Shih Tzu puppies and dogs in Peekskill, New York

Black and white Shih Tzu adult Backstory for Stanley Stanley found himself in an overcapacity animal control facility that euthanizes due to lack of space. He was abandoned at a "friends" house by someone who left the state and never returned. He arrived to the animal control facility neglected, not neutered, and with a damaged eye. Animal Saints Rescue Society was asked to pull him to safety to give him a second chance at life.    Get to Know Stanley age: 6-8 years breed: Shih Tzu  weight: approximately 16 pounds  Vaccines and treatments:  Rabies  Bordetella  DHPP, part one and two  Dewormer  Flea/tick prevention  Other tests and procedures:  Heart worm test - negative  Fecal test - negative  Urinalysis to help treat initial infection which has been resolved  Neuter surgery Additional procedures:  • Eye enucleation of his left eye that was too infected to repair • Microchipped • Laser therapy to help with initial pain from infection which is now gone • Bloodwork - some elevated WBC and BUN due to infection when he was pulled to safety. It has been checked twice so far, and numbers are decreasing to show he is healing. Kidney levels are higher than normal range and should be rechecked in a few months. Stanley should be fed a lower protein diet to keep his kidneys functioning well. Veterinary care costs given to Stanley by Animal Saints Rescue Society, based upon NYC area pricing, is $3,500+ Requested adoption donation fee is only $750. This is to partly cover his lifesaving expenses that our 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue incurred to give him a second chance at life. Breed and Hair Notes  Stanley has hair and not fur. He is a handsome blend of grey and white hair.  PLEASE NOTE: Stanley's hair will grow as it is not fur. He will need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Only apply if you understand the additional maintenance and cost these dear hair-not-fur souls need and are willing to commit to life for such care. Stanley is wonderful for baths and hair trims. He loves attention, and giving him treats through it all makes it even more fun for him.  Personality Stanley is a gentle bloke who wants a quiet existence with his people nearby. It seems as though he has spent most of his life inside. He goes potty on potty pads, and he loves to nap on any available sofa.  Stanley is not thrilled about the outdoors, though he is just starting to show signs of enjoying it. He is timid about going for walks at present. In time, we can see him gaining confidence outside. For now, he will be your best friend inside by the fireside. He has met several dogs of all ages, and he enjoys their company. He is the quiet boy in the group, letting the bolder ones move forward while he waits for attention.  Stanley is incredibly sweet and an all-around heart melter.  He can see well out of his remaining eye. Given he is without his left eye, he can be startled if approached from his left side. He gets around well and has adjusted brilliantly after his surgery.  Basic foundational skills training sessions with a certified professional positive reinforcement trainer are required for Stanley's adoption. Just a few classes are needed, and they are fun. It’s an excellent way to connect with your newly adopted Saint, too.  You can enjoy meeting Stanley in his short film: https://vimeo.com/1142284479 Ideal Home It is ideal for Stanley to be in a very laidback home with only adults. Older children are possible, but only those who have experience living with dogs and have great respect and love for them. Stanley loves the company of other dogs. It is not a requirement for him to have siblings, but he would appreciate the company of other dogs in his life.  Stanley will especially thrive in a home that can give him companionship day and night. He’d be okay for a few hours on his own if you provided him with puzzles and things to do while you’re away.  Plan on sharing your sofa and bedroom with Stanley. He will want to be by your side, no matter where you are and what you are doing. No crates for Stanley.  If you have a very secure fenced-in backyard or outdoor space where he feels safe to venture outside, this would be ideal. Love and Commitment  At Animal Saints Rescue Society, our goal is to keep dogs out of overcapacity animal control facilities and out of a re-homing cycle. Our goal is to place the dogs we save into lifetime families.  With this in mind, we seek adopters who understand that an adoption is a lifetime commitment. The families who adopt from us believe that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Some humans still believe it’s okay to try out a dog for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years — then discard when they get bored or don’t want to deal with emotional or physical ailments.  We are looking for the empathetic, kind, and patient humans in this world who view these Animal Saints as family. They don't believe animals are subordinates or view them as mere possessions; they are partners in life. They are committed to giving them the safety and love they need to flourish.  Will that family be you? We look forward to finding out and receiving your application!       March 15, 2026, 7:46 pm

