Minneapolis, MN - Retriever (Unknown Type). Meet Ara a Pet for Adoption

My basic info

Breed

Retriever (Unknown Type)

Color

Black

Age

Puppy

Size

Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)

Weight

–

Sex

Female

Pet ID

–

My details

Good with dogs

Shots current

Spayed / Neutered

My story

Here's what the humans have to say about me:

Ara is a sweet, spunky girl who's happy, playful and very loving. She is 10.5 months old and weighs about 45 lbs. Ara loves the company of other dogs but is also quite happy to be by her person's side, leaning in and enjoying the occasional tummy rub. She loves meeting new people and her greeting manners are quite good! She also loves chasing and batting a ball around, making up her own games. This one eyed girl isn't great at fetch...her vision in the remaining eye is also limited. It doesn't slow her down though!

Ara loves the company of other dogs and plays just as hard as her canine foster siblings. She likes to chase, be chased, wrestle, play and toss toys into the air. When it's time for a break she settles down for a nap. Ara is always very eager to play and her impaired vision sometimes leads to her missing social cues with other dogs so her greetings need to be managed. With slow introductions in open spaces Ara is a great greeter and interacts well with dogs large or small. She hasn't met any cats yet.

Ara sleeps in the bedroom with her foster parents and two resident dogs. She is an expert at snuggling, but is happy to sleep on her dog bed too. She is fully potty trained and crate trained. Ara stays in her crate while her people are away. She has made great progress with her leash manners, though she sometimes still pulls when she’s very excited. She is very eager to please and just needs gentle reminders (and maybe a treat) to walk politely.

Ara is a special girl who needs an equally special home. She was born without her left eye and has limited vision in her right. She was also born with several deformed lumbar vertebra causing Scoliosis. She has a slight limp and fatigues sooner than other dogs. The doctors don’t know exactly what her future holds. She could live a long and mostly normal life but she could also develop problems from the spinal curvature. She will likely have arthritis sooner than other dogs would. Still Ara loves life and makes the most of every minute. She is joyful and loving and hopes to find a home that is willing to face whatever challenges come her way. Ara is very smart and due to her young age still has a fairly high energy level. She will do best in an active home with an owner who is experienced or willing to learn with her through training classes to keep her mind engaged as well as her body! Since we don't know at all what doggy genes are in the dogs make up (we don't know who mom and dad are!), we are just guessing on breed.

All dogs are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. They have all had a vet exam, are up to date on vaccinations, have been given a dewormer, are treated for fleas, have a heartworm test if over 6 months old and are up to date on a heartworm preventative.

Please note that because we require a home visit at the time of adoption we can only place animals in homes within a 60 mile radius of Minneapolis.If you are interested in meeting this dog please fill out the pre-adoption application on our website at http://www.safehandsrescue.org under Adopt and we will get back to you to arrange a meeting in the foster home.

We also have an Adoptable Dog Meet & Greet on Saturday January 23, 2016, at Fetch Delivers Warehouse, 783 Harding St. NE. Suite 150, Minneapolis, MN 55413, from noon - 2 pm. Occasionally dogs cannot make it to the Meet & Greet, therefore feel free to verify if your dog of interest is able to attend. Please bring a copy of your pre-adoption application.