Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Good with cats,
House-trained,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
# 🐾 Meet Bernadette (Berdie)! 🐾**10-Year-Old Spayed Female | Husky/Shepherd Mix | 61 lbs**Some dogs are all about adventure, some are all about cuddles, and some have perfected the art of doing absolutely nothing. Berdie? She's a little bit of everything! ❤️Meet Bernadette, affectionately known as Berdie. This beautiful senior girl has plenty of personality, a big smile, and a talent for finding the coziest spot in the house. Whether she's lounging on the couch, claiming the middle of your bed, or enjoying a good belly rub, Berdie knows how to make herself at home.### ❤️ What We Love About Berdie- **Low-energy lifestyle:** She's happiest lounging, napping, and enjoying the good life.- **Adventure buddy:** Don't let her age fool you! She LOVES camping and hiking.- **Affectionate but independent:** Belly rubs, back scratches, and ear rubs are always welcome, but she doesn't need constant attention.- **A social butterfly on her terms:** She enjoys playing with other dogs and generally has a submissive personality.- **Cat-friendly:** She ignores cats!- **Kid-friendly:** She's been around children of all ages without issues.- **House manners:** Potty trained, crate trained, leash trained, and knows basic commands.- **Toy enthusiast:** She enjoys toys, although removing the squeaker is usually the main objective!- **Professional cuddler:** She loves sleeping on couches and beds, preferably right in the middle.### 🏡 What Berdie Needs in Her Forever HomeBerdie is a senior lady who knows what she likes, and finding the right match is important!**🐕 Other Dogs:**- NO SMALL DOGS. Berdie has a history of harming small dogs over food/treats.- She resource guards food/treats from other dogs, NOT PEOPLE!- She plays well with dogs and able to share a home with dogs, but they will need to give up any and all treats to her without a fuss.- Proper management of food and treat availability is a must (she is trained to eat her meals in a crate)**🐈 Cats:** She ignores them and is comfortable around them.**👧 Children:** She has experience with children of all ages. However, she can grumble when awakened from deep sleep, so children must be taught to leave her alone when sleeping.**👵 Seniors:** Generally does well with elderly people, but she doesn't always realize she's 61 pounds! She may try to climb into someone's lap for attention.### 🍽️ A Few Important Berdie QuirksBerdie LOVES food. And we mean LOVES it.If there's a crumb, a smear, or even the faintest possibility of something edible, she believes it belongs in her stomach. She can gulp her meals and will eat just about anything available, so:- A slow-feeder bowl is strongly recommended.- Meals should be monitored and portions controlled.- Keep food, blankets, and anything potentially edible out of reach.- She has previously experienced bloating from overeating, although she has never experienced a stomach flip (GDV).She currently eats Diamond Lite to help manage her weight.She also has a few fears. Hoses, brushes, baths, nail trims, vacuums, phones pointed at her, and other unfamiliar or unusual things can send her looking for a hiding spot. Patience and a gentle approach are important.### 🚶♀️ Walking & Outdoor AdventuresBerdie is leash trained using a prong collar. **She needs her prong collar to maintain her leash training**, as she will pull without it.A securely fenced yard is recommended. She's not typically looking to escape, but unexpected situations can frighten her. When she has gotten loose, she has immediately headed for the front door.Rainy days can occasionally present a potty-training challenge. She may need a little encouragement to go outside and finish her business before coming back in.### 💤 Her Little Personality Quirks- She may grumble when awakened from a deep sleep. It's best to let sleeping Berdie sleep!- She sometimes heads into her crate and takes a nap with the door wide open.- She enjoys chewing beef bones.- She has been known to chew holes in blankets when she discovers a hidden food crumb.- Car rides aren't her favorite, but she manages.- She smiles at people!- She prefers meeting strangers by having them ignore her initially and allow her to approach and sniff first. Once she has had a chance to investigate, she's happy to accept pets.