Dogs Like Max Are What APA! Is All About

Nov 27, 2012

From Scared Sick Puppy to Friendly Goofball, Meet Max!

Every once in a while, a dog or cat comes along that reminds us exactly what Austin Pets Alive! is all about. Right now, that dog is Max.

Max is a handsome 6-month-old German Shepherd mix. He had a family all his own, but when he came down with Parvo -- a disease deadly to dogs if left untreated -- his family decided they couldn't take care of him. He was sick, scared, sad to lose his family when he was dropped off at the city shelter. Already shy and not used to be around other people and dogs, Max was a nervous wreck.

That's when Austin Pets Alive! stepped in. We could see his future as an awesome and beloved pet!

The first step was to get Max healthy again. Our awesome Medical Team cured Max of his Parvo and worked with the Behavior Team to make sure his treatment was as stress-free as possible. When he was ready, they slowly started getting him comfortable around new people. Then with a clean bill of health, Max was ready to meet some doggie friends.

Led by Dog Behavior Program Manager Mike Kaviani, the Behavior Team decided that Max was ready for playgroup so that he could make up for lost time and learn to be a normal, healthy, friendly dog.

"He loves playing with all of his doggy friends in playgroup, and now he has the confidence to happily greet new people and is ready to go out and see the world," said Kaviani.

"To me, Max is the perfect embodiment of what APA! is all about," Kaviani continued. "You hear about a big scared puppy that is on death's door due to a highly infectious disease being surrendered to an animal shelter and your heart sinks because in most places the fate of that dog is sealed. At APA!, our Medical Team unquestioningly takes that puppy in and cures him, thus saving his life and preserving his spirit so our Behavior Team can then take over and offer him a world of enriching experiences to make up for the time he has lost.

"In a matter of just a couple of weeks, you see this scared, dying puppy transform into a joyful and healthy pet who is ready to take on the world and live a long successful life as someone's cherished pet. This is what APA! is all about, and dogs like Max are a shining (and fluffy) example of the life-saving model that APA! has created."

Learn more about Max and see if he'd be a good fit for your home, email [email protected].