Blue

My story

Blue is a five-year-old Husky who has come an incredible way since arriving in our care and now he's ready to find the people who will love him for the big, sweet, sometimes vocal boy he is. When Blue first came to us as an unclaimed stray, he was carrying a little too much weight and was understandably nervous about some of the things happening around him. During his initial triage, invasive handling and people standing over him made him uncomfortable. He also had an unfortunate altercation with a much smaller dog while he was loose and running excitedly toward the dog. The other dog sustained one small puncture wound. But Blue has shown us again and again that one difficult moment does not define him. Over the months, Blue has blossomed. He has shed some pounds, gained confidence, and let his wonderfully sweet personality shine through. He is friendly with everyone he has met and has become a favourite among our dog walkers and staff. Blue is a great leash walker and can be comfortably walked by volunteers at a Level 3. His walkers have described him as: Very food motivated, walked well, love this big guy. And: Really coming out of his shell, walks very well on leash, loves to be brushed and loves treats and takes them nicely. Blue is a big fan of treats and takes them nicely, and if there is one thing he might love almost as much as snacks, its being brushed! He absolutely enjoys it. He also loves getting pets and is now comfortable with staff standing over him — a huge improvement from when he first arrived. Blue has also made wonderful progress with handling. While he still prefers that his front legs not be handled excessively, he communicates this appropriately by simply pulling his leg away. Otherwise, he has demonstrated that he can be very comfortable with routine handling, including having his paws squeezed, his mouth touched, and hands run along his body. Because of his sensitivity around his front leg, his back leg is recommended for blood draws. And what about other dogs? We believe Blues original incident with the smaller dog was situational rather than representative of his overall behaviour with dogs. He was a large dog loose and excitedly approaching a much smaller dog, and we have seen a very different picture of him in controlled settings. Blue is regularly rotated with smaller dogs in the pen without issue. On one occasion, he was barking at a smaller dog, but when the other dog barked back, Blue immediately jumped back and stopped barking — a pretty good reminder that this big guy can be a little unsure of himself, too! More recently, Blue met a friendly female dog who was slightly smaller than him. He was very interested in sniffing her, and after their initial greetings, the two were able to walk side by side with relaxed bodies and open mouths. Blue is also starting to show more of his Husky personality as he becomes comfortable. He can be a little vocal, he is food motivated, and he has a sweet, charming presence that makes it very easy to fall for him. What kind of home is Blue looking for? Blue would love a home where his people will continue to build on all the progress he has made and appreciate him for the big, lovable Husky that he is. We recommend no other small dogs in the home and, because of his size and history, we do not recommend a home with small children. For the right family, Blue has so much to offer. He has already worked incredibly hard to come out of his shell, and now he deserves the chance to continue that journey in a home of his own. If you're looking for a big-hearted Husky who loves walks, treats, attention and a good brushing session, Blue might just be your guy. Please complete an adoption request: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/animals-pets/adopt-or-foster-pet/adoptions Animal adoptions and viewing are by appointment only. This allows our Adoption Staff to spend quality time with each potential home to ensure the most successful matches are made between the animals and their new families. *Please note: we only adopt within Ontario

If you have any questions or would like to adopt Blue, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.