Share your adoption story to win Homecoming-style photo shoot
Did you bring home a shelter dog this Homecoming season (aka October)? Share your story to be entered to win prizes from Adopt a Pet and the PEDIGREE® brand.
Meet Tessa. This pup was rescued from a hoarding situation, living among many other dogs unspayed and unprotected. She was pregnant when she came into the rescue and gave birth to two adorable puppies. She did a great job as a mom caring for them and was receptive to the humans who helped care for her family while she was nursing. Tessa is a very sweet, nurturing soul. Both of her puppies have found their forever homes, so now it’s Tessa’s turn. She has been fully vetted and spayed and is ready to start her new life.
Tessa did not get a lot of socialization in her prior life. She is fearful after a life change and needs time to adapt to a new environment. She is fearful at first but does warm up after she gets her bearings. She is being fostered with two laidback dogs and does well as part of a pack. She’s very accepting and submissive with other dogs and has a live-and-let-live attitude. She's crate trained and housetrained and her foster mom trusts her to be free-roam in the home. She also has great leash skills and once she settles in, she enjoys a stroll around the neighborhood.
We checked in with her foster mom for a first-week update:
*******
Tessa was fearful at first and stayed to herself. As she got to know us her sweet personality emerged. She is pretty laid-back overall. She gets a small burst of energy and playfulness but it took a few weeks for her to engage my dogs in play. For the first few days, she followed me around everywhere and wanted to stay close by my side. After about a week, she started to branch out more to explore and lay on the couch with my two pups when I was in the kitchen
She is very sweet and just wants belly rubs and a low-key environment. She loves to be petted and snuggled, and she also enjoys exploring the backyard. She’s probably not the best fit for a home with lots of kids or traffic coming in and out. She is still nervous when strangers come over but for the most part, she ignores them. She’s not barking or bothered by them but would rather avoid them if allowed. She is getting more excited to see us when we get home now and has started playing with toys…I love to see it!
I think she would do best with another laidback dog in the home to pal around with. She does stay close to my pack. They don't play a lot, but she finds comfort in having them there. I’m sure she would be fine with cats, she doesn’t have a mean bone in her. Older kids would be fine too, as long as they give her lots of belly rubs.”
******* Overall Tessa is a chill, easygoing pup who needs a similar home environment. She would be great as part of a laidback pack and needs a family who will give her time to settle in and also expose her to new things as she’s ready.
Apply today!
BREED ESTIMATE: CHUG - Chihuahua/Pug Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 15 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 3 year old COAT TYPE: Short coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Alexandria, VA
You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application.
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.
October 23, 2024, 9:47 am
Meet Tessa. This pup was rescued from a hoarding situation, living among many other dogs unspayed and unprotected. She was pregnant when she came into the rescue and gave birth to two adorable puppies. She did a great job as a mom caring for them and was receptive to the humans who helped care for her family while she was nursing. Tessa is a very sweet, nurturing soul. Both of her puppies have found their forever homes, so now it’s Tessa’s turn. She has been fully vetted and spayed and is ready to start her new life.
Tessa did not get a lot of socialization in her prior life. She is fearful after a life change and needs time to adapt to a new environment. She is fearful at first but does warm up after she gets her bearings. She is being fostered with two laidback dogs and does well as part of a pack. She’s very accepting and submissive with other dogs and has a live-and-let-live attitude. She's crate trained and housetrained and her foster mom trusts her to be free-roam in the home. She also has great leash skills and once she settles in, she enjoys a stroll around the neighborhood.
We checked in with her foster mom for a first-week update:
*******
Tessa was fearful at first and stayed to herself. As she got to know us her sweet personality emerged. She is pretty laid-back overall. She gets a small burst of energy and playfulness but it took a few weeks for her to engage my dogs in play. For the first few days, she followed me around everywhere and wanted to stay close by my side. After about a week, she started to branch out more to explore and lay on the couch with my two pups when I was in the kitchen
She is very sweet and just wants belly rubs and a low-key environment. She loves to be petted and snuggled, and she also enjoys exploring the backyard. She’s probably not the best fit for a home with lots of kids or traffic coming in and out. She is still nervous when strangers come over but for the most part, she ignores them. She’s not barking or bothered by them but would rather avoid them if allowed. She is getting more excited to see us when we get home now and has started playing with toys…I love to see it!
I think she would do best with another laidback dog in the home to pal around with. She does stay close to my pack. They don't play a lot, but she finds comfort in having them there. I’m sure she would be fine with cats, she doesn’t have a mean bone in her. Older kids would be fine too, as long as they give her lots of belly rubs.”
******* Overall Tessa is a chill, easygoing pup who needs a similar home environment. She would be great as part of a laidback pack and needs a family who will give her time to settle in and also expose her to new things as she’s ready.
Apply today!
BREED ESTIMATE: CHUG - Chihuahua/Pug Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 15 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 3 year old COAT TYPE: Short coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Alexandria, VA
You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application.
