If you’re like me, the thought of ‘animal cruelty’ makes you feel sick to your stomach, but it is detached. With stories these days circulating about dogs being dumped on the streets with their mouths duct taped shut, or locked in abandoned houses for days or weeks without food or water when their owners move away, you can’t imagine that happening. Zander is one of those stories, but his will have an AMAZING ending.

Zander was shot in the face and left to die as a young puppy in Missouri. I will never pretend to understand how someone could do such a thing, let alone why, but here he is, a miracle in his own right. His battle scars are as endearing as they are devastating. A floppy ear, a scarred, blind eye, a little bit of funky skull… no big deal. So, he bumps into a wall occasionally.Yes, he gets a bit anxious at loud noises like cars driving by. He will persevere. Because he is going to find an AMAZING home that knows he is worth so much more than the first person who was supposed to love him forever.

Because somewhere, they’re out there ready to show him what he deserves. They are ready to bring him to obedience training so he can learn to be a great example of a young dog. They are ready to give him treats and love and affirmation when a loud noise scares him on a walk. They are ready to let him climb up into their laps and snuggle on the weekends. They will be understanding that all he wants is to be by their side, and that he gets anxious when they are gone all day, and might bark in his kennel. They will love him even if someday his eye gets painful and needs to be removed. 

Zander has a lot of 6 month old puppy in him, but underneath all of the scars is a (gorgeous) GOOD DOG who wants to please and love his family unconditionally. If you are looking for that dog, he is ready to meet you, and show you what he is made of.  He barks and whines excessively while left alone, so a home with shared walls is NOT recommended.