Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Good with dogs,
House-trained,
Story
Meet Ziggy! Previously named Bixby, now Ziggy, is a handsome, 4 year old, 27 lb Rat Terrier / Cattle Dog mix who has been through more in his life than any dog should.
Ziggy was found as a stray and brought into a horrible, high-kill shelter in Houston TX. He was adopted locally, and then months later ended up back in the shelter as a stray again. When they called the man who adopted him from them just months ago, they got no answer and no call back. Ziggy’s past has clearly been unstable.
We rescued Ziggy and brought him to Colorado with the hope of finally giving him the stable, loving home he has always deserved...and for a while, we truly thought we had found that for him. Unfortunately, just four months after his adoption, Ziggy is being returned due to a newly discovered allergy within the household.
Our hearts break for Ziggy to have to go through this transition again, but he is back with our rescue and once more searching for the forever home he has been waiting for.
From Ziggy's foster:
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"Ziggy really is a very good boy. He can be a bit shy at first with new people. But once he settles in, his personality really starts to shine. In a home environment, he is very affectionate, funny, and incredibly sweet. He loves cozy spots (especially the couch and bed!), enjoys watching the world from the window, and lives for his time outside in the yard, zooming around, playing with my dog, sunbathing, and chasing squirrels along the fence line. He’s a smart boy who already knows commands like “sit” and even how to catch treats mid-air.
Ziggy has shown that he can be friendly and playful with other dogs in the right setting. Off leash and in a home environment, he has done well and even thrived — he was wonderful with a tiny puppy foster we had, and loves my dog.
Ziggy just does not do well meeting other dogs while leashed, so he will need an adopter who understands leash management and can advocate for his space on walks. Because he does enjoy other dogs in a more natural setting, we do feel he would do best in a home with another friendly dog to help him feel more secure.
Since neighborhood walks aren't ideal for Ziggy, he would be best going to a home with a big yard for him to play, exercise, and potty in.
Because Ziggy has experienced so much instability and change in his life, he will cry or howl when left alone. Luckily though, he is not destructive in any way. Ziggy can be trusted loose in the home when left alone, has never chewed or damaged anything, and does settle with time. Due to his vocalizing when left alone, an apartment or shared-wall living situation would not be the best fit for Ziggy.
Ziggy will thrive in a calm home with someone retired, or who is a homebody. He himself is much more of a homebody who bonds deeply with his people and prefers a predictable routine.
Oh and he is totally, 100% potty trained!"
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Ziggy is in great health and is vaccinated, neutered, and heartworm tested. He is blind in just one eye due to what appears to be an old corneal scar, but it does not cause him pain and he navigates the world just fine with his good eye.
Ziggy’s story hasn’t been easy, but his potential is huge. With the right person - someone patient, loving, dog-savvy, and committed to giving him the time, structure, and love he needs - Ziggy will thrive, and deeply bond with you. He doesn’t need perfection—he just needs someone who won’t give up on him.
Farfel's Rescue would like to see Ziggy in a home with someone committed to training. A virtual or in-person positive reinforcement group training class promotes great behavior, bonding and confidence for a sweet pup whose self-esteem will fly high while he masters his skills. Training is so important in the future behaviors of every dog. It's for this reason that we're unwilling to adopt Ziggy out to a family that doesn't make this loving choice. Farfel's is happy to provide a list of both in-person and virtual positive reinforcement / force- free trainers in your area.
Ziggy is available for adoption now! Applications are currently being accepted for this very sweet, loving and loyal best friend. An application can be found at http://farfels.com/farfels-rescue/adoption-form/. If interested, please fill out completely and submit.
**PLEASE NOTE** If you're truly interested in adopting Ziggy please be sure to fill out our Farfel's Rescue adoption application found at the link above or at farfels.com. Adoption site applications such as Petfinder and Adoptapet don't provide enough information and therefore aren't useful. Our Farfel's application is the only initial tool that we have to determine a great match for this very deserving dog.
