(pics below)
Colby is guessed to be around 4 yrs old, but I'll be getting an estimate from my vet Thursday when I get him neutered. He's up to date on his shots, will be neutered before adoption. He's very affectionate, but a little shy. There is a $60 adoption fee to cover a portion of vet costs, and I'll be conducting a home visit to ensure a good living environment. I might be willing to negotiate the fee, but that all depends.

His background story:

Colby is one of 13 dogs that have been abandoned by the owner. A couple ladies have been working hard to get them at least in foster homes, if not adopted. Colby is the smallest of the bunch, and he's 47.7lbs. I have no clue what kind of mix he is - I thought maybe he has some pit in him, but then at one point it looked more like boxer. I also thought b/c of the markings he may have been part border collie. But he's pretty mixed-up, breed wise.

So the dogs have been outside their whole lives, in a fenced area. As dogs left, four were put together, including Colby. The other three started picking on him, and someone let him out so he ran away. Fortunately the women and some others searched and found out a moron had him chained to a tree in his yard, with no plans to take him to the vet or anything. They got him away from the guy, and now I have him as a foster.

He may have been hit by a car or something at some time. The left side of his bottom jaw has no teeth. So I'm trying to figure out the best diet, and in the meantime am watering down the dry dog food. He's much more interested in my puppy's food, so smaller morsels may be the answer. It gives him character

Colby is heartworm positive, and will undergo treatment probably two weeks after he's neutered, in order to give him ample time to recover from the surgery. Heartworm treatment is pretty intense so it's best his health is best possible.

So basically he'll be available to go home in 1.5 months, unless the new owner is willing to take him to his heartworm appointments when they arise. I wanted to go ahead and put him out there so that he has a permanent home waiting for him when he's all 100% healthy

Colby was great in the hour-long car drive home from his pickup. He did try to get in my lap at one point, but otherwise would randomly lick me and rub his head against my shoulder. He wants to be a big lapdog. All he knows is to use the bathroom outside, so the only "accident" he's had so far is a marking. Otherwise I've caught his other marking attempts before they happened, and he was easy to dissuade. Marking won't be a problem once he's neutered. It's great after having to housetrain foster puppies! Earlier tonight he refused to go upstairs to the apt, and I realized - hey maybe he needed to go - and he did. So he's a pretty darn intelligent dog.

Enough with the words though!




[Edited on June 26, 2006 at 11:06 PM. Reason : ]

6/26/2006 11:05:58 PM

I was wrong - got a better look and Colby has the back teeth of his left jaw. So just missing a few middle teeth.

He's been doing very well on a leash, better than expected after never being on one. He's a little stubborn, but just needed to know someone cared about him back home, and he was willing to keep moving.

6/27/2006 10:52:07 AM

He's adapted extremely well to the leash!! He had only one stop today where he wanted to go a different way. He definitely takes his time on walks, and I don't know if that's just the way he is, or because of the heartworms. It's nice after having my own dogs pull to every new smell.

He's such a great dog! And it's too bad such a personality is in his body b/c if he was small and fluffy he'd be gone in a heartbeat.

6/27/2006 6:15:44 PM

^ forget small and fluffy he is CUTE!!!

(I don't want to have dogs I'm afraid I might step on)

6/27/2006 6:31:46 PM

lol that's a good way of looking at it

6/27/2006 6:38:27 PM

A new pic (he's learning to pose for the camera):



After looking up a few things, my best guess is a cattle dog mix. There are a few other pics in my gallery as well.

[Edited on June 27, 2006 at 7:06 PM. Reason : ]

6/27/2006 7:06:30 PM

Colby's a very curious dog, likes to explore the apt. He's completely adapted to leash walking now that I got a harness to replace his collar. He's very good in the crate too. Poor guy would love nothing more than to be a lap dog.

6/28/2006 12:14:42 PM

All the pupsters in your gallery are adorable - esp. Bailey and Bruno

6/28/2006 2:35:48 PM

Haha Bruno was awesome. He was the first puppy I fostered through Sound Pet.

