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Meet Erin. Erin was rescued with her mom and siblings from a heartbreaking scenario in Chester, SC. Their owner, grappling with the loss of her husband to deportation and facing severe flooding on her property due to excessive rain, found herself unable to care for her pets. Sadly, the dogs were being kept outside in a pen that became submerged in water and debris, The owner called Animal Control for help and 9 dogs were removed from the property. With local shelters already overwhelmed, multiple rescues stepped up to help and Worthy Dog took Erin and her sister, Kira, into our care.
Both pups have settled into their foster homes where they are experiencing the comforts of home for the first time. From cozy beds and nourishing meals to daily walks and human companionship, these girls are fully embracing home life. The pups are only about 7-8 months old and are adapting quickly. They are quickly learning new skills like navigating stairs, mastering crate and house training, and reveling in the delights of toys — simple pleasures they had never experienced before.
Erin is being fostered in a home with her foster mom, Cari, and three small pups. She has done amazing with training and we’ve learned how smart and motivated she is. Like all puppies, she has spikes of energy and playfulness, but she does very well with structure and direction. We checked in with her foster mom, Carrie, for an update:
FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 3/15/24
“After only two weeks, she fully understands the ‘sit’ and ‘wait’ commands, and we are working on the ‘down’ command. She goes quietly into her crate every time, and has started to voluntarily go in to take naps, and will lay in there quietly while I’m working/on calls. She has really learned that crate = relaxation and downtime, not punishment and me leaving. She’s improving with her potty training too. She understands that she should potty outside and has a favorite spot, but will sneak off and go inside if you’re not paying attention. Considering her age and having zero prior training, she’s way ahead of what I would expect.
When she first arrived, I noticed she was protective of her food and space around the other dogs when I fed her in the crate. We made some adjustments and I stopped feeding meals and high-value treats in the crate and she stopped protecting the area. I started making her sit for her food bowl and not releasing her until it touched the floor. I also practiced touching her and interrupting her meals to make her sit again to have her food back. I also would like to stress that the aggression was never once directed at me. This has worked wonders and she can now eat with my dogs near her dish and she doesn't react at all. I think it was just a reaction from being housed with so many other dogs and having to battle it out for meals. She’s young and quickly worked through it.
Erin has started to find her voice and will bark at my pups if they’re not playing with her. She loves to go and do. I took her on a little hike at Lake Norman and not only does she love a hike, but she was such a brave girl and got into the water! We also went hiking with a couple of friends and their big dogs. She was nervous at first about their size but warmed up really fast and was leading the pack by the end. She loves to hide her favorite toys in random places - in blankets, behind pillows, behind the blinds, and, my least favorite, in the water bowl. ♀ï¸
Overall I think Erin leans more toward the submissive side and is very much a people-pleaser. She takes correction extremely well from both me and my dogs. For her age, she is a great balance of fun, playful, and full of zoomies but then will settle down and take a nap on her own. She can be a bit silly as well. She's also pretty brave. We joke that she's really into parkour because she will jump from one end of the couch to the other, to the ottoman, off the side of the couch, run into the other room, back, and repeat lol. She's not lacking it's personality and her family will have so many laughs and fun times with her.
Erin’s favorite things include quality time with her people and adventure. She loves to snuggle with her human on the couch after a big outing or some playtime. I think as long as she has these 2 things, she will be a very happy girl. She is also an absolute HOARDER not just with toys, but anything left on the floor. No sock, shoe, or slipper is safe, but surprisingly she hasn’t been destructive with them. She just likes to have them
This girl needs an owner with an active lifestyle. I wouldn’t place her with young kids because she is excitable and does the playful pupping nipping/mouthing and has sharp teeth. She's been great with dogs of all sizes and would love a playmate to entertain her, but I think she could also be ok as an only dog for an active family. She has been able to learn independence way better than expected given her background.
I think Erin could be a great candidate for somebody's first dog because of her personality and trainability. She really is one of the best puppies I've fostered. Coming from her situation, I was expecting a dog who would struggle to be alone and would be a little trickier to do basic training with, but she surpassed every single one of my expectations. She brings me so much happiness and so, so many laughs. I can't wait to see her as the center of somebody's world and she absolutely deserves to be that. She is going to bring soooo much joy to her future family!”
******
Need a little puppy fun in your life? Erin is your girl. She's done great with training, is a wonderful pup companion and pack member, and will be a fun, loving addition to your home.
Apply today!
