American Staffordshire Terrier puppies and dogs in Vienna, Virginia

Meet Rory. This sweet soul was picked up as a stray and ended up in a county shelter already over capacity. He clearly came from a life of isolation and was terrified in confinement. County shelters only have so much room and budget and are dealing with an animal overpopulation problem that shows no signs of correcting. There are many backyard breeders in this region, and there is little education about animal welfare, with no spay/neuter laws or restrictions on dog ownership. Owner surrenders are common, and shelters must prioritize dogs who do well in their environment. Rory did not acclimate well to the shelter. He would hide under his bench in his kennel and didn't want to engage strangers. Shy dogs like Rory have a very low chance of adoption. People want to interact with their potential pup and feel a connection. And, just being a ‘Pittie” means he already has a more limited adopter population.After 130 days at the shelter, he was in decline and ended up on the euthanasia list. Luckily, Rory had an advocate in his corner. One of our foster moms, Laine, volunteers at the shelter walking dogs to give them a reprieve from the stress. After her most recent foster pup came up to N. Virginia, we wanted to save another Pittie for her to foster. She told us that Rory’s time was up and she wanted to help him, so Rory officially became a Worthy Dog. Rory has only been in his foster home for two weeks and is showing tremendous progress. After only a few days, we began to see a different dog emerge. He found an immediate buddy in the family dog, Clarysse, and we discovered he loves to play. Rory shares his toys and human affection well and shows a new joyful spirit. Clarysse is helping him build his confidence and work through some fears, and he’s getting used to daily walks, a consistent schedule, family time on the couch, and the noises and cadence of home life. Laine is taking it slow and giving him time to adjust, but he’s doing better than expected.   Foster Mom Update - 12/23/22   “Rory is a very sweet boy and does great with my dogs. He loves his zoomies around the yard and enjoys walks too. We walk as a pack and also go solo sometimes. Rory watches the other dogs and learns from them. He’s doing well with my husband Gary too, and doesn’t seem to be overly fearful of men. He is still scared of sudden noises and movements, but that just takes time and continued exposure to new things..  He’s crate trained and has had very few accidents in the home. His recall has improved and he will come back to me when I call him now.”   We can’t change Rory’s past, but we can help him adapt and prepare for a better life ahead. This handsome boy is pure sweetness and a gem of a pup.. We are looking for an owner with a little patience who has a calm home and another social established dog in the family."   Rory will be coming to N. VA in late January. Apply today!   BREED ESTIMATE: AmStaff Mix GENDER: Male APPROXIMATE WEIGHT:  52 lbs  APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 2 years old COAT TYPE:  Short  ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/neutered/microchipped LOCATION:  York, SC     FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area. June 5, 2023, 12:20 am

