Lixue *Forever Foster* Samoyed Rochester, MN

* Note: Lixue is not for adoption and will be staying in her foster home for the rest of her days. Please read about her and help us support her and her foster while she navigates her heart condition and enjoys her days, however many she may have. *

I love to think about the first moment I met Lixue. She had come in on transport and her little face looked so confused at what was going on. At 4 months old, she had been spent her life up until that point outside with a pine straw bed. Her face was literally the cutest face I had ever seen. I took her home and she sat quietly on our couch all day, completely unsure of this sudden upheaval of her life. How strange to sit on a couch inside of a home! We had agreed to foster her because she had a heart murmur, so therefore could not be sold by the breeder. Despite the heart murmur, the assumption was that it would be benign and she would be adopted quickly. I noticed how obvious the murmur was just by touching her chest. After a visit to the vet, the plans to have her spayed were put on hold until they could take a better look at her heart. She had an Echocardiogram done and then the images were sent off to a cardiologist. When the results came back, we were crushed. Lixue had severe sub-aortic stenosis which had already caused much damage to her heart. They told us she could not be spayed, she could not be adopted and she was at risk of sudden death. The vet told me she had weeks to months to live. We decided that we would continue to foster her for the time she had left, knowing our hearts would soon be broken. That was in Dec. 2022

Fast forward to today...she is nearly 2 years old and living her best life. She has grown accustomed to life inside a home and with a family that loves her. She has 2 other dog siblings whom she loves. She howls every morning until we feed her. She steals shoes and stuffed animals-really anything that's left within reach. Her favorite sleep position is on her back with her legs spread. She has also seen many other foster animals come and go and has been welcoming to them all.

Lixue requires twice daily heart meds to lower her blood pressure and keep her heart less stressed as well as regular vet checkups. We hope she will continue to defy expectations. She is our forever foster girl.

You can donate today to help Lixue live the best life she can with her foster family.

When making a donation, put in notes section "Lixue.

https://checkout.shelterluv.com/donate/CCMN