Gus, STAR #2158

💙 Meet Gus! A heart full of love, a toy collection to manage, and a whole lot of sweetness!

Gus is a handsome 3-year-old red tri-color male Australian Shepherd weighing 45 pounds, and he’s every bit as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside. This sweet boy has so much love to give and is happiest when he’s getting attention from his favorite people.

Gus didn’t have the easiest start in life. He came from a difficult situation where he spent his days outdoors on a chain with very little human interaction. Understandably, he was scared and anxious when he first arrived at STAR. But beneath that uncertainty was a gentle soul who simply wanted to feel safe, loved, and wanted. He also tested positive for heartworm disease, and treatment was started promptly and completed under veterinary care.

Today, Gus has settled beautifully into indoor life! He’s completely house-trained and loves following his foster family around the house, just to be close to them. When it’s time to relax, he’s happy to snuggle up beside them on the couch. He enjoys the company of other dogs and would love to run and play with his canine friends, but he’s currently taking it easy as he continues to recover from heartworm disease.

Like any Aussie, Gus has a few adorable quirks that keep life entertaining! He’s appointed himself the official toy collector of the household and firmly believes every toy belongs in his collection, even if another dog is already playing with it! He’s reluctantly learning to share and that patience pays off when treats are being distributed. Gus has also discovered that kitchen counters can be fascinating places, so keeping food safely out of reach is important.

Gus is a friendly fellow who does well meeting visitors, including children. He seems to believe everyone he meets has arrived specifically to give him affection, and he’s more than happy to help them fulfill that mission! He may bark occasionally, but he’s not an excessive barker. He listens well, comes when called, and does very well in his crate when his foster family is away. At night, he sleeps quietly in his crate in their bedroom.

Gus has also met a barn cat and was fairly nonreactive, although definitely curious and interested. With proper introductions and supervision, he may be able to coexist with a feline friend.

What kind of home is Gus looking for? A loving home where he can finally enjoy the comfort, companionship, and affection he deserves. He could be happy as your one-and-only or sharing his home with other dogs. Most importantly, he needs a family who will continue to guide him with patience, help him learn the ropes, and make him feel like he belongs.

Gus is neutered, fully vetted, and on heartworm prevention. As he completes his heartworm treatment, he’ll need his family to follow his veterinarian’s activity restrictions and slowly return him to normal exercise and activity levels. Once he is fully recovered, just imagine the adventures this boy will be ready to enjoy!

Gus has already come so far. Now he’s ready for the best chapter of his life: a forever home where he’ll never have to wonder if he’s loved. If you’d like to learn more about Gus or are interested in adopting him, the first step is to complete an adoption application at the link below. His foster home is in Waller, TX.

https://www.southtexasaussierescue.org/adopt/

IMPORTANT: We do not deliver dogs to adopters – you must be able and willing to come meet the dog in their foster home. A home visit by one of our STAR volunteers is a required part of our adoption program and thus, adoptions outside of Texas are rare because of these two requirements. You must have a secure fence in place, and we are not fans of apartments for this breed, nor homes where the dogs will be home alone 8+ hours daily. All STAR dogs are adopted to be inside pets and family members only and all current or past pets in the home must have proof of being kept up to date on vaccinations and Heartworm prevention. The adoption fee is $400 and trust us, we spend that or much more on dogs to get them vetted – all STAR dogs will be neutered/spayed, up to date on vaccinations, microchipped, heartworm negative, and on monthly heartworm prevention. If you already have an application on file with us, you can contact us to let us know you are interested.

Meet Gus, our little diamond in the rough.  He is a 3-4 year old red tri male and severely malnourished.  Sadly, his owner passed away.  He was spending all day and night outside tied to a chain.  We can’t wait to see what this sweet boy turns out like with a little bit of love and care.

Gus is being fostered in the Louisiana area.  He will be evaluated and vetted there and then moved to Houston when he is healthy enough.

Hang in there, fellow!  STAR has you now!