My name is Romeo - in Maine!

August 2016: We can't even tell you how happy we are to see Romeo happy and healthy and ready to meet new people! He has changed SO much since his rescue and looks amazing! A quiet home with a good routine would be terrific for him!

Romeo, Romeo......if only you could tell us what you have been through. Romeo was rescued from tough circumstances and we have learned so much about him now that he is feeling safe and loved. At first he was a huddled, overweight, shivering, shy (no, terrified!) boy. We have learned a lot about him since that first meeting.

Romeo is learning to trust people again and will warm up to new people given time and patience. He needs to be given space and he needs to initiate contact with people he doesn’t know before you can invade his personal space by touching him. For most people this just takes a day or two. He will still be nervous but will allow you to groom, pet, etc. By the end of your first week he will be hopping up to snuggle with you and allow you to pick him up. He loves belly rubs and just wants to be near you. If Romeo is scared you will know it right away as he has a high-pitched squeal when he's uncomfortable. This is used less and less as he settles in.

We believe Romeo to be about 8 years old. It's hard to know exact age when the early care wasn't there for him. He is about 20 lbs and appears to be a Chihuahua mix.

Romeo’s foster mom thinks he would be great in a home without children. He just loves to cuddle and follows her around everywhere. He is doing great with using the bathroom outside and he responds really well to cookies so he is food motivated! He is doing awesome with the other dogs of all sizes but prefers to snuggle with dogs his size. He can show jealousy over food so he needs to be fed and given treats in his own space. We think he would do fine as an “only” if his person was home a lot, otherwise he should be with at least one other dog that allows Romeo to snuggle up to him or her. He stays wherever his people are and will sit under his foster mom’s desk while she is working. He just wants to be with his people and his canine buddies.

Romeo gets nervous about being picked up until he really gets comfortable with you, so his foster family has used a towel to scoop him up if absolutely necessary. This boy has been through so much and in spite of it all is learning to trust humans again.

Romeo's foster moms tells us, “Romeo has been with us in a day care setting and has warmed up to everyone here and allows 2 or 3 people to pick him up! We have found that if you are the one that feeds him he bonds much faster! We would definitely recommend that any family he goes to should take turns feeding him so he bonds with the whole household. He runs around with 2 adult cats and several 3-4 week old kittens and is great with dogs of all sizes! He will chase cats that are fearful and run. He loves to sit and cuddle with his people and be held like a baby to have his belly rubbed! He plays tug of war with people and dogs his size that he is comfortable with. He is leery of strangers; newcomers must not rush him, he will come to them at his own pace. Treats will speed up this process, but not too many because he is a little chubby.

His potty cues are very subtle but he will do his business when you tell him to “go potty”. As long as he is kept on a schedule he is fine! We do keep doors closed to limit his exploring right now. If the weather is bad he may need a little "leash" assistance. He enjoys sunbathing indoors and outdoors.

He doesn’t need to be left in his kennel when we are gone, he has been relaxing on the couch or with the other dogs. He will go in the kennel on his own if he wants to chew a toy in peace.

He will play with other dogs once comfortable, he will begin initiating play with them after a few days. He will chase them around the yard and sometimes will nibble on their ears. We are working with him to curb his habit of biting people’s pants for attention, he does this playfully. He does not chew shoes, he does like to carry them around the house though.

He is always watching his people, his eye contact is great and he looks for "cues" from us all the time. He is VERY food motivated which will greatly help with training! He is very funny and sweet.

His ideal home may look like this:
Single person or a couple
Quiet home
No cats, or a very patient cat
Small dog or no dog
Someone who is home most of the day
Someone who is NOT super active looking for a running buddy
Someone who is willing to keep his food intake under control
Someone who absolutely LOVES to cuddle and will allow him on their furniture and bed
Someone who has patience and understands that he needs time to adjust

I'm glad that I've had this chance to foster him and help him. I know that he will make someone's life complete. He is a cuddle machine who just wants someone to love and call his own."

To apply to adopt this dog, please visit our web site to access our application and learn more about adoption through Lucky Pup Rescue, www.luckypuprescue.org, or request an application via email, luckypuprescue@yahoo.com.

Please note, we do not have a physical location, but we are supported by a network of wonderful foster homes that are spread throughout New England. A dog will need to be visited by a prospective adopter in the foster home where they are feeling safe and comfortable.

Thank you for considering rescue!