He was found alone at a West Palm Beach fire station. Now this dog needs a loving home

Katherine Kokal, Palm Beach Post
·4 min read

A playful, young dog was rescued near a fire station in West Palm Beach in December. He had some health issues that needed a veterinarian's attention, and his rescuers desperately wanted to know his story. Now, that same pup is ready for his forever home.

Welcome to The Palm Beach Post's Pet of the Week, a series where we feature animals up for adoption in Palm Beach County in hopes of finding them a home.

This week's pet is Crixus (pronounced KRIK·suhs) He's a spirited dog whose name comes from a Gallic gladiator and warrior who died in 72 B.C. Despite the fact that his name means "the one with curly hair," Crixus has a beautifully sleek black and white coat.

Crixus, a three-year-old male dog, is The Palm Beach Post's pet of the week! He as rescued outside a fire station in West Palm Beach in December.
Crixus, a three-year-old male dog, is The Palm Beach Post's pet of the week! He as rescued outside a fire station in West Palm Beach in December.

Crixus has been in the shelter since Dec. 1.

After he was found at the fire station, Crixus was shy and unsure of those who were trying to help him. But with careful attention and love from volunteers, he's come out of his shell and started to trust people again — he captures the beautifully resilient spirit of animals when they're treated kindly by their human companions.

Here's what to know about our pet of the week, including what Animal Care and Control staffers say about his personality:

Dog for adoption: Crixus

Crixus, a 3-year-old male dog, is The Palm Beach Post's pet of the week! He was rescued outside a fire station in West Palm Beach in December.
Crixus, a 3-year-old male dog, is The Palm Beach Post's pet of the week! He was rescued outside a fire station in West Palm Beach in December.

  • Age: 3 years old

  • Weight: 49 pounds

  • Sex: Male, neutered

  • Animal ID: A2159845

About him: Initially shy and unsure, Crixus has blossomed into a happy and outgoing boy, as witnessed by Animal Control's volunteers. He is ready to bring joy and companionship into a new family's life! If you're looking for a loving and resilient companion, consider opening your heart to Crixus. His wagging tail and playful demeanor promise to bring happiness and warmth to your home.

Health information: Crixus had some health issues when he was rescued, including a red and pink nose and thinning fur on his ears. He tested negative for heartworm, received his necessary vaccines and underwent neutering. His adopters will receive a crate, a plush dog bed, a collar, a leash, a big bag of food and a prescription for three months of preventatives when they take him home.

More information: Crixus is good with dogs and has a medium energy level, according to his online profile on the animal care and control website.

How to adopt a cat or dog in Palm Beach County

You can start the adoption process in person or online.

To begin in person, visit Animal Care and Control during normal business hours at 7100 Belvedere Road near West Palm Beach to fill out an application and meet the pets there.

To begin the process online:

  1. Use the pet's animal ID number (like the one listed above) to search them on Animal Control's online database.

  2. Click on the "Ready to Adopt? Click Here" link to the right of the pet's photo.

  3. Fill out the two-page downloadable adoption application​ and email it to Animal Control at PSD-ACCSupport@pbcgov.org.

  4. Once Animal Control has reviewed your application, a team member will contact you to confirm that you have been approved to adopt. Submittal of an online application does not guarantee the pet's availability.

Adoption fees: Adoption fees for certain dogs are just $5 for the entire month of May. Adoption fees are usually $60 for adult dogs, $75 for puppies and $50 for cats and kittens. Palm Beach County residents who are 55 years and older are offered a discounted adoption fee.

Note: All animals adopted from Animal Control will be spayed if female or neutered if male. They will be up-to-date on vaccinations, protected against fleas and ticks and microchipped.

About fostering: If you are not ready for a long-term commitment, you may want to consider offering foster care to a pet. This is a great way to get the feel for becoming a pet parent, and it allows you and your new prospective pet to get to know each other. You can find more information about fostering on Animal Control's website.

Have you adopted one of our pets of the week?

So far, fourof our pets of the week have been adopted!

We'd like to track our impact throughout the year, and potentially feature adoptive families in a "where are they now?"-style story. If you've adopted a pet featured in this series, tell us about it here: https://forms.gle/nN9w7cmCQRJmVcus6

We won't use any of your information without contacting you first.

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. She has a dog, Cooper, who is 8 years old, and a kitten, Benny, who turns 1 year old on Thursday! You can reach Katherine at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work: Subscribe today!

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dog for adoption in Palm Beach County: Crixus was found at fire house