Meet Polly! This sweet, petite bully girl with the adorable ears has been in foster care for a few months learning how to be a family dog. She is no longer fearful of car rides, enjoy her daily walks, and is very comfortable inside the home. Once she settles in and trusts her environment, her joy is palpable and her passion for toys is unmatched. She’s also a champion snuggler! Polly was confiscated as part of a dogfighting/cruelty case when she was only a puppy and held as "evidence" for almost two years. She was NEVER involved in fighting as she was far too young, but she was kept at the county shelter as evidence until the case went to trial. In the shelter, she had very little exposure to the outside world - stairs, car rides, or walks in a neighborhood were all new to her. She was held hostage by a broken justice system. With timid dogs like Polly, they typically need more time in foster care to rehabilitate and be ready for adoption. Polly is fortunate to have foster parents who understand that she needs a little time, but can and will evolve. She has been gradually introduced to new things and continues to improve with every new experience. Polly was initially fostered in SC by Laine and Gary, living with their pack of 4 dogs. They are veteran fosters who have have a lot of experience with undersocialized dogs. While she was scared at first, she acclimated faster than we expected. She found a BFF in the family dog, Clarysse, and discovered her passion for toys. She carries her treasures everywhere...even on walks if you let her. In SC, she learned about home life, and became fmailiar with all the new home sounds (TV, dishwasher, vacuum) and stairs. She also become a champion couch snuggler.    FOSTER MOM UPDATE (SC) - July 2022  "Polly is really starting to enjoy herself. She is very loving and likes to lay on the couch with you or on you with her toys of course. She loves to do zoomies. She's crate trained, housetrained, and has learned 'sit' but does a cute little tapping with her front paws because she gets so excited when she thinks a treat is coming. She loves her toys and will play fetch when she is in the mood. She's great with our dogs and enjoys playing with Clarysse and Gypsy. She's getting braver on her walks but is still a work in progress. She's pretty good on leash but will pull when she wants something like going inside after a walk, seeing one of the dogs, a toy.”   After a few months decompressing and getting comfortable with home life, Polly came to N. VA in mid-December 2022 to start the next leg in her journey. Her transition was much quicker this time as she’s learned to trust people and now has more life experience outsdie the shelter. She’s currently living with Shaleia and Sean and their two pups, and quickly assimilated into her new pack.    FOSTER MOM UPDATE (VA) - 3/1/23   Polly has been in her local foster home for about 2.5 months now and is really finding her groove. She’s very comfortable in her foster home and is doing well as part of a pack. Once she settles in, you can see her happy-go-lucky nature: she is excited about life (especially food), very affectionate, loves to play, and loves to be the center of attention. This petite Bully girl is a pup who needs a little time to adapt to a new environment. She’s still a little skittish around sudden or loud noises, but is fine with normal street traffic on walks. She can be timid when meeting new people but is improving. Her foster mom, Shaleia, has been inviting friends over with dogs for playdates and taking Polly to the local dog park to get more exposure outside the home. We checked in with Shaleia for an update: “Overall, I think she’s made progress in every area, but the biggest progress has been at home. I’m very glad that she’s comfortable and happy here, and we’ve proven that she can be okay with men and women in the home. She loves my husband and has proven to be a champion snuggler. She likes to snuggle up on the couch with me, and she snuggles with Doc and Donner too. Polly loves to play... With other dogs or on her own with toys, especially if it’s something she can rip up or chew to pieces. We are careful about what toys are left out if we’re not going to be there to supervise. She and our pup, Donner, really love their play time together and are a great match. Polly likes to roughhouse play and is best paired with a social, playful, confident dog, a pup that she can learn from and emulate. I’ve figured out that most of her pulling on walks is because I’m not fast enough though she does tend to pull more when walking with other dogs. She’ll still jump at unexpected sounds or if a jogger comes up behind us, but has gotten more comfortable passing people and generally passes dogs calmly too. Bikes are fine, but baby strollers and scooters are still a bit scary. My friend who comes over for playdates has made great progress with Polly. We had her come into the house on the last visit to see how Polly would react and it went pretty well. There was no barking or extra shy behavior. Now when we hang out, Polly will come up to her to say hi, get a couple scratches, and give a lick to her hand too…progress!”   Crate - We're using the crate when the humans are out of the house. She does usually cry for a few minutes when you leave and again when she hears you come back home, but checking the camera shows she is quiet and calm the rest of the time.   On leash - There's still room for improvement, but the martingale made a big difference for her pulling. The first time on any trail, you can tell she's a bit apprehensive, but she gets more comfortable with repeated trips. Road sounds and cars don't seem to bother her.   Skills/training - We are working on basic commands, obedience, and recall. She knows sit but she needs work with everything else. She is super food motivated so that helps.   Polly has been fortunate to have two sets of foster parents who understand that dogs need time and stability but can and do evolve. They’ve been patient, gradually introducing Polly to new things and she improves with every new experience.   We are looking for a loving, patient owner for Polly who will give her time to settle in and adjust to her new surroundings. We feel another social, playful, established dog in her home is VITAL and will help her trust and adapt more quickly. She will do best in a quieter neighborhood vs. city or condo setting.   Apply today!   BREED ESTIMATE: AmStaff/Bully mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: ~ 35-37 lbs (petite pittie) APPROXIMATE AGE: ~  3 years old COAT TYPE:  short ADOPTION FEE: $400 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Bealeton, Va   FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area. June 5, 2023, 12:20 am

