ADOPTED

PRINCESS STEPHIE

Princess Stephie was just one year old when the betrayal occurred. Her cavalier owner deposited her in big city Animal Control, where owner-surrendered dogs have only 48 hours to attract the attention of someone who might network him/her to freedom. Otherwise, they face euthanasia. Frightened dogs like Stephie have little chance, because they don't show well enough to be accepted into the shelter adoption program. Shelter evaluators could not get a fair sense of Stephie, since her world had so thoroughly capsized. Stephie's only hope was a Rescue to step up and give her the space she needed to relax and adjust slowly.

We are delighted to have Stephie in our Rescue. She seemed shy and unsure at first, but has warmed up beautifully, and has become one of our favorites. Stephie is a pretty mix of Dachshund and Chihuahua. She's a tiny girl, at 13 pounds, and she has the characteristic Doxie elongated spine. Her floppy ears are half mast, and she has a bit of an "applehead," to affirm her Chihuahua DNA. Her structure and stance suggest Doxie, but she's less prone to spinal issues than purebreds.

At first meeting, Princess Stephie seems shy, and takes a few minutes to size up strangers. She seems eager to connect with people, and once her initial hesitation subsides, she is extremely warm and loving. She would really benefit from a loving connection with the right person. Stephie would be a great fit for an active single or couple, who can provide sufficient daily exercise, and who have the patience to let Stephie warm up slowly. She could easily join a multi-dog home, with other calm well-behaved dogs. We haven't tried her with cats, but she probably would coexist nicely. We would like to steer clear of toddlers and young children, because they're overzealous attentions might overwhelm her.