Meet Theo! This small, sweet boy was pulled from the Maricopa County shelter after dodging the euthanasia list not once, but twice. The first time, he was E-listed for a  persistent respiratory infection. Luckily, he recovered enough to be taken off the list. But after spending all summer in the shelter, he was showing signs of severe kennel stress. He found himself with a deadline once again when he started losing weight due to the stress. Like so many of the dogs we take in, his life was in danger simply for being a young husky struggling in a shelter. Luckily, one of our longtime volunteers stepped up to foster him the night before his deadline, giving him a second chance at the long, happy life he deserves.

Though he was a bit nervous at first, Theo quickly settled into life in his foster home. It was immediately clear that he’s just a happy boy who loves life and was so excited to be out of the shelter. By the end of his first day with his fosters, he was readily seeking out attention from them and trying to climb into their laps for snuggles. Now that he’s in a more comfortable environment, his true personality has begun to show. He’s a young husky through and through. He’s energetic and absolutely loves to play, whether it’s with people, toys, or other dogs. That being said, he has done well learning the routine in his foster home and figuring out when it’s time to settle down.

Despite the months Theo spent in the shelter, he is relatively well-behaved around the house. He isn’t destructive, preferring toys and appropriate chews. On the rare occasions when he picks up something he shouldn’t, he gives it back easily. He responds well to gentle verbal correction, too. He is mostly house-trained; he has struggled a bit with marking in the house, but this has improved with time. He has also gotten more comfortable being in a crate and generally sleeps well through the night, though he does get a bit anxious if left alone and crated for longer periods. The one time his fosters left him home alone uncrated, he methodically opened the doors to the bathroom and the closets in their bedroom, but he didn’t disturb anything; he was just exploring. He will need some continued obedience work, though, especially when it comes to walking on a leash. He thinks that walks are just the Best Thing Ever, so he does tend to pull, especially at first. With a bit of training, he would make an excellent running or hiking buddy.

Theo also loves other dogs. He plays well with the other big dogs in his foster home, another male husky and a female German shepherd. He’s happy to match their energy and has no problem playing rough, but he also respects boundaries and is not pushy with dogs who aren’t interested (he will hold a play bow forever waiting for the other dog to initiate). He has been to a local dog park and did well interacting with new dogs of various sizes. For as young and energetic as he is, he is very good at reading the room when it comes to other dogs, though he may be a bit much for those that are older or very small. He has not been tested around cats, but the vet that saw him after he left the shelter reported that he showed no interest in the cats in the exam area (he was more interested in seeing how many people he could hug).

If there’s one thing Theo likes more than other dogs, it’s people. He loves to snuggle and will climb into your lap if you let him. While lots of huskies are independent and even aloof, Theo is happiest when he’s hanging out with his humans. As a result, he doesn’t have the best sense of personal space, but if you’re looking for a dog who will always accept a hug, Theo is your guy! He does jump on people, but it’s gentle; he just wants to say hello, give you some kisses, and see if you’ll pet him for a while. At the vet’s office, he immediately won over the entire staff with his happy, friendly personality, and he allowed all sorts of handling with minimal drama. He can be a bit mouthy when he’s feeling playful or asking for attention, but he stops when corrected and has shown no aggression whatever towards people.

Ultimately, Theo is a sweet young boy with the cutest smile, and we’re so glad we were able to give him another chance. Now all he needs is a family of his own. His ideal home would have at least one other playful dog to keep him company. Due to his energy and mouthy behavior, we are recommending a home without very young kids, though older kids should be fine. Theo would make an amazing companion for any household or family. He has so much love to give, and with his joyful, happy-go-lucky attitude, he’s truly the type of dog that you can’t help but fall in love with. If you’re interested in making him a part of your life, please fill out an application on our website.