Meet Harley! This senior Bully boy and his buddy, Dodger, were rescued from a home of dysfunction, being crated too long without consistent food and water. Their owner suffered from dementia and has been in decline for the past ten years. She loved them but was not capable of caring for them. Both pups were overdue for vet care and had logged so much crate time that their leg muscles were weak from being sedentary. Both dogs have settled into their foster homes, enjoying all the comforts of home life — napping on the couch, snuggled up in blankets — the way things should be. Harley was initally fostered in SC with a mom, dad, two GSDs and a kitty. He found a playmate and best buddy in the younger dog, Knox, and you would often find them snuggled together on the couch or playing. He ignored the cat and has better things to do! Harley napped the first few days in his foster home, probably enjoying the first peaceful rest he’s had in years. After a few days, his sassy personality started to emerge. His foster mom calls him a “little pistol.” He discovered the collection of dog bones and loves to hide and bury the bones in the backyard. We’ve also seen his playful side emerge and he enjoys mixing it up with the much larger pups — he has no fear. We were thankful to be able to get Harley the vital medical care he needed. He was treated for skin and ear infections, had some growths surgically removed, and a dental cleaning with extractions. He’s clearly feeling better. His SC foster mom, Lou, shared this update: “Harley is doing fabulous. I initially crated him and he does perfectly fine in the crate, and will go right in there, lay down, and not make a peep. Now that he’s settled in, he has free roam of the house day and night. He does not mess with anything except to bunch up the blankets on the couch or on top of a dog bed to make himself the perfect space to lay down in. He eats like a little pig, and every day we take an afternoon nap. He is my cuddle buddy up on the couch. He gets along with both of our dogs, but he is best friends with Knox. His hair is starting to grow back in, and his new coat is very soft and fluffy. Harley is completely housebroken and enjoys walks. He loves to be outside in my yard and will spend hours out there. When he's ready to come back in the house he comes up on the porch and scratches on the door. If you take too long, he will bark at you to let you know that you better hurry up and let him in. He’s sassy!”   FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 2/28/23   Harley made the trip to N. VA on 2/18 to start his new life and is being fostered in Alexandria, VA.  Harley, now affectionately known as “Bubba” has settled in fabulously to his local foster home, living with his foster mom, Marianne, and new pup buddy, Jake. The dogs had a very easy introduction and have already started to play. Harley may be a senior but don’t tell him that…he lives every day to the fullest. He loves to romp and play in the backyard and is enjoying daily walks along the Mount Vernon trail, taking in the gorgeous views of the Potomac. He’s done well meeting new people and other dogs, and is such a sweet, social boy who exudes a natural joy for life. His foster mom, Marianne, shared this update: “Harley is really easygoing, and has great energy! He walks very well on leash and keeps a good pace. He is interested in meeting other dogs and people too. We were on the Mt. Vernon Trail today and there were lots of bikes. Barely flinched and just took it all in stride. My brother has been over a couple of times, and Harley warmed up immediately and was following him around the house. I should also add that he has great house manners, and knows how to ask to go outside. Even after our walks, he likes being outside so he touches the door with his paw to let you know he wants to go out. He is so cute and I love that he smiles in his sleep. His combo of resilience, determination, and sweetness is unmatched. I know he has been through a lot, but you’d never know it. He has shown complete faith in me to take care of him, even if it means putting drops in his eyes, and cleaning his ears. He’s always willing to give a soft kiss after to show his appreciation. We have been going on some longer walks to strengthen his back legs, and even when tired, he will put everything into climbing back into the car to go home. I think you said it best when you called him a little warrior. I highly recommend Harley to any adopter who is looking for a sweet, chill dog that may be a little older but still has some spunk. There is no way you don’t fall in love with him once you meet him.” We are looking for an nurturing family for Harley who will play with him, take him on walks, and give him all the love and attention he deserves. He will make an excellent companion for your family and your pack too.  Apply today! BREED ESTIMATE: Amerian Staffordshire/Bully Mix GENDER: Male APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 49 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~  10 years old COAT TYPE:  Short ADOPTION FEE: $400 OTHER INFO: UTD on shots/netuered/microchipped/recent dental LOCATION: Alexandria, VA   FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area. June 5, 2023, 12:20 am

