Socialization/training: Odie is very food motivated, so training him should be super easy. Odie does very well with the “no” and “leave it” commands when he is doing something he shouldn’t. When he goes in his crate, or even in the car, I say “in” and I think he catches on pretty well. I think Odie would benefit from another dog sibling in the house or to attend dog daycare or dog parks to keep up with his socializing skills. Odie seems to really benefit from another dog being in his company.    Crate trained: Yes! Odie sleeps and eats in his crate with no issues. When I leave to run errands, Odie is totally fine in his crate for a couple hours. There are times he will whine a bit but he settles down fairly quickly. He loves his Kong in his crate! Leash trained: Odie walks pretty well on a leash; he doesn’t do much pulling and is always happy to have people stop and pet him. He is a little vocal if he sees other dogs from afar, and he will let out a soft bark. Activity Level: Odie can be very active with my other dogs at home and loves to be outside running around with them or in the house play wrestling with them. I take Odie to dog daycare 5 days a week and he absolutely loves it! He plays very well with every dog he meets and is super tired at the end of the day. Fence: Odie would thoroughly love a fenced in yard, he loves to run around with my other dogs in the yard. We have a 6 ft fence, and he hasn’t tried to climb or even jump up on it. We are still working on housebreaking, but we let Odie out in the yard about every hour. If we are consistent with him, then there are no accidents.     Behavior: Odie is a very sweet and loving puppy; he always wants to be around people and he loves kids. When it comes to meeting dogs, he does need a slow start. He definitely does better with dogs his size or bigger. Odie does show signs of food aggression, he knows to only eat in his crate. When he first came to me, he did not want to share any toys with his foster setters. We have worked really hard on sharing, and he’s done wonderful. I do supervise when toys are around to keep up with positive behavior. If Odie hears something strange, he will let out a few barks. If a dog is on tv, he tells everyone in the house with his barks. Odie has done much better with the cats in the house. His first day he chased them around and growled a few times. Once one of them hissed at him, he now knows not to get near them. He is respectful of their space. When Odie gets excited with people, he tends to, but not always, play bite your arm. It is almost like he’s retrieving you. It doesn’t hurt, and we are certainly trying to break that habit of his.   Medical History: Up to date with all required vaccines, neutered, microchipped, on flea and tick, and monthly heartworm preventative. His next leishmaniasis test is due in January 2023. DNA Results: Eastern European Village Dog VILLAGE DOG TRACE BREED ANALYSIS Village dogs often have short stretches of DNA that match purebred dogs, due to a distant common ancestor or a more recent mating between a purebred and a village dog. Chloe has short stretches of DNA in common with these breeds: Munsterlander (Small) Caucasian Ovcharka Braque D'Auvergne Maremma Sheepdog German Shepherd Dog Posavac Hound What exactly are village dogs? Village dogs are the free-breeding, free-roaming “outside” dogs found around the world living in and around human settlements big and small. They are also known as island dogs, pariah dogs, or free-ranging dogs. Many village dog populations precede the formation of modern breed dogs.They make up about 3/4s of the billion or so dogs living on Earth today. They serve as trash cleaners, sentinels, and even sometimes companions while still retaining much of their freedom. Embark’s founders have studied village dogs on six continents since 2007 in their efforts to understand the history, traits, and health of the domestic dog. Through this work they have discovered the origins of the dog in Central Asia, and also identified genetic regions involved in domestication and local adaptation, such as the high altitude adaptation in Himalayan dogs. Embark is the only dog DNA test that includes diverse village dogs from around the world in its breed reference panel. So what breeds are in my dog? In a very real sense, Eastern European Village Dog is the actual breed of your dog. Village dogs like this descend from separate lines of dogs than the lines that have been bred into standardized breeds like Labradors and Poodles. If you trace the family tree of Odie back, you won’t find any ancestral dogs that are part of any of those standardized breeds. Village dogs have lived just about everywhere across the world for thousands of years. Long before there were any recognized dog breeds, there were village dogs around the fires and trash heaps of early human villages. Odie is part of this ancient heritage, not descended from a specific breed, but continuing the ancient lineage of dogs that were our first, best friends. Embark's co-founders studied Village Dogs on six continents in their efforts to understand the history, traits, and health of the domestic dog. Through this work, they discovered evidence for the origins of the dog in Central Asia , and they also identified genetic regions involved in domestication and local adaptation. As a result, Embark has the largest Village Dog reference panel of any canine genetics company. Odie originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. He tested negative before coming to the USA, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years. Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab. The cost of the test seems to vary widely by area, but is approximately $150-$250 or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80. Foster Comments: Odie has been a fun foster for me and my family. He’s so sweet, and will rest his head on your lap for endless head scratches. All of the pups from his litter deserve so much and a great start at life! Odie has done wonderful with my family and has been a great foster sibling to the family dogs and cats. He would make a great addition to any family that can give lots of love and adventure! Odie rides so well in the car, I literally take him everywhere with me. He was also an angel at the vet and wanted to meet all the dogs coming in. I do recommend continued socialization work with other dogs. He was very shy and scared when he first arrived to the States. He has done wonderful since I have gotten him, and I have proud “foster mom” moments with him. Odie is a very special guy! History: Momma Athina (a setter mix) was on the streets in the municipality of Thiva, Greece. She was found when she was very pregnant and taken to our vet in Greece by the municipality. They agreed to take her to our kennel and she gave birth to 7 puppies the night she arrived. The municipality paid for them to stay in our kennel, but when the puppies were 4 weeks old, they said that they were going to spay the mom and put them all back on the streets. We knew the puppies would not survive, so we took "ownership" of them and took responsibility for their care. The puppies are 6 months old. To match them all up with their best forever homes we are getting DNA tests to find out who setter mom was spending her time with. These beautiful puppies are very sweet and smart! Foster Location: Winchester VA Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”).  Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions. show less

Socialization/training:  Thalia is very social!  She loves people and other dogs - big and small.  She seems to be able to talk any dogs into playing with her!   Crate trained: Thalia spends a bit of time in her crate when we are away from the house.  She is not a huge fan of it but a kong filled with treats helps, and when I check in on our cloud cam, she is sleeping.  She will bark a bit at first, but she does eventually settle in.   Leash trained: We use a harness or a Halti with Thalia on walks.  She does great especially in the Halti, but has not mastered pottying on a leash yet. Housebroken: Work in progress, but mostly it's just getting her to tell us she needs to go.  She has woken me up early in the morning to let me know she has to go, so I feel that she is close!  She has started whining at the door too!  Activity Level: Thalia is very playful!  She will need a large yard to romp in.  She LOVES to play with other dogs and race around the yard.  She is even learning how to play fetch!!  She's very content to curl up on the couch next to you as well. Fence: A fence is preferred for Thalia as she has a lot of energy to burn off.  But she would be ok with daily visits to a dog park.  A standard fence is fine. Behavior: Friendly, attentive, loves attention and toys, chews on bones.  She loves to talk the other dogs into playing with her and she will play tug with one of our dogs and also chew on bones together with her.  It's adorable!  She still has some puppylike behavior to work on like chewing, but she is not awful and responds well when you tell her no. Medical History: UTD on all vaccinations. Microchipped. On heartworm & flea/tick prevention. Thalia was spayed at the end of April.  DNA Results:  Eastern European Village Dog VILLAGE DOG TRACE BREED ANALYSIS Village dogs often have short stretches of DNA that match purebred dogs, due to a distant common ancestor or a more recent mating between a purebred and a village dog. Chloe has short stretches of DNA in common with these breeds: Munsterlander (Small) Caucasian Ovcharka Braque D'Auvergne Maremma Sheepdog German Shepherd Dog Posavac Hound What exactly are village dogs? Village dogs are the free-breeding, free-roaming “outside” dogs found around the world living in and around human settlements big and small. They are also known as island dogs, pariah dogs, or free-ranging dogs. Many village dog populations precede the formation of modern breed dogs.They make up about 3/4s of the billion or so dogs living on Earth today. They serve as trash cleaners, sentinels, and even sometimes companions while still retaining much of their freedom. Embark’s founders have studied village dogs on six continents since 2007 in their efforts to understand the history, traits, and health of the domestic dog. Through this work they have discovered the origins of the dog in Central Asia, and also identified genetic regions involved in domestication and local adaptation, such as the high altitude adaptation in Himalayan dogs. Embark is the only dog DNA test that includes diverse village dogs from around the world in its breed reference panel. So what breeds are in my dog? In a very real sense, Eastern European Village Dog is the actual breed of your dog. Village dogs like this descend from separate lines of dogs than the lines that have been bred into standardized breeds like Labradors and Poodles. If you trace the family tree of Thalia back, you won’t find any ancestral dogs that are part of any of those standardized breeds.Village dogs have lived just about everywhere across the world for thousands of years. Long before there were any recognized dog breeds, there were village dogs around the fires and trash heaps of early human villages. Thalia is part of this ancient heritage, not descended from a specific breed, but continuing the ancient lineage of dogs that were our first, best friends. Embark's co-founders studied Village Dogs on six continents in their efforts to understand the history, traits, and health of the domestic dog. Through this work, they discovered evidence for the origins of the dog in Central Asia , and they also identified genetic regions involved in domestication and local adaptation. As a result, Embark has the largest Village Dog reference panel of any canine genetics company. Thalia originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. She tested negative before coming to the USA, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years. Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab. The cost of the test seems to vary widely by area, but is approximately $150-$250 or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80. Foster Comments: Thalia was very shy in the kennel in Greece.  We gave her the name "Thalia" which means "to flourish", and she has defintely done that!!!  She has come so far from being a young shy puppy in Greece!  