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Likely adopted

Bertilda

Unknown · Senior · 15 years

The little old lady who longs to step out of the invisibility of a shelter in southern Italy! Bertilda is a wonderful medium-sized dog, a mix of English Setter, born way back in 2011 and confined to the shelter since 2018. Over these long years, she’s mastered an exquisite art: pretending that people don’t exist. Yes, because when you pet her, her gaze seems to drift off into nothingness—as if to say, “I see nothing, I hear nothing, I have no idea who you are.” She has no teeth, so let’s just say there’s no risk of being “tasted,” and she has an epulis on her gum—a harmless little bump, for those less familiar with it—that makes her smile even more unique. Little Bertilda gets along well with other dogs, both females and males, and she’s a true queen of the “low profile”: she loves tranquility, hates excessive enthusiasm, and prefers a world made of silence, patience, and safe spaces. In short, if you’re looking for a dog to take to a rave party... well, maybe she’s not the one for you. We’re searching for a special human for her—a person who’s calm, serene, and willing to show her that life can be beautiful even beyond the shelter walls. Someone who understands that she’s not there to party, but to experience a discreet and quiet kind of love. Oh, and no yelling, running around, or frenzied games—here, we’re all about the Zen philosophy! If you think you’ve got that big heart, infinite patience, and the desire to give a scared little soul a happy ending worthy of her, she’s waiting for you. Or at least… she pretends to be waiting for you. But believe us, deep down in her heart, she really needs it. She’s currently staying at a private, affiliated shelter in Basilicata, and we’ll place her either in Lazio or in northern Italy, after completing the necessary pre-adoption checks. She’s vaccinated, spayed, tested for leishmaniasis, and of course, microchipped. Adoption Department, ALFA Association OdV. SMS/WhatsApp: 3280034508; email: A volunteer from ALFA will contact you to provide all the details.

IT·Show original

La vecchietta che vuole uscire dall’invisibilità di un canile del sud Italia! Bertilda è una meravigliosa cagnolina derivato setter inglese di taglia media, nata nel lontano 2011 e reclusa dal 2018. In questi lunghi anni ha affinato un’arte sopraffina, quella di far finta che le persone non esistano. Sì, perché quando la accarezzi, il suo sguardo si perde nel vuoto come a dire: “Non vedo niente, non sento niente, non so chi tu sia. Non ha denti, quindi diciamo che non c’è il rischio di essere “assaggiati”, e ha un’epulide sulla gengiva – che per i meno esperti è una sorta di bozzetto, del tutto innocuo, che rende il suo sorriso ancora più unico. La piccola Bertilda va d’accordo con gli altri cani, sia femmine sia maschi ed è una vera regina del “low profile”: ama la tranquillità, detesta gli eccessi di entusiasmo e preferisce un mondo fatto di silenzi, pazienza e spazi sicuri. Insomma, se state cercando un cane da portare a un rave party… beh, forse non è lei. Cerchiamo per lei un essere umano speciale. Qualcuno che sia calmo, tranquillo e disposto a insegnarle che la vita può essere bella anche fuori dal canile. Una persona che capisca che lei non è lì per fare feste, ma per vivere un amore discreto e silenzioso. Ah, e niente urla, corse o giochi frenetici: qui si punta sulla filosofia zen! Se pensate di avere quel cuore grande, quella pazienza infinita e quella voglia di regalare a una piccola spaventata un finale degno, lei vi aspetta. O almeno… fa finta di aspettarvi. Ma credeteci, nel profondo del suo cuore, ne ha davvero bisogno. Si trova in un canile privato convenzionato in Basilicata e la affidiamo sia nel Lazio sia al nord, dopo le dovute verifiche preaffido, vaccinata, sterilizzata, testata leishmania e ovviamente con microchip. Settore Adozioni Associazione ALFA OdV SMS/WhatsApp: 3280034508 email: un volontario ALFA ti contatterà per darti tutte le informazioni

Size
Medium
Age
Senior · 15 years
Location
🇮🇹Roma
Shelter
Associazione ALFA
Living with Bertilda
  • Vaccinated
  • Neutered
  • Microchipped
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with kids
Cared for by Associazione ALFA · Roma

Listed 4 months ago

Bringing Bertilda home

What you'll need for Bertilda 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.

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    €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

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About Bertilda

What life with Bertilda looks like

Bertilda is a medium-sized senior dog waiting at Associazione ALFA in Roma.

Senior dogs settle in faster than younger ones. They want a soft bed, predictable meals, and short, sniff-heavy walks rather than runs. Many senior rescues bond deeply within weeks because they understand exactly how good a stable home is. Expect occasional vet visits for joint or dental care.

🇮🇹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.

Roma, Italy browse more dogs in Italy.

Frequently asked

Adopting Bertilda, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Bertilda?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Associazione ALFA handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Bertilda on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Bertilda if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Associazione ALFA 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 Bertilda 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 Bertilda 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 Associazione ALFA early rather than rehoming privately; they know Bertilda 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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