Kiko

Kiko’s Story

** KIKO'S ADOPTION FEE IS SPONSORED **

Kiko / Male / 8 years old / 68 lbs / Mixed Breed / No Other Dogs Please / Older kids only / No Cats Please/ From Mexico / Fostered in Oshawa

** Follow Kiko’s journey on Instagram @Fostertails_crae_and_friends **

Meet Kiko! Kiko is one resilient guy. Originally from Mexico, he lived alone on a rooftop for most of his life. He stole the hearts of everyone at the shelter and they quickly realized he was a very special boy who deserved a shot at the good life in Canada. Despite everything he has been through, this handsome boy is described by his fosters as sweet, loving, affectionate, eager to please, easygoing, and low maintenance. He has a gentle heart and will thrive once he gets a sense of permanence and belonging in his family.

Kiko’s favourite activities are cuddling, getting pets, scratches, and belly rubs from his people. He will use his beautiful brown eyes and lay his head on your lap to let you know he wants pets. He loves being close to his humans and gently pressing his body against them when he wants cuddles. He will give vigorous tail wags when his people return or enter the room. He will also give lots of little kisses to express his affection.

Kiko enjoys being outdoors and gets 2 good walks plus a few shorter outdoor breaks during the day. Kiko walks very well on a leash and enjoys trotting alongside his human. He will match his pace to whoever is walking him, he doesn’t pull and is easily corrected. He is curious and loves to sniff and prefers a quieter neighbourhood where there are not too many loud vehicles or encounters with strangers or other dogs. Kiko does not enjoy meeting other dogs on leash and will require a handler who can advocate for his space and ensure he is not put in an uncomfortable position.

In the house, Kiko is a dream. This handsome boy has perfect manners to match his good looks and charms. He loves his humans and wants to be close to them whenever they are around but also does well on his own. He will adapt to a new routine easily and is very go-with-the-flow. He is not at all destructive and is trusted with free roam in the house. If there is any activity or stimulation around, he is very playful. Kiko has several favourite toys and will play with them to entertain himself when left alone. He enjoys chewing on his Kongs, balls, and stuffed toys but is not destructive.

Kiko has been left for more than 6 hours on his own and has been perfectly fine. He calms down quickly and is not crated. He mostly chills out in the area where his dog bed and toys are located or will curl up on the couch and snooze. Kiko doesn’t enjoy being crated, but given his good manners it is not necessary. Kiko settles quickly at night on a dog bed in his fosters’ room and sleeps through the night without issue.

Kiko needs slow and proper introductions to new people. He is not a dog that will run up to anyone. He needs to be approached slowly and respectfully and feels comfortable when he can move at his own pace. Kiko warms up quickly and after that with people he trusts. Kiko gets along well with older, dog-savvy children but he does enjoy playing rough, so it is not recommended that he plays with younger children unsupervised.

Kiko has basic obedience skills, is very attuned to his people and is eager to please. He pays close attention to body language, voice tone, and eye contact and never wants to do anything that might displease or inconvenience his people. He is sensitive, observant and considerate.

While in foster care, Kiko had a growth removed from his leg that was diagnosed as cutaneous hemangiosarcoma, a malignant type of skin cancer. There is a chance that it may return so he’ll need to be monitored regularly. Because these growths can sometimes develop in areas of lighter skin, Kiko should avoid prolonged sun exposure on spots like his belly and inner legs. It’s important to note that Kiko is not palliative—this is not a situation where his time is expected to be short. Many dogs with this diagnosis can continue to live for years with a good quality of life. Kiko is also prone to getting tiny stones in his bladder so needs to stay on a specific brand of food.

Kiko is the perfect companion for a single person or adult couple, where he would be the only pet in the home. He would do best in a quiet neighbourhood and would strongly prefer a yard where he could hang out without meeting too many other dogs. Kiko is muzzle trained and needs a family that will advocate for his space when meeting new or unfamiliar people and dogs, and who will help his confidence going up and down stairs. He will also need a family who is committed to working on his leash etiquette, obedience training and overall confidence. Kiko just needs a lot of affection, love, and support from his humans to feel safe. Once he trusts you, he will do anything for you.

If you’re interested in adopting Kiko, please apply at https://www.fetchandreleash.ca/adoption-info#adoption-form

Kiko's adoption fee has been generously sponsored. To learn more about our adoption process, please visit our FAQs at https://www.fetchandreleash.ca/about-us#about-faqs.