Meet our superstar, miracle boy, and the sweetest, not to mention ADORABLE, bravest little guy in the world– Auggie! Auggie is truly the happiest boy there ever was, and we challenge you not to smile when you see him! His backstory? At only 10-12 weeks old, Auggie was found in a rural area and in very poor condition when he showed up in a good Samaritan’s backyard.

While in ESRA’s care, Auggie’s wonderful and committed foster family has done a phenomenal job. They have loved him to pieces as their own for more than a year now, staying right alongside him on his incredible and precarious journey to health.

Auggie has come such a long way since! He knows how to Sit, Stay, Down and even Twirl! He loves to party outdoors and bound around and wrestle with his four-legged foster siblings. He requires a roomy, securely fenced yard and is doggy-door trained. He can be fairly calm for a youngster, but if you’re ready to play, he is so in! He walks nicely on a leash but, naturally, he can get easily distracted by new things. He’s a quick study, especially if you have treats. Auggie fares well left out and about in the house when alone. He is also crate trained and housetrained. While Auggie loves all humans and dogs alike, we are unsure how he would mingle with cats.

From the start, Auggie’s liver and kidney values were “off.” After much testing, several treatments and prescription diet, however, his blood work continued to read abnormal. We were finally referred to an internist who immediately suspected he suffered from a liver “shunt.” A definitive test confirmed his concern. A shunt is an abnormal blood vessel that prevents blood from flowing into the liver inhibiting its development and functional capabilities to detoxify the body from dangerous buildup of toxins (primarily ammonia). Without immediate intervention, we would lose him.

Texas A&M University Small Animal Teaching Hospital is the only hospital in the state who has the capabilities for this lifesaving, tedious and extremely expensive procedure. Undoubtedly, Auggie was in the most excellent of hands! Three months later, Auggie’s values are for the first time ever normal and he’s been officially released from A&M’s care. His prognosis:  miraculously, the likelihood of a normal, healthy life.

Going forward, Auggie will require mandatory regular checkups with an internist. For the next year, he’ll require two different blood panels quarterly; subsequently, he will require annual checkups with the internist. The specialists prefer we postpone his neuter for another 12 months to avoid putting him under anesthesia.

We also need to mention that this beautiful boy was also born with juvenile bilateral hip dysplasia, a congenital condition. To keep his hips in tip-top shape for years to come, his adopter MUST maintain a lean physique and provide lots of exercise to strengthen his hind-quarter muscles which assist in supporting the hips. Omega 3’s and joint supplements are also imperative lifelong.

Auggie is current on all vaccinations, tested negative for heartworms, is on monthly preventative, is fecal negative, and is microchipped for safekeeping. He is at his ideal weight at 43 pounds.

His ideal home would be a family who will treat him like the prince he is, have lots of time to spend with him, and one who’s not routinely gone long hours a day. We hope to place him with a family who also has another active dog who might enjoy Auggie’s “rough and tumble” play style. A buddy would make him very happy! His family must include him in lots of outings. He is a pro at car rides, exhibits nice manners, and has never met a stranger. His adoptive family must continue to work on his training skills to ensure he continues to grow into the best boy he can be. And last, as stated above, his family must be able to commit to his health care.

And finally, Auggie’s most endearing quality is his tremendous “joie de livre.” If you will make his life the happiest, fun-filled it can be, we would love to hear from you. You will never regret adopting this perfectly imperfect, darling little slice of heaven.

Please submit an Online Adoption Application if you are interested in Auggie. It is always the first step in our adoption process.

Special note to all out-of-state applicants:   Please ask your State Coordinator to forward your approved Adoption Application to the contact listed.  Also note that all out-of-state adopters must come to Texas/Oklahoma to retrieve their dog.  Transports via ESRA to other states is not available and will not be offered.  Dogs will not be allowed to fly in the cargo area of a commercial aircraft.  Smaller dogs that meet the weight and size restrictions for in-cabin flight will be allowed to travel in the main cabin area under the front seat of their adopter in an approved carrier following FAA and airline regulations.  Cost of canine airline travel will be the responsibility of the adopting family.