06/13/2025
MEET CHARCOAL: CERTIFIED GOOD BOY IN TRAINING, LOVE MONSTER IN PRACTICE
(AKA: Sharky, AKA: Captain Wigglebutt, AKA: Your Next Best Friend)
Charcoal didn’t end up in the shelter because he did anything wrong. Sadly, he lost his home when his family was evicted and had to enter a homeless shelter, leaving this sweet, snuggly boy without a place to land. But despite all that, Charcoal has remained nothing but pure heart and happy tail wags.
This guy LOVES “his” people. Like, really loves them. He craves attention from us the way most of us crave coffee on a Monday morning; desperately and constantly. But he’s not super pushy about it; he’s just thrilled to be near you and will gladly follow you around the yard like your overly enthusiastic shadow with four legs and no personal boundaries.
Charcoal clearly didn’t have a lot of structure in his previous life, but he’s picking things up fast. He may not know all the commands yet, but he’s food-motivated, smart, and eager to please, so teaching him the basics (and beyond) should be a breeze. With a little time and consistency, this guy could be the goodest of good boys.
Some of his greatest hits include:
- Being completely non-destructive in his kennel—blankets and toys remain intact, which we do not take for granted
- Trot-walking politely in the yard behind his person like he’s your emotional support duckling
- Hopping onto weird obstacles with zero hesitation (hello, future agility star?)
- Taking a bath and getting a nail trim like an absolute champ, even though it was probably his first
- Navigating a chaotic vet clinic with grace (and a bit of anxiety too!), walking past unfamiliar dogs and people like a seasoned pro
- Voluntarily hopping up onto the exam table like, “Let’s do this, Doc!”
Charcoal recently met a young female dog (a bit smaller than him) and absolutely nailed it—play bows, polite bounces, and happy zooms galore. While we still want to test him with a few more doggy personalities, early signs point to “potential playgroup king.”
Because he’s still figuring out how to regulate his big feelings and big body, Charcoal would do best in a home without small children—he’s just a little too much of a clumsy cuddle cannon right now. Older kids who can handle a loving goofball with high energy and higher enthusiasm? Yes, please.
Charcoal’s Ideal Home Has:
- Lots of opportunities for exercise, enrichment, and adventure
- People who want a loyal, loving companion and are excited to help him learn
- Possibly a doggy playmate (pending intros!)
- Older kids or teens who won’t get steamrolled by his zoomies
- A couch. Preferably one with enough room for the both of you.
THE BASICS:
Breed/mix: bully type mix
Age guesstimate: 2 years old, according to his former family
Approximate weight/size: 50 lbs
Energy level: Charcoal is a high energy boy! He’ll need physical exercise and mental stimulation.
Special skills: Professional snuggler, fearless adventurer, enthusiastic learner, bath-time champion
If you’ve been looking for a sweet, smart, slightly ridiculous dog with nothing but love to give, Charcoal’s your guy.
Come meet him—just be warned, you may fall in love immediately.
https://www.petfinder.com/dog/charcoal-76775963/ct/wallingford/wallingford-animal-control-ct227/
