April is National Heartworm Awareness Month, so we wanted to bring to you a very special, and distinguished, older gentleman who is going through heartworm treatment.
So here he is, the handsome, the debonair, the dashing RAFAEL!
SDC: Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you ended up at SDC?
RAFAEL: I had a home but one night my owner took me for a car ride and dropped me off in a vacant parking lot and drove away. I wasn’t sure what was going on because it was freezing cold and dark outside. A nice lady came up to me and tried to get me to get in her car, but I was too afraid, I guess I thought my owner would return and so I thought I better wait. After about 25 minutes, that nice lady came back with a leash and do you know what she did? She walked with me all the way back to her house! She let me stay in her warm garage because she had a bunch of cats and I don’t know about cats. I tried to check them out but I’m kind of a big guy and they were really small. I understood. She gave me food and an orange blanket. I still have that blanket and I love it! After about a week she realized that me and cats probably weren’t ever going to be best buds and she reached out to Sauver Des Chiens and my journey began.
SDC: What are you looking for in your forever home? Describe your perfect family.
RAFAEL: My forever home would be nice and quiet. I am an older guy after all. I’d love to find a retired couple or someone who’s not away from the house a ton. I’d love someone who can be with me all day, but I know that may not be possible. But for sure a quiet someone, or multiple someone’s who are home bodies like me! I love being with my people and I do cry a little when I am left alone. I like other dogs my size, kids and people too but puppies and cats are a little too squirmy and rowdy for my taste.
SDC: What is your favorite thing?
RAFAEL: I love car rides, short walks and being talked to. I love hearing my person’s voice. I love playing with toys that squeak and tennis balls. And I love food! Meals or treats, all food is great. I still like adventures and I’ve been on a few since I came to SDC. I have stayed in a hotel, went to a restaurant and Lowe’s and even rode on a Mardi Gras float! So back to those car rides… I love them, so let’s go on some adventures! As long as they are quiet and I am with you.
SDC: How would you describe yourself?
RAFAEL: I am a dashing senior gentleman but don’t let my age fool ya! I have plenty of spunk and I love to play. I like to be right next to my person all the time, not sure if that’s a virtue or a vice, but it’s who I am. I will follow you from room to room and out the door and up the stairs and well… all around the house. What do they call that? Velcro dog? Yep! That’s this guy. As I said before, I really love food so I get really excited at meal time but my foster Mom has taught me to sit when I am being served by meals or a treat, so just given me the work and I’ll wait patiently… As long as it’s right by your side.
SDC: We know you’re starting HW Treatment, and this month is HW Awareness Month. What would you like to say to pet pawrents to encourage them to always remember HW prevention for their pups?
RAFAEL: I will be going through HW treatment soon. I am a little afraid to go through it because I heard the vet and my foster mom talking about how hard treatment can be on dogs like me. But my foster mom reminded me, I am big and strong (82 lbs to be exact) and I am sure to do just fine. Monthly heartworm preventative are sooo important and I wish my previous owner had taken measures to keep me healthy but I try not to dwell on the past. I just want to let everyone know that it’s super important to protect your dogs (and those cat things, and the puppies too I guess). All it takes is one mosquito bite! And a lot of dogs aren’t like me, they don’t all like taking medication! I don’t really like it myself but I am a pro at taking medication! Just toss the pills in my food bowl with my regular food and down the hatch it goes! Good thing too, because part of my treatment is a whole month of taking pills all day.
SDC: Tell us some unique things about yourself. What would make you stand out in a crowd?
RAFAEL: Ummm…I like shoes? I encourage my hoomans to put away their shoes, anything that looks like a shoe or might be a shoe or smells like a shoe. I will pick them up and carry them all away! I know, a guy who’s into shoes… Don’t judge me. Oh… and one more thing. I do walk excellent on the leash but don’t expect me to do my business with that thing on and you watching me. I’m a free range kind of guy and I like my privacy.
SDC: We love your name, tell us how you got the name. Do you have a nickname? How old are you? What breed are you? Are you scared of anything? I know it’s a lot of questions but we want to make sure everyone know how special you are.
RAFAEL: That’s a lot of good questions and I will tell you what I know. Before this foster mom I had a different one. I really loved her but she had those darn cars and I wasn’t a fan of them so we decided to let me go somewhere less hectic. Anyway, she named me Rafael and I really loved the name. My current foster mom calls me “Rafie”, that’s a pretty good nickname. She also calls me handsome, sweet boy, cutie pie and pumpkin. Kind of mushy names, but it’s okay, I don’t mind the much stuff too much. They think I am about 8 years young and I’m told I am a black and tan German Shepherd Dog. Nothing really scares me. I am a pretty confident fella.
SDC: Are you a bossy boy or a laid back kind of guy?
RAFAEL: Maybe a little of both. I really like my food and I’m not shy about letting you know it’s that time and I’m not sharing. Please keep other animals away from my bowl. I enjoy my kennel, just put my bowl in there and shut the door and I am a happy guy.
SDC: Where’s your favorite placed to sleep at night of nap during the day?
RAFAEL: I like to sleep in my kennel. That’s my space, quiet and I got my blanket in there. That’s the spot. I would prefer that it be near my people, like the same room! I don’t like waking up to just the dark and no one’s there.
SDC: What commands or skills do you know?
RAFAEL: I’m pretty smart! I know “sit”, “paw”, “crate”, “down”, and of course “no”. That last one don’t really count. Is there an old dog anywhere that doesn’t know “no”… HA HA!
SDC is thrilled to express gratitude for your interest in meeting our April Pup of the Month, the Dashing Senior Gentleman … RAFAEL
Do you think you could be Rafael’s ideal family? Did we hear a YES? Then hurry and get your application in! Just click the button above to start the process!
