Hi, I'm
currently located at
Hope Animal Rescue
Durham, NC
age
Adult
gender
Female
color
Merle
size
Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
pet id
45204568
✨ Meet Star ✨ Star was found after a failed attempt to dump her off a bridge by her previous “family”, emaciated and heartworm positive. But even then, she greeted shelter staff with tail wags. Fast forward to now: she’s a hilarious, cuddly, reality-TV-loving foster pup who wants nothing more than a spot next to you on the couch and a squeaky toy in her mouth. At home, she’s polite, house-trained, and a total snugglebug. Outside the home, she’s still learning the ropes. Think: a puppy in an adult dog’s body who missed out on early socialization. She’s working with trainers on confidence-building, coexisting around new dogs and learning new people can be trusted. We would love to find a future adopter that can work on: 🐾 Continued training — we recommend working with a trainer who focuses on handling, safe and positive intros, and confidence-building through play and exploration. 🐾 Dog neutrality over dog parks — While she’s shown curiosity around other dogs, her social skills are still developing. Structured parallel walks and distance-based exposure will be key. 🐾 Gradual people intros — Letting her approach at her own pace while you model calm confidence is the sweet spot. Incorporating play and exploration into intros and maybe even some yummy treat throwing. She warms up quickly when given space and consistency. 🐾 Play and enrichment as therapy — tug and squeaky toys aren’t just games to her — they’re how she connects and builds positive association. That energy becomes focus, and that focus becomes growth. 🐾 A home that keeps her world growing — She thrives with gentle exposure to new sights, sounds, and routines. She doesn’t need a bubble — she needs a guide! 👑 Star is looking for: • An adult-only, pet-free home • A calm environment (rural/suburban preferred) • A family committed to her ongoing training • People who will grow her world, not shrink it 💛 Our rescue will sponsor handoff sessions with one of her current trainers so her progress continues — because this girl is SO worth it. Fiercely loyal, deeply goofy, and learning every day… Star’s future is bright ✨ DM @wally_the_pit or apply via link to chat more — her foster mom is happy to tell you all about her favorite girl! *Note, Star is currently undergoing heartworm treatment and will be a part of our "foster-to-adopt" program until this is complete. The rescue covers all cost*
If you have any questions or would like to adopt Star, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.
adoption group
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