Tater Tot

Adopted OCTOBER 2023!

Tater Tot’s Story:

This ridiculously adorable little man was rescued from the Downey Los Angeles animal shelter in September 2023. We had been alerted to a 15-week-old terrier mix in need of medical attention for a dislocated shoulder and possible fractures, and we rushed right over to get him! Because Tater Tot’s abdomen was distended, there was concern about foreign material so our vet attempted to empty his stomach using a tube. Unfortunately, they were not able to empty the contents that way and decided to do exploratory surgery of his tummy. They found nothing of concern, but who knows what this poor puppy got into as a stray on the street!

We then took Tater Tot to see a surgical specialist, who informed us that his dislocated shoulder was an old injury and the bone had already fused outside of the socket. She advised us against surgery, as any surgery done would likely cause more issues for him, including arthritis at a young age. She assured us that he is not painful (he certainly gets around just fine) and it should not cause him any problems as long as he continues to use the leg and does some simple physical therapy exercises at home. Tater Tot will always have a unique gait and we think that makes this special boy all the more precious! He’s the sweetest little guy, with a surprisingly laid back temperament for such a young pup.

Now named Marshall, this cutie is enjoying life with his new family, including a spunky 5-year-old yorkie mix named Lily! The two dogs cuddle and play together and sometimes visit their doggy cousin, Tamale, a larger dog whom Marshall has also become very good buddies with. Marshall also enjoys taking walks and loves playing fetch with his adopters.

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