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.
To start the approval process, the first step is to complete our non-binding adoption application.
2.
Interview
Once your application is reviewed, a Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will contact you to schedule a phone interview to discuss your application
3.
Home Check
A volunteer will schedule a time to visit your home, in person, to meet you and verify that your home is a good, safe environment for a dog
4.
Approve Application
After a positive veterinary reference check, phone interview, and home visit, we will approve your application
5.
Meet the Pet
Upon approval, if the dog you applied for is still available and a good match, we will schedule a time for you to meet the dog
6.
Sign Adoption Contract
7.
Pay Fee
Additional adoption info
Thank you for considering adoption and choosing to save a dog’s life!
Adding a dog to your family is a rewarding and life-changing experience. Dogs enrich our lives and have the amazing ability to give and receive love unconditionally. They can be your loyal companion and friend, and a watchful playmate for your kids, but they are also a serious, long-term commitment. They will depend on you for their health and well-being, and require an investment of love, time, and money for the rest of their life.
As you search for your new dog, please remember that there is no shortage of dogs who need saving. There are far more dogs waiting to be adopted than people who are willing to adopt them, so if the dog in the picture who you’ve imagined bringing home isn’t available, there are thousands more amazing, loving dogs just hoping for the chance to be your dog. We ask that you keep an open mind, stay flexible, and we will do our best to work with you to find a great match for your family.
We strongly encourage anyone thinking about adopting a dog to do your research and make sure you are prepared for the commitment. If you have thought about what’s required and are ready to adopt, here’s what you can expect when you apply to adopt a dog from Worthy Dog Rescue.
APPROVAL PROCESS
APPLY
To start the approval process, the first step is to complete our non-binding adoption application
REFERENCES
If applicable, we check vet references to ensure that your pets have been kept current on care, and a copy of your lease to ensure that adopting doesn't violate your rental agreement
INTERVIEW
Once your application is submitted and reviewed, and your vet provides a positive reference, a Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will contact you to schedule a phone interview to discuss your application
HOME VISIT
A Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will schedule a time to visit your home, in person, to meet you and verify that your home is a good, safe environment for one of our dogs
APPROVAL
Upon approval, if the dog you applied for is still available and a good match, we will schedule a time for you to meet the dog. If not, we will work with you to find another dog who will suit your family.
TIMING
The approval process can take a week or two depending on your availability and our volunteers’ schedules. The rescue is run by a team of volunteers from your community who love dogs. We are just regular people with jobs, kids, and lives whose time is as limited as yours. That means that during periods of high activity or seasonal vacations the process may take a little longer.
THE DOG YOU APPLY FOR IS NOT GUARANTEED
Worthy Dog Rescue cannot guarantee that the dog you apply for will be available once you have been approved. We do our best to work with adopters and meet your needs, but we do not adopt dogs on a first-come, first-serve basis. All applications are screened to determine the most suitable match for the dog and the adopter. We want to place dogs in good homes as quickly as possible, so the dog can start their new life with their family, and we can free up their foster home to save another dog in need.
We understand how easy it is to become attached to a dog you’ve found online, but sometimes the dog you apply for may already be scheduled to meet another adopter, or it may not be the best fit for your home for a variety of behavioral reasons. Our dogs are fostered by one of our volunteers, living in their home as part of their family. This allows us to get to know the dog, what they need, their level of socialization, and the type of home that will best suit them.
Our goal is to place dogs in loving, responsible, and committed permanent homes. We take great care in finding good matches for our dogs and adopters too. We look forward to working with you to find the dog that will be with you and your family for many years to come.
ADOPTION POLICIES
Must be at least 23
All applicants who live in a rental property must provide contact information for their landlord, and have approval from the landlord to have a pet at the residence listed on the adoption application
Applicants must allow Worthy Dog Rescue to conduct a home visit to confirm that your home will be a good environment for a new dog
All animals in the applicant’s household must be spayed/neutered and up to date on all vaccines before consideration
All adults living in the home must meet the dog and be in agreement about adoption
Applicants must be willing to keep their new dog and current family pets as indoor pets
All adoptive families will provide all medical care and treatment needed for the dog including, but not limited to, yearly medical checkups, vaccines, and preventative heartworm medication
Dogs will be adopted only as a personal companion and not as a gift, working animal, or guard dog
A fenced yard is ideal for dogs, but is NOT a requirement for adoption unless specified
Because young puppies require intensive training and care, we cannot place puppies younger than five months of age in a home where someone is consistently absent from the home for long periods of time
In the event an adoption does not work out, applicants must agree to return the dog to Worthy Dog Rescue rather than rehoming the dog themselves
Thank you for considering adoption and choosing to save a dog’s life!
Adding a dog to your family is a rewarding and life-changing experience. Dogs enrich our lives and have the amazing ability to give and receive love unconditionally. They can be your loyal companion and friend, and a watchful playmate for your kids, but they are also a serious, long-term commitment. They will depend on you for their health and well-being, and require an investment of love, time, and money for the rest of their life.
