Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Meet Lainey. This pretty little Chihuahua mix came from a heartbreaking hoarding situation. At one point, Madison's owner had 51 dogs living in a small trailer. Thankfully, concerned family members stepped in to help address a situation that had gotten out of control, and the number of dogs has since been significantly reduced. Worthy Dog became involved through one of our veterinary partners. We sponsor the spay/neuter clinic that has been altering the remaining dogs at no cost to stop the cycle and prevent the population from growing. So far, we've welcomed four dogs from the property into our rescue, with plans to help even more. When Lainey first arrived in her South Carolina foster home, she spent her first few days safely tucked away in her crate, quietly taking in her new surroundings. She had spent her entire life in a small, isolated environment where the outside world simply didn't exist. Every day, household sounds, open spaces, and new experiences were all unfamiliar and overwhelming. Over the course of two weeks in her quiet, rural foster home, Lainey began to acclimate. She learned to trust her foster mom, Renee, followed her from room to room, enjoyed cuddles, and gained confidence from the other dogs in the home. She really enjoyed playing with her foster siblings and discovered her love of toys. Lainey arrived in Northern Virginia on June 21 and is now settling into her local foster home. The move to a larger home in a busier area has been another big adjustment, and she's taking things at her own pace. Change was scary for Lainey initially, and each new environment will require a little time, patience, and consistency before she feels safe. She is still learning that people, noises, and everyday life aren't something to fear. While she's making steady progress, she remains very cautious around strangers and unfamiliar situations. She's house-trained and crate-trained, and has started doing short leash walks in her quiet neighborhood. If she sees people or hears an unfamiliar noise, she will want to go back inside, but she improves with practice and exposure. Lainey needs a calm home environment where she can continue to thrive. She needs a quiet, low-traffic neighborhood - city living, apartments, and busy communities would be too overwhelming. A securely fenced yard is strongly preferred so she can safely explore at her own pace while she gains confidence. A calm, confident resident dog would be very helpful, giving Lainey someone to follow and learn from. More than anything, she needs an adopter who understands that trust isn't instant. Lainey may not be the dog who immediately greets every visitor at the door, but she will evolve and learn to trust. She needs an owner who understands that confidence-building is a process, and watching her confidence grow will be incredibly rewarding. She's already shown us that, given patience, consistency, and love, she can blossom into a happy little companion â¤ï¸ Apply today ! BREED ESTIMATE: Chihuahua Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 7 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~2 years old COAT TYPE: Short ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: UTD on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Gainesville, VA FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. 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. July 10, 2026, 10:56 am
