Rusty Nugget came to rescue as a cruelty case from the Houston SPCA. He was severely underweight and dealing with mange, but with care, good food, and time, he has made a strong recovery and is now healthy and ready to move forward. He can be shy at first and needs a little time to feel safe. Once he settles in, he turns into a calm, affectionate lap dog who wants to stay close to his person. He is mostly house trained but may still have accidents or mark if he is not kept on a schedule. He was recently neutered, which should help with that over time. Rusty is very food motivated and lights up when meals or treats are involved. It is the fastest way to connect with him and will make training easier. Outside of that, he is low key and prefers a cozy spot and some quiet companionship. He can be selective with other dogs, especially at first, so slow and structured introductions are important. A calm home without a lot of noise or activity will suit him best. Young kids would likely be too much for him. Rusty Nugget is not complicated, but he does need patience and consistency. Once he feels secure, he becomes a steady, loyal companion who just wants a safe place and someone to stay close to. RustyNugget is from Texas. They arrive in Minnesota on 5/16/2026 and will need to be picked up from the Ruff Start Rescue office in Princeton, MN between the hours of 9am and noon. Please plan for their arrival accordingly as we cannot accommodate pickups outside of this time frame. Since they haven't arrived yet, they are available exclusively through Ruff Start's Foster to Adopt (FTA) Program. Visit our Foster to Adopt Program page to learn more. ---- This pet is currently undergoing treatment for heartworm disease. Activity must be restricted for several weeks during recovery. RSR will cover the full cost of treatment. RSR will provide heartworm preventatives until the retest is due. The adopter will be responsible for scheduling the retest and obtaining any follow-up prescriptions through their veterinarian.