Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
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Story
MEET CLARAClara is a beautiful, 3-year-old Mini Poodle who has spent her entire life in a puppy mill. Until coming to us, Clara didn’t know what it felt like to walk on grass, play with a toy, or feel safe or loved. She had to be shaved down due to the poor conditions she was living in, while her hair will grow back, healing her heart will take much more time and patience.Because of her past, Clara is very scared of new people and unfamiliar situations. She wasn’t taught how to be a pet, she only knew how to survive. She lived in a cage, went to the bathroom in her cage, had her babies in her cage and then had her babies taken from her to be sold at pet stores. She had little to no human kindness. Things most dogs take for granted, leashes, house training, toys, even gentle affection are all brand new to her.But here’s the beautiful part: Clara is trying. Since before Christmas, our staff and volunteers have been working with her, and she has already come a long way. She is beginning to trust. She’s started playing with toys. She’s learning that humans can be kind. And when she feels safe, you can see just how sweet and gentle she truly is.Clara absolutely needs another small dog in her home. She is a completely different dog when she has a little friend by her side. We believe she may have been kenneled with another dog in the mill, and she clearly finds comfort, confidence, and joy in canine companionship. Another small dog will help teach her how to be a dog, how to play, how to explore, how to feel brave.Clara’s perfect home would be a calm, quiet household with at least one other small dog (under 20 lbs). No children (they would be too scary for her) and No large dogs (they would overwhelm her). She needs a family with patience, understanding, and lots of loveClara is not housebroken yet, as she was forced to go to the bathroom in her cage for years. She will need to use pee pads while she slowly learns leash skills and house training, all at her pace. Nothing about Clara’s journey will happen overnight. Trauma like hers takes time to heal.Puppy mills don’t just hurt dogs physically, they rob them of normal life experiences. Dogs like Clara miss out on socialization, training, comfort, and love during critical developmental stages. The result is a dog who doesn’t know how to trust, how to play, or how to feel safe. None of this is Clara’s fault. She was never given a chance to just be a dog.
