ABOUT AJ Grab the tissues and fall in love. In 2025, a beautiful pregnant mama was abandoned on our property. Less than a week later, she gave birth to a litter of eight pups, so you can probably see where this is going. Adorable AJ was born safely in foster care, surrounded by love from the very beginning. As he grew, AJ faced his first big challenge. His foster noticed symptoms of parvovirus, a serious and often fatal illness. He was rushed in for emergency treatment, and thankfully, AJ pulled through like the little fighter he is. After recovering, AJ was adopted as a puppy, but his journey wasn't over yet. As he got older, his adopters began to notice ongoing food sensitivities that went beyond the occasional upset stomach. Wanting what was best for him, they made the difficult decision to return him to the shelter when they realized they couldn't meet his medical needs. Since then, AJ has undergone extensive testing and has been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD). Thankfully, IBD is easily managed with a restrictive diet, so no table scraps for this guy! While AJ lost some weight in his previous home, due to IBD, he is now on a weight gain journey and making amazing progress! Despite all he has been through in this first year of life, AJ is a resilient, loving boy. AJ is a playful, joyful pup who brings a perfect mix of energy and affection wherever he goes. He walks beautifully on leash, even without a harness, and naturally sticks close by your side, making him a wonderful companion for strolls and everyday adventures. Anytime he is spooked or unsure, all it takes is a gentle crouch or a kind word, and he'll come right over for reassurance, soaking up comfort from his person. AJ is bouncy, silly, and endlessly sweet, with a personality that's hard not to fall for. He's highly treat-motivated, which makes him eager to learn and a great candidate for continued training. While he hasn't had the chance to fully play with other dogs yet, he's shown friendly interest when passing them and has previously lived with dogs, suggesting he could do well with a canine companion! If you are interested in adopting this dog, please submit an adoption questionnaire! Our adoption process is on a first-come, best-match basis and we are not able to hold animals. If you are interested in this specific dog but it ends up not being the best fit upon meeting, our adoption counselors will work with you to help find a match! All household members, including children and other dogs, must come along for the meeting to make sure it's a good fit. If a match is made, we encourage same-day adoptions! Our adoption fees include the animals' spay/neuter, microchip, age-appropriate vaccinations and preventatives, fecal testing, heartworm testing, and a small bag of food to get you started.