**UPDATE 10/16/18**

` My name is Tino, and I’m looking for my forever home! As my foster mom always says, I’m not the easiest dog in the world to have, but I am the most loving and rewarding dog your family could have. I promise to love you forever!

I have a tough past. I’m around 6.5 years old they think, with plenty of scars on my body to show how badly humans treated me in my past life. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting my own forever home to love and please! When DITR saved my life, they didn’t know much about me, but they knew I was worth saving. Boy, am I glad they did!

After coming to Buffalo from Long Island, I sat in the kennels for a while until my now-foster family took me in. I love it there! I get to play with my foster fur-sister and fur-brother. I like them most of the time, but I’d also love a home where I get alllll the attention for myself.

At my foster home, mom, dad and my bff Craig took me and my siblings to Novice Obedience Training. Guess what? I passed! It has helped me not to be reactive during walks. Other dogs can bark and bark as I walk by, and I don’t even care!

Did someone say walk…? I LOVE walks and runs. Will you take me for a hike or a jog? I promise I’ll keep up with you and protect you wherever we go. Once I get my starmark collar on, off I go! I get SO excited when I see mom pick up my leash that I jump all over and smile.

When I started at my foster home, I was pretty scared and defensive. I didn’t want anyone to touch me a lot. Now, mom and dad can cut my nails, wipe my feet when they’re dirty, and cuddle me all they want! Once I realized they didn’t want to hurt me, I trusted them. I am still learning to trust because of all the bad things that happened to me, but I am working on it. While I don’t like kitties or every dog I meet, I LOVE humans – mostly big humans, because I get so excited that I can knock down little humans.

Sometimes when I want to say hello I go underneath someone’s legs from behind, look up at them and sit there so they know I love and trust them. People think it’s funny. I used to only sleep in my own bed, but now I will jump up with mom and dad whenever I get a chance.

Mom and dad have to go to work (so dumb!) but they put me in a nice, safe kennel in a room with my other fur-siblings in their kennels. We each get a kong filled with goodies, a blankie, a radio, windows and are able to see each other. That makes it okay for me to stay in my kennel during the day while they’re at work! I like the alone time.

Sometimes I get a little crazy, and mom said she can tell when I have my whale eyes. It really only happens when I get too excited and don’t know how to handle myself. I’m just always so happy! When I get my big whale eyes, mom has me sit in “place” for a bit or puts me by myself to cool down. Then I get to hang out with everyone again! I don’t mind sitting in place because I have to do that anyways to get my food twice a day. It teaches me patience!

While I love my foster home, mom and dad said they want me to have the chance to get my perfect forever. For me, that would mean one or two humans to give me all the love and attention I deserve, ones that understand I always mean well, I just need some guidance along the way; lots of walks and activity, a fenced yard so I can run but not run away, a cozy spot to sleep, some nice bones to chew, and if I’m lucky, a nice window to look out and watch the neighbors from.

Want a playmate? Want a mush? Want a friend for life? Look no further. Valentino is all that and more!!! This 6 yr VERY Young, puppy-like, handsome boy is an amazingly sweet boy that just wants to be loved! He is housetrained, LOVES TO PLAY and loves his toys!!! He has no guarding issues and he is fine being handled, examined by the vet, etc. In fact, he loves being hand fed, if that's what you want to do!!! He knows some commands, like, sit, stay, down and come. He is very smart and you can teach him some more!!! He currently taking novice obedience training and also that he sleeps all night in his bed(no crate)!!!!! So what are you waiting for!!! If you are interested in meeting this hunk please fill out an app...

Adoption donation includes Spay/Neuter, Vaccinations, deworming & flea treatment.