This website features shelter & rescue dogs in NY State's Capital Region that for one reason or another are having a very difficult time finding homes.  Please read their stories.

Flower:
American Staffordshire Terrier Mix
Spayed Female
8 years old as of 04/09
68 lbs.
Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley
www.petfinder.com/shelters/assv.html

Flower is an 8 year old, spayed female, American Staffordshire Terrier mix. Poor Flower was adopted from our shelter in 2004 and was returned in April of 2008 because her owner could no longer care for her :-(. Flower is a GREAT dog; she is super friendly, playful, and goofy. Although she is a little chunky, weighing 68lbs, she is a pretty healthy dog. Flower's only real fault is that she doesn't get along well with other dogs or cats. But she LOVES all people and even kids! We think Flower would do best in a home with slightly older kids, maybe 8 and up, just because she may be a little too much for a small child. Flower isn't an overly rambunctious dog but she does love to play, especially in the kiddie pools that are in the play yards during the summer; she loves the water! If you think this great gal would fill that space in your life stop by the shelter to visit.

Teddy:
Chow Chow Mix
Neutered Male
10 years old as of 04/09
60 lbs.
Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley
www.petfinder.com/shelters/assv.html

Teddy is about 10 years old. He is friendly and playful. Teddy is good with cats and some other dogs (he tends to be fine with non-dominant dogs who don't bother him much). He is best suited with older kids. Please don't be deterred by his age, Teddy is so healthy and acts half his age! He does sometimes exhibit dominant behaviors such as not wanting to get off of the bed/couch when told, etc but this would be helped using some consistent structure (tactics used by Cesar Millan: The Dog Whisperer). Teddy is also housebroken!! He also walks well on a gentle leader.

Casey:
Rottweiler, Chow Chow Mix
Neutered Male
5-6 years old as of 04/09
74 lbs.
Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley
www.petfinder.com/shelters/assv.html

Casey is 5-6 years old. I believe his breed to be a Rottweiler/Chow mix, however he may have some Border Collie or Mountain Dog mixed in some where. Casey is mellow but playful and is an overall a very well behaved dog. He is good with cats and most other dogs but should not go to a home with kids. Casey is also completely housebroken and LOVES to play in the water.

He is a little fearful dominate with new people. This just basically means that he does not trust strangers to pet him for fear of being hit. BUT while he was in a temporary foster home he made tremendous strides and loves to get hugs from his former foster mom! Casey just not really a touchy feely dog and like to just hang out. He would do best with someone who is willing to let Casey take his time to be able to trust a new person. For more details, his former foster mom can be contacted at swiffer109@yahoo.com.

Gideon:
Shepherd, Hound Mix
Neutered Male
8 years old as of 04/09
Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley
www.petfinder.com/shelters/assv.html

Gideon is an 8 year old, neutered male, Shepherd/Hound/Lab/Rott mix?... Heinz 57 really. Poor Gideon has had an awful round of luck finding his furever home. He first came into the shelter as a stray in 2004 and was first adopted to a home with kids, unfortunately after a few months he decided that he really didn't want to live with children. Then he found a great home who loved him dearly, tragically his mom passed away in a car accident and Gideon came back to us. Then a year ago, Gideon found another mom to take care of him, but again found himself back with us this January because of a change in lifestyle :-(... so poor Gideon is on his fifth shot at the life he deserves. Gideon was in foster care along the way for a few months. In this foster home he lived with another female Retriever and also attended obedience lessons. Gideon is already housebroken too! He gets along great with cats and most other dogs (he does best with non-dominant females) but Gideon does need a home without kids. Surprisingly Gideon's spirit is going strong even after all his heartbreak and he is still a very happy guy. Gideon would love to fulfill his dream of finding a permanent and loving home, could it be yours?

Chia:
German Shepherd Dog, Rottweiler Mix
Spayed Female
3-4 years old as of 04/09
97 lbs.
Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley
www.petfinder.com/shelters/assv.html

Chia is a 3-4 year old, spayed female, German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix. Chia came into the shelter in the fall of 2007; she was underweight, apparently a recent mom, and also had porcupine quills, ouch! Since coming into the shelter Chia has filled out nicely (some may even say she is a little chubby) and has shown to be a very friendly dog. She absolutely LOVES everyone she meets. Chia is also very playful and is good with older kids. Chia may be OK with another less dominant dog; however, she is not good with cats. Chia even likes to play in the water and swim in the kiddie pools which are out in the play yards for the summer. Oh yeah, Chia is mostly housebroken too!

Diego:
American Staffordshire Terrier, Boxer Mix
Neutered Male
2.5 years old as of 04/09
70 lbs.
Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley
www.petfinder.com/shelters/assv.html

Diego is 2.5 years old. He is friendly and very playful but needs a little work on some mouthy behavior so he would do best with a dog experienced owner. He does know 'sit' and 'shake' and is very good once he calms down a little bit. Diego is good with most other dogs and cats. He is best suited with no small children.

