April

My story

April is a 3-4 year old Shih Tzu weighing 12 pounds.  She came to us as a puppy mill survivor and is ready for the next and final journey in her quest for a forever home. April came into the rescue with a huge bladder stone causing her an immense amount of pain and discomfort.  The rescue got her into see a vet immediately and surgery was performed to remove the stone and spayed her at the same time.  She got better and has transformed into a very energetic and affectionate companion. Although she is still skittish and runs away from her foster mom, you can tell that she wants to trust.  Her tail is always wagging.  April will need leash training as she has not had any experience walking with one. Her housetraining needs on going support. She would do best in a home with a yard. She has been introduced to a few dogs and is quite friendly towards them.  She is extremely interested in the resident cat, a lot more interested than the cat is in her.  She may be a bit too intense for a cat. She likes to chew on her toys and doesn’t know the difference between her toys and a pair of reading glasses, so it would be advised to keep these things out of her reach. April is on a special diet to prevent stones from re-occurring and has to have drops in her eyes daily. She is pretty good at getting her eye drops put in. If you’re interested in giving April a home please fill in an application for our review:   https://www.speakingofdogs.com/adoption/dog-adoption-application-2/ For those interested in adopting one of our puppy mill release dogs, please be aware that these dogs often require extra patience, structure, and ongoing support. Their temperaments and behaviours can vary widely, and for the best outcome, adoptive homes MUST have access to a fenced yard and understand that rehabilitation is a gradual process. Many of these dogs have not yet experienced living in a home, regular interaction with people, leash walking, housetraining, or even having a name. All of these new people, environments, and activities can be scary for them and many are flight risks while they adjust.  Leash walks may not even be a safe option for them initially which is why having access to their own fenced yard is essential.  They need a patient adopter who can meet them at their comfort level and gently help them learn how to be a companion animal.   Due to time constraints, we cannot respond to every email asking for more information on a dog. Please carefully review the bio for the dog and our adoption process https://www.speakingofdogs.com/adoption/adoption-process/.  If you are still interested in adopting, please fill out the adoption application form at the bottom of that page. July 2, 2026, 7:53 pm

If you have any questions or would like to adopt April, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.