My name is Nelly!

Nelly was recently diagnosed with Severe Aortic Stenosis as well as a severely damaged valve in her heart. Aortic Stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic value, which is the gateway between the heart's main chamber and the main artery that pushes blood out to the rest of the body. This narrowing causes the heart to have to work harder to push blood out to the rest of the body. It is a genetic and hereditary condition that she was born with, and sadly does not come with the greatest long term prognosis. As the disease progresses, she could experience lethargy, exercise intolerance, difficulty breathing, coughing, collapse, and sadly even Sudden death. We are on the search for a very special home for Nelly, one with either a calm mellow dog or no dog as she should be exercise restricted and a laid back home. Sweet Nelly wasn't dealt the best cards with her health but we are determined to give her the very best life she can have.

Nelly is an affectionate and energetic German Shepherd mix, about 10/11 months old. Despite her young age, she's already making great strides in learning how to interact with other dogs and respecting their cues when she becomes too excited. As a baby, Nelly is still working on sharing her toys, crate, food bowl, and backyard space with the birds. She's naturally curious and may bark at unfamiliar people or things as she gets used to new experiences.

Cats are particularly fascinating to Nelly, and with more guidance, she may eventually be able to coexist peacefully with them. On walks, Nelly does well on a leash, although she can zigzag a bit. She's also learning to be protective over her crate, but with encouragement, she knows to go "in her house" for a tasty snack. Nelly settles quickly and has made excellent progress with potty training, barking when she needs to go outside.

She has an endearing tendency to tattle on her foster brother if he misbehaves, barking at him and gently nibbling on his ears. Despite her active nature, she can only sustain play for short periods due to her heart condition.

Here are some of Nelly's nicknames and her likes and dislikes:

**Nicknames:**
- Nells Bells
- Nelly Fertado
- Ms. Fertado
- Smelly Nelly
- Neller
- Nelly Nibbles
- Noisy Nelly
- Woah Nelly

**Likes:**
- Chewing on bones
- Playing
- Being chased
- Pets from her humans
- Being outside
- Squeaky balls

**Dislikes:**
- The vacuum (she barks at it and sometimes tries to "chomp" it)
- Sharing her items
- When other dogs bother her in her crate

Nelly is a lovable and lively German Shepherd mix who's eager to find her forever home. With her friendly demeanor, she's sure to bring joy and excitement to any family. If you're looking for an energetic pup who's making great progress in her training and ready to share lots of affection, Nelly could be the perfect addition to your home. If you think Nelly is a good fit for your family, don't wait—apply today to give this sweet puppy the loving home she deserves!