Adopt

My name is Maisie!

Posted 2 days ago | Updated 2 days ago

Adoption process
1

Submit Application

2

Interview

3

Home Check

4

Approve Application

5

Sign Adoption Contract

6

Pay Fee

7

Take the Pet Home

My basic info

Breed
Shih Tzu/Brussels Griffon
Color
Red/Golden/Orange/Chestnut
Age
Senior
Size
Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less (when grown)
Weight
Sex
Female
Pet ID
22000091

My details

Checkmark in teal circle Shots current
Checkmark in teal circle Spayed / Neutered

My story

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

Backstory for Maisie

Maisie found herself in an overcapacity animal control facility that euthanizes due to lack of space. Animal Saints Rescue Society was asked to pull her to safety to give her a second chance at life. Maisie was an owner surrender because they didn’t want to take care of anymore. Her condition was evident of neglect with disregard to her comfort and wellbeing. She was so matted and dirty that she had to be shaved down to her skin. When a Saint still has good life left to live, Animal Saints does what we reasonably can to give them the dignity and respect they deserve.

Get to Know Maisie

Age: 10+ range

Breed: Shih Tzu with possibly Brussels Griffon

Weight: approximately 11-12 pounds

Vaccines and treatments

Rabies Bordetella DHPP, part one and two Dewormer Flea/tick prevention

Other tests and procedures

Heart worm test - negative

Fecal test - coccidia detected and treated

Spay surgery

Microchipped

Dental cleaning polish

Bloodwork: Within normal ranges overall. Our doctor says it’s good for her age.

Other medical notes

Maisie has dry eye and needs cyclosporine drops in each eye, morning and night. She’s great about letting us give them to her. She likes the attention and the connection to the human hands, so she gladly rests in her bed while we give her eyedrops. Maisie is pretty much deaf. We’ve done the clap tests, snapping tests by her ears, and have called her name very loudly. There are moments where we sense she can detect something. It is most likely due to untreated ear infections before coming into our care. Now that she’s getting all of the medical care she needs and has great food and comfort, her ears might heal to a point where she can hear more than she does now. It’s not definite, but it has happened before with some senior gems we have helped. Maisie has very limited eyesight. We can tell she detects light as she makes a beeline to the door when it opens for playtime and potty time. Sometimes, she will bump into things, but it does not phase her. She had untreated dry eye before coming into our care, and it has placed stress on her eyes. Now that she’s consistently getting cyclosporine drops since arriving in our sanctuary, her eyes look brighter already!

Veterinary care costs given to Maisie by Animal Saints Rescue Society, based upon NYC area pricing, is $3,500+ Requested adoption donation fee is only $650. This is to partly cover her medical expenses that our 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue incurred to give her a second chance at life.

Breed and Hair Notes Maisie has hair and not fur. She is a beautiful Shih Tzu with possibly Brussels Griffon mixed in. Her hair is a stunning golden brown with hints of apricot. PLEASE NOTE: Maisie’s hair will grow as it is not fur. She will need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Only apply if you understand the additional maintenance and cost these dear hair-not-fur souls need and are willing to commit to life for such care. Maisie had such very long hair when we pulled her to safety. It was matted down to her skin; it had to be shaved down so she could start anew. Be prepared for a long-haired beauty when it grows out!

Personality

Animal Saints walks through proverbial fire for Saints like Maisie. When they arrive at any animal control facility, their lives are usually the most in danger of being ended because medical care is more extensive than just a spay and rabies vaccine. When Animal Saints pulls a Saint to safety, our intention is to treat them like family. We give them the medical care they need in order to get dignity and respect back in their lives. Many of our Senior Saints live for years after they are adopted because of the extensive medical care given to them before finding a lifetime family for them. Maisie’s goal in life right now is to get her rest after all of the procedures she needed. She also loves to eat and barks a charming and sonorous “arph!” when she smells the food and sees her plate coming toward her.

You can enjoy meeting Maisie through her short film as she saunters and smells the sanctuary garden: https://vimeo.com/1108290600

As Maisie gets rest, we anticipate her personality will come out more. She’s clearly showing us that she’s one of the gentlest Saints we have helped.

Ideal Home

It is ideal for Maisie is to be in a home that has adults with no children. Maisie would appreciate laidback canine siblings, if possible. She will gain confidence from having a sibling to watch, and she will learn from them. Harper will also be content in a family as the only dog, provided she has the ability to have canine friends. She currently resides with two other Saints in one of our Sanctuary apartments. We have found her cuddled up to one of them in a dog bed by morning. Maisie will especially thrive in a home that can give her companionship day and night. Since Maisie requires a little extra sleep right now after her procedures, she’s okay about being alone for part of the day. Ideally, Maisie would like to be your office assistant if you work from home. She joins volunteers here in the sanctuary and sleeps next to them in a dog bed while they work. Plan on sharing your sofa and bedroom with Maisie. Once she trusts, she will want to be by your side, no matter where you are and what you are doing. No crates for Maisie. She lived so much her life stuck in one before coming into Animal Saints’ care. She does not need a mansion. She just needs some space to have the freedom to move from bed to bed. Maisie is looking for humans who want a companion animal in the truest sense of the word. Saints like Maisie were bred to be there for humans. They are not hunting dogs or farming dogs. Maisie was bred to be a constant companion and abundantly loyal. We are looking for someone who will give this to Maisie in return.

Love and Commitment

At Animal Saints Rescue Society, our goal is to keep dogs out of overcapacity animal control facilities and out of a re-homing cycle. We place the dogs we save into lifetime families. With this in mind, we seek families who understand that an adoption is a lifetime commitment. The families who adopt from us believe that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Some humans still believe it’s okay to try out a dog for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years — then discard when they get bored or don’t want to deal with emotional or physical ailments. We are looking for the empathetic, kind, and patient humans in this world who view these Animal Saints as family, and they will do whatever it takes to give them what they need. Will that family be you? We look forward to finding out and receiving your application!

 



December 2, 2025, 6:38 pm
Rescue

Contact info

Pet ID
22000091
Contact
Address
Town of Highlands, NY 10922

Their adoption process

1.

Submit Application

2.

Interview

3.

Home Check

4.

Approve Application

5.

Sign Adoption Contract

6.

Pay Fee

7.

Take the Pet Home

Additional adoption info

Our adoption process of very thorough with several interviews to ensure we have an ideal match for the dear dogs and cats we help.

Adoption application

Go meet their pets

We meet at our sanctuary and people's homes, by appointment only.

More about this rescue

At Animal Saints Rescue Society, we strive to be the like the animal saints who need us: forgiving, patient, and givers of unfailing love. We pull dogs and cats to safety from animal control. We give them time to recuperate before finding them ideal homes.

Other pets at this rescue