January 23, 2022April 4, 2022
About Me
Russell – Adopted February 2022
Meet Russell
Status: Fostered
Estimated Age: 5-6 Years
Estimated Weight: 29 Pounds
UPDATE - 7 FEBRUARY 2022: Russell has now been living with our kennel manager for a couple of weeks, and she says he has never made any attempt to escape. We think the fencing used by his previous owners was probably not adequate for a dog. Our kennel manager describes Russell as affectionate, mild and well mannered and obedient. He is a fantastic boy!!! No issues at all (except a little barking at meal time).
UPDATE - 27 JANUARY 2022: Russell is now fully vetted and available for adoption.
NEW - 22 JANUARY 2022: Russell is an owner surrender and is now fostered by our kennel manager. Here is what the owners had to say about Russell:
Russell lived on a chain for the early years of his life. He was one of more than 100 dogs rescued from Greene County in Virginia. He was adopted by a doting couple in Fluvanna County, VA, and he learned to walk up and down stairs, step over thresholds, sit for his food bowl and post-meal treat, sleep in a crate, and go to the door when he needed to go out. The couple moved to Lynchburg, VA, and Russell had trouble adjusting to a smaller yard. He escaped several times and ran straight to the busy streets! After several escapes, the couple realized they could not keep him safe in the city. Thus, Russell is looking for his forever home in a safe environment.
Sweet Russell is a loving individual. He can sit for hours while a young child scratches behind his ears. He has never shown aggression toward any person. When he first got off the chain, he didn’t know how to play, was anxious about eating, was timid, and didn’t know his place in life and the household. He learned from the other dogs how exciting it was to get a post-meal “toothbrush”! He still doesn’t really know how to play – but he will go outside and roll on his back, so you can scratch his belly – this is his favorite recreation! He learned to put a paw on your knee to tell you he wants some love, and he learned to go to the door to say he needs to go out. He doesn’t bark to reinforce this, although he does bark to say he wants to come in.
Russ is afraid of fireworks and thunder. When that happens, he wants a safe corner to hide in. He used to be afraid of the vacuum, but he’s learned that it won’t attack him. He still startles at sudden sounds. He’s been to many house concerts and is used to live music and lots of listeners who want to hug him or scratch his head. He loves it!
This gentle beagle isn’t noisy. He walks well on a leash (he needs a harness, otherwise he may pull out of his collar). He knows the hand signals for “sit” and “come.” He knows to sit before he gets his meal or his treat. When he hears “wait!” he knows . . . well, to wait. He isn’t good with cats in the yard, and we’re not sure how he would be with cats in the house. In general, he’s not interested in other dogs. He’s good when you brush his teeth, clean his ears, give him a bath, or trim his nails.
Questions?
Q: Can you tell me more about a specific dog? Is s/he good with kids / housetrained / good with cats/ etc?
A: What we know is in the write up. Our knowledge about any dog that is not in a foster homes is limited. Once approved, our adoption coordinators will work with you to match you with the right dog.
Q: Can I meet a specific dog?
A: We’re sorry, but you must be an approved adopter to meet our dogs. Pre-pandemic, dogs could be met at adoption days, but you still had to be approved to adopt from an adoption day.
Q: How can I adopt a specific dog?
A: You must submit an adoption application and be approved to adopt. You can do that under Adopt – you can also learn about the adoption process there.. It will take about two weeks for an adoption coordinator to get in touch with you. Please keep in mind that dogs that are available now may be adopted in the meantime. But we are always getting new dogs. You can see them on our website.
Q: Can I add another dog to the list on my application?
A: We don’t hold you to the dogs you listed on your application. It gives us an idea of what you are looking for. Plus it will let us know if someone is interested in one of our special needs / hard to place dogs.
Q: I indicated that I was interested in a specific dog on my application, but I see that s/he has been adopted. What happened?
A: We do not hold dogs. Applicants in the queue before you are being approved and may adopt the dog you are interested in before you are approved. But we are always getting new dogs in and your adoption coordinator will help you find the perfect match.