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Champ is a 4-year-old Jack Russel Terrier/Rat Terrier/Dachshund mix weighing around 18 pounds. Words to describe him are spunky, loving, affectionate, happy, and enthusiastic. He is very social people-friendly yet loves to take his short naps during the day when he wants to relax.

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Hi – my name is Champ and this is my story…

I was dumped on the side of a road with my five puppies. A very nice woman was driving by and saw us so called for help. The puppies were able to be picked up and taken into rescue. But not me because I was older and did not want to come close to any humans because I was scared what they would do to me (based on past experience). I am not sure how long I had been in the woods having to fend for myself but it was rough.

A volunteer with a trap came and set up a way to capture me. They lured me into that trap with food which worked because I was so so so hungry. Then a volunteer from 4 Lucky Dogs Pet Rescue brought me back to her house. When she carried me inside my eyes lit up realizing I was inside an actual house again. My wish came true! No more running for safety from other animals. No more hiding from rain and trying to stay away from the hot sun. No more looking for food or water wherever I could get something. I saw dog bowls! I saw dog beds! I saw furniture! I remembered this kind of stuff before I became a stray. I don’t know what happened to make me become a stray but it was scary and I was so happy knowing I did not have to go back to that life.

My foster mother gave me some dog food and I ate all of it (I had become skinny not eating when on my own). The water tasted so good because I was dehydrated. I was still a bit hesitant wondering was this really occurring so kept my tail between my legs for a while. My foster mother then gave me a much-needed bath – yes I let her touch me – and it felt so good. In fact I loved it and wanted more and more petting. I had craved feeling the human touch again and was getting it from all the people in this family. I was so happy and my tail went up in the air!

4 Lucky Dogs arranged for a vet to look at me to make sure I was OK. She said I was in really great shape especially after everything that occurred to me. She did see my hurt back right leg from what she assumed was a trauma a while ago and now I have some muscle deterioration and nerve damage. (FYI - The vet said there are some vitamin supplements I can take to make it stronger.) I usually put weight on all four paws but when I am walking quickly I limp on it or walk on just three paws. But leg does not stop me from doing anything – I get where I need to go and am not in any pain.

Also during my exam it was discovered that my eyes have cataracts – something the vet called early onset juvenile cataracts since I am so young. The cataracts usually do not prevent me from seeing and acting normal – just something my new family will have to watch and help with as I get older. Although there are times that I do not see well from the side such as when a treat is dropped I do not know where it is. But yum yum yum when I do finally find that treat it is extra special good. The vet does not know when my eyes will get worse such as in a couple of years or lots of years but I have so much love to give whoever adopts me that I will continue to be happy.

Living now at my foster home I sleep in various dog beds (there are a lot to choose from and I switch from one to another enjoying myself). I run in the fenced-in yard then get to come inside to air conditioning. It is great! In return I let my foster family know how much I appreciate them by wanting to be near them, giving them greetings, sitting on their lap, and giving kisses. I started feeling so much better like a new dog – or should I say I felt like my old self again?

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Notes from his foster family…….

Champ will be calm and lay quietly in the foster house when there is no activity going on. Then his eagerness to do something fun makes him playful. When the foster mother works from home Champ positions himself on the dog bed near her desk settling in for a nap. Warning – he does snore some!

Champ likes to follow people around the house and is content to lay next to them, but if they get up to walk around, he is right by their side. Or if the person relocated too fast for him to notice, he explores each room looking for where they went. Being around people is Champ’s main goal.

He is mostly potty trained and is used to going to the bathroom in the foster’s fenced-in backyard (although he has had a few accidents in the house as he is getting used to a routine). Champ is not familiar with walking on a leash so would need to live in a house that has a fence. He happily runs in the yard but sometimes limps so would not be a good fit for people that want to walk their dog regularly. Also if his eyesight worsens later in life it would be best for him to stay in a familiar area.

He is extremely smart and is a “everyone” type of dog equally compatible with and equally loving all members of his foster family. This dog is friendly to every person wagging his tail or giving a greeting by getting up on his hind legs. He likes being near humans sitting on the dog bed in the same room.

Champ loves other dogs so would be great as a companion dog. The foster family has seen him get along with big and small dogs – he is just grateful to be alive. Champ will follow the other dogs wherever they go wanting to be part of the pack.

The average lifespan for this breed of dog is 15 years; therefore, Champ’s adopter will need to be prepared to keep him for around 11 more years so he will not have to move to a different home again.

Champ’s adoption fee is $500. This dog comes microchipped, neutered, up to date on all necessary vaccines/rabies shots, and heartworm tested. He is currently being fostered in the Plant City/Valrico Florida area.

 

***We are a foster-based rescue with no shelter or facility to view our dogs, and our address is a mailing address only. Please be patient as we are an all-volunteer rescue, and our rescue dogs are in various loving foster homes throughout West-Central Florida. As a general rule we try to limit our adoptions to within the state of FL. If interested in one of our dogs, please fill out a foster or adopt application at www.4luckydogs.org, and we will contact you by phone/text if we feel your application is the best fit out of the ones received.***

Good with Dogs, Good with Older/Considerate Kids Only, Good with Adults, Somewhat vocal, Does Good in the Car, Requires a yard, Cratetrained, Obedient, Affectionate, Eager To Please, Intelligent, Even-tempered, Gentle, Goofy

 

 

 

 

 

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