Featured Pet: Taddy - Looking for an active, committed home!

Tad - Labrador Retriever - 1 year old - 70 pounds - male/neutered - black short to medium coat with some breeches and waves at neck and shoulders

Tad is a keenly intelligent, and keenly intuitive dog. He learns extremely quickly, and anticipates commands and instructions. In fact, we have been often surprised by how highly functioning Tad really is, especially in field work, where we believe he could actually excel. Taddy's foster dad sometimes imagines that Tad reads his mind, so closely does Tad work in concert with him.

Since the time Taddy first came into our rescue's care, many months have been devoted to his medical recovery; as a result, he has not yet had the opportunity to develop fully all the athletic potential he possesses; however, he has had ample opportunity to demonstrate astonishing speed and range of athleticism, and a tireless willingness to work with his foster dad.

Tad is reliably and tremendously focused in physical tasks, which at this writing are often ball-retrieving related, a pastime which Tad has taken to practically the extreme sports level! He is a joy and a wonder to watch when he is "working", and when it's time to come in, he settles quickly and relaxes indoors. His foster dad relates that Tad has two switches: "On" and "Off". While Taddy is also capable of jumping to tremendous height, he has never challenged a fence or enclosure.

Realizing Tad's profound capacity for physical exercise was a happy surprise for us, as he came to us extremely thin, covered in mange, suffering secondary infections, and lacking in the energy he possesses now that he is feeling so much better. Once those issues were resolved, we then were able to address his allergy-related suffering. In the world of Labrador retrievers, Tad is definitely what we would classify as a field Lab, with all the capability and work drive that breed designation implies. Where some Labs are more apt to lumber about, Taddy has a streamlined legginess, gravity-defying litheness, as well as a wonderful desire to perform.

Indoors, Tad is absolutely steadfast - completely house trained, no stressed or destructive behaviors. He is an excellent eater, extremely fond of treats, and capable of profound bonding without being clingy or demanding. Commands came easily to him, and he is fluent in "sit", "paw", "down", "come", "sit up", as well as a host of outdoor commands relating to retrieving. He truly does seem to possess a fine work ethic, and a determination to do well.

We are still working on what one might call the more "nuanced" side of Tad, although a portion of his great enthusiasm is both age-appropriate, and understandable, given the wonderful opportunity that he is experiencing for the first time ever to feel good in his body. Tad also spent the first year of his life fending for himself in a back creek valley, so it is still a bit of a new concept to him to consider sitting at an open door before he goes out it, or remembering not to pull on a lead.Taddy gets along with other dogs, but he does not require them around him to feel comfortable. He is completely happy in his routines as long as they include regular meals, for which he still seems inordinately grateful, and exercise. He loves to be petted and hugged, but is just as happy with a heartfelt "GOOD BOY!" and a chance to retrieve the ball one last time. For an athlete or a runner, or an individual interested in training a dog for a sport like flyball, Tad would be a natural.

We are still in the process of stabilizing his allergies, and Tad will need the support of allergy treatment throughout his life. This regimen will require regular allergy serum injections, which can be given at home, and which Taddy accepts with grace and gentle courage. His allergies are all environmental, not food allergies, and ironically for this remarkable field dog, involve grasses, leaves and molds primarily. But he is on the "gain" side of his treatments, and Hedgesville Hounds has completed all his testing, as well as serum development, so his adopter need only maintain his current regimen. We estimate the monthly expense of Tadpole's continuing regimen to be approximately $30 to $40.

We are so hopeful that Tad's next move will be to a home in which he and his adopter(s) can develop the partnership and bond to which Tad will devote his heart and soul in steadfast devotion and tireless faith.

Tad's back story: Tad was called into Animal Control by a disgruntled resident in a back creek valley who alleged that the poor, thin creature had killed her chicken. Tad may have been guilty of this crime; we do not know. He happily boarded the paddy wagon and began residence in the Animal Control facility, where he had his own kennel and two square meals a day.

However, Tad was unaware that the vast patches of missing hair on his body, combined with his pitiful thinness and the fact that what hair he had was coated in thick dust had all conspired to give him the appearance of a very old, failing dog. And after a week, it was clear that no one was looking to bring Tad back home. As duty prescribed, Animal Control placed a red tag on Tad's kennel, signaling to the attending veterinarian that Tad should be euthanized.

About this time, a Hedgesville Hound volunteer visited Animal Control to pull two dogs who also had not been claimed. She noticed the large black dog who was alternately scratching furiously, and wagging his tail. Between his bouts of desperate itching, she noticed his fine, big head, and the expression of kindness in his brown eyes. As he looked at her, panting softly, she also noticed his bright, white teeth. She asked if she could take Tad for a walk.

Although it was difficult for Tad to restrain his great delight in being outdoors, he walked as gently as he could, and in his pride at being selected for a special outing, he looked quite different than the poor miserable dog in the kennel. It suddenly became apparent to everyone that Tad was not an old, failing animal; but a young, thin pup who was struggling with mange. For an instant, he showed the promise of the magnificent dog he could be.

At that moment, everything changed for Tad.

Working in partnership with Hedgesville Hounds, Animal Control took Tad to the vet. Within weeks of medical treatment, Tad was no longer tormented by mange; his coat began to grow in lustrous, wavy plushness. He has begun to fill out, and his glorious tail no longer looks absurd now that his body looks big enough to hold it up.

We are very proud of Tad, whose sweetness and faith have never failed him, and we are grateful for the partnership with Animal Control workers, rescue volunteers, fosters, and readers of our website, who rally, as we all do, when we can be part of a story like his. Every one of us will be cheering for this special, trusting, gentle fellow when he finds his new home, and writes the remainder of his story with his adopter(s).

If you are interested in adopting Tad or another one of our animals, below are two versions of our application:
Email version of the HHapplication . Once it's completed, you'll be taken back to the HH home page.
OR
WORD FORMAT ADOPTION APPLICATION.

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