Adopt

My name is Harpo!

Posted 19 hours ago

Adoption process
1

Submit Application

2

Interview

3

Home Check

4

Meet the Pet

5

Sign Adoption Contract

6

Take the Pet Home

Adoption fee: $225

This helps Broken Tail Rescue, Inc. with pet care costs.

My basic info

Breed
Cocker Spaniel/Pekingese
Color
Black - with White
Age
13 years old, Senior
Size
Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)
Weight
29 lbs (current)
Sex
Male
Pet ID
BRO-A-65602

My details

Checkmark in teal circle Good with kids
Checkmark in teal circle Good with dogs
Checkmark in teal circle Good with cats
Checkmark in teal circle Shots current
Checkmark in teal circle Spayed / Neutered
Checkmark in teal circle Housetrained
Checkmark in teal circle Has special needs

My story

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

Harpo is an approximately 13-year-old, 29-pound Cocker Spaniel / Pekingese mix who has fully entered his “old man in sweatpants” era. He’s not a dog so much as a retired grandpa, lovingly referred to as "Gramps" — a title he wears with quiet pride.

Gramps is a special-needs senior who is deaf and mostly blind, so he’s looking for a low-key, stair-minimal home with someone comfortable lifting about 30 pounds of pure, sleepy goodness when needed. He goes potty outside, but his internal clock isn’t what it used to be, so he wears a belly band to help keep things tidy. No shame here — just practical grandpa solutions.

Medically, Harpo has a heart murmur and mild heart disease that causes occasional coughing. He doesn’t need medication right now, but he will need monitoring, future echocardiograms, and possibly meds down the line. He also has a history of itchy skin and allergies, which are currently very well managed and causing him no drama whatsoever.

And now, the good stuff:
Harpo is exceptionally sweet, gentle, and calm. His favorite hobbies include:
☀️ Napping in sun puddles
🛏️ Nesting in blankets
😴 Being peacefully unconscious for large portions of the day

He’s wonderful with the foster family’s children, cats, and other senior dogs. Because he can’t see well, leash walks aren’t his thing, but he loves sniffing and meandering around a fenced yard — and he's even had a delightfully goofy romp in the snow.

Harpo is very quiet and would do beautifully in a ground-level home or apartment with easy access outside, especially one that appreciates slow mornings, soft blankets, and the unmatched joy of caring for a senior soul.

If you’ve ever wanted a dog who asks for very little and gives back gentle love, quiet companionship, and the honor of being trusted in his golden years — Harpo is ready to curl up in your sun puddle and stay awhile. 🧡


If you are interested in finding out more about Harpo, please fill out an adoption application by copying and pasting the following link into your browser:

https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/BRO/Dog

Harpo is being fostered in Sutton, MA.

The adoption fee is $225.

Like Broken Tail Rescue on Facebook!.

Follow Broken Tail Rescue on Instagram!


Visual breed identification in dogs is unreliable, so for most of the dogs, we are only guessing at the predominant breed or breed mix. We get to know each dog as an individual and will do our best to describe each of our dogs based on personality, not by breed label.

We expect that all adopted dogs will enroll in a formal dog training class with their new owners. Obedience and training classes are an excellent way to learn more about your newly adopted dog, gain handling and training experience, and improve your relationship with your pet.
Rescue

Contact info

Pet ID
BRO-A-65602
Contact
Address
Broken Tail Rescue, P.O. Box 60296, Worcester, MA 01606
Donation

Their adoption process

1.

Submit Application

Submit the application on our website. This does not commit you to this pet, but it gets the process started.

2.

Interview

If your application receives preliminary approval, you'll be contacted by one of our fosters to discuss the pet in more detail.

3.

Home Check

We'll arrange a brief visit to your home by one of our volunteers. This is not a required step for cat adoptions.

4.

Meet the Pet

You and your household members will meet the pet and make sure you "click".

5.

Sign Adoption Contract

If you choose to move forward with adoption, you'll be prompted to sign our adoption contract and pay the adoption fee online.

6.

