Pope
Friendly sable boy who loves people, dogs, and cats, learning house manners and leash skills with gentle encouragement.
Pope was picked up as a stray alongside a female German Shepherd, and everything about him suggests he spent his life outdoors with very little handling. He arrived not housetrained, without leash manners, and carrying less weight than he should. What he did bring with him is a temperament that has impressed everyone who has met him.
At the shelter, Pope stayed remarkably steady through constant barking and commotion. Once he was away from the noise, he settled immediately, sought out attention from the shelter staff, and went quietly about exploring the room. He allowed his ears, teeth, legs, and tail to be handled without any objection, though he was too busy taking in the world to hold still for long. He met an unfamiliar male dog and an unfamiliar female dog, greeted both politely, and moved on with no posturing at all. He responded the same easygoing way to a cat.
Pope is roughly sixty two pounds and could use a few more. He is heartworm positive and will go through treatment in foster care. He is strong on leash and pulls, so his foster will be teaching him that walks go better when he stays alongside his person. He also needs to learn what life inside a house looks like, from housetraining to basic obedience.
None of this is difficult work. It just takes consistency, patience, and someone willing to show him the ropes. His foster puts it more simply: Pope is all that and a bag of chips.
He is looking for a family who will keep building on the good foundation he already has.
