cornelius

Meet Cornelius! Cornelius is a local celebrity, style icon, tiny warlord, and one-eyed lovebug all wrapped into one perfect, mostly hairless package. How can a dog be all these things at once? We ask ourselves this every day.

When we first met this pint-sized powerhouse, he came to us completely shut down. We were not sure he was going to make it through his first few days, but boy were we wrong. Through sheer force of will, this resilient nugget went through a massive palate reconstruction and somehow managed to sneeze it off like it was nothing. He hasn’t missed a single beat since.

Cornelius is a pint-sized pirate of passion with exactly one working eye and absolutely zero sense of personal space. He’s part gremlin, part cuddlebug, and spends his evenings burrowing into blankets like a mole on a mission, staring into the middle distance with his good eye like he’s solving cosmic mysteries, and vibrating with joy anytime a snack bag crinkles within a 20-foot radius.

Cornelius may be small, but he has big opinions. He chooses his people selectively and mainly loves one person at a time. He is all personality and heart, and loves his chosen person fiercely - though he will absolutely still give them the occasional reminder that he likes things done his way. Fortunately, his reminders aren't too painful since he only has two teeth (don't tell him that).

Cornelius thrives on routine and spends his days rotating between his foster mom's lap and a dog bed. He sleeps most of the time but enjoys quiet companionship and soaking in sunshine when it's nice out. He is a potty pad expert and would like to continue using them in his forever home. He takes mealtime very seriously - he knows exactly when it is and eats with astounding focus until he's finished every bite. He will also scurry around the house looking for stray crumbs like a hardened homicide detective on a case.

Cornelius would love to be an only dog but is happy to coexist with other dogs and cats if they let him be - and let him have dibs on their human. Because of his visual impairment and history of severe neglect, he can be spicy when surprised by other dogs or by humans. With time he has become more tolerant of sharing his space with other dogs, but he will default to defense mode if surprised. Again, his defense mode has very limited impact due to his tooth situation.

The key to Cornelius's heart is time, patience, and a willingness to love him for exactly who he is - sometimes sweet, sometimes spicy, always entertaining. Earning his trust is a process, but more than worth the wait. While he may not offer the warmest welcome when you first meet him, give him a little time to adjust and you'll wonder how you ever lived without him.

Cornelius is approximately 12 years old, 6 lbs, and absolutely epic.