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Likely adopted

Alvin

Male · Adult · 6 years

or to the animal shelter. It was wary of human contact. Weeks passed and Alvin created a special trusting relationship with a volunteer, allows being picked up, goes out for a walk calmly, seeks contact with you. Alvin is waiting to create a similar special relationship with someone.

IT·Show original

o al Rifugio. Diffidava dal contatto umano. Le settimane sono passate ed Alvin con qualche volontario ha creato un rapporto speciale di fiducia, si fa prendere in braccio, esce tranquillamente a passeggio, ti cerca per il contatto. Alvin aspetta di creare con qualcuno un altrettanto rapporto speciale.

Size
Small
Age
Adult · 6 years
Location
🇮🇹Italy
Shelter
Il Rifugio del Cane
Cared for by Il Rifugio del Cane · Italy
More dogs in Italy →

Listed 4 months ago

Bringing Alvin home

What you'll need for Alvin in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

  1. 01
    Required by most shelters

    Trixie Transport Box

    Sturdy plastic carrier — what most shelters require for pickup.

    View on Amazon→
    €35–45
  2. 02
    Editor's pick

    Folding Wire Crate

    First-week safe space. Shelter dogs settle faster with a crate.

    View on Amazon→
    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

    View on Amazon→
    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

    View on Amazon→
    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

    Worth the upgrade — rescues often have joint issues from kennels.

    View on Amazon→
    €30–60
  6. 06
    Safer than a collar

    Padded Y-Front Harness

    Escape-proof for spooky rescues. Safer than a collar in week one.

    View on Amazon→
    €20–35

§ Affiliate links · TailHarbor earns a small commission, no extra cost to you.

About Alvin

What life with Alvin looks like

Alvin is a small adult dog waiting at Il Rifugio del Cane in Italy.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. Two reasonable walks a day plus play time is usually enough. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇮🇹Adopting from Italy

Italian canili require adopters to sign a stewardship contract (affido) and may retain the right to verify the animal's wellbeing post-adoption. Animals are chipped and sterilized before leaving (Legge 281/91). Public canili rifugio typically waive adoption fees.

Italy, Italy — browse more dogs in Italy.

Frequently asked

Adopting Alvin, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Alvin?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Il Rifugio del Cane handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Alvin on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Alvin if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Il Rifugio del Cane will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Alvin already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Alvin isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Il Rifugio del Cane early rather than rehoming privately; they know Alvin and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (IT). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
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