Seven-month-old puppy nearly ready to find forever family after losing partial mobility

A dog who has fought for his chance to find a forever family will soon be up for adoption. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk reports.

A seven-month-old puppy is hoping to find his forever home after losing partial mobility and enduring a lengthy medical journey.

Valor, a mini-poodle golden-retriever mix, has lived up to his name — showing courage and strength as he fights to get back on his feet.

The puppy was surrendered to Hobo Haven Rescue in St. Jacobs, Ont., at just two months old. He was called in by a commercial breeder after losing mobility in his hind legs.

“He had his vaccination at five weeks and within hours he lost all use of his back legs,” Hobo Haven Rescue founder and president Chris Schaefer previously told CTV News.

At the time of his intake, Schaefer said she wasn’t sure what caused Valor’s condition. However, through Valor’s veterinary visits, she learned he has Myasthenia Gravis (MG) — an autoimmune or genetic disease that can cause severe muscle weakness due to disrupted nerve-muscle communication.

“It affects the muscles primarily,” Schaefer said in an interview with CTV News Wednesday. “So his ability to swallow, his ability to walk like a normal dog, develop muscle strength, that type of thing.”

According to Schaefer, MG cannot be cured, but it can be treated and managed to ensure dogs who have it live long, fulfilling lives.

“He’s just doing really, really well,” said Donna Cote, Valor’s foster mom

Since Valor came into the rescue’s care, Schaefer said Hobo Haven has invested more than $20,000 into his medical journey so far — from vet visits to emergency hospital procedures, physiotherapy and more.

“We’re blessed to have a very strong village, but it needs more help,” she said.

The rescue is searching for more foster families and financial support to help dogs like Valor and others in need.

“We cannot take any more than we have fosters and funding for,” Schaefer said.

Despite being dealt a “ruff” hand in his short life, Schaefer said Valor has been a positive and determined pup. She expects the seven-month-old dog to be available for adoption soon, with the hope that the right family will understand his condition and help him live out the rest of his days.

“As long as someone’s committed to his feeding and medication schedule and continuing his exercises to keep strengthening those muscles, he is not as hard as he sounds,” she said.

“Valor will need a very special family,” added Cote. “And he will give a lot back to them. He’s a very loving boy.”

Those interested in adopting Valor can review his profile once it’s posted on Hobo Haven Rescue’s website.

To get involved as a foster, the rescue encourages those interested to apply online.