Thalia is super friendly and affectionate after she gets to know you. She is a wonderful dog and so well behaved for an 8 month old puppy!  She responds well to "off" when she counter surfs - she mostly goes after left over dog food on the counter from one of the other dogs who didn't finish.  She rides well in a car and is just generally a great dog!  She's silly and goofy and loves our kids and our other dogs.  She has been one of our best and easiest fosters!  You can see more videos and photos of her on Instagram  @i_love_setters  Foster Location:  Oak Park, IL History: Momma Athina (a setter mix) was on the streets in the municipality of Thiva, Greece. She was found when she was very pregnant and taken to our vet in Greece by the municipality. They agreed to take her to our kennel and she gave birth to 7 puppies the night she arrived. The municipality paid for them to stay in our kennel, but when the puppies were 4 weeks old, they said that they were going to spay the mom and put them all back on the streets. We knew the puppies would not survive, so we took "ownership" of them and took responsibility for their care. The puppies are 6 months old. To match them all up with their best forever homes we are getting DNA tests to find out who setter mom was spending her time with. These beautiful puppies are very sweet and smart! Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”).  Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions. show less

Socialization/training:  Danos is a mellow boy. He has had a rough life coming from the streets of Greece and just wants a family to be with and nice place to chill. He has not demonstrated any fear of people or other dogs. He is a very low energy Setter that wants to eat, sleep, and spend time with his people. He has demonstrated the ability to learn since he recognizes his name and knows when to go to his crate when its time. Danos doesn’t have much formal training, but he is very food motivated and has demonstrated that he can learn quickly if offered treats. He listens well to his name and his recall is generally quite good. He is a very social pup and gets along well with everyone. He is calm, sweet and gentle and has a wonderful personality. There are no cats or children in Danos’s foster home, but he has lived with children previously and done very well with them. While we cannot say for sure how he is with cats since we do not have any, he exhibits very little prey drive and there is nothing in his behavior that would suggest he would be unable to live well with cats. Danos seems to love everyone around him and doesn’t have the slightest hint of aggression toward anyone or anything. Danos currently lives with a large pack of dogs and is great with all of them. He is very mellow and shows no dominance behavior, however  he shows little care when they tell him that he is infringing on their claimed spots in the room like a couch or a dog bed. He is patient, sweet and gentle. Crate trained: Yes. Danos is a crate champion. Danos currently eats and sleeps in his crate and relaxes very nicely. He is also crated for the short periods of time when no one is at home.  As soon as food or a treat comes out, he eagerly rushes to his crate. He has been known to go into other dog’s crates if he thinks he might get some food. When we get home all the other dogs are prancing in their crates wanting out and Danos is normally just lying there waiting for you to open his door and for us to ask him to come out. During the night, he will sleep peacefully in his crate. If he is barking after the lights go out, then he is signaling that he needs a potty break. He is also very good in the house and does not cause trouble, so a crate is probably not required provided food is safely put away and out of reach. Leash trained: Yes. Danos generally walks very well on leash as long as you aren’t trying to set any land speed records. He loves to walk, but he prefers to amble at a casual pace checking out the smells along the way. Unless something really excites him, he rarely pulls and is generally pleasant and easy to walk with. Danos might need encouragement to get going again if he has decided he would like to take a rest. House trained: Danos is generally housebroken and does well in the house, but he is on medication that makes him thirsty so he occasionally drinks a ton of water and then needs to be let outside more frequently to ensure he doesn’t have an accident. Activity Level: Low.  Danos is a very laid-back boy – extremely mellow by setter standards. His theme song for walks is normally “Slow ride, take it easy”. He enjoys a few explorations of the yard each day and is happy to follow his people around wherever they go – inside or out. He does not need (or really want) strenuous activity and is happy just to be wherever his family is. He has been seen running and playing with the other dogs but that is the exception versus the rule.  Fence: A fence is always preferred, but Danos is relatively low energy and would do fine with regular leash walks or trips to the park. Behavior: Danos is a great big hunk of love. He is wonderful with everyone he meets – human and animal alike. He is a very easygoing fellow who wants to be close to his family and is happy to just go with the flow in his home. He has not enjoyed having a baby gate keeping him in the foster room. He has found ways to get over it more than once and barks when he wants you to be closer even if he is five feet away and can see you. He is extremely food motivated and will do just about anything for a treat, but he is not at all food protective (amazing given he was half starved to death when we found him). Danos is generally quiet and well-behaved, but he will bark at the door to be let back in the house and he occasionally barks at you to let you know he is looking for some love and attention. He loves to cuddle beside you on the sofa and likes to be petted. If you stop petting before he’s ready, he will gently put his paw on you to remind you to continue. Overall, Danos is extremely well behaved in the house and has a very calm and gentle disposition. He has not shown any dominance behavior with