Ruff Ruff! My name is Isabella (LOCAL MD)

Hi! My name is Isabelle (although everyone calls me Izzy!). I'm a beautiful 1.5 year old American Pit Bull Terrier currently living in Alexandria, VA with my foster mom. I've had a rough start to my life, and was rescued by the sweet people at PAWS New England from a high kill shelter in Tennesee. I charmed all the volunteers and rescuers with my sweet disposition and lots of kisses!
I am housebroken, know how to use a doggie door, and am getting pretty good at walking on my leash. (OK, I do sometimes try to bolt when I see a squirrel, but what dog wouldn't?) In the 3 weeks I've been with my foster mom, I've learned "stop", "heel" and how to play with my ball and tug toys, although my favorite is a big stuffed squeaky snake. We're working on "sit" and "stay" now. I'm great with kids, from toddlers on up, and actually like having my ears played with! I've also passed my cat test, and let my foster mom's cats walk on me the other day. She was really impressed! I've been good with most of the dogs I've met too, although I am a bit jealous of my food bowl, so it would best to feed me separately at least at first. I'm sorry about that, but I didn't get fed regularly until recently, so I still get nervous that it might stop coming on schedule. I love people in general, and really am just a lap dog that wants to give you kisses!

Right now, I'm about 45-50 lbs; I'll probably be close to 60 once I fill out and gain some weight. My perfect home would be one with a nice fenced yard, another dog or some cats, and an active family. Speaking of being active, I run nicely on my leash, and would love to join you on a dog-friendly trail!
I'd really, really like to have my forever home for Christmas. I know I'm a pit bull, but I'm really a very good dog! If I can just meet you, I know you'll love me! Please consider giving me a home for the holidays.

Kisses,
Izzy

Donation: $450.00 (includes $140.00 transport fee paid directly to USDA approved transport company where applicable).

Interested in adopting this fantastic canine? Please visit our website and complete an online application – we respond much quicker to applications than to emails as we receive a voluminous amount of email each day and it’s impossible to respond to all of them in a timely manner even though we try.

Application: http://www.pawsnewengland.com/adoption-form/

An application does not mean you are required to adopt – it just lets us know you are seriously considering this dog for adoption.

PET INSURANCE: Paws New England as recently joined VCA Animal Hospitals in a program providing new adopters with a certificate for an initial health exam at a VCA Hospital and treatment of certain conditions free of charges for the first 5 days. This is a great program and PAWS is thrilled to be participating in for our adopter. There are also numerous other pet insurance programs available to shelter animals.

QUARANTINE: Paws New England participates and abides by the quarantine rules and regulations set forth in the states of MA, CT, RI.

UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, ALL OF OUR DOGS ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF RHODE ISLAND BOARDED EITHER PRIVATE FOSTER HOMES OR TRAINING FACILITIES. If a dog is listed as "local", he /she is at one of our foster homes in New England.

We are often asked, "Why would you charge 'so much' for a rescue pet? Why not just place it in a good home?" The answer is because we need adopters who are willing to support ALL rescue pets, not just the dog they adopt. A young, healthy dog might cost us $150-400 in discounted vet care, and many people will want to adopt it; an older dog with health issues can easily cost $500-1500 in veterinary expenses, and it may require months of foster care for rehabilitation yet we can only ask a minimal adoption fee, and it may be a long time until anyone comes forward to adopt him/her. Fees from the younger, more adoptable dogs help offset the cost of caring for the others.