Darby - Dalmatian mix - male/neutered - adult - 7 years of age - 57 pounds - white short coat with black spots
Darby is a loving, happy, responsive dog with a wealth of experience as a valued and beloved member of a household. In fact, he spent nearly all his life dedicating himself to the art of being a devoted companion and family member.
Our history with Darby goes back several years, when he first came into Hedgesville Hounds care. Darby required treatment for heart worm disease, and once he had been treated successfully, he was quickly adopted by a couple who adored him.
Tragically, after 5 1/2 years, both Darby’s adopters passed away, leaving Darby orphaned, and Darby came back into our rescue’s care. We are so grateful for the efforts made on Darby’s behalf by his dog walkers and veterinarians to contact us so that our organization could be his safety net.
Darby returned to his former foster home. The familiarity of the only other home he had ever known, and the support of his foster caregivers helped him through the profound losses he had suffered. Darby’s resilient recovery and hopeful outlook are also doubtless due to his own loving and expectant nature - he has known great love, and he is happiest when he finds opportunities to share it with others. He meets everyone with warmth and friendliness.
Having lived so long as an only dog, we wondered how Darby would respond to being in a home with other resident dogs. We were touched by his capacity to get along with them. In fact, so many things about Darby are touching and endearing.
He is extremely tactile - loves to be petted everywhere, to give kisses, to sit next to you on the couch or snuggle next to you in the bed. He keeps one eye open at all times for ways to be of help and purpose, or just to assure himself that he is not missing anything, and he follows his foster parents around the house hoping for the odd pat on the head, or better yet - a treat.
Darby is very food motivated and a quick learner. His foster mom reports that his only issue is an occasional burst of enthusiasm which propels him to jump up in excitement - this may have been a learned behavior in his former home. Otherwise Darby is a medium-energy fellow - he is calm in the house, and outdoors he can run like the wind, especially if he sees a squirrel.
Darby walks well on a leash, and rides well in a car. HIs foster parents depict him as goofy, sweet and carefree, and extremely loving. His joyful, outgoing demeanor is contagious - everyone who meets Darby comments on what a great dog he is.
Impeccably house trained, Darby has excellent house manners. He has a beautiful movement style, and trots along cheerfully on lead, sometimes with his nose to the ground. Darby’s tail is a clear reflection of his loving and enthusiastic nature - always wagging madly. In fact, Darby wags his tail so energetically that he suffered an episode of what is called “happy tail” - which is a euphemism for a very difficult problem that results when a dog wags his tail to the extent that he batters it open when it hits a hard surface repeatedly. Despite the concerted efforts of our veterinarians to save the end of Darby’s tail, it had to be surgically removed, and Darby now sports a 3/4 length tail which he can wag just as hard as he did his longer tail - and without risk of further injury.
We have no first hand experience involving Darby with children or with cats. We are disinclined to place him in a home with cats however, based on his reactions to squirrels.
Darby would doubtless do well in a home with another dog, but having honed his skills at providing love and devotion as an only dog, Darby will probably do best as an only dog in an adult adoptive home. He will bond deeply with his new adopters, and will devote himself tirelessly to what he does best - expressing his limitless capacity for affection.
We would like Darby to go to a home with a securely fenced yard, at least 5 feet in height.
click here to be send a non-binding application
