Colt, STAR #2106

From stray to shelter to STAR to home in time to celebrate 4th of July! Shelby and family will give him a great home, along with Chloe (lab) and Winston (dachshund). Shelby lost his Aussie, Waffles and was ready to love on another and we know that Colt is ready to step up. Thank you, Amy for shepherding this good boy out of the shelter, through heartworm treatment and getting him to a healthy state and thank you Jack for the home visit.

Waffles.  Aussie, Male, deceased in 2021.  Shelby was 17 when he got Waffles.  He had him for most of the pandemic.  Waffles was diagnosed with a tumor on his heart and was told it was kindest to let him go.  This is when Shelby decided to leave Apple and work in the oil field.

Chloe: Black Lab, Female, 8 years old, rescued at 2 years old,belongs to the sister, Amanda.

Winston, dachshund, male,rescue believed to be 7 or 8.  Owned by Amanda.

Crate:

They do have a large crate they used for Chloe.  I reviewed the steps we take to crate train a dog and the importance of continued training.  Shelby agreed with our recommendations.

Food:

They love FreshPet refrigerated rolls.

Vet:

He knows the dogs are on a preventative.  I didn’t call as these aren’t his dogs.

Activity:

They like to take walks, go to dog parks, he talked about a park with a pond and I asked that he be careful around ponds that don’t have free running water and do have lots of dogs.  He also plays fetch.  They have puzzles and lick mats and like to engage their minds as well as their bodies.  They said Winston, the Dachshund, acts older and is a total lap dog but will play fetch and Chloe loves walks but not so much chasing balls.

Time away from home:

the dog will only spend 2 or 3 hours alone or kenneled several days a week due to the various schedules i the house and the girlfriend moves in full time.

Training:

Shelby said Amanda did most of the training but he’s learning from her.  The dogs are trained to sit, lay down, stay, roll over, ring a bell to potty outside, Clhloe is learning button training.  He said they train using patience and consistency with positive reinforcement and small treats.

Shelby has looked into training before and is very much in favor of taking a training class with the dog and asked if we could help him find a place.  I said yes.

Transportation:

Dogs are always restricted with a seat belt adaptor in the car.

What he wants:

He believes a male dog is best.  He is very concerned about getting along with his sister’s dogs.  I told him the dogs and his sister should attend any meet and greet.  He wanted  Tucker but was happy he was a foster fail.  He is interested in Rigby’s process and willing to wait for Clint if that is the right dog for him.  He said he will keep looking at our site and let us know as he sees other dogs.

I did explain next steps and said Beth may try to knock out the home visit if possible.

My thoughts:

Shelby’s heart was totally shattered when he lost Waffles.  THe worked the oil rigs to earn good money and bought a house to secure his future. Then, two years ago, he went from working the rigs to a desk job in the oil field because he is ready to get another Aussie and wants to be home working a regular day job.  This will be his dog but his sister and girlfriend will also be there to care for the dog as needed.

Shelby has put a lot of thought into getting another dog and being sure he and his home are ready.  I think he is.

🐾 Colt: Your Shadow, Your Sidekick, Your Best Friend 🖤

If you’ve been looking for an Australian Shepherd who’s happiest simply being by your side, meet Colt. This handsome 3-year-old, 55-pound black tri boy (on diet!) has already overcome a rough start. After being found as a stray and spending time in a shelter, Colt found his way to STAR, where he’s been learning what it means to be safe, loved, and part of a family.

The first thing you’ll notice about Colt? He’s a classic Velcro Aussie. Wherever you are, that’s exactly where he wants to be. Whether you’re working from home, relaxing on the couch, or tackling chores around the house, Colt is content just keeping you company. He has a calm, affectionate personality and loves being brushed (he has a very puffy, floofy coat), soaking up every bit of attention you have to offer.

Colt recently completed heartworm treatment with no issue and is looking forward to putting those quiet recovery days behind him! Even while confined to “boring” rest, he’s been the perfect houseguest. He’s fully housebroken, has earned the privilege of staying loose in the house when left alone, doesn’t chew or destroy things, rarely gets on the furniture, and has shown no interest in digging up the yard.

He’s a gentleman on leash and enjoys neighborhood walks. Colt walks nicely alongside his foster brother Huck, greets neighbors politely, and is happy to admire passing dogs without making a fuss. Cats and squirrels definitely catch his attention, but he’s happy to move along with a gentle reminder to “leave it.”

Colt lives peacefully with another dog and is wonderfully respectful. While he hasn’t quite discovered the joy of toys or playtime yet, he gets along beautifully with his canine companion and may become more playful as his confidence continues to grow.

Like many dogs, thunderstorms aren’t his favorite thing. During bad weather he’ll simply find a cozy spot close to his person for reassurance. He also likes to announce deliveries or neighborhood activity from the front window, proving he’s always keeping an eye on things!

Everyone who meets Colt comments on what a handsome boy he is, and it’s easy to see why. But it’s his sweet, devoted heart that will truly steal yours.

If you’re looking for a loyal companion who will happily follow you through life’s everyday adventures and love you with his whole heart, Colt is ready to be your faithful sidekick.

 Colt is neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, has completed heartworm treatment, and is ready to start his next chapter with a family of his very own. He is currently being fostered in Houston and is ready to find the loving forever home he deserves.

If you’d like to learn more about Colt or are interested in adopting him, the first step is to complete an adoption application at the link below.

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 $300 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.

Colt is a beautiful black tri male and weighs 61 pounds.  He is estimated to be between 2-3 years old.  He was found wandering in the La Porte area and was taken to the shelter. Sadly, he has tested positive for heartworms so we will take the time and cover the expense of this very preventable illness.  His foster home is in Houston, and he may be available in early July.

PLEASE – give your dog(s) heartworm preventative. We understand it’s an extra expense, but to save your dog’s life – it’s imperative and you’ll spend a notable amount at the vet to get them treated.