the other nine dogs he interacts with but also shows little awareness of their signals. He just wants to be close to his people and will track you as you move around the house. Medical History:  Danos has a long medical history, but fortunately he has largely recovered very well. He had a broken leg and back when he first came into rescue, but has had corrective surgery for both, and neither his leg nor his back gives him any trouble now. You would never know from his movement that he ever had issues with either. He is neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, and on monthly heartworm prevention. His next Leishmaniasis test is due August 2022. Danos does have 2 current medical conditions for potential adopters to be aware of - he has a cataract in his left eye, and he has a history of seizure activity. Danos can see out of both eyes, but the cataract does seem to affect his peripheral vision in his left eye and his depth perception a bit. None of this seems to inhibit any of his activities. Over the last few months, we have worked with a canine neurologist to find the right combination of meds to treat his seizures, and they are now well-controlled. He currently takes a combination of Keppra and Phenobarbital at 7:30am and 7:30pm daily, and he has not had a seizure since January 24, 2022. Any potential adopter needs to be prepared, however, for the possibility that will have some seizures in the future, but if he stays on his medication, they should be infrequent and relatively mild. His monthly medications cost about $70. Aside from his daily medications, Danos lives a perfectly “normal” life. Danos originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. He tested negative before coming to the USA and again in August 2021, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years. Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab. The cost of the test seems to vary widely by area, but is approximately $150-$250 or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80 . Foster Comments: Danos has quite a story…. He came into rescue in January 2019 when he was found starving and broken on the side of a Greek road after having been hit by a car and left to die. He had a badly fractured front leg and a broken back. He went through multiple surgeries to repair and set his leg and to put a plate into his back to secure his spine. After 6+ months of recovery and rehabilitation he was able to move and play like any other dog and was ready to make his journey to the USA. We named him Danos after the winner of Survivor Greece because this boy clearly is the embodiment of a survivor. Since it has very special meaning and he has known his name for years, I will ask his adopter to promise to keep his name. Danos was adopted to a Florida family in late 2019, but then was surrendered back to our rescue in the summer of 2021- we didn’t know it at the time but found out later that he had suffered some seizures, and I suspect that is the reason he was returned. Despite all he has been through, Danos has the sweetest and most gentle personality you could ever hope for and is an absolute angel.  Danos is a wonderful pup and is easy to have around once he settles in, but he does need a bit of time to get comfortable in his new environment.  Danos's new family will need to be patient and be prepared for him to be a bit unsettled for the first couple of weeks in his new home.  Until he adjusts, he may pace around and bark if you are not with him because he isn't yet feeling safe. He wants to be close to you, and once he adjusts and feels comfortable, he will follow you around and lay peacefully nearby.  At first though, he may be agitated if his person is not right beside him, and he does bark when he wants attention.  He is very food motivated, so he will try to get into the pantry or anywhere else food may be stored, so his new family will need to train him not to do that.  Overall, once Danos's seizures were controlled and he settled in, he has been an easy foster, but his first couple of weeks will require an adjustment period. Foster Location: Temperance, MI Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”).  Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions. show less

Socialization/training: Harry loves everyone, he is the biggest sweetheart ever! Training? Well, that is an ongoing thing with Harry, we are working on commands. He will sit and come when called in the house, outside he has no recall whatsoever, Harry just wants to do what Harry wants. Once he gets a smell, he is gone (like in our big pond chasing frogs). But we are working on that. Harry is house and crate trained, and he gets excited to take his meds, it’s the peanut butter.    Crate trained: Yes. Leash trained: Yes, walks wonderful on the leash. Loves to put his nose down and smell all the wonderful, exciting smells. Activity Level: Harry is a tripod but he is on the go outside, chasing grasshoppers, frogs, squirrels, anything that moves. He loves playing with his foster buddies outside and settles down and relaxes in the home.     Fence: A hard fence IS REQUIRED and the height must be 6ft tall. Harry can get over and under the fence even as a Tripod!. This baby lives his life to the fullest, if Harry is outside, please make sure you are too.    Behavior: Harry is such sweet, loving boy, he is so funny, your day will always be full of love and laughter. Harry is very well behaved and has good manners, good with dogs, very friendly great on the leash and a lovebug. Medical History:  This sweet boy was dumped at a vet's office because he was heartworm positive in December 2021. He didn’t even have a name. This just broke my heart and I said send him to me and his name is now Harry. When he got here, Harry was thin and had a big lump on his front leg, the vet checked and found it to be cancer. Harry had to have his leg amputated, so he is now a tripod. No more cancer and Harry still thinks he has 4 legs. He has completed HW treatment, and he is on HWP and UTD on all vaccinations. He is neutered and microchipped. Foster Comments: Harry is the sweetest darling who is just so funny, you never know what this handsome baby is going to do, like on day 3 of having his leg amputated, my husband was coming in with the shopping and Harry shot past him and was running down the 600ft driveway with my husband running after him slipping and sliding on the snow and ice, we got him within minutes but wow, Harry had the biggest smile I have ever seen. Harry makes you smile and laugh every day and to be thankful, I will be very picky with who Harry will go to. He needs a dog buddy and someone at home with him, he loves going out in the car and meeting new people. Harry is a very easy dog who I love with all my heart and I know that there is the perfect family that will FIT HARRY’S LIFESTYLE so he will never ever be that dog with no name dumped with cancer and heartworms.  Foster Location: Maine Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”).  Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions. show less

