Category: Featured Dog Friday

One of the largest challenges facing animal welfare organizations continues to be the vast number of animals in need of assistance. Although animals enter shelters for a variety of reasons, the majority of shelter populations are strays or owner surrenders. 

Today’s story is one that is so familiar, yet still so heartbreaking. One of the worst things that can ever happen is to lose your family, and every year thousands of dogs are abandoned by their owners and find themselves sad and confused in a kennel; they wonder what they ever did to deserve being locked up behind bars.

Imagine you’re driving your car when you see a dog running around on the road; as an animal lover, your heart sinks when you realize they are alone and you think what if it was your dog out there?

Meet adorable and sweet Tati. Tati was picked up as a stray by a Good Samaritan in July of 2022 and brought to the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter in hopes of finding her family. Sadly, no one ever called or came in looking for her. Now she sits alone and heartbroken behind shelter walls wondering where her family is and why they never came to take her home. 

Tati is a 2-3 year young gentle soul who arrived at the shelter completely overwhelmed. She was limping and needed medical attention due to a small wound on her right shoulder and a swollen left hock. With proper medical care, a little TLC, some quiet down time, cage rest, and anti-inflammatory medication she is thankfully as good as new and ready for the next leg of her journey – finding her forever family.

When Tati first arrived at the shelter she was a bit shy and nervous, but who could blame her? She still takes her time getting to know new people, however she warms up quickly and a tasty treat is all it takes to get started when making that new connection. Tati has slowly become more confident and now will politely ask for your attention and as soon as she is comfortable, she is all in for some cuddle time. 

A petite 49 pounds, Tati is up to date on vaccinations, spayed, micro-chipped and heartworm negative. She enjoys playing with toys, chewing on a bone, getting treats and she will even entertain herself with her toys. 

Tati is looking for a family to love, a home to call her own and a bed to curl up in. She is easy to leash up, can be a moderate puller so will need some more work on her leash manners, but she does love going out for walks and enjoys playtime with you. She is curious but sometimes she will be cautious and slow with new and first-time experiences. 

Tati will need a dog experienced family who will love her, be patient with her, and give her the time she needs to decompress and adjust to home life. A calm low stress environment, where introductions to new people and things will be taken slow. Tati is not a fan of cats and households with children ages 16 and up are recommended. 

We know the right family is out there for her, we just need to find them. Tati is a rock star with other dogs, and will correct them if they play too rough for her. A meet and greet is required at the shelter for your entire family including your dog.

Just imagine waking up one day and finding that everything in your world is different. The family you’ve come to know and love is gone. Your bed, your belongings, and even the comfy couch you used to lay on, all gone. All around you day and night are other crying and screaming dogs. Strangers come to your kennel every day to play with you and take you for a short walk outside. The rest of the time, there is nothing to do but sleep and wait – this is the reality of shelter life for all dogs who live behind its walls, including Tati. Sadly, she has started to spin in her kennel out of frustration, the very chaotic, loud atmosphere is difficult for her to handle; let’s get this tiny nugget home! 

Won’t you please consider stepping up to help this adorable girl? There is no reason for her to wait behind shelter walls any longer! At the very least, we ask that you please share to help us find that special family out there who will make her dream come true; maybe even you could find room for her in your heart. 

Make an appointment, head down to the shelter, and get ready to fall in love. 

Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter
300 Horseblock Road
Brookhaven, NY 11719
(631) 451-6950

Be sure to head over to Adoption Central right here on Paws Give Me Purpose, share Tati and all the other Featured Dog Friday pups still in search of their forever homes.

Adoption Central

All dogs deserve a home with a loving family. While many do find happiness, some are repeatedly overlooked because they have traits that seem to make them less adoptable, and sometimes this is for no apparent reason. We often see the nicest dogs stuck in the shelter for far too long. These dogs often become staff and volunteer favorites, get lots of love and care, but just don’t grab an adopter’s attention.

Animal shelters and rescue groups are brimming with happy, healthy pets just waiting for someone to take them home. Most shelter pets wound up there because of a human problem like a move or a divorce, not because the animals did anything wrong. Many are already house-trained and used to living with families.

It is an indisputable fact that puppies are cute; everyone loves puppies, but puppies are not always the best option for your situation. Adult dogs deserve a chance, and are often passed up by potential homes who are focused on getting that “brand new” puppy. The truth is adult dogs are far less work than puppies, are great companions, just as affectionate and playful, without the mess of housetraining, and are less destructive of things like furniture. 

Today we are once again re-featuring stunning Roxy. Another year is almost over and sadly she still sits alone and forgotten, waiting for her chance at a home and family to call her own. We find this beyond heartbreaking. 

Roxy is a stunning, 8 year young Shepherd-Rottweiler mix who was originally adopted from Bobbi and the Strays in New York as a young pup, and was returned in September of 2020 when her dad passed away and her mom was unable to care for her any longer. Poor Roxy is yet another beauty that has been waiting far too long for someone special to come and take her home, and it seems no matter how many articles, posts and shares, not one person has shown any interest and it’s time we changed that! 

Roxy is a staff and volunteer favorite, she gets lots of love and care; however, she just doesn’t grab adopters’ attention. She is the complete package for an amazing family dog! All this sweet girl wants is a loving home and family where she can relax, and enjoy all that life has to offer. No one is truly sure why this stunning girl goes unnoticed; we are dumbfounded. She is incredibly friendly, sweet, full of energy and fun. She loves to run and play fetch. She sits and shakes to get treats and takes them so gently from your hand. Her favorite pastimes include playing with squeaky toys and stuffed animals. 

