Dixie Dachshund Rescue

Hi, I’m Gifford.  They called me Clifford at first, but, hey, I will never look that like that Big Ol’ Red Dog, so my foster mommy changed it to Gifford.  Works for me, so long as I’m loved and safe!  I’m only a little over 2 years old and already had one little paw on death’s doorstep.  *GASP*  I got lost and ended up in a shelter for several months.  There I sat skin over bones and feeling very poorly, indeed.  They could not figure out what was wrong with me and I just got sicker.  Every day people just walked right by me!  No one wanted me because I was so thin and sick with almost constant diarrhea.  Finally, at the 12^th hour, a rescue angel pulled me to safety.  I just can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am someone finally gave me a chance.  Turns out putting me back on my feet only required being treated for intestinal parasites, some good food and luvin’, and here I am, an extremely healthy, bouncin’, well-behaved bundle of love ready to play and snuggle, and snuggle and play!  I’m also fully vetted, and on heartworm and flea/tick preventative.  We’re in the South, after all, and there is way too much out there that could get me sick again and I do believe I have paid my dues, don’t you?

It appears humans have to label everything to stay organized!  OK, let’s go with that.  I’m what you call a standard, short-haired doxie.  I’m just over 20 pounds and sport an amazingly well-proportioned physique under a sleek, glossy black coat.  All that great food and rest, and my muscles all “grew” back!  The short hair means you will see very little of it on your floors or furniture.  I mean, come on, that’s important to some folks!  That’s just my handsome outside.  *Grin* 

I’m exceptionally intelligent, a fast learner as a result, and superbly well-behaved.  My foster mommy is amazed at how quickly I learned the ropes at home, and how eager I am to please everyone.   I learned manners long ago.  I love to go for walks and walk on the leash without pulling at all.  I don’t understand why other dogs do this because it makes the walk so stressful.  I like to check everything out and not have to worry about choking from my collar.  No time for that, plus I need all the oxygen I can get to sniff stuff!  I do dive bomb into my food.  No flies on me!  To date this is my only flaw, if you could call it that.  Kind of hard to not be über-interested in food since I was starved for so long.  But, the up side is that I never bite the hand that feeds me.  That would be counter productive, right?  I looooooooooooooooove  to snuggle and lay on my back.  I’m so content then that I wiggle my little feet.  I also love to lay flat on my belly with all four of my little feet sticking out.  Both of these positions make my foster mommy giggle.  Love all the great karma, don’t you?

I looooooooooooooooove to play!  There are dogs of all sizes where I live at the moment and I run with the big dogs.  The rest of mommy’s dogs are in the “foo-foo” category and they prefer to watch from the sidelines except for an occasional run-about.  Playing with the big dogs is sooooooo much fun.  They are so silly and we all play so well together.   I have more energy than all of them, though, so I run circles around them at times to give them a break.  I love to feel my ears a-flappin’-in-da-breeze!  So, although not an absolute requirement, I really would love a playmate.  That would also be great for when you are not home so I’m not sitting by myself too much.  Speaking of which, I’m crate trained!  No issues there!

Remember the Doxie Rule Book?  Rule # 1, Gotta Luv Me, I’m A Doxie.  Rule # 2, Gotta Luv Me, I’m a Doxie.  Guess what Rule # 3 is?  Seriously, I’m so easy to love.  I’m such a precious little dude.  Moderation is my key.  Nothing too rough or too fast or too much, nothing too extreme or demanding.  Just happy to “be” and be alive!  I also don’t bolt, only dig a little, and am content to hang out with the cats and dogs in my foster home, chillin’ ‘n stuff.   All that said, though, I’m still a doxie.  So back to that label thingie humans do to stay organized?  The people who saved me know a lot about my breed and know that to keep me truly safe and secure, I will need supervision while outside, a fenced in backyard would be nice but not mandatory as long as I am kept safely on a leash AT ALL TIMES, and doors to the outside not left open by accident.  All it takes is for me to slip out once and I could be lost forever!  And Daz Cuz I’m a Doxie, Gotta Luv Me!

So,  If you would like to become my lucky parents, please fill out the application and list my name, Gifford, as the dog in which you are interested.  For more information, please contact karenb@kw.com .   Btw, I’m being fostered in Huntsville, AL.