Hello, I am looking to re-home my beloved Staffordshire dog as I cannot take good care for her as I am required to travel for extensive amount of time for work. Rather than giving her up to the shelter. I prefer to find someone who can provide her with much love. A little about her.: She is very friendly with people and other animals. And kids! She loves her naps and cuddles. She is brindle in color, brown/black. She is house trained and can adapt in any condition. She is neutered and healthy. Estimated age is about 7 to 8 years old. Still very active and energetic. She is good with car rides long or short and calm and relaxed. She is also walkable with any person no problem at all (wag/rover) Please contact me as soon as possible as she is needing a place immediately. (xxx) xxx-xxxx *** There will be ID verification, address confirmation, phone number verification and rehoming fee ***

Handsome brown and white, adult male dog Hugh is searching for a loving home to give him a better future. Weighing in at 70lbs, poor Hugh was found by community members all alone tied to a street sign! Hugh was brought to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter as a stray and has proven to be a friendly little guy despite of his circumstances. Hugh is easily leashed and walked. He is very strong and pulls hard on the leash. Hugh approaches all people to solicit attention, allows handling, and leans into petting for more. We are not sure about how Hugh feels about other dogs yet. If you have another canine family member, please bring them to the shelter for a dog-to-dog introduction. Come meet Hugh today!If you'd like to meet Hugh, come on in during our open hours! We're open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12-5pm, Thursdays and Fridays 12-7pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 11am-5pm. For more info on our adoption process, including requirements and fees, visit: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/adopt

Need an exercise buddy? Tonka is your guy! At 64lbs, Tonka is a mountain of energy who loves to play and would probably enjoy being your hiking or jogging companion as well. Tonka would benefit from a home where he receives some basic training and tons of playtime-this pup truly adores playing, he will even ignore people or food in order to keep focusing on his toys! We recommend a dog-to-dog meeting with any other canines you may have in your home as Tonka seems neutral when assessed with dogs in the shelter.If you'd like to meet Tonka, come visit during our opening hours! We're open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12-5pm, Thursdays and Fridays 12-7pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 11am-5pm. For more info on our adoption process, including requirements and fees, visit: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/adopt

Cato (Blue) is such a special dog, he even has two names! Cato came to us when a good Samaritan found him while out walking his own dogs. Cato is a 61lb. friendly, wiggly, happy boy who knows some basic obedience and is very food motivated which will help with more training. We sent Cato to a foster home for a couple of weeks, and he did great! His foster mom said they really enjoyed have Cato stay with them, and his favorite things included carrying a tennis ball around in his mouth, sitting by the front door watching all the activity go by, and being outside on walks or other activities. She said he is a high-energy boy who would do well with an active adopter who wants a companion for walks/runs or who wants a frisbee dog (combining Cato's love of fetch with his impressive jumping ability). He doesn't need to be the center of your attention all the time, but he will come over and lean against you to get some love. He'll even join you on the couch for a mid-afternoon snooze if you're so inclined. Cato has done well with dogs in the shelter, but he's also been reactive to dogs while on leash. If you have another canine family member, please bring them with you for a visit. Cato is just a vocal, excited, wiggly boy searching for the perfect family. Could that be you? If you would like to meet Cato, come on in during our open hours. We're open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12-5pm, Thursdays and Fridays 12-7pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 11am-5pm. For more info on our adoption process, including requirements and fees, visit: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/adopt