6/28/2006 6:32:14 PM

I def. think colby is a mix of border collie. I have two at home and not only his markings show border collie genes but also his mannerisms in the pics. Border collies are very intelligent, whoever takes him home it going to have an awesome dog.

6/29/2006 12:59:29 PM

Okay so I found out some interesting news. The women that have been working to home these abandoned dogs guessed that Colby is around 4 yrs old. Well, he was neutered today and the vet used the phrase "old as dirt" when describing him. Since my husband and not I picked him up, I didn't get to find out how old they think he really is.

So if anyone is willing to give this poor ol' boy a loving, comfortable home for the rest of his life, you're an angel! I'll find out more hopefully next week, whenever I can get him examined outside of a surgery.

6/29/2006 7:32:14 PM

Okay Colby's age is estimated between 10-12 yrs. So he may have a few more left! Anyone want to provide Colby with a loving home for the rest of his life?

6/30/2006 6:18:36 PM

Anyone know of someone that would like to help this old pup have a loving home for the rest of his life? He went this long without someone caring about him. He can't get enough of the petting, and he would be the most loyal dog you could possibly find.

7/1/2006 9:18:21 AM

I get a huge kick out of Colby's expression when he's excited. The first time we played with him, my husband was on the floor half wrestling with him, and then Colby started bearing his teeth, so we stopped because we thought he was getting scared at my husband or something. But since then I've learned that he does that when he's ecstatic, I suppose as his way of smiling. I can't help but laugh every time. It's so cute. If I had more space I'd probably try to keep him.

Someone please provide this guy with a loving home!

7/1/2006 1:12:04 PM

Too bad there's no retirement home for dogs. I realize he's pretty unappealing to many with his age and physical problems, but he's such a great dog. I'm doing away with the adoption fee if the new family would be willing to take him to his heartworm treatments throughout the process. I am still willing to pay for most, if not all, of the treatment.

7/1/2006 6:14:38 PM

what is the heartworm treatment like? just a medicine to kill the worms? or what.

do his hips seem ok? can he walk and run ok?

7/1/2006 6:51:49 PM

He has slightly favored his left hind leg but that hasn't hindered his walking and running. He has more energy than my 11 yr old dog. He tends to jump on you when he's happy and I'm trying to break him of that habit (new owners can let him do whatever they want). He also is able to jump onto the couch, which I let him do occasionally b/c I really don't see the harm in it now that he's clean.

The only treatment I've checked into is what my own vet offers, since they're going to offer me a discount as he's a rescued dog. It'll run close to $200, which also depends on severity, which I hope to find out next week after I take him in for a checkup. He would have to go in for a shot, then stay there for 24 hrs and is given a 2nd shot. Getting rid of heartworms is pretty intense so it would be required for him to stay calm and not be allowed outside, especially in heat. So indoors would have to stay cool as well. I don't remember for how long. A month later he would go in for a final heartworm checkup. So basically 3 vet visits.

I'll be completely willing to stay in Colby's life and help with expenses and getting him settled in if it means he has a loving permanent home. I will be conducting a home visit. Even though my husband doesn't like him and he's a little big for my apartment, I will keep him until he's in a guaranteed loving environment, whether it's a new home (preferrable) or a rescue takes over (hopefully last resort). I will not be turning him over to any shelters.

7/1/2006 7:42:19 PM

Oh, but on walks he likes to take his time, so it's pretty nice to have a dog that enjoys just strolling along. I haven't tried jogging with him or anything like that. I'll run around the apt to an extent to get him to chase, as I try to teach him how to play (poor guy doesn't understand tug of war).

7/1/2006 7:45:07 PM

i wonder where the dead heartworms go...

he looks like Madi's dad

7/1/2006 7:48:05 PM

I believe the dead heartworms are destroyed by a chemical in the drugs. I'm not completely sure - I've just been looking it up online and that's what one site said.


