RUTHIE

Ruthie is a 2-year-old, 60-lb Boxer mix with a gentle soul and a brilliant mind. Before coming into rescue, Ruthie lived on her own for at least 6 months, skillfully evading capture, multiple trapping attempts, and surviving in an industrial area of town. Fed by kind mechanics and workers, she learned how to stay safe, avoid danger, and always show up for food - and that intelligence still shines through today.
After a dramatic capture, Ruthie has been in a foster home, where she's proven to be a very polite houseguest. She is fully house-trained and, even at her scariest moments, has never shown a hint of aggression - no growling, no raised lips, just fear. Ruthie is shy and deeply cautious with people, but she is sweet, gentle, and incredibly observant. We would not be surprised if Ruthie spent some of her life in someone's home.
This brainy girl reads the room like a pro. She knows when a human might approach and will quietly skedaddle to keep herself feeling safe. While she's still very nervous about leashes and handling, she allows most people to gently scratch her muzzle, and she's learning - slowly but surely - that human touch isn't such a bad thing. Watching her progress has been incredibly rewarding, especially as she's started to enjoy ear scratches and soft affection from her foster mom.
Ruthie is a great pack dog. She does beautifully with dogs of all sizes and temperaments and enjoys playful wrestling with dogs her size, but doesn't demand play. She happily coexists with the resident Chihuahua in her foster home. Ruthie is calm and content indoors and also enjoys a daily visit to the dog park. She's a quiet presence who's perfectly happy lounging on a chair, listening to her foster mom's Zoom calls, and soaking in the safety of home life.
At home, Ruthie is her foster mom's quiet shadow. She sleeps in her room, wiggles with excitement when she comes home, follows her around the dog park - and yet may still hop off her bed and slip away if that same foster mom walks toward her for a pet. With Ruthie, trust is built in tiny, meaningful moments, and every day brings progress.
Because of her history, Ruthie is a high flight-risk dog, especially in the early days. She will need a very committed adopter with a securely fenced yard, experience with fearful or flight-risk dogs, and a willingness to use safety tools like GPS collars, double leashes, and secure handling. Strength matters too - this is a 60-lb girl who needs someone confident and prepared.
Ruthie has been around children at the dog park and treats them like little adults - with polite, reserved hesitation. She is food-motivated, sweet, and incredibly smart. With patience, structure, and time, she has all the makings of a truly special companion.
Ruthie is one of those dogs who, with the right adopter and a few committed months of trust-building, will become a dream dog. Watching her finally relax, feel safe, and just be a dog has been an absolute privilege - and we can't wait to see her find the forever home she deserves.
PLEASE NOTE: Our dogs and cats are fostered in Tennessee and can transport weekly up to the Northeast region. Request an application and learn more about Critter Cavalry at https://www.crittercavalry.com/adoption.