Meet Toby, a very special boy we were fortunate enough to rescue back in December from a local shelter. Like so many others Toby was a sad case, he was scared to death, emaciated and missing a lot of his hair and despite the horrible conditions he came from we could see this boy had a heart of gold and just needed a chance. We got him vetted, cleaned up and moved to his new foster home and assured him that he was starting a new life with people who would love him and care for him the rest of his life. Toby was so thin I believe he would have eaten anything and everything we gave him but we had to start slow, feeding him frequently with small amounts, of course he didn’t even bother chewing the food but inhaled it like a vacuum cleaner. Funny thing is in 3 months he’s slowed down but not a lot, I guess it’s going to take a while to get used to the fact that he’ll always have food. Well with his belly full he found hi s way onto the couch and laid his head in my lap and slept, you could just tell that all he wanted was a human companion to love that would love him back.
Well that was just the beginning, it only took about 4 weeks to get weight on him and during that time we had to teach him that the counters and trash can were off limits, he still checks out the counter once in a while but he’s a fast learner and just wants to please. He’s endured baths once a week for his skin and as you can see in his before and after pictures most of it has grown back in. He’s still on antibiotics but hopefully he won’t need to be too much longer. As long as he’s kept on a good diet and taken care of he should not have any more problems in the future. The veterinarians that he has seen feel that he could have flea allergies and/or he was living in filth for quite a while and his immune system was just overwhelmed.
So, now that you know what this guy has been through here are some of the specifics, he’s house and crate trained, he is very vocal when being crated so no apartments for this guy as he’ll wake the neighbors with a canine serenade He gets along with dogs, cats, and children but can be a little wary of new people at first. He warms up quickly though, especially when he’s with someone he knows and trusts. He loves to ride in the car and rides very well, he likes to stick his head between the seats and give kisses while you drive. Now he will need some work on a leash, he likes to pull and is pretty strong for a smaller guy. The vet feels that he’s in the 2-3 yr old range, he’s up to date on his vaccines and heartworm negative (a minor miracle) and other than that he seems to be in great health. We do believe he’s a Shepherd mix we’re just not quite sure what he’s mixed with but either way he’s really cute and a swe etheart to boot. You won’t find a sweeter more devoted dog that Toby.
More about Toby
Good with Dogs, Good with Cats, Good with Kids
Special Needs: Has skin issues - possible flea allergies
For more information on our adoptable pet list please visit: Adoptable Pet List