If you're looking to adopt a smart, wiggly, fun pup, then Barbie may be the girl for you! She is a lively gal at 53 lbs. who loves to play and enjoy life. If you've got a ball, she'll fetch it. If you've got a rope, she'll tug it! If you don't have any toys, she'll entertain you with her zoomies around the yard. She'd make a great adventure buddy if you want to go for a run, hike, or even just a walk around the block. She just loves to be active. She is also a smart cookie. She already knows quite a few tricks and would love to learn more. One of her favorite shelter activities is playing nose games, where she gets to search out yummy treats from boxes and containers. Let's just say that food is a great motivator for Barbie. Barbie is a volunteer favorite because of her perky personality. She has earned many nicknames--Barbie Doll, Barbara Jean, Silly Meatball, and even Barbie with the Party--because she has such good vibes and an awesome attitude. She has gone on lots of day trips with our fosters, and her motto when meeting new people is that a stranger is only a friend she hasn't met yet. Barbie does have a sensitive side and can get mouthy when feeling insecure. We feel she would do best in a home with no small children, and we recommend working with a trainer on positive reinforcement training methods. She will also do best as the only dog in the home or with a calmer dog. If you have a pup at home, bring them in for a visit to see how they do. If you'd like to meet Barbie, come on in during our open hours! We're open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12-5pm, Thursdays and Fridays 12-7pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 11am-5pm. For more info on our adoption process, including requirements and fees, visit: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/adopt

You've probably heard of Dances with Wolves, but you really need to get to know Dances the Dog. Because he is AWESOME! At 70+ pounds, this boy is a solid hunk of love who is super affectionate and loves meeting new people. He knows some basic obedience but could still use a little additional training--particularly with his leash manners because his size and low center of gravity will win every time he sees something or someone he wants to meet! He enjoys exploring everything, playing with all the toys, and really just wants lots of adventure and activity in his life. Dances comes on strong and that combined with some overwhelming greetings, we feel he must be the only dog in the home. Dances came to us as a stray, so we don't know anything about his history. But with an active, fun adopter, we think his future looks pretty bright! If you'd like to meet him, or any of our adoptable pets, come on in during our open hours! We're open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12-5pm, Thursdays and Fridays 12-7pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 11am-5pm. For more info on our adoption process, including requirements and fees, visit: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/adopt

****************************************************************************** "Hachi is an OVERSIZED puppy & IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST!!!!" ******************************************************************************* Hachi is estimated to be about 1-2 years old. He is a very special boy, adorably sweet, and supercute! Sadly, his family was evicted, and left him with only a mattress in the front lawn. Through the rain and the cold, he would return to his mattress each night, waiting for his family to return. During the day, he would hang out on school grounds where kids would feed and love on him for a number of weeks. When we heard about this loyal boy, we took fast action to get him off the streets, so we could find him his forever home & family. Hachi is such a good boy, and is both people and dog-friendly. And even though he is a very big boy, his friendly vibe overrides the intimidation factor that bigger dogs tend to have. Hachi has had some level of training, and would do best with someone willing to refine his manners just slightly. Overall though, Hachi is well behaved, appreciates affection, along with his time just being around you. He is loving & affection, and not needy or bratty at all. He is an awesome office mate to have with you too. If you think you might already be in love with this live stuffed pup, then please complete an application below. Adoption Application… https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJubAHJr4oIe4NkDxnhfBPM1jVRO2s4S0xIjrHVlElAMQWJA/viewform **************************************** NOTE: Hachi is located in Houston, TX, and can be transported to your state. The cost of transport is included in the adoption fee.