Ziggy
St. Simons Island, Georgia
Male
Age: 3 (DOB 6/9/2021)
15#
Healthy!
Adoption Donation: $600
AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
REQUIRED:⏰ Low alone time/someone with him much of day🌱 Safe & secure fenced yard🐶 Playful furiend of similar size & temperament💜 Adult only home
🛑 If you do not check ALL of the above requirements, your application will not pass the screening process for consideration. We do not compromise on these requirements as we feel they are essential to a successful adoption with Ziggy.
MEET ZIGGY 🐶Last month, adorable 3 year old Ziggy was rescued out of a filthy, hot Alabama puppy mill. He has spent the past month getting healthy and learning all about freedom, love, and family in his foster home. He has responded beautifully to the excellent care he is receiving and is now medically cleared and ready to find his perfect match family to call his own! MEDICAL🩺Ziggy arrived with ear infections and hookworms which have now been effectively treated and cleared. He also underwent his neuter surgery in our care which he is now fully recovered from. His heartworm, tick borne illness, and fecal test is negative, and his urinalysis and bloodwork is normal. We also found his eyes, knees, hips, and heart to be clear and congenitally sound at this time. We were not provided vaccination records on the dogs so we sent off titer tests which showed Ziggy was already protected against parvo and distemper. He did receive a rabies vaccination. Ziggy is now a healthy boy who is up to date on vaccinations, neutered, microchipped, and on monthly preventatives. He is not on any medications and does not require any additional vetting outside of regular wellness checks at this time. FOOD & POTTY HABITS 🥘 Handsome Ziggy is typical in size at 14.6 pounds which we feel is close to his ideal weight. While Ziggy is a Cavalier, he has the merle gene which gives him his unique merle tri color coat and his striking blue eye. His coat is beginning to grow in beautifully now that he is in a clean environment, receiving proper care, and good nutrition. Ziggy is eating and enjoying his twice a day Fromm meals and plenty of treats throughout the day for lots of positive reinforcement. He has been trying lots of new foods that didn't exist in puppy mill life, and has decided that he likes bananas, apples, and sweet potatoes. His adopting family must be committed to continuing his portioned meals, healthy treats, and daily activity/exercise to ensure he remains at his ideal weight, best health, and best self.This is the first time Ziggy has ever been in a home environment, and he is off to a great start with his potty training as long as he is given plenty of opportunities outside to be successful. He should be taken out first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every couple hours in between including immediately after meals. He uses the safe and secured fenced yard in his foster home for pottying and loves the freedom to be able to roam and check out all the trees and bushes and the best places to potty! He should be given adequate time outside to take care of his potty business since all the smells are new and exciting. Because he is treat motivated, a special high value treat immediately following good potty behavior will be excellent reinforcement for him. Even though Ziggy is off to a fantastic start with his potty training, please know that accidents and some initial marking are to be expected, especially initially while he transitions to another environment and routine.PERSONALITY 💕Ziggy's foster mom described him as sweet and playful, but also timid and unsure of people. Of course he never received any human love or attention in the puppy mill and so he is just beginning to learn how to interact with people and receive love. You can tell he wants your love so badly, but right now he is distrusting of hands and afraid when they reach for him. While it will just take more time to relearn that hands are not going to hurt him, he has gotten comfortable experiencing the closeness of being with his person and loves to cuddle up close to his foster mom on the couch. He will even put his front paws up on the couch to let you know he wants a lift up to sit and be with you. He just needs more time and gentle love to continue to bloom. As he gains a stronger sense of security and more confidence, more of his darling personality will come out! While he is timid and unsure of people due to his lack of experience, he has been very socialized with other dogs and really comes to life when he has a playful canine companion to play with! He loves chasing his Cavalier foster brother outside through the yard and will romp, roll, and rough house together! He has also discovered toys and bones and loves them all! While it is hard to pick a favorite, we'd have to go with Mr. Duck who makes a crinkly noise. Each day he seems to find a new toy to check out! A full toy basket is a must in his furever home. We love seeing his confidence come out when he engages in play, and definitely needs a playful canine companion in his furever home who will continue to help pull that out of him. ROUTINE ⏰The Zig Man spends much of the day with his foster family - being where they are and doing what they are doing, and enjoying a nice, leisurely, laid back lifestyle. He enjoys plenty of couch time and cuddle time with his