Adopt a Rat Terrier (short coat)

Handsome Franklin has impeccable house manners and an enchanting feline-like gracefulness. He is a long-legged 16 lbs. and has matured into quite the gentleman over his 8 years. More than a pretty face, he is also a playful, quick-witted jokester of a terrier, who will "talk" with you and zoom around the house tossing soft toys in the air. Walking on leash is another of his many skills, and he respects the space of any dog or human stranger who respects his space. It's not known if he can live with a cat, but he tolerates the five other terriers in his foster home. Despite all of his attractive qualities, he is not the dog for a family with children, however,  because he is dealing with a spinal cord injury in his neck and can bite when touched, sometimes from pain and sometimes to protect himself from pain. Franklin is going through a slow rehabilitation that is hoped will heal his injury, and he and the people around him are learning clever work-arounds. For instance, he has learned to file his own front nails and to get in and out of vehicles on his own. He is crate-trained and sleeps better at night burrowed in fluffy blankets in his crate, safe from accidental bumps by others. Franklin needs a calm environment and can be proactively defensive with his four-legged housemates when he fears they might make contact and hurt him. In his foster home, he has taken on the job of hall monitor and barks at dogs who get too rowdy. He's a sensitive, fastidious guy (house-trained, of course), who prefers routines, avoids raindrops, and likes his bed just so. He is learning to tolerate thunderstorms and fireworks. If you're fascinated by Franklin and the idea of possibly helping him recover from a painful injury, don't be afraid to apply for him. Then you can ask his foster mom any and all questions. She'll be happy to talk all about him and how you can continue his rehab and to have you meet him. For more photos of the magnetic Mr. Franklin, see his online photo album at http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/franklin.