Chuck was supposed to leave the shelter with a foster, but when that person never arrived and had stopped answering their phone, Rescue Street had a decision to make. Chuck was on the euthanasia list because of a painful, long-standing ear condition. We were not going to finish his paperwork, look him in the face, and leave him behind. He spent one night at an emergency foster and has been in boarding since then. Chuck would really benefit from a committed foster home and/or adoption!
Chuck is a big, gentle, easygoing boy who loves being close to his people. He rides nicely in the car, accepts handling without a fuss, leans into back scratches, and will happily follow you from room to room. He is treat-motivated and already knows how to sit. His hearing is limited right now, likely because of the severe infections in both ears, so he may benefit from learning hand signals even after his ears have healed.
He walks well overall but may pull when he finds an especially important place to sniff or pee. At night, Chuck would prefer to sleep near his person. He becomes anxious when left alone in another part of the house, but settles when allowed to stay nearby. A home where he can be included in daily life rather than regularly isolated would suit him best.
Chuck has had a few promising, carefully controlled interactions with other animals. In the shelter he was non-reactive to other dogs when passing by kennels. At his one night emergency foster, he met three dogs through a chain-link fence and through a windowed door without reacting, even when one of the resident dogs became somewhat reactive toward him. Chuck also met a cat while at the foster home. While leashed, Chuck slowly approached the cat to sniff, then immediately backed away when the cat hissed. These interactions were encouraging, but they were not full introductions, so any future introductions will still need to be slow, supervised, and handled carefully.
Chuck arrived at the shelter with severe chronic infections in both ears, narrowed and inflamed ear canals, and a swollen pocket on one ear caused by irritation and head shaking. His medical needs include medication, ear cleaning, and continued veterinary care. Rescue Street can explain his current treatment plan and what follow-up care may still be needed. His foster and/or adopter should be comfortable helping with medical care and watching for future ear problems.
What Chuck wants is fairly simple: a safe home, people who will let him stay close, plenty of back scratches, and someone who understands what a lifelong commitment is all about.
Reach out to Rescue Street if you think Chuck belongs beside you.
