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Dexter

Shar Pei · Male · 8 years

Forgive me for not approaching you with joyful enthusiasm, but you may have already guessed: I am blind. The reason for this is not only breed-specific issues. In my past, I was simply not well cared for, and regular vet visits were not a part of my life. Now, I have moved in with my partner and daughter to the animal shelter, where I have been introduced to the vet clinic, and I am on my way to beginning a new chapter of my life. Due to years of neglect, my health still has a lot to catch up on. My eyes need to be removed, I have severe skin infections, and my already too-tight ear canals are completely swollen due to inflammation, so I can barely hear anything anymore. Therefore, my requirements for a new home are also very specific. This home should be completely ground-level to prevent me from getting hurt. Additionally, I would like a quiet, low-stress senior dog bed where my people have enough time for me and my special needs. Experience with my or a similar breed is a must, and one should be aware of the daily care I require. Here at the animal shelter, I have shown myself to be very easy-going, and if my orientation is supported, I am also happy to take my rounds at my own pace, which is usually not very fast. Rassetypisch, I have a small stubborn streak and like to try to get my way. Since I am used to living with other dogs, I could also imagine living again with a confident second dog who matches well with my calm energy. Children should already be a certain age, as they otherwise make me feel too busy. I hope that someone will be found here who is not deterred by my construction sites and who wants to accompany me on my journey. Then please contact my caretakers quickly!.

DE·Show original

Verzeiht mir, dass ich nicht direkt freudestrahlend auf euch zukomme, aber vielleicht habt ihr es schon erraten: Ich bin blind. Der Grund dafür sind nicht nur rassespezifische Probleme. In meiner Vergangenheit wurde sich einfach nicht gut um mich gekümmert und regelmäßige Tierarztbesuche gab es für mich nicht. Nun bin ich zusammen mit meiner Partnerin und meiner Tochter ins Tierheim eingezogen, wurde in der Tierklinik vorgestellt und bin auf dem Weg einen neuen Lebensabschnitt zu beginnen. Durch die jahrelange Vernachlässigung kommt gesundheitlich noch einiges auf mich zu. Meine Augen müssen entfernt werden, ich habe massive Hautentzündungen und meine eh schon viel zu engen Gehörgänge sind durch Entzündungen komplett zugeschwollen, dementsprechend höre ich auch so gut wie nichts mehr. Daher sind meine Anforderungen an ein neues Zuhause auch sehr speziell. Dieses sollte nämlich komplett ebenerdig sein, damit ich mich nicht verletze. Außerdem wünsche ich mir einen Altersruhesitz mit wenig Trubel, wo meine Menschen genug Zeit für mich und meine Besonderheiten haben. Vorerfahrung mit meiner oder einer ähnlichen Qualzuchtrasse sind ein Muss und man sollte sich der täglichen Pflege, die ich benötige, bewusst sein. Hier im Tierheim zeige ich mich bislang sehr umgänglich und wenn man mich bei der Orientierung unterstützt, laufe ich auch gerne meine Runden, allerdings in meