In a past life, Banks may have been a beloved pet. He is always cheerful, makes friends easily and gets along with both people and dogs. He’s housetrained and loves car rides. He seems like a great family pet.

By the time he came to us, though, it was clear that no one had been caring for him for a long time. Banks was sick, injured and suffering from neglect. He needed medical attention and, more than anything, he needed someone to just, simply, care.

Now that’s he’s getting help, Banks has been thriving at the farm. He loves running in the grass and taking walks around the trails (he walks well on a leash). Although he doesn’t seem to have any prior training, he’s both food-motivated and eager to please, two qualities that help when it comes time to training a dog to learn new skills.

The “velvet hippo” is a popular fellow at MLAR.

Here’s what some of our volunteers and staff had to say:

“[Banks is] very affectionate and is very kind.”

“He loved seeing Prada (a bulldog) the other day- through her outdoor kennel door he just stopped and was all wiggly and just seemed enamored of her! It was cute.”

“For his age he has a fair amount of energy and will walk as long as you want. He takes treats really nicely too!”

“He is a strong low rider but also has such a sweet gentle side. And really he only pulls [on the leash] when he wants to get to another dog and it seems to be a friendly gesture.”

Banks is a hidden gem at MLAR — a dog that many will not even consider due to his breed or his age. For anyone who wants to look a little closer, they will see a terrific dog.
Please apply at www.mlar.org