Meet An Adoptable Dog

Name: Lily of Anderson Apr 2021
Gender: Female
Breed: chihuahua
Estimated Birthdate: 4/28/2016
Height: est 10" at the shoulder
Weight: roughly 10 lbs
Good with dogs: Very much so
Good with cats: Lily has never to our knowledge seen a cat but knowing how submissive she can be, we think she would enjoy meeting a cat and letting them boss her around.
Good with kids: Lily has very little human experience and no experience that we know of with little humans.  We think they would scare her.
Good with men: Lily is equally timid of men and women although her foster dad, Wayne, has become someone she seems to be fond of.
Good with women: Lily is equally timid of men and women although her foster mom, Donna, has become someone she seems to be fond of.
House trained: Yes, Lily is reliably house trained and, in a pinch, will use a pee pad.
Crate trained: Not reliably. Lily will stay in a crate, but she would much rather be on a couch.
Leash trained: No, those things are torture devices to Lily.
Must have fenced in yard: Yes. In her foster home at the poodle farm, she is happily part of the barn pack and the walking trail trekkers, keeping up with all her foster brothers and sisters on the trail and then happily running back to the safety of her home.  But home is the middle of 50 acres and nowhere near cars. If Lily were ever to live in suburbia, she must have a secure fenced in back yard for potty and play. 
Adopt

Why am I with a rescue group?  Lily was part of a hoarding case.  This was the text we received from the rescue coordinator for the shelter on 4/28/2016.  We had already taken in 10 from this case:  EMS received a wellness check call on 3/25/21. Once on scene they dispatched for Animal Control. There were 50 chihuahuas on the property and their owner (an 85-year-old lady) was going to the hospital (release date unknown).

They were scared to death and their world was being turned upside down.  Keep in mind, these dogs have probably never seen anyone other than their owner before.  We thought once at the shelter when things settled down maybe the dogs would too.  A day or two later, everyone had been claimed by rescues. You have 10.

I was just contacted by a group that pulled several of the chihuahuas. Their email read something along the lines of… “Sorry but these guys are too much for us to handle.” We understand completely!!! (We will always take our dogs back if there is an issue) But they cannot live in shelter forever! I would probably call them feral. I do think they have a chance. BUT!!! They need more time and help than we (the shelter) can offer them.

Our original group of 10 was doing well and all were ultimately placed in homes except for one sweet senior who had cancer.  Grammy lived with us until she passed in September of 2021.  We did not know if the dogs had been in a kennel or foster homes with their other rescue, but we knew our 10 had thrived in our very unique situation of part kennel/part large foster home. How hard could this group be? 

We were about to find out. Lily was one of the 11 we took on in Phase 2.  Of those 11, 6 still live with us today as part of our SOS dogs - Cisco, Jax, Ermac, Ira, Sketor and Lily.

Today, Lily is a happy little girl. She is a member of our director's household and is much loved.  We know about her rules for living and we respect them.  Her rules are so simple to follow.  Number one is "don't touch this."  We don't know why Lily is a touch me not - we are sure part of it was no early socialization.  There could be other reasons, but we will never know.  Lily has moved beyond her past and is living her very best present. Lily calls the shots on when she is to be touched.  She has boundaries - and she is very happy because we respect her boundaries. She lives happily with us, always near, always aware of her human family but snuggles are not for her.  She does not do snuggles. She may never do snuggles. We are okay with that, but we know that for the vast majority of humans looking for a dog, part of the big reason for wanting one is to hold them and pet them and feel their soft fur against your smooth skin.  We get that.  Lily does not.  

Lily's other rules are also very simple. Feed me every day. Give me treats every day and let me have time running free and happy in the big back yard. Take me on walks (no leash please, only in my familiar and comfortable farm, on the back trail, far from cars and people where I can run and leap and play.). Have TV time every night after dinner.  The Dogfather watches the news, and the dogs drape themselves all over the couch, keeping him company.  

In early 2023, Lily developed one more rule that surprised us all.  Lily decided sleeping in the big bed, snuggled down in the pillows at the top of the bed, was the place to be at night.  She had been watching the other dogs doing this for many, many months and for some reason, it just clicked for her one night that she is a way up high member of this doggie pack with the right to sleep in the big bed if she chose.  That right was a right she wanted to use.  Every night now, Lily runs upstairs and stands by the bed, front feet on the rail and tail wagging a million miles a minute, a high pitched and happy bark coming from her saying to me plainly, "It's time for the sleeping!"  It is then that we get to give Lily physical love.  We pick her up every night, hold her and rub her belly and whisper in her ear "Lily we love you."  Her tail goes even faster if that is possible and then we gently toss her onto the bed.  She does the happy bed dance, chooses her pillow and curls up to sleep.  All is well in Lily's world.

Lily is one of many of our dogs that come to us as part of a group.  When you are working with hoarding and seizure cases, you don't get to pick.  You say yes, take a deep breath and wade in.  It is what it is, and we get who we get.  It's then up to us to make a forever for each of those dogs.  Our preferred forever is with you - a home of their own where they can be loved, understood and accepted for their unique selves just the way they are.  When preferred to us is not preferred to them or can't be found, we make that life for them here.  Your sponsorship of just $20 per month gives Lily the right to live here safely for the rest of her life or until a perfect for her can be found.  

Lily did not ask to be born at a hoarder.  She did not ask to be neglected, crowded and afraid all her early life. Together, we can make the rest of her life what she would ask for.  Loved, respected, accepted and cherished. 

To read more about Lily, visit her blog post at: https://open.substack.com/pub/poodlefarm/p/lily-meister-a-survivor?r=a08s1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Can’t have a dog of your own? Have a soft spot for old, sick or hard to place dogs? It only takes a $20 a month donation for me to be your virtual dog!  I need at least 10 virtual adopters (sponsors) to help cover my monthly costs.  If I have medical challenges I need even more!  The caregivers at Carolina Poodle Rescue will do the rest.  Just think, without ever having to leave your home, you can have your very own online dog that will send you update emails, make Facebook posts, and be eternally grateful for your support!  Go to the donate link at the top of the page for instructions as to how to donate. Questions? Email: cprsosdogs@carolinapoodlerescue.org

I LOVE MY Virtual Adopters!  Lily is looking for her virtual family

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