Maximus, a one-year-old poodle mix described as weighing about 9 to 10 pounds, is back on the adoption list in Sarasota, Fla., after spending four weeks in foster care recovering from an injury. Rescue volunteers and shelter staff highlighted his compact size and sunny temperament during ABC7 WWSB’s Pet of the Week segment on Friday, urging prospective adopters to consider him for a permanent home.

Volunteers said Maximus has been in a foster home for four weeks roughly 672 hours where he has been regaining strength and socializing with people and other animals. Common injuries that poodles, the foster provider listed in the adoption materials, coordinated his day-to-day care, while Raven’s Haven is working as a partner organization to place him in a forever home. “If she goes into a new home, it’s not going to take long for her to get established and to become a forever friend,” said Marsha Panucci, founder of Dante’s Den.

Rescue staff and volunteers repeatedly described Maximus as having a “super personality” and being “always happy.” Those traits, combined with his small, 9- to 10-pound frame, are being presented as advantages for a range of living situations, including condominium and apartment settings where space is limited. Lynn, CEO of Raven’s Haven, is among the shelter contacts associated with the Pet of the Week effort and noted that media exposure and coordinated foster placement often help animals reach more potential adopters.

While specific medical details about Maximus’s injury were not released, the episode underscores why temporary fostering matters for dogs leaving shelters. Research summarized by fostering pets shows that temporary fostering significantly increases shelter dogs’ likelihood of adoption. In fact, dogs that spend time in foster homes are adopted at far higher rates—over 14 times more likely than peers who remain in shelter kennels; even brief outings of a few hours can boost adoption odds by about five times. Rescue leaders say programs like Dante’s Den’s and Raven’s Haven’s foster networks are designed to give animals like Maximus both medical recovery time and a chance to show their personalities outside a shelter setting.

The story also offers a moment to recall common health issues affecting poodles and similar small breeds. Orthopedic problems such as patellar luxation (kneecap dislocation) and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (degeneration of the femoral head) are seen frequently in toy and small-breed dogs. Standard poodles can be more prone to hip dysplasia and may face risks of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) in some circumstances. Shelter and veterinary officials say awareness of breed-related issues can help prospective owners and foster caregivers better support recovery when injuries occur.

Local organizers also laid out ways community members can assist beyond adoption. Residents who cannot adopt are encouraged to support animal shelters like Dante’s Den and Raven’s Haven through volunteering with animal care, events or administrative tasks, fostering pets temporarily, donating money or needed supplies, or otherwise supporting shelter operations. Dante’s Den and Raven’s Haven both list volunteer and donation options for people who want to help animals make the transition from rescue to home.

Maximus remains listed as available through the local rescue and shelter partners. Rescue volunteers say he is ready to meet adopters and that his small stature, friendly demeanor and weeks of foster care make him well positioned for placement in a loving home. Prospective adopters are encouraged to contact Dante’s Den or Raven’s Haven for next steps and to arrange a meet-and-greet.

Media placements such as the ABC7 WWSB Pet of the Week have become a routine part of how local shelters move animals into foster care and, ultimately, into permanent homes. Rescue leaders say the combination of foster networks, media attention and community support creates the best path forward for dogs like Maximus.

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