k9cupid

General Notes | Meet Dahlia, a stunning Black Lab who is every bit as beautiful and graceful as the flower she is named after.After a hard beginning, Dahlia is ready to start fresh in Colorado with adopters who will give her patience, comfort, and the love she’s waited so long to receive. In return, she’ll offer quiet companionship, loyalty, and a heart full of gratitude. Dahlia has done her job, birthing and weaning 8 gorgeous healthy puppies. Now it’s her turn to be someone’s cherished girl. Want to adopt this dog? Please do not email us. Please fill out the Adoption Application ASAP. Personality | After her puppies gained independence, Dahlia has rediscovered herself—not as a worried, homeless dog, but as a gentle, deserving soul ready for the good life. She’s calm, sweet, and quietly grateful for affection. You can see it in the way she relaxes into soft words and kind hands, as if she’s realizing she doesn’t have to be afraid anymore. Dahlia has been around several dogs and loves them and really finds comfort having them around. She doesn't really play with humans but she tries hard to get any dog around to play with her. She loves laying in the sun and being outside, just not an adventurer or walker. She is incredibly sweet, gentle, peaceful and easy to take care of. Story | In early December, Dahlia was found roaming the streets of Texas—very pregnant, tired, and clearly searching for kindness and a safe place to land. Against the odds, a compassionate animal lover opened their home to her, and there Dahlia did what she does best: she trusted, she rested, and she became an incredible mama. She safely delivered and has lovingly raised eight healthy puppies who since been adopted and Dahlia is learning what life is like as a beloved pet and family member of her Colorado foster home.Other Dogs | Dahlia's foster home has another dog and Dahlia LOVES the companionship of another dog in the home.Cats | Dahlia has been around cats briefly and has shown no chasing or concern.Children | A calm, relaxed, more quiet home would be ideal—one that understands she’s earned the right to take things slowly and be cared for in return. Dahlia has been anxious of sudden movements, so older children who will give her space and time to feel comfortable should be okay.Training | Dahlia is leanring the basics through gentle encouragment, positive reinforcement and consistency. She is a very quick learner! Once she is showed something (gently!) once or twice, like how to ask for a treat or how to ask to be let back inside, she remembers!Leash | Dahlia is a mellow gal and so far isn't wanting to do much leash walking, she is recovering from raising her litter of puppies and is more of a home body. She may become more interested in leash walks over time, but currently she prefers playtime in the yard with other dogs.Activity Level | Low. Dahlia is learning to enjoy being outside without fear of being hurt or left behind, and enjoys a good roll in the grass or wander around the backyard to get her heart rate up. Don't let the word 'low' fool you, though - Dahlia has legs, and when she wants to go she can cover ground quickly! Dahlia just started treatment for heartworm and she is so brave and handling it well. Treatment does require restriction on activity while the medication safely eradicates the heartworms, so once treatment is complete, Dahlia will be eager to resume normal activities.Health Notes | Dahlia is heartworm positive and has started treatment. Dahlia will be available to adopt once the treatment is completed. Heartworm treatment is very successful and completely manageable with all the proper education and care! MHLRM will cover the expense of treatment at one of our approved veterinarians. Heartworm positive dogs go on to live happy, normal lives after treatment and rarely experience long-term side effects. Don't let this stop you from adopting this sweet gal!Thank you! | Adoption Donations | Our adoption donations are $575 for dogs 8 weeks to 1 year old, $525 for 1 - 6 years old, $475 for dogs 7 - 10 years old, and $350 for 11+ years of age. Purebred dogs regardless of age are $625. These minimum donations help to defer the costs of initial vet care, food, transportation to Colorado, and supplies while in foster care that currently average over $750 per dog).Meeting Dogs | Foster dogs may have meet and greets by appointment to approved applicants only. To become an approved applicant - please complete the application process. We will not respond to emails about animal availability or allow meet and greets without an approved adoption application on file. Please Note | Available dogs are updated as soon as possible and we do our best to keep it up-to-date, but occasionally dogs shown may become unavailable without notice due to a pending adoption. We can not guarantee that a dog you wish to adopt is available by the time your adoption application is submitted, processed, and approved. Your application is good for one year from the date of applying for any dog as long as it is a good fit for your family and your lifestyle. We encourage you to put in an application even if you don't see your new family member currently, as once you are approved, we can place you on the waiting list for first priority on the selection of the dogs we do bring in. That means you can often meet a dog upon transport arrival and adopt before they even make it to this page!