BREED ESTIMATE: Dachshund Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: ~ 10.5 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 7-8 mos old COAT TYPE: short ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped FOSTER LOCATION: Washington, DC (NW)
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 Erin. Erin was rescued with her mom and siblings from a heartbreaking scenario in Chester, SC. Their owner, grappling with the loss of her husband to deportation and facing severe flooding on her property due to excessive rain, found herself unable to care for her pets. Sadly, the dogs were being kept outside in a pen that became submerged in water and debris, The owner called Animal Control for help and 9 dogs were removed from the property. With local shelters already overwhelmed, multiple rescues stepped up to help and Worthy Dog took Erin and her sister, Kira, into our care.
Both pups have settled into their foster homes where they are experiencing the comforts of home for the first time. From cozy beds and nourishing meals to daily walks and human companionship, these girls are fully embracing home life. The pups are only about 7-8 months old and are adapting quickly. They are quickly learning new skills like navigating stairs, mastering crate and house training, and reveling in the delights of toys — simple pleasures they had never experienced before.
Erin is being fostered in a home with her foster mom, Cari, and three small pups. She has done amazing with training and we’ve learned how smart and motivated she is. Like all puppies, she has spikes of energy and playfulness, but she does very well with structure and direction. We checked in with her foster mom, Carrie, for an update:
FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 3/15/24
“After only two weeks, she fully understands the ‘sit’ and ‘wait’ commands, and we are working on the ‘down’ command. She goes quietly into her crate every time, and has started to voluntarily go in to take naps, and will lay in there quietly while I’m working/on calls. She has really learned that crate = relaxation and downtime, not punishment and me leaving. She’s improving with her potty training too. She understands that she should potty outside and has a favorite spot, but will sneak off and go inside if you’re not paying attention. Considering her age and having zero prior training, she’s way ahead of what I would expect.
When she first arrived, I noticed she was protective of her food and space around the other dogs when I fed her in the crate. We made some adjustments and I stopped feeding meals and high-value treats in the crate and she stopped protecting the area. I started making her sit for her food bowl and not releasing her until it touched the floor. I also practiced touching her and interrupting her meals to make her sit again to have her food back. I also would like to stress that the aggression was never once directed at me. This has worked wonders and she can now eat with my dogs near her dish and she doesn't react at all. I think it was just a reaction from being housed with so many other dogs and having to battle it out for meals. She’s young and quickly worked through it.
Erin has started to find her voice and will bark at my pups if they’re not playing with her. She loves to go and do. I took her on a little hike at Lake Norman and not only does she love a hike, but she was such a brave girl and got into the water! We also went hiking with a couple of friends and their big dogs. She was nervous at first about their size but warmed up really fast and was leading the pack by the end. She loves to hide her favorite toys in random places - in blankets, behind pillows, behind the blinds, and, my least favorite, in the water bowl. ♀ï¸
Overall I think Erin leans more toward the submissive side and is very much a people-pleaser. She takes correction extremely well from both me and my dogs. For her age, she is a great balance of fun, playful, and full of zoomies but then will settle down and take a nap on her own. She can be a bit silly as well. She's also pretty brave. We joke that she's really into parkour because she will jump from one end of the couch to the other, to the ottoman, off the side of the couch, run into the other room, back, and repeat lol. She's not lacking it's personality and her family will have so many laughs and fun times with her.
Erin’s favorite things include quality time with her people and adventure. She loves to snuggle with her human on the couch after a big outing or some playtime. I think as long as she has these 2 things, she will be a very happy girl. She is also an absolute HOARDER not just with toys, but anything left on the floor. No sock, shoe, or slipper is safe, but surprisingly she hasn’t been destructive with them. She just likes to have them
This girl needs an owner with an active lifestyle. I wouldn’t place her with young kids because she is excitable and does the playful pupping nipping/mouthing and has sharp teeth. She's been great with dogs of all sizes and would love a playmate to entertain her, but I think she could also be ok as an only dog for an active family. She has been able to learn independence way better than expected given her background.
I think Erin could be a great candidate for somebody's first dog because of her personality and trainability. She really is one of the best puppies I've fostered. Coming from her situation, I was expecting a dog who would struggle to be alone and would be a little trickier to do basic training with, but she surpassed every single one of my expectations. She brings me so much happiness and so, so many laughs. I can't wait to see her as the center of somebody's world and she absolutely deserves to be that. She is going to bring soooo much joy to her future family!”
******
Need a little puppy fun in your life? Erin is your girl. She's done great with training, is a wonderful pup companion and pack member, and will be a fun, loving addition to your home.
Apply today!
BREED ESTIMATE: Dachshund Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: ~ 10.5 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 7-8 mos old COAT TYPE: short ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped FOSTER LOCATION: Washington, DC (NW)
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.
