| Please read full bio before applying for Thorin:
Thorin spent some time in a home in which we learned that the ideal home for him would be a rural, predictable adult home with folks that are training minded and will work with him to get him past issues that have surfaced in re to meeting new people. He is a big sweetheart to those that he knows and loves, but has acted out towards veterinarians and visitors and will need someone that will help him to realize that they are in charge and that being reactive is not acceptable. Please contact us at at sanctuary@milofoundation.org if you would like to learn more and discuss setting up as meeting with our big handsome man! (please note that the bio below was written before he spent some time in the home)
Previous Bio: Please do note that Thorin is a wonderful, puppyish boy, but he has shown us a prey drive and we know that he has never lived with cats or small dogs in the past, so ideally we are looking for a home for him where neither are present. Even though we do not feel that he would likely intentionally injure them, he is a very big young boy who does want to give chase and we feel it would best if he were only in a home with other dogs around his size/age.
This big beautiful hunk of a dog is the fabulous Thorin! He is goofy and playful with other dogs (including males) and has been raised with SIX children, from toddlers to teenagers. He is house trained, crate trained, non-destructive and an all around cuddly/submissive/ big squishy sweetheart! It is known that both of his parents were purebreds, one a Mastiff and the other a St Bernard, and also that he is 14 months old. He will need continued training, but he is a lovely boy!
He was purchased as a little pup by a large family that thought they were soon going to be moving out of there upstairs apartment with no yard, but alas that never happened. Thorin was wonderful with the children, but sadly they felt that there was just not room for his big happy and wiggly body in their lives, and one day he was brought to a high kill overcrowded shelter, and left, alone in a kennel. He was brave the first day, but then the reality that they were not coming back sank in and he fell into a state of despair.
Not initially knowing anything about him, we happened to be visiting the shelter to rescue others and we did a double take as we walked by his kennel, and the sight of him made our hearts sink. His whole big body was shaking and he was trying to make himself as small as possible with just pure terror in his eyes. His eyes clearly said to us that he was a sweet and connected dog who's world had been turned upside down and that this level of fear was not something he was used to or knew how to handle. We could tell that in his current state, that this was not a dog that was going to pass any shelter evaluation, and we felt compelled to help him because we could feel in our heart that he was a very special dog, and we could not let that become his fate. He was so very fearful that we were not able to get a leash on him to walk him out of the shelter to spend time with him, but we could tell that he needed to get out of the shelter ASAP or his life would be in danger and as they were about to close, we asked the staff to please let us know before making any decisions re the boy in kennel 9.
As we expected, we were contacted the next day to say that indeed Thorin was now scheduled to be put to sleep, unless we were able to help. We started putting the wheels in motion, but then were told that his mom had come back for him! We had the shelter pass on our info as we were worried that it would not last, and sadly we were correct. Just a couple of days later we were called by a very sweet woman who had actually taken him in. His mom had not been picking him up to bring him home to his family, but rather to bring him to a compassionate woman who had heard of his plight. The foster loved him immediately and said he was just a wonderful dog who was playful and submissive with her male dog, but she had not taken into account his size and her own physical limitations before jumping in to help. She was a very kind woman that did not want to see him go back to the shelter knowing that it would mean euthanasia, but truly could not keep him herself any longer.
We are happy to report that Thorin is now with us, safe and sound at the Milo Sanctuary. We could not be more pleased with this gentle and lovable big baby! We are all just in love with him, and are so thankful that we happened to walk by this sweet boys kennel, during the worst point in his young life.
Thorin would love another home with children and another dog friend, but would honestly be happy with any loving, devoted and capable family of his own. He is young, well mannered, trainable and eager to please and we see wonderful things in Thorin's future! Please send your questionnaires to sanctuary@milofoundation.org! < |
