Circle of Friends Animal Society

• Name: Scooter
• Age: 1-1/2 years (as of 8/2010)
• Breed: Chihuahua
• Gender: Male

Scooter is brand new to our rescue. He was left abandoned in a rental home and found his way into rescue with COFAS. He is very young, probably around 1 to 1 1/2 years old. He will be going for his vet visit soon and will be neutered, hw tested and get all vaccinations. Scooter is very sweet, though he takes a little bit of time to warm up to new people (as in, a day, not weeks!). He has a typical Chi personality in that respect. We are working on his housetraining (his neuter should really help with that) and crate training. Right now, we think he may be best in a home without small children (under 9), but that may change as we get to know his true personality. Ask about Scooter today! We will update as we get to know this sweet boy.

• Name: Gizmo
• Age: 6 years
• Breed: Shih Tzu
• Gender: Male

Meet Gizmo, a very sweet Shih Tzu boy. He is 6 years old. Gizmo spent his last few months outside and was extremely matted, so he was shaved and boy does he feel so much better! His hair will grow back in nicely and we’re looking for someone who will make sure he gets regular grooming to keep it nice and shiny. Gizmo was housetrained prior to being put outside, though he needs a little refresher course. The neuter should help speed this along. Unfortunately he was extremely high positive for heartworms, so he has gone through the treatment and will be ready for adoption after his crate rest is over, on September 4. We would love to have his new home waiting for him! He gets along great with other dogs and he loves cats. He can be a bit grumpy (though he hasn’t snapped or bitten) so should go to a home with older (9 and up) children.

• Name: Tilly
• Age: 3 years old
• Breed: Chihuahua
• Gender: Female

Tilly is a cute tan and white Chihuahua. She is about 9lbs. Tilly was listed as ‘rescue only’ while in animal control because she was unsure of her surroundings. Tilly can be suspicious of new people, especially when they try to get too close and don’t respect her body language. However, once she is given some time to sniff and check people out on her own terms, she comes around very quickly!! Tilly is most comfortable with women but her main caretaker is a man- after only a few feeding times and some affection given, she has become his #1 Fan! Tilly does fine with other dogs, and is likely housebroken. She will do best in a house with children old enough to respect her personal space and not play too roughly.

• Name: Winston
• Age: 5 years
• Breed: Maltese mix
• Gender: Male

Winston is one bundle of cuteness! Weighing in at a whopping 6 lbs, this little love muffin looks like a teddy bear. He is great with people and does well with other dogs, too. He came to us from an area animal control. The officers had to completely shave his coat because of mats and filth and he feels much better now (even if he looks a bit like a Q-Tip at the moment!). Winston had a yeast infection in his ear and is being treated for that, too. He will need to go to a home aware of his grooming requirements and willing to spend the time and/or money to see that he stays comfortable and healthy. Winston is the perfect size for a lap dog but enjoys playing with toys, too.  He is crate trained and does well indoors. As a small breed dog at five years old, he is past his wild puppy days and still has many, many loving years ahead of him. Will he spend them with you?

Name: Juno
Age: 1 Year (as of July 2010)
Breed: Blue Heeler
Weight: 21lbs
Gender: Female

Juno is a tiny Blue Heeler. She was rescued from an animal control that is in deplorable shape. Her fur felt unreal and would literally crumble in your hands. Her skin was also in terrible shape and smelled like death. I was worried she had mange, but all checked out well and it was caused by a flea allergy. She still has one patch of fur missing on her back, but looks and feels much better. In a month or so, her fur will look and feel as it should. Juno is an incredible little dog. I was worried she wouldn’t do well in my home since Heelers are notorious for needing to be in a one dog only home. They are known to nip and herd dogs inside their household because they want to be in control. Heelers will also herd the family if they aren’t properly exercised or given a job. Juno might be the black sheep of Heelers, but in a good way. I’ve only had her for 3 weeks, but in this time I haven’t seen the typical (annoying) Heeler characteristics come out of her. This could be because my pack doesn’t do anything to make the herding come out, but she and Owen are best friends. They love wrestling and she is gentle with him. Her only job is to chew a large bone when she is bored. When Juno hears a squeaky toy she becomes ecstatic and will jump high into the air. She has so much potential to play fetch or Frisbee, she just needs to be trained to do so. It was obviously Juno had never been swimming until I took her to my pond. She was hesitant at first, but when she saw all the dogs swimming around she decided to join them. Once she figured out how to stay afloat she never went back to shore. Juno is very loyal and listens well to corrections. She enjoys cuddling up with me anytime I allow it. She knows I’m the boss, and I want to keep a close eye on any bad Heeler characteristics from emerging. Potty training is going well, but I don’t think she is 100% trained. She is also great in her crate. Juno needs an active family that will exercise her, give her a job, or does some sort of fun activity like agility with her. She needs to continue being socialized with other dogs since she adores them, and this trait can be rare in Heelers.

Name: Owen
Age: 1 Year (as of July 2010)
Breed: Blue Heeler/Rat Terrier Mix
Weight: 15lbs
Gender: Male

Once you interact with Owen you will not be able to let him go. I can’t help calling him “Little Owen” because of his tiny stature. Owen and his brother, Picasso, were found in the most appalling animal control I’ve ever seen. They had been there for over a week and their time was completely up in an overcrowded pound. These little guys would have been adopted in a heartbeat if they were at the Athens pound, but Stephens County Animal Control only has 1-2 adoptions a month! We were lucky enough to save them on their last day. Owen didn’t trust me the first few days, but now he is my little shadow. He is very submissive and shy at times, but when you gain his trust he is fearless. He came to me knowing no tricks or basic obedience, but he is picking up commands quickly. Potty training is going very well, and I haven’t noticed any recent mistakes. He is wonderful in the crate and doesn’t make a peep. Owen is in love with all dogs. He wants to play, play, and play some more. Sometimes they bully him around since he is so small and submissive, but that doesn’t stop him from having a blast. My favorite discovery of Little Owen is that he loves to swim and ride around on my paddle boat with me. He enjoys being the captain and will stand at the end of the boat to see where we are headed. He also likes a game of fetch…but his legs are short and he is a little slower than the rest of the gang, so he doesn’t get the chance to retrieve the ball as much as he wishes. He never gives up and will always attempt to get the ball. Whenever I’m relaxing, Owen will give me thousands of kisses, and then he will snuggle up on my chest or my side and lay like a baby. It’s probably the cuties thing you will ever see. As you can see, Owen is an amazing dog. I would love to see him go to a active family that doesn’t only see him as being a lap dog, and that will allow him to run, fetch, and swim.