Happy

About Me:

Name: Happy

Breed (or best guess): Poodle-Shih Tzu

Approximate Age: 2 yr

Gender: Female

Approximate Weight: 9 lb

Adoption Fee: $495

Requirements: Patient family, fenced yard and another dog is best

Why In Rescue: puppy mill survivor

Profile:

Happy came from a commercial breeder/puppy farmer who was no longer going to use her for breeding. She is getting more comfortable with human contact but will need work with things like walking on a leash and housetraining.

Dogs from commercial breeders are generally undersocialized (often very scared/shy/skittish) and probably never lived in a house. They will need to learn things like how to walk on a leash, go up stairs, and what things like a television are. They need a patient adopter who will give them the time they need to adjust and to learn to trust people. Every baby step forward needs to be celebrated, and the dog needs to be accepted for who they are at each step. Some dogs can adjust quickly and learn how to be a loved pet pretty easily. Others can take a long time to even be comfortable with things like walking through the house and being in the same room as a person. No matter how far and how fast the breeder dogs progress, they are wonderful dogs and deserve a great home after their life on the puppy farm. A fence or at least a secure fenced in potty area is highly recommended for the dog's safety, and may be required for some dogs. Another small dog in the house can also help many former breeders adjust faster to life in a home, and also may be required in some cases. We do put the needs of the dog's first, so it is nothing personal if we determine a particular dog isn't suitable for your specific home and living situation.

If considering adopting a former breeding dog, the following article is good to read to help you understand the special needs these dogs may have. http://nowisconsinpuppymills.com/mill-survivors.html

If interested in adoption, the first step is filling out the pre-adoption application at http://www.bichonrescues.com/pre-adoption-form-dog If link isn't clickable, please copy/paste or visit http://www.bichonrescues.com. Please note, filling out inquiry forms on Petfinder or Adoptapet and/or their application forms does not constitute an application for one of our dogs. Priority in responding to inquires and applications is always to the applications filled out on our website, time constraints limit the number of other inquires we can reply to.

We do our best to evaluate the dogs while they are with us, but they sometimes act different in the shelter environment than they do in a home. Many times we do not know the actual breed/mix or age of the dog, in that case we use our best guess as to breed and age.

We are located in Mukwonago, WI. Adopters must come to us, we do not ship our dogs. Please do not apply for a dog until you are ready to adopt. Once an application is approved you will be notified by email to make an appointment to meet the dog. All dogs are seen by appointment only.

The adoption fee through Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue is $495 for most adults and up to $650 for puppies which includes Wi State Sales Tax. Included in this fee is your new companion who will be spayed/neutered, have a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (as required by state law), current on age appropriate vaccinations, heartworm tested (if old enough) and started on preventative, microchipped, and given a general wormer. Other medical needs will also have been taken care of, such as dentals and treating ear infections.

To assist you and your new pet in adjusting to life together, you may chose to take an 8 week age appropriate obedience training course at For Pet's Sake Dog Training in Mukwonago, WI for $100 (up to $260 value). You may opt to take Puppy Kindergarten, Adult Beginners, or Small Dogs Big Hearts. You must register for the class within 90 days of adoption for the reduced fee. For more information on the classes visit www.forpetssake.cc