Pretty Darn Perfect Dog

Nemo has been here with me for a few weeks, and to be honest, I’m flummoxed as to why he has lingered so long in foster care. He’s pretty darn perfect. Even if he only has three legs.

He is solidly house-trained, crate-trained, quiet, sweet, very cuddly, and friendly. He is happy to simply chew on a chewbone while I get my work done. I’m comfortable having a zoom call or even recording a podcast, because I know he won’t interrupt me.

Beyond all that, he is simply a sunny guy. Happy all the time. For the last week, since Loki left (yes! He was adopted!), he’s been all alone for long stretches, especially for the three days I was gone for Thanksgiving.

And yet, he seems none the worse for wear.

He was thrilled I came home, but when I looked around, there was no damage from a smart, bored dog, who might have gotten lonely and sad and decided to chew a chair leg or pee somewhere.

He’s a happy stoic, I guess. But it shouldn’t be that way.

This boy deserves a real home. His life so far has been lived on the streets, in a shelter, in one foster home, and now another. Clearly, he’s resilient, but he shouldn’t have to continue to prove it.

I’ve been pondering why he hasn’t gotten an adopter in nearly two years of rescue. Here are the only ones I can come up with:

He looks big. To be clear, Nemo is not a big guy, but in pictures he seems larger. Maybe it’s his breed (mostly Husky) or his fuzziness, but he does look like a big dog. He’s not. He is just over forty pounds. That’s a solidly medium dog. Apartment-legal.

He’s an easy foster. Here’s a little insider knowledge about fostering: People with difficult foster dogs usually work harder to get them adopted. They want them out of their house. Nemo is super easy. He cooperates. He adapts to new routines easily. He doesn’t eat much. He isn’t demanding of attention. He is not destructive or noisy. So maybe his previous foster, like me, hadn’t felt an urgency to rush him out the door.

He’s a Husky. Nemo has been in foster care long enough that someone had his DNA done.

So, he’s mostly Husky. And, if you’ve spent time with a Husky, you know they are different. Kind of like giant cats – stubborn, willful, curious, clever, and they talk a lot. I would not say that Nemo is any of those things, despite his genetics. Okay, maybe, clever, because he learns quickly, but not clever as in – I figured out how to open the fridge and help myself to the open can of cat food.

He has three legs. My first experience with a tripod dog was Lima Bean. I was definitely anxious about caring for a tripod, and LB had her share of struggles medically. But being three-legged didn’t slow her down, and it certainly doesn’t slow down Nemo. Nemo has never really had four legs. He was born with a deformed, stunted right front leg. So he has only ever known three legs.

Being a tripod is not a new normal for him—it has always been his normal. He runs, jumps (we’re working on not jumping up on me when he’s excited), climbs on and off the couch, uses his one leg to hold chew toys still to get to them, uses our dog door, is happy to go for a leash walk, runs after the cat when she runs, and follows me like a shadow. Pretty much, unless you’re thinking about it, you forget he has three legs. I believe with the right training, he would be an awesome therapy dog because he’s a living example of living beyond your limitations.

He’s been in foster care so long. When people learn he’s been in foster care for nearly two years, they assume that’s because there is something wrong with him. Friends, there is nothing wrong with this guy. If you’ve been following my blog for the last decade, you know I am painfully honest about the dogs I foster. Sure, I may spin a struggle into a super power, but if I thought this dog needed a ‘special home’, I’d tell you that. He would be wonderful in pretty much any home.

A couple things you should know, if you are considering adding this amazing dog to your family –

He’s iffy with cats, but I don’t believe he’s dangerous. Hazel tolerates him. If she darts to her cat tree, he runs after her, and then she hisses at him. The few times he’s dared to stick his nose in her face, she has swatted him and he has retreated. I think he could live peaceably with an assertive cat. I also think if a cat runs from him, he will likely give chase.

Also, he tests very, very low positive for heartworm. He is not symptomatic and has been in treatment (slow-kill) since he came into foster care. He has had negative tests and slight positive tests. This is a confusing diagnosis. It might frighten people. Team Memphis offered to have him treated with fast-kill if I wanted. I did not want this precious boy to have to go through that incredibly painful, dangerous procedure if he doesn’t need it. That said, they are willing to foot the bill should a potential adopter want to go through with it at any point. Slow-kill is sometimes controversial, but I’ve visited plenty of shelters and rescues that swear by it. My vote is to stay the course, retest in six months, and go from there.

Now you have ALL the information about this darling dog.

As much as I enjoy his company, it is SO long past time for him to go home. The best Christmas present in the world would be finding an adopter for this boy. This precious, grateful soul deserves a real home and a person all his own. Please help me get him home for Christmas.

Want to see Nemo in action? You’ll have to wade through the first half of this video (with updates on Rose and Loki!) but then you can see just how well this 3-legged dog moves (and charms).

If you have questions about Loki, would like to meet him, or are interested in adopting him, message me: FosterDogCottage@gmail.com. And if you know of someone who might have room in their home and heart for this special boy, please share this post.

If you’d like to see more of my foster cottage in action, follow me on TikTok for regular video updates and tips/tricks for fostering.

Until Each One Has a Home,

Cara

For information on my writing and books, visit CaraWrites.com.

My newest book, Who Will Let the Dogs Out: Stories and Solutions for Shelters and Rescues is a primer for those new to the cause, an invitation to get involved, and a source of inspiration for those already working tirelessly to save lives. With stories of successful shelters, innovative strategies, and the key ingredients for success—strong leadership, veterinary access, and community engagement—it’s a celebration of what’s working and a call to scale those solutions nationwide. Learn more and get your copy and/or send one to a shelter or rescue on our website. Also available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.

If you’d like regular updates of all our foster dogs past and present, plus occasional dog care/training tips, and occasional foster cat updates (!) be sure to join the Facebook group, Another Good Dog.

And if you’d like to know where all these dogs come from and how you can help solve the crisis of too many unwanted dogs in our shelters, visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org and subscribe to our blog where we share stories of our travels to shelters, rescues, and dog pounds.

If you can’t get enough foster dog stories, check out my book: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs. Or it’s a follow-up that takes you to the shelters in the south, One Hundred Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues.

I love to hear from readers and dog-hearted people! Email me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.

If you’d like to support the work we do (and save the rescue and me some money), shop our Amazon wishlist. We are currently in need of crate covers(!), dog vitamins and probiotics (we have puppy), size large martingale collars, and Denta-life chews.

If you’d like to take a vacation with your whole pack, consider visiting one of our two dog-WELCOMING vacation rentals. Visit BringDogs.com to learn more.