Affectionate Puppy Desperately Seeking a Home

Staff members of the Corinne T. Smith Animal Center have had the company of a loveable 1-year-old male puppy for approximately a month and a half and now he desperately needs to find a permanent home.

Dewitt, or “Toad” as the staff affectionately calls him, is a very well mannered pit bulldog, or more formally called an American Pit Bull Terrier, and is very affectionate according to all of the staff at the animal center.

According to Michelle, a staff member, Toad came to the shelter as a stray on July 2nd.  The staff believes he probably got loose from a chain or something similar.  According to CTSAC’s Administrative Manager Freda Day, Toad is a very good dog and she believes that he had a good owner at one time.  She explained that the pit bull breed often gets a bad name from problematic dogs that are of the breed; however she explained that Toad is very loving.

Day stated that he is very well behaved especially for his young age.

“I know that pits can be problematic dogs if they have been in the hands of problematic owners, but Dewitt obviously never has been,” said Day. “Pit bulls are just like any breed such as Labradors, German Shepherds, or any large dog and anyone who owns a big dog needs to have common sense.”

Day said that Toad has been in the shelter for an extended period and has adjusted well.

“It is odd in males his age, but he has adapted well to shelter life and he will adapt well to a new home,” said Day.

Animal Cruelty Investigator Amy Abernathy humorously explained his nickname, “He just looks like a ‘Toad’.  He’s looking for his princess to come get him and turn him into a prince.”

According to Michelle and Day, Toad has some great potential.

“He is good with kids, good with other dogs, leash trained, loves water and loves chew toys,” said Michelle.

“He is very gentle and playful.  He isn’t housetrained, but he is smart so it will be very easy for someone to crate train him,” said Day.  “Dewitt (Toad) loves to play with toys, he will play fetch and catch for as long as anyone is willing.  He loves water, and would be great for folks who liked going to the lake or river.  He would make a great family dog for an active family.”

Michelle has been working with Toad and stated that he is very good on and off of a leash, willing to calmly walk next to the person he is with.  She also said that he doesn’t bark at just anything and rarely jumps on people and when he does, it is done very gently.

Toad’s only problem at the shelter has been with cats, which he wants to chase, so he does need to go to a home that doesn’t have cats according to Day.

Because CTSAC has a limited budget, animals can only stay for a limited time and unless they are adopted or taken by a rescue group, sometimes animals still have to be “put down” as a last resort.  That is not what the staff wants and especially not for Toad.  Officials hope that someone will see his pictures, read his story, and take the time to visit, get to know him and give him a permanent home.

“Dewitt’s days here are numbered.  He is such a wonderful dog, and Michelle loves him so much, I just hate the idea of having to put him down,” said Day.

Adoption at CTSAC usually runs $150 for dogs, but in this special case the cost has been reduced to $75, which will cover adoption fees, spay/neuter costs, micro chipping, rabies shots and heartworm testing.

To learn more about the adoption process and how Dewitt (Toad) can be adopted, call (325) 646-0617 or visit him at the animal center which is located at 3016 Milam Drive in Brownwood.