With more settled behavior, mature dogs like Roxy make ideal companions for a variety of owners. Perhaps the biggest benefit of adopting a mature dog is knowing what you’re getting. Busy households with individuals who work full time will find it a joy to have an older, experienced dog compared to starting from the beginning with a puppy. When juggling responsibilities and countless year-round obligations, it is much harder to put in the work it takes to properly raise a puppy versus an adult dog like Roxy.

Large dogs like Roxy can get a bad rep sometimes, but the truth is that many large breeds make excellent family dogs and Roxy is no exception, she LOVES kids! She really enjoys meeting new people and gets so excited especially when she sees children. It’s as if the sadness in her eyes disappears and she lights up with happiness. 

She is a very smart girl who loves showing off her knowledge of commands, enjoys long walks, playing in the yard with her ball, toys, and loves to just hang out by your side. Roxy would be best suited in home with a fenced in yard and needs to be your one and only pet as she can be a bit reactive to other dogs. This is not a large issue and is manageable, she has never shown any aggression other than hard barking and pulling when out on walks and is easily redirected. She has been spayed, vaccinated, heartworm negative, and microchipped. She is devoted, playful, and affectionate, what more could you ask for? 

Choosing the perfect dog for your family isn’t always an easy choice, and in a perfect world, any dog you choose would mesh perfectly with your lifestyle. But whether you’re looking for a dog that can keep up with a busy house or want a couch potato/love bug, Roxy is your girl! 

Roxy has been waiting for her forever home far too long. She sits in her kennel just waiting for someone to spare a glance at her yet he keeps getting passed by. Won’t someone please give her a chance? There must be a family out there who is the perfect match for this adorable girl; she is truly special and so deserving of a home, please give her a chance. 

If you have any other questions about Roxy or are interested in adopting this beautiful girl, please reach out to Bobbi and the Strays directly. 

Bobbi and the Strays, New York
adopt@bobbicares.org
(516) 378-4340

Be sure to head over to Adoption Central right here on Paws Give Me Purpose, share Roxy and all the other Featured Dog Friday pups still in search of their forever homes.

Adoption Central

Animal shelters across the country report that the merriest time of year for people can be an especially heartbreaking time for pets. Shelter pets want nothing more than to be in a home where they will be loved as a family member, and there’s no greater gift a shelter animal can receive this holiday season than a loving family.

Today we are re-featuring stunning Emma! Another year has come and is almost gone, it is simply beyond heartbreaking that this beautiful girl is still waiting for the forever she was promised. She is a very sweet and super smart girl who has so much love to give. She is about 8-9 years young and has been at The Shelter Connection since 2016. There is absolutely no reason for her to wait any longer!

Emma was originally adopted from this very same shelter back in 2015, but unfortunately was returned. Although the family loved Emma very much, they were simply not able to manage her high prey drive. Just imagine how sad and confused this beautiful soul must be to be back in the shelter after having had what she thought was her forever home. The family has stated that in the house she was happy, relaxed, house trained, and not destructive — a perfect Angel!

Just like Emma, almost every dog has a natural tendency toward some predatory behaviors, and these behaviors can often be a challenge for pet parents. To most people in the dog world, the term “prey drive” refers to a dog’s eagerness or desire to chase and capture prey. 

A strong prey drive in dogs can be a problem if it means your dog chases anything that moves. While this can be fun when you’re up for a game of fetch, it’s not such a good time when you’re out for a walk and your pup tries to tear after every animal that wanders into their peripheral vision. Prey drive also has a positive side. The term prey drive primarily refers to a dog’s level of excitement or motivation to perform a task involving hunting-related behaviors or going after an object. Prey drive is normal, it is manageable and you can train a dog to stop reacting or redirect those instincts into something just as pleasurable, such as games. 

Emma is a pro at her commands, loves going on long walks on the nature trails, crushing the agility course (she even does the weave poles) and of course, a nice petting session! Emma walks nicely on the leash, but begins to pull when she sees another dog or an animal she wants to chase; due to this, the shelter does not recommend she be walked by any children in her future home. Finding methods to manage Emma’s prey drive – especially when out in public on walks – is vitally important.

Emma is the perfect balance of playful and couch potato; outside she can keep up with the best of them, but once she’s inside, a couch and a soft blanket are all she needs to relax. The volunteers at the shelter describe her as exuberant and happy-go-lucky but not over the top at all. Emma is thrilled to meet all people, but due to her high prey drive she would need to be the only pet in a household.

She needs an active home where she can exercise on a daily basis. A very special mom and dad — a savvy, experienced, strong, and patient individual or family who will be committed to her and will put in the time needed to teach her the ropes of life and help her become the best she can be. Individuals with time to engage her in other play activities that involve chasing, catching and retrieving, playing with toys, playing fetch, tug of war or involving her in agility sports as a positive and fun outlet for her prey drive.

Emma would make a fabulous family dog and would do best in a home with children 12 years and up; she is very friendly with people, she just needs a home with children responsible enough to not accidentally leave gates/doors open etc. Ideally a home with a solid 6 foot fenced in yard especially if the neighbor has a dog. 

Emma is an affectionate companion and an all-around amazing dog with a lively personality. She is very people oriented, eager to please and very intelligent. She is a wonderful girl that truly deserves a second chance for a good life.

If you’re interested in this gorgeous girl, make an appointment and head down to the shelter — we guarantee you will fall in love! 

The Shelter Connection
75 Marino Avenue
Port Washington, NY 11050
(516) 869-6311

Be sure to head over to Adoption Central, share Emma and all the other Featured Dog Friday pups still in search of their forever homes.

Adoption Central