Meet Tyson!
By Danielle Rivera, Foster Mom
Tyson is a 4.5 year old Staffordshire Terrier, American Bull Dog, Presa mix (A DNA test was done). Tyson weighs 95 pounds, and is a big old teddy bear. Tyson loves to cuddle, play with other dogs, or just hang out on the couch. He is great with children & cats.
Tyson is a confident, outgoing boy who loves to play. He loves people and is happy to greet anyone with his puppy like enthusiasm. He is housebroken and crate trained. Although he has a heart disorder, you would NEVER know it upon meeting him as he has zero outward signs of a heart condition. He has no physical or activity restrictions so he is happy to play with other dogs or go for walks and adventures with his people!
Tyson has lived with another large male Pit and a female Pit Mix and he does great with them. He can often be found playing with them or snuggled up with them in a pile. His favorite toy is anything with a squeaker, but above all, he loves treats! A Kong filled with some yummy peanut butter is sure to keep him busy for a while. Tyson is also very smart, especially when treats are involved. He knows sit, down, wait, and come. He has yet to turn down any food given to him, although sweet potato chews, cheese, and broccoli seem to be his favorites. Tyson would likely be fine with children, but he does like to jump up when excited. He is also a cat friendly guy!
Tyson now has annual visits to the UGA Cardiology, every January. We graduated from every 6 months. At every visit the Doctors run an echocardiogram, to check his pressure gradient. Everything still looks fine. Tyson has started episodes of syncope, which causes him to faint for a few seconds when his gets overly stressed. This is part of his condition, and has only happened two times now. He recovers within a matter of a few seconds, and it is not harmful to him. Tyson loves going on walks, and hanging with his foster family. This poor boy seems to always get overlooked because of his size, and his condition. Tyson deserves a loving person/family of his own. He is a great boy, and just needs someone to give him a chance. Can you believe that in his 3 years in rescue no one has been interested in him??
Update May 2016 – FTTF oversees Tysons care at GVS and UGA for his heart issue. His follow up echocardiogram earlier this year revealed his heart function severely declined. Tysons heart was pumping at 4 times the normal rate and he had to undergo a 2nd Valvoplasty at UGA. This time around, UGA added 5 days of radiation to his treatment. The radiation is experimental, but UGA has had some great results with it in the past. Tysons surgery and radiation took place at the end of April. He has recovered well and is back to his incredibly silly and sweet self. He will have a follow up echocardiogram in a few months to see if the 2nd surgery with added radiation made improvements to his heart function. You would never know upon meeting him that he has a heart condition. We are going to do everything we possibly can to ensure he has a fighting chance at the longest and healthiest life possible.
Tyson had a DNA test done and these were his results!
American Staffordshire Terrier 25 percent
Perro de Presa Canario 25 percent
Bulldog 12.5 percent
Mixed Breed 12.5 percent
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Interested in making Tyson part of your family?
Visit our Adopt page to learn more about our adoption process and download our adoption application!
