Chuckles Yellow Labrador Retriever & Great Pyrenees Mix Kiowa, OK

Chuckles's Story
-Written by Chuckles, a 15-month-old, 65lb male Labrador Retriever/Great Pyrenees mix.
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It was a bright and sunny day when my world came crashing down. I think that ended up bothering me more than it should have. Everything I knew...everything I loved disappeared the day my family let me end up all alone in the middle of nowhere. You would have thought it would be dark and rainy. But no, it was beautiful out...yet there was a storm raging inside of me. Just like that, I was all alone. I wasn't cut out for the stray life. I tried to find food..but was terrible at it. I was used to being fed on a daily basis, I never thought that I would have to one day catch my own food. Heck, I was even terrible at dumpster diving. It seemed that I could never find anything except old wrappers and junk. I dealt with hunger on a daily basis and it only got worse. I watched my body turn into skin and bones...and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. I could only try to survive.

The sun was not on my side. My coat was constantly exposed to it. Then add in the dirt that never left me and before I knew it I had a skin problem. My fur started falling out and before I knew it...I was only a former shell of myself. I barely even recognized myself anymore. It was only me out there, so you can imagine just how much time I spent thinking. Wondering why this happened to me. Wondering why my family abandoned me. Wondering what I had done to deserve such a fate. If I am being honest with you, I did not think I was going to make it. I was so hungry and oftentimes dehydrated. I was a skeleton and was missing so much fur. One day, someone saw me aimlessly roaming around. They came up to me and I was SO excited. Finally, a person. They had to help me. And they did, it just wasn't in the way I expected.

I ended up being brought to the animal shelter. I was pretty scared initially. Who wouldn't be though when every single animal in there was pleading for their second chance? I was so thankful though. I was too exhausted to worry about that. I was finally being fed again and was given some meds to help with my skin. The days turned into weeks...and soon the weeks turned into months. People overlooked me because of how I looked. They didn't take the time to get to know me and my personality. They didn't see the handsome boy that I would one day be again. The shelter had kept me since May, but they were so full and they really needed some dogs moved. I was one of the dogs that needed to be moved. They couldn't hold me forever. Once again, I was left helpless. I couldn't change my circumstances...I could only hope. Suddenly, it felt like I was all on my own again...trying to survive.

Thankfully this rescue saw my photo and saw me...not just what I looked like on the outside right now. A foster family stepped up for me and before I knew it...I was on my freedom ride! Just like that, my life once again took a turn...but this time it was for the better! This time, I was welcomed into the house. This time I had a family again...even if they are only temporary. This time I had doggie playmates. This time I was not all alone but instead surrounded by love.

I am an active and playful boy. I spent so much time trying to survive that I am no longer holding back. I am the life of the party and know how to lighten up a room. I will make my people smile with my silly antics, I will get the other dogs to play with me, and if everyone is busy I will make my own fun! I have become quite the happy-go-lucky boy and am always just so happy! I am on the energetic side so I expect my new family to take me on walks with them. Once the weather is nicer, I would also LOVE if they took me hiking with them. I have never been on a hike before but I think I would absolutely love every single thing about it. I am a big fan of toys. I will run after a toy if you throw it but I won't bring it back. That would be way too easy. Instead, I will carry it around all proud of myself and showing you that I picked it up. However, I will just keep playing with it myself instead of bringing it back. I have shown interest in the pool but have not taken a dive into it yet. So, I feel like I have the potential of being a water dog...but haven't made the plunge yet ?

Remember how I said I am a happy-go-lucky guy? Well, you can bet that I will always be happy to greet new people and other animals. I am very friendly and happy when it comes to meeting new people, both inside and outside the home. I love love love other dogs and it doesn't take long before I am trying to play with them. I am not currently being fostered around any cats so am unsure how I would do with them. Given my playful and active personality, I would probably try to play with them as well. So, they should be dog-savvy and not always running around trying to tempt me into a game of chase with them. I love all people so think I would like kids. However, I am very playful and don't really understand my size so the kiddos will need to be older. At least 8+ so they can keep up with me.

I have good house manners but am still a young and playful guy. I am not a big chewer but do needs lots of chew toys. If there is a lot of stuff just lying around, I will get into it. I am potty trained and am working on being kennel trained. I am not the biggest fan of it right now. I am not a big barker but I am also not a quiet dog. I will bark if I see something outside or if I want something. Such as out of the kennel or need to potty. I would say I am not a bigger barker than any other dog out there. ?

I cannot tell you why I was abandoned...I wish I knew the answer to that question myself. However, I do know that they missed out on someone that would have been just about as loyal as they come. My coat is starting to come in more and more, and soon I won't have any missing fur patches. I have put on more weight and will only continue to fill it out as I grow up. I am going to be one handsome boy...even more, handsome than I already am if you can believe that. Most of all though, I have such an amazing personality. Despite what happened to me, I am still such a happy and lovable guy and my personality is contagious. You cannot help but smile when I am around. I have already had an until home, and now it is time to find my FUREVER home. If you feel you are the family that can give me forever, then please apply to adopt me at
https://www.pyrpawsandfluffytailsrescue.com/adoption-app

Once this app comes in, it will be sent on to my foster family. This is to help ensure that not only am I a good fit for you but that you are also a good fit for me! ?

I am currently residing in Oklahoma City, OK. If you have fallen in love with me and are out of state, how about a road trip? I do well riding in the backseat and love looking out the window.

My adoption fee is $250.
That will include my DHLPP, Rabies, and Bordetella. I will be micro-chipped, have a fecal done, be de-wormed, be spayed/neutered, and will be current on heart-worm and flea/tick prevention.

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EPILOGUE
-Below is an excerpt from Chuckles's foster family.

"Chuckles is a very friendly, fun dog. He loves to be doing things. He loves other dogs and will play and play. He would love to have another dog that is very playful. Having older dogs or dogs that don't want to play would not be ideal for him. I don't think he's ever met a stranger, human or dog, and everyone is his best friend. He would benefit from a house that loves doing things with him such as taking him on walks and to the park. He is an active, energetic boy that doesn't want to just lay around all the time. He is a character and goofy. He is a sweet boy that just wants to be loved and doesn't seem to have had much given to him in his past and he's just so excited to be getting it now. He does need a little work on his manners...he's just so excited about life he forgets. He would love some training because all he wants is to be the best boy he can be and hasn't been given the chance previously. He catches on quick though. This boy will give his family his whole heart and can't wait to find his family to give it to"