Contact Romeo's Caretaker/Foster Directly: Jodi Marcus (jodi@akitarescue.org), (703) 730-0844

Sponsors: Thank you to the Language Exchange for being my Guardian.

Thank you to Betty McDade for being my Buddy.

Thank you to Melissa Lowe & John Washington for being my Buddy.

Special Needs: Romeo has an abnormality at his C!-C2 verterbrae, either a healed injury or congenital birth defect. It compresses his spinal cord slightly, causing an odd gait front and rear, and an occasional whimper at the start of defecation. He walks on leash, runs in the back yard. Don't think he should be allowed to romp with larger dogs in case of further injury, but he does enjoy being walked with another dog. Call for full info

Description:
Romeo, 4-5 yr old neutered male, brindle pinto, self masked with white blaze, located in Virginia. Romeo and his female companion were found by local animal control tied to a pick up truck, no food, water or shelter. A notice was left for his owner, who did not respond within the alloted time. His female companion was placed. Romeo's owner came to the shelter and was once again given a deadline to pay for the fees incurred by the shelter in boarding his dogs. Once again, he did not respond in time. The shelter was desperate for all the staff had fallen in love with this sweet Akita and did not want to see him put down. Another rescue group contacted us about him, temperament tested him, took him out and offered to foster until we had space available. He passed his temp test with flying colors. When walked up and down in front of the other barking dogs in the shelter, he ignored them. He was stopped near the run of an aggressive dog. He looked at the dog, sat and looked at the handler as if to say "What is his problem?" No food or toy aggression exhibited in his temp test. He is described as a "Lab in an Akita suit." He is settling into his foster home, and recovering from his neutering. He is kept outdoors in a 40' x 40' run, but really wants to be a housedog. He is crate trained and housebroken..will not potty in his run but always waits until he is let out to do his business. He is learning to walk on a leash and appears to be a smart boy. In his foster home, he likes to sniff and greet the other dogs in nearby runs as he walks by. 8-24-09 update.  Romeo was described as being "clumsy" or possibly having a congential neurologic problem by his initial foster home.  Romeo was placed in a home with the understanding if his problem was actually worse than that, he would come back to rescue.  In the weeks in his home, it was discovered that he did well with their indoor and outdoor kitties..wanted to play with them, did well with a visiting dog, did not bother the resident horses.  Unfortunately he continued to have problems and upon being seen by an orthopedic doctor was diagnosed with a possible lumbar/saccral back problem.  Early treatment has been anti-inflammatory drugs as well as other natural remedies, along with leash walking and rest. He actually seemed to do worse after his exam, but there has been some improvement in the last 5-6 days. 12-2-09 An MRI has shown that Romeo has an abnormality at his C1-C2 verterbrae, either a healed injury or congenital birth defect. It compresses his spinal cord slightly, causing an odd gait front and rear, and an occasional whimper at the start of defecation.  He walks on leash, runs in the back yard.  Don't think he should be allowed to romp with larger dogs in  case of further injury, but he does enjoy being walked with another dog. Call for full info.  He has shown no aggression to the resident akitas when they stop to sniff and say hello while he is in his crate. He has been to many adopthons as one of the "ambassadogs" and is one of the finer ones we have had.  This is one of the nicest Akitas I have met in 25 years of rescue. If you would like to foster or adopt this sweet boy, please contact Jodi Marcus jodi@akitarescue.org , 703-730-0844

This pix were taken at the shelter. Check in a few days for some updated pix.