Bear:
Akita, Chow Chow Mix
Neutered Male
3.5 years old as of 04/09
81 lbs.
Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley
www.petfinder.com/shelters/assv.html

Update: Bear has started attending obedience lessons 4 days a week at SUNY Cobleskill. He is being trained by some of the students there and is progressing very well. Bear also goes home several nights a week with one of his trainers and we have learned that Bear also has very good house manners and is housebroken!

Bear is a 3.5 year old, neutered male, Akita/Shepherd/Chow mix. Bear is very friendly and playful. Bear's history is a little complicated; he was brought into the shelter in February of 2008 by an owner who had "adopted" him the previous night after locating him on Craig's List; unfortunately her dogs and cats did not like Bear. The person who posted him on Craig's List had "rescued" but could not keep him because he also rescued cats and Bear doesn't get along with cats. And that is all the information we were able to obtain. So this poor dog has been shoved from home to home as a result of people's rash decisions and not thinking of what would best suit the dog. Now Bear is with us and we have been able to learn more about him so that we can find his furever home. Bear gets along quite well with the other dogs and even gets to go out in the playgroup of other dogs at the shelter (check the website noted above to watch his videos) but he does need a home without cats. Bear seems to need a little bit of obedience lessons but he is very smart and would respond well to some positive reinforcement. We think he would do best in a home with slightly older kids, probably ages 10 and up would suit him well. Bear is a great dog who would love someone to take him out to do fun things like hiking and maybe even some sledding. If you would like to meet Bear stop by for a visit; Bear is waiting to meet you!

Sugar:
American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier Mix
Spayed Female
2.5 years old as of 04/09
55 lbs.
Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley
www.petfinder.com/shelters/assv.html

Sugar is a 2.5 year old spayed female, APBT/Amstaff mix. Sugar came into the shelter in March of 2008 because her family was having a baby and did not want poor Sugar anymore :-( Sugar is very friendly and affectionate. She loves to play and would like a family who can take her on a couple of walks a day and have a little playtime on the side. Ideally Sugar's new home would have a nice fenced in yard for her to play in. Sugar loves water too and plays in the kiddie pools we put in the dog yards for the summer. Sugar's only real fault is that she is not good with other animals, which is why we would like her to have a home with a fenced yard to provide her with a little more freedom as she cannot go to other fun places like dog parks. Sugar is very smart and OK with some basic obedience commands but could use a little fine tuning. Sugar would probably be best suited in a home with older kids, 12+ would be fun for her to play fetch with. If you are looking for that one great dog with an awesome personality and who is pretty too, stop by to meet Sugar.

Chopper:
Mixed Breed
Neutered Male
9 years old as of 10/08
80 lbs.
Jackson’s Legacy
www.jacksonslegacy.org

I was taken in by Jackson's Legacy Rescue after my person passed away back in April 2008. It was a very sad time for me. None of the other family members could take care of me. I'm not sure why because I'm a good boy and a very loyal and loving dog. Now I'm getting up there in years and I'm so afraid nobody will want me. But I feel and act like I have lots of life left! I just want to settle in with a new family I can call my own. A little bit about me: I am good with most other dogs but not with cats. I've been wonderful with my foster-mom's grandchildren but I don't care to be around them for long periods of time. So it is best that I don't go to a home with young children. My very favorite thing to do is go for walks so I'm hoping there is someone out there who will walk me every day, maybe even 2 or 3 times! I'm great on a leash too. And I ride very nicely in the car so if you want to take me to the park, that's not a problem! I still love to play ball too. And I have another favorite thing to do in hot weather... get into my very own little pool (except I don't like to share it with others). Speaking of hot weather, in the beginning of the summer, you may need to give me some Benadryl because my skin gets itchy, but otherwise my health is fine. As far as my behavior, I'm friendly and calm. I'm happy to lie around as long as I get some attention occasionally. I'm not a cuddle bug – I prefer to lie on the couch but not right in your lap... just knowing you're there is good enough for me. And I know how to "talk" if I want a treat or some affection! Otherwise, I'm nice and quiet. I can be a little protective of toys and bones around other dogs but other than that, I'm very well behaved. I know all my basic commands. My foster mom says I have a very "entertaining" personality and I'm a "love bug." How could you not want to come see me?

Buddy:
Akita/Shepherd Mix (?)
Neutered Male
2 years old as of 03/08
Helping Paws Rescue
(518) 248-0355

I am so full of life and look at my ears! How could someone not fall in love with me yet? At 40 pounds, I'm just the right size and at just under two years old, I'm still at a good age for training. Sadly, I lived outside tied to a chain for the first year and a half of my life. I never had an opportunity to play and socialize with other puppies or people. But guess what? I love people, I love other dogs and I love children! Cats though...not so much...in fact, definitely no cats. I'm still learning basic manners and I'm almost housebroken but with your help I'll have no problem. I really would like someone to work with me on a daily basis just like they would with a new puppy. I think I would make a good companion for someone who is active and likes the outdoors. But I want to spend my nights indoors with people who will love me and take care of me. I love tummy rubs. I love to play and I give nice kisses. I don't understand why I've been at the rescue for 6 months already. Please give me a chance to be part of a family.