Adoption Status: Accepting Adoption Interest

Gender: Male
Breed: Maltese
Age: DOB: 08/2017
Weight: 9 lbs
Dog Friendly: Yes
Cat Friendly: Yes
Kid Friendly: Older or no children
House Trained: Doing great!

History: Valentino is a super handsome little fellow who needed a second chance at a good life after he was no longer needed to breed any longer- that is all he knew and it broke our hearts to see him so afraid of everything else. He has been working hard on his confidence and thrives with other dogs nearby. His forever home should be patient and allow him time to warm up and continue his progress with his trust growth!

A note from the foster: If you like your guys short and handsome and want someone furry to keep you company on the couch or on your power walks, Valentino may be your guy!  Once you look into those loving dark eyes, you will be hooked.

Adorable Valentino was very shy when he entered rescue from a breeder situation and has been making giant strides since coming into foster care!  He is a ladies’ man at heart and would do best in a home without men or small children. Valentino takes a little bit of time to warm up to people and is still learning that hands can be gentle and kind.

Valentino LOVES walks, squeaky toys, rolling and wiggling on his back, and chicken. He really, really loves chicken! He is playful and loves to be near his people.  Valentino feels comfortable around all dogs big and small and has learned a lot about home life from them. He would probably do OK as an only dog. He currently has a 50-pound foster sister and a 5-pound foster brother but none of them are very interested in interacting much with each other. Valentino gets along with the two cats in his foster home as well. He is the strong and silent type, and only barks when he has something important to say. Mom is happy that he doesn’t join in the chorus when his barky brother and sister get going. 

A very curious guy, he likes to explore new things. Unexpected noises or movements startle him, however, so for his safety, he will always need supervision outside, even in a fenced yard. He is still learning leash manners and walks like he is on a mission at times. Valentino is kenneled when Mom is at work, and has free access to the home overnight. He really loves sleeping in his spot on the couch. House training on a schedule has been going well, and he has started letting Mom know when he needs to go out. He is wearing a belly band overnight, just in case Mom doesn’t hear him saying it’s time, in which case the potty pad works for him as well. As a maltese, Valentino will need regular trips to a groomer to keep up his dashing appearance. 

Valentino has proven to be a great foster brother to my timid resident dog, teaching him how to do dog things like play and helping him to be a more confident dog. 

With a little bit of patience and a lot of love, Valentino is sure to be happy in his forever home!

Adoption Fee: $500 + tax

Adoption Status: Is this dog available? Submitting an application is the best first step to learning if a dog is still available. There is a chance this dog could have a pending adoption when your application is submitted, however our team will offer approved applicants to be put on a waiting list for that dog. Additionally, we can make recommendations on other dogs that may be a match. Pending adoptions do not mean the adoption is finalized. Why did we implement this change? We implemented this update because, unfortunately, dogs were pending for applicants for several weeks and then the applicant would change their mind. This happens more often with puppies, as applications are submitted impulsivly more often for them. Our process is great because it takes a little time, so impulsive decisions fade. However it was unfortunate for the dogs, and the foster homes, as then the process needed to be re-started. By securing a wait-list we are able to move forward more quickly if a pending adoption falls through. This is a new process for us, so your feedback along the way is helpful! Thank you for supporting rescue and adoption!

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