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Meet Callie. This adorable puppy has already had a few homes. She was originally given away with her mom and siblings to a Good Samaritan who tried to help them find loving homes. Unfortunately, Callie was given to a family unequipped to care for her. They grew frustrated with her and didn't understand her unusual behaviors or take her to the vet for further diagnosis. Callie was subdued for a puppy and showed some neurological signs like circling, which is consistent with a condition called hydrocephalus. Thankfully, they surrendered her and we got her the medical care she needed.
A dog with hydrocephalus has an excess of cerebrospinal fluid that has leaked inside their skull, which causes brain swelling and is often called “water on the brain.” The severity of the condition varies from dog to dog. Common symptoms include having a rounded or dome-shaped skull, walking in circles or having stability issues, difficulty learning, and seizures. Some dogs are asymptomatic. Dogs with mild or moderate cases can live a normal healthy, happy life by taking medication, and some even do well without treatment. Callie has been seen by a neurologist twice and was started on medications to address the swelling and thwart potential seizures, and she’s responding well.
Callie is being fostered by Debbie and her teen son, living with two other dogs. She loves being part of a pack and gains confidence from the other pups. Callie was born with limited vision but it’s the only way she’s ever known. She has learned her foster home environment and is very comfortable once she’s familiar. She knows where the stairs are and stays away. She stays on the main level near her foster mom during the day and sleeps next to her bed at night. Once she’s confident in her surroundings, her playful personality emerges and she acts like a normal silly pup.
Callie is crate-trained, and potty training is still a work in progress and may take a little longer. She can hold it overnight and does not have accidents in her crate. She uses potty pads as a backup inside but typically goes in the yard when she’s out. She enjoys hanging out in the backyard with Debbie and her best buddy, Lily, a large cattle dog she likes to follow around and snuggle with. She’s getting more comfortable on leash and enjoys short walks once she knows the terrain. Understandably she is sometimes hesitant in unfamiliar environments.
Debbie shared this update:
“Callie can be quite an emotional support dog in some ways. She loves snuggling and will nap and cuddle with me on the couch. Sometimes when she's on the go she's more interested in being active and exploring...which is a good thing. She's good with humans as long as nothing is sudden. Slow introductions and no loud noises keep her calm. A quieter household would make her feel more secure than an active one for sure.
She loves food and peanut butter is her favorite treat. She'll bark when it's time to eat and will not let me forget. But she doesn't bark much other than that. She is most playful after she eats in the morning and evening. She likes toys, but mainly ones she can chew on because she can't see them to chase. She will jump and play with Lilly (while Lilly just lets her). It's the cutest when she trots around because I love seeing her confident.
She’s been doing really well on her medication and the amount of time she walks in circles has been a LOT less lately. She really is a good dog, and while finding the right adopter might take longer, they will be rewarded with an enjoyable, fun, sweet, vulnerable little bundle of curiosity and love. She needs a little extra care, but not much.”
While Callie’s underlying hydrocephalus is unlikely to resolve, if she continues to respond well to her medication, she could do very well. She’s still very young and we are hopeful. We are looking for an attentive, quiet home for this Callie. Another established dog in the home would be ideal and a fenced yard with easy access is preferred.
Apply today to learn more!
BREED ESTIMATE: Chihuahua Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 14 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 7 month old COAT TYPE: Long - requires regular grooming ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Vienna, VA
You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application.
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.
April 27, 2024, 2:40 pm
Meet Callie. This adorable puppy has already had a few homes. She was originally given away with her mom and siblings to a Good Samaritan who tried to help them find loving homes. Unfortunately, Callie was given to a family unequipped to care for her. They grew frustrated with her and didn't understand her unusual behaviors or take her to the vet for further diagnosis. Callie was subdued for a puppy and showed some neurological signs like circling, which is consistent with a condition called hydrocephalus. Thankfully, they surrendered her and we got her the medical care she needed.
