Nino

Description

 Backstory for Nino Animal Saints Rescue Society was asked to help with an owner surrender involving several Imperial Shih Tzu. Their former person was having emergency medical issues that were life threatening, and they were not well enough to take care of them. Our nonprofit became the safety net for these incredible Shih Tzu.  Our nonprofit is here to help so the Animal Saints do not end up in overcrowded government animal control facilities that euthanize due to lack of space. Nino recently arrived to our sanctuary to get all of the medical care he needs. Now that we have gotten to know his personality and he has shown us what he needs in a family, he is ready to be placed in his lifetime home. We look forward to finding out who this will be!  Get to Know Nino  Name: (pronounced Nee-Noh, which means little boy in Italian. He is just that! He’s one of the sweetest and littlest boys we have ever helped. age: 3 years young with a birthdate of 6/30/2023 breed: Shih Tzu weight: 8.5-9 pounds Vaccines:  Rabies  DHPP Bordetella  Corona/flu  Other Tests and Procedures:  Neutered in June, 2026 Snap 4Dx test (passed and tested negative for heart worm, lyme, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis)   Dental cleaning in June, 2026  Bloodwork June, 2026 - Slightly elevated wbc count from slight ear infection that has been treated. Everything else is within normal range and shows healthy organs.  Additional procedures and treatments:  • Microchipped • Fecal test, negative • Flea/tick preventive treatment, heart worm prevention, and dewormer  • First positive reinforcement training sessions  • Several baths and grooms   A good health certificate and certificate of veterinary inspection will be provided with his medical records. Requested adoption donation fee is only $800. This is to partly cover the costs of care that our 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue has incurred. On average, Animal Saints’ cost to save a life through our nonprofit exceeds $2,000 per Saint. We do our best to keep our adoption requests as reasonable as possible to encourage more people to adopt.   Breed and Hair Notes  Nino has hair and not fur. He is a very rare Imperial Shih Tzu with stunning and rare brindle markings.  Nino is full grown and very small, one of the smallest male Shih Tzu we have helped.  PLEASE NOTE: Nino’s hair will grow as it is not fur. He will need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Only apply if you understand the additional maintenance and cost these dear hair-not-fur souls need and are willing to commit to life for such care. Nino is great for baths and haircuts. He was frightened of the bath at first, but now he’s terrific for them. We have given him several since coming into our care, and his hair is growing out so beautifully.  Personality Nino arrived shy and hesitant. He is now one of the first to greet the volunteers and asks to get picked up. He loves hugs and likes to be carried around like a baby.  Nino’s tongue sticking out a bit is his signature look. If a photograph was needed for a dictionary’s definition of CUTE, it would have a picture of NINO for it!  Nino might be initially shy, but it’s short lived. Once he knows he’s safe around a human, he will want to become friends right away.   Because of Nino’s hesitancies and skittish behavior in his recent past, his new family needs to be mindful that he will need to be given time to learn to trust and settle in. He is eager to connect and is so loving. We can see him settling in quite easily in an ideal home. Please keep in mind that Nino is very small — smaller than a standard size Shih Tzu. Extra care needs to be taken to keep him safe when he is around other canines and out in the world.  Nino is learning how to walk on a leash, but he will need some weeks before he can safely be taken for a walk. Training with a trainer will help give him confidence and guidance. Nino is a great work assistant. He and Bueller “help” volunteers with their office work. Nino asks for a hug right away, then settles in quickly when he sees the laptop come out.  Nino is learning foundational skills training. We are working on “sit,” recall word “here,” and “look.” We expect his new family to continue training sessions with a professional and certified positive reinforcement trainer to keep him safe in his new life. These classes are a requirement for his adoption. To learn more about Nino, gaze into his soulful eyes, and take in his cuteness, you can view his short film here: https://vimeo.com/1212170248 Ideal Home Nino needs to be in a home with other canines who are laidback, welcoming, and as sweet as Nino. This is a must for him. Ideally, he would like to be adopted with his best friend Bueller who is currently available for adoption. He views Bueller as if he’s his mother, father, and siblings all in one Saint. Nino loves cuddling in the same bed with Bueller, and he will oftentimes put his chin on Bueller’s back to fall asleep. If you have a heart and home open to adopting two good friends, you’d have a pair of amazing Animal Saints in your life!  If we find a home that is ideal for both Animal Saints separately, then we think they will be okay with it. But each home will need other canines in them or canine friends they see daily.  Nino will especially thrive in a home that can give him companionship day and night. He would be okay if you have to be away for a few hours. But he will be very lonely if he had to be on his own for 8-10 hours a day. If you work away from home that long, a canine companion is a must for Nino.  Nino’s adorable teddy bear qualities make him so huggable and lovable. He is one-of-a-kind and such an extraordinarily lovable Saint!    Love and Commitment  At Animal Saints Rescue Society, our goal is to keep dogs out of overcapacity animal control facilities and out of a re-homing cycle. Our goal is to place the dogs we save into lifetime families.  With this in mind, we seek adopters who understand that an adoption is a lifetime commitment. The families who adopt from us believe that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Some humans still believe it’s okay to try out a dog for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years — then discard when they get bored or don’t want to deal with emotional or physical needs.  We are looking for the empathetic, kind, and patient humans in this world who view these Animal Saints as family. They don't believe animals are subordinates or view them as mere possessions; they are partners in life. They are committed to giving them the safety and love they need to flourish.  Will that family be you? We look forward to finding out and receiving your application!