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River
Gender: Male
Breed: Pit Mix
Age: 8
Weight: 69lbs
Kid Friendly: Yes
Potty Trained: Yes
Crate Trained: Yes
Neutered: Yes
Vaccinated: Yes
Microchipped: Yes
Heartworm: Negative
Foster Location: Aurora, IL. No out of state applicants, please.
Dog Friendly: Yes
Cat Friendly: Hard no (he’s the dog version of Alf)
This boy has eyes that seem worried. His pictures often look like he’s pleading for someone to save him. He’d be great for a pathetic rescue campaign. “Please feed me, I’m so hungry” is what his eyes say. He’s not hungry, he’s a liar.
Dude is as cool and easy as they come. Lazy as all get out. Happy, always wiggly, and wants nothing more than to relax on your bed or couch. Don’t let those sad eyes fool you, he’s just trying to get some food. River don’t play when it comes to food. You got treats? He snatches them a little more enthusiastically than you’d anticipate. Watch those fingers. It’s not even his fault, he’s got an overbite that just won’t quit. It’s hard to grab treats when you’re all top teeth. We haven’t seen video of Freddie Mercury eating, but we think it probably looks similar to that.
River is a bit of an older guy, but that is a PLUS! Old gents are freaking fabulous. He’s a go with the flow guy that can pretty much go anywhere, except places that have cats. Cats are the worst.
“Cats are made to be eaten.” ~ River
He’s a derp of a dog that would do well in almost any environment. Very few things bother this guy. Except nighttime potty breaks. We aren’t sure why, but once dusk comes, River isn’t trying to go potty outside. Something about it getting dark outside scares him. It also doesn’t help that we back up to a main road. If we can convince him to go potty when it’s dark, a very loud motorcycle whips by, literally the exact moment he’s stepping out. Every. Single. Time.
“Nope! No, thanks! I’ll hold it!” ~ River
*runs back in*
More often than not, he politely ignores your prompts for a potty break before bed. He looks at you, registers that he knows what you’re asking, and basically pretends you’re dead to him. He’s waddling upstairs before you can even laugh at what a butthead he is. He’s already sprawled out on the bed, for the night when you go up after him.
If his bladder situation gets urgent, he will alert you, by jumping off the bed and tap dancing everywhere. It’s so much fun at 3am, you’ll love it! This is the exception to the nighttime potty fear. When you gotta go, you gotta go.
Only other fear is thunderstorms. He happily goes in the crate for them or, he and Wren hide under the bed together. No barking or whining. They just like to be in a smaller, enclosed space.
Don’t let his age, pathetic face and overbite deter your interest in him. They don’t get much better than River. He’s got tons of pep in his step. Watching him run down the stairs when he’s excited, makes you close your eyes and cringe. He gives zero effs about coordination, where his limbs are, or how old he is. He takes those stairs like a boss! Well…it doesn’t actually look like he’s taking them like a boss, it looks like you’re about to watch a train wreck. But no one has died yet, and River feels like a boss. That’s all that matters. Confidence is key.
If you’re interested in meeting River, please fill out an application at animalheartline.org and his foster mom will contact you. River’s adoption fee is $150.
