Pedro’s story.

12 October 2024: When you read his incredible journey keeping in your mind that this amazing lad is available for adoption!

Our foster dog Pedro has been here two weeks now, time enough for us to begin to assess him and fall in love as perhaps you will when you meet him

He’s a setter, a very dinky setter, a perfect miniature setterino as his fellow Italians call them with a soft apricot coat and long brown ears.

Pedro has tested negative for all the usual Mediterranean diseases and is regularly medicated for worms and fleas.

Despite his small size he has all the qualities of a setter a clown at times, he is very affectionate loves his humans other setters and especially the cats whom he has become very friendly.

He grasped the basics of house training within 24 hours and there have only been a couple of ‘accidents’ since. Training is going well he has learned “sit” for the reward of a treat, he eats anything offered and has gradually gained some weight so his ribs are no longer distressingly visible he is fond of chicken feet, dried sweet potato and anything he can steal from his human’s plates while they are not looking – well counter surfing is another well known setter trait isn’t it? Fortunately he is not tall enough to succeed often 😂 He likes to sleep between us in our bed as a special treat but is equally happy in the crate in the breakfast room (door open of course) and is not an early riser so no crack of dawn visits to a cold kitchen to open the back door. He is getting better on a lead tends to hang back a bit but it’s a new concept for pathetically skinny a little waif found begging outside a pizzeria in Calabria and that’s easier to correct with training than those who try to drag you round at 20mph isn’t it. Pedro is very sweet natured and very timid. He hangs back or hides when strangers are around but once he decides to trust you he is loyal and loving. Loud noises frighten him, so far things like the Hoover are regarded with great suspicion as are those using them but given time he accepts them. I imagine he was perhaps gun-shy and thus abandoned by a hunter? We are working on recall, he was better at that when he first arrived as he was too scared of letting us out of his sight but now he’s gaining confidence the usual selective deafness is beginning to emerge but he is not highly prey driven, he is interested in birds and even looks fascinated by sounds from the TV but shows no interest in our chickens which is good as so many people have a few in the garden these days. Pedro is never happier than when he is running, like all setters he can run and run and as these photos show he smiles as he does so which is very endearing to see. He has happily adapted to the pack here being subservient to our three washing them when they get wet and not challenging them for food. Only in the last few days has he discovered that toys are fun especially squeaky ones we think “playing” is a new concept for him and it’s rewarding to watch him learning to be the puppy he perhaps never had the chance to be when he was younger. His passport says he’s three but that’s a vets best guess and his behaviour would lead us to think maybe only two.

Pedro is up for adoption. He can be visited in the East Midlands and nothing would please us more than to see him settled permanently in his own family and we feel he could fit into almost any household, he’s been timid with children and showed no sign of aggression in any situation often hiding initially but happy with other dogs and very happy with friendly cats, a perfect addition to your family. If you are interested in finding out about adoption please contact Chiara Carella who can supply you with all the details.

How Pedro was found and rescued

Pedro was seen hanging around outside a pizzeria in Calabria where he frequented looking for food. Fortunately, word of this lovely but very emaciated boy reached our ears but although volunteers went to the location and made contact it was not possible to catch him. Although we went back the following evening he did not show which made us fear for the worst in the searing 40 degree summer heat. Fortunately, after three days of going back he finally appeared and SOS Italian Setter volunteers were able to catch him and bring into care.

Due to his emaciated condition he was taken to vets for assessment. We are really excited to report that blood test results have shown he is negative to both leishmaniasis and Brucella Canis. He is currently being treated for ticks but that is only to be expected.

Everyone who has come into contact with says that he is the most gentle tail wagging lad! After all the brutality and cruelty these beautiful loving dogs are so forgiving.

Has Pedro’s story inspired you? Are you interested in providing the warmth and safety of a real loving foster home for him? If so please download our Adoption/Foster Application Questionnaire (pdf or Word) and return to chiara@sositaliansetters.org.uk

Please help Pedro by donating? Donate here GoFundMe. Remember if donating via GoFundMe move the % slider to the left (zero) so all your money comes to SOS Italian Setters. If you prefer PayPal you can donate using the following email sositaliansetters@gmail.com stating your donation is for Pedro.

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