A dog with hydrocephalus has an excess of cerebrospinal fluid that has leaked inside their skull, which causes brain swelling and is often called “water on the brain.” The severity of the condition varies from dog to dog. Common symptoms include having a rounded or dome-shaped skull, walking in circles or having stability issues, difficulty learning, and seizures. Some dogs are asymptomatic. Dogs with mild or moderate cases can live a normal healthy, happy life by taking medication, and some even do well without treatment. Callie has been seen by a neurologist twice and was started on medications to address the swelling and thwart potential seizures, and she’s responding well.
Callie is being fostered by Debbie and her teen son, living with two other dogs. She loves being part of a pack and gains confidence from the other pups. Callie was born with limited vision but it’s the only way she’s ever known. She has learned her foster home environment and is very comfortable once she’s familiar. She knows where the stairs are and stays away. She stays on the main level near her foster mom during the day and sleeps next to her bed at night. Once she’s confident in her surroundings, her playful personality emerges and she acts like a normal silly pup.
Callie is crate-trained, and potty training is still a work in progress and may take a little longer. She can hold it overnight and does not have accidents in her crate. She uses potty pads as a backup inside but typically goes in the yard when she’s out. She enjoys hanging out in the backyard with Debbie and her best buddy, Lily, a large cattle dog she likes to follow around and snuggle with. She’s getting more comfortable on leash and enjoys short walks once she knows the terrain. Understandably she is sometimes hesitant in unfamiliar environments.
Debbie shared this update:
“Callie can be quite an emotional support dog in some ways. She loves snuggling and will nap and cuddle with me on the couch. Sometimes when she's on the go she's more interested in being active and exploring...which is a good thing. She's good with humans as long as nothing is sudden. Slow introductions and no loud noises keep her calm. A quieter household would make her feel more secure than an active one for sure.
She loves food and peanut butter is her favorite treat. She'll bark when it's time to eat and will not let me forget. But she doesn't bark much other than that. She is most playful after she eats in the morning and evening. She likes toys, but mainly ones she can chew on because she can't see them to chase. She will jump and play with Lilly (while Lilly just lets her). It's the cutest when she trots around because I love seeing her confident.
She’s been doing really well on her medication and the amount of time she walks in circles has been a LOT less lately. She really is a good dog, and while finding the right adopter might take longer, they will be rewarded with an enjoyable, fun, sweet, vulnerable little bundle of curiosity and love. She needs a little extra care, but not much.”
While Callie’s underlying hydrocephalus is unlikely to resolve, if she continues to respond well to her medication, she could do very well. She’s still very young and we are hopeful. We are looking for an attentive, quiet home for this Callie. Another established dog in the home would be ideal and a fenced yard with easy access is preferred.
Apply today to learn more!
BREED ESTIMATE: Chihuahua Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 14 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 7 month old COAT TYPE: Long - requires regular grooming ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Vienna, VA
You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application.
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.
To start the approval process, the first step is to complete our non-binding adoption application.
2.
Interview
Once your application is reviewed, a Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will contact you to schedule a phone interview to discuss your application
3.
Home Check
A volunteer will schedule a time to visit your home, in person, to meet you and verify that your home is a good, safe environment for a dog
4.
Approve Application
After a positive veterinary reference check, phone interview, and home visit, we will approve your application
5.
Meet the Pet
Upon approval, if the dog you applied for is still available and a good match, we will schedule a time for you to meet the dog
6.
Sign Adoption Contract
7.
Pay Fee
Additional adoption info
Thank you for considering adoption and choosing to save a dog’s life!
Adding a dog to your family is a rewarding and life-changing experience. Dogs enrich our lives and have the amazing ability to give and receive love unconditionally. They can be your loyal companion and friend, and a watchful playmate for your kids, but they are also a serious, long-term commitment. They will depend on you for their health and well-being, and require an investment of love, time, and money for the rest of their life.
As you search for your new dog, please remember that there is no shortage of dogs who need saving. There are far more dogs waiting to be adopted than people who are willing to adopt them, so if the dog in the picture who you’ve imagined bringing home isn’t available, there are thousands more amazing, loving dogs just hoping for the chance to be your dog. We ask that you keep an open mind, stay flexible, and we will do our best to work with you to find a great match for your family.
We strongly encourage anyone thinking about adopting a dog to do your research and make sure you are prepared for the commitment. If you have thought about what’s required and are ready to adopt, here’s what you can expect when you apply to adopt a dog from Worthy Dog Rescue.