### 🌟 What Berdie Is Looking ForBerdie isn't asking for much at this stage in life. A comfortable place to nap, a family who understands her quirks, someone to take her camping or hiking occasionally, a good meal in a slow feeder, and a cozy spot on the couch (or in the middle of the bed!) would make her world complete.She's got plenty of love left to give. She just needs someone willing to appreciate all 61 pounds of her senior-girl charm.**Could you be the person Berdie has been waiting for?**🐾 Give this sweet, smiling senior the retirement home she deserves! ❤️🐾 ADOPTION INFORMATION 🐾Thinking about adding a new furry family member? Here’s everything you need to know about adopting from Rushville Animal Shelter! ❤️💰 ADOPTION FEESThe adoption fee listed on each animal’s profile does not include applicable discounts.Discounts include:🏠 Rush County Residents: $50 off the listed adoption fee🎖️ Military & Senior Citizens: For animals OVER 3 years old, $75 off the listed adoption fee🐱 Adopt 2 cats/kittens: The second adoption is 50% off💕 Bonded Pairs: If two animals are a bonded pair and are required to be adopted together, the second adoption fee is 100% OFF!ADOPTION DISCOUNTS ONLY APPLY TO STANDARD ADOPTION FEES.Special Adoption Packages:Barn/Shop Cats: $25Feral/Wild Cats: FREEGolden Age Pets over 8 years of age: FREEPayment: We accept cash, check, and card. A 3% fee applies to card payments.❤️ WHAT YOUR ADOPTION FEE COVERSYour adoption fee helps cover approximately $200 worth of care per animal!Every animal receives:🐶 Dogs: At least 1 Distemper/Parvo vaccine + Bordetella vaccine🐱 Cats: At least 1 Feline Distemper vaccine💉 Rabies vaccine if the animal is fixed by us🪱 At least 1 deworming🦟 Current flea prevention🔎 Microchip✂️ Spay/neuter — either already completed or scheduled for a future appointment🏡 SAME-DAY ADOPTIONS!Yes! All animals can go home the same day. 🎉You'll need:A valid photo IDTo complete and sign a few documentsTo take home a copy of the animal's medical historyThere is NO application process.All adoptions are:✅ First-come, first-served❌ No holds — even with a donation❌ No appointments requiredJust come visit us during our normal business hours!✂️ NOT FIXED YET? HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.If an animal isn't already spayed or neutered when you adopt, you'll participate in our Foster-to-Adopt process.The animal will go home with you with a future surgery appointment already scheduled.You'll be responsible for bringing the animal back to the shelter for a 2-night stay while their surgery is completed.During Foster-to-Adopt:The shelter maintains legal ownership of the animal.You have all other responsibilities of pet ownership, including medical care.Once the animal is fixed, the microchip is registered to you and legal ownership transfers to you. ❤️This process allows us to follow Indiana law requiring adopted animals to be fixed while also helping us keep kennel space available for animals coming into the shelter.For additional information about our Foster-to-Adopt policy, please visit our website.🐕 THINKING ABOUT A DOG?Unless specifically stated on a dog's adoption profile, we do not require a meet-and-greet with every family member or household dog.However, we highly encourage it!We're happy to introduce your dog(s) to a potential new family member here at the shelter.No appointment necessary.🐱 ADOPTING A CAT OR KITTEN?Cats MUST leave the shelter in a carrier.Bring your own carrier, or purchase one from us!🏠 WANT TO TRY BEFORE YOU COMMIT?We offer home trials for dogs and cats over 6 months old for approximately one week.You do not have to pay the adoption fee upfront.If you decide the animal is the perfect fit:➡️ Return to the shelter➡️ Complete the adoption paperwork➡️ Pay the adoption fee➡️ Make it official! ❤️If you decide the animal isn't the right fit, simply bring them back to the shelter during normal business hours at any point during your trial period.🚨 We do not accept after-hours drop-offs.🐾 READY TO MEET YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND?Come visit us during our normal business hours! No application. No appointment. No holds.Just you, an animal who needs a home, and the chance to make a life-changing connection. ❤️🐾Rushville Animal Shelter📍 650 Van Sickle Street, Rushville, IN 46173📞 765-932-4754🌐 rushvilleanimalshelter.com
