Akai Kitsune, affectionately known as Kit, is the kind of dog who makes himself at home in your heart almost immediately.
Born November 24, 2020, Kit is a neutered male Shiba Inu who found himself abandoned at a shelter through no fault of his own. Despite that experience, he remains incredibly loving, trusting, and eager to bond with the people around him.
If you are looking for an independent dog who barely notices you are there, Kit is not that dog.
Kit wants to be part of your life. He wants to sit beside you on the couch, ride along on errands, follow you from room to room, and curl up next to you at the end of the day. He is a genuine lap dog wrapped in a Shiba body.
He absolutely adores close cuddles, hugs, affection, and attention. He loves being brushed and happily soaks up one-on-one time with his people. One of his favorite things in the world is simply being near the person he loves.
Even after arriving in rescue, Kit quickly showed us his sweet nature. By only his second day, he was already settling quietly in his room and relaxing into the routine. While he does have some separation anxiety and would prefer not to be left alone for long periods, he is proving himself to be a loving, gentle companion who simply wants to belong.
Kit also loves car rides. Open the car door and he is ready to go. He hops right in, settles down, and enjoys being your co-pilot wherever the day takes you.
In other words, Kit does not need fixing. He needs someone willing to give him the love, consistency, and care he should have had all along.
Kit is an affectionate, people-focused boy who bonds quickly and wants to be close. He loves attention and seems happiest when he is beside someone who makes him feel safe.
He is cuddly, sweet, and very physically affectionate. He enjoys being hugged, brushed, loved on, and included. His ideal person will appreciate a Shiba who wants real connection and will not mind having a loyal little shadow nearby.
He has done beautifully with affection and handling so far. He loves being brushed, belly rubs, enjoys close contact, and appears to find comfort in gentle human attention.
Kit does seem to bond with female energy a little faster than male energy. It is not a major concern, just something worth noting as he continues to settle in.
Kit already knows several basic commands, including sit, stay, and paw.
He is smart and responsive.
He needs regular walks, enrichment, and a healthier diet plan. He is currently a chonky, plump boy who would benefit from steady, appropriate activity and gradual weight management.
Like many Shibas, Kit appears to have seasonal allergies that can cause snorting, sneezing, and occasional reverse-sneeze style episodes, especially outside. We have managed this with Benadryl as needed.
He also needs continued nail care. After being left at a shelter, he deserves a little TLC and a proper glow-up, but he is otherwise a wonderful, healthy boy with so much love to give.
Kit can pull on leash if he is excited, so a secure dual-clip setup is necessary and will be provided.
He is not a very strong dog, and an average adult should be able to manage his occasional pulling and he mostly walks great on a leash. However, a child, frail adult, or older person with balance concerns may not be able to safely handle him if he suddenly pulls toward something interesting.
Like all Shibas, he should always be securely leashed and carefully managed outdoors.
The shelter described Kit as dog selective. Since coming into care, he has been exposed to our female dogs (chaos) in the house and has tolerated them.
That said, shelter behavior can be affected by stress, noise, confinement, and overstimulation. Many dogs labeled “selective” in that environment simply need thoughtful introductions, decompression, and management.
Future dog introductions should be slow, structured, and supervised. He may do well with the right dog, but we will not assume he is automatically compatible with every dog.
Kit appears to have a high prey drive, so we are not certain about cats.
He has been exposed to cats here and seems very curious, but would likely chase if given the opportunity. Because curiosity and prey drive can look similar at first, we would recommend caution, management, and separation unless an adopter has the experience and setup to handle slow, safe introductions.
He should not be placed in a home with unsecured small animals.
Kit would likely do best in:
Kit needs someone who sees the whole dog: the loving cuddle bug, the abandoned shelter dog who needs reassurance, the chonky boy who needs healthier routines, and the Shiba with real prey drive and leash-management needs.
He is incredibly lovable, and the right person is going to feel lucky to have him.
Kit is not looking for perfection. He is looking for safety, routine, affection, and someone who wants a dog who truly wants to be with them.
The lucky person who adopts him will not just be getting a dog. They will be getting a loyal shadow, a cuddle buddy, a car-ride companion, and a best friend who is ready to devote himself completely to his new family.
All Shiba Saviors adoptions require active GPS tracking.
Adopters receive a complimentary FI Mini device and six months of service. A $20 activation fee applies.
