Kelvin *Special Needs*

8 Year old Male / Available at the Rescue

Kelvin is not an easy dog to write about, because his story is complicated and we refuse to reduce him to the worst moments of his life. He is about 8 years old and was found roaming the streets before being impounded. At the shelter, they reported that he was behaving aggressively and told us he would be euthanized. We knew he was a difficult case. We also knew we had to go get him to give him a chance at life.

Kelvin is deeply afraid. We cannot know exactly what happened to him before he came to us, but his most serious behavior occurs almost exclusively when someone tries to put a leash or harness on him. In those moments, his fear and anxiety take over. He may circle, redirect toward his own tail, or strike out at the person handling him. His tail also appears to have been partially amputated in the past, which makes his fixation on it even more concerning.

Outside of those situations, Kelvin can be a genuinely sweet boy. There is a softer dog in there who wants connection, but certain things clearly make him feel unsafe. He is not walking around looking for trouble. He has very specific triggers, and right now he does not know how to cope with them.

We need to be extremely clear that Kelvin is not a dog for a first-time owner, he needs someone with experience handling fearful dogs, plus the time, patience, training, and willingness to move entirely at his pace. He should not live with small children, and we believe he will do best as the only dog in the home.

Kelvin may never become the kind of dog who wants to be picked up, passed around, or immediately cuddled by strangers. That is okay. A good life does not have to look the same for every dog. We truly believe Kelvin can have a safe, comfortable, quality life with the right person.

Kelvin does not need someone who expects him to be perfect. He needs someone willing to prove, slowly and patiently, that he is finally safe. If you have the experience and heart to give a dog like Kelvin a real chance, please inquire today!