Mr. Tibbs, a miniature Schnauzer/miniature poodle mix, was picked up by one of the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) field officers after a Good Samaritan reported finding him abandoned in an apartment lobby. At intake he was so matted from nose to tail that he could not stand or walk well on his own, and he was dirty and soaked in his own urine. (Note: attached is a video of how he looked when he arrived in our care.)
Video: clip of him matted & trembling on the exam table:
Once in the care of SAS, he was evaluated by a veterinarian, then clipped, bathed, and groomed. Once the mats were removed, SAS could see that he was thin and had some muscle weakness from being so matted and not being able to stand and move. He spent time in staff offices initially and quickly became a staff favorite…and he loved them as much as they loved him.
After a short time in their care and after having his medical and grooming needs met, Mr. Tibbs blossomed into the sweetest dog! He quickly gained strength and was soon running, jumping, and playing. He then went to foster care with one of their awesome volunteers.
Notes from Mr. Tibbs’ foster family:
Mr. Tibbs was easier than most of the other dogs my husband and I have fostered. It was surprising given his history that he still had so much love to give. He was really sweet and cuddly, loved his walks and his food and treats.
Mr. Tibbs had a tendency to pee out of excitement and he didn’t seem to be potty trained. It can be frustrating when that happens but it’s something we expected to get better once he was fixed. I took him out several times a day to get him started on house training. He was also an attention seeker, probably because of his fear of being left alone. I sometimes had to do my office work with him napping on my lap.
I was told he resource-guarded food so I worked on training him to sit calmly at a distance while I put his food down. He seemed to learn that pretty quickly and I never saw any resource-guarding. While he did have separation anxiety, he was comfortable if left in his crate; that was his safe space. He also slept through the night in his crate which he loved. I highly recommend crate training for dogs.
I personally felt that he was very happy in foster care. I never saw any aggression towards me or my husband. His real fun personality came out which is always wonderful to see. It was very noticeable that he’s a smart dog and will respond positively to training if given proper resources. He loved his people and said hi to all dog friends on the walk. He even started playing with toys which was a good sign to me. Given proper care and routine, I could see that Mr. Tibbs was the perfect dog for anybody who’s willing to commit.
Mr. Tibbs has since been adopted by an amazing family who loves and cherishes him. They say that he is a “happy hiker and a big snuggle bug.” His favorite place is on the couch, and they’re considering another dog as a friend for him when he is ready. Cheers to Mr. Tibbs, the SAS team of staff and volunteers who had the honor of being part of his journey, and to the family that he now calls his own.
The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) is proud to support animals like Mr. Tibbs so that he and every other animal in need has the opportunity to be nourished back to health and well taken care of till they find their forever family. This financial support includes veterinary care, foster care support, and behavior support. Thanks to generous donations, SASF is able to give that support to SAS, helping give animals like Mr. Tibbs a second chance at a happy ending.