Rusty is a very handsome and sweet red heeler mix who is around 3 years old and 45-50 lbs. He is incredibly smart, resilient, eager to please and be loved, and thrives on routines and clear expectations. He is crate trained/housetrained and sleeps through the night. He walks pretty well on a leash and likes to play; he’s moderately active but also happy to snuggle/relax and have a couch day.
Rusty originally was saved from a high kill shelter in Roswell, NM, where he found himself on the euthanasia list due to space/volume. We do not get the impression that his previous life was kind to Rusty as he was underweight and filthy upon rescue, under-socialized, and fearful in some situations. He is healthy now and much happier mentally and emotionally since his rescue. He is a loving dog who has never reacted aggressively in our care. He is quite submissive. He has been dog friendly with various canine friends and bonds quickly to any humans who are nice to him, giving them all the snuggles!
Rusty was adopted for three months and made his way back to our rescue when he developed bladder stones that required surgery to remove. Rusty has healed up wonderfully and he is eating his special food very well! Luckily, upon further analysis of his stones, we know that his condition is manageable long term and typically does not result in recurrence when diet is managed, and we are happy to discuss this with any potential adopter.
Rusty’s ideal forever family will need to be willing to feed him his special food. We feel he will do best in a home with someone home a lot, a fenced yard, another confident dog(s) his size or larger, older kids or no kids, and a home that can offer him predictability and comfort as well as space when he needs it. Please give this sweet boy a chance. We know that Rusty is going to be one of the most loving, rewarding, and unforgettable dogs for his forever family.