 Backstory for Daisy Animal Saints Rescue Society was asked to help with an owner surrender involving several Imperial Shih Tzu. Their former person was having emergency medical issues that were life threatening, and they were not well enough to take care of them. Our nonprofit became the safety net for these incredible Shih Tzu.  Our nonprofit is here to help so the Animal Saints do not end up in overcrowded government animal control facilities that euthanize due to lack of space. Daisy recently arrived to our sanctuary to get all of the medical care she needs. Now that we have gotten to know her personality and she has shown us what she needs in a family, she is ready to be placed in her lifetime home. We look forward to finding out who this will be!  Get to Know Daisy Name meaning: represents light, purity, and quiet resilience. Daisy is an apt name for this extraordinary Animal Saint.  age: 3 years young with a birthdate of 3.22.2022 breed: Shih Tzu weight: 7-7.5 pounds Vaccines:  Rabies  DHPP Bordetella  Corona/flu  Other Tests and Procedures:  Spayed in June, 2026 Snap 4Dx test (passed and tested negative for heart worm, lyme, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis)   Dental cleaning in June, 2026  Bloodwork June, 2026 - Slightly elevated level in a couple of numbers, most likely due to arriving with flea bites and scabs. She has been treated, and her skin has healed. Everything else is within normal range and shows healthy organs.  Additional procedures and treatments:  • Microchipped • Fecal test, negative • Flea/tick preventive treatment, heart worm prevention, and dewormer  • First positive reinforcement training sessions  • Several baths and grooms   A good health certificate, as well as a certificate of veterinary inspection, is provided with her medical records. Requested adoption donation fee is only $800. This is to partly cover the costs of care that our 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue has incurred. On average, Animal Saints’ cost to save a life through our nonprofit exceeds $2,000 per Saint. We do our best to keep our adoption requests as reasonable as possible to encourage more people to adopt.   Breed and Hair Notes  Daisy has hair and not fur. She is a very rare Imperial Shih Tzu with black and tan dobie markings.  Daisy is full grown and very small, one of the smallest Shih Tzu we have helped.  PLEASE NOTE: Daisy’s hair will grow as it is not fur. She will need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Only apply if you understand the additional maintenance and cost these dear hair-not-fur souls need and are willing to commit to life for such care. Daisy was very frightened for baths when she first arrived. Now, she’s calm in them after having several since coming into our care. She had to be shaved down when she first arrived. Her hair is now long enough for haircuts, and she is great about them. She does well for trims, and she wags her tail through them.  Personality Daisy is sweet, spunky, and especially special. She is shy and skittish initially around people she does not yet know. She is very ready to connect, though. We believe that with training and time, she will gain confidence and enjoy meeting new humans.  Daisy has a spring in her step and a joy for life. She loves to talk when she gets excited, and she has a great dance every time her morning and evening meals are served.  Daisy needs a person/family who is willing to meet her where she is in her progress. At this point, she’s not the kind of girl who will just jump in a new person’s lap right away. She is very sweet and is in want of attention and hugs once she knows and trusts a person. But getting to that point takes time. Gaining her trust is a gift, and she needs someone who appreciates how special it is to connect with an Animal Saint in this way.  Because of Daisy’s current shyness and skittishness, she is a flight risk. This means that she needs training and time before going out on a harness and leash for a walk. If you live in a noisy urban area, it is going to take awhile before she’s comfortable with it.  Daisy is learning foundational skills training. We are working on “sit,” recall word “here,” and “look.” We expect her new family to continue training sessions with a professional and certified positive reinforcement trainer to keep her safe in her new life.  To learn more about Daisy, see her excitement about life despite being camera shy, and take in her soulful and sweet disposition, view her short film here: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1212170249 Ideal Home Daisy needs a quiet and laidback home. No high energy children. Adults only who can give a stable, consistent, and safe home. Daisy needs someone to be home throughout the day. Being alone makes her anxious, though this will diminish as she gains more confidence.  Ideally, she should have canine siblings. If a family is interested in adopting just Daisy as their only dog, this is a possibility, but she is going to need to have canine friends nearby to see them often. She’s the kind of girl that follows other canines who are more outgoing and confident. She is going to come out of her shell much more quickly if she can observe and emulate other canines.  