Giant dog has lots of love to give

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This article was published 14/08/2018 (2928 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a Storm in Manitoba looking to touch down in a fur-ever home.

Storm, a mastiff cross who’s about two years old, has been living with Winnipeg Giant Breed Rescue foster families since last October when he was taken into care.

“He’s an active dog, so if his new home had another active dog, he will tire that dog out. He likes to walk, but about 40 minutes is his max. He gets tired and he just lies down,” said Misty Titterton, Winnipeg Giant Breed Rescue co-director, who is fostering Storm.

“He’s very well-trained, fully house-trained, kennel-trained, he’s good with other dogs of all sizes and he’s good with kids.”

At Titterton’s home, Storm lives with her four children aged three months, 10, 16 and 18; and her two dogs, a little chihuahua-pug cross and a large shepherd mix.

“Storm loves everyone he meets,” Titterton said, adding she has seen no aggressive behaviour.

“If another dog has a bone, he’ll just bark until they give it up. He just wants to play. Other than that, he’s calm and quiet. He’s only as energetic as his new family wants to be. If you’re sitting watching a movie, he’ll sit and chew a bone.”

He’s been available for adoption since last winter. Two families have met him and considered him, but they didn’t come back for him.

So, Storm waits.

His joyful personality, energy and adaptability are impressive traits considering the turns — and breaks — his life has taken.

Storm was a 10-month-old puppy living outside in the snow and limping around on a broken leg when he was rescued from a northern Manitoba community on Oct. 29, 2017.

He’d been run over by a vehicle but never received any medical attention.

His left front leg was twisted at a painful angle, flopping like a flipper as he walked.

Volunteers Brit and Mark (who did not want their last names published) were visiting the community, about 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg, with Spirit of Hope Rescue and had provisions to bring back 20 dogs. Storm wasn’t on the list of dogs they had permission to take into care, but they were able to convince the owners to surrender him.

“When we saw him trying to run on that leg and his front foot was basically sideways, we couldn’t leave him. We had to help him,” Brit said.

Fortunately, the couple had an extra dog crate, so Storm was safely transported by truck with the other rescued dogs to Thompson. He was on a plane to Winnipeg the next day, once arrangements were made for Winnipeg Giant Breeds Rescue to take him.

“I hope someone adopts him. He was really good right from the start,” Brit said. “When I was trying to catch him, I was calling him and he’s got a broken foot but he’s just galloping right next to me. He’s just got a super bubbly personality. When we fed him, he just stuffed his face with food and was super happy.”

Mark described Storm as “a very loving and special dog” who deserves a furever home.

“Thinking back when Brit and I first got him, we promised him he would never suffer again and would be loved for the rest of his life,” Mark said.

Underweight and in poor health, Storm spent a few days at Plessis Veterinary Hospital and was expected to have surgery to repair his leg in December. An infection he was battling forced him to wait until March 1 for the surgery.

He had to wear a bulky, halo-style brace on his leg for two months to keep the bone stabilized, but that came off in June. Donations to Winnipeg Giant Breeds Rescue paid for the $7,000 in veterinary care, food and supplies while Storm got better.

Now fully healed and weighing about 80 pounds with no other health issues, Storm goes for daily walks with Titterton or other rescue volunteers to help him continue to strengthen his leg and burn some energy.

He needs to be on leash and live in a home with a fenced yard, as his recall skills need work, Titterton said.

If you think this Storm could land in your family, contact Misty or Jenn at winnipeggiants@gmail.com to fill out an application and arrange to meet him. The adoption fee ($350 for an adult dog) includes up-to-date vaccinations, tattoo and microchip and spaying/neutering, with all previous medical bills covered.

Go to winnipeggiants.wixsite.com/dogrescue or Winnipeg Giant Breed Rescue on Facebook to see Storm and other available dogs.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca