When Jammy first arrived at Marin Humane, the staff noticed two things right away.
First, there was his adorable smile and bubbly personality. Even in a brand-new environment, the little dog greeted everyone with charm and curiosity, quickly winning over the hearts of the people around him. But the second thing they noticed was impossible to miss. Jammy was very, very chubby.
The tiny pup had been surrendered after his owner was no longer able to care for him. When the shelter team weighed him, the scale read 17.6 pounds — far above the healthy weight of about 10 pounds for a dog his size.
For such a small dog, that extra weight made everyday life incredibly difficult. Jammy struggled to move around comfortably and often relied on staff and volunteers to carry him from place to place. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to mind the extra attention — in fact, he absolutely loved being held by his new friends. But during his medical evaluation, veterinarians discovered another serious issue.
Jammy had 13 bladder stones, a painful condition that required immediate surgery. The veterinary team quickly stepped in, successfully removing the stones and giving Jammy the relief he desperately needed.
Despite everything he had been through, 11-year-old Jammy never lost his cheerful spirit.
“Jammy is a charming, funny little dude,” said Julia Lamont, social media and marketing specialist at Marin Humane. “He’s friendly and easy-going, and he’s been social with everyone he’s met.”
She added that Jammy also has plenty of quirky moments that make him even more lovable. One of his favorite toys at the shelter is something usually meant for cats — a cat wand toy, which he happily chases and plays with.
Throughout his medical treatments and frequent checkups, Jammy remained calm and cooperative.
“He’s gone through lots of handling in his time at our shelter because of his health issues,” Lamont explained. “And he’s been a superstar through all of it.”
After his surgery, Jammy spent some time recovering in a foster home, where he could rest and regain strength. Now he’s back at the shelter and ready for the most important step of his journey — finding a forever family.
Since beginning his health journey, Jammy has already made progress. He’s now down to 16.2 pounds and moving around more comfortably. With continued care, gentle exercise, and a healthy routine, he’s well on his way to reaching his goal weight.
Jammy is an expert snuggler who also enjoys going on little adventures during walks. He’s quite vocal at mealtimes and isn’t shy about letting everyone know when it’s time to eat. He has previously lived with other small dogs and even cats, and gets along well with them.
Described by the shelter as a polite but opinionated gentleman, Jammy has plenty of love — and personality — to share.
Now, he’s just waiting for the right person to come along and help him continue his journey toward a happy, healthy life.