Delilah
Canton, Georgia
Female
Age: 3 (10/21/21)
28#
Health: MVD (no meds required at this time), mildy loose knees, otherwise healthy
Adoption Donation: $500
AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
⏰ Someone with her much of day/low alone hours🌱 Safe & secure fenced yard🐶 Canine companion of similar temperament💜 Older, gentle children okay🚘 Driving distance to vet cardiologist
🛑 If you do not check ALL of the above requirements, your application will not pass the screening process for consideration. We do not compromise on these requirements as we feel they are essential to a successful adoption with Delilah.
MEET DELILAH 🐶Delilah came to us when an Alabama puppy mill was closing up shop and we welcomed the breeding dogs into our care, including sweet Delilah who just turned 3 years old on 10/17/2021. Up until a couple months ago when she was rescued, Delilah had never known life outside of confinement and had no opportunities for love, activity, socialization, or attention. Now, she is learning what it's like to live in a loving home and be a part of a family and is now ready to find her forever family who will continue to shower her with all the love she missed and replace the trauma of the past three years with a happy furever after! MEDICAL 🩺Delilah came into our care with a bad urinary tract infection and painful ear infections which have both been effectively treated and cleared. She also underwent a routine spay surgery and is fully recovered. Delilah is now up to date on vaccinations, spayed, microchipped, and on monthly preventatives. Additionally, all of her labwork including her fecal test, heartworm and tick borne illness test, urinalysis, and bloodwork is now all normal and negative. Her physical exam revealed clear eyes and hips, and just very mildly loose knees (grade 1 instability) which may even tighten up and stabilize now that she has plenty of opportunity for activity and strengthening. This is not an issue for her and does not require any intervention. However, an audible heart murmur was unexpectedly detected given her younger age, and so off to the cardiologist she went for a full cardiac evaluation. Echocardiogram showed that Delilah has some mitral valve insufficiency and valve degeneration which we typically see with Cavaliers a bit older than her (age 5+). Therefore we believe that this is likely a valve malformation she was born with, called congenital mitral valve dysplasia, which is essentially managed the same way mitral valve disease (MVD) is managed in Cavaliers a bit older than her. The good news is that despite her valve abnormality, her heart is compensating well and there is no significant heart enlargement at this time and no need for heart medications. Just like all Cavaliers with MVD, Delilah needs to remain under the care of a cardiologist for recheck echocardiograms so that any progression or changes can be detected and best monitored and managed. Her next echocardiogram is due in July 2025. Therefore, her family should be within reasonable driving distance to a veterinary cardiologist and be financially prepared to meet her heart health needs. FOOD & POTTY HABITS 🥘 Delilah is a beautiful black and tan girl who is larger in size and at her ideal weight of 28 pounds. Her shiny black coat is growing in beautifully now that she is receiving excellent care and groceries. Like many Cavaliers, she is very food motivated and loves mealtime, spinning in circles and dancing to show her excitement! She eats and enjoys her twice a day kibble meals morning and evening and always licks her bowl clean. Because she eats quickly, supervision at meal time is needed to ensure she doesn't try to visit the other dogs' bowls after she finishes hers. She also loves treats - her favorites are Fromm Crunchy Os, carrots, and sweet potato. Her adopting family must remain committed to continuing her portioned meals, healthy treats, and daily activity to ensure she remains at her ideal weight, best health, and best self. Delilah arrived with a bad urinary tract infection and so her potty training was off to a slower start but she is catching on and doing well as long as she is given plenty of opportunities outside to be successful. Delilah is let out into the safe and secured fenced yard for pottying and does not alert or signal that she needs to go out and so it is important that her family take the initiative to take her out regularly and frequently - she should be taken out first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every couple of hours in between including immediately after meals. Because she is food motivated, a special high value treat immediately following good potty behavior will be excellent reward and reinforcement for this little foodie. Although Delilah is doing well with her potty training, please understand that this is the first time that she has been in a home environment and that continued training and time is needed. Accidents are to be expected, especially initially while she transitions and learns a new environment and routine. PERSONALITY 💕Delilah's foster family describes her as a sweet, quiet, easy going, low maintenance, and loving girl. She loves and wants nothing more than to just be with you. In true Cavalier fashion, she likes to be up close and personal and is happiest being snuggled up as close to you as possible. She has never had a person before so we can understand how wonderful this must feel and be for her, and so she needs a family who will welcome her close snuggles and have the time to spend quality cuddle time with her. Her foster mom says, "my favorite thing she does is when we are cuddling, she will put her face in your neck and boop you with her cold nose!" We are also starting to see her discover and take interest in toys and chews. She hasn't quite figured out what to do with them, but she likes to carry them around in her mouth or just nap with them. If a ball is thrown she will participate by running towards the ball with the other dogs but doesn't try to get it. We think as she continues to bloom, more of her silly playful side will come out. ROUTINE ⏰Delilah starts her day with a quick trip out in the yard for pottying and then back