Petal: female dog to adopt

Petal is currently fostered in Norwich, Norfolk.

Petal is a medium sized crossbreed aged around five to six years old.

We met Petal during a trip to the Botosani public shelter in Romania last year. She was so desperate to escape from the filthy and crowded space that she’d actually broken her leg falling from the top of the fencing as she’d tried desperately to break through the roof. The leg was subsequently amputated and then she traveled to the UK.

On arrival Petal tried to escape her foster home too, it appears to be her go-to response to stress. Despite a front leg amputation she almost succeeded scaling the six foot fence. Luckily she was closely supervised in the early days in her foster home and did settle after a while. She is not to be underestimated when she is adopted, her disability does not hold her back in any way!

Petal mixes well with other dogs in her foster home and could live with another dog or dogs again. She is wary of new people but does enjoy a fuss once you’ve gained her trust. It has taken months to her her to walk on a lead but she’s finally cracked it and we are now building up fitness level to manage longer walks.

Petal is a strong willed girl who takes time to adapt to new situations. When she settles she is a sweetheart but she will need kindness and patience during the early weeks in her new home. She will need a home with no children under the age of twelve.

When you adopt a Safe Rescue dog, you MUST use a slip lead. This will keep your dog safe: your new dog will be nervous and will not trust you, and you will not know which situations might upset your dog. If your dog panics, then a slip lead is the only way to prevent your dog from escaping (many dogs can escape from a collar and/or harness).

It will take AT LEAST 3-6 months for your dog to settle-in and for you to know your dog fully (longer for nervous dogs). The slip lead must ALWAYS be used during this settling-in period. 
Even after your dog is settled, it is safest to use the slip lead in situations where your dog may become scared (e.g. visiting new places, around unfamiliar people, at the vet), and it situations where unexpected triggers might happen (e.g. around bonfire night). Nervous dogs may always need to wear a slip-lead as a back-up safety measure.

The slip lead is a safety device and must NEVER be used as a training tool. Using the lead to apply pressure to the dog’s neck is damaging. If your dog pulls on the lead, then we can advise you on training methods that avoid harm.

Once your dog is settled, you may want to consider using a harness (together with the slip lead) if your dog is comfortable with being handled when it is fitted. Most harnesses are not escape-proof, but harnesses with a strap behind the ribcage (e.g. Ruffwear Webmaster or Perfect Fit Harnesses) are safer.

Retractable / extendable leads must never be used on our dogs.

Adopted dogs must be collected from the rescue and transported straight home in a crate.

Fences and gates must be 5foot minimum in height and secure.

If you are interested in finding out more about this lovely girl, please get in touch. We can tell you all about her and explain how adoption with Safe Rescue works.