Hello everyone, just wanted to introduce myself and my new Husky, Apollo!

I live near Tyler, Texas and I'm 20 years old. My dad's friend found a husky and gave him to us for us to find his owners or find him a home. After posting it everywhere and doing some research, we discovered that the owner his chip is registered to has been in jail for 2 years and we have no way of knowing who was taking care of him at the time. So after a few weeks of searching, I've decided to keep him because I've always a husky and I fell in love with him immediately.

Apollo's about 2 years old, had hookworms when we found him, was about 10 pounds underweight according to the vet, and he has Heartworms. He's an absolute sweetheart and very smart! He actually taught our other dog how to sit before we feed him.

Any tips you guys could give me or really any information at all would be a big help!
(I tried to make the pictures as small as I could because they seem huge to me!)

That second picture is great! You know he needs a good brushing and I can just picture "If you come near me with that brush ... "

Welcome to a fellow Texan! I'm a transplant but I've been here since 1978 - uh, yeh, that's before you were born! - so I think I'll stick around for a while longer. Especially after the winter they've had up north.

Apollo looks like he could be a hand full and a lot of fun besides ... just take care of those heartworms and get him on heartworm meds - those things can be bad!

It's good to see you on the forum and hope to see a lot more of you and your pictures!

Thank you! That second picture was a couple of days after we found him. I believe I had asked if he wanted to go back outside. Obviously, that was a no from him.

I'm originally from Lousiana, been here for about 12 years now and have no plans on leaving.

He's on an antibiotic right now for the heartworms and he'll start his injections the second week of April. Then it's 2 months of restricted activity so I have to find some toys or things to train him during that time.

Beautiful dog! Glad you put the effort into finding his family and glad you are giving him a home!

Now - about those heartworms. They need to be treated. And, as I understand it, it can be pricey. And - dangerous. Not treating is even more dangerous. During treatment, the dog needs to be kept quiet and inactive. Which means crate. Hopefully, doggie is crate trained or you may be in a pickle. Since he's young, he should be able to tolerate the treatment. There are a few treatment protocols, your vet should discuss the various protocols with you along with benefits and risks of each. Good luck.

Your boy seems to have a shorter, sleeker coat much like my son's dog. I find a slicker brush does best with that coat (my red guy is a wooly - he needs an undercoat rake which my shorter coated guys don't like at all and seems to go through without catching the fur on them.)

Hah. So, you already know and are treating. I am impressed!!!

Luckily, Apollo is already crate trained so that is definitely a plus! He's not totally housebroken but we think it's because he is not neutered and our other dog is also a male but is neutered. He's only howled once or twice in the couple of weeks we've had a crate for him.

He's mostly done shedding, except for his back end. I got a cheap undercoat before we found out I was going to keep and it seemed to work. But I will definitely invest in a slicker brush to get the rest because the rake isn't working for his back legs.

This is my favorite, you push a button and the fur is pushed above the brush for easy disposal.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spetacular-Dog-Self-Cleaning-Slicker-Brush-Large/44805496?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=2992&adid=22222222228032587383&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=63640693592&wl4=aud-481962823846:pla-127434246512&wl5=9005809&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=44805496&wl13=2992&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj9LkBRDnARIsAGQ-hUdssk4_yWTDErMCKpUS-8pcuY0hkopxy1n1fZWTjgoxTSGXaPUZZvEaApvGEALw_wcB

Very pretty, last pic is TOO cute

Welcome to the forum. I have family in Ben Wheeler and all around the Tyler area.

Thank you, Amy!

Jenn, I love the Tyler area. I moved here with my parents back in 2007, I was only about 9 years old. I don't plan on moving any time soon.

I just wanted to update everyone on Apollo, his owners have come forward and he is now home with his family. While I was heartbroken to see him go, I was happy to have reunited the family. My parents and boyfriend surprised me later that day with a 4-month-old female husky. I'll do another post to introduce her to everyone and get some much-needed advice!

Did you tell them about the heartworm treatment? Are they willing to continue?

Yes, I did tell them. The husband was very adamant that he did not have heartworms and was perfectly healthy, but after meeting the wife and kids I think they will at least take him to the vet for another test and get confirmation. I hope that they do, but after thinking about it, it was the right thing to do to give him back.