Adopt a Shih Tzu (long coat)

*heartworm positive – read thoroughly

FOR ADOPTION!   Note:  Only those with a responsible dog ownership history and excellent vet reference need apply.

(For more pics, visit nr2r.petfinder.com or www.RoadtoRescueLA.org)

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY:

PLEASE read profile thoroughly BEFORE applying:

DOG APPLICATION LINK:    http://www.roadtorescuela.org/dog-application

Vito (male)

Intake date:   11/14/2017

Shih Tzu

Approx 3-4 years

10.8 pounds

Adoption fee:  $170, which includes microchip and enrollment fee

Good with other dogs:  yes

Cats:  yes

Vetting:  altered (spayed/neutered), UTD on shots, heartworm POSITIVE (see heartworm positive notes below), fecal negative

Health issues:  heartworm positive (see heartworm positive notes below)

Temperament:  Very sweet, social, friendly

Energy level:  Medium;  can be playful or lap dog

Groom needs:  High;  requires professional groom every few weeks and brushing in between grooms to avoid matting

Biography:   Vito came to us from Caddo Parish Animal Services. We went to CPAS to pull a dog we had tagged a few days earlier and saw this guy while we were there.  He looked up at us through the long dreadlocks that covered his huge brown eyes.  We knelt down to meet him and he slowly walked up to us with his head bowed the whole time.  We checked the card and it said he was an owner surrender so we knew he didn’t have a stray hold.  We talked to the staff and asked if we could pull him and they said “yes” and we knelt down and scooped him up.  Once we got out to the vehicle in the bright sunshine, he started wagging his tail as if to say “thank you!”.   The thick matting has been removed, he’s been neutered and vetted.  He is heartworm positive and we are addressing it through the gentle kill method (read below).  He’s a sweet little guy who does fine in a kennel, walks well on a leash and is a happy little guy.   We’ll make sure his next home is a good home that will take care of him furever. 

Heartworm POSITIVE:   Don’t let heartworms discourage you from adopting a heartworm positive dog!   We have tons of examples of dogs adopted and then ultimately testing heartworm negative following our instructions!   Vito is on (or has completed) twice a day Doxycycline for 30 days, and he/she has received a 6 month Proheart injection.  The Proheart injection releases heartworm prevention into their system continuously for 6 months as opposed to the MONTHLY pill which releases prevention only when first administered.  Coupled with Doxycycline, the gentle kill (or slow-kill) method is a safer alternative to the harsh immiticide (arsenic) treatment.  The Doxycycline kills bacteria, which heartworms thrive on, thus weakening the heartworms and eventually they will die off, but it could take months and possibly up to two years before (s)he will be heartworm free.  The 6 month Proheart injection kills any heartworm larvae and sterilizes the adult heartworms so they no longer reproduce.  While the “gentle kill” or “slow kill” method does take longer than traditional harsh veterinary treatment, we prefer this method because there is less risk, it is not as harsh on the dog and the dog does not have to be confined for up to two months during the treatment.   We recommend the dog continue a course of Doxycycline every 60 days (in other words, 30 days on... 60 days off... and so on for one year), plus the 6 month Proheart injection.   After one year, we recommend the dog be retested.  If positive, continue the Doxycycline 30 days on... 60 days off method (plus heartworm prevention).  If negative, just continue with regular heartworm prevention (just like you would do for any dog).  We do require that any interested adopters understand heartworms.  They must also agree to continue our method of treatment or, if they wish, they can opt for traditional veterinary treatment; however they cannot choose to do nothing and we do require an agreement/contract be signed that the adopter will continue with a plan to rid him/her of the heartworms.  We highly recommend that you discuss this with your veterinarian BEFORE applying (better yet, show this to your vet), as some vets will ONLY do the traditional veterinary treatment...  (which is poison).

**IMPORTANT NOTES** 

*All of our adoptable dogs are small, and they are never to be left outside alone, ever!  We only rehome our dogs to adopters that plan to have them as inside dogs and part of the family!   We do allow adopters with doggie doors, provided there is SECURE fencing.  There is no exception to this rule!  

*NO SMALL CHILDREN!!  As with almost all the dogs at NR2R, young children or a very active household is not recommended.   Many of our dogs come to us BECAUSE of small children, thus we do not rehome our dogs to homes with babies or young children.  KEEP THIS IN MIND IF YOU HAVE VISITING GRANDCHILDREN AS WELL!  Even if the children are older, it would depend on the child AND the parent or parents. 

*HOUSETRAINING:  We do NOT guarantee that any of our adoptable dogs are housetrained.   While most should be easily trained, keep in mind that they live in a rescue where they have access to the outdoors all day and are inside at night.  Even if they were surrendered to us as housetrained, it doesn’t mean they will automatically be housetrained in your home.  Housetraining them should be easy in the right home with time, patience, and consistency. 

*We do not guarantee the age, health or temperament of any of the dogs we rehome.  Many of the dogs we take in come from animal control and rarely do we have histories and even when we do, many times the histories are inaccurate.

*Only adopters with a responsible dog ownership history and excellent vet reference need apply.   If you bring this pet into your heart and home, you will receive in return many years of love, companionship, and loyalty.  That’s our guarantee.

Other notes:  This pet is available for adoption through Ninna’s Road to Rescue, Benton, La.  We are 501c3 non-profit organization.  Our mission is to rescue small-breed dogs and a handful of cats and to re-home them into RESPONSIBLE and CARING forever homes.    DOG APPLICATION LINK:   http://www.roadtorescuela.org/dog-application