My name is Alby!

This charming little guy is 8 year old Alby and depending on how you look at him, you could say retriever or you could say dachshund but we'll sum him up as totally adorable. We actually have no idea what his breeds are, but those are our best guesses.

He joined an Ontario shelter when his family no longer wanted to care for him, but he went on a hunger strike while in the shelter, so being the compassionate shelter they are, he went home with one of their staff members to be fostered.

Then love happened, for both of them. Kindred spirits. But alas, the felines of the family revolted and as all good things often do, this love affair had to end.

So, we welcomed 24 pound Alby to Mattie's Place.

He's a character this one. He loves to eat "stuff". Whatever he can hork down his throat, he will. That's what landed him in the shelter. A tussel to get something out of his mouth resulted in a bite to his owner.

He doesn't however guard items. He just tries to eat things, and isn't happiest about giving them up. It sounds like guarding, but big picture is, it isn't, as it's only occasional items he wants to eat.

He dislikes, strongly .... Dogs. Cats. Kibble. Vets.

He loves, strongly ... Cuddles. People. Walks. Snow. Car rides.

Who's perfect? He's not. But neither am I, so we can't judge.

He occasionally limps on his left hind leg. The shelter vet and our vet couldn't find a reason why and it seems to not bother him beyond an occasional mild favouring. His front legs have "out toeing" which could be elbow dysplasia, as his legs are very short and squat and typical of a dachshund disposition. His front legs do not pose any issue for him, but he does have a weird little skip, hop, limp on the one right leg. It's not anything we would do surgery on, as we don't see it as a difficulty for him, but should it become an issue down the road, but would not be covered under insurance, as it's noted in his records and will be pre-existing, so keep that in mind if adopting. His back leg is not noted in his records anywhere.

We know we'll find forever people for him to cuddle soon. It might even be you reading this, that Alby is waiting for!

No kids. No dogs. No cats. Hard no's and non negotiable. He's also not a dog for a first time dog owner. He's an amazing boy, but you need to bring experience to the table to adopt Alby,

A country home where he doesn't have to run into other dogs would be best, as the sight of other dogs really stresses him out and he is incredibly vocal and reactive when seeing them and meeting them would likely not go well.

He gets very vocal when he's displeased or when he encounters another dog, so avoidance for now is the best option for Alby.

He would do best working with a professional trainer to help him overcome this reactivity and overall anxiety.

He's also not a fan of being alone, and can exhibit anxiety, so a home where someone is there with him most of the the time is the best scenario for Alby, to keep him as happy as he can be.

The shelter had him medicated for his stay with them, because of his stress levels being so high, but he does much better once settled into a home and we haven't had to medicate him at all in foster care with us at Mattie's Place.

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FROM HIS FOSTER MOM & DAD:

Alby is long and short and positively adorable.

Alby loves pets, walks, and cuddles on the couch.

He is the most loving dog, always looking to sit on your lap or lie at your feet.

Alby walks with a slight limp on his front leg, but it doesn’t seem to get in his way.

He enjoys long walks, but is not such a fan of the other dogs he meets on his walks!

He will growl and bark at most dogs and requires a tight hold on his leash in these moments. He gets a little overwhelmed when walking on busy streets.

Alby likes things his way! When we got Alby, he would only eat cooked patties during meal times. We have since begun to mix his kibble with the cooked patties and he now enjoys both. We put his food on a plate because he doesn’t seem to enjoy it when it’s in a dog bowl. Like I said - diva!

Alby also dislikes being manipulated in any way. If he does not want to do something, he may growl and flash his teeth. He has, however, never nipped either of us and has only done this when we tried to lift him up. He gives clear warnings when he is upset and immediately gives you cuddles right after.

We are not adopting Alby, only because we cannot sustain a lifestyle of being home all day and giving him all the attention he deserves in the future.

He deserves a quiet home with a family who will show him the same amount of love he has shown us!

His adopters will fall in love with him instantly, just as we have.

We love Alby a ton and hope he finds a forever home that is as special as he is. The fact that we teared up while writing this just says it all :)
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As of today, though our protocols could change tomorrow, we are still moving forward with adoptions. Our process has changed from some of the previous elements: We are a registered animal welfare organization, so we are deemed an essential service.

All paperwork completed online, video home visits, meet and greets outside respecting social distancing, leashes/collars/supplies wiped down and disinfected (GermiCide 3 wipes), disinfectant on the dog prior to handoff (Aqueos wipes for dogs)

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To note: the above description is relevant to this dog in his current & previous setting. Home changes & adopter personalities can bring out different behaviours not previously seen.

We do not specifically kid/cat test our dogs when they arrive at Mattie's Place. That just wouldn't be fair to the dog or child/cat.

We also do not claim, endorse, suggest or hint at, that any of our dogs are hypoallergenic, low shed or no-shed.

Adoption fee includes: spay/neuter, deworming, defleaing, vaccinations, nose to tail health exam, leash|collar, 6 months of preventative based on season/need, DNA test for entertainment purposes, dishes, poop bags, food and any extras she has accumulated in foster care.