Samantha has been adopted! 01-01-2007

Petite Samantha is a delight! Part Shepherd and part something smaller, with maybe a little Husky thrown in - she weighs in at less than 40 pounds - and it's a good thing, too, since her favorite activity is crawling into your lap for a cuddle or a nap!

We don't know about her past, but sometimes she behaves as if there's been some abuse or neglect, although she's such a loving girl we just can't believe anyone could treat her like that. She was picked up by a shelter with a dislocated hip, after being hit by a car. Fortunately a shelter volunteer got the word out to the rescues before she was going to be euthanized, and Coastal stepped in to save her. After weeks of waiting in pain, Coastal's vet discovered her other hip was also fractured, and he performed amazing surgery which has alleviated her pain and restored her activity. And she was such a little trooper - she never stopped smiling!

Today, one month after her surgery, she went back for her final re-check, and she's doing so well that the vet said "she's graduated!" He said she shouldn't go to a dog park or over-exert for a couple months, but she'll be almost as good as new! In fact, when you see her running and jumping, you can hardly tell the ordeal she's been through. What a fortunate little girl to be rescued, and now she's getting ready to find her forever home...

It seems Samantha was never taught the finer points of living in a home, but she's really trying her best to learn. We think she's about 18 months old, but still acts like a puppy in many ways - so we recommend a yard where she can enjoy running off her bursts of energy, even though most of the day she just wants to relax and enjoy her new security. Like a puppy, she'll chew your hands and get over-exuberant at times, and she's learning the difference between chewing her toys and your book - but she stops immediately when corrected and wants so much to please.

While Samantha has puppy charm and enthusiasm, she also has the benefits of being an adult dog... she is quiet, and when she barks she'll stop immediately when told. She is completely housebroken and has never once had an accident indoors. There are all kinds of workmen and strange sounds and activities going on at her foster home, and she is completely calm, friendly, and will sleep through it all day indoors.

When she arrived at her foster home, she only seemed to know the words "no" and "stay", but she quickly learned "come" and "sit". In fact her foster Mom has never seen a dog who "stays" as well as Samantha! She absolutely loves rides in the car, and is a calm and friendly guest when she goes visiting. Samantha is so friendly and loves meeting new people. She may have been hurt by a man as she is unsure of men, but once she meets someone she remembers them every time she sees them. We don't recommend young children because they might not understand her sensitivity to her past injuries. She's friendly with other dogs, and we think she'd love having a canine companion to romp with and keep her company while you're at work.

Samantha is fun-loving, with puppy friendliness and charm, and will steal your heart with her sweet smile!

The minimum adoption donation for adults is $375 and the adoption donation for puppies is $500. This amount only partially covers the cost of veterinary care, boarding fees, and other miscellaneous expenses involved in the temporary care and adoption of our dogs and is tax deductible when permitted by law. The adoption donation provides that all dogs will be spayed or neutered, receive current vaccinations, and are microchipped. If not, arrangements will be made on an individual basis ( i.e., puppies who will need to be altered by 6 mos old). Special consideration may be given to those willing to adopt older dogs or dogs with physical problems.