TIGER-- Eugene is a boxer/hound mix and brindle who’s been at Rabun Paws 4 Life since Aug. 22, 2017. He’s looking for his loving furever home after being rescued from a neglect situation where he was malnourished from inadequate food and water.
He turned 9 years old June 21 and hopes to be adopted soon and to spend his next birthday in a loving home.
He is altered, has no bite history, doesn’t bark much and weighs 65-70 pounds.
“He’s got to be one of the few dogs who has gotten better in time. And it’s because this situation [living at shelter] is better than the one he was in,” said Everett Lampros, public relations representative for Paws 4 Life.
He said Eugene is high-energy and wants to love his humans and spend time outside.
“He’s really easily excited when he’s outside,” Lampros said.
He loves his humans and can’t be left alone for long periods of time, or even eight hours a day.
Eugene loves to spend a lot of time with his humans in a structured environment where he is the only dog.
“It would be best that he’s a one-dog family,” Lampros said.
Lampros said animals his size might be difficult to place, but Eugene loves all the people and the animals at the shelter.
Eugene gets along with other dogs, but might be selective with certain breeds, usually females.
“All Eugene needs is someone to love him, a yard with a fence or to be walked daily and he’ll be happy,” Lampros said.
Lampros stressed the way animals behave and their energy level at the shelter is not necessarily the same after they get adopted.
“It’s completely different when you get home and get away from the shelter,” he said. He said that it’s important to gradually socialize the dog into the new environment.
Lampros said that an important rule for adoption is to remember, “be ready for the worst and be prepared for anything.”
“At the shelter a lot of animals sadly learn to put their guard up. They are wondering what’s going on and they see other animals coming in. They definitely notice the influx when we are full, and tensions obviously rise as animals are often double-kenneled to fit our population needs,” Lampros said about why the animals need to be adopted to loving homes.
“I think Rabun County needs to step up and realize that we are a no-kill shelter for a good reason, but how could one stay that way if people don’t adopt the “misfits’?” he said.
The adoption fee for dogs is $95.
Applications can be filled out at Rabun Paws 4 Life and potential adopters will be asked detailed questions like how long the animal will be left alone, the intended vet, what kind of food it will eat, and other important questions about lifestyle to ensure the human is a perfect match to the dog.
“As we are gradually allowing volunteers back, things are really improving with all the animals,” Lampros added. “If you would like to volunteer or get involved, socialization is a huge factor in getting these animals used to people and helping them find a home.”
Rabun Paws 4 Life is located at 261 Boen Creek Road, Tiger. Contact the office at (706) 782-5422 or email Everett Lampros at elampros@rabunpaws4life.com with questions.