All of the animals posted on our site have been temperament tested. While not all are in the immediate area, once we have processed and approved your application, we will move the dog to our adoptive area for you to meet, greet and hopefully adopt. Sometimes we will have more than one application on a dog. That does not mean it automatically goes to another family but you should be aware of the fact that until you are approved and set up for the meet/greet.. the dog could get adopted by another applicant.

Shy, sweet Phoenix is ready to love and be loved. Very friendly, he loves all that is human in the world. He will enjoy just being with you, or going for walks, or playing in the yard with you...anything his people like to do, Phoenix will like also. He is the type of dog who likes to please. He has never had enough food, and now he is amazed that his bowl fills up and the meal tastes SO good! He is a really appreciative dog for all the small things he has never had. A soft bed is a dream come true. Being safe is the biggest gift of all. Wait until he finds out that you will love him. His heart will simply overflow with happiness and he will be your loyal and devoted companion for all of his life.

A SPECIAL NOTE TO YOU FROM HIS FOSTER: .  Phoenix loves everybody and everything, including our community cat and a frog who somehow ended up in his kiddie pool.  Phoenix gets along well with my dog, Shenandoah, and loves the next door neighbor’s dog, Charlie, both who are significantly smaller than him.  He also does well with my nephew’s Siberian Husky who is larger.  He loves running and playing, and believe the more the merrier, but he’s also good at entertaining himself—I was out weeding the other day, and he was off chasing grasshoppers.  He likes children, but he can be a bit rambunctious at times, so you would have to watch him with very young ones.  For the most part, he settles down well in the house, although my cousin likes to come over and rile him up.  Phoenix is fine, my cousin needs some training! Phoenix was extremely skinny when he arrived here the end of July—about 40 lbs.  We believe he is about 9 months old, and he weighed 45 lbs at his last vet exam on 8/11.  He may have gained a pound or two since then and it looks like he’s getting close to his ideal weight for his size.  We originally posted his potential size as 50 lbs, but I think he might go 10 lbs over that.   And he was list as a collie mix, and he should be about collie size.  There may be some golden retriever in him.  He’s got the personality, a little silly and happy-go-lucky, and the coloring, but a touch of a smokey overcoat in some places.  His tail I’m told is absolutely Afghan Hound, and that was from an Afghan Hound owner, so I guess she knows.  It curls into a little circle at the very end.  It’s very cute!  If it is Afghan Hound, that’s the only thing he got in appearance from that relative!  My vet says he’s almost certainly a “purebred American mutt.” He may have been on his own for awhile.  He didn’t really understand toys at first—he brought a rock in from the driveway to play with the first day he was here, and a walnut the day after that.  And he’d never navigated stairs.  His first couple attempts were pretty funny—he looked like he was trying to swim up them!  He’s doing much better with them now.  And he has figured out squeaky toys, balls, bones, treats, and hugs and thinks all of them are wonderful.  He does not have separation anxiety, but like really loves being around other people and dogs.  He’s earned full run of the house and has never had a accident or chewed anything.  I haven’t crated him since the first week, but it’s there for him to lounge around in and store his toys.  He can be a bit  mischievous -- he likes to drag Shenandoah’s blanket out of his crate (he never drags his own out) and steal the ponytail holders out of my hair. He’s learned sit, down, and stay (but not for very long, and he does a lot of wiggling while he’s at it) and does well on a leash as long as he’s the only dog.  With other dogs, he’s too interested in playing to mind very well.   Comes have always been a natural for him—if he thinks there any chance for attention, he’s there!  He’s gotten away from me a couple times when I was trying to handle three dogs at a time, but didn’t take off on me.  He just stood there looking at me as if for direction on what we were going to do next. He’s a very happy boy and has tons of personality.  He’s going to be a wonderful addition to someone’s family—maybe yours!

If you are interested in Phoenix, please contact Libby at:

libby4dogs@gmail.com

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