Ella

Here’s an older gal looking for a family who can give her all the time, love, patience and understanding she’s missed out on up until now. She turned up stray at an overcrowded shelter, who acted quickly to move her into rescue. At her foster home, she’s slowly settling in:

Ella is shy and timid around all people. Right now we’re just working on getting her comfortable having us around & interacting with us. We’ve finally got comfy about being petted for little spells, and she has even wagged her tail briefly. It’s going to be a process building up her confidence again, and letting her know she’s safe.

Ella understands being inside a house—she clearly understands going out to potty—but I'm guessing she has been outside for quite some time. When she comes in the door, she cowers like she is expecting to get hit. (In fact, she acts like she has been hit a lot by the way she cowers when you extend your hand towards her.) Poor girl! It may be that she went from living inside to being outside-only and was punished when she tried to come indoors again. When she goes outside, she likes to lie in a sheltered spot next to the deck. We go outside frequently when she’s out there, to say hi to her, and we bring her inside often to let her know that it’s OK for her to be indoors. She has picked out a few “safe” rooms for herself, but in time we think she’ll get comfortable coming into all the rooms the other dogs like to visit.

Ella needs a quiet environment, with someone who can really love on her. I wouldn't recommend a busy household with children—I think it would be too much for her to handle—but she is fine with our cats and ferrets and with the other dogs, too. She deserves a loving “retirement home” where she can learn to be happy and care-free again!

Adoption Procedures