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ighborhood. They were able to safely catch her and quickly discovered she lived just a few houses down. But when they returned Paloma to her home, what they found was deeply troubling
Paloma had been living outside in the winter cold, with only a dilapidated metal cage on the back deck for shelter. The cage was filled with debris and covered by a thin, threadbare blanket, offering no protection from the cold. She had broken out of the cage and escaped the yard through a damaged fence panel.
When they spoke to her owner, she asked them if they had any rope to tie Paloma down. Stunned by the request, the Good Samaritans offered to keep Paloma for a few nights while the fence was being repaired. Paloma never returned to that backyard. What started as a temporary stay became much more, and the couple became her foster family.
The very next day, they took her to the vet to make sure she was okay. Paloma was not spayed and tested heartworm positive from living outside without protection. They reached out to Worthy Dog for help and committed to fostering Paloma so she could get the care she needed. Paloma has now been fully vetted and treated for heartworm and is a young, healthy, active pup.
Paloma has truly blossomed in their care. She was nervous and unsure at first, but with time and patience, her vibrant personality has emerged. She's being fostered with two other dogs and two cats, and thrives as part of the pack. Fast forward four months: Paloma recently began formal training to work on her leash skills and basic obedience. She’s come a long way and is now ready for the next chapter—finding a forever home of her own.
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FOSTER MOM Q&A
We checked in with her foster mom, McKenna, for a little Q&A on Paloma - a.k.a - Palumbo, Peanut, and Paloma Bear.
How does she do with your dogs?
Paloma is great with our dogs! One of them, Vee, warmed up to her within a day or two, now they’re best buddies. Our other dog, Carmela, is more reserved but was completely unbothered by Paloma’s presence. Both dogs readily accepted her into the pack. We also have two cats. While Paloma is a little disappointed that they won’t play with her, she’s never been aggressive, just curious.
What’s her energy level like?
Paloma is a solid medium-energy dog. She loves to play and gets excited when you come home. She just likes to be where the action is! She enjoys comfy blankets or cushions and is great at settling down inside with the other dogs. She also loves to explore the yard. While she has occasional energy bursts, her default is a moderate energy level.
How are her leash-walking skills?
She’s a curious girl who loves to sniff and take in the world on walks. Training has really helped with her pulling, and she’s now much more focused on us and not as easily distracted. She’s very comfortable on the leash and improving every week.
What’s her personality like?
At first, Paloma can be a bit shy, but she opens up quickly. Once she trusts you, she’s more extroverted than introverted and definitely confident. She’s affectionate and expressive. She loves to snuggle and wants to be part of the group. When she wants your attention, she’ll let you know!
Is she housetrained or crate trained?
Paloma is fully housetrained. We used the crate early on to give her a “safe space,” and while she would occasionally go in on her own, she preferred being out in the open with us.
How does she greet new people and visitors?
She gets excited and may want to jump up to say hello—she just loves people! We’ve been working on manners in training, helping her learn to sit and stay calm. She’s improving every day and always wants to be included in whatever’s going on.
What are her biggest joys or favorite things?
Paloma loves going for walks, playing with Vee, and snuggling. Tug-of-war is her favorite game, though she can’t quite keep up with Vee’s stamina. She’s into plush toys and soft blankets, she’ll chew on or carry around a fleece blanket like a comfort object. She thrives on positive attention; being talked to, petted, or simply included makes her so happy. She’s also wonderfully behaved at mealtime and knows to sit for treats.
How is she in the car and on outings?
Paloma rides well and loves sitting in the front seat. She’s calm, smiley, and loves watching out the window. We’ve taken her to the vet, the park, and training sessions, and she handles it all with ease. She’s even great during vet visits and calmly lets them trim her nails.
Final thoughts?
Paloma has truly been a joy. She’s a sweet, affectionate dog who just wants love, kindness, and to be part of a family. She’s come a long way and is ready for her forever home.
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Paloma is ready for the next chapter, a forever home of her own. If you are interested in fostering or want to consider foster-to-adopt, apply today!
BREED ESTIMATE: American Staffordshire Terrier Mix
GENDER: Female
APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 56 lbs
APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 3 years old
COAT TYPE: short coat
ADOPTION FEE: $425
VET INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped/treated for heartworm
LOCATION: Elgin, SC - Coming to town in May
FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to adopt.worthydog and complete the application.
You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to foster.worthydog and fill out an application.
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.