Meet Bode
Estimated to be around 1-1.5 years old, Bode is a gentle, affectionate soul who just wants to be close to his people - ideally touching you at all times. He came to us severely underweight, but with some TLC, he's now healthy, happy, and thriving!
Bode is up-to-date on all vaccinations, has fully recovered from a shelter upper respiratory infection, and is heartworm negative. He's sweet, snuggly, and has the softest little eyes that will melt your heart. He will be neutered later this month and will be ready to head home to a forever family shortly after.
Adoption Application
If you're looking for a loyal shadow who gives the best cuddles, Bode might just be your perfect match! Submit an adoption application to begin the process using the link below.
From 'Oyster' to 'Bode'
The big name change
Oyster has been adjusting beautifully to the good life... the kind of life he should've always had.
We've started him on Albright's Raw, adding optimal nutrition and supplements to help nourish his body from the inside out. Right now, our biggest priorities are healthy weight gain and healing his skin and coat. He's already showing signs of feeling better - and we know with time and care, he's going to shine.
Here's the thing... he's just not an "Oyster." It never truly felt like him. We tried calling him "Oscar," which we liked - but even that didn't seem to fit. But then... we said, "Bo." And "Bobo." And every time - every time - his little head tilted, his ears perked up, and his whole body said, "Yes. That's me."
Those were some of the nicknames we used for our late Bode - the dog who inspired Dog Squad. The face of our logo. And something about this moment, about this little dog, feels like it's come full circle.
So, with love and legacy in our hearts, we're honored to introduce...
SQUAD FOSTER BODE.
Originally known as Oyster
How It Started: July 25, 2025
Welcome to the Squad, Oyster. 🦪🤍🐾
When we saw his photo on the euthanasia list, we didn’t just see a starving dog with bones pressing through his skin and eyes too heavy with sadness for his young age — we saw Bode.
We saw our Bode.
The same broken, emaciated pup who wandered into Randy’s life in 2010 and never left his heart. The dog who changed everything. No words were needed — we knew we needed to rescue Oyster.
And oh, how right we were.
Oyster is gentle. Fragile. Quiet in a way that feels like he’s holding his breath, waiting to see if the world will be kind this time. He was found as a stray on July 15th and taken to Upstate Vet for emergency care. By the time he was transferred to the shelter the next day, he weighed just 22 lbs. That’s not a typo — twenty-two pounds. His body condition score? A 1 out of 5. The lowest you can go.
Today, he weighs 28 lbs. A small but mighty 6-pound gain.
We gave him a bath — his first in who knows how long. But no amount of soap could wash away the deeply set urine stains on his fur. His nails are overgrown, curling. His right paw pad is swollen and painful. He has ulcerated sores on his legs. Maybe old burns from sitting in his own waste for days on end. Maybe something worse. We’ll never know.
He’s sick now, fighting off a nasty upper respiratory infection. His age is anybody’s guess — Upstate said a year, the shelter said 8 months, VEG said maybe 3 or 4 years. That’s how bad his malnutrition is. His body is so depleted, it’s hiding the truth.
But despite it all, today he got to pick out his own toys. He rode in the shopping cart like royalty. And for just a moment, he looked like a dog who believed the worst might finally be behind him.
We believe Bode sent him to us. We feel it. Oyster is Bode’s legacy in motion — another soul who reminds us that even the most broken dogs still believe in love.
And they never stop hoping someone will believe in them.
If you can help us cover Oyster’s emergency care, his bath, and his first-ever shopping spree, we would be so grateful. Every dollar goes toward making sure Oyster never knows suffering again.