Socialization/training:  Jack is very social. He loves everyone he meets. He has had good recall and walks well on leash. He gets along with other dogs, cats, and would be good with a bit older kids. Crate trained: Yes Leash trained: Yes Activity Level: Jack is very laid back and loves to cuddle with his person. He loves laying in the sunshine by the bay window, he is also a great couch potato. He will play some with other dogs but mostly prefers being with his humans. Fence: A fenced yard would be ideal, but he would do fine with leash walks only. He does have a little prey drive, so an invisible fence might not work for him. Behavior: Jack is very much a cuddler! He has moments of being a Velcro dog but he is good about finding a spot to take a nap or watch tv. He minds really well and is very well mannered.  The only thing that some might find offensive is he likes to drink out of a cup in the kitchen sink. He will put his feet up on the sink get a drink and get down. Never has counter surfed for food. He will drink out of a bowl on the floor so I am sure if there wasn’t a cup there he would learn to drink on the floor! Medical History: He is up to date on all vaccines, neutered, microchipped, and on monthly heartworm and flea preventative medicine. Foster Comments: Jack has been the perfect foster! He is a love and I am sure will make a great companion for someone.  Foster Location: Perry, GA Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”).  Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions. show less

Socialization/training:  Louiza came from the streets of Greece and is still learning to adjust to a more comfortable life. When she arrived, she was always on guard and very skittish, particularly with men. She has learned to trust people and now prefers their company vs. just being with other dogs. She remains easily startled and sometimes still flinches, especially if approached suddenly but has learned to quickly accept petting and affection. It will likely take her some time to adjust to new surroundings and to build trust with her new family, but once she gets comfortable, she will likely become a constant companion. Louiza will get very attached to her family, but it will likely take quite a while for her to adjust to strangers or be comfortable with new people. With those she trusts, she is very affectionate and loves to cuddle. Her biggest trait is her curiosity. She is always watching what is going on and investigating new things. She typically follows us around outside and explores her surroundings so long as her people are within eye sight. She wants to know what is going on around every corner and what is behind every door. She will dart through doors if given the opportunity.  Crate trained: Yes. Louiza is crate trained but prefers not to use it if she does not have to. She will dance in circles and go in her crate for food but will bark to be released if she can see her people once the food is complete. She goes in her crate with the encouragement of a treat in the evenings. We typically put a blanket over her crate in the evenings since that seems to help her sleep better. If she gets woken up by the other dogs, she typically barks and takes a while to settle back to sleep, and she expresses her dismay with being crated. Louiza would much prefer to sleep with her people, and we would prefer a home where she does not have to be crated often or for long periods of time. When Louiza is separated from her family, she’s not afraid to vocally express her displeasure. Good with dogs/cats/kids: There are no cats or children in Louiza’s foster home. She can be very skittish and would likely not do well with very small children. She would be better suited for a family without kids or with older, more mature children. Louiza needs a quieter home where she can feel safe and get comfortable. While we cannot say for sure how she is with cats since we do not have any, she exhibits very little prey drive compared to the other Setters in her pack. We suspect she would be curious of cats but could learn to live with them once she gets comfortable. Louiza has been living with a large pack of 11 other dogs. She has demonstrated no aggression or dominance behavior at all. She is very comfortable with other dogs and looks to the others to set the example for her. She follows their lead and they have helped her to come out of her shell and become more comfortable around people. We think that having another confident and friendly dog in her forever home would be very helpful and important for Louiza to adjust to her new home and family. Leash trained: Louiza is still very fearful, and she has not learned to walk on a leash. She will typically freeze and not move. When she first arrived, she needed to be carried in and out of the house, and it will take time and patience for her to learn to walk on a leash. House trained: Louiza is generally housebroken and does well in the house, but she does have the occasional accident if she gets distracted while outside and forgets to do her business before coming in. It is best to be with her outside to verify she has gone potty before letting her back inside for the night or before you leave the house. Activity Level: Louiza is a medium energy dog. She can be active with her exploring once in the yard but rarely wants to stay out for long and will not do so without her people. She will often hang out near the backdoor and wait for an opportunity to come back inside. She was hesitant to go through doors initially but her desire for a soft dog bed or couch has helped her get more comfortable with coming back inside. She may also need some encouragement to go outside but on average she is ready to go out and see what is happening outside. She is a bit of a furniture parkour in the house and is always climbing up on anything she can and trying to squeeze through spaces she might fit.  