Size
(when grown) -
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Good with cats,
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Meet Freya: Senior Girl, Big Personality, and Professional Mischief Maker! Attention senior loving people: Freya is ready for her next chapter! Our 13 year old girl with the spirit of a Norse goddess is looking for a family to appreciate all the personality, humor, affection, and occasional trouble she still has to offer. Freya is a one of a kind girl with a fluffy, soft coat, a broad back, and a bonus toe on her front right foot. She's polydactyl and ectrodactyl, but her lucky toe has been evaluated by the vet and gets to stay! Freya is hilarious, sweet, curious, and just mischievous enough to keep life interesting. She knows how to dump a trash can by grabbing the edge of the bag with her teeth. She can open a toilet lid, still counter surfs, and thinks nothing of sneaking a toy away from one of her foster sisters. We've dubbed her alter ego Loki, and honestly, the name fits. But underneath all that mischief is a very affectionate girl who loves her people. She especially adores children and has made herself right at home with her foster family's teenagers. She even joined the birthday festivities for her foster mom's daughter's 18th birthday! She also has a special nine year old neighbor friend whom she absolutely loves. Freya enjoys being part of the action, particularly when children are around. When the house is quiet, she's perfectly happy to settle down and relax. When the kids are home and moving around, she likes to keep tabs on everyone and make sure she isn't missing anything. She's even made a couple of attempts to sneak out to the garage when the kids were leaving for school. Apparently, being left behind is not part of her plan! Freya has spent most of her life as an only dog but is enjoying life with her foster pack. We think she could be happy as an only dog or with other compatible dogs, as long as she has plenty of human companionship. She's also cat friendly and would happily snuggle with a feline friend, provided the cat agrees to the arrangement. Freya is generally quiet and easygoing around new people. She's not particularly interested in making a big production out of meeting strangers, but she's happy to be included in household activities. A Few Things to Know About Freya Freya is 13, and she's earned the right to take life at her own pace. She has arthritis that affects her mobility, but with gabapentin on board, she's comfortable and gets around the house quite well. She gets up and down a little slowly, but she's steady on her feet. She can manage stairs when she has a good reason, but they aren't her favorite and she generally prefers to stay on the first floor. She loves walks, but shorter walks are best. Her stride gets shorter and choppier when she goes much farther than around the block, and longer outings require additional rest and recovery time. She can still get around and enjoy life, but she's not looking for an athletic adventure buddy. She also loves being outside. A fenced yard would be ideal, although not necessarily a requirement. Freya can be perfectly content spending time in the backyard or lounging on a three season porch. In fact, she sometimes has absolutely no interest in coming inside, even when it's cold. Her foster mom has more than once discovered her sound asleep in the hosta beds, curled up in a cozy nest of flattened shade plants. Apparently, gardening assistance is not one of her specialties. House training is a work in progress. Freya was accustomed to using potty pads in her previous home, and she reliably uses them now, including overnight. Before her Cushing's disease was treated, she was urinating excessively and having frequent accidents throughout the house. Thankfully, that has improved dramatically with medication. She is now consistently using her potty pads, although she occasionally misses by a few inches! She understands that poop belongs outside, but hasn't quite made the connection with peeing outdoors. Her foster family is continuing to work on this, but her future family should be comfortable keeping potty pads available while helping her learn. She also doesn't reliably signal when she needs to go outside. Car rides are not Freya's favorite. In fact, she finds them quite stressful. She needs to be lifted into the vehicle and is eager to get back out as soon as the car stops. For trips beyond the Ames area, she'll need medication to help manage her travel anxiety. Her future family should be prepared to work with their veterinarian on an appropriate plan. Freya has no resource guarding issues. She's remarkably easygoing about sharing her space and belongings, sometimes to a fault! Her foster family has learned that she appreciates having her toys offered when the other dogs aren't around to help themselves. She is not a fan of being crated and did not do well when her foster family tried it. She also prefers not to be shut away from everyone, although she can settle independently and does fine when left with a compatible canine companion. What Makes Freya Happy? Food. Especially human food. Especially her foster mom's bagels. (Seriously, keep an eye on your bagels.) Freya also loves: Backyard and outdoor time, preferably on her own schedule. Relaxing on the three season porch. Short walks and opportunities to explore. Her dragon toy and fish bone chew toy. A cozy nest of dog beds and blankets. Naps and affection from her people. She's easy to groom and has done well with grooming and veterinary handling. She has no known food allergies or sensitivities. She does have strong opinions about having her mouth touched, so medication is best hidden in a pill pocket. Fortunately, she considers pill pockets an excellent treat and takes her medication without a fuss that way. Freya's Health Freya was diagnosed with pituitary dependent Cushing's disease, a hormonal condition that requires lifelong medication and monitoring. The good news is that she has responded very well to treatment! Her excessive thirst, urination, and panting have improved significantly, and she's much more comfortable. She currently takes trilostane 20 mg twice daily. Her most recent ACTH stimulation test has been completed, and we're awaiting the veterinarian's dosing recommendations. Freya has been cleared by her veterinarian for adoption. Her Cushing's disease is being managed, but she will need continued medication, periodic testing, and routine veterinary care throughout her life. She also has arthritis that is currently managed with gabapentin. This medication makes a noticeable difference in her comfort and mobility. Her future family should expect to continue working with their veterinarian on pain management as she ages. Her unusual foot has been evaluated, and no intervention is needed. What Kind of Home Does Freya Need? Freya needs a home with people who have a soft heart, lots of love to give, and a healthy sense of humor. She wants to be included, appreciated, and adored. She also needs a family with patience for her potty training, understanding of her senior dog limitations, and a willingness to manage her ongoing medical care. Her ideal family will: Understand the responsibilities and costs associated with managing Cushing's disease and arthritis. Be comfortable maintaining potty pads while continuing to work on outdoor potty habits. Include her in family life and provide plenty of companionship. Appreciate a senior dog who enjoys shorter walks, outdoor time, and plenty of relaxation. Have a fenced yard if possible, although it's not an absolute requirement. Be prepared to manage her car anxiety with help from their veterinarian. Be willing to overlook the occasional bit of Loki inspired mischief! Freya would love a person who is home much of the day, but she doesn't necessarily need someone with her every minute. She can settle nicely when the house is quiet and does well with a compatible canine companion when left alone. GPPR recognizes that adopting a senior dog with a chronic medical condition comes with additional considerations. We are willing to work with Freya's adopter regarding her ongoing medical care and associated costs. Specific arrangements can be discussed with approved adopters. Freya is being fostered in Ames, Iowa. At 13 years old, Freya still has plenty of personality, plenty of love to give, and plenty of opportunities to get herself into trouble. Her creativity will surprise you, as will just how far an arthritic body can stretch when there's something interesting on the kitchen counter. We would love nothing more than to find someone who sees all of that and thinks she's exactly the dog they've been waiting for. Interested in giving Freya her forever home? Complete an adoption application! *Please be sure to read the adoption information page on our website before applying for a dog. Visit this organization's web site to see any additional information available about this pet.November 15, 2026, 11:29 am
