Before joining BTRCs foster crew, Tony was a stray, found wandering the streets. We don’t know anything about his past or background, other than what was revealed in his DNA test – that he is mostly Boston Terrier, some Pug, a sprinkle of Labrador Retriever, and he is about 6 years old. What we do know for sure is that this energetic and friendly pup with the swishing paintbrush tail will make a wonderful companion and best friend.
Tony came to BTRC on Christmas Eve and stayed at a temporary foster home while his long-term fosters were making their way back from vacation. He immediately made himself at home, finding a soft blanket to snuggle in. It didn’t take him long to warm up to the resident Boston Terrier and the two were soon sharing a warm blanket (and the humans). Christmas morning was a special one for Tony as he unwrapped an abundance of his most favourite thing in the world – toys!
Tony’s adaptable nature showed again a week later when he arrived at his foster home and was not at all fazed by the change in energy, including the giant cuddles his new foster sisters (seven and ten years old) gave him. Tony quickly became a welcome addition to their “let’s play dress up” club.
Perhaps making up for not having any during his time as a stray, Tony adores his toys and can play tug, chase or fetch for hours (if his humans have the endurance!). When given a toy, Tony will often whine with pure joy and run to hide it or destuff it for the prized squeaker in record time. Sharing toys is something Tony still needs to work on as he likes to enjoy them on his own. If a canine sibling is in Tony’s future, he would prefer a dog who is calm, well-mannered, respects his boundaries and enjoys the occasional toy-free play session. Tony has never met a cat, but his prey drive indicates that his home should be feline-free.
When the weather is nice, nothing makes Tony happier than walks around the block and sniffing around every sidewalk and tree – he is adamant that he doesn’t miss any pee-mails from the neighbourhood dogs. Tony has also gone jogging with his foster dad and has the endurance to keep pace! Generally friendly when meeting dogs smaller than him, larger dogs put Tony on high alert and he will pull and bark in their direction. This has improved greatly in the last few months, and now, a few treats will quickly help distract and refocus him on his walk.
Tony has had a few weekend visits with a Boston Terrier friend and happily shares snacks, beds and human attention. He still hasn’t mastered the art of dog play and his style can be described as a little awkward. However, he recently made a Shih Tzu friend and enjoyed running around the backyard for a game of chase. They even conspired to steal a snack off the dinner table when the humans weren’t looking (Tony has been known to snoop in the green bin so his foster family makes sure to secure all food-related areas). Careful introductions to dogs will remain important nevertheless, and giving Tony space before he’s introduced to a dog will help manage his excitement. Tony has also done well as a solo pup in his foster home and doesn’t mind being the home’s one and only.
Tony is fully house-trained, but like with many dogs, he will mark in a new environment. This quickly stops once he is familiar with his surroundings. Tony has been trained to sleep in his crate but slept in the human bed while recovering from his cherry eye surgery. Since then, he has requested a permanent upgrade and has taken it upon himself to share his tiniest human sister’s bed at night. When left alone, Tony is not crated and not destructive and spends his time on the couch waiting for his humans to return home. Whether they are gone for five hours or five minutes, it makes no difference to Tony, and he welcomes them excitedly, with yelps and many kisses.
Tony is one talented dog! While in foster care he has learned how to sit, lie down, spin, come, stay, paw and high-five. His love of snacks might have something to do with his success at training. He gets so excited learning new tricks that he forgets it’s ‘trick then treat’, not ‘treat then trick’! He has also shown enthusiasm weaving through cones and running through tunnels, so agility training could be a great learning activity for him.
Participating in his family’s daily activities makes Tony very happy and he would do best in an active household given his love of being outdoors. He’s always up for new adventures, so a family that can take him along for their outings would be ideal. Car rides make Tony quite anxious but with patience, reassurance and a training plan, he has the potential to overcome this hurdle. Tony’s foster mom works from home most days, so he’s used to a family that is home often.
Tony’s young foster sisters say, “Tony has such an amazing personality and will make you laugh all the time, which is great when you are having a bad day. We hope he finds a loving family who brings him happiness because he will give it back ten times.”
Tony is microchipped, up to date on all vaccines and has received all necessary vetting. If your heart is open to welcoming a handsome and loving dog into your life, Tony is ready to leap in! If you want to experience Tony live each day to the fullest, brimming with zest, eagerness, and joy, fill out his application form HERE.
