Meet Chewy!
If you're looking for a loyal best friend with a goofy streak, Chewy is your guy! This handsome Red Fox Lab mix has a heart as big as his love for squeaky Chuckit balls. Toss a ball, and you've made his day-he could happily play fetch for hours!
Chewy is aptly named because he makes the most adorable noises, groans and howls similar to the Star Wars character, Chewbacca. As a passenger in the car, he will "trill" from the back seat and while chewing on a Benebone, he makes the happiest noises.
Chewy came to us from the San Jose Animal Care Center where he had been turned in as a stray and no one claimed him. Estimated to be around five years old, it's evident this sweet boy did not have the easiest start to his life and was not living in the best of conditions. He presented with calloused skin in several places on his body, evidence of years of living and sleeping on a hard surface like concrete with nothing soft underneath him. He was also still intact and not microchipped, was about 20 pounds underweight and his teeth showed signs of metallic staining, which usually indicates he had been chewing on something like a chain link fence.
His life changed when AFRP took him out of the shelter, though! We got him into a loving foster home where he immediately learned the comfort of memory foam dog beds, nutritional food, medicated baths to help his itchy skin, and how wonderful belly rubs feel. We took him to our vet partner and he is now current on vaccines and flea/tick treatment, and he has been neutered. We are treating his itchy skin with an oral medication but we are also taking him to a vet dermatologist in August for a more detailed exam to determine whether his skin condition is due to food allergies or environmental triggers.
When he's not playing with his favorite squeaky Chuckit ball, Chewy is happiest simply being with people. He's the kind of dog who loves to follow you from room to room, keeping you company whether you're cooking dinner, working from home, or relaxing on the couch. His sweet, affectionate personality makes him an easy dog to love.
In his foster home, Chewy is crate trained and settles in nicely at night (and when he needs a little "me time" during the day), making him a great addition to a home with a routine. As a dog who got neutered later in life, he showed himself to be a bit of a "marker" in the outdoors, so out of an abundance of caution, his foster has been using a "belly band" on him inside the home to help curb the temptation of marking indoors. Chewy seems to enjoy wearing the bands and waits just inside the door as he comes in for his foster mom to put the band back on before he goes further into the house.
Chewy needs to put on some weight and he loves food! He eats out of a slow feeder and enjoys mealtime so much that his tail wags while he eats. He will sit politely for treats and has a gentle mouth. He is also very good about taking his medicine, which his foster puts in a piece of cheese.
Chewy walks well on a leash and has been exploring his new neighborhood with his foster's resident dogs. He is not leash reactive with other dogs, although he is curious - he will watch other dogs, but does not bark or lunge to get to them. He is a big fan of people, though, and will sometimes jump when he is very excited to meet someone. He has seen cats through windows and has shown to be non-reactive, so we think he could do well in home with a cat after thoughtful introductions. In his current foster home, he lives with three large male dogs and does well with them, although he has not shown any interest in playing with them. His foster says he seems more like a roommate, and although her dogs have tried to engage play with him, he has simply shown no interest in playing yet, although that could change with time.
With his gentle nature, loving personality, and resilient spirit, Chewy is ready to find a family who will cherish him as much as he'll cherish them. If you're looking for a devoted companion who's always up for a game of fetch and even more excited to be by your side, Chewy is ready to meet you!
Chewy is currently a foster-to-adopt candidate as we want to make sure everyone thoroughly understands his skin condition before he is officially adopted.
Interested in fostering-to-adopt Chewy? Visit www.animalfriendsrescue.org to complete our online adoption application today!
BOATS
Domestic Short Hair
🇺🇸
Pacific Grove, California
male, small, baby
Domestic Short Hair
Pacific Grove, California
