Meet Chase!! Chase is a sweet young pup with a storied past. He is a little over 2 years old, an Australian Shepherd- Labrador Retriever mix, and of medium weight at 56 lbs. This boy has quite the story. He was initially rescued in Texas, and was a stray who was being fed by the Border Control Agents. He kept showing up in a local neighborhood, and lucky for him, his current fosters were able to gain his trust and he they got him into rescue. Like most stray pals, Chase was found to be Heartworm positive. He has since received treatment and has been fully cleared! He has traveled from Texas to New York to North Carolina with his fosters and has loved all of it! Here is some information from his foster: When we first took possession of Chase he had never been in a house before, not been on a leash and didn’t know how to walk on one, had never had a dog bed, didn’t know how to play with dog toys, and appeared to have never had a treat (he didn’t know what to do with a dog biscuit or jerky chew). Everything was a learning experience for Chase. But being a smart dog he was easy to train. Housebreaking was easy but walking on leash took a little more time. He had been used to running his whole life so on a leash he would cross back and forth in front of you, go between your legs, come back around and get himself and the walker all tied up. It was quite the sight. He quickly learned that a dog bed was fun to sleep in, chew toys were a great thing to chew on, and eating 2 meals a day and having snacks was a great way to live. Chase’s personality blossomed into a happy dog, but we soon found out he was also gentle and sensitive. When we first got him, he was frightened inside the house and trying to interact with him would cause him to urinate on the floor. He would instantly become afraid and think he had done something wrong. It took several days of gentle coaching for him to understand that touching him to attach a leash or interacting with him was not a bad thing. As soon as he figured out we were not going to hurt him he no longer had any wetting issues. However, he is still a little nervous at the vet’s office and will tinkle on the floor when getting a check-up or shot. Chase loves to climb up on the couch to be close to his humans and has learned to lay quietly (most of the time) while he is being petted. He has bonded with his pack and gets along well with other dogs. Our daughter has a cat and Chase has been fascinated with him. He wants to get close but senses the cat prefer he keep his distance. We can’t say enough good things about Chase. He’s a family dog who would be good with other dogs and/or kids. He loves to run and would be great with a dog his age who has a lot of energy, too. But he could also be a great “only” dog if he were with a retired couple who gave him daily exercise and let him ride along in the car with them. Chase has one other habit we have noticed since we got him. We don’t know what his background was the first year plus of his life but we think he was either ignored or abandoned. When he is quiet, he has a habit of suckling on his bed or if he is sitting with us on the couch he will suckle on our clothes. He doesn’t chew or damage what he is suckling, it just quiets him or makes him feel more content. We wonder if he was properly weaned when he was a young pup. We think he will eventually outgrow this habit, and we have noticed it has diminished since we got him, but it is still something he continues to do. Chase is a wonderful dog. He is intelligent and loves being with a family and he needs a good home. He may be a bit of a challenge in the beginning because it will be a new environment for him and he may be afraid, at first, but he adjusts well especially when he feels safe. Given the chance he will quickly become your best buddy." This boy is ready to head to New England from NC! We are excited to help him find his forever home. If you are interested in adopting this amazing boy, please visit our website, www.safewithusanimalrescue.org to fill out an application!