TONY • NEUTERED BOSTON TERRIER MIX • AGE 6 • 28 LBS • KIDS AND DOGS OK • FOSTERED IN THE GREATER TORONTO AREA
NOTE: From the time applications are opened through the selection and screening process, adoptions can take approximately three weeks to finalize. IF YOU FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FORM AND DO NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – CHECK YOUR SPAM/JUNK FOLDER OR REACH OUT VIA PRIVATE MESSAGE. BTRC will respond to all applicants by email, but only those who best fit each dog’s requirements in a forever home will be contacted for an interview.
Well, maybe not so bushy—but, unlike many of our fosters, he does sport a long tail. All Bostons have taken butt-wiggling to an art form, but BTRC foster Tony is a tail-wagging wonder!
You might notice something different about Tony. His eyes have healed from his cherry eye repair, and he’s looking more handsome than ever! Why does he still need the cone, you ask? Unrelated to his surgery, Tony has an eye ulcer, so he needs to protect the eye as it heals. The vet is happy with the progress, so Tony has his paws crossed that the cone will come off soon.
As you can see from his smile, Tony is a happy fella. He has two young human foster sisters whose energy levels match his—lots of play, a little downtime, and always ready for a game! Ever so patient, Tony allows them to dress him up in costumes and pose him for photoshoots. Tony also joins in their various experiments. Their ‘Where’s Waldo’ experiment was a resounding success. When they hid Tony among a bunch of BT stuffies, they were delighted when their parents had a hard time finding the real dog! In another experiment, they tied a balloon to Tony’s harness to see if he would float. Needless to say, when they saw all four paws remain on the ground, they were quite disappointed.
Tony’s foster mom tried her own experiment. She placed a treat and a toy side by side to see what Tony valued more. When she said “go,” Tony didn’t hesitate and ran straight to the…
Yes, we are leaving you hanging. What do you think Tony’s true love is—a treat or a toy?
Tony is being fostered in the Greater Toronto Area and is not yet ready for adoption.
When Tony returned home from surgery, he was baffled, and it wasn’t just the after-effects of the anesthetic. Why had that dreaded cone from the vet’s office accompanied him on the car ride home? He didn’t need it, thank you very much – especially when it gets in the way of naps to take, food to eat and toys to throw around.
Sorry, Tony, but after cherry eye surgery, it’s imperative you wear a cone at all times, so you don’t rub your eyes or break any sutures. Despite the obvious disadvantages, the cone has some positives, too: loads of sympathy, lots of pets and even extra treats. And no, there aren’t any pills hidden in that cheese.
The day after his surgery, Tony’s human foster sister was sick and stayed home from school. Tony was delighted to have her join him on the couch for some R&R. He also took it upon himself to share her bed that night as they both needed the extra snuggles. ❤
We’ll update you soon on how Tony’s eyes have healed. We see a bright future for this adorable, active and friendly boy, and we hope those new and improved eyes see it too.
Tony is being fostered in the Greater Toronto Area and is not yet ready for adoption.
Total cost for Tony’s cherry eye surgery: $1481.18.
Dear Valentine,
I was alone. I was cold. I was a stray.
Then a BTRC volunteer came to get me and brought me home…and there you were. From the moment I saw you, you took my breath away. Your fur – silvery grey, soft and beautiful with a hint of white. And when I ran towards you, you enveloped me in a warm embrace. I immediately felt safe.
I get to know you more with each day and you continue to comfort me. You welcome me each morning and snuggle with me each night. Nuzzling into you, I simply can’t get enough. Your scent is intoxicating, and your beauty is mesmerizing.
Oh, how I love you, sweet blanket of mine. I never want to be without you. Will you be my Valentine?
Love,
Tony
Tony made his social media debut at Christmas, but it’s time for a more formal introduction. Sprung from a shelter on Christmas Eve, Tony has settled into his foster home and is loving the array of toys, chewies, blankets and snuggles.
Found as a stray, we don’t know Tony’s background. While we’re not sure how long he was on his own, we do know his health was neglected. He was infested with fleas, and his skin was red and itchy. His ears were severely infected and inflamed, so much so that his ear canals were practically swollen shut. Hopefully, anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics can help, but if not, he will be a candidate for surgery. Tony is also the newest member of BTRC’s ever-expanding Cherry Eye Repair Club.
Tony enjoys the company of other dogs, walks well on a leash, and his tail never stops wagging! His foster family describes him as energetic, happy, and sweet. A mix who weighs about 26 lbs, his singing abilities make us wonder if there’s some Beagle in his family tree!
Tony is being fostered in the Greater Toronto Area and is not yet ready to be considered for adoption.
