PAPITO

Chihuahua | Plymouth, CT

Age : 8 YearsSeniorMaleSmallBlack

About

Meet PAPITO

Some dogs are naturally timid or shy, while others may not have learned to trust people while they were young. These dogs need to feel safe before they will interact with people; the work to build a relationship of trust could be a long and hard one but the experience can be one of the most rewarding of dog ownership. Chicken Little Dogs: are fearful of new people and places, take time to trust, shut down here at the shelter, and **WILL BITE if people push or try to interact too quickly**. However, once they trust a person, they often become very bonded.OTHER PETS: Papito is fairly relaxed around other dogs, but will give appropriate feedback & avoid them when overwhelmed. He mostly prefers to be independent when around other animals, but could do well with a low-energy dog that will let him have his own space. [Case-By-Case (Must Meet First)]OWNER EXPERIENCE: Papito is everything you could imagine when you think of a `spicy` chihuahua! He might be little, but he's got some big opinions, and he'll make sure that he's heard. He is very clear with his preferences and would do best with someone that has the experience and current knowledge to understand his body language and respect his boundaries. Once he's comfortable with his people, though, he's very willing to ask for and receive attention. [Experienced]KIDS: Because Papito is so nervous and may feel the need to defend himself if pushed too far too quickly, he is not likely to do well around kids. He would be happiest and do best in a quiet, adult-only home. [Adults Only]ACTIVITY LEVEL: While he may not seem like it at first, Papito is a lap dog. He loves to cuddle in and will whine when he wants to be picked up. He has some interest in squeaky toys, but is much more interested in people. [Couch Potato]VETERINARY CARE: Papito is currently in need of a dental, but aside from that his medical care is expected to be routine. [Routine] LEVEL OF TRAINING NEEDED: Papito will need slow introductions with strangers in the future, and may benefit from behavior modification training with a certified positive reinforcement behavior consultant. He is still at the beginning of his positive training journey, and will do best learning with someone who can offer both patience and confidence while he adjusts. Positive reinforcement training will help Papito not only learn his basic cues, but also help him to feel more comfortable and confident in himself! It will provide a good opportunity for him to bond with his new owner as well. [Moderate] GROOMING: [Minimal]

Adoption Process
The first step is to fill out an adoption application, answering some basic questions about yourself and your household. This will help the adoption counselors facilitate the matchmaking process. Most adoptions take at least 45 minutes to one hour to complete. The Adoption Center is a busy place, so please be patient and allow yourself enough time for our process. THANK YOU! What we will need to know when you adopt a new companion: If you own your home, please bring some item of verification (tax bill, water bill, or mortgage statement.) Please also be sure to check your homeowner’s insurance policy. Some policies restrict coverage for certain dog breeds. If you DO NOT own your place of residence, please be sure the property owner will consent to have a pet on his/her property. We will verify with landlords over the phone before sending a new companion home, so please have the appropriate name and phone number available. Other pets already living with you will need to be up-to-date on vaccination. This is to decrease the risk of spreading infectious disease from one animal to another. It is important to understand that your new companion will be a member of your family. This can mean a 10-15 year commitment from you! Please bring along family members so we can make sure it will be a good match before you make a commitment. Also, if adopting a second dog, please bring your current dog with you---we can let them spend some time together and give you some suggestions on surviving the adjustment period. Please be sure you have considered the financial obligation involved in caring for a companion animal. This includes routine veterinary and emergency care, in addition to food, supplies and training. The adoption counselors can give you an idea of basic costs involved for each type of animal. Many animals adopted from shelters can require an immediate visit to the veterinarian. Because of the volume of un-vaccinated animals entering a shelter’s care, the risk of transmissible contagious diseases can be quite high. Kennel cough in dogs, and upper respiratory infections in cats are the two most common diseases that your newly adopted companion may experience. You must ask yourself if you have the financial means to care for your new friend, beyond the initial adoption costs. BEFORE YOU COMMIT!!!!! Please be honest with yourself about the actual time you have to train, groom, and exercise the companion animal you have chosen. Some things to consider: Do you work long or erratic hours? Do you like outdoor activity? Who will care for your pet while you travel? Will your pet be the appropriate size when he or she is full grown? When adopting into a home with children: Are you adopting to teach your child responsibility, or are your adopting because you have a responsible child? Are your children comfortable around the animal you’ve chosen? Will YOU still remain committed to this animal when the children lose interest? Take the time now to consider these things and find the best match for your lifestyle! We thank your for offering your home to a “pre-loved” companion. We hope he or she will be a wonderful addition to your family and your home!

Contact
Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center
(413) 781-1484
[email protected]
http://www.tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com