Max - Adopted
Meet Max - April 2023
We have welcomed the sweetest little one-eyed senior shih tzu into our rescue. Max lost his home due to unforeseen circumstances, and has been such an excellent little guest so far.
We are currently doing his vetting and getting to know him better. Keep an eye out for his availability announcement very soon. In the mean time, click here if you would like to make a donation towards Max’s care (Thank you).
Adopt Max - April 2023
The wait is up! This amazing little boy is now available for adoption. Max saw our vet and got a clean bill of health, and is now ready for his forever home. Here is what you need to know :
Max is a sweet and adorable 11yo little man who is gentle, quiet, and very well behaved. Max has not had a single accident in the house, and is very good at waiting until you are able to let him out for a pee. He loves hanging out in the backyard sniffing and soaking up the sun.
Max gets along with dogs, cats and people, and according to his previous owner he particularly loves kids (we have not tested him with kids).
Where he came from:
Max had a family who loved him and took good care of him. Unfortunately due to change of circumstances, Max’s life turned upside down. He went from living in a house with dogs and people around most of the time, to moving to a condo where he was all by himself during the day, sometimes upwards of 12 hours at a time. This drastic change was too much for Max and he was anxiously crying and scratching the door all day! That’s how he ended up in our care, so that we can find the perfect home for this perfect boy.
What he got in foster care:
Max lost his left eye a few years ago due to a severe corneal ulcer. His right eye currently has cataract, and a condition called lens subluxation. Our vet checked the eye pressure and it was in the normal range. Max does have some sight in that eye but it’s not that great. He sometimes has trouble with depth perception, or might bump into things in unfamiliar places. But once he gets the lay of the land, he navigates his familiar surroundings very comfortably. Other than his daily eye drop that he may have to stay on long term, Max’s eye does not need any major intervention at this time . Just needs to be monitored.
We also got bloodwork done for Max and the results were perfect.
According to Max’s previous owner, he has allergies to most animal proteins and especially to chicken, which used to cause him a lot of itching and major discomfort before he was switched to a vegan diet. Almost all itching is now gone and he is doing very well on his vegan food.
How he is doing now:
Things are going great for Max. He is enjoying life, and appreciating the fact that he’s not alone all day anymore. The eye is in good shape, allergies are under control, and he is being an absolute joy to have around. We are working on incorporating a few different “novel proteins” into his diet and so far he seems to be tolerating them well in small amounts.
The right home for Max:
Obviously being alone all day didn’t work out that well for Max. So he would do best in a home where he is not alone too often and for too along. He doesn’t mind letting his people leave the house for a bit especially if he has the company of another dog in the house. But super long lonely hours just don’t appeal much to this little angel.
Other considerations:
It is important that Max’s new family is aware of his food allergies and keeps him on his current diet. If at any point they decide to change his diet or experiment with certain types of animal proteins again (only novel proteins please), it has to be under the supervision of a vet.
Max’s eye needs to be monitored to make sure it stays in good shape, but there is always a chance that this eye might develop complications down the road and need enucleation.
Max at a glance:
Breed: Shih Tzu
Gender: Male, Neutered
Age: 11yo
Weight: 17 lbs
Shedding: No
Exercise Needs: Low
Barking: Not a major barker
Housetrained? Yes
Good with:
Dogs: Yes
Cats: Yes
Car Rides: Yes
Stairs: No
Kids: Not under 12yo
Adoption Fee: $550
Current foster location: Toronto.