Riley
A favorite among friends
Please note: The dogs in ODH's Final Refuge care are not adoptable due to medical reasons and all are in permanent homes. Your sponsorship supports the veterinary expenses for these dogs - and we thank you!
12-year-old Riley was found as a stray and jumped into his rescuer’s arms when they arrived to help him. Shortly after he was taken to the shelter, he had a very scary medical event that looked like a seizure, but was most likely a hypoglycemia episode. Blood tests revealed this little guy was diabetic and would need immediate vet care.
If the shelter couldn’t find a rescue to commit to the extensive and costly ongoing treatment he would need to survive, Riley would be out of options. Staff contacted Old Dog Haven and we sent out an urgent plea to our network of foster homes. We were so fortunate when a foster home that already had a diabetic dog stepped up to give Riley his second chance.
Riley was able to see a veterinarian right away and was started on daily insulin injections, a strict diet, and a continuous glucose monitor to track his blood sugar levels. He will need to be carefully monitored to keep his diabetes under control and ensure his blood sugars are stable. Now that he is receiving the care that he needs, Riley is feeling so much better and is acting like a much younger dog.
There are so many things to love about darling Riley, and his mom tells us about the joy he brings to their lives:
“Riley is very alert and curious. He loves being held, carried, and cuddled, and loves running out to explore the yard with the pack. He loves toys, especially those that squeak. He chooses bones that are as big as his face and drags them out for a chew. He is an all-star car passenger and public ambassador, making friends wherever we go (he is especially popular at the credit union). He has an endearing little circle dance he does before sitting, looking at me to make sure I see him. Even my cat-lover friends love him. As he settles in, he finds his favorite spots to curl up and nap. His favorites are any sunny spots, my bed, and the furniture where he can gaze out the window. He loves curling up next to me, Ollie the cat or his two Old Dog Haven foster brothers. And every night, he waits for me to get into bed, then climbs up to sleep at my shoulder, burrowed beneath the blanket.”
Thanks to your generosity, Riley will always have a loving home and the ongoing vet care he needs to enjoy the last chapter of his life.
Riley is sponsored by:
- Shelley Cole of Bellingham, WA (02/28/2027)
- Robyn and Ken Miller of Spokane, WA (08/31/2026)
- in memory and in honor of Farrah - Shiba Inu, Gryn, Caucasian Ovcharka (08/31/2026)
- Hannah Sprengeler of Tacoma, WA (08/31/2026)