Fence: Fence is REQUIRED. Louiza will not walk on a leash so a safely fenced yard is critical for her. She is a likely escape artist but her desire to get back to her people, once she knows them, should help with that.     Behavior: Louiza has come a long way in a short time. When she initially arrived, she was very fearful and skittish and would not let people close. Being with other dogs who are comfortable with people has helped her gain trust in humankind, and now she is our little shadow. She actively pursues affection and getting snuggles. She still flinches if she does not see the hand coming when you try to pet her, however, she quickly relaxes and leans in once she recognizes the intent. She is a little pocket Setter with oversized curiosity and a desire for affection. We expect she will regress initially and be more skittish with a new family as she learns her new environment. After a little time with patient love she will get comfortable and return to being a companion Setter who likes snuggles, mealtime, and affection. Medical History:  Louiza is spayed, microchipped, healthy, up to date on all her shots, and on monthly heartworm prevention. When she was found, we discovered that she had an angular deformity in her left front leg which caused her foot to stick outward at an angle. We do not know if this defomity was congenital or if it had been caused by an injury at some point, but it was impacting her mobility and seemed to cause her some pain. We worked with an orthopedic surgeon in Greece who used some new technology to make 3D models of her leg bones to help them perform a corrective osteotomy surgery. The surgery was very successful, and Louiza has healed well. If you look at her leg, her foot is still not perfectly straight and she has a large lump at the wrist joint, but this is normal calcification, and she is no longer in pain or impaired. Her vet here in the USA took x-rays and was very pleased with the outcome of her surgery and said she has healed very well. Her next leishmaniasis test is due in January 2023. Louiza originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. She tested negative before coming to the USA, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years. Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab. The cost of the test seems to vary widely by area, but is approximately $150-$250 or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80. Foster Comments: Louiza was originally found in Andrianos in Koropi – in a mountain suburb about 30 minutes outside of Athens. When she was found, she was very weak, extremely skinny (only 22 pounds) and very afraid. She had an obvious issue with her left front leg which they initially thought was a fracture that had healed improperly. We don’t know much about Louiza’s history, but we suspect that she was treated harshly given her initial fear of people. When Louiza initially came to our house, she was immediately comfortable with the other dogs, but was skittish with people, particularly men. She got comfortable with her foster mom first, and with a bit of time became very attached to her foster dad as well. Now Louiza readily comes when called and looks for every opportunity to be near us. In fact, she has now decided that she really doesn’t want to be apart from us and is always looking to be close to her family.  Whenever she is outside in the yard, she comes immediately when we call her and she answers to both “Louiza” and her nickname “Weezy”. Despite the surgery she had on her leg, Louiza is quite agile and has no problem climbing up on things. She likes to climb on top of one of the spare crates in the sunroom to look out at the yard. She also climbs on the back of the sofa to check out what is going on in the kitchen. Louiza is a loving girl, but she is still adjusting to life in a home with a family, and she startles very easily. It takes her time to trust new people and situations, and she will need a patient, gentle and loving family to make her feel safe and continue building her trust in people. Louiza needs a quieter home where she can feel safe, and a home with another friendly dog (or more) will be highly preferred. Once you earn Louiza’s trust, she will be a huge lover and an affectionate and loyal companion. Foster Location: Temperance, MI Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”).  Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions. show less

Socialization/training: Somewhat shy, Roxie takes a little time with people and new situations.  She is a very loyal girl and once settled in will bond closely with you.  Because of her hearing needs, she would do best in a calmer home with an adult household and /or older dog savvy children. It was confirmed just a few weeks ago that Roxie is indeed deaf.  Now learning hand signals, she is very excited about communicating with her people!   When asked where is your ball—she ran to get it!  A big victory for all of us. She would thrive in a home that would be committed to work with her on signing. She is an eager learner—and would enjoy just about any activity.  Her comfort zones are the home, car rides, hanging out in the yard, playing fetch and tug. Socialization with other dogs is very good & includes tug & running around the yard together. She would definitely benefit from having another dog as a companion in her new home.   Overall, she is a fun, active dog, that is also content with hanging out with her people for a good cuddle.  It may take some time to get establsished in a new home, but that is true of most rescues. She will need a family that is patient and loving with her.    