Meet Chief, a very special boy in need of a loving family to call his own.
This Bluetick Coonhound is a friendly and lovable pup who is always happy. He loves being around people and playing with his favorite toys, but his absolute favorite thing in the world is to go on a walk and explore. He also enjoys relaxing on his bed and snuggling on the couch if you’re OK with him being on there. Chief hasn’t met anyone he doesn’t like and is the life of the party when visitors are in his home.
At just 1 year old, Chief is a very smart boy, a good listener, and a quick learner. He’s crate trained, will let you know when he needs to go outside, and thrives on a regular schedule. He adores other dogs and kids so if you have either of those, he would really love to join your family!
You may notice that Chief looks a bit different from other dogs. This is because he was born with a spinal deformity and leg abnormalities. His spine is arched and his legs are hyperextended, meaning that they bend farther than they should, and it causes his legs to be wobbly. He also doesn’t have much use of his left hind leg, but he regularly uses it for balance and moving forward.
The good news is that these abnormalities don’t impact his wellbeing at all! He loves going on walks, playing fetch in the yard, and running around when he’s excited. He does walk a bit differently and isn’t able to climb stairs, but he gets around really well and we’ve confirmed with veterinarians that he isn’t in any pain.
Chief has been going to physical therapy on a weekly basis to help build his strength, and the doctors have already seen a lot of improvement. If his new family is open to it, continuing these sessions would be a great benefit for Chief. But if not, our team has several exercises and stretches that can be done at home to help him, including the use of hobbles that limit the hyperextension in his legs.
Chief is such a happy and loving boy, and we can’t wait for him to find his new favorite people! He’s currently living in a foster home but if you’re interested in meeting him, you can fill out the pre-adoption application listed in his bio.
