Adopt

My name is Courage (VA)!

Posted over 6 months ago | Updated 1 month ago

My basic info

Breed
Rat Terrier
Color
Tan/Yellow/Fawn - with White
Age
Young
Size
Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less (when grown)
Weight
Sex
Male
Pet ID
21614384-2789

My details

Alert icon Not good with kids
Checkmark in teal circle Good with dogs
Checkmark in teal circle Good with cats
Checkmark in teal circle Purebred
Checkmark in teal circle Shots current
Checkmark in teal circle Spayed / Neutered
Checkmark in teal circle Housetrained

My story

Here's what the humans have to say about me:

Courage came into rescue in January as part of a hoarding case. Just 9 months old, he was terrified, unsocialized, and overwhelmed by change. He had never known that people could be kind. For five months, his foster family has patiently helped him gain confidence, and while he's made meaningful progress, Courage still needs an adopter with deep patience and realistic expectations.
Now 1 year-old and 7 lbs., Courage has learned to trust his foster family and a few familiar people. However, he does not permit being picked up, isn't a fan of leash walking, and prefers to be pet by specific trusted humans. He thrives on routine—any disruption causes anxiety. With a predictable environment, he's a funny and happy little guy.
 
Courage is house trained as long as he's let out regularly. He's clean in his crate, which serves as his safe space, and he follows the command to go in. He also eats his meals there.
The rewards for taking on a dog like Courage are huge.   Courage's foster family has continued to work with him but he still does not care for being leashed or picked up. He may never be a cuddly dog, but when he wants you to pay attention to him he is wiggly and funny. One of his favorite past times is stretching out on the sidewalk to bake in the sun. When you finally earn his trust, it will fill your heart with joy. He enjoys other dogs he knows and would likely do well with a cat.
Due to his semi-feral tendencies and insecurities, Courage needs a quiet home without kids or lots of visitors. His adopter must be prepared for setbacks, including hiding or fearful behavior. But his foster mom is fully committed to supporting whoever takes the leap for this special little guy.
 
 


If you are interested in adopting this dog, PLEASE READ THE DETAILED ADOPTION PROCESS information on our website at www. NewRattitude.org/adopt/  From there, you can access our adoption application or contact our Adoption Team for more info.



November 4, 2025, 5:40 am
Rescue

Contact info

Pet ID
21614384-2789
Contact
Phone
Address
Richmond, VA 23223
Donation

Their adoption process

Additional adoption info

We go through a very careful adoption process because our mission is to place dogs in loving homes that will last the rest of their lives. We evaluate each home's overall suitability and safety, and we also consider whether a particular dog is right for you and whether you are right for that dog—because we know that a great lasting relationship depends on the right match. This process will usually take several days. Your patience and understanding are appreciated.

To learn more about our adoption process, please visit our website by clicking here!

The fastest way to indicate your interest in a particular dog and to find out more about him/her is to SUBMIT AN ADOPTION APPLICATION.

After you submit an application, we will confirm receipt and notify the foster parent of the dog you are interested in. The foster parent will contact you with more details about the dog to help you get to know him or her better. Please ask questions so that you can be sure that this dog meets your hopes and expectations.

In the meantime, our Adoption volunteers will be reviewing your application, checking your references, and arranging for a home visit to verify that your physical environment is safe and suitable. You will also receive a phone call from an Adoption Coordinator for an interview to help us better understand your household situation and your reasons and expectations for adoption.

Assuming all goes well and that you are approved for adoption, we will send you an adoption contract to read, sign, and return to us with your adoption fee ($175 for adult dogs; $225 for puppies under 6 months). Once we receive your contract and fee, your new dog can come HOME to you!

If the distance from your home to the dog's foster home and is less than 100 miles, we would normally expect you to go pick up the dog. If the distance is 100-600 miles, we would usually arrange a ground transport, using a network of volunteer drivers, to get the dog to you (and expect you to drive at least the last leg of the transport). If the distance is greater than 600 miles, the dog must usually be flown by air, and the costs of the flight (usually around $250) are the responsibility of the adopter.

If you have questions about adoption that aren't answered on our website, you may CONTACT OUR ADOPTION TEAM at Adoption@NewRattitude.org. The Adoption Team will know the status of any pending applications and can help you submit an adoption application.

Adoption application

Go meet their pets

New Rattitude operates through a network of volunteers, and the dogs are housed in private foster homes rather than in a shelter. Because of that, we do not own a location where the public can come to visit dogs. The fastest way to get acquainted with any of our dogs is to submit an adoption application. After your application is received, you'll be put in touch with the dog's foster parent, who is the one to answer specific questions you may have about the dog. You may also contact our Adoption Team to verify the dog doesn't already have multiple other applications or with questions about our process.

More about this rescue

New Rattitude is an all-volunteer rescue group for Rat Terriers and Rat Terrier mixes. We are a licensed, registered 501(c)3 non-profit charity that provides temporary living environments for abandoned, abused, neglected, sick, or unwanted Rat Terriers. In private foster homes, they are nurtured, socialized, trained, supported medically, and provided with professional veterinary care while we work diligently to find them new and permanent adoptive homes where they will be safe, loved, and properly and humanely cared for the rest of their lives.

WE WELCOME NEW FOSTER HOMES!
There are always more Rat Terriers needing to be rescued than we have space to accommodate, so new foster homes are always needed. If you have time and love to spare, consider becoming a New Rattitude foster home. Our foster homes find the experience extremely rewarding. Fostering allows you to have a direct impact on the lives of many dogs who would otherwise have no hope. For more information about becoming a foster parent, please visit NewRattitude's Fostering page.


WE WELCOME YOUR SUPPORT!
Cash donations go directly to pay for veterinary expenses for our rescued dogs (including vaccinations, heartworm testing and treatment, spay/neuters, antibiotics to fight infections, etc.). Since we are an all-volunteer organization with virtually no overhead, 100% of your donation goes directly to care for the dogs and we are a federal 501(c)3 charity, so your donations are fully tax-deductible! To donate, send check or money order to: New Rattitude, PO Box 14064, Lansing, MI 48901. Or donate via Paypal by clicking on the button below.











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