Pops is an 8 year-old dominant male Rottweiler who was found in Denver. He only has one eye. Pops is very affectionate towards people that he knows. He recently lost his home when his owners moved.

From one of our volunteers:

The first time I saw him, at the cacophonous old shelter by the county shops, he was tucked away in a back corner cage, looking out from behind bars with one beseeching eye and one starry eye. The starry eye has no eyeball. It's stitched shut, and the stitches create a star.

Pops is a Rottweiler of uncertain age. He was picked up running around inner city Denver. In the mysterious ways of the underground dog railroad, he landed in Clear Creek County, a mostly no-kill shelter.

Whatever you think about no-kill, Pops is probably better off here than on the streets. He gets the doggie equivalent of three hots and a cot, two bowls of dry food daily and an air-conditioned glass-doored cell.

Alas, he doesn't present well. He likes to make scary faces. Maybe because his vision is impaired, he relies heavily on scent and sound. And maybe he was beaten by a man wearing a certain aftershave, or teased by a woman in shoes with a certain tread...

But I discovered that when he decides to love you, he's rock-solid on your side, very person-oriented. As a volunteer at the shelter, I've been walking him two or three times weekly for eight months and occasionally take him out on day furloughs. He smiles when he sees me. His car manners are fine. At home, I used to put him on a long chain by the creek. You could see him blissing out on the change of scenery, watching the jays, chewing on grass. Now, if I'm outside on the deck, I let him off his chain. He patrols around the house three times and then lies down at my feet. An hour later he gets up and patrols again. An hour later, back on patrol. He's very conscientious, and it's heart-breaking when he has to jump in the car and be taken back to the shelter.

If you've ever read the children's book series about Carl, the Rottweiler, this is the dog it's talking about. You can see him sitting protectively by whatever person he adopts. If you live out in the woods and have no other male dogs to give him something to prove, he's perfect for you. He's too old and non-energetic to roam (although in town he'd probably be tempted). Out in the country he'd just stay at your side, gaze at you devotedly, and guard you from harm.

A Rottweiler puppy costs $500 in the Rocky Mountain News classified ads, up to $1200 online for 'house, leash and crate trained.' At that rate, Pops is a bargain, a $75 donation to the shelter. He's had his shots and is neutered. He's house, leash and kennel trained.

I'm already maxxed out on pets or I'd take him in a heartbeat. But there has to be someone out there -- you, or someone as bighearted as you -- who will please give Pops a home?