Patient Spotlight: Meet Fusilli

We are so lucky to have some amazing clients and patients. I'd like to take some time over the next few months to acknowledge some of them.

Next in line is Fusilli!

This is the face of a very happy dog!

Fusilli is a very special dog, and his owner really summed him up great when she described him as 'sweet, loyal, obedient, goofy and so darn cute!'  It has really been a joy to get to know him as a patient and to watch him change and grow in his new home.

His story did not start out quite as happy as it is now. Prior to his current home he had been adopted and re-homed four different times! He is currently in his fifth home! That is a lot of change and stress for one little pup! He was adopted but his current owner from Vermillion County Animal Shelter in Tilton, IL. She had originally gone to look at another dog that had interested her from their Facebook page. Upon meeting that dog, it just didn't seem like the right fit for her household. She was about to leave, but decided to look at the other dogs and see if anyone else might be the next addition to her home. There was Fusilli sitting quietly and calmly and just watching the people go by. She inquired about him at the front desk where she was assured that he was anything but calm and quiet. She asked to have her other three dogs meet him. The initial meeting went ok, so she started the adoption paper work. However the front desk staff made sure she read through all the previous adoption and relinquishment paperwork. After getting through all of that, she realized that Fusilli had just not been a good fit in those homes, but he might just be the right one for them.

It may have taken some time, but here is Fusilli with his housemates!

She saw right away that he was extremely smart and a born performer. He will do just about anything for a treat, but is also motivated by toys. New toys are one of his favorite things, especially if they make funny noises. Having three other dogs, Fusilli's owner knew that she was going to need to get him started in training classes to make sure everyone was on the same page in the household. He started training about the first week she got him, and he hasn't stopped since! Once he had the basics down, he moved on to agility, which he enjoyed, but his true passion is Barn Hunt! As a terrier he excels at finding little critters anywhere. In fact, he doesn't really enjoy going on walks unless there is something to chase! While her other dogs are content to stay at home and play or go on walks, Fusilli needs jobs or projects. These can include food puzzle toys, hiding toys and having him find them or digging small critters out of the yard or park. If you would like to see a video of Fusilli performing agility you can click here.

He also really enjoys going to the dog park with his housemate, Bow Tie. They are so fast they can run circles around the bigger dogs, which makes everyone stop and take notice of them.

Fusilli may have had to go through several homes, but all of those challenges have landed him in the perfect spot! While his owner admits there were definitely trying times when adding a fourth dog into her home, it has been so worth it. She has gone to great lengths to make sure everyone in the home has all their physical and mental needs taken care of. She has also spent time with a local veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Sally Foote, to work through a few of the more challenging aspects of owning multiple dogs with different personalities. Fusilli has really begun to flourish as he has been able to show his true personality and we are looking forward to seeing where his training and natural skills take him next!