Isaac

Meet Isaac – A Gentle Soul in Need of an Ange

Isaac is a five-month-old Cavapoo, which is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle. With a soft and wavy apricot coat, soulful brown eyes, and a cute little black nose, Isaac is an adorable bundle of affection that just wants to be loved by his humans. He currently weighs about 12 lbs – just the right size to fit comfortably in your arms or to curl up on your lap for some serious couch time.  His expected full grown size will be about 15lbs. 

From the moment you meet him, you’ll see that Isaac is pure light. He’s friendly, playful, and endlessly affectionate – a puppy full of personality and gentle joy. He loves getting tummy rubs, snuggles on the couch, playing mini-fetch with his stuffed toys down the hallway, and quiet moments where he can simply rest beside his human and feel loved. He’s not a barker, preferring instead to express himself occasionally with soft little groans when playing with a toy or sometimes a small whimper when he first settles into his crate.
Isaac has been neutered, microchipped, and is up to date on all vaccinations. He’s very low-maintenance and a delight to care for. Because of his part-Poodle lineage, Isaac is also low-shedding (or possibly no-shedding, as we have yet to notice any fur on our clothing or furniture), which means he will need regular grooming to keep his coat trimmed, soft and healthy.

Isaac’s days are filled with small, happy adventures – short walks around the block (15 to 20 minutes), a few minutes of backyard playtime, and plenty of cozy rest. He’s learning to walk well on a leash and to sit on command, and his house training is coming along nicely. He sleeps through the night in his crate without any fuss or accidents, and he is happy to be left alone in his crate for up to four or five hours without any issue.
He loves meeting new people and is always friendly, curious, and eager to give them a sniff and say hello. He’s met a handful of other dogs – mostly small ones, but a few larger as well – and always greets them with a wagging tail and a sparkle in his eyes. The few instances he’s seen birds and squirrels have been ones of curious observation without any struggle or aggression. He’s gentle, calm, and never reactive. Though he’s shown a sweet nature with the few children he’s met, Isaac needs a quiet, adult-only home – a calm, nurturing environment that matches his special needs and temperament due to his special needs. 

Isaac has been diagnosed with a congenital heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. It means his time with us may be shorter than most dogs, but his capacity for love and happiness is every bit as boundless. His condition requires a bit of extra care from his human: short sessions of gentle exercise, a calm environment, and a watchful eye to ensure he doesn’t overexert himself. He’s on a special diet and medication designed to maximize his heart health, and a low-stress routine that helps him to live comfortably and joyfully day to day.  Isaac had a full cardiac workup with a cardiac specialist and she noted multiple different heart issues with led to the TOF diagnosis.  Anyone interested in Isaac needs to read up on this disease and be fully aware of the needs of dogs with this condition.  The full report from the specialist will be given to his adopter and their veterinarian.   The specialist advised that Isaac is not a surgical candidate and there is no surgical fix for his condition.  He is on daily medication, Propanolol, which he will need for life.  The bad news with his condition is that it will shorten his life.  The specialist could not tell us how long he has, it could be years, all she could say was that Isaac will not be a dog that will reach his senior years.  So this is something that needs to be seriously considered.  Anyone adopting Isaac needs to be fully aware that they wont have decades with him..but he can have some very good years.  We need to ensure that the time he has are spent with a family who adores him and will give him the very best life.   The good news is that Isaac doesn’t know that he has this condition.  He is a happy, loving puppy who is in no pain, and has no discomfort.  He needs to be kept from overexerting himself, but he is a pretty low-key puppy anyway so this isn’t hard to manage. He needs to be kept on his top-quality diet and not switched…his condition does require some specific food needs.  He needs to be kept lean and not allowed to get overweight as that is extra stress on his heart.  This is a big one..if you are someone who has always had pets on the chubby side and you can’t resist offering those extra tidbits and treats, then this isn’t going to be the right dog for you. He needs his family to be diligent with keeping him at a healthy weight.  
Due to his condition, if there are any other dogs in the home they should be mature dogs who will be a good companion for Isaac but not ones that will entice running in the yard or wrestle playing.  He would enjoy the companionship of a gentle, older dog. Isaac can also be the only dog in the home and get all of his family’s love and attention.  He would be fine with a cat in the home. 

We need to stress that Isaac’s story isn’t one of sadness. Instead it’s a story of hope, and of the promise of finding his perfect match. Isaac doesn’t know he’s any different than any other puppy. He wakes each morning eager to explore, to nuzzle into your hand or lick your ear, and to give and receive love. He simply needs to find someone extraordinary – a compassionate soul who believes that the measure of a life isn’t in its length, but in the love it holds and shares.

If you’ve ever felt called to be that kind of angel – to make a world of difference for one small, gentle, beautiful life… Isaac is waiting for you. And we know he will give you back far more than you could ever give him.