APPROVAL PROCESS
APPLY
To start the approval process, the first step is to complete our non-binding adoption application
REFERENCES
If applicable, we check vet references to ensure that your pets have been kept current on care, and a copy of your lease to ensure that adopting doesn't violate your rental agreement
INTERVIEW
Once your application is submitted and reviewed, and your vet provides a positive reference, a Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will contact you to schedule a phone interview to discuss your application
HOME VISIT
A Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will schedule a time to visit your home, in person, to meet you and verify that your home is a good, safe environment for one of our dogs
APPROVAL
Upon approval, if the dog you applied for is still available and a good match, we will schedule a time for you to meet the dog. If not, we will work with you to find another dog who will suit your family.
TIMING
The approval process can take a week or two depending on your availability and our volunteers’ schedules. The rescue is run by a team of volunteers from your community who love dogs. We are just regular people with jobs, kids, and lives whose time is as limited as yours. That means that during periods of high activity or seasonal vacations the process may take a little longer.
THE DOG YOU APPLY FOR IS NOT GUARANTEED
Worthy Dog Rescue cannot guarantee that the dog you apply for will be available once you have been approved. We do our best to work with adopters and meet your needs, but we do not adopt dogs on a first-come, first-serve basis. All applications are screened to determine the most suitable match for the dog and the adopter. We want to place dogs in good homes as quickly as possible, so the dog can start their new life with their family, and we can free up their foster home to save another dog in need.
We understand how easy it is to become attached to a dog you’ve found online, but sometimes the dog you apply for may already be scheduled to meet another adopter, or it may not be the best fit for your home for a variety of behavioral reasons. Our dogs are fostered by one of our volunteers, living in their home as part of their family. This allows us to get to know the dog, what they need, their level of socialization, and the type of home that will best suit them.
Our goal is to place dogs in loving, responsible, and committed permanent homes. We take great care in finding good matches for our dogs and adopters too. We look forward to working with you to find the dog that will be with you and your family for many years to come.
ADOPTION POLICIES
Must be at least 23
All applicants who live in a rental property must provide contact information for their landlord, and have approval from the landlord to have a pet at the residence listed on the adoption application
Applicants must allow Worthy Dog Rescue to conduct a home visit to confirm that your home will be a good environment for a new dog
All animals in the applicant’s household must be spayed/neutered and up to date on all vaccines before consideration
All adults living in the home must meet the dog and be in agreement about adoption
Applicants must be willing to keep their new dog and current family pets as indoor pets
All adoptive families will provide all medical care and treatment needed for the dog including, but not limited to, yearly medical checkups, vaccines, and preventative heartworm medication
Dogs will be adopted only as a personal companion and not as a gift, working animal, or guard dog
A fenced yard is ideal for dogs, but is NOT a requirement for adoption unless specified
Because young puppies require intensive training and care, we cannot place puppies younger than five months of age in a home where someone is consistently absent from the home for long periods of time
In the event an adoption does not work out, applicants must agree to return the dog to Worthy Dog Rescue rather than rehoming the dog themselves
Thank you for considering adoption and choosing to save a dog’s life!
Adding a dog to your family is a rewarding and life-changing experience. Dogs enrich our lives and have the amazing ability to give and receive love unconditionally. They can be your loyal companion and friend, and a watchful playmate for your kids, but they are also a serious, long-term commitment. They will depend on you for their health and well-being, and require an investment of love, time, and money for the rest of their life.
As you search for your new dog, please remember that there is no shortage of dogs who need saving. There are far more dogs waiting to be adopted than people who are willing to adopt them, so if the dog in the picture who you’ve imagined bringing home isn’t available, there are thousands more amazing, loving dogs just hoping for the chance to be your dog. We ask that you keep an open mind, stay flexible, and we will do our best to work with you to find a great match for your family.
We strongly encourage anyone thinking about adopting a dog to do your research and make sure you are prepared for the commitment. If you have thought about what’s required and are ready to adopt, here’s what you can expect when you apply to adopt a dog from Worthy Dog Rescue.