It is ideal for Daisy to be in a home with people who are around most of the time. She would not do well being alone for hours on her own while her people are away working. It is important to match her with someone who works remotely or is retired.  No crates for Daisy. If crates are necessary for your lifestyle, then Daisy is not a match. Plan on sharing your sofa and bed with her. Once she trusts you, she will want to be by your side, no matter where you are or what you are doing. She is ready to be a loyal companion for life!    Love and Commitment  At Animal Saints Rescue Society, our goal is to keep dogs out of overcapacity animal control facilities and out of a re-homing cycle. Our goal is to place the dogs we save into lifetime families.  With this in mind, we seek adopters who understand that an adoption is a lifetime commitment. The families who adopt from us believe that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Some humans still believe it’s okay to try out a dog for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years — then discard when they get bored or don’t want to deal with emotional or physical needs.  We are looking for the empathetic, kind, and patient humans in this world who view these Animal Saints as family. They don't believe animals are subordinates or view them as mere possessions; they are partners in life. They are committed to giving them the safety and love they need to flourish.  Will that family be you? We look forward to finding out and receiving your application! August 18, 2026, 10:50 pm

Backstory for Clementine Animal Saints Rescue Society was asked to help with an owner surrender involving several Imperial Shih Tzu. Their former person was having emergency medical issues that were life threatening, and they were not well enough to take care of them. Our nonprofit became the safety net for these incredible Shih Tzu.  Our nonprofit is here to help so the Animal Saints do not end up in overcrowded government animal control facilities that euthanize due to lack of space. Clementine recently arrived to our sanctuary to get all of the medical care she needs. Now that we have gotten to know her personality and she has shown us what she needs in a family, she is ready to be placed in her lifetime home. We look forward to finding out who this will be!  Get to Know Clementine age: 3-4 breed: Shih Tzu weight:  7.5 pounds Vaccines:  Rabies  DHPP Bordetella  Corona/flu  Other Tests and Procedures:  Spayed in June, 2026 Snap 4Dx test (passed and tested negative for heart worm, lyme, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis)   Dental cleaning in June, 2026  Bloodwork June, 2026 - Numbers within normal ranges and nothing concerning.  Additional procedures and treatments:  • Microchipped • Fecal test, negative • Flea/tick preventive treatment, heart worm prevention, and dewormer  • First positive reinforcement training sessions  • Several baths and grooms   A good health certificate will be provided with her medical records. Requested adoption donation fee is only $800. This is to partly cover the costs of care that our 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue has incurred. On average, Animal Saints’ cost to save a life through our nonprofit exceeds $2,000 per Saint. We do our best to keep our adoption requests as reasonable as possible to encourage more people to adopt.   Breed and Hair Notes  Clementine has hair and not fur. She is a very rare Imperial Shih Tzu with liver and cream hues. She is full grown and tiny.  PLEASE NOTE: Clementine’s hair will grow as it is not fur. She will need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Only apply if you understand the additional maintenance and cost these dear hair-not-fur souls need and are willing to commit to life for such care. Clementine is terrific for baths and grooming. She’s had a few since arriving. She was frightened at first, but now she loves the attention. An adopter who loves to maintain her longer hair is an ideal match.  Personality Clementine is incredibly sweet but incredibly shy. Once she trusts someone, her loyalty, love, and exuberance for life is so impressive and moving. Her eagerness to connect is there, but please note that this connection will take time. It’s possible that it will take a least a couple of visits to our sanctuary before she connects with her new person. If you are an empathetic soul and can completely understand that this will take time with her personality, please keep reading.  It appears that Clementine has not met very many people in her life. She is under socialized and skittish. Because of it, she is a flight risk. Only very securely fenced-in yards will be accepted for her. Do not plan to take her for a walk safely until you’ve completed all of your training classes. She is just getting comfortable being outside; she’s not yet ready for leashed walking. In time, we can see her potentially enjoying it. But it will take time and patience to allow her to gain confidence.  If you live in an urban setting and fall in love with Clementine, please note that it will take weeks and even months before she is comfortable with the sights and sounds of city life. With a very experienced adopter, this could be possible. But we do believe she will be much calmer and happier in a quieter setting.  Clementine gravitates toward hanging out with her sister (from a different litter) named Marigold. She also loves the more laidback matriarchs here in the sanctuary. Clementine learns from the more outgoing Animal Saints here, and she gains confidence by watching them. With this in mind, we see her thriving in a home with other small dogs. In a home as an only dog, the confidence building will take much longer.  Clementine’s favourite spot in the sanctuary is a velvet sofa. As her hair grows out, she’s looking quite regal and is becoming very at ease with her surroundings. She will perch on her pillow and watch everyone intently. When volunteers do office work in her flat, she runs over by them and promptly gets comfortable in a dog bed next to their feet. She’s makes a great assistant! She is very observant and follows humans’ cues well.  Clementine is getting familiar with foundational skills training. We are working on “sit,” recall word “here,” and “look.” We expect her new family to continue her training sessions to keep her safe in her new life with them. Ideal Home It is ideal for Clementine to be in a home with people who are around most of the time. Plan on sharing your sofa and bedroom with her. Once she trusts you, she will want to be by your side, no matter where you are and what you are doing.  She will especially thrive in a home that can give her companionship day and night. She will be okay if you have to be away for a few hours, but only if another Animal Saint or Saints are in your home. She loves her sister Marigold who is also available for adoption. It would be wonderful to find a home for them to live together.  Clementine is very small — smaller than a standard size Shih Tzu. For her safety, she needs to be in a home with dogs who are a similar size.  Clementine is a great traveler and is comfortable in a travel safety carrier or latched in a car harness. But no daytime/nighttime crates for her. If they are a must for your lifestyle, then she is not for you.  Older children are case by case — only those who have experience living with dogs, understand dog behavior, and have great respect and love for them will be considered.  Love and Commitment  At Animal Saints Rescue Society, our goal is to keep dogs out of overcapacity animal control facilities and out of a re-homing cycle. Our goal is to place the dogs we save into lifetime families.  With this in mind, we seek adopters who understand that an adoption is a lifetime commitment. The families who adopt from us believe that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Some humans still believe it’s okay to try out a dog for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years — then discard when they get bored or don’t want to deal with emotional or physical needs.  We are looking for the empathetic, kind, and patient humans in this world who view these Animal Saints as family. They don't believe animals are subordinates or view them as mere possessions; they are partners in life. They are committed to giving them the safety and love they need to flourish.  Will that family be you? We look forward to finding out and receiving your application!     August 18, 2026, 10:50 pm

 Backstory for Lizzy Animal Saints Rescue Society was asked to help with a hoarding situation that involved Lizzy and her sister Izzy. We were able to get them out safely before they started to have litters of their own.  Lizzy recently arrived to our sanctuary to get all of the medical care she needs. Now that we have gotten to know her personality and she has shown us what she needs in a family, she is ready to be placed in her lifetime home. We look forward to finding out who this will be!  Get to Know Lizzy age: baby at only 10 months  breed: Shih Tzu weight: 9-9.5 pounds Vaccines:  Rabies  DHPP Bordetella  Other Tests and Procedures:  Spayed in May, 2026 Heartworm test, negative (which is very good!)   Additional procedures and treatments:  • Microchipped • Flea/tick preventive treatment, heart worm prevention, and dewormer  • First positive reinforcement training sessions  • Several baths and grooms   Requested adoption donation/fee is $900. This is to partly cover the costs of care that our 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue has incurred. On average, Animal Saints’ cost to save a life through our nonprofit exceeds $2,000 per Saint. We do our best to keep our adoption requests as reasonable as possible to encourage more people to adopt.   Breed and Hair Notes  Lizzy has hair and not fur. She is a Shih Tzu with beautiful white and tan markings. PLEASE NOTE: Lizzy’s hair will grow as it is not fur. She will need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Only apply if you understand the additional maintenance and cost these dear hair-not-fur souls need and are willing to commit to life for such care. Lizzy is not used to grooming, but she quickly learned that it’s great fun when lots of treats are involved! She has been wiggly for her baths but is getting used to them. By the end of her groom, she was sitting down on the grooming table for us. She’s learning quickly that it’s fun to be taken care of and doted upon.  