yukon

Name: Yukon Age: 10 months Breed: Heeler mix Gender: male Weight: 40 lbs Good with kids: yes Good with dogs: yes Good with cats: unknown Current on vaccinations: Yes Fixed: Yes Adoption also includes Certified Vet Inspection, and Prior vetting paperwork.

Foster location: New London Bio:

YUKON CORNELIUS IS BACK… AND HE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT IT. ❤️

Remember this adorable little red pup from our Rudolph/reindeer litter back in December 2025? Meet Yukon Cornelius! He was the only red pup in the litter, which made him pretty unforgettable. He also came with a healthy dose of puppy sass and a personality all his own.

Fast forward about 8 months, and Yukon is now a 10-month-old, 40-ish-pound pup who has found his way back to OPARI and is starting over in his search for his forever family.

Yukon was returned to us because of food aggression. And while we absolutely take any concerns about aggression seriously, we also believe in giving dogs the opportunity to decompress, learn, be evaluated in a new environment, and be set up for success. So naturally… where did Yukon land?

A foster home with SEVEN other dogs.

Yep. Seven. Dogs of different ages, sizes and personalities.

And guess what?

Yukon has been doing really, really well. He has butted heads with one of the dogs over bones, but he's been easily corrected and has had no issues with the other six. He's been allowed to enjoy toys, treats and bones with his furry foster siblings under supervision. Meals are fed separately—which, let's be honest, is pretty standard practice in a multi-dog foster home anyway.

He's also absolutely loving the kids in his foster home and apparently has forgotten to inform his brain that he's no longer a tiny puppy because he still firmly believes he's a lap dog.

In fact, Yukon has been surprisingly timid, nervous and even submissive at times as he's settled into his new environment.

He's snuggly with his people, gets the evening puppy zoomies before bedtime, kennels like a champ, and is doing wonderfully with his potty routine.

Basically… the Yukon we remember is still in there. He's just a little bigger, a little older, and probably experienced some things along the way.

And there is one more VERY important part of Yukon's story that we want to talk about. VETTING AND MONTHLY PREVENTION MATTER. We know some people think rescues are "too picky" when we ask about current vaccines and consistent parasite prevention for existing pets. We aren't trying to be difficult. We're trying to protect the animals.

Preventing a preventable illness is almost always better—and kinder—than treating it after the fact. Being sick can also mean pain, discomfort and stress, and yes… even a normally happy dog can be pretty cranky when he doesn't feel good. Unfortunately, Yukon came back to us not current on his vaccines or preventatives and immediately tested positive for Lyme disease. Thankfully, he isn't currently showing symptoms and is receiving treatment.

So please, for the love of your pets, keep those vaccines and monthly preventatives current. ❤️

As for Yukon? He's ready to put the past behind him. He's ready to learn. He's ready to snuggle. He's ready to zoom. He's ready to be someone's ridiculously adorable, occasionally goofy, 40-pound lap dog.

Most importantly, he's ready for his forever family. We know food guarding is something that needs to be taken seriously, and any adopter will need to be committed to continuing appropriate management and training. But we also believe dogs deserve the chance to show us who they are—not just the worst thing that has ever happened. And Yukon is showing us that he's a pretty darn good boy. ❤️ Let's find this former Christmas puppy the forever home he's been waiting for. Yukon Cornelius is ready for his next chapter. Who wants to be part of it? ❤️

Our Pack Animal Rescue, Inc. Is an all foster based 501c3 rescue. License #487823. Meet and greets are arranged after an application has been approved. An approved application does not mean you must adopt the dog of interest, if it isn't a good fit.