Dobbie
County ID A5171045
Deadline: Monday, September 14.
Dobbie is a five-pound Chihuahua who shut down completely when he hit the shelter. At home he was confident with his family's kids, but strangers made him nervous, and the chaos and fear of intake broke something open. He is frozen with terror now, and that terror has teeth.
Already applied? Call or text 602-834-4911 and tell us it is Dobbie.
What the shelter has seen
- Came in as a surrender when his owner had to move; he'd been with her since he was a puppy and was described as great with kids, playful and tolerant of handling from the children in his home
- Owner reported he growls at unfamiliar people and dogs when they approach, and showed aggression toward other animals until he had time to warm up
- In shelter evaluations, stayed curled in the back of his kennel, trembling, eyes wide, refusing treats and refusing to move—flinched hard at touch, air-snapped when handlers reached toward him, and had to be carried in a towel both times
What Dobbie needs
This is not a beginner's dog and we will not pretend otherwise. Dobbie needs someone who understands fear aggression in small dogs, who will not rush him, who knows that a dog this scared can bite when cornered, and who has the skill and patience to help him find solid ground again. Because he is New Hope Only, he must be pulled by a partner rescue—he cannot go directly to a foster home.
Everything here comes from Dobbie’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
- 1 year old
- Sex
- Male
- Breed
- Black / White Chihuahua Shorthair
- Weight
- 5.9 lb
- Shelter
- West shelter
- Kennel
- West Kennel, Wing X - 501
- 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.