My name is Trip!

Meet Trip, a lovable, gentle giant with a heart as big as his frame! Trip walks beautifully on a leash, is fully potty-trained, and is happy to lounge on the floor or couch (when he can make it up there with his hefty self!). We're still figuring out his favorite treats, though he already has a soft spot for eggs. True to his sweet nature, he takes food very gently from our hands.

While he’s a bit reluctant about the kennel, with a little encouragement, he settles in nicely when we have to leave and enjoys sleeping outside of it overnight. Trip is a champion snorer, adding a little charm to the quiet nights! He loves being around people and prefers soft things (like your cozy robe, which he may just try to nibble on if you're not watching!).

Since Trip is a big boy, he might accidentally bump into little ones, so we'd recommend a home with older kids or adults. He’s currently heartworm-positive, so we’re keeping him on a relaxed routine. We haven’t introduced him to other dogs in our home yet, but he’s shown friendly manners with other pups in the past and doesn’t seem phased by cats or squirrels on walks.

Trip was diagnosed with hypothyroid, he takes an oral daily medication once a day for this. 

Trip is from North Carolina. One big thing you should know is they are heartworm positive - but please don’t let that scare you away from adopting them! After they undergo treatment for their condition they will be completely healthy again, and heartworm is not a contagious disease.

Because they need treatment, they are available exclusively through Ruff Start’s Foster to Adopt (FTA) program. Click here to learn more about this program.

They will get heartworm treatment at one of Ruff Start’s partner veterinary clinics in St. Cloud, so their foster will need to be comfortable getting them to and from the appointments. Treatment will consist of three injections: the first will be roughly 30 days after they enter rescue. Then, the second and third injections will happen 30 days after the first. When they are undergoing treatment, they should be on activity ‘restrictions’ which just means they should relax in their crate or cuddle with you. Click here to learn more about heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes.

If you are interested in getting to know this animal better, please fill out an adoption application. An adoption application is the best way to show your interest in an animal and is not a binding contract.

To learn more about Ruff Start’s adoption process and the care our foster animals receive, please visit our How to Adopt page.

If you are unable to adopt but want to help this animal and others in our care, you can donate to support the medical and veterinary needs of all Ruff Start Rescue animals.