Online Dog Adoption Application

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Gardenia was owner surrendered along with her babies from a not so nice situation.  Judy took them in and we are hoping to find them  very caring people who will give them the time and patience and love they deserve and to teach them that they are fine and safe.  Gardenia is light heartworm postive and is being treated with a slow kill method that has worked well.

Foster Home Update - December 17 - Gardenia has really blossomed in her time as our foster dog.  She is much happier now, and wags her tail in greeting to my daughter, myself, and even some of the volunteers at PRBJ.  She trots around behind my daughter in the house, and chases her around in the back yard.  She’s still mostly mellow and sedentary, but she’s beginning to have moments of joy that show in the way she holds her tail up like a flag and prances around.  It’s wonderful to see her happy!  Now that she’s found out she can trust humans, she eats treats both at our house, and when she’s at the adoption center meeting new friends.  Last weekend when I went to pick her up from the adoption center, she was curled up on one of the volunteers, getting ready for a snooze.  She seems to have realized that when someone approaches slowly and friendly, she can relax and let herself enjoy being petted.  Crowds of people bustling around still make her nervous.  She doesn’t do well when I try to take her to the school when the children are being released for the day.  At home and at the adoption center, though, where she can retreat to the safety of her bed to watch everyone, she does much better.

She’s walking on a leash much more happily, keeping right up with me.  She may be a candidate for longer walks in the future, but for now, we are still keeping it short (under a mile, once or twice a day).  She is still shy, but does let herself be petted when we meet people walking.  In the back yard, she really gets out some energy, racing back and forth and then skidding to a stop in front of my daughter.  She’s been so well house broken that she doesn’t even like to go potty when anyone is looking.  She will run right out and do her business in a corner of the yard, but almost never when she’s walking on a leash.  This would be great if you don’t like to pick up after your dog, but difficult if you don’t have a back yard.

Gardenia barks when she has to go out and do her business, but otherwise, she doesn’t make noise at all.  We’ve had people knocking, visitors, even workmen in and out of our house, and Gardenia isn’t interested in barking at anyone.  She also does great on car rides, sitting in my daughter’s lap or on the floor at her feet.  She was a little nervous getting in the car, but she’s getting over that.

With a lot of love to give, Gardenia would be great with empty nesters, or a single person.  She’s great with my daughter, too, and very low maintenance.  Based on the way she interacts with my daughter, I’d say she’d make a great first dog for an older child.  She’s mostly low energy, though.  She’d rather cuddle on your lap than chase a Frisbee.  She’s really happy just hanging around wherever you are, sitting with you or laying at your feet.

Foster Update 11/16/14:
Gardenia is a little 30 lb. fluff ball. At first glance, she looks like a half grown puppy. She has a thick reddish fur around her neck and shoulders with black markings around her eyes and nose like a teddy bear. The fur on her paws makes them look cylindrical all the way down, also like a perfect, fuzzy teddy bear. She's got little, triangular, black floppy ears that stick out of tufts of beautiful auburn fur. All the red on her coat kind of reminds me of a fox. Especially since she is on the small side. Her tail is big and fluffy like a fox, and slightly darker than her back legs. She has a fantastic undercoat, also with different colors. When you see her, you just want to sink your fingers into her coat. She is a really unique looking dog. Her name is perfect for her personality, because she is a sweet, delicate flower of a girl. She is very gentle and passive. A bit shy, she has a hard time trusting people. If you have ever been hurt by someone you love, then you can understand where she is coming from. She will let you hold her, and she will let you pet her, but it will be a while before she willl let herself lean in to you. She likes to take the relationship at her own pace. At first, she stayed in her crate and a bed we set up in the living room. In a few days, she would follow me around, but run back to her safe spot if I tried to approach her. Now she will come when I call her, but she is still afraid of loud, quick movements and strangers. She is getting there, learning to trust again, and believe me, there are not many joys like knowing you have earned the trust and love of a skittish dog. She will be a lifelong friend if you give her a little time, a lot of love, and plenty of snuggles. Gardenia is very mellow. She is perfectly content to keep your lap warm while you watch TV, and while she does like sniffing around the yard, she is not crazy about long walks. She walks fine on a leash, but she needs a little encouragement to keep up, and after about a mile, she is done. Shea is perfectly housetrained, no accidents at all. She does not beg for food, get in the trash, or chew on anything. She is very well behaved. And even though she is shy and afraid, she does not snap or growl. She lets the kids love on her and pet her all over, and she is never aggressive, but she is not playful with them either. She is very easy to care for, tolerates baths well, and brushing her coat, eats dry food in her crate. The only time consuming need she has is love. You really have to be proactive in loving her. Pull her onto your lap, hug her and talk to her whenever you are with her. If you are looking for a sweet girl to snuggle, and you understand about heartache and learning to trust again, then you might be perfect for Gardenia. Come and meet this gentle girl and bring some love into your life.


***According to dogbreedinfo.com, in April 1899, Capt. Max von Stephanitz registered a dog named Horan as the first Deutsche Schäferhunde, which means German Shepherd Dog in English. Known for their tremendous loyalty and courage, they are calmly confident, but not hostile. This breed needs his people and should not be left isolated for long periods of time. They only bark when it is necessary. Serious and almost human in his intelligence, they have a high learning ability. The breed is so intelligent and learns so readily that it has been used as a sheepdog, guard dog, in police work, as a guide for the blind, in search and rescue service, and in the military. The German Shepherd also excels in many other dog activities including schutzhund, tracking, obedience, agility, flyball, and ring sport. His fine nose can sniff out drugs and intruders, and can alert handlers to the presence of underground mines in time to avoid detonation, or gas leaks in a pipes buried 15 feet underground. A quick daily brushing is best unless hair in the house is not a problem. They should be bathed rarely, only once or twice a year to avoid skin oil depletion. Shepherds have a life expectancy around 13 years.

Good with Dogs, Good with Kids

Gardenia's baby girl, Agathe (adopted) can also be seen on our website.

Gardenia's baby boy, Art Linkletter (adopted) can also be seen on our website.

Gardenia's baby girl, Catherine (adopted) can also be seen on our website.

Gardenia's baby girl, Lauren (adopted) can also be seen on our website.

Gardenia's baby girl, Lilac (adopted) can also be seen on our website.

Gardenia's baby boy, Link (adopted) can also be seen on our website.