As you search for your new dog, please remember that there is no shortage of dogs who need saving. There are far more dogs waiting to be adopted than people who are willing to adopt them, so if the dog in the picture who you’ve imagined bringing home isn’t available, there are thousands more amazing, loving dogs just hoping for the chance to be your dog. We ask that you keep an open mind, stay flexible, and we will do our best to work with you to find a great match for your family.
We strongly encourage anyone thinking about adopting a dog to do your research and make sure you are prepared for the commitment. If you have thought about what’s required and are ready to adopt, here’s what you can expect when you apply to adopt a dog from Worthy Dog Rescue.
APPROVAL PROCESS
APPLY
To start the approval process, the first step is to complete our non-binding adoption application
REFERENCES
If applicable, we check vet references to ensure that your pets have been kept current on care, and a copy of your lease to ensure that adopting doesn't violate your rental agreement
INTERVIEW
Once your application is submitted and reviewed, and your vet provides a positive reference, a Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will contact you to schedule a phone interview to discuss your application
HOME VISIT
A Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will schedule a time to visit your home, in person, to meet you and verify that your home is a good, safe environment for one of our dogs
APPROVAL
Upon approval, if the dog you applied for is still available and a good match, we will schedule a time for you to meet the dog. If not, we will work with you to find another dog who will suit your family.
TIMING
The approval process can take a week or two depending on your availability and our volunteers’ schedules. The rescue is run by a team of volunteers from your community who love dogs. We are just regular people with jobs, kids, and lives whose time is as limited as yours. That means that during periods of high activity or seasonal vacations the process may take a little longer.
THE DOG YOU APPLY FOR IS NOT GUARANTEED
Worthy Dog Rescue cannot guarantee that the dog you apply for will be available once you have been approved. We do our best to work with adopters and meet your needs, but we do not adopt dogs on a first-come, first-serve basis. All applications are screened to determine the most suitable match for the dog and the adopter. We want to place dogs in good homes as quickly as possible, so the dog can start their new life with their family, and we can free up their foster home to save another dog in need.
We understand how easy it is to become attached to a dog you’ve found online, but sometimes the dog you apply for may already be scheduled to meet another adopter, or it may not be the best fit for your home for a variety of behavioral reasons. Our dogs are fostered by one of our volunteers, living in their home as part of their family. This allows us to get to know the dog, what they need, their level of socialization, and the type of home that will best suit them.
Our goal is to place dogs in loving, responsible, and committed permanent homes. We take great care in finding good matches for our dogs and adopters too. We look forward to working with you to find the dog that will be with you and your family for many years to come.
ADOPTION POLICIES
Must be at least 23
All applicants who live in a rental property must provide contact information for their landlord, and have approval from the landlord to have a pet at the residence listed on the adoption application
Applicants must allow Worthy Dog Rescue to conduct a home visit to confirm that your home will be a good environment for a new dog
All animals in the applicant’s household must be spayed/neutered and up to date on all vaccines before consideration
All adults living in the home must meet the dog and be in agreement about adoption
Applicants must be willing to keep their new dog and current family pets as indoor pets
All adoptive families will provide all medical care and treatment needed for the dog including, but not limited to, yearly medical checkups, vaccines, and preventative heartworm medication
Dogs will be adopted only as a personal companion and not as a gift, working animal, or guard dog
A fenced yard is ideal for dogs, but is NOT a requirement for adoption unless specified
Because young puppies require intensive training and care, we cannot place puppies younger than five months of age in a home where someone is consistently absent from the home for long periods of time
In the event an adoption does not work out, applicants must agree to return the dog to Worthy Dog Rescue rather than rehoming the dog themselves
Worthy Dog Rescue believes that public adoption events are unnecessarily stressful for the dogs and the foster families who care for them, and that our structured, personalized adoption process leads to a more consistently positive outcome for both the dog and the adopter.
Worthy Dog Rescue believes that public adoption events are unnecessarily stressful for the dogs and the foster families who care for them, and that our structured, personalized adoption process leads to a more consistently positive outcome for both the dog and the adopter.
More about this rescue
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping dogs in distress, especially those living on chains, in pens, or in neglectful and abusive situations. Our mission is to provide a better life for dogs, while working to address the root problems of animal overpopulation and improve animal welfare. We do this through community outreach and by supporting and educating dog owners in underserved communities, by sponsoring spay and neuter programs, and by rescuing and rehabilitating dogs in need.
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping dogs in distress, especially those living on chains, in pens, or in neglectful and abusive situations. Our mission is to provide a better life for dogs, while working to address the root problems of animal overpopulation and improve animal welfare. We do this through community outreach and by supporting and educating dog owners in underserved communities, by sponsoring spay and neuter programs, and by rescuing and rehabilitating dogs in need.
Other pets at this
rescue
We'll also keep you updated on Callie's adoption status with email updates.
