ADOPTED: Cutie

Adopted May 9, 2016

The camera adores gorgeous Cutie! Whether she’s gazing up at you endearingly, curling into a ball on some cushions or contemplating the toy in her paws, this sassy girl is one hot patootie.

Happily at ease in her foster home, where, as her foster mom admits “she makes a great buddy for a homebody”, Cutie is the ultimate cut up artist, keeping her family in stitches with her various doggy antics. Included in her repertoire are dancing around in the morning to be let up onto their bed, flopping over to scratch her back on the carpet, and performing tricks for treats.

An unabashed cuddle bug, Cutie loves cuddling cozily beneath the covers for as much comforting contact as possible.

Although good on walks, eagerly greeting every canine and human she passes, she prefers shorter to longer ones, while sometimes trailing after a person in the hopes of getting a hello.

Not a fan of playing on her own, she’s always up for a game of tug-o-war or chasing after a ball providing her foster mom is involved.

Both crate and housetrained, she goes out three to four times a day, then sleeps soundly and dryly in her crate at night. And, like any female worth her fashion salt, fastidious Cutie enjoys both bath time and nail trims.

All of this is in stark contrast to the grime and grimness of her former life. Rescued from a backyard breeder, this onetime brood mama entered foster care underweight, untrained, and with several unknown medical conditions. So attentive was Cutie that it took her fosters awhile to realize she has little to no hearing: she had simply learned everything by watching their own dog.

Now, with her fosters using hand signals for commands, she knows stay, sit, down and come (it may take a few tries, but she always nails it).

Most of the hair she was missing at first has grown back, and despite some ongoing dental issues due to neglect, neither Cutie’s appetite or eating is affected at all.

She recently underwent surgery to remove a thyroid tumour (the margins came back clear, giving her a clean bill of health for now) and part of her thyroid, which still functions normally, requiring no medications. Cutie may be a special needs dog, but she’s also immeasurably special, and will make just the right home the greatest of home buddies.