Rocco is a goof with a capital G. He is likely two or three years old and as you can see has a beautiful tawny coat and bronze eyes. In 2019, this poor guy was seen living alone near train tracks. Some kind people had been offering him food and water. One day a man was able to get him into his car! He was taken to Cranston Animal Control where he received medical care, good food, and lots of love by staff and our volunteers. After a few months, stressful shelter life started to take its toll on this sensitive guy. Even with great care he developed anxiety and started to lose weight. Rocco is now in foster care and doing great. Rocco loves puppuccinos and pepperonis. He does the cutest zoomies and you can feel how much he loves you when he looks at you; his foster parents like to joke that he is the heart-eye emoji. Rocco's adorable forehead rolls also make him sweet and expressive. He is a loving boy who likes to snug on the couch with his head in your lap. Rocco is also an eager learner (check out the video of him doing a very committed “down”.) He is learning sit, down, stay, and leave it and will soon be attending Outbound Hounds' training classes so he can master more advanced skills. Generally, Rocco needs to take things a little slow. He would do great in a calm and relatively predictable home and should probably be an only pet. Rocco can be initially apprehensive around men, but with a few trusting treats, he does just fine. Rocco's adoption donation is $50. To apply to adopt: http://www.handsomedansrescue.org/adoption-application/ For Rocco-specific questions please email his foster mom, Claire, at cgerdsen@gmail.com Thank you for choosing rescue.

Meet Gulliver! He's a big fun puppy who loves everyone! Gulliver lives at East Providence shelter and gets visits from his Shelter Dog Enrichment Specialists, Kelly and Joe, who work in his training and give him fun stuff to do to keep his puppy mind busy. Gulliver is about a year old, and other than his one habit of jumping onto everyone's lap, he is basically perfect. For info, please email Julie at jpmedeiros@cityofeastprov.com

Introducing Skyy! Skyy is a 7y/o velvety girl who was surrendered due to her owner becoming homeless. She has a profound love for people and affection, which shines through in her smile. She's not only cute as can be but eager to learn, too! She knows most of her basic commands, and is continuing to learn more to make her the best girl she can be. Her undying love of string cheese and sweet kisses will definitely win over the perfect family! Skyy will need a patient person as she is a bit anxious but is trying hard to find her way. Skyy will be working with Handsome Dan's Rescue Shelter Dog Enrichment Specialist, Rianna, on her training and to help her learn to feel better. She finds the shelter setting to be very stressful, but her caregivers at East Providence shelter are doing all they can to help her feel better. Thank you to Rianna for making Skyy her dog until her forever family is found. For info on Skyy, please email Julie at jpmedeiros@cityofeastprov.com Skyy would do best at the only pet.

Benny is super sweet and good-natured to the core. He's a cuddle bug and a velcro dog because we always wants to be with his person. Benny has never lived with children or with cats, but he has spent several days at a time in homes with cats and did well - high-strung cats avoided him and he ended up cuddling with the friendlier ones. He's tolerant with children but he doesn't know his size and has knocked over little ones inadvertently. Benny is about 10-11 years old and 80-85 lbs. He's healthy other than thyroid dysfunction and is responding well to his thyroid meds. For questions about Benny please email slambertfrench@gmail.com to apply to adopt: http://www.handsomedansrescue.org/adoption-application/

2.5-3-year-old Max is exceedingly affectionate. One of the most affectionate dogs she has ever met, says one of the shelter volunteers. Max is a resident of Swansea shelter and a participant in Handsome Dan's Rescue Shelter Dog Enrichment Program where he attends weekly training classes. Max is crate trained, potty trained, and has lived with kids. He may be able to live with another dog with a slow introduction. Cats are also a possibility. Max broke his foot in the shelter play yard so he has a cast and boot but is expected to make a full recovery. To apply to adopt Max: http://www.handsomedansrescue.org/adoption-application/

In early June, this young red dog's life changed forever. He was removed from the yard where he was kept chained in the Arkansas heat. He and the others from this dogfighting case made their way to a rural private shelter. The dogs were met with open arms. Dr. Nanci got to work triaging each of the dogs. Next, evidence photos were taken of each dog. This was Nanci's first dogfighting case, and hopefully her last. I can only imagine the emotion she was feeling as she worked quickly to get each of the dogs patched up and settled in the back. Holly and I went down to Arkansas to meet and perform behavioral assessments on each of the surviving dogs. Sadly, not all were still alive by the time we arrived. Some of these dogs were very sick, some beaten up, and others just could not go on. One by one, we met and assessed the first dozen or so dogs. We found silly ones, fearful ones, some were extremely stressed or confused. A few not ready for human touch. Then, a very special one walked into the room. Holly and I are professionals. We assess dogs all the time. But this dog, this particular dog, was different. He cautiously entered the room, low to the ground he looked around and slinked toward us. Holly and I sat down, maybe two feet from one another, and he nestled himself right in between. The fresh punctures and a large abscess on the left side of his face, the surrounding scarring that covered his face, neck, and chest, told us some of his stories. We had a hard time deciding how and where to touch him so as not to cause pain to his wounds. We then sat there, in silence, and cried into him. In all the years of assessments I have done with Holly, this has never before happened. He took turns in our laps, snuggling in as tightly as he could. We comforted him, and told him never again would he suffer as he had. Over the last many weeks he started his heartworm treatment and watched many of the dogs he knew from his yard move onto rescues around the country. He was pretty sick a few times, but under the care of Dr. Nanci and the staff has been doing well. Last week, he left the shelter with Dr. Nanci, never to return. She decided to bring him to her vet office to live as he finishes out his difficult treatment. And after that.... He will come to Handsome Dan's Rescue as my foster dog. Please meet Sesame.? (#opensesame) Sesame has a long way to go before he is healthy enough to make the trip from Arkansas to us here in Rhode Island. But his shelter days are behind him, and his chain and dirt spot just a distant memory now. To apply to adopt Sesame, once he is ready: http://www.handsomedansrescue.org/adoption-application/ Questions? Email me at heather@obhounds.com

IMaisy is truly an amazing girl. Maisy had an awful life prior to her rescue. We can't give details due to an ongoing case but can say that she will be safe and loved for the rest of her life; we will make sure of it! As you will see in the photos, Maisy is very friendly and snuggly. We aren’t quite sure of her age (2-4?). She likes to learn and wants to please. She's a good running buddy and likes to play fetch. Her ideal family requirements are negotiable, she’s great with kids and seems to be good with other dogs. So far she hasn’t had cat friends but thinks a dog savvy might be ok. To apply, please go to handsomedansrescue.org.

Ruru is in our Compassion Hold program. He will live out whatever time he has left with his foster care provider, Steve. Eight month old Ruru has a severe heart condition. His cardiologist tells us it is likely he will not make it to adulthood. We took Ruru into our Compassion Hold (hospice) program from a local shelter and placed him into a home where he will be loved and spoiled for whatever time he has left. For more info on our Compassion Hold program: http://www.handsomedansrescue.org/home/programs/compassion-hold-program/

Mister was a resident of the Pawtucket Animal Shelter when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. HDR pulled him to the Compassion Hold Program and he's living out the rest of his time with his foster mother, Sara. She reports to us that Mister is quite possibly the sweetest, kindest, and the most joyful boy she's ever met. His days are spent napping, snacking, lying in the sunshine, frolicking in the grass, and hanging out with his dog and cat siblings (whom he loves dearly).