FIONA

Pit Bull Terrier | Athol, MA

Age : 2 YearsAdultFemaleSmallBlack

About

Meet FIONA

OTHER PETS: Fiona is playful with dogs that initiate play but seems more interested in people than in dogs that don't want to play. She was wary of a larger dog initially but after greetings and sniffs relaxed and responded to play invites. Fiona does get excited easily so might be a bit much for a more low key dog; she should meet any dog she would be living with prior to adoption. [Likely (Must Meet First)]OWNER EXPERIENCE: [Some Experience]KIDS: Fiona is jumpy when excited, sometimes interactions while she's excited contributes to her level of excitement, and often plays with her paws - while she is very friendly she might unintentionally injure a smaller human and shouldn't live with humans that would not be able to withstand her affection.[10+ / Dog Savvy (Must Meet First)]ACTIVITY LEVEL: Fiona is a younger dog who has a good level of energy who needs appropriate outlets; with positive reinforcement training she is working on loose leash walking, jumping less while on leash, and may do well in dog sports with vet approval. Positive reinforcement training, plenty of mental enrichment and various forms of exercise and playtime will help keep Fiona engaged and happily occupied. [Good Walking Buddy / Olympic Athlete]VETERINARY CARE: [Routine]LEVEL OF TRAINING NEEDED: Positive reinforcement training will help Fiona bond with her new owner as well as help her learn important life skills. Fiona's jumping is intense at this time and she will need the support of her new owner as well as positive reinforcement to learn other ways to greet humans and express excitement. Fiona may be a good candidate for dog sports (with vet approval). [Moderate]GROOMING: [Minimal]

Adoption Process
The first step is to fill out an adoption application, answering some basic questions about yourself and your household. This will help the adoption counselors facilitate the matchmaking process. Most adoptions take at least 45 minutes to one hour to complete. The Adoption Center is a busy place, so please be patient and allow yourself enough time for our process. THANK YOU! What we will need to know when you adopt a new companion: If you own your home, please bring some item of verification (tax bill, water bill, or mortgage statement.) Please also be sure to check your homeowner’s insurance policy. Some policies restrict coverage for certain dog breeds. If you DO NOT own your place of residence, please be sure the property owner will consent to have a pet on his/her property. We will verify with landlords over the phone before sending a new companion home, so please have the appropriate name and phone number available. Other pets already living with you will need to be up-to-date on vaccination. This is to decrease the risk of spreading infectious disease from one animal to another. It is important to understand that your new companion will be a member of your family. This can mean a 10-15 year commitment from you! Please bring along family members so we can make sure it will be a good match before you make a commitment. Also, if adopting a second dog, please bring your current dog with you---we can let them spend some time together and give you some suggestions on surviving the adjustment period. Please be sure you have considered the financial obligation involved in caring for a companion animal. This includes routine veterinary and emergency care, in addition to food, supplies and training. The adoption counselors can give you an idea of basic costs involved for each type of animal. Many animals adopted from shelters can require an immediate visit to the veterinarian. Because of the volume of un-vaccinated animals entering a shelter’s care, the risk of transmissible contagious diseases can be quite high. Kennel cough in dogs, and upper respiratory infections in cats are the two most common diseases that your newly adopted companion may experience. You must ask yourself if you have the financial means to care for your new friend, beyond the initial adoption costs. BEFORE YOU COMMIT!!!!! Please be honest with yourself about the actual time you have to train, groom, and exercise the companion animal you have chosen. Some things to consider: Do you work long or erratic hours? Do you like outdoor activity? Who will care for your pet while you travel? Will your pet be the appropriate size when he or she is full grown? When adopting into a home with children: Are you adopting to teach your child responsibility, or are your adopting because you have a responsible child? Are your children comfortable around the animal you’ve chosen? Will YOU still remain committed to this animal when the children lose interest? Take the time now to consider these things and find the best match for your lifestyle! We thank your for offering your home to a “pre-loved” companion. We hope he or she will be a wonderful addition to your family and your home!

Contact
Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center
(413) 781-1484
[email protected]
http://www.tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com