Mike - Adopted

Name: Mike

Age 5 years (estimated)

Breed: Mixed (they write he looks like a mini St. Bernard)

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Columbia, SC area

Vet Info: Mike is confirmed neutered and up to date on vaccines.  He is next due for his rabies vaccine on 5/20/2015.  Mike is heartworm negative.  He weighs about 40 pounds.

Owner Info: Mike is a very handsome mixed breed who was pulled from Animal Control by a smaller rescue.  He is completely blind in one eye. His other eye seems fine.  He was in foster care for a while and his foster mom was working with him on commands to let him know that he was going to be touched on his blind side, and making great progress with him. But then she got orders (military) and he is back in the rescue's kennel, where he is very stressed and paces continually, even if he's just been exercised.  If unknowingly approached on his blind side, Mike will snap and try to ​bite, and once bit hard, so he needs a foster or adoptive home without children.  His rescue writes that he is a really sweet boy and wants so badly to please, but that he just has a disability that needs understanding.  They are very much hoping for a foster-based rescue with an experienced foster home who can help meet Mike's needs and who can help him blossom into the wonderful dog he tries so hard to be. Mike is an outdoor dog with a fenced yard and is not housebroken.  He is leashed trained.  His rescue writes that he is good with other dogs, but not cats. He does have a prey drive and is a more dominant temperament. They gave us more detail about how he is with other dogs:  "Mike has been great with all dogs, and he has been introduced to over a hundred since being here at rescue.  He is always the top dog though.  One larger dog (much larger than him) gave him the eye once and Mike put him in his place instantly.  The larger dog never messed with him again.  So if confronted, Mike will react.  But that is the only time he has had to and they never had a problem again.  He plays really well with the other dogs, but also does his own thing a lot in the play yard.  I think he is alone a lot because he is so consumed with pacing.  If we can get him to stop pacing the exercise yard, he will actually play.  He LOVES WATER.  He has a kiddie pool that he flops around in and it is so cute.  His foster mom actually moved away last night and came to say goodbye to him.  He jumped right up to be hugged immediately and you can tell he adores her.  I would say that he would do best with dogs that are bigger than him (at least not toy breed) just because he is more of the boss dog. He has been around a lot of small dogs too, but never in a home environment so I think if they ever got into a squabble, Mike could do some damage.  But I could be completely wrong too...I'm just overly cautious maybe.  I do hope someone is able to step up for him. He has so much potential if given the right chance." They also tell us that he's very loyal and will bond quickly!