This handsome fellow is Oji. He’s relatively new to ARK and was given up when his aging owner, suffering from dementia, could no longer care for him.
Oji, whose name means “prince” in Japanese, is a Kishu, a Japanese breed that originated in the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region.
Standoffish when he first arrived at ARK, Oji appeared disinterested in life in general. That, however, soon changed when he started to respond to new experiences.
His skin had been in shockingly poor condition, but regular baths soon fixed that problem. Walks introduced him to new stimuli and gave him a new take on life. He now loves walks so much it’s hard to get him to return to the shelter.
Toys also brought him closer to people. Now, he’ll bring you a toy and ask you to play. It’s very hard to say “no.” Oji will even ask for cuddles.
Still, he’s a classic Kishu. He’s a bit of a gourmet and can be surprisingly fussy about food. And though he’s still frightened of strangers, Oji does warm with time and a lot of affection.
He may be a “prince,” but Oji is just a dog wanting to be loved.
