Dio

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Dio’s life changed when his owners lost their homes and had to move in with their senior mom. The mom had an old cat. Dio does NOT like cats. They had to make the hard decision to surrender him. They surrendered him to veterinarian in order to keep both him and the cat safe.

Dio was extremely heartbroken when he first arrived to his foster. He lost the only home he had known. He wasn’t aggressive in any way. He was just shut down and sad. He stayed on his bed and slept like he was depressed. He has finally opened his heart again and now crawls into his foster lap like he is 7 pounds, not 71 pounds, for kisses, pets, and scratches.

He LOVES, LOVES, LOVES thick, soft, snuggly blankets. He likes to be burrowed in them. He knows to sit, shake, and lie down. His foster learned he knew those tricks when she pulled out a milk bone, and he quickly sat down and offered his paw to her. He is definitely treat motivated. He also loves car rides. His smile appears, and his eyes just light up with excitement. He will hop right in the car. He enjoys toys and especially ones that have squeakers to be removed.

We do not know if he was around children before being surrendered. Due to his size and strength, we think no children under age 12. He is VERY, VERY strong, and he has no clue how strong or big he is. When he gets excited, he will sometimes jump up to give a quick hug and could easily knock a child over without even meaning to.

Dio would do great as an only dog, where he can be the center of his family’s world. We believe he would do best if someone were home most of the time with him. He craves being with a human so much.

He has separation anxiety, not in a destructive way, but will vocally bark if left in a room behind a baby gate (even if he can see you), and he absolutely won’t crate.
The good news is he does not need to be crated. He’s very good when left in the entire home.
This boy has pretty severe storm anxiety. Because of this, he will need Trazadone and a thunder shirt, and a small “safe area” to ride out rainy days.

He would definitely need a fenced yard for restroom time and playtime. He is strong and pulls extremely hard on a leash.

It initially took slow introductions to his foster pack, but he is now totally integrated with the 11 other dogs, ranging from a 12-pound poodle to an 85-pound pit bull.

He doesn’t love sharing his food with other dogs - humans, zero issues - just not dogs.

Initially, Dio was also this way with the water bowl, toys, bones, beds and treats, and his “kitchen” area, but over the last few weeks, this has greatly improved.

Dio’s perfect match would be a family who has lots of love and time, with a fenced yard, and who wants a mature dog as a constant companion on car rides.

Name: Dio
Breed: Pit Bull Terrier/Crossbreed
Sex: Male
Age: 7 ½ years  (estimated)
Weight: 71lbs
Spayed/Neutered: Yes
Vaccinations: Up to date
Heartworm: Negative on recent testing
Microchipped: Yes

BASED ON OUR OBSERVATIONS:
Good with Children: Over age 12
Good with Dogs: Yes
Good with Cats: No!

Adoption Fee: $300.00  (includes transport fee when applicable)

Location of dog currently:  Memphis  TN 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - 

Paws New England is a foster-based rescue - our dogs reside in various locations throughout the south and New England.  

Adoption donations cover pre-adoption vet costs (including vaccinations, spay/neuter when age appropriate, and heartworm testing/treatment when necessary), a microchip, and transportation to New England if necessary.

Donations for our young, healthy puppies and dogs support their fellow canines of advanced age or suffering from injuries and abuse whose donations are reduced but whose veterinary costs are typically much higher. We appreciate your understanding that your newly adopted dog will help others in need.