Leo’s history started in a parking lot behind a shopping center. He was worn down, just laying there, matted and sad. The good folks at the Studio F/X Salon couldn’t go home and leave him there and didn’t want to have him taken to animal control. They called a friend who recommended they call us. Pictures were exchanged and we were there to pick him up an hour later. Poor guy was just laying in the ally soaking up attention when we got there. Once we got him up, he had no problem getting into the car. He had obviously been in one before. Leo appeared to be in pain. He didn’t like to be moved, he walked carefully and would squeal when we pulled on his collar. His fur was completely matted and dirty, one of his canine teeth was broken off half way and he had a big lump on the top of his head.
The next day we took him to Dr B. He had worms but, thank goodness, he was heartworm negative. He was matted and needed a grooming, and was very tender and bruised in spots. He may have been hit by a car. Once he was cleaned up and groomed up, he was a very good looking guy. It’s no mystery as to why we named him Leo. In a few weeks he had dental work to remove a tumor in his mouth and to extract the broken canine and a few other teeth. He is now as good as new.
Leo is different…. he has his ways about him. He is sweet and cuddly and loves to snuggle, but he also likes to talk. He has a vocabulary that is much more extensive than most dogs. It consists of whining, barking, squeaking and moaning. It’s his way of communicating. Ginger also has a large dog vocabulary, so it’s interesting to hear them carry on conversations, especially when they are playing.
Leo was slow to start eating when he first got here. I had to hand feed him the first week or two. He finally started eating off of the ground and then a plate. He will not eat out of a bowl. When we tried him on a new (shallow) bowl, he stubbornly looked at it and wouldn’t eat. He likes things just so.
Leo’s favorite spot in the house this summer has been directly on top of the air conditioner vents. He’s figured out where they are in the house and moves around from one to the next while everyone else in the house heats up.
Curiosity got the best of us and we sent off Leo’s DNA sample to find out what in the world he is. It all makes sense….He is half chow chow / Siberian husky mix and the other half a mixture of 4 others. To us, he looks like a chow chow with husky coloring.
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