APOLLO

American Staffordshire Terrier | Willimantic, CT

Age : 3 YearsAdultMaleMedium

About

Meet APOLLO

Apollo is a relatively social boy that's a little confused as to why he can't be a lap dog! Once someone sits down, he'll jump up with his front paws on their lap to ask for attention and lean right in. During his stay at TJO, he has shown that he can walk well on a leash and that he seems to be mostly house broken, but this may change once in a home. He's intense around his food and treats, but will willingly trade for other high value items such as treats or toys. But it would be best to leave him alone while he eats to avoid creating a sense of conflict.OTHER PETS: Apollo is intense around other dogs--often jumping on them and trying to mount, often a sign of over arousal, so he would likely do best with a tolerant dog that can match his energy. [Case-By-Case (Must Meet First)]OWNER EXPERIENCE: Apollo would do best with someone that has had experience with high energy dogs to help him get the amount of exercise and enrichment necessary to meet his needs. [Some Experience]KIDS: Apollo can be intense around his food and is uncomfortable with some types of handling. He would do best in a home with only adults, or with older kids that can understand how to interact with him and respect his boundaries. [15+ (Must Meet First)]ACTIVITY LEVEL: Apollo is a high-energy dog that loves to play! He loves toys and tends to fixate on whichever toy is in his line of sight at the moment, but he will trade them in as long as it keeps the game going. He's the type of dog that would do well with both physical and mental enrichment daily, and with further positive reinforcement training he could even be a good candidate for dog sports like weight pulling. [Olympic Athlete]VETERINARY CARE: [Routine] GROOMING: [Minimal]LEVEL OF TRAINING NEEDED: While Apollo already walks well on the leash and seems to be house broken, he would still benefit from learning the foundations of positive reinforcement training. Positive reinforcement training will help Apollo not only learn his basic cues & skills, but also help him to bond with his new owner. [Moderate]

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