Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Bonnie is smart, curious, affectionate, and always paying attention. At 10 months old and approximately 25 pounds, she's a petite, lanky hound mix with classic redtick coloring and a whole lot of personality packed into a smaller frame.
She is highly food motivated and loves to learn. Bonnie already knows how to sit and is working on leash manners and other basic skills. She's strong-willed in that smart-young-dog way, but she's also very engaged with people and eager to figure out what you're asking of her. We think she'd be a lot of fun for someone who enjoys training, hiking, exploring, or simply wants an active young companion to include in everyday life.
And then there's the nose. Bonnie is definitely a hound. She loves investigating scents, searching for little critters, and following whatever smells interesting. She will also climb and dig, so although a fenced yard is preferred for exercise and play, a fence should not be considered unattended containment for her right now. She needs to be supervised when she's outside.
Bonnie has been around other dogs and tends to approach unfamiliar dogs with curiosity. She enjoys running and playing with canine friends. She has shown some food guarding toward the male hound she was found with, but we have not observed food guarding toward people. She is currently fed separately, which works well. She sits for her meals.
Her exposure to cats has been limited. She encountered cats at the spay/neuter clinic and at the rescue with no concerning behavior. With her energy and natural hound instincts, we cannot predict how she would respond if a cat ran from her.
Bonnie has also been exposed to a horse, goats, and a cow. She's been interested in them but submissive and gentle in the interactions we've observed, including approaching livestock to exchange a nose lick.
She is very affectionate with people, although unfamiliar men can initially make her nervous enough to cower. We have not observed her around children. Because Bonnie is still young, energetic, jumpy when excited, and very interested in food, we prefer a home without small children at this stage unless the household is experienced and highly structured.
Bonnie is comfortable spending time in a crate and does not potty in it. She's happy to eat or settle in her crate when she's in the same space as her people. If she's crated and left completely alone, she may initially bay or howl before settling down. She'll also put that hound voice to use when an unfamiliar sound gets her attention.
She is still learning leash manners and can pull when her nose finds something more interesting than the person holding the leash. Bonnie is also learning to travel well. She is generally transported in a crate but has ridden loose in the vehicle and did well.
How Bonnie Found Us
Bonnie appeared near the farm with a young male hound, now named Clyde. Clyde seemed to find the way onto the property first, with Bonnie following behind. Instead of continuing down the road, the two stayed and spent their first night sleeping on the front porch.
We searched for their owner for five days, hoping someone would recognize them and they could go home. When no one came forward, we began getting them the veterinary and preventive care they needed while continuing to leave open the possibility that an owner might be found. No one claimed them.
Bonnie tested negative for heartworm and tick-borne illnesses. She received rabies and distemper/parvo vaccinations, deworming, flea/tick treatment, and has now been spayed.
Although Bonnie and Clyde arrived together and are fond of one another, they are not a bonded pair and do not need to be adopted together. We've actually found that both dogs do better when separated and believe individual homes will give each of them the opportunity to thrive.
The Home Bonnie Needs
Bonnie is looking for an indoor home where she will be part of the family—not a dog who lives outside simply because she's a hound.
She's only 10 months old, so her adopter should expect to continue the work we've started: leash manners, basic training, appropriate exercise, supervised outdoor time, and helping a very smart young dog learn how to live successfully in a home.
In return, Bonnie has the makings of a really fun companion: affectionate, intelligent, curious, active, and very engaged with her people.
Bonnie's adoption has been sponsored, reducing her adoption fee to $85.
To apply to adopt Bonnie, please complete our adoption application:
https://www.adoptapet.com/saved-by-the-heart/adoption-application/
After reviewing the application, we will arrange a visit so you can meet Bonnie and spend time with her. Home visits are required and may be completed in person or virtually. Potential adopters should be prepared to provide veterinary records if they currently have or previously had pets. Approved adopters will complete an adoption agreement before Bonnie goes home.
Saved by the Heart is a volunteer-run organization based in Lebanon, Virginia. We appreciate your patience while we review applications and work to find the right match.
We are happy to work with potential adopters throughout the Southeast, including Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and beyond, to help our animals find the right homes.
Questions can be emailed to savedbytheheart@gmail.com or texted to 276-254-5457.
