Pet of the Week is Henry, a Loving Shepherd Mix

Henry is our featured pet of the week from the animal shelter. He is around 3 years old and appears to be a shepherd mix. He acts like he is house trained, which means he is miserable having to stay on a kennel at the shelter and not get out to do his business.

Henry was picked up with a female Pit companion in the parking lot of a local hotel.

When I walked by Henry's kennel, he was sitting at the front, leaning against the gate. He wanted to go for a walk. He just looked at me and didn't jump around or anything. He put his head through the slip leash and easily came out of the kennel. He walks great on a leash with no pulling or darting around. He waited to use the bathroom until he was outside. I believe this dog and his companion were someone's beloved pets but unfortunately that person did not reclaim them so now Henry is on the adoption floor waiting for that special someone to want to adopt and love him.

Henry spent a lot of our time outside relieving himself because apparently he had been holding it for a long time. He is a quiet dog. I talked him into playing a little as you will see in one of his videos in this story. I truly believe this dog is a house dog. He gets along fine with one of the highest strung dogs on the adoption floor so he should fit in to any home situation.

When we walked back into the shelter lobby there was a cat in a crate on the floor. He sniffed at the gate and when the cat hissed and slapped it's paw at him, he quickly moved his head back and moved on. He did not retaliate and that is a great sign that he could live with cats too.

He liked laying down on the rug in the shelter lobby. There were children at the counter with their mother adopting a kitten. Henry kept trying to ease over to visit with them. He tried walking and even crawling with his cutest look but the kids weren't interested in him, they were there for a cat. Henry seemed to really want some loving and affection from the children.

You can adopt Henry for just $40 and his vetting will be sponsored by Texarkana Friends of the Shelter.

If you would like to foster this dog, contact one of our local dog rescues. The rescues pay for any vetting fees. You provide a safe home, with a fenced yard and food. As a foster, your other responsibilities include getting the dog to adoption events on Saturdays.

Dogs and cats are euthanized every week in our local shelter. It is up to the community to prevent it. Spay and neuter your pets. Volunteer to help educate citizens about the need to fix their animals. Share this post on your Facebook page and Tweet about it, too.

The shelter's adoption fees range from $40 to $144, depending on the gender and size of the animal or whether they have been spayed or neutered yet. You can also have your pet microchipped for only $20 at the shelter. That way if your pet is ever lost, he or she can be returned to you quickly.

The Animal Care and Adoption Center is located at 203 Harrison St., Texarkana, Ark., 71854 and is open Monday through Friday from 11AM and 5PM and Saturdays from 11AM to 2PM.