Crate trained: Yes, Roxy considers a create a safe place. We initially used the crate, but now Roxie has free run of the house. Leash trained: Needs work but is getting better. She will pull and lunge at squirrels, cats and birds. We use a harness and loop the leash around her middle. She loves a good walk. Activity Level: Medium, very puppy like. She loves to run & stalk birds & squirrels in the yard, & play fetch. Once her energy is spent, she enjoys a good nap, and a snuggle. She engages in play with other dogs and anyone willing to throw a ball. She enjoys a nice car ride and will settle down and lay contently underfoot, ready to go when you are. Fence: Large fenced yard is required.  Roxie is unable to ”hear” if something is coming up to her. This can be startling and scary. She deserves a place that she can depend on keeping her safe and enable her to have the freedom to play ball, roam around stalking birds and bugs. Behavior: She generally follows me from room to room, likes to have her people within eye sight. She does explore the yard on her own and with the resident dogs, watching and learning from them. She is more of a follower than a leader and hesitant in new places, looking to her people for direction.  Roxie does exhibit some reactive & startle behaviors toward fast movements.  She has a very loud bark, as an alert and part startle reflex, but once she realizes that everything is ok, she settles down quickly.   The first year of Roxie’s life was spent having people treating her as a hearing dog.  In her world, she was getting mixed signals—or to her, none at all because they were – verbal! How frustrating & confusing this was for her. It seems apparent that someone in her past was not so kind with her. She has developed some habits that need to be redirected---her loud barking & growl when some enters or leaves the room—is one behavior we have lessened, but not completely stopped. She is now less afraid when something different happens. We now see her fear changing to curiosity and wonder as she tries to figure things out—ice cubes in the water dish---hmmm, what’s that!  Roxie is a work in progress.  In her next home, she will need an experienced dog owner that is loving, patient, and consistent in training with signing.  As she achieves communication with her people, she has begun to feel more comfortable and confident.  She is a great dog—she needs a good partner to help her on this journey.  Medical History: Spayed, up to date on shots. Microchipped and on monthly Heartworm, & flea & tick preventatives.   She is a healthy dog! She may be hearing impaired, but doesn't let that slow her down. She is smart & eager to learn. Foster Comments:  Roxy is a sweet, active young dog with typical setter energy. She plays hard, is a sound sleeper and master cuddler.  She likes to please and is food motivated. A natural hunter, she will spend time outdoors sniffing out critters and stalk the birds in the yard.   She feels very comfortable outside and will need time to settle into new surroundings.  It would be helpful for there to be another dog around to show her the ropes and keep her company. She is just beginning to learn how to communicate by signing—and is looking for a home that will spend time with her on this. We have just started and she is eager to learn more.    Foster Location: Port Crane, New York Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”).  Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions. show less

Socialization/training:  Shaggy is enrolled in day camp and training sessions to help her socialization and training. She is showing some improvement in socializing with people and is learning to bond. Shaggy does not socialize well with other dogs. The trainer works with Shaggy one on one with basic commands and on focusing. Shaggy would rather play fetch and is more interested in balls and Kongs than in people. Shaggy is learning sit, wait, no, come, twirl, and paw. She understands “sit and wait”. I use this before she exits the crate and when she is ready to eat. When she is getting ready to go outside she knows “Sit, Wait, then Go.” Shaggy is showing improvement with various commands as time goes by. Crate trained:  No. Shaggy has a major issue with the crate. She panics & does not do well left alone in the crate. However, she will go in her crate for bed and stay the night if she can see that someone is in the room. I believe Shaggy will eventually be fine in a bedroom on the floor. House trained: Shaggy is not completely housebroken yet and needs to go out every 60-90 mins. She will have accidents if not taken out regularly. I believe she will house train once comfortable in the right setting. I do think Shaggy will learn well in an environment more suited to her needs. Leash trained: Not yet, leash training is still a work in progress. She is quite strong and tends to pull. Activity Level: Shaggy is an active dog and has energy. She inspects the house and yard every day. She will self-play or will play fetch. Her favorite things are tennis balls—or almost any ball—and the red Kong to throw around or to have the frozen peanut butter inside. Like many setters, she is rough on plush toys. Fence: I suggest a physical fence at least 5’ high. She has not challenged my 5’ fence, but I don’t leave her in my yard unattended. An invisible fence will also be considered if the adopters have setter experience. Behavior: Shaggy is not much of a cuddler, but will settle down near you if you are sitting for awhile or watching TV. Shaggy is very independent but has started to follow me around the house sometimes. Shaggy is beginning to show improvement in being attentive and they are working on this at training. Shaggy loves the car and is an excellent passenger. She seems to be OK waiting in the car as well. Shaggy has separation anxiety and needs to see someone or know someone is close by. She will settle down in the crate if she sees someone is around, but if left alone in the crate she panics and will try very hard to get out. She doesn’t need to be with me specifically, she just needs to be with someone and goes off with other people very easily. Her anxiety seems to be about being alone and being in a crate. She would rather someone throw a ball than cuddle—it doesn’t matter who. As long as someone is playing with her and she is running around she is happy. Shaggy is beginning to settle down more easily when it’s time to relax. She will now lie on the floor near someone and stay in place longer. I think she will be a cuddler one day once she feels comfortable in her environment. Shaggy makes a good companion as she now shows interest in seeing where I am going and what I’m doing. Shaggy is a pleasant, happy girl and is beginning to learn how to be an inside dog. I do believe she will make a great dog and companion with the right set up. Medical History:  She is spayed, UTD on vaccinations, microchipped, and on HWP.  