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n, and link to our pet list. (If you're viewing this on Petfinder, they strip all the HTML coding out of listings so you'll have to copy/paste that link into your browser. )
To adopt, please submit this application: http://form.jotform.us/form/41555257797165
We pre-screen all adopters before arranging in-person meetings. Please scroll down below animal description for current status of our dogs (to see if this dog is still available) and adoption information.
Seeking adopters who are lovers of shy and quirky dogs! Shelly is very sweet but has a rather unusual personality. Most people don't want her. Are you that special someone who will finally show her what it's like to have a forever home? If we haven't scared you away yet, keep reading! Shelly's been with us for years. We know her very well. Please email us with any questions if you're considering her.
On the plus side, she's SOLIDLY housebroken, not destructive, doesn't need to be crated, and has the softest coat we've ever touched. She also loves walks, always sits for treats, and rides pretty well in the car. Her favorite game is to run zoomies in circles at high speed out in the yard...for about 5 minutes. LOL Then she's done and needs a drink of water.
Shelly is a sweet dog with some sort of unknown trauma in her past. Physically, she's fine and healthy. Mentally, she needs someone who's patient and kind to help bring her out of her shell. She's nervous around new dogs but her foster mom can settle her in with them fairly quickly and will show you how to do that if you adopt her. She likes to play with other dogs one on one but is uncomfortable playing in a pack environment. Honestly, we think she'd really love to be your only dog and that she's very tired of the stress of dealing with new dogs at her foster home every few weeks. She adapts here because she has no choice, but I think if she could speak she'd say maybe one canine companion who's not overwhelming or just being your only pooch would be fine.
She's nervous around new people and it takes her longer to adapt to new humans, so she's not a suitable match for someone who has a large family, lots of parties, or wants to take their dog everywhere. She's a homebody who prefers a semi-suburban to rural environment with a fenced yard and a strong bond with her adult human companions.
Once she knows and trusts you, she's a fabulous dog. Great watchdog. Whether it's a chipmunk, squirrel, or someone coming up your driveway, she'll tell you about it!
Loves to sleep on her love seat at night but is also willing to sleep in bed with you if you offer her the opportunity. She has the softest coat ever and loves to be touched. She loves to communicate with her human via a combined chorus of barks, warbles, and body languages and she absolutely loves a human who chooses to interact and learn her communication methods. She's looking for a tight bond with a dog whisperer type of human a la Victoria Stillwell. (Look her up, she's fabulous.) But she's not going to let you in right away. She's going to panic when she first meets you and try to tell her foster mom (rather loudly) that she's scared.
Shelly cannot live with cats. They're just too overstimulating for her and she's just too annoying for them. So we're also going with no small furries or feathered friends in her adoptive home.
She loves toys, especially squeak toys. Shelly is middle aged and weighs 42 lb. She's medium energy, needing a good romp around the yard once or twice a day but then settles down nicely indoors. She also enjoys long walks. She doesn't get carsick but does pace a bit nervously on short car rides. On longer rides she eventually settles down and naps.
We're seeking an adults-only home for Shelly. Due to her communicative nature, she's not suitable for condos, townhomes, or apartments. Single family homes only please. Fenced yard mandatory so she can do her yard zoomies game. She loves that.
We've had Shelly for awhile and know her very well. If you'd like to ask questions about her before submitting an application, feel free to email us. She has an unusual personality but we think she's worth the effort it takes to get to know her.
Possible breeds in her mix: Collie, Border Collie, Harrier, Hound. She has the kind of intensity and intelligence that herding breeds often exhibit. She would love to live with someone who is really into positive motivation training. She looks to her human for leadership quite often.
Shelly likes to live in a very structured reality and is actually named after Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. His mom calls him Shelly.
If you live in the Lehigh Valley PA area, a local trainer near Easton PA/Phillipsburg NJ has offered free obedience classes to Shelly's adopters.
If any links aren't clickable, please visit http://hdr.petfinder.com. Our listings are shared to multiple websites with varying policies on links.
Status of the current foster dogs at Happy Dog Rescue:
Shelly - Available, emotional special needs, shy. (no cats) Madea - INCOMING, listing to be uploaded soon Teddy & Layla - Adopted! Jada - Adopted! View Available Dogs - - - View Adoption Application
Courtesy Listed Dogs: These dogs are not in foster with us. Please follow instructions in their listing to apply for them:
Raleigh Mumford Heidi Dale
The hypoallergenic dog myth:
https://www.verywell.com/the-myth-of-hypoallergenic-dogs-82709
We are not a shelter. Our dogs are fostered in a home environment. All meetings are by appointment. If you are interested in meeting or possibly adopting this dog, please submit an application to begin the process. We respond to inquiries via email. Please watch your email for a response, usually within 12 hours.
Adoption fee: $325 + tax = $344.50. Adoption fee includes spay/neuter, microchip, 4DX test if 6 months or older, rabies vaccine, distemper combo vaccine, wormer, and flea/tick preventative in season.
PLEASE NOTE: If it says COURTESY LISTING above, then please do not submit our application. Follow the directions to the other rescue's website and apply there.
Adoption Application http://form.jotform.us/form/41555257797165
Recommended dog trainer in the Lehigh Valley area: Jill Wright with K-9's In Training, website: http://www.k-9sintraining.net/ We've used Jill's services for our own dogs and foster dogs as needed. We LOVE her training methods...and so do the dogs! Please tell Jill you saw her info on the Happy Dog Rescue site.