Just a couple notes: Colby wants to chase cats that are outside, so I have no idea how he would do with pet cats. My dog used to want to chase cats too but she got along with my cat really well when I first brought her up here. Whoever adopts Colby probably shouldn't have small children b/c he jumps and is a little overzealous when getting attention and leans into me while being petted, so he probably would knock a little kid over. He wouldn't be aggressive toward them, but just accidentally might do something.

^What kind of dog is that? I'm kind of leaning toward him being border collie mix b/c my collie mix leans into me when being petted, and Colby also showed some separation anxiety when I left my husband with the dogs while grocery shopping.

[Edited on July 1, 2006 at 8:10 PM. Reason : ]

7/1/2006 8:08:59 PM

we were told a black lab/aussie shepard mix, but dunno. shes a rescue too

7/1/2006 8:13:30 PM

It sounds like the heartworm treatment offered by my vet is the typical method used by many other vets, b/c I keep finding similar processes. So Colby would be resting for the month following the shots, and then would have to avoid vigorous activity for several weeks after the 1-month point.

7/1/2006 9:53:58 PM

Well I'm going to run a test trial on Colby and let him stay out while I run to Harris Teeter. Will update, but he has seemed interested in the trash before so it's probably not a good idea yet But we'll see.

7/2/2006 7:22:03 PM

Colby was great while we were gone. No accidents or getting into the trash!

7/3/2006 10:51:56 AM

We left Colby just now for close to 3 hrs out of his crate, with no problems! Looks like he'll adapt very well as time goes by until he's allowed out most of the time.

7/4/2006 4:27:18 PM

Anyone at all interested, or know someone that could take Colby in? He has become pretty adapted to being indoors, and that's probably the only living conditions I'd want him to go to, except with some outdoors time for exercise. He's been through enough that includes the outdoors, and has definitely earned an indoor pampered life.

7/5/2006 12:42:57 PM

Colby's been playing with Bailey all morning. It's awesome! It's the first time I've seen him play like that, considering he hasn't seemed to understand what to do with the toys. It's really cute, because like I said, he bears his teeth when he's all rambunctious and I love it when that happens.

Colby's beginning heartworm treatment next week, most likely (have to double check with the vet considering his age and recent neuter). So within 5 weeks hopefully he'll be heartworm free, and healthy and happy!

Please spread the word for this adorable sweet doggy.

7/6/2006 9:36:06 AM

bttt for Colby! He's adapted very well to the indoors life. He's house and crate trained, and has learned how to play with other dogs instead of just standing aside. His fur looks great now! It was really dirty and coarse when I first took him in. He just looks and acts way better all around than he did only two weeks ago. He'll make a great companion for someone.

7/9/2006 10:23:57 PM

bttt for poor ol' homeless Colby. If you want a very attentive, loving dog that will be your loyal companion to the end, this guy's for you!

7/10/2006 10:44:14 PM

Colby still needs a home

7/12/2006 7:28:08 PM

All right. I'm going to get Colby's heartworm treatments started Monday the 17th. That means he needs to have a home lined up for the completion by the 2nd week of September! Please spread the word so this poor guy can get a home!

7/15/2006 12:25:47 PM

bttt

7/16/2006 2:47:36 PM

Colby's adapted to my new work schedule very well! He now also fully understands that some outdoors trips are potty only, and we can't take a nice long walk each time. He's a great dog, so please spread the word on him so we can get him a home!

7/20/2006 8:03:28 AM

Colby begins heartworm treatments tomorrow! Thanks to two very generous people, his neutering and heartworm treatments will cost less for me. I'm so grateful that these kind people exist in the world.

I would have him at our adoption event at AniMall tomorrow if he weren't beginning the treatments, but anyone can just PM me if you want to meet him!!

7/21/2006 8:35:20 PM

Yay he's begun his heartworm treatments, and the critical time will begin in a week or so. Meaning I'll be taking him to the AniMall adoption event from 12-4 today!! So if anyone wants to meet him or others, that's where we'll be.

7/22/2006 10:08:02 AM