Meet Otis, one of our incredible Parvo Puppy Survivors!
Otis is an incredibly handsome Heeler mix, although we cannot say for certain exactly what breeds make up his family tree. He was one of a litter of 11 puppies who came to BENCHS from another shelter, expecting their next big adventure to be finding families of their own. Instead, these little puppies suddenly found themselves in the fight of their lives when the litter became sick with parvovirus.
Otis fought hard, he BEAT PARVO, and now you would never know what he has been through! He is healthy, thriving, growing, and becoming more fun and silly by the day. After everything these puppies went through, getting to watch their personalities emerge and seeing them simply enjoy being puppies has been incredibly special.
Otis currently lives with several of his siblings and has never gone a day of his life without other dogs around him. He has grown up eating, sleeping, playing, wrestling, exploring, and learning alongside his canine family, giving him tons of early experience socializing and communicating with other puppies. Now that he is healthy and feeling great, Otis is becoming a joyful, goofy little guy who is ready to take on the world.
Our best guess is that Otis and his siblings have some Heeler, or Australian Cattle Dog, in their family tree. Heelers are intelligent, energetic, loyal working dogs that tend to thrive when they have opportunities to use both their bodies and their brains. They can make incredible companions for families who enjoy staying active, training, exploring, and including their dogs in their adventures. Otis is looking for an active indoor home that is ready for all of the fun, work, learning, and laughter that comes along with raising a smart, energetic puppy.
Potential adopters should also understand that herding breeds can sometimes bring their working instincts into family life. Chasing, circling, and nipping at heels can emerge as these puppies grow, particularly around small children who are running, squealing, and playing. These behaviors do not necessarily mean a dog is being aggressive. They can simply be an extension of the instincts these dogs were bred for, but they can still be overwhelming for very young children and require consistent training and appropriate outlets. Because Otis is still a young puppy and we do not yet know how strongly those instincts will develop as he matures, families with very small children should carefully consider whether an energetic herding breed puppy is the right fit for their household.
Otis has already faced something enormous in his very short life, and he came out on the other side. Now he is healthy, happy, wonderfully silly, and ready for the next chapter. This time, we hope his biggest challenges involve learning his manners, figuring out where his family hides the treats, and deciding which spot on the couch belongs to him.
Come meet Otis at BENCHS and help us give another one of our Parvo Puppy Survivors the happy ending he fought so hard for!
BENCHS puppy adoption fees are $500 plus tax. Otis's adoption fee includes his neuter, microchip, dewormer, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, distemper boosters, Bordetella vaccination, and rabies vaccination.
Our puppies also head home with a gallon bag of food, a leash, collar, harness, tote bag, blanket, toys, and some other little freebies to help make the transition into their new home a little easier.
Otis's adoption also includes a professional family photo to capture the beginning of his new life with the people lucky enough to call him theirs!
BOWTIE
Domestic Medium Hair
🇺🇸
Mankato, Minnesota
male, small, baby
Domestic Medium Hair
Mankato, Minnesota
