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Bessie

Mixed Breed · Female · Adult · 8 years

Bessie, a 55cm, 20kg Rhodesian Ridgeback, has been living in the Rhodos shelter for approximately 8 years. She has never been able to open up to humans and has been moved multiple times, but never given the time to build trust. She spends most of her time hiding in her hut and needs a lot of peace and security. 😔 Despite her shyness, Bessie is incredibly loving and gentle. She gets along well with other dogs and is not aggressive despite her fears. She allows people to touch and even lift her - she just needs people who approach her with patience, understanding, and time, and give her their trust. Bessie has gained weight over the years, which is not good for her health. A quiet home where she can arrive at her own pace and gradually build trust would be ideal for her. We wish Bessie a quiet home, preferably with a garden, and most importantly, people with a big heart and a lot of patience. People who do not expect her to become a confident dog overnight, but give her the time she needs. Maybe there is someone out there who can show Bessie that her life can also consist of safety, love, and security. ❤️ PAW HEROES e.V. Email: © 2022 PAW HEROES e.V. - All Rights Reserved.

DE·Show original

* Juli 2017 | 55cm | 20kg | Tierheim Rhodos Bessie gehört im Shelter zu den Hunden, die es besonders schwer haben. Sie verbringt bereits seit rund 8 Jahren ihr Leben im Tierheim und konnte sich gegenüber Menschen nie richtig öffnen. In dieser langen Zeit wurde sie mehrfach umgesetzt, doch leider fehlte die Zeit, sich so richtig um das Vertrauen zu kümmern. Die meiste Zeit versteckt sie sich in ihrer Hütte und braucht sehr viel Ruhe und Sicherheit. 😔 Hinter ihrer großen Schüchternheit steckt jedoch eine unglaublich liebe und sanfte Hündin. Bessie ist mit anderen Hunden gut verträglich und zeigt sich trotz ihrer Ängstlichkeit nicht aggressiv. Sie lässt sich anfassen und sogar hochheben – sie braucht einfach Menschen, die ihr mit ganz viel Geduld, Verständnis und Zeit begegnen und ihr Vertrauen schenken. In den vergangenen Jahren hat Bessie leider deutlich an Gewicht zugenommen, was ihrer Gesundheit natürlich nicht guttut. Umso wichtiger wäre für sie ein ruhiges Zuhause, in dem sie in ihrem eigenen Tempo ankommen und Schritt für Schritt Vertrauen aufbauen darf und sich so ein aktiveres Leben aufbauen kann. Für Bessie wünschen wir uns ein ruhiges Zuhause, am besten mit Garten und vor allem Menschen, mit einem großen Herzen und viel Geduld. Menschen, die nicht erwarten, dass sie von heute auf morgen eine selbstbewusste Hündin wird, sondern ihr die Zeit geben, die sie braucht. Vielleicht gibt es irgendwo genau diesen besonderen Menschen, der Bessie zeigt, dass ihr Leben auch aus Sicherheit, Liebe und Geborgenheit bestehen kann. ❤️ PAW HEROES e.V. E-Mail: © 2022 PAW HEROES e.V. – All Rights Reserved.

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 8 years
Location
🇩🇪Germany
Shelter
og:image
Cared for by og:image · GermanyLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 2 days ago

Bringing Bessie home

What you'll need for Bessie 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 Bessie

What life with Bessie looks like

Bessie is a large adult mixed breed dog waiting at og:image in Germany.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. A larger dog like this one needs daily off-leash time when possible — a fenced yard or regular access to safe walking trails. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇩🇪Adopting from Germany

German rescues typically require an in-person home visit (Vorkontrolle) or detailed video home check before approving adoption. Animals leave the shelter sterilized, microchipped, and with a valid EU pet passport. Adoption fees usually fall between €250 and €450, covering veterinary preparation.

Germany, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Bessie, answered.

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