Meet our amazingly sweet little Joe.  Joe is a young adult (~2 yrs old) Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix  who is a very special little fella.  He is sweet as the day is long, absolutely loves his people, great with other dogs and fine with cats too.  Joe is a happy boy who especially loves his toys.  He also loves his crate – he loves to collect all his little belongings and stash them for safe storage in his crate.  He is quite entertaining as he busily walks to and fro collecting his little belongings and putting them in his crate for safe-keeping!!  Joe’s temperament is just the sweetest, making him super, super special.

Joe is also special in another way – this one not being good.  Joe has a heart condition called pulmonic stenosis.  The right side of his heart does not function properly & because it has had to work harder, there is thickening/hardening on the right side.  This congenital condition is further complicated by two leaky valves.  What it all means is that Joe is high risk for congestive heart failure.   While there is a surgical procedure that could potentially help to some degree the right side of the heart, it’s a 50/50 proposition with significant risk (heightened by Joe’s other heart issues) and would not necessarily add much time.  It also would not enhance Joe’s quality of life – he will always be high risk, and he will always have to be on “restricted activity.”

After consultation with the many people who love this little guy (including his NC foster mom and dad, who love him to distraction), as well as a number of our vets, we have decided to let Joe be Joe – and let him live his life happy, hoarding his toys, lying in your arms, and snuggling.

We are seeking a settled home environment for Joe with a quiet lifestyle, where Joe’s people would be able to spend lots of hugging/snuggling time with him.  Joe likes other dogs; and, so, a home with a mellow canine companion would be great.   We are seeking a family who will love this sweet boy to the max and cherish each day with him.  In terms of Joe’s future, we cannot make any prediction regarding longevity.  It could be years, and it might not be… His adopter would need to be able to deal with that uncertainty.

Also, Joe is not neutered, and we will not be getting him neutered due to his high-risk status.  The adoptive family would need to agree to not neuter him and to take the necessary precautions that go with his unneutered status.

If you are interested in opening your heart and home to this total love-bug, and are able to provide the care and love that he needs, we’d love to hear from you.  Please register on www.safeatlast.net by clicking Register on the lefthand side of our home page.  When you receive your password, please log back on with username and password to complete the Safe at Last online adoption application.  (Click Forms/Applications on the lefthand side of our homepage.)  Upon review of your application, if we feel you are a good match for Joe, we will email you to schedule the phone interview to commence the review process.  Our process is straightforward, but it does involve the phone interview, reference checks and a home assessment. 

As with all our rescue dogs, there is a $425 adoption fee.  Although Joe’s testing/care to date has been costly, we are committed to donating a significant portion of Joe’s adoption fee back to the adopter’s  veterinary account to assist with Joe’s future care.  We will discuss the particulars with the adoptive family.

Joe is being fostered in Warnerville in Schoharie County, NY.  Approved adopters are required to go to the foster home to complete the adoption.  All Covid-19 protocols must be observed.

NYS Rescue Registry No. RR 087.