Sniffles, a unique 12-year-old dog, is trying to find the perfect family to give him a “fur-ever” loving home.
The dog has crooked teeth and is missing a nose, which causes him to snort.
“He’s just a precious old man. Everyone at the vet’s office has fallen in love with him,” said Michelle Wacker from Orange County Animal Services. “He’s a healthy dog. He just looks a little funny.”
“Ninety percent of the time, we can fix these dogs,” Wacker said. “When we see a special needs dog that we know we can help, we move to bring it in. Otherwise, it likely faces euthanasia.”
The stray dog was rescued in Florida by local animal control and is now living with a foster family waiting to be adopted.
Sniffles is not only a star at the veterinarian’s office in Chuluota, Florida, but now has also stolen the hearts of the nation.
In Sniffles’ TV debut, the Poodle and Pooch Rescue explained how he ended up on the street in Orange County, Florida.
Sniffles was once a stray in Puerto Rico, rescued by Rabito Kontento (Happy Tails), before being adopted by a family in Florida.
It also said in the update that “Sniffles escaped from his new owner several times...while his adoptive family loves him, it just isn’t the best home for this special needs little guy.”
The Poodle and Pooch Rescue will work with the Rabito Kontento to find him the best possible home for his special needs.
Sniffles is a very laid-back dog and likes to snort, according to Genesis Diaz, who’s been fostering the dog. “This morning I woke up and he was at the edge of my bed, staring at me, and he ran over and did a little twirl and started licking my face,” Diaz said.
Sniffles will need some dental work before the new year, so his toothy grin won’t be the same. The rescue organization is hoping the nose-less pup will find his fur-ever home before the new year. Half the dogs at Poodle and Pooch Rescue are older, injured, or dealing with a medical issue, like Sniffles.
He also has some other medical hurdles to overcome including parasites such as hook and whip worm infections and the tick-born disease Ehrlichia that set in from his previously unsanitary living conditions.
“We only see whipworms when dogs were kept in a filthy, outside living environment for a long period of time, usually with breeders or those who think it’s OK for a dog to live in backyard,” Sniffles’ profile reads on the rescue group’s website.
“Sniffles is going to be a-okay,” Poodle and Pooch Rescue said. “The outpouring of support has been overwhelming and heartwarming.”
Good news for Sniffles: hundreds of emails, voice messages, and social media inquiries have been pouring in since the story was first published.
Poodle and Pooch Rescue asks those making inquiries to search their website for other four-legged friends in need, including “Squeaky, Checkers, Jasmine, Noel, Savannah and Dolly (just to name a few!).”
They posted this message on their website: “Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your desire to help, your kindness and your generosity. So many others in need, please take the time to learn about them as well. Thank YOU!”
“We have saved over 4,000 dogs since 2008,” the groups Facebook page says. “Please help us save even more with a donation.” So far, the rescue organization has raised $105 through its Facebook donation drive. They also accept donations online through their website.
