Last year, some of our long term dogs that had been in our shelter at PAWS for over a year or more found their way into someone’s heart and had finally found their forever home. Among them was Teddy Bear the staffie that had been overlooked for over a year before he got adopted by a lovely lady and now spends his time in a loving home and going on walks to the beach. Shayla, the staffie cross, who was the sweetest little lady and spent over a year in the kennels before finding her perfect home in Dublin. Pancho, Dell and Copper, some of our special long-term lurchers who had found themselves waiting in the PAWS kennels for over three years before they found their forever homes also got their chance at having a home of their own in 2015. Particularly Pancho, who was adopted by one of our weekly volunteer dog-walkers, Katja, and now shares his life with Patrick another rescued lurcher in Kilkenny. Dell and Copper were adopted overseas. The year before that saw another long-termer, Louis, an American Bulldog, a surrender who stayed at PAWS for well over a year before he was adopted by one of our very own staff and now lives a happy life being very spoiled with two other rescue dogs.
Most dogs manage to find their forever person and get adopted easily enough but every rescue shelter has their special ‘sticky’ dogs that find themselves waiting a long time for that special person to come along and offer them a forever couch and PAWS is no different. Often, it is through no fault of the dog’s that they have to wait that extra bit longer. All of us here at PAWS believe the right home for all of our rescue dogs is out there if you wait long enough. Although, it is often heart-breaking for our long-term dogs watching their kennel-mates get adopted and set off for their new home while they stay behind. You can almost see it in their faces trying to work out why nobody has come for them yet. All of these dogs are special with their own stories and unique personality, many of them lurchers, cross-breeds and even pure-breeds, but all have one thing in common, each one is a loving dog that would make someone a wonderful pet. They just need somebody to look past the sad story etched on their face and give them a chance to show just how special they truly are.
For this reason, we have a compiled a list of our special long-term dogs who are all wonderful and unique in their own individual way with the hope that the right person will see them and decide they are the dog for them.
First up, is Drake.
When the PAWS staff think of our ‘long-termers,’ it is guaranteed the first dog to come to mind will be Drake. Drake is a fabulous German shepherd cross boy. Drake was a rescue case. When he arrived in PAWS, he was skin and bone and looked like he’d never spent a night in a comfy bed or even eaten a full meal. His coat was matted and he was badly in need of some TLC and kindness. Drake received the vet attention, care and a few good meals he needed and he just blossomed into this magnificent dog that is just bursting with love for everybody he meets. Almost four years later, Drake is still at PAWS awaiting someone to come and offer him the right home. Drake loves just about every person he comes across and greets everybody with licks and doggy cuddles. He holds the place of ‘favorite’ for many of the PAWS staff and volunteers alike. He lives for his walks and especially loves his grub, understandably, considering the condition he was in when he arrived at the shelter.
Drake’s only vice is he needs to live in a secure home where he is the only pet. We believe Drake never received the proper socialisation with other animals that every pup needs growing up and, because of this, he doesn’t know proper etiquette when meeting other animals and gets quite stressed. This is also why Drake needs someone with lots of experience with reactive dogs and experience training dogs. This is a must for anybody considering adopting Drake. A very secure garden with a high, Drake-proof fence/wall is also a ‘must-have’ for this reason. Drake can behave like a big, soppy pup who doesn’t know his own strength at times. Saying this, he also knows the ‘sit’ command quite well and will sit for his dinner and for cuddles once he’s told. For this reason, he needs a home without little ones he could knock over by accident. Recently, Drake went on a day out with one of our staff and experienced the fun of beach walks and cuddling up on someone’s couch, given his little experience over the past few years of being anywhere but his run at PAWS and walks around the PAWS’ fields, he behaved very well and this gave us some insight into how Drake would be in a home of his own and we can provide this information to any future, potential adopters. Drake is very special and we know that the perfect person is somewhere out there looking for the perfect dog and we think, with the proper patience, understanding and care, Drake can be that perfect dog so please take a look at our adoption guidelines below and get in touch if you think you could give Drake the chance he needs.
Drake giving cuddles getting out of bed in the morning
Handsome Drake still awaiting his forever home
Introducing Topper,
Topper is another of our long-term lurchers in need of a loving, forever home. Poor Topper was surrendered to PAWS after he was deemed ‘no good’ for hunting. He was a very shy and nervous boy when he first arrived but almost a year in the kennels later, he has become much more used to being handled. He has even made lots of friends among the PAWS’ staff and enjoys his rubs and cuddles. A few months ago, Topper’s kennel mate, Theo the rough coated lurcher, found his forever home and we would love for Topper to find a home of his own as he is getting a little sad being in kennels. He is a very handsome dark brindle boy who would be best suited in a secure, adult-only home with someone who has experience of owning dogs. Could you offer Topper his perfect home?
Topper giving Amy kisses
Gerry
(picture to follow)
Gerry is a very gorgeous blue and white lurcher boy who has been at paws for over 18 months now. It’s Gerry’s huge character and his distinct way of carrying his back legs that makes him a very memorable boy of all the sighthounds housed at the shelter. Gerry had an injury to his hips when he was a young pup that doesn’t bother him now but his back legs healed in a way that gives him a distinct ‘swagger’. He was found straying and brought into PAWS. We’ve been assured that he is in no way any pain and it doesn’t have any negative effect on his life. In fact, it doesn’t slow him down at all as he zooms around his kennel and keeps up with his two other kennel mate dogs with no issue. He takes a joint supplement with his meals but other than that, he is just a normal dog. He loves walks and playtime. He is a very sweet boy that loves his pets and gets on very well with other dogs and other people. Gerry is just like any other lurcher that finds it very hard to find a home in Ireland but we would love to see somebody give our Gerry a chance at a forever home as he has spent far too long a time in rescue. Are you a special person that could give our special boy a chance?
Bru
We would like you to meet the dashingly handsome Bru, our very long term staffie-cross boy. Poor Bru has been at the PAWS kennels for over a year. He arrived as a pup but is now over a year old. He is at PAWS for as long as it takes to find that special family for Bru but he is getting a little stressed being in kennels and it would make all of the PAWS team’s year to see him getting adopted. He is full of fun and exuberance and just oozes love. The ‘Bru-wiggle’ is a common phrase used among the PAWS team. This is due to him wagging his tail so much when he sees people, his whole body wiggles and vibrates along with him. He is a firm favorite for many of our regular visitors and volunteers and even gets the occasional special package full of toys and treats just for him! He has shared his kennel with many other dogs who have come and gone but he needs all his basic training and socialising as he has missed out on this having spent most of his young life in kennels. He can be quite excitable so we think a home with children aged 10+ would suit him and his potential family best. However, he is full of life and energy and would bring so much fun to the family on the lookout for a loving dog.
If you are considering adding one of our ‘long-termer’ PAWS’ dogs to your family, please contact us or come visit our shelter in Mullinahone. We are open to the public between 2pm and 4pm every day and will be happy to discuss the needs of both you and our ‘long-termer’ dogs to figure out if they could be the perfect dog for you.
Our Adoption Policies if you are considering adopting a PAWS’ Dog:
1. Our dogs are rehomed as indoor pets.
2. Your garden should be fully enclosed by walls or secure fencing (not hedges) and absolutely NO electric/Radio fencing.
3. If there is nobody at home all day (two dogs are required)…
4. Children over seven years only. This is for your child’s protection
5.There is a pre-adoption homecheck carried out for all dogs.
6. There is a €140 adoption fee for all of our dogs
