Oatie is a 2½-month-old male Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix whose life started out much tougher than any puppy deserves. The first two months of his life were spent in a hoarding situation with more than 30 other dogs. When he was rescued, he was extremely malnourished, tested positive for parvo, and was full of worms. Thankfully, one of our wonderful rescue partners stepped in and pulled Oatie and his sister, Demi, to safety. After getting the medical care and nourishment he needed, Oatie has made the trip to Iowa and is finally getting the chance to enjoy being a puppy while he waits for his forever home. Because of his rough start, Oatie is still a shy little guy. New people and busy environments can make him nervous, and loud noises or lots of movement may put him on edge at first. He just needs a little time and patience to feel safe. The good news is that he’s getting braver every day. He’s starting to approach people more on his own and is slowly discovering how nice affection can be. Other dogs are a big confidence booster for Oatie. His tiny tail starts wagging the moment he sees a canine friend, and he loves to play and wrestle with dogs close to his size. He’s also fascinated with toys—especially soft ones he can carry around and chew on. Once Oatie trusts you, he’s a total sweetheart. He’ll happily curl up in your lap and soak up gentle pets. His full personality is still emerging, but he has been nothing but kind and gentle so far, and we don’t expect that to change. As he grows more comfortable in his environment, we think his playful, slightly rambunctious puppy side will really start to shine. Oatie does well with other dogs, cats, and kids. Like most young puppies, he is not yet potty-trained or crate-trained, so his future family should be ready to help him learn the basics. This little survivor has been through a lot in his short life, but his future is bright. Oatie would thrive in a loving home willing to give him the patience, kindness, and encouragement he needs to fully come out of his shell and grow into the happy, confident dog he’s meant to be. If you’re interested in adopting, please fill out our application, and someone will be in touch with you shortly! https://animalwelfarefriends.org/adopt/application/