Cheese was found how no animal ever should be, chained up and abandoned in a home in deplorable conditions.

“I couldn’t believe that from how he acted,” says Cheese’s adopter, Keith R., in regard to Cheese’s past.

Thankfully, Cheese was rescued from the property by the NYPD and then cared for at the ASPCA Canine Annex for Recovery and Enrichment and the ASPCA Adoption Center . While in our care, Cheese was able to receive the TLC he needed before finding a loving home.

Keith, who had grown up with dogs, was ready to add a new canine to his life. So, he went to the ASPCA website to view our adoptable dogs in New York . That’s when Cheese caught his eye.

“He was a beautiful looking dog and I read his bio, so I had a good understanding that we’d be a good match,” says Keith. “I applied to set up an interview and you guys immediately reached out to me, and I got to meet him.”

Like many dogs that come from difficult backgrounds, when Cheese first met Keith, he was a bit standoffish. But after only a few minutes together, Cheese showed his true friendly and loving personality.

To make sure they were a good match, Cheese and Keith played and went on a walk together.

“I don’t know how to place it in words correctly, but I just knew I already liked how we were interacting, and we had a nice little flow between us. I just knew I wanted to take him home,” Keith remembers.

The following day, Cheese hopped into Keith’s truck and took off for his new home.

It didn’t take long for Cheese to settle into his new digs.

“Cheese settled in amazingly, I don’t think we’ve ever had any issues other than maybe a few potty incidents,” says Keith. “We got in tune with each other’s rhythm. From day one, he’s been laminated to me at all times.”

Thinking something exciting is always about to happen, Cheese follows Keith from room to room, even just to get a glass of water.

“If I’m there, he’s there,” says Keith. “When I go to bed, he goes to bed. I can see his head from the street, so he watches out the window for me to get home from work.”

Having an energetic dog like Cheese means finding ways to help him dispense that energy. It took some time, but Keith soon realized it would take about five walks a day for Cheese’s routine. However, Keith figured out that Cheese was more tired after a good run. So, the pair recently started jogging together, an activity helped to replace a couple of their daily walks and adds some fun and exercise to their routine.

Cheese absolutely loves his walks and runs—and he lets Keith know it!

“When he wags his tail, he wags his hips and then he wags his whole body,” explains Keith. “When we would go downstairs in the morning to go outside for a walk, I thought he was going to put his tail through the drywall because he gets so excited.”

In the end, the structure and routine Keith built for Cheese is mutually beneficial.

“I thought I had structure and routine built into my life but I’m starting to recognize that when you have to take responsibility and care for your dog, you really have to structure your day around making sure you have time to spend with them. And the rewards are great because now every morning I wake up excited to go for a run with Cheese to get his exercise out for the day, even though running is not something I enjoy personally.”

Once living in horrific, uncertain conditions, Cheese’s life now could not be more different.

Keith takes Cheese hiking in New Jersey and to dog parks where Cheese is famous for hoarding balls.

“He will steal all the toys and hide them in the corner and then run off and steal more. Then I have to fire them off to all the dogs that own them and get some questionable looks from some of the doggy owners. So now I just bring extra toys and share them with the other dogs,” explains Keith.

Cheese also knows how to sit, stay, give paw and roll over. And if they’re on a walk and pass a traffic light, Keith just snaps his fingers and Cheese will sit and wait for the light to change.

Not only is Cheese smart, he’s also friendly and wants to be everyone’s best friend!

“I’ve been very fortunate with Cheese; he has been nothing but loving and kind and that has only grown over our time together.”