people, as well as time outside in the yard for pottying, play, and fresh air. During the short periods of time when no humans are home, Ziggy stays in a gated off puppy-proofed area of the home with his Cavalier foster siblings where he has plenty of space, comfort, and companionship. He has not been crated or otherwise strictly confined in our care, and we do not recommend that he is, nor does he have any reason to be. He does well left for short periods of time as long as he has his Cavalier friends, but is certainly happiest being with his people and so we are seeking a family where someone is able to be with him much of the day and where he will have low alone time and plenty of snuggle and play time! At night, Ziggy sleeps in the big bed where he enjoys this closeness with his people. This is also great for bonding and so we are seeking a family who will invite him up with them. He uses pet steps to safely get in and out of bed and we will ask that his family provide them for him. SOCIALIZATION 💜Ziggy is very timid, cautious, and distrusting of people and has shied away from everyone he has met. He has reached a level of trust and comfort with his foster mom over the past month and has shown good progress. He is just starting to learn what it is like to have a bond and relationship with a person and we can see that he wants more! He is easily startled and scared by loud noises and sudden movement and is also afraid of hands and being reached for. Right now he is 'dancing' around the tips of his foster mom's fingers where she can now gently pet his chest. He responds best to a gentle, calming voice, and lots of patience and gentle encouragement. He is most receptive to receiving this gentle physical touch and affection when the other dogs are around and receiving it too. One on one direct touch and attention is just too overwhelming and scary for him right now. He needs a patient family who will give him time and space to continue to bloom, and he will be happiest and thrive best in a more quiet, peaceful adult only home but one where there will be plenty of opportunity for activity and play. Ziggy loves his Cavalier foster siblings and quickly became a part of the 'pack'! Canine companionship is very important to him and it is a true joy to see him completely comfortable and confident enjoying himself in play with his Cavalier furiends! He needs another young, active, playful dog in the home not just for play and companionship, but also for leadership. Ziggy doesn't know how to be a dog and he is learning best by following and modeling after the other dogs in the home who can show him the ropes. When he sees them receiving and enjoying human affection and attention, then we see him wanting to experience that too. His ideal canine companion(s) would be one that will welcome him in with open paws and will engage in play with him like chasing toys, rough housing, and romping through the yard, as well as allow him to cuddle up close to them. He would do very well in a multiple Cavalier home or with another dog(s) or similar size and temperament. He has not been around cats while in our care so we are unsure how he would do with a feline friend in the home. IDEAL HOME & FAMILY 🏡Most importantly, Ziggy needs a loving, patient family who has the time and ability to shower him with gentle love and attention and make him an included and important member of their family. He would benefit from a family with experience working with and loving undersocialized and timid dogs. Ziggy needs a home with a safe and secured fenced yard for pottying purposes and so he can continue to enjoy his outdoor freedom - he loves to run, roam, and explore! He did not respond well to being introduced to the leash and he let us know he is not ready yet and may not be for quite some time. When he is ready, this should be introduced and practiced in the safety of a safe and secured fenced yard. He does ride well in the car, safely and comfortably in his boosted car seat and where he can safely see more of the world around him. We would encourage his family to take him out on car rides regularly and will ask that they get him a car seat. We think he will be very happy if those car rides end up at Starbucks for a pup cup! Ziggy also needs a quiet, peaceful home environment and lifestyle which he can share with another young, playful, active canine companion(s). His foster home does not have stairs, so if they are stairs in his furever home please know there may be a learning curve. HOW TO APPLY 💻 Ziggy is a handsome, healthy boy who has been given the opportunity to have a second shot at living his best life! He needs a patient family and confident canine companion to help show him the ropes of how to do that. We know in the right home and family, The Zig Man will continue to bloom and enjoy an amazing life together full of love, fun, and fredom! If you feel you are great fit and meet all of his requirements, please fill out an adoption application found on our website (TheCavalierRescue.org), and then email us at CavalierRescueAL@gmail.com to express your interest **letting us know why you feel you are a match**. Ziggy is located in St. Simons Island, Georgia and travel there is required. Ziggy is available now so please only apply if you are able and ready to move forward with adoption at this time. His requested adoption donation is $600.