Dexter, Longtime Shelter Dog Needs Permanent Foster Home
Today, I’m going to do something a little different here on FresYes. Normally, I love talking about great organizations, fun stores and delicious restaurants. This week, we’re just going to focus on one special dog from the Valley Animal Center who needs your help.
Meet Dexter. He is an 8-year-old bull terrier mix who has been living at the Valley Animal Center since 2013. That’s more than three years. He is the shelter’s most long-term resident. Why has he been there so long? Well, Dexter is high energy and suffers from separation anxiety. He also needs to be in a home where he is the only pet. And now, on top of it all, he’s considered a senior dog.
But here’s the thing. He’s one of the happiest dogs you’ll ever meet. Seriously. Watching him play was probably the highlight of my week. He LOVES the water. He will literally just sit in a tub of it. He runs around and around with toys in his mouth. And he loves tennis balls. So much so that the Valley Animal Center staff filled a big wading pool full of them to celebrate his third anniversary at the shelter.
Dexter is a genuine joy to be around. He’s friendly with all humans and great with kids. And while all of the shelter staff and volunteers love him and take very good care of him, they want him to have a real home to live in. And they are willing to give the perfect new owner all the help they need. That’s why they’ve decided to look for a permanent foster home for Dexter.
How is that different than adoption? Well, a permanent foster family will still essentially be adopting Dexter, but Valley Animal Center will pay for his food, veterinary care and medicine for the rest of his life. Dexter will also have free access to the shelter’s membership-only dog park and weekly training classes.
Those applying to be permanent foster parents must meet the shelter’s general adoption requirements and also must live within 2 hours driving distance of Valley Animal Center so that Dexter will have access to the shelter’s services and supplies. As for some of the other quirks that Dexter has that should be considered while you are pondering whether you would be the perfect match?
- As I mentioned in the beginning, Dexter has separation anxiety. (No wonder, considering his long history of shelter living!) He has been known to jump fences and dig holes in order to escape when left alone outside. He would do best in a home where someone is home a lot. He needs to be crated when he is alone in the house. That being said, he’s not super needy and plays by himself quite happily as long as there is a person nearby, so he’d be a great companion while you’re doing yard work or just hanging out!
- Dexter is a very strong dog. He needs someone who will be able to handle him on walks when he pulls. He is in ongoing training but generally walks well on a leash. Ideally, he would go to a home where his owners are willing to continue training with him. Dexter is very well behaved in the presence of a confident handler.
- Dexter needs to live in a home where there are no other animals. He is fine when he sees other dogs in a controlled environment (such as when he is out on a walk), but doesn’t do as well when left alone with other dogs and cats.
All of this may sound overwhelming, and you and you can see why Dexter has had such a hard time finding a permanent home. But I cannot stress enough that Dexter is seriously such an amazing dog. I would take him home myself if my beagle wouldn’t have a conniption of his own! And what I’ve learned about dogs over the years is that in many ways they are just like humans. We all have our scars and reasons why we are who we are. I truly believe (as does Valley Animal Center) that with the right home and proper love and attention, many of these behaviors that Dexter exhibits will fade with time.
So please help spread the word about Dexter! If you are interested in meeting Dexter and applying to be his permanent foster home, e-mail nina.tonnu@valleyanimal.org. You can also find more information about Dexter at his very own Facebook page.
If you’d like to support the Valley Animal Center in general or see some of their other adoptable cats and dogs, you should definitely check out the Furry Fall Festival, happening at the shelter on October 9th from 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 each and leashed pets are welcome. Special interactive carnival-style booths for both you and your furry friend will be spread throughout the dog park for participants to enjoy! More information can be found here.
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