesn't want to scare anyone. It is also important for everyone's safety, that any children in the home be taught to stay clear of Dante during and immediately after a seizure, until he has had a chance to settle down and return to normal.

Dante is a very very special dog who is looking for just the right home.
Yes, he does have a little medical problem, but it doesn't cause him any pain and he doesn't remember the seizures -- he just needs a calm, consistent, and very responsible person to help him through them.

Dante's new parent(s) will be trained on how to handle his seizures, like always having his Diazapan & Phenobarb on hand, even a travel kit for hikes & playgrounds. He's a little like having a child who's allergic to bee stings --- have to keep that kit nearby 'just in case'!

If you are willing to have Dante in your life 24/7 and have the right personality to deal with an epileptic dog, he will reward you with sloppy kisses, lots of laughter, and years of being your very best friend.

For more info on Dante, click here. You must fill out an applcaiton to be consdiered for this or any NEBCR dog.

For more information on canine epilepsy, click this link
Canine Epilepsy Guardian Angels.

A special thank you goes out to Pet Quarters in Windhamand At your Barkin' Call in Gray for selling donation bones for Dante and helping to raise money for his Vet care which has totaled approximately $3500.

From time to time A Dog's Life features adoptable dogs from Maine rescues and shelters. I prefer to feature dogs that are difficult to place and need a bit of extra help finding their special person.

If your Maine rescue group or shelter would like to feature a dog on this blog email gooddogz1@aol.com. Please put featured dog for blog in the heading.

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