in for breakfast. She then finds a comfy spot in the home office with her Cavalier foster siblings while her foster mom works from home. Every couple of hours she is taken out in the fenced yard for pottying, exploring, sunshine, and fresh air. She likes to be outside and will find a nice comfy spot on the patio furniture to nap or a sunny spot to sunbathe. She spends most of the day with her foster family, but during the short periods of time when no humans are home, Delilah has free roam of the puppy proofed home with her foster siblings where she has plenty of space, comforts, and companionship. She sometimes even makes herself super comfy in the big bed! She does well left for short periods of time, but she is certainly happiest being with her people and so we are seeking a family where someone can be with her much of the day and where she will have low alone time. She does not need to be crated or otherwise strictly confined and we do not recommend that she is after she's spent the last 3 years confined. In the evenings, Delilah enjoys her dinner, goes out to potty, and then loves couch cuddle time with her foster family. After last potty outside, Delilah gets up into the big bed where she finds her perfect spot snuggled up close to her foster mom. Her favorite way to sleep is with her head nuzzled into the crook of your neck - so sweet! She sleeps peacefully through the night knowing she is safe and sound next to you. She would not do well being asked to sleep apart from you and so we are seeking a family who will continue to invite her into the big bed with them. She uses pet steps to get safely on and off the bed and her family should provide these for her. SOCIALIZATION 💜Since interacting with people is still brand new to Delilah she is still a little timid and cautious meeting new people but also curious and warms up quickly once given some time and shown gentle love. Once she knows you are good and safe, she wants to stick close by you and will happily receive all the love and attention you can offer her. She can still startle easily by loud or sudden noises, but recovers quickly. She does well with the dog savvy kiddos in her foster home and we feel she would be happy in an adult only home or a home with older children (age 8+) with dog experience who know how to engage with her gently, appropriately, understand her puppy mill past, and respect her space and boundaries. Delilah shares her foster home with other Cavaliers who she gets along with very well. Although she isn't playful with them (yet), she very much enjoys their companionship and most importantly as a puppy mill dog, she looks to them to know what to do, where to go, and how to behave. She looks for their cues and follows their lead which serves her well not only in helping to transition and adjust into her new home but also in still figuring out this big new world around her. She also loves getting right in the middle of the cuddle puddle and can often be found snuggled up close with her furry friends. Delilah would be happiest and do best with another gentle, mild mannered Cavalier or other dog of similar temperament who will show her the ropes and welcome her close cuddles. She met a cat at the vet and was completely unbothered and so we think she would do well with a dog friendly feline friend in the home. Delilah isn't a particularly fearful dog but she does have an aversion to the leash, which is very common for puppy mill dogs. If her foster mom grabs a harness or leash, Delilah will retreat and hide. They have been practicing building a positive association with the harness which is necessary for her to wear when traveling in the car, but continued slow and gentle practice is needed to get Delilah more and more comfortable. However, she is not ready to be on a leash, and may not be for quite some time, as it is not safe for her and will only further traumatize her. Understand that this means that Delilah will need to be carried when she needs to go somewhere outside of the home, like to the vet. She is a larger girl at 28 pounds and so her family must be physically capable of handling her including lifting her in and out of the car. She rides very well in the car, safely and comfortably in her elevated car seat where she likes to look out the window and then eventually fall asleep. Car rides provide an excellent and safe opportunity for her to get out and see and experience more of the world around her and so her family should provide these opportunities for her and will ask that they get a Snoozer Lookout car seat for her. HER IDEAL FAMILY & HOME 🏡 Most importantly, Delilah needs a patient, loving, committed family who has the time to devote to her, who will shower her with so much love, and treat her as a treasured and beloved member of the family. We are seeking a family where someone is able to be with her much of the day so she will have low alone time and lots of quality cuddle time. Because she cannot be on a leash, she needs a safe and secured fenced yard for pottying purposes and to continue enjoying her outdoor freedom in. Having another dog to model after will continue to benefit her and so we are seeking a furry furiend who will be a wonderful leader and companion for her and welcome her snuggles. Lastly, her family needs to be within reasonable driving distance to a veterinary cardiologist for monitoring and management of her mitral valve disease and be financially able and prepared to meet her heart health needs. HOW TO APPLY 💻 Delilah is a gentle, easy girl who doesn't ask for much - just a comfy place to lounge, good food, and someone to love her a lot! She is so sweet and loving and will continue to bloom in her perfect furever home. If you feel you are a match with Delilah and meet all of her requirements, please fill out an adoption application found on our website (TheCavalierRescue.org) then email us at CavalierRescueAL@gmail.com to express your interest *letting us know why you feel you are a match.* Delilah is located in Canton, Georgia, and travel there is required. Delilah is available for adoption now, so please only apply if you are able and ready to move forward at this time. Her requested adoption donation is $500.