I should really know better than to look on Craigslist... but ever since my bff lost her chi Stormy I keep an eye on everything in the hopes that she'll turn up somewhere. Well, I didn't find Stormy; but I found another lil guy. The person who gave him to me had only had him a few hours, the chi was passed to her one way or another through her hubby but no info was known on where he came from to begin with. (Since it's a bit sketchy; my first plan is to see if there are any LOST chi's around just in case he was stolen or something.) The person who first got him did not speak English anyway so it was translated through the wife. They were super nice; but I always feel I do the right thing when someone is so easily willing to hand over a dog to someone without any screening process or anything. I just don't think they were aware of the dangers of giving dogs away free, ESPECIALLY on Craigslist... which is why I try to "intercept" anytime I can. She said she thought he was mistreated somewhere along the line, but it very well could just be lack of socialization.
My goal is NOT to keep this guy; my hands are plenty full with my own dogs. If he belongs to someone, I hope to find them. If not, I either want to try adopting him out to someone I know on a neuter contract (as I don't currently have the funds to do it myself thanks to the holidays) **OR** if that can't be done QUICKLY I will find a rescue that can get him into a foster home asap. I do NOT want this little guy bounced around any more and I'm not letting him end up in a shelter... shots I can do, but Zoey's operation is coming up too and I can't manage to afford yet another. I do want him fixed asap though, so I will find someone who can. I'm just vowing to be this lil guys liaison to finding his forever home. I had him Frontlined & dewormed immediately. He's being quarantined from the other dogs; though he doesn't appear to be ill or anything I have no reason to take chances. I've set him up with a cozy playpen with pee pad and towel for blankey; plus food and water. I gave him a chicken neck to help firm up stools to which he caught on effortlessly. (I always have bad luck with rescues coming to me with diarrhea LOL... now I learned to prevent it before it happens haha).

Vet's not open Sunday (yes, we picked him up at about 10:30pm at night about an hour away. It was, as most of my rescues are, a very spontaneous thing lol.) so will have to wait for Monday for a once-over.

I know he's a male... intact... NO idea on age (any guesses? I posted pix of teeth, he has both retained puppy canines) sweet but at the same time quite timid. I have gotten a few wags out of him though (that is seriously my only incentive in this whole thing... to see them finally wag...!!). His underside as well as patch under neck are completely hairless... yet not at all irritated, itchy, red, or anything like that. =S He doesn't have fleas or any indication of any allergic reactions... so perhaps it's just an alopecia?

All this said and done... any Chi-People members looking for a sweet boy to add to their pack?

At least I know tonight he can sleep safe, warm, and with a full tummy.




(Censored out his manparts... but wanted to show the hairless-ness. Hoping anyone who has a dog with natural baldness / alopecia might recognize if the pattern is similar??)


"Omnomnom..."


"Nighty night folks..."

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He looks pretty young to me, but I really have no idea how old he could be! Looks like he has a retained baby tooth in there too. Cute little guy.

Do you have a spay/neuter clinic who will do vouchers for people with low income? I am sure you could find a way to qualify for assistance with the surgery if there are any low cost clinics near you. Just an idea, since you said you wanted to get him neutered asap.

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Both retained canines actually! On each side.

And yes actually... IL does have an animal population control program for qualified people. And I *blushes* may or may not have already used my 2 allotted operations for the fiscal year, LOL. Had Tequila spayed few months back; and I am just waiting on my paperwork to turn in to have Zoey's operation done as well. But, it's already been filled out and accepted so I can't "change" it.... the only real downside is that everything goes by snail mail and takes SO long. You have to call and request an app... they mail it to you.... you fill it out, submit your proof of eligibility... mail it back.... they verify it.... give a verification code.. and mail it back yet again... and THEN you can schedule the surgery. ^_^ Not the speediest process. I have an email in to one of my "connections", a retiree from a nearby Humane Society who actually owns another dog I had rehomed yeeeears ago. She still keeps in touch with the HS she worked for and may be able to see if anyone already passed their screening process and is waiting to adopt a small dog. Tiny dogs are in high demand here; but not always for the right reasons, so I have to be very careful letting him go but having her on my side (as well as the humane society) will definitely be to my benefit lol!

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Aww he's a cutie.

Good luck to finding him a nice loving home quickly. Somebody is sure going to love that little boy!!

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cute but looks sad...
When we rescued Pico, his underside looked similar and his gums were bright pink like your fosters. Good nutrition have cleared up both issues. Hopefully it will for your guy too...

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WOOHOO!! I have a friend who is going to get the voucher for him. So we will be able to neuter him before placement... phew.... just a matter of waiting for the chain of paperwork to go through.

Meanwhile he is just staying in our bedroom and a playpen. Whenever I take him out of the pen, he cowers as close as he can to the ground or finds a corner to hide in. I have no clue if it's abuse, or just really terrible early socialization but he is scared of everything. His little face just melts your heart.... he won't be here long but at least I can make sure he's not going to end up in the situation he was in before.

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Aw sweet guy! I do think he looks young too. 12-18m maybe? That's a guess really. I hope you're able to find him a home quickly. Oh & that does look like maybe alopecia...but it may clear up with good nutrition? Maxie is sparse in those areas...not bald though. Good luck & good for you in rescuing this guy!

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I'm hoping the transfer to good food will help. We aren't going to feed him raw like the rest though as much as I'd love to believe it, I highly doubt I would be able to convince any potential adopters to do it as well, lol. So he is currently eating Taste of The Wild which I'm sure is still a step up from whatever he was having before. He will be staying with us for at least a month. He's a very funny little guy; if I leave the bedroom he will howl. When I walk back in the door, he will spin, wag his tail, and then proceed to go back and cower in his soft crate I let him have. Now he is enjoying a bully stick. I am sure in due time he will come out of his shell. Here's a few updated pictures from today:

Him beside "his" crate:


Outside shaking as if he'd never set foot on the ground before. Didn't want to leave the porch. Fortunately he managed to use the pad to potty earlier so I'm assuming that is how he was trained at some point at least. He DOES, however, have NO problems wearing a coat, or a belly band.


I am posting about him on my FB. Again if anyone can arrange transport, I'd love for him to go with a Chi-Ppl person who will keep me updated on him, hehe. Surely someone has a place for a sweet shy little boy?

Also; for anyone who's rehabbed and rehomed a dog before, that isn't a licensed rescue/shelter, what do you charge as an adoption fee?? With his neuter and shots & everything included I just said it was $30 . But a few people have told me that's too low and won't deter the wrong kind of folks. But I was hoping the adoption process and screening would take care of that. If I "should" ask for any more I would just want it a donation to our local shelter. Since I'm not a 501(3) rescue I don't feel right asking for any more. It's not as if I would be using it to go toward any other rescue dogs; since whenever we do this it's very unpredictable. I just know that many chi rescues charge over $100 for a fully vetted dog but I don't need that. I am fortunate that my actual expenses in getting him all fixed up are not that high and I don't feel right asking for more than what I actually put in. I've gotten lucky that in the past, close friends of mine have adopted them and I don't charge anything at all since I have the privilege of still seeing them and snuggling them and they all know I'll take them back of need be. Thoughts??

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