Take the Pet Home

Congratulations on your new family member! We're still here to offer support as you settle in.

Additional adoption info

The Adoption Process
- Fill out an application for your potential new family member
- One of our volunteers will review the submitted application and do their best to respond within 48 hours
- We will check personal references and veterinary records (if applicable)
- After checking references, we will then look to schedule a home visit (for dogs only)
- If the animal is a good match, then a meet and greet will be setup – usually at the foster home or the Cambridge or Millbury PetSmart adoption centers
- We like to have all family members attend
- Finally, the last step if to complete the adoption paperwork and to bring your new family member home

Here are a few items for people to consider before deciding to adopt:

- Renters must have their landlord’s permission
- Adopters must be 21 years of age or older
- All adoptive homes must be stable, supportive, and capable to meet all veterinary and financial needs of the animal
- Some adoptions will require adopters to enroll the dog in training classes as a condition of adoption, however we encourage training for ALL adopted dogs.
- Kittens younger than 6 months must be adopted with another kitten/cat or go to a home with a resident cat for socialization
- There may be additional adoption requirements for puppies (puppy socialization classes, someone home during the day, etc)

Adoption Fees
Adoption fees help defray the cost of our medical expenses for all our animals.

Dogs
Our adoption fees can vary widely, but are typically between $400 and $550 for healthy adult dogs and puppies. All dog adoption fees are are determined on a case-by-case basis that considered the dogs age, behavior and overall health.

All dogs adopted from Broken Tail Rescue will be spayed or neutered, receive a veterinary exam and heartworm test and be up to date on vaccinations, heartworm/flea and tick preventative and microchipped.

Cats
Our adoption fee varies by age for cats and kittens:

Kitten (0-11 months): $350
Two Kittens (0-11 months): $650
Single Young Cat (1-4 years): $275
Two Young Cats (1-4 years): $500
Single Adult Cat (5-9 years): $225
Two Adult Cats (5-9 years): $400
Senior Cat (10+ years): $150
Special Needs Cat: $150 or TBD
Two Senior or Special Needs Cats: $250

All cats adopted from Broken Tail Rescue will be spayed or neutered, receive a veterinary exam, be up to date on vaccinations, FeLV/FIV tested, dewormed, given flea and tick treatment, and microchipped.

Ready to Adopt?
Are you interested in one of our adoptable animals, fill out the adoption application to start the process!

Adoption application

Go meet their pets

All of our dogs for adoption are in foster homes. You must fill out an adoption application before being considered for adoption. Once your application is received, the foster parent will contact you to discuss whether the animal would be a good fit for your home and set up a meet between your family and the pet.

We also house several cats in our adoption centers at the following PetSmart locations. Volunteers staff the center during posted hours.

Cambridge (PetSmart, 160 Alewife Brook Pkwy)
Walk-in hours: Monday–Friday 6pm–8pm and Saturday 12pm–2pm

Woburn (PetSmart, 114A Commerce Way)
Walk-in hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 6pm–8pm and Sunday 12–2pm

Millbury (PetSmart, 70 Worcester Providence Turnpike)
*By appointment only. Please contact us and a volunteer will reach out to schedule.

Please come early if you plan to adopt. Prescreening is required in order to adopt, so filling out the prescreen application in advance, so you can be approved prior to your visit, will facilitate the process. Copy and paste the following link into your browser for the application: https://bit.ly/3yRGpMD

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @brokentailrescue for schedule updates and special adoption hours (and dog and cat videos!)

More about this rescue

Mission Statement:

Broken Tail Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit foster-based rescue organization dedicated to the rescue of unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats in urgent need. We work closely with local animal controls, animal shelters and rescue groups to ensure the placement of these forgotten animals. We will not discriminate on basis of health, age, or breed and will only consider humane euthanasia in cases of aggression or for quality-of-life due to untreatable medical conditions.

Our animals are vet examined, vaccinated, spayed or neutered as needed and receive any and all medical treatment necessary prior to being placed into carefully screened permanent homes.

Other pets at this rescue