Richie
County ID A5170861
Deadline: Monday, September 14.
Richie is a three-year-old shepherd running out of time in a place that frightens him. He's so shut down in his kennel he won't eat, but in the yard, for brief seconds, you can see the dog underneath—curious, even playful. Then the fear closes back in and he goes stiff again, watching every move.
Already applied? Call or text 602-834-4911 and tell us it is Richie.
What the shelter has seen
- Found as a stray with another dog, picked up together at the end of August
- Seventy-pound shepherd who is deeply wary of people—froze when approached, wouldn't take treats at first, tense body and hard stares when handlers moved too close
- Once in the yard, showed brief moments of soft play—leaping around with loose body—then quickly shut back down
- Tolerated leashing and walking, but reacted with lip curls when unfamiliar handlers extended hands or came near while he was uncertain
- Needs experienced handling; his fear makes him reactive when startled or pressured, and he has four days left
What Richie needs
This is not a beginner's dog and we will not pretend otherwise. Richie needs someone who understands fear-reactive shepherds, can read his body language, and won't push him past his threshold. He is New Hope Only, which means he must be pulled by a registered partner rescue by end of business September 14th.
Everything here comes from Richie’s Maricopa County Animal Care and Control record. We leave out the parts that belong between the shelter, the rescue and the vet, and we do not soften what a dog needs. If something changes at the shelter, this page changes with it.
The county record
- Age
- 3 years old
- Sex
- Male
- Breed
- Black / Red German Shepherd
- Weight
- 70.0 lb
- Shelter
- West shelter
- Kennel
- West Kennel, Wing S - 329
- Deadline
- Monday, September 14
This dog needs a rescue partner
New Hope Only means the county requires a partner rescue to take this dog. Apply and raise your hand, and we work the rescue side for you. You can still be the home they land in.