Shaggy is the picture of health. She is currently on trazodone and CBD oils for her separation anxiety. Comments:  Shaggy is a beautiful and happy dog. She is smart. Shaggy is very strong and needs to be trained to walk nicely on the leash, also needs to work on “come” when called. She doesn’t come immediately when called but should do fine with proper training. I believe she wants to please and is learning how and what is expected of her. Shaggy loves life, loves to play, and loves to eat. When she sits and looks at me, I know she wants to please. I feel the circumstances right now are hampering her development and she will soar into being a great dog with the proper treatment, training, and love. She is a looker! Location:  Cherryville, NC Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”).  Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions. show less

Socialization/training:  Shelby's anxiety has made it difficult to socialize her outside the home. Slow, short exposure in the home to new situations is best for Shelby. She has been exposed to children as young as 10 years of age. The children were instructed to ignore Shelby and Shelby was able to relax a bit. She does great with my male English Setter, but we have noted that when my setter has a play date with a very large German Shepherd, Shelby comes alive. She gets excited when she hears her friend coming up the walkway, barks and runs around in circles. In the yard Shelby seems to feel extra secure with her canine friend and then readily explores the yard. Shelby shares her toys and food with her canine friends. We have not noted any food aggression. Crate trained: Yes, Shelby easily goes into her crate at night to sleep. The crate seems to offer her some security.  Leash trained: No, Shelby is terrified of the leash. She will fall to the ground and refuse to walk. Activity Level: Shelby is a low energy dog. Fence: Shelby will absolutely require a hard fence. While Shelby has never challenged our stockade or chain link fences, the concern is that if she hears a loud noise she will bolt and hide. Shelby has not advanced to leash walking and is terrified to go outside of her comfort zone. It has taken Shelby several months to become accustomed to our fenced yard and to feeling somewhat safe in the yard. Initially Shelby, when taken outside to do her business, would choose to stay in a very small area of the yard. Now she walks around the yard; but, as soon as she hears an unexpected sound, she tucks tail and runs back inside the house.      Behavior: It is our belief that Shelby really wants to be a cuddler but is so fearful that, while she now will join my husband on the recliner to have her back rubbed, she does so for short periods of time and then goes back to her "safe couch". It must be noted that Shelby has progressed from being terrified, when someone unknown to her has come into the house she soiled herself, but now, she sits quietly on the "safe couch" and watches closely. We have had some success with telling our infrequent visitors to ignore Shelby completely. On her own, Shelby will slowly get off the couch and walk around a bit. She has not advanced to wanting anyone unknown to her to pet her. Shelby has improved a bit now that she is on a daily medication to help with her anxiety. What I like the most about Shelby happens in the morning as she gets so excited when she hears me getting up. This is when you get a glimpse of the dog Shelby could be. Shelby jumps on and off the couch and runs towards me multiple times and back to the couch. While doing this, she is “ rooing” and chattering her teeth. I think she is adorable when she does this. In these moments I have the most hope for Shelby's future. After a few minutes, inevitably Shelby seems to catch herself and goes back to quietly sitting and watching the day go by from the couch. Medical History:  Shelby has been very healthy while with us. She is microchipped, spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and on monthly heartworm prevention. She is due for her next leishmaniasis test in December of 2022 (she tested negative before coming to the States and again in December 2021). Shelby is on daily medication to manage her anxiety. The medication costs about $20.00 a month. Shelby is a good eater, so I put the pill in a bit of cheese and into her dog food without any issues. Shelby originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. She tested negative before coming to the USA, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years. Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab. The cost of the test seems to vary widely by area, but is approximately $150-$250 or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80. Foster Comments: Shelby would do best in a quiet and calm home without children or a lot of visitors due to her anxiety. Shelby needs to be with a canine sibling who can be her mentor dog and give her confidence. She will need a patient home, where her fears will be effectively managed and she will be given time to make progress on her own and not be forced to do things she's not ready for. Due to her fears, we will only consider an adoptive home for her that is within a 500 mile radius of our home. Foster Location: Fall River, MA Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”).  Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions. show less