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Meet Polly! This petite Bully girl with adorable ears and a zest for life has truly blossomed in her foster home. She is no longer fearful of car rides or outings to town and now enjoys going on walks, especially if there are lots of new smells to explore. Polly had an unfair start in life, but her natural joy is unmatched. She loves her foster parents and her pack, romping in the yard, and playing with toys, and she is a champion snuggler!
Polly came to us from a rural shelter. She had been confiscated as a puppy by Animal Control from a bad home situation and was held as "evidence" for almost two years until her prior owner was taken to court. Polly was rescued so young, she had little exposure to the outside world at the shelter before she came into rescue — stairs, car rides, and walks in a neighborhood were all new to her. She was held hostage by a broken justice system that took too long to act, so she had some catching up to do.
Thankfully Polly has had two incredible foster families that changed the course of her life. Timid dogs like Polly typically need more time in their foster home to be ready for adoption. Polly was fortunate to have foster parents who worked with her, gradually exposing her to new things, and expanding her horizons. She has flourished with some TLC and her trusty dog pack by her side. Polly loves other dogs and needs a pup buddy in her life. She gains confidence from other dogs and will continue to thrive with a playmate.
Polly lives with her foster parents, Shaleia and Sean, and their two pups, Doc and Donner. She was nervous when she first arrived but is fully comfortable and one of the gang now. Once she settles in, you can see her happy-go-lucky nature: she has a passion for food and toys, loves to play, and loves to be the center of attention. She’s also very affectionate with her humans and loves to snuggle up on the couch and just be.
FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 3/21/24
“Polly has come a long way since we first took her in. In new situations and places, she is still a little uncertain at first, but she gains confidence more quickly with repeated exposure. Once she's comfortable with a person or place, you get to see her confident and sassy personality emerge. She’s made progress in every area of her development, but the biggest progress has been at home. I’m so glad that she’s comfortable and happy in our home, and we’ve proven that she’s good with men, women, and kids. She loves my husband and has proven to be an equal-opportunity snuggler.
Polly loves to play with other dogs or her toys, especially if it’s something she can rip up or toss around. When we give her a Whimzees Alligator chew it’s an event! . She will toss it, dance and prance around her treasure, and have her own little party. She treasures her toys and is the resident toy hoarder, always having one close by. She and our pup, Donner, really love their playtime together and are a great match. Polly likes to roughhouse play and is best paired with a confident, playful dog that she can learn from and emulate.
Leash Skills - One major improvement area has been walks. I think she would be just fine walking through more dense neighborhoods now, though she appreciates the more natural walking trails. She really enjoys long walks and marches at a good pace, but also likes to be able to stop and sniff the roses... and other things. She does best on paths she knows, but she only needs to visit a new route a few times to gain confidence. She's much more comfortable with bikes/strollers/etc and just keeps walking. On solo walks, she is wonderful on leash - not reactive and responds very well to us. When walking with the other dogs, her confidence is higher but she tends to pull more so she can keep to the front of the pack.
Meeting New People - Polly is better around strangers now and doesn't seem as scared. She doesn't try to keep as much distance and seems more curious about them. Having the other dogs there makes it easier on her because she'll be excited to say hi if they are. She follows their lead. She still takes time to trust new people and needs trust to be earned, but she has no ill will toward anyone, she just needs time to trust and verify they are OK.
My friend who comes over for playdates has made great progress with Polly. We had her come into the house on the last visit to see how Polly would react and it went pretty well. There was no barking or extra shy behavior. Now when we hang out, Polly will come up to her to say hi, get a couple of scratches, and give a lick to her hand too…
Crate - We're using the crate when the humans are out of the house. She would cry for a few minutes when you leave and again when she hears you come back home, but checking the camera shows she is quiet and calm the rest of the time.
We've tried her out of the crate at night, and she's mostly fine, but if we get up in the middle of the night it seems to surprise her and she gets spooked and takes time to relax again. When she's in the crate, it seems to give her more security because getting up never bothers her. My hypothesis is that this is another thing that she would get better at with repetition. She seems content to sleep in her crate at night and will go to the crate on her own when she sees us starting to get ready for bed.
Training/Commands - She knows a handful of commands but isn't always consistent with them. She's pretty good with 'leave it' and 'sit', though she is often so wiggly she doesn't stay sat long; she is okay at 'off' but she is very much in the habit of rearing up to get her paws on you, we haven't managed to break that habit yet but it's improved. She knows 'down' and 'stay'. Overall, she is really great at learning routines and generally knows what we expect of her and is responsive, but she still has the excitement level that can distract her at times.”
******
We are looking for a loving, patient owner for Polly who will give her time to settle in and adjust to her new surroundings. We feel another social, playful, established dog in her home will help her trust and adapt more quickly. She will do best in a quieter neighborhood vs. city or condo setting. When given a chance, this sweet girl will charm you, and we can promise she will make you smile and laugh every day.
Apply today!
BREED ESTIMATE: AmStaff/Bully mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: ~ 35 lbs (petite pittie) APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 3-4 years old COAT TYPE: short ADOPTION FEE: $400 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Bealeton, 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.
