Tollie

Backstory for Tollie Animal Saints Rescue Society was asked to help with an owner surrender involving several Imperial Shih Tzu. Their former person was having emergency medical issues, and she was not well enough to take care of them. Our nonprofit became the safety net for the Shih Tzu. Animal Saints is here to help so the Saints do not end up in overcrowded government animal control facilities. They recently arrived to our sanctuary to get all of the medical care they need. Now that we have gotten to know their personalities and they have shown us what they need in a family, they are ready to be placed in their lifetime homes. Get to Know Tollie age: 8 (6.24.2018) breed: Shih Tzu weight: 9.5 pounds Vaccines: Rabies DHPP plus lepto Bordetella Corona/flu Other Tests and Procedures: Neutered 4DX test (passed and tested negative for heartworm, lyme, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis) Dental cleaning in June, 2026 Bloodwork June, 2026 - Mostly within normal ranges and nothing concerning. Additional procedures and treatments: • Microchipped • Flea/tick preventive treatment, heartworm prevention, and dewormer • First positive reinforcement training sessions • Several baths and grooms A good health certificate will be provided with his medical records. Requested adoption donation fee is only $800. This is to partly cover the costs of care that our 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue has incurred. On average, Animal Saints’ cost to save a life through our nonprofit exceeds $2,000 per Saint. We do our best to keep our adoption requests as reasonable as possible to encourage more people to adopt. Breed and Hair Notes Tollie has hair and not fur. He has a rare diluted black hue to his hair, which leans toward the prized “blue” Shih Tzu. PLEASE NOTE: Tollie’s hair will grow as it is not fur. He will need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Only apply if you understand the additional maintenance and cost these dear hair-not-fur souls need and are willing to commit to life for such care. Tollie is agreeable to bath time and is getting used to being in the bathtub and on the grooming table. He is patient through the entire process and appreciates treats for his job well done. Personality Tollie is the kind of gent who greets everyone he’s met here with a hello and a quick kiss on the face. Even during his adoption portrait session, he ran right up to the volunteer professional photographer to greet him with an enthusiastic hello. The photographer was a man wearing a hat whilst carrying photography equipment. This combination usually makes many Animal Saint wary upon first glance, but not Tollie. He ran right through the photography lights and equipment to greet his photographer with a hug and hello! Tollie has met every Animal Saint here with enthusiasm. He chooses his friends based upon who will let him be “top dog.” He likes to be the extroverted leader in the group. Tollie asks to get picked up in a charming and heart melting way. He enjoys getting hugged and soaks up any attention he can muster from humans. Tollie is getting familiar with a harness and leash. We are working on “sit,” recall word “here,” and “look.” We expect his new family to continue his training sessions. Basic foundational skills training sessions with a certified professional positive reinforcement trainer are required for Tollie’s adoption. Just a few classes are needed, and they are fun. It’s an excellent way to connect with your newly adopted Saint, too. You can enjoy meeting Tollie in this short film: https://vimeo.com/ Ideal Home It is ideal for Tollie to be in a home with people who are around most of the time. He will especially thrive in a home that can give him companionship day and night. Older children are case by case — only those who have experience living with dogs, understand dog behavior, and have great respect and love for them will be considered. Tollie likes laidback friends and would transition well into a home with another agreeable Animal Saint. He would love being center of someone’s world by being an only dog, provided he saw other canines daily. He thrives on connecting with humans. Plan on sharing your sofa and bedroom with Tollie. He will want to be by your side, no matter where you are and what you are doing. Also, no crates for Tollie. If they are a must for your lifestyle, then Tollie is not for you. If you have a very secure fenced-in backyard or outdoor space where he can bound about safely outside, this would be ideal but not required. Tollie will enjoy going for walks, once he is comfortable in a harness and leash. He is getting used to it, and he is enjoying his time outside. Love and Commitment At Animal Saints Rescue Society, our goal is to keep dogs out of overcapacity animal control facilities and out of a re-homing cycle. Our goal is to place the dogs we save into lifetime families. With this in mind, we seek adopters who understand that an adoption is a lifetime commitment. The families who adopt from us believe that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Some humans still believe it’s okay to try out a dog for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years — then discard when they get bored or don’t want to deal with emotional or physical needs. We are looking for the empathetic, kind, and patient humans in this world who view these Animal Saints as family. They don't believe animals are subordinates or view them as mere possessions; they are partners in life. They are committed to giving them the safety and love they need to flourish. Will that family be you? We look forward to finding out and receiving your application!