Meet Emerald Green
Emerald is an approximately 10-year-old, 10-pound Chihuahua who has already survived more than most dogs ever should.
When his owner went to the hospital and never returned, Emerald was left behind inside the home. He survived there on his own for nearly a month before out-of-state family arrived to manage the property and discovered him.
They did not even know she had a dog.
There were no records. No one knew his name. No one knew his history. What they did know was that he was terrified.
The shelters were closed that day, the family was preparing to return home, and they brought Emerald to our veterinarian after being told repeatedly that euthanasia might be the only option.
Our veterinarian said absolutely not.
She called us.
And Emerald became an Umbrella of Hope dog.
At first, Emerald was deeply traumatized by everything around him. New people, sudden movements, unfamiliar places and even normal household activity could send him into panic. He is still cautious, but he is making real progress.
He recently attended an adoption event and did GREAT.
That was a huge milestone for a dog who once believed the entire world was dangerous.
Emerald has also shown us something very important: once he decides someone is safe, he is capable of forming a very strong bond. He seeks comfort from the people he trusts and clearly enjoys having a person nearby. When that person leaves the room, he may even sing a few dramatic little Chihuahua songs in protest.
Despite being around 10 years old, Emerald apparently did not receive the memo that he is a senior.
This little man can RUN.
He is fast, agile and fully capable of turning "come here" into an Olympic-level event if he is feeling playful.
Emerald is in good health for his age and is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and free of parasites.
Because the outside world can still feel intimidating, he may initially have some potty accidents while learning the routine and understanding that a new home is truly his home. He needs a family willing to give him structure without pressure and patience without expectations.
Emerald does not need someone to "fix" him.
He needs someone willing to let him unfold.
Someone who understands that trust may come slowly, but when it comes, it is incredibly meaningful.
His ideal adopter will give him time to observe, decompress and decide for himself that he is safe. He may never be the dog who runs into a stranger's arms five minutes after meeting them, and that is perfectly okay.
What he can become is deeply devoted to the person who earns his trust.
Emerald lost everything he knew without understanding why. He survived alone. He was almost written off before anyone had the chance to learn who he really was.
Now he just needs someone willing to give him the final piece of his story:
A home where nobody leaves him behind again.
Please don't overlook an older boy because he needs a little extra time.
Sometimes the most frightened hearts have the most love left to give.

GENERAL INFO:
Housebroken?: Yes, we think so
Crate Trained?: Unknown
Leash Trained?: Yes
Rides Well in Car?: Yes
Non-Shedding?: No
Good with cats?: Unknown
Good with dogs?: Yes
Qualifies for Seniors for Seniors?: Yes
Umbrella of Hope does not have any strict rules on ages of children because all children are different, but our best approximation is that this animal would do best with children over the age of 5
Umbrella of Hope is an all-volunteer, donation-run, non-profit animal rescue based out of Pittsburg, CA that rescues animals from local shelters, places them in private foster homes, provides them with needed medical care and then finds them new homes.
Also, ask us about our seniors for seniors program, where we adopt animals 5 years or older to qualified homes with a $5 donation as an adoption fee. All animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, treated for parasites and given any additional treatments (dental work, bloodwork etc) as recommended by our vet.
Adoptions to veterans of the US Armed Services are ALWAYS free to thank you for your service.
We thank Well Pet Vet Clinic for providing most of our veterinary services and give a special thanks to volunteer photographers Tanya, Barbara, Kristy, Christine, Teressa and Natalie.