Gus

Gus, Gus, Gus..... what can we say about this boy? Although we had high hopes, the picture is not as promising as we had hoped. That being said, if you're a lover of special-needs dogs and have a desire to give them the best possible life for the amount of time they have, then please continue reading because you might be the ideal match for our special boy.

Gus came to Yuba County Animal Care Services as a stray and when his owners couldn't be located, NorSled posted him to the web. He was almost immediately adopted and sent over for neuter but, unfortunately, because he was breathing so heavily, the vet was concerned about his health and the adoption fell through. NorSled had a decision to make; pull or not. We decided to pull and immediately transported Gus to the local vet.

His first visit involved a LOT of poking and prodding into absolutely every orifice. He weighed (66 pounds), had fly stricken eartips, ear canals that needed flushing and cleaning with long cotton swabs (more cleaning was done during his neuter and an embedded, festering foxtail was found), a prostate examined and heart and lung sounds reviewed. After all that, he was taken for a much needed bath (you just can't imagine how badly this boy smelled ;-). Not even once throughout the entire day did he react with anger, aggression or snapping (which is totally amazing considering how uncomfortable it must have been for him). Even the vet mentioned he would not have been able to provide such a thorough exam if not for Gus' great temperament.

Once at his foster home, Gus examined every area and eventually settled into a long sleep in a kennel all his own (5' high and he didn't try to escape). The following day he hung out in the yard with his new canine family (woosey male, scared returning male foster, alpha female) and did extremely well. Oh sure, there were moments when someone tried to show who was top dog, but it only amounted to posturing; no barking or fights. Even with the lawn mower going, he remained unfazed (we later learned he is deaf but does respond to a hand single motioning him to come to his foster mom), so the following days have been spent unkenneled in the backyard with everyone.

Gus is one quiet, gentle, laid back boy who understands he's big so respects those around him by not trying to charge doors or muscle past on his way to another room, waiting his turn when accepting treats as well as leaving his foster mom fingers intact when receiving his twice daily thyroid medication, understanding the crate (part of housetraining) is his cherished oasis and not digging, chewing or leaping tall buildings. NorSled's decision to pull was correct. He will be an excellent companion for a family, travelers or older couple who want a subdued, 5-7 year old companion (Sibes have been known to live up to 18 years with the average being 15-16 years) who has a lot to share.

Like all NorSled dogs, Gus is neutered, current on his shots, microchipped and tested negative for heartworm. He's also had chest x-rays (both heart and lungs are even better than expected for a boy his age), full blood panel, teeth cleaning and a broken back tooth removed. Rarely has so much vetting been done to a rescue dog to ensure his good health. This is one boy who's ready to go!!!!

Update 01/17: As noted at the beginning of this bio, although all his tests came back negative, Gus has medical issues that have yet to be diagnosed. However, he remains a happy, sweet, oblivious, non-aggressive boy who still has little interaction with his humans or canine family. Although his panting rarely returns, he continues to pace, sometimes walks into corners and cannot seem to figure out a way to get out of them, has a problem with his balance that at times causes him to walk into a wall, appears confused if awakened by his foster mom and although likes being inside, almost seems to settle quicker when out. At this point, Gus' life revolves around eating (his appetite is great), pacing and sleeping, but interestingly, at times he can pull like any sled dog when he's excited about something. So, although Gus remains an enigma with the picture not appearing bright, NorSled steadfastly stands behind their decision to pull him from the local shelter. No dog should be abandoned just because there are medical concerns/issues and a rescue group shouldn't be there just to pull the easily adoptable dogs. It's their responsibility to also help those who are deemed unadoptable by the local shelters.

Knowing his condition when we post his bio to the website, we absolutely understand what we are asking and the commitment it will take for any new owner. Gus is certainly not a dog for everyone and because of his health, will not be attending any adoption fairs even though he appears to like them (he meets new people who he won't remember in 10 minutes :-) and gets to go for long rides). But... if you feel your heart tug for this special-needs boy, are compelled to rescue someone who REALLY needs you and would like to meet him, please contact ofkiltr@att.net or 530-701-6711. Tax deductible contributions through the NorSled Polo Fund to help offset his huge prior medical expenses are also appreciated.