‘OLD DOG OF THE WEEK’ FEATURES NEW PHOTOS AND A FRESH WRITE-UP FOR AN OVERLOOKED OLDIE THAT HAS BEEN ON OUR WEBSITE FOR A WHILE BUT IS STILL WAITING FOR A NEW HOME.
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Joey is a cheerful French Bulldog of 8-9 years who came into rescue due to his owner’s housing situation. He’s in an Oldies Club foster home in Canterbury, Kent, waiting for a lovely retirement home. He only has 3 legs but this doesn’t stop him jumping on laps or chasing a ball.
Summary: Joey wants to be the only pet at home and can live with sensible teenagers but not younger children. He loves his toys and his treats. He’s affectionate and lap-loving, preferring women to men on the whole. He’s not very keen on walks but loves playing in the garden and is happy travelling in the car. He wants human company most of the time.
Settled easily in foster: Joey adapted well to his new environment and routine within a couple of days. Although well settled, his reluctance to walk sometimes seems to come from nervousness and he still prefers someone with him when he goes into the garden.
Can be left occasionally: Joey has been left by his foster carer for 2 hours a few times and he seemed to mostly snooze in his bed. He wouldn’t want this to be a regular occurrence though, as he really feels much happier with his human nearby. If he gets stressed he scratches or rubs himself and this irritates his skin. He’d be valuable moral support for someone who works from home, especially if their lap needed warming.
Only dog at home: Joey doesn’t want to share his home, human or toys with any other dog. It’s a different story while out walking. He is very interested in other dogs and will stop and stare if they are on the other side of the road but when he meets them, he sniffs and greets them politely.
No to cats too: Joey chases cats and finds them almost as entertaining as squirrels!
No young children at home: It’s thought Joey could live with older teenagers but not younger children. He gets very energetic when playing with his toys and has been known to snatch them out of his foster carer’s hands, which could be misconstrued by someone small.
Walkies: Joey is generally a reluctant walker these days. He usually needs inducements just to get out of the door and walks are a slow progression of trying to encourage him to move. There is the odd occasion when he will happily go out the back door, sniff hopefully around the car and then complete a brisk 10 minute walk, but these are rare occasions. He does have two short walks a day but he’s more at ease playing fetch in the garden. In Joey’s version of fetch, he enthusiastically chases the ball but only returns it in exchange for a treat. Clever boy!
Good in the car: Joey is a happy traveller. When he’s driven somewhere, he does actually enjoy a walk, especially if it ends at a restaurant!
Joey’s favourite pastimes: Joey loves cuddling on someone’s lap and dozing. He would happily do this almost all day, as long as he also had his belly scratched, was given food and was able to chase his ball, and the occasional squirrel, in the garden. He is happy to do some training as long as there is a treat involved, but he hasn’t yet been willing to do what’s required without the treat. He enjoys a game of hide and seek with his ball and searching for treats in his puzzle toy. Joey is very enthusiastic with his toys and they do need replacing if they’re not robust enough.
Joey’s dislikes: Joey hasn’t shown fear with anything so far. He took a little time to bond with the male in the house and barked when he entered the room or the house for the first month, although he was happy to snuggle on the sofa with him. There was a female guest during this time and Joey adored her. When out walking he is happy for women to say hello but, on a few occasions, he has barked at men who have tried to say hello.
Joey’s ideal home: The most important thing to Joey is human company and attention, with lap access as much as possible. He must be the only pet at home and have no children to disturb his naps or move his toys. He wants a human or two who enjoy ball games and have an infinite supply of treats.
Health notes: Joey is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and flea treated. He recently had a vet check and they had no major concerns. He does get irritated skin sometimes and has shown an allergy to poultry in the past. He is on a fish-based, grain-free diet now and has a special shampoo, mousse and oil to help soothe and moisturise his skin. He lost one of his front legs when young and has completely adapted to life as a tripaw.
Joey’s foster carer says: He’s loving, enthusiastic, expressive and stubborn… a lap dog with Attitude.
If you would like to offer Joey a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact the Oldies Club rehoming team as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk for an application form.
Or phone 0844 586 8656, leaving a message including your email address, and we’ll email an application form.
Joey can be rehomed anywhere on the UK mainland – the closer to his foster home the better – subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect him.
If you would love to offer a home to an oldie but your circumstances aren’t suitable, perhaps you would be kind enough to sponsor one of the special oldies we are caring for that, due to health problems, are unlikely to be offered a permanent home.