Adopt in spirit, sponsor in action.
Tough is a nine-month-old Presa Canario and Husky mix puppy in our care. Despite his young age, he is facing significant lifelong challenges. He is blind, mostly deaf, and has additional congenital medical conditions that will require ongoing evaluation, specialized care, and a lifetime of support.
Even with everything he has faced, Tough is a resilient, happy, and incredibly sweet puppy who is learning to experience the world in his own way. He reminds us every day that he deserves the same chance at a safe, comfortable, and loving life as any other dog.
All sponsorship and medical donations support the care of animals in our program and may be used where most needed.
The MRI told us what was wrong. The weeks since have told us what it means, and the short version is better than we feared.
The pituitary is the switchboard for the body’s hormones, and Tough was born without one. Every strange, unconnected-looking thing about him turns out to be the same thing:
Most of it is treatable. Tough is already on desmopressin, which replaces the hormone that tells his kidneys to do their job, and the difference in him is visible: more energy, better days, a dog who plainly feels better than he did. He is still a sleepy boy. He is also a much better one than he was.
Looking back, we think he spent his first months quietly unwell, before anybody knew why. He is not any more.
What comes next. Hormone replacement for the rest of his life. A lot of blood work. Surgery down the road. More testing before then. We will take every bit of that, because the alternative was never knowing what was wrong with him.
Colorado State and his veterinary team here both see him as a case worth writing up. A dog nobody could explain may turn into a dog other veterinarians learn from.
Tough is stable, he is happy, and he is exactly where he should be, in a foster home with Jillian, who has learned more veterinary medicine this year than she ever planned to.
One more thing, because people have started asking, some from a long way away: Tough is not up for adoption yet. The board has agreed he stays right where he is until his care plan is fully settled. When that changes, we will say so, loudly.
Earlier update · August 2026Tough had his first appointment with the Neurology team at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital on 30 July 2026. He had been seen at CSU before for an initial evaluation and referral, but this was his first visit with the specialists focused on his neurologic concerns.
The news was encouraging. Tough is still doing well, and the specialists are pleased that his condition has remained unchanged.
The Neurology team believes his blindness, deafness, circling and other neurologic differences are most likely related to a congenital condition, something he was born with, or to an injury that happened very early in life. His vision loss appears to relate to how his brain processes what he sees rather than to a problem with his eyes alone. Ophthalmology also identified several eye abnormalities, including underdeveloped optic nerves and early cataracts.
Tough had his MRI, which cost approximately $5,000. It confirmed that Tough does not have a pituitary gland. That is the cause of his pituitary dwarfism, and it means he needs ongoing hormone treatment.
This is on top of the specialist evaluations, diagnostics, medication and monitoring he has already had, and the hormone treatment is for life. This is what your donations pay for.
The most important thing we have learned is that Tough continues to be a happy, resilient puppy who is adapting beautifully. He has been building confidence, learning to walk on a leash, and using his incredible sense of smell to explore the world around him. He has even spent time at Elevation Dog Daycare, where enrichment like lure work and scent work has helped him gain confidence and try new things.
We are grateful to everyone who has followed Tough’s journey, donated, shared his story, and supported him along the way. A special thank you goes to his foster family, and especially to Jillian, who continues to go above and beyond to give Tough the love, patience, advocacy and care he deserves.
To help him thrive, Tough needs specialized medical support and adaptive care:
No contribution is too small. Every donation helps give Tough a chance at comfort, stability, and a future filled with love. We will keep sharing updates as we learn more.
“A special thank you to the TikTok creator who posted a video of Tough and helped introduce him to thousands of people. We are so grateful for everyone who has taken the time to watch, share, and support this sweet boy.”
— the LAWS team
Watch Tough’s TikTokIf you would rather send something than give money, his wishlist covers his daily care, comfort and enrichment. Items ship directly to LAWS and are used specifically for Tough.
View his wishlistThanks to your support we got Tough to his specialist appointment at Colorado State University. It was a big day and he was very brave. The CSU team did a thorough evaluation of his chronic neurologic signs, including his vision and hearing, and re-checked his kidney function and electrolytes.
His condition was stable, but CSU emphasized that his care would need ongoing monitoring and continued diagnostics to fully understand and manage his needs.
The team’s main concern at that point was diabetes insipidus, a condition affecting how the brain regulates water balance in the body. It can cause excessive thirst and urination and make it hard for the body to stay properly hydrated. His bloodwork showed elevated sodium and chloride along with very dilute urine, which supported that concern. CSU adjusted his medical plan, starting a medication to help regulate the condition and carefully tapering him off prednisone.
