An underweight dog rescued in Dorchester receives care and looks for a foster home

An underweight stray dog was recently found and rescued in Dorchester.

The Cane Corso mix, now named Balboa, was rescued by Boston Animal Control April 22 and brought to the MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center. Balboa is estimated to be around 3 years old, MSPCA-Angell Vice President of Animal Protection Mike Keiley told Boston.com.

At the emergency room, Balboa weighed just under 50 pounds, according to Keiley. 

Dr. Emily Hussey, who performed Balboa’s initial physical exam, said in a statement that he was so underweight “his ribs and hip bones were clearly visible.”  

Balboa’s condition was critical, as MSPCA-Angell officials reported his initial body temperature was dangerously low at 94.4 degrees Fahrenheit. A normal body temperature is between 101 and 10.5 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Angell Animal Medical Center veterinarians. 

“As an animal breaks down their body to just survive, we find that they become more and more compromised and unstable,” Keiley said. “But luckily, we were able to get him right back on track, get his body temperature up, get him feeling more comfortable, and start to introduce food slowly and methodically.” 

Currently staying in the Boston Adoption Center, Balboa has been slowly but consistently gaining weight. He had put on about five pounds between the day of his rescue and a recording made on Friday, according to Keiley.

Staff are carefully reintroducing food to prevent refeeding syndrome, Keiley noted. 

As his health has improved, Balboa’s personality is starting to emerge. Keiley said the canine has been described as “soft and affiliative.”

“Whenever he sees somebody, his whole nubby tail starts wagging, and his back end starts wagging,” Keiley explained. 

He added that Balboa is highly food-motivated, to the point that he will try to “jam his whole head” into a treat pouch during training.

His caretakers are also providing enrichment sessions for mental stimulation, Keiley said. 

Balboa is currently looking for a foster home and is expected to be available for adoption in two to four weeks, once he reaches a healthier weight.

“We’re hopeful that we can find a Boston home for him,” Keiley said. “We’d like to get him to a place where he is able to be in a home environment and put on some weight in a more relaxed setting than a stressful shelter.” 

MSPCA-Angell Law Enforcement is working with Boston Animal Control to learn more about Balboa’s past, according to the organization’s statement. 

In a Facebook post on Friday, MSPCA-Angell urged the public to contact their enforcement team to provide any relevant information. As of Monday, however, no tips have led to anything significant, according to Keiley. 

“We recognize that times are especially challenging right now, and it’s possible his former owner was struggling to care for him,” the statement reads. “We want anyone facing a difficult time to know that we’re here to help connect them with resources.”