Adoption information
I've been adopted!
About Koda
Koda is a pint-sized Maltese x powerhouse with personality for days. This little tacker weighs just over 2kgs but believes himself to be a much larger and burlier dog than that, think; Rottweiler or Doberman in pocket-size.
His favourite things are soft toys with squeakers, teddies that are bigger than him for romantic rendezvous, tug of war, playing handsies in bed and snuggling down for a snooze at any given opportunity.
He is just over 2 years old though looks older and wiser than his years thanks to a skew-whiff mane of unbridled scruff. His hair is fine, with no undercoat so he will need daily brushing to keep his locks matt-free and a jumper for a good part of the year to keep him warm. Please see his medical information below for further details regarding his coat.
Koda loves walks and pottering about outside, daily exercise and play are important for his physical and mental well-being as is a balanced diet to keep him slim.
This boy has a funny little quirk/party trick in which he pretends to lift his leg and pee on you. The leg lifts and while everybody stands in horrified anticipation, he surveys the room for reactions and nothing comes out. It’s always pretend and it seems to be a sign of affection, strangely enough.
Koda is obsessed with food and would have you feeding him 24/7, between his pleading button eyes and persistent pawing he can be very persuasive so he’ll need an owner who can stay strong in the face of such adorable behaviour. Having lost half of his body weight he can’t afford to go backwards again for his health and longevity.
Koda likes other respectful dogs but his greatest love is his person’s undivided attention and so he’ll be looking for a single-dog home that will shower him with all the love and pats he can handle.
Koda has never learnt how to jump and so to keep him relatively independent he has a set of foam stairs to help him get on and off the couch and bed.
Koda needs his people around more often than not and so if you’re a homebody, work from home (not due to covid-19) or are retired this small boy could be a good fit for your lifestyle.
Due to Koda’s size he will need a child-free home and having a decent prey-drive means he won’t be able to live with cats.
If you think you fit the criteria and can give Koda the abundant life he deserves then we look forward to receiving your application. Please apply by carefully following the application instructions below.
Medical notes
When Koda came to us he was horrifically obese. Once his weight was lost, he still retained an awkward rear gait. Medically it appears nothing is awry in this area, so the vets have concluded this is most likely a neurological issue, due to having such restricted movement for the bulk of his life. However, he seems to be improving in this area over time.
Koda has lost a great deal of fur and we are not sure if he will continue to do so. Following testing, which has revealed a very healthy dog, there appears to be no medical reason for his hair loss other than stress.
We are hopeful that once he settles in to his new environment he will start to grow his hair back again, however, there are no guarantees.
Adoption details
*WARNING: If you do not follow the application instructions below, your application will be disregarded.*
Please tell us about yourself using the orange ‘enquire about this pet’ button below. We do not operate on a first-in-best-dressed basis. Instead, our aim is to find the most suitable forever home for the animals in our care.
Your application should include details about who lives at your home, both humans and animals and what their daily schedules and living arrangements are like. It should include details about your previous dogs and a thorough break down of the house rules you will have for this pet as well as what their typical day will look like.
Please tell us what your dog’s sleeping arrangements will be as well as what you plan to do with your dog if you go away on holidays.
Please provide AS MUCH detail as possible to increase your chances of a successful application.
It may take up to four weeks to process the applications. Please try to be patient. All applicants will receive a response - but it won’t be an immediate one.
If your application seems promising you will be contacted for a telephone interview. Should this be successful you will be invited to a meet and greet and asked to send photos of your property.
Should the meet and greet end favourably, you may pay the adoption fee, sign the paperwork and take the pet on a two week trial during which time you will be asked to provide regular updates.
During this trial period the pet remains the property of Onyx Rescue and adoption will only be finalised following a successful trial.
See some of our previous rescues and keep up with the status of our current rescues by joining here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/748478285317783/
AN OPEN LETTER TO APPLICANTS:
We hate to disappoint people. It’s something that really upsets us, but unfortunately it comes with the territory of what we do. So we want to take the time to explain something.
When we take on a dog, we make a commitment both to that dog and the former owners of that dog to find this fur-kid their perfect forever home. Our primary criterion in order to achieve this is whether that home is a good match for that dog. Each dog can have vastly different needs from the next and every home is different.
Sometimes well-intentioned people put their friends in touch with us, sometimes we are approached by friends or even family in relation to a particular dog. However, we have made a promise not to compromise on our commitment and we have to turn them down.
This isn’t a reflection of their dog ownership skills, nor how we feel about them personally. Our decision will always come down to whether we believe that they are a match. Not just any match - the best match.
Sometimes we are lucky to have several interested parties who would be a good match and it can be difficult to choose between them. Our ultimate decision will, however, not be influenced by our relationship with this potential adopter, be it secondary or primary, nor the number of times they have applied and missed out previously, nor whether they applied first, nor the number of times or methods used to contact us about a particular pet, but whether or not they are the BEST match available.
So if you know someone who is interested in any of the dogs at Onyx Rescue, or you are interested in one yourself, please go through the proper channels and send your application through Petrescue. Please do not take offence if you or your friends are not chosen - this only means that there was someone who was a better match. Not a better person, not a better dog owner, but a better match.
We believe there is a home for every dog and a dog for every home, so if you’ve not been chosen previously please do not give up applying - the next one may be your perfect dog.
Thank-you to everyone who supports what we do here - it means the world to us and the beautiful fur-kids seeking homes.
This pet has been adopted and found love with its new family.