Meet Upton! This sweet dude has really had a rough go of it lately. He was brought to MCACC as a stray with some limping reported, but this was never followed up on (though we haven’t noticed it causing any issues). He also caught a bad case of kennel cough shortly after intake, meaning that he was kept almost exclusively in isolation during his time in the shelter. In such a stressful environment, his body had a hard time fighting the infection. When his cough was still present after 3 weeks of antibiotics, he was placed on the euthanasia list, even though kennel cough often resolves quickly once dogs are removed from the shelter. Despite his health issues, Upton received a “green” rating for behavior, designating him as a very easy dog. We knew that he didn’t deserve to die, he just needed a safe place to fully recover. We are so grateful to the foster that stepped up to help Upton through that process. He only coughed once on his way home from the shelter and has been in great spirits since, so we have no doubt he is well on his way to recovery.

Upton adjusted easily to life in his foster home. It was immediately clear why he earned his “green” rating – he’s well-behaved, rides nicely in the car, and was patient when he went to the vet for a valley fever test and bloodwork (all of which came back clear). As his health has improved, so has his energy.  He was low energy leaving the shelter due to his lingering cough, but has since gotten a lot of his spunk back. He does have a habit of jumping on people, but he responds well to verbal correction. He hasn’t shown any destructive tendencies around the house and doesn’t need to be crated. 

Upton is currently the only dog (or other pet) in the home, though he has interacted well with dogs he has met while on walks or at adoption events. He loves going for walks and will be a great adventure buddy with a bit of leash training; like many huskies, he has a tendency to pull. That being said, he’s also content to just relax with his humans, especially if he can cuddle. His foster reports that he has shown himself to be very trainable so far, especially since he’s highly food-motivated.

Upton’s health has improved tremendously since leaving the shelter. However, an anal mass was discovered during his neuter. He had a second surgery to remove it, and there is minimal risk for long-term complications. He did snap at the vet while he was there, but he has no bite record and has not shown any aggression. We don’t think he would bite anyone under normal circumstances; he was just tired of being poked and prodded (and with his past medical issues, who can blame him?). He also had one negative interaction with another male dog at an adoption event, but we believe it was a one-time thing that won’t happen again now that he’s fixed.

Upton is truly just a sweet young dog who found himself in an unlucky situation, and we’re so happy we were able to give him a chance to get healthy and live a great life. He would make an amazing addition to an active household, with or without other playful dogs. He hasn’t been evaluated around children, but we don’t think he’ll have any problems around older kids (his high energy may be a bit much around smaller kids). Please fill out an adoption application on our website if you’re interested in meeting this happy, loving boy.

Curious about owning a husky, but not ready to commit to adoption? Upton is also looking for a foster! Fosters are provided with any needed supplies, including food and bowls, a collar and leash, a crate, toys, chews, and more. We coordinate vet care and appointments at one of our trusted facilities and cover all expenses. All you have to do is give Upton a loving home. More information, as well as the foster application, can be found on our website.