APPROVAL PROCESS
APPLY
To start the approval process, the first step is to complete our non-binding adoption application
REFERENCES
If applicable, we check vet references to ensure that your pets have been kept current on care, and a copy of your lease to ensure that adopting doesn't violate your rental agreement
INTERVIEW
Once your application is submitted and reviewed, and your vet provides a positive reference, a Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will contact you to schedule a phone interview to discuss your application
HOME VISIT
A Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will schedule a time to visit your home, in person, to meet you and verify that your home is a good, safe environment for one of our dogs
APPROVAL
Upon approval, if the dog you applied for is still available and a good match, we will schedule a time for you to meet the dog. If not, we will work with you to find another dog who will suit your family.
TIMING
The approval process can take a week or two depending on your availability and our volunteers’ schedules. The rescue is run by a team of volunteers from your community who love dogs. We are just regular people with jobs, kids, and lives whose time is as limited as yours. That means that during periods of high activity or seasonal vacations the process may take a little longer.
THE DOG YOU APPLY FOR IS NOT GUARANTEED
Worthy Dog Rescue cannot guarantee that the dog you apply for will be available once you have been approved. We do our best to work with adopters and meet your needs, but we do not adopt dogs on a first-come, first-serve basis. All applications are screened to determine the most suitable match for the dog and the adopter. We want to place dogs in good homes as quickly as possible, so the dog can start their new life with their family, and we can free up their foster home to save another dog in need.
We understand how easy it is to become attached to a dog you’ve found online, but sometimes the dog you apply for may already be scheduled to meet another adopter, or it may not be the best fit for your home for a variety of behavioral reasons. Our dogs are fostered by one of our volunteers, living in their home as part of their family. This allows us to get to know the dog, what they need, their level of socialization, and the type of home that will best suit them.
Our goal is to place dogs in loving, responsible, and committed permanent homes. We take great care in finding good matches for our dogs and adopters too. We look forward to working with you to find the dog that will be with you and your family for many years to come.
ADOPTION POLICIES
Must be at least 23
All applicants who live in a rental property must provide contact information for their landlord, and have approval from the landlord to have a pet at the residence listed on the adoption application
Applicants must allow Worthy Dog Rescue to conduct a home visit to confirm that your home will be a good environment for a new dog
All animals in the applicant’s household must be spayed/neutered and up to date on all vaccines before consideration
All adults living in the home must meet the dog and be in agreement about adoption
Applicants must be willing to keep their new dog and current family pets as indoor pets
All adoptive families will provide all medical care and treatment needed for the dog including, but not limited to, yearly medical checkups, vaccines, and preventative heartworm medication
Dogs will be adopted only as a personal companion and not as a gift, working animal, or guard dog
A fenced yard is ideal for dogs, but is NOT a requirement for adoption unless specified
Because young puppies require intensive training and care, we cannot place puppies younger than five months of age in a home where someone is consistently absent from the home for long periods of time
In the event an adoption does not work out, applicants must agree to return the dog to Worthy Dog Rescue rather than rehoming the dog themselves
Worthy Dog Rescue believes that public adoption events are unnecessarily stressful for the dogs and the foster families who care for them, and that our structured, personalized adoption process leads to a more consistently positive outcome for both the dog and the adopter.
Worthy Dog Rescue believes that public adoption events are unnecessarily stressful for the dogs and the foster families who care for them, and that our structured, personalized adoption process leads to a more consistently positive outcome for both the dog and the adopter.
More about this rescue
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping dogs in distress, especially those living on chains, in pens, or in neglectful and abusive situations. Our mission is to provide a better life for dogs, while working to address the root problems of animal overpopulation and improve animal welfare. We do this through community outreach and by supporting and educating dog owners in underserved communities, by sponsoring spay and neuter programs, and by rescuing and rehabilitating dogs in need.
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping dogs in distress, especially those living on chains, in pens, or in neglectful and abusive situations. Our mission is to provide a better life for dogs, while working to address the root problems of animal overpopulation and improve animal welfare. We do this through community outreach and by supporting and educating dog owners in underserved communities, by sponsoring spay and neuter programs, and by rescuing and rehabilitating dogs in need.
