About Phoenix

My heart is broken for Phoenix. He was adopted last month. He had a girl in the home who really loved him. We thought it was his forever. Due to an unexpected life change, the adopter had to return him to the shelter. This sweet and beautiful boy has been through so much and been in SO many homes over the last year between adopters and fosters. Phoenix was surrendered to animal control over a year ago at approximately 6 months old. He had an advanced case of demodex with a serious secondary skin infection. He came to foster with me after he'd been through the most intense part of his treatment. He was a half-bald, scabby, clumsy, goofy baby. I had him for a couple months while his skin continued to heal and his fur started to grow back. I had a great time with Phoenix. He was VERY treat motivated, so training with him was pretty easy and he was still growing into himself so he was hilariously awkward. He was adopted and returned after a couple of weeks due to excessive barking across the fence at the neighbors. When I had him, he never barked when people walked by our fence, nor did he bark at things he saw out the back door. I think in this case, it was that the neighbors shared a fence and there was a lot of activity around that might have overstimulated him in a new environment. He was almost immediately adopted again and almost a year later, dropped off at a shelter in Champaign as a 'stray'. His next foster, who could only keep him temporarily had this to say: 'Phoenix has been a lovely houseguest!! House-trained, crate-trained, dog friendly and walks well on leash, this boy will make someone so happy. He loves walks and toys but will gladly snuggle and nap. He is so derpy and runs like a baby gazelle, but that just adds to his charm. He can be shy when meeting new people but warms up so quickly when treats and pets are offered. ' The next foster had this to say: 'Fostering animals is incredibly rewarding and full of surprises. When I was asked to foster Phoenix for Vermilion County Animal Regulations and Animal Shelter I was a bit concerned because he's a young guy. Long legs. Great energy. All things a slightly middle aged woman may not do well with as I am NOT a runner. Yesterday, I took Phoenix for a car ride. After we came home, he hopped out of the vehicle and wandered off after a squirrel. I quickly got back in my van, yelling for my personal dog who was very confused, and went after him. I called my daughter for help as well. After driving up and down the streets near my house, I noticed one of my neighbors trying to flag me down. He asked me who I was looking for. I replied Phoenix and described him. Neighbor- are you talking about the dog that's been sitting on your deck since you left the driveway? Yes. Phoenix had done a quick run around my backyard and then climbed on to my front deck and laid down. My dog was confused earlier why we were looking for him since he was already home. So yes. Phoenix is a very good boy.' He REALLY needs his next home to be his FOREVER.

Vermilion County
Danville, Illinois 61834