Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
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Story
Breed: Mixed Breed
Sex: Female
Age: 1 year old
Weight: 60 lbs
Size / Expected Size: Large
Cherry arrived as a stray, while her past remains a mystery, it was clear from the moment she arrived that she had experienced hardship. Cherry came into our care covered in mange, with significant fur loss and numerous scars and scrapes across her body. She was also incredibly fearful. At first, Cherry was so scared of people that she would urinate when approached, and when outside she would hide in the bushes rather than interact with the world around her.
Today, Cherry is a completely different dog. Her progress has been steady, and it has been a privilege to witness. She now seeks out affection from the people she trusts, eagerly asks for pets, and greets her favourite people with enthusiasm.
To set Cherry up for long-term success, we are specifically looking for adopters who can provide:
Experience with or willingness to learn about dog reactivity
Patience and understanding for separation-related anxiety
Positive reinforcement and force-free training methods
A calm, predictable home environment
Cherry is NOT suitable for:
Homes with children
Apartments, condos, or buildings with shared hallways and elevators
Busy or chaotic households
First-time dog owners seeking an easy-going dog
Training & Behaviour
Areas she is currently working on:
Dog reactivity
Separation-related anxiety
Confidence building in new environments
Continued socialization
Settling when left alone
Cherry forms strong bonds with her people and loves being close to them. During a recent foster stay, she developed a particularly close relationship with her foster mom. She would become stressed and vocal when her foster mom left the home, even when her foster dad remained with her. Her future adopter should be prepared to continue supporting her through separation-anxiety training and help her build confidence and independence.
Cherry also struggles with dog reactivity.
In the shelter environment, her reactions toward other dogs can be quite intense. While her reactivity has also been observed on walks, it is generally less severe outside of the shelter and her threshold is significantly greater when there is more space between her and other dogs.
Because of her reactivity, Cherry's adopter should understand that progress takes time. She will need someone committed to helping her work through these challenges using patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement.
Compatibility
Children: No children
Dogs: Dog-selective; would do best as the only pet
Cats: Unknown
Dogs like Cherry are often overlooked because they require a little more understanding than the average dog.
Cherry is affectionate, loyal, and incredibly resilient. Her journey has not been easy, but she continues to show us that she is capable of remarkable growth when given patience, kindness, and support.
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Ready to Apply?
If you would like to meet Cherry, please download an application from our website at:
vancouver.ca/adoption-form
Then, email your complete application to: animal.shelter@vancouver.ca
If your application is approved, we will contact you to arrange a meet and greet.
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All adult dogs at Animal Services have veterinary health checks, and are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, dewormed and defleaed (if necessary) before going to their new homes.
Children: No
Cats: Yes
Dogs: Best to be the only dog in the house.
Training Needs: Socialization and confidence building
Adoption Fee: $391
If you live in the City of Vancouver, you will also need to purchase a dog licence.
For more information on our adoption process, go to vancouver.ca/adopt
