My story

　　It was “last call” for Baxter at the shelter. Volunteers were told to come up and say their goodbyes after a cancerous tumor was found on his front leg.

　　They said “it’s aggressive.” They said “it’s inoperable.” They said “it’s a risk.”

　　But we decided to rescue Baxter anyway with hours to spare, and raise the money to give him his life saving amputation. And now, while Baxter may be without a leg, he’s been declared cancer free. Now they say “no evidence of metastasis.” They say “lymph nodes are clear. He’s gone from death’s door, to ADOPTABLE.

　　What can we say about adoptable Baxter? Well, clearly he could win any beauty pageant, down one leg and all, but he would also win Mister Personality because Baxter’s is BIG.

　　He tends to be pretty dramatic and he’s smart enough to know when to milk it. He’ll go from wrestling with his foster sister, to over-the-top sighs and wines when he notices a foster parent watching. He likes to put on a show and prefers a captive audience— in fact, he prefers to have people nearby 24/7. Your seat is actually “our seat” to Baxter. Your bathroom break is now quality time. You have some free time? No, no, it’s “WE time.”

　　We like to giggle about it but we know that Baxter’s backstory isn’t a happy one. He was abandoned and ended up in the shelter spending 23 plus hours a day locked in a kennel alone. Even once rescued, he was in a lot of pain for a long time, and having someone near was his only comfort. Hopefully one day soon, Baxter will forget the physical pain of the cancer and the emotional pain of abandonment, and he won’t be quite as clingy as he is now. Maybe one day. And isn’t it a blessing that now we can say “one day?” Those days are no longer numbered. His life is full of possibility. He now can have a family, fulfillment, and finally, a FUTURE.

　　If you have any questions or would like to adopt Baxter, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.