04/11/2025
Feature Friday is back! Meet Severide (aka Sev)
This week’s Feature Friday highlights Severide, or Sev for short, a lovable 6-year-old Boxer with a heart of gold and a past that shows just how far he’s come. Sev was rescued from a shelter in Manitoba, and his journey to finding a loving forever home started with a call in March 2022. Friends of Sev’s current owners reached out, telling them about a Boxer in need of a new home. At the time, Sev was half bald due to severe allergies, especially to poultry. His previous owners, aware of the issue, were feeding him food with chicken as the main ingredient, worsening his condition.
After some consideration, Sev's current owners decided to adopt him, and just days later, they made the long drive to Manitoba to bring him home. From the start, Sev was a whirlwind of energy! He was known for grabbing shoes, blankets, and anything he could get his paws on, racing through the house with his prizes. He played a little too roughly, and in his excitement, he even broke the leg of their other dog just three days after arriving. His new owners often joked that Sev was like the Tasmanian Devil from the old cartoons, spinning in circles and causing a little chaos wherever he went.
To help Sev settle down, his owners enrolled him in obedience training, and while he still had challenges with barking and lunging at strangers, they invested in professional help. The transformation was incredible. Sev now walks calmly on a leash, interacts with other dogs, and can enjoy visitors without needing to be crated.
Determined to help Sev become even more comfortable in the world, his owners decided to invest in professional training to teach him how to manage his reactivity. The results were incredible. Sev made tremendous progress, allowing them to invite friends over without locking him in his crate. He learned to walk calmly by their side in the park, passing by people, other dogs, squirrels, and even geese without pulling on the leash or barking. While Sev will never be the easiest dog, his owners have seen such a positive change in him. He’s become much less reactive and anxious, which has made him a much happier dog.
Now, when friends come over, he happily goes from one person to the next for pets. Sev's story is a beautiful reminder that with patience, training, and love, a dog can overcome their challenges and find happiness. We're so glad Sev's owners didn't give up on him, and it's clear that he's thriving in his forever home.
Sev’s story is a true testament to the power of second chances!
Norwich Veterinary Service is a small animal veterinary clinic located in Norwich Ontario! We treat your pet as we would our own.
