Darcourt Greater Swiss Mountain Dog & Labrador Retriever Mix Cincinnati, OH

One thing that never ceases to amaze us here at STAF is the incredible resilience of dogs. Case in point: Darcourt (est. birth 7/16) who came to us from a cat hoarding situation. He had been kept in a crate around the clock (because he “scared the cats”) and fed a diet of cat food. Despite this horrible start in life (or perhaps because he realized his days of neglect were behind him) he arrived at STAF happy, friendly and eager to explore the world. He adores attention … just a look is enough to set his tail wagging happily.

Unfortunately, Darcourt’s body did not fare as well as his spirit. His confinement during such a critical growth period did damage. He underwent FHO surgery on his right leg in October 2018, and is currently recovering from the same surgery on his left leg in March 2019. Thanks to top-notch medical care, TLC from his foster home and his can't-stop-me-now attitude, Darcourt is back on track. Now it's simply a matter of building strength and eliminating his rear "wobble" with the help of regular exercise, a doggie treadmill and other physical therapy, as needed.

Of course, Darcourt doesn’t let any of this dampen his upbeat nature and zest for life. (He's got to make up for lost time, after all!) His foster mom has high praise for his house manners: never had an accident, crate-trained, a great sleeper through the night, walks well with a Halti head collar. While Darcourt gives great snugs, he also has a very active and energetic side. Having been deprived of it for so long, he relishes outdoor time and rumbling with doggy friends ... even the occasional day at doggy daycare, courtesy of his friends at Red Dog Pet Resort and The Pet Spot!

Darcourt has spent enough time in lockdown, so his family-to-be will have a fenced yard and a willing canine sidekick, or other regular opportunities for doggy companionship and interaction. He wants to chase EVERYTHING, so he’s in need of a cat-free family. Nor is he a fit for homes with young children, as he can be mouthy—especially on days when he doesn’t get a good dose of exercise.

Think you could provide the final chapter in this comeback kid’s story? We’d love to hear from you! Darcourt is available to meet by appointment only, so please be sure to contact us ahead of time.

• All of our animals are spayed/neutered and current on shots.
• We do not do same-day adoptions; we ask that you return for a follow-up visit before taking an animal home.
• You must be 21 years or older to adopt from STAF.
• We require a 4-foot-tall physical fence for homes with children under the age of 11. We also may require a physical fence for specific dogs on a case-by-case basis, depending on each dog’s behavior and exercise needs.
• Invisible fences: Due in part to increasing coyote activity/incidents in the area and the difficulty of predicting how a dog will respond to invisible fence training, we cannot adopt to homes with invisible fences.
• We do request vet and personal references.
• We can facilitate adoptions within a 75-mile radius of our Cincinnati-based shelter.

Please visit www.STAF.org for visiting hours, a downloadable application, and additional information.