May 4, 2024, 2:05 pm
Meet Polly! This petite Bully girl with adorable ears and a zest for life has truly blossomed in her foster home. She is no longer fearful of car rides or outings to town and now enjoys going on walks, especially if there are lots of new smells to explore. Polly had an unfair start in life, but her natural joy is unmatched. She loves her foster parents and her pack, romping in the yard, and playing with toys, and she is a champion snuggler!
Polly came to us from a rural shelter. She had been confiscated as a puppy by Animal Control from a bad home situation and was held as "evidence" for almost two years until her prior owner was taken to court. Polly was rescued so young, she had little exposure to the outside world at the shelter before she came into rescue — stairs, car rides, and walks in a neighborhood were all new to her. She was held hostage by a broken justice system that took too long to act, so she had some catching up to do.
Thankfully Polly has had two incredible foster families that changed the course of her life. Timid dogs like Polly typically need more time in their foster home to be ready for adoption. Polly was fortunate to have foster parents who worked with her, gradually exposing her to new things, and expanding her horizons. She has flourished with some TLC and her trusty dog pack by her side. Polly loves other dogs and needs a pup buddy in her life. She gains confidence from other dogs and will continue to thrive with a playmate.
Polly lives with her foster parents, Shaleia and Sean, and their two pups, Doc and Donner. She was nervous when she first arrived but is fully comfortable and one of the gang now. Once she settles in, you can see her happy-go-lucky nature: she has a passion for food and toys, loves to play, and loves to be the center of attention. She’s also very affectionate with her humans and loves to snuggle up on the couch and just be.
FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 3/21/24
“Polly has come a long way since we first took her in. In new situations and places, she is still a little uncertain at first, but she gains confidence more quickly with repeated exposure. Once she's comfortable with a person or place, you get to see her confident and sassy personality emerge. She’s made progress in every area of her development, but the biggest progress has been at home. I’m so glad that she’s comfortable and happy in our home, and we’ve proven that she’s good with men, women, and kids. She loves my husband and has proven to be an equal-opportunity snuggler.
Polly loves to play with other dogs or her toys, especially if it’s something she can rip up or toss around. When we give her a Whimzees Alligator chew it’s an event! . She will toss it, dance and prance around her treasure, and have her own little party. She treasures her toys and is the resident toy hoarder, always having one close by. She and our pup, Donner, really love their playtime together and are a great match. Polly likes to roughhouse play and is best paired with a confident, playful dog that she can learn from and emulate.
Leash Skills - One major improvement area has been walks. I think she would be just fine walking through more dense neighborhoods now, though she appreciates the more natural walking trails. She really enjoys long walks and marches at a good pace, but also likes to be able to stop and sniff the roses... and other things. She does best on paths she knows, but she only needs to visit a new route a few times to gain confidence. She's much more comfortable with bikes/strollers/etc and just keeps walking. On solo walks, she is wonderful on leash - not reactive and responds very well to us. When walking with the other dogs, her confidence is higher but she tends to pull more so she can keep to the front of the pack.
Meeting New People - Polly is better around strangers now and doesn't seem as scared. She doesn't try to keep as much distance and seems more curious about them. Having the other dogs there makes it easier on her because she'll be excited to say hi if they are. She follows their lead. She still takes time to trust new people and needs trust to be earned, but she has no ill will toward anyone, she just needs time to trust and verify they are OK.
My friend who comes over for playdates has made great progress with Polly. We had her come into the house on the last visit to see how Polly would react and it went pretty well. There was no barking or extra shy behavior. Now when we hang out, Polly will come up to her to say hi, get a couple of scratches, and give a lick to her hand too…
Crate - We're using the crate when the humans are out of the house. She would cry for a few minutes when you leave and again when she hears you come back home, but checking the camera shows she is quiet and calm the rest of the time.
We've tried her out of the crate at night, and she's mostly fine, but if we get up in the middle of the night it seems to surprise her and she gets spooked and takes time to relax again. When she's in the crate, it seems to give her more security because getting up never bothers her. My hypothesis is that this is another thing that she would get better at with repetition. She seems content to sleep in her crate at night and will go to the crate on her own when she sees us starting to get ready for bed.
Training/Commands - She knows a handful of commands but isn't always consistent with them. She's pretty good with 'leave it' and 'sit', though she is often so wiggly she doesn't stay sat long; she is okay at 'off' but she is very much in the habit of rearing up to get her paws on you, we haven't managed to break that habit yet but it's improved. She knows 'down' and 'stay'. Overall, she is really great at learning routines and generally knows what we expect of her and is responsive, but she still has the excitement level that can distract her at times.”
******
We are looking for a loving, patient owner for Polly who will give her time to settle in and adjust to her new surroundings. We feel another social, playful, established dog in her home will help her trust and adapt more quickly. She will do best in a quieter neighborhood vs. city or condo setting. When given a chance, this sweet girl will charm you, and we can promise she will make you smile and laugh every day.
Apply today!
BREED ESTIMATE: AmStaff/Bully mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: ~ 35 lbs (petite pittie) APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 3-4 years old COAT TYPE: short ADOPTION FEE: $400 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Bealeton, 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.
