GENDER: Male
AGE: ~ 4 years old
SIZE/WEIGHT: 75lb
HISTORY: Rusty was found early on Highway 1A, in a ditch, emaciated, and could only walk with three legs. He was so pathetic, but happy someone picked him up and took him away in the car then to a home with be, food and water. He was very thirsty. He was completely starved, forlorn, lonely, and living under bushes nearby. We took to vet whom could not figure out why he was limping other than an injured hip, likely hit by a car. We arrange for his neuter and an X-ray at that time to find out the extent of his injury, since he still could not put weight on his back let. The vet found a piece of wood that had been lodged into his groin. After surgery and removal of the stick, Rusty started to run and walk mostly on three legs, then starting to use all four! At first he was very fast despite the three legged-run! He now walks on all four legs and his personality is coming out. Rusty is a sweetheart and goofier personality as the time goes by. Rusty had in the past been attacked by dominant type dogs in the past to attempt to get him to leave the area, but he had nowhere to go.
TEMPERAMENT: Rusty is a calm guy that loves to be around you, whether it’s watching you cook from outside the kitchen or curled up in the office while you work. He’s sad when you leave the house, (he’ll sometimes sit at the front door and block the way out haha), he prefers if you stay home or bring him along for the adventure, but he’s getting better at knowing you’re coming back! He’s extremely gentle and affectionate. He loves to curl up beside his fosterer’s on the couch. Rusty is great in the car, probably because it means he’s joining us for an adventure. Rusty was a sweetheart from the moment he was rescued. You can just feel his kind heart, his gratitude, he has a natural loving disposition but never got the chance to be with anyone that had cared for him since the time he was a puppy. He’s been in survival mode ever since, starving on a regular basis.
PERSONALITY: He is truly the best. Calm, chill, and loving. He wags his tail as soon as he sees you and it truly is the best feeling! He’s a happy camper now! Gone are the days of suffering of loneliness and terrible starvation along with living in freezing conditions on snow or dirt. Rusty is a big sweet boy with an old soul personality. He doesn’t ask for much. He just wants to be safe, loved, and have food! He loves with all his heart. He has a seemingly very grateful attitude, which adds to his very endearing personality. He’s easy to gravitate too. He is smart, happy, and a joy to be around. He will make someone a really great pet companion. He’s a sensitive soul that does not have that type of disposition or breed.
BEST MATCH: Best match would be a family that can give him all the attention that he loves. He’s OK with other dogs, however high energy big dogs seem to make him nervous at first so more trips to the dog parks to learn, he’s safe and those dogs mean no harm. On the reserve where he is from, some dogs, unlike Rusty, attack dogs in the territory to get them out due to lack of food. He’s not super playful with dogs since he has never learned to play, but an adopter with a balanced dog his size would be nice to help teach him. Rusty deserves to have an owner that sees his true self, a very feeling, thoughtful, loving soul that had suffered a lot of hardship but now living a life of true happiness and is oh-so grateful!
FAVORITE THINGS: His people and he loves food!!! Not super into toys or chasing balls since never had any growing up and they learn as time goes by they are fun to play with. With encouragement, he would enjoy them.