When officers from a municipal animal shelter just outside Redding, California first met Betty, she desperately needed help. The 3-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix had been neglected and was heavily pregnant, yet her soft tail wag indicated she knew she was safe now. Just a few days later, Betty gave birth to four puppies at that shelter’s facility. But while safer than having them on the street as a stray, crowded shelters put vulnerable, underage puppies at high risk for contracting life-threatening illnesses.
To protect the puppies, this shelter called Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation for help. ARF’s rescue team brought the entire family back for evaluation and placed them in a loving, volunteer foster home where the puppies could grow up strong and healthy. Once old enough to be adopted, all of Betty’s puppies quickly found loving homes.
However, Betty needed extra time to find the right fit. She is very intelligent, loves to cuddle, and tires out quickly with a game of fetch, but when she first arrived, she pulled on her leash and overreacted on walks when she saw another dog. ARF’s expert behavior team immediately started dedicating time to training Betty using positive reinforcement techniques to improve her physical and behavioral health.
Paired with the consistent efforts of our wonderful foster volunteers, Betty has shown significant improvement and now enjoys walking with well-matched canine friends, in addition to the humane ones she’s always adored. She has come a long way and is an excellent representation of dogs who need support and direction to learn how to enjoy life. Yet despite the great strides she’s made, Betty has been in ARF’s care for more than 365 days – and is still looking for a loving home.
Betty’s adoption includes a training package valued at over $500. The package includes several training items, like treats and food puzzles, plus four private consultations, up to one hour each, with ARF’s Behavior and Training team. Plus, her adoption fee has been prepaid by a generous donor!
If you know someone who may be interested in adopting this sweetheart, please have them reach out to ARF. We know the perfect home for Betty is out there. Can you help us find it?
By Christa Noriega, ARF Adoption Manager