BELLE - SHEPHERD / MIXED (MEDIUM COAT) DOG FOR ADOPTION

Description

Dog Breed: Shepherd / Mixed (medium coat). Meet Belle! This pup has been through so much and needs an owner who can help her work through some of her trauma. Belle was rescued in August 2024 from cruel, neglectful owners who kept her chained to the bumper of a car, exposed to the elements with no protection from predators. Unspayed and without proper care, she survived on inconsistent meals and little to no fresh water or veterinary attention. She was severely underweight, had given birth to multiple litters, and had spent her life outside with no room to move—one of her puppies was chained right next to her. A local animal advocate learned of Belle’s situation and worked to secure her release along with her puppy. But before we could bring her to safety, her owner made an unfortunate decision—unchaining her and letting her roam freely. Desperate for food, Belle was hit by a car while foraging for food, arriving at the rescue with a fractured hip, a broken tail, and a heartworm-positive diagnosis Despite everything she has been through, Belle’s spirit remains strong. She was placed in a foster home where she spent 3.5 months recovering with a loving family—a mom, dad, and two other dogs—experiencing what it meant to be safe and cared for. She is housetrained, crate-trained, and well-mannered when left alone. Past injuries don’t slow her down, and she has learned to enjoy her person's attention and rubs. Belle has a medium energy level—she loves going on walks and spins in excitement when she sees her leash, but she also enjoys lounging on the couch. She’s a nice balance of independent and affectionate, following her foster mom around while also being content to relax nearby. Her challenge has been accepting outsiders and new people. We think Belle would do best as an only dog and needs a savvy handler who is ready to manage her protective tendencies. She came to her original foster home injured and had a lot of time to slowly get familiar and integrate into her pack gradually. She can be protective of her space - crate, bed, cherished sleep spots...and this would need to be managed with other dogs in the home. **** UPDATE - Belle made the trip to the DC metro area on 2/15 and is being fostered locally with our favorite go-to trainer, Alexa. Alexa has been working to address some of Belle's guarding behaviors that emerge as she gets more comfortable in her space. She needs a more savvy handler to manage and work through her behaviors. She's not a shy or fearful dog; she's very confident in her space and needs a leader to direct her. She is not a good fit for a home with kids or likely other dogs. We are looking for a very specific home for her, and a solo owner would be ideal. BREED ESTIMATE: Shepherd Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 54 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 3 years old COAT TYPE: Medium coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped/treated for heartworm LOCATION: Warrenton, VA 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.

• Physical Attributes

  Coat Length:	Medium
  Likes to Vocalize:	Quiet

• Behavioral Characteristics

  OK with Kids:	Yes
  OK with Dogs:	Yes
  OK with Cats:	Yes
  Energy Level:	Moderate
  Activity Level:	Moderately Active
  Exercise Needs:	Moderate
  Fence Required:	Any Type
  Owner Experience Required:	Breed
  Other:	Yard Required Crate Trained Housetrained Protective/Territorial Good in a Car Likes to Play with Toys

• Personality

  Personality Characteristics

  Timid Affectionate Eager to Please Intelligent Even-Tempered

• Additional Information

  Was the Dog Found	No
  Other	Up-to-date on Vaccinations