Personality Lizzy is effervescent and a delight. It’s easy for her to meet people she doesn’t know, and she greets everyone with a tail wag. She has a surprising amount of confidence for a baby Shih Tzu!  When she gets really excited, she has the cutest snort that tells us all she’s having the time of her life. Then, she adds a dance with a front paw wave to really show her love of living. She’s a hoot! Lizzy is ready for anything, whether it’s a playful romp in the garden or cuddle time on the sofa. She’ll be your walking friend and laidback sidekick.  Lizzy is learning foundational skills training. We are working on “sit,” recall word “here,” and “look.” She is learning the basics of loose leash training as she has the energy and personality to enjoy some good walks in her life. We expect her new family to continue training sessions with a professional and certified positive reinforcement trainer to keep her safe in her new life.  To learn more about Lizzy and take in her joy and energy, view her short film here: https://vimeo.com/1216701409 Ideal Home Lizzy could handle a laidback home as well as one that has some life and energy in it. She is young and has the energy for faster walks and playfulness.  Lizzy loves her sister Izzy. It’s not imperative to adopt them together, but you’d have best friends (and littermates!) right out of the gate if adopted together. We are open to finding homes for them separately if the ideal families present themselves for both. Both could handle being the only dog in the home, provided they had canine friends. Having daily walking friends is always a great idea for socializing. It is important to match Lizzy with someone who works remotely, a very active and higher energy retiree, or she’s able to go to work with her person. She’s not the kind of girl who would be a-okay being left alone for many hours every day. She has an abundance of love to give, and if people are not around to receive it, she will be sad and lonely.  No crates for Lizzy. If crates are necessary for your lifestyle, then Lizzy is not a match. Plan on sharing your sofa and bed with her. She’ll be loyal for life!    Love and Commitment  At Animal Saints Rescue Society, our goal is to keep dogs out of overcapacity animal control facilities and out of a re-homing cycle. Our goal is to place the dogs we save into lifetime families.  With this in mind, we seek adopters who understand that an adoption is a lifetime commitment. The families who adopt from us believe that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Some humans still believe it’s okay to try out a dog for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years — then discard when they get bored or don’t want to deal with emotional or physical needs.  We are looking for the empathetic, kind, and patient humans in this world who view these Animal Saints as family. They don't believe animals are subordinates or view them as mere possessions; they are partners in life. They are committed to giving them the safety and love they need to flourish.  Will that family be you? We look forward to finding out and receiving your application! August 18, 2026, 10:50 pm

Backstory for Marigold Animal Saints Rescue Society was asked to help with an owner surrender involving several Imperial Shih Tzu. Their former person was having emergency medical issues that were life threatening, and they were not well enough to take care of them. Our nonprofit became the safety net for these incredible Shih Tzu.  Our nonprofit is here to help so the Animal Saints do not end up in overcrowded government animal control facilities that euthanize due to lack of space. Marigold recently arrived to our sanctuary to get all of the medical care she needs. Now that we have gotten to know her personality and she has shown us what she needs in a family, she is ready to be placed in her lifetime home. We look forward to finding out who this will be!  Get to Know Marigold age: 3-4 breed: Shih Tzu weight:  5.5 pounds Vaccines:  Rabies  DHPP Bordetella  Corona/flu  Other Tests and Procedures:  Spayed in June, 2026 Snap 4Dx test (passed and tested negative for heart worm, lyme, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis)   Dental cleaning in June, 2026  Bloodwork June, 2026 - ALT is slightly higher than normal range and ideally should be checked in six months, but nothing overly concerning. Everything else is in normal ranges. Additional procedures and treatments:  • Microchipped • Fecal test, negative • Flea/tick preventive treatment, heart worm prevention, and dewormer  • First positive reinforcement training sessions  • Several baths and grooms   A good health certificate will be provided with her medical records. Requested adoption donation fee is only $800. This is to partly cover the costs of care that our 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue has incurred. On average, Animal Saints’ cost to save a life through our nonprofit exceeds $2,000 per Saint. We do our best to keep our adoption requests as reasonable as possible to encourage more people to adopt.   Breed and Hair Notes  Marigold has hair and not fur. She is a very rare Dobie Imperial Shih Tzu. She is full grown and tiny — one of the smallest Shih Tzu we have ever helped.  PLEASE NOTE: Marigold’s hair will grow as it is not fur. She will need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Only apply if you understand the additional maintenance and cost these dear hair-not-fur souls need and are willing to commit to life for such care. Marigold is so gentle for baths and grooming. She’s had a few since arriving. She actually just laid down on the grooming table for her last trim. She wagged her tail and loved the attention!  Personality Marigold is a little sprite filled with joy and love. She is shy at first, but she is usually faster to connect with humans than her sister named Clementine. Once she feels at ease, her tail will wag nonstop, and she’ll even do a little dance of excitement. She loves attention from humans, and she’s so excited about connecting with them.   It appears that Marigold has not met very many people in her life. She is under socialized and a bit skittish. Because of it, she is a flight risk. Only very securely fenced-in yards will be accepted for her. Do not plan to take her for a walk safely until you’ve completed all of your training classes. She is just getting comfortable being outside; she’s not yet ready for leashed walking. In time, we can see her potentially enjoying it. But it will take time, patience, and training to allow her to gain confidence.  If you live in the city and fall in love with Marigold, please note that it may take weeks before she is comfortable with the sights and sounds of an urban setting. With a very experienced adopter, this could be possible. Her temperament demands a quiet and steady home.  Marigold gravitates toward hanging out with her sister (from a different litter) named Clementine. It is not imperative to adopt them together if we find extraordinary homes for them separately, but it would be a special gift for them to live together. We also observe Marigold finding a quiet place to nap on her own at times. She can be independent, but she also loves knowing where the humans and her canine friends are located. As we write her profile just now, she’s hanging out with her sister Clementine in a big fluffy bed, giving us love eyes.  Marigold loves hugs and asks to get picked up often. We can see her eventually loving going out to run errands with her person in a shoulder carrier. She is also a great office assistant. She loves napping in the biggest fluffy dog beds in the sanctuary. She makes a beeline for the beds next to the tables where our volunteers do office work. She loves being near, but she’s not demanding of constantly being in a lap.  Marigold is getting familiar with foundational skills training. We are working on “sit,” recall word “here,” and “look.” We expect her new family to continue her training sessions to keep her safe in her new life with them. You can view a short film about her here: https://vimeo.com/1207599987 Ideal Home It is ideal for Marigold to be in a home with people who are around most of the time. Plan on sharing your sofa and bedroom with her. Once she trusts you, she will want to be with you. It’s how she’s wired, and it is important to find a home that will give this to her. Marigold is diminutively small. She needs to be in a home with dogs who are a similar size.  She will especially thrive in a home that can give her companionship day and night. She will be okay if you have to be away for a few hours. It would be ideal if she had canine friends if you need to be away.  No crates for Marigold. She does well in a travel carrier in a car, but not in a crate at home during the day and/or night. If they are a must for your lifestyle, then she is not for you.  Older children are case by case — only those who have experience living with dogs, understand dog behavior, and have great respect and love for them will be considered.    Love and Commitment  At Animal Saints Rescue Society, our goal is to keep dogs out of overcapacity animal control facilities and out of a re-homing cycle. Our goal is to place the dogs we save into lifetime families.  With this in mind, we seek adopters who understand that an adoption is a lifetime commitment. The families who adopt from us believe that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Some humans still believe it’s okay to try out a dog for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years — then discard when they get bored or don’t want to deal with emotional or physical needs.  We are looking for the empathetic, kind, and patient humans in this world who view these Animal Saints as family. They don't believe animals are subordinates or view them as mere possessions; they are partners in life. They are committed to giving them the safety and love they need to flourish.  Will that family be you? We look forward to finding out and receiving your application!     August 18, 2026, 10:50 pm

 Backstory for Izzy Animal Saints Rescue Society was asked to help with a hoarding situation that involved Izzy and her sister Lizzy. We were able to get them out safely before they started to have litters of their own.  Izzy recently arrived to our sanctuary to get all of the medical care she needs. Now that we have gotten to know her personality and she has shown us what she needs in a family, she is ready to be placed in her lifetime home. We look forward to finding out who this will be!  Get to Know Izzy age: 10 months  breed: Shih Tzu weight: 8-8.5 pounds Vaccines:  Rabies  DHPP Bordetella  Other Tests and Procedures:  Spayed in May, 2026 Heartworm test, negative (which is very good!)   Additional procedures and treatments:  • Microchipped • Flea/tick preventive treatment, heart worm prevention, and dewormer  • First positive reinforcement training sessions  • Several baths and grooms   Requested adoption donation/fee is $900. This is to partly cover the costs of care that our 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue has incurred. On average, Animal Saints’ cost to save a life through our nonprofit exceeds $2,000 per Saint. We do our best to keep our adoption requests as reasonable as possible to encourage more people to adopt.   Breed and Hair Notes  Izzy has hair and not fur. She is a Shih Tzu with beautiful white and tan markings. PLEASE NOTE: Izzy’s hair will grow as it is not fur. She will need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Only apply if you understand the additional maintenance and cost these dear hair-not-fur souls need and are willing to commit to life for such care. Izzy is not used to grooming, but she was amazing for it all! She is getting used to the professional grooming sink here in the sanctuary, and she sits on the grooming table with patience.  Personality Izzy is happy, happy, happy! When her tail wags, her entire body wiggles! She’s slightly shyer than her sister Lizzy at this point, but she warms up very quickly to give hugs and cuddles in laps. Oh, can she dance! It’s almost as if she’s practicing how to walk like a human. She will artfully dance on her back legs for minutes at a time.  Izzy is ready for anything. She has playful energy and is ready to go for longer walks (once properly loose leash trained). At the same time, she’s ready to nap for hours by your side while you work. She has a great combination of let’s go and laidback, which is quintessential Shih Tzu.  Izzy is learning foundational skills training. We are working on “sit,” recall word “here,” and “look.” She is learning the basics of loose leash training as she has the energy and personality to enjoy some good walks in her life. We expect her new family to continue training sessions with a professional and certified positive reinforcement trainer to keep her safe in her new life.  To learn more about Izzy and take in her sweetness, despite being camera shy, view her short film here: https://vimeo.com/1216701408 Ideal Home Izzy could handle a laidback home as well as one that has some life and energy in it. She is young and has the energy for faster walks and playfulness.  Izzy loves her sister Lizzy. It’s not imperative to adopt them together, but you’d have best friends (and littermates!) right out of the gate if adopted together. We are open to finding homes for them separately if the ideal families present themselves for both. Both could handle being the only dog in the home, provided they had canine friends. Having daily walking friends is always a great idea for socializing. It is important to match Lizzy with someone who works remotely, a very active and higher energy retiree, or she’s able to go to work with her person. She’s not the kind of girl who would be a-okay being left alone for many hours every day. She has an abundance of love to give, and if people are not around to receive it, she will be sad and lonely.  No crates for Izzy. If crates are necessary for your lifestyle, then Izzy is not a match. Plan on sharing your sofa and bed with her. She’ll be completely devoted to you for life.   Love and Commitment  At Animal Saints Rescue Society, our goal is to keep dogs out of overcapacity animal control facilities and out of a re-homing cycle. Our goal is to place the dogs we save into lifetime families.  With this in mind, we seek adopters who understand that an adoption is a lifetime commitment. The families who adopt from us believe that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Some humans still believe it’s okay to try out a dog for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years — then discard when they get bored or don’t want to deal with emotional or physical needs.  We are looking for the empathetic, kind, and patient humans in this world who view these Animal Saints as family. They don't believe animals are subordinates or view them as mere possessions; they are partners in life. They are committed to giving them the safety and love they need to flourish.  Will that family be you? We look forward to finding out and receiving your application!August 18, 2026, 10:50 pm