Location: Kasota, MN
Messi definitely had a hard start. Our best guess is that he was kept in a kennel with his brother for most of his life, before being surrendered to rescue. Also, that he was kept outside because of the bug bites on his ears. It has been such an extraordinary joy to watch him come out of his shell and bound around our yard and house, full of joy. It is as if we are watching him discover every single sweet thing that life has to offer him as he experiences it for the first time!
We have been working on helping Messi gain a bit of weight, increases muscle mass, and have been giving him soothing baths to heal his skin and get his healthy coat back. He has some sores on his skin and feet that are now healing. Regardless of what he has been through, he is the happiest boy! Once his healing is complete, he is going to be even more beautiful dog than he is now. And we think he is a looker already! Our best guest on breed combination is: some sort of small terrier breed/cattle dog/labrador retriever/Staffordshire terrier/husky/shepherd and likely others. He is a beautiful little mix of things with the greatest personality and disposition.
Messi is already past his shark teeth phase and has all of his adult teeth. He is extremely gentle when he uses his mouth. He eats quickly now that he has access to food, but is gentle with people around food and treats/bones/toys. No resource guarding so far. And, he's at a beautiful age to bond with his new people, just as he has done with us.
Messi at his present age and weight is projected to unlikely become a large dog. He is a perfectly-perfect size. He currently lives with our dogs, cats, and three children aged 9- to 16-years-old and is so wonderful and respectful with all of them!
He has had absolutely no accidents in the temp foster home he was in before ours, or in our home. He prefers to go to the bathroom outside, and does so immediately when taking there and given the "potty" command. Of course, we give him ample opportunities to potty outside-at least one every couple hours.
He also responds to "come", "sit", "no", and is working on "kennel". Also working on leash training, and doing great, although he is also great off-leash and has good recall. He loves to be right by his people. He rides wonderfully in a car outside of, or in, a kennel. Messi is a very fast learner. He lives to please his people. He sleeps happily kenneled next to his foster canine companions all night from 10pm to 6am with no accidents and not a peep.
Messi is a very loving, happy, joyful, laid-back, AFFECTIONATE, grateful, playful boy who loves being near his people. He really lives for the acceptance and love of his humans. If his people are not around, he finds comfort in his canine companions and would benefit from joining a family with another confident, friendly dog in it, to show him the ropes and be friends with. Messi does not enjoy being alone, as he was with his brother for his entire life before coming to our home.
Messi is looking for his forever family to start his journey with. Might that be yours!?
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The best way to show interest in an animal is to submit an adoption application by visiting our website (www.rescuenetworkmn.org).
Adoption fee includes spay/neuter, all age-appropriate vaccinations (distemper, rabies, and bordetella), heartworm and flea/tick preventatives, heartworm test (dogs over 9 months), FIV/FeLV test (cats - one in the litter), dewormed, and microchip implant (including registration).
Rescue Network is strictly foster based which means all adoptable animals are in a home and there cannot be a meet until an application is submitted and approved. We have no way of knowing the breeds in the animals. All breeds listed are best guess.
PUCK
Australian Cattle Dog Blue Heeler
🇺🇸
Buffalo, Minnesota
male, large, adult
Australian Cattle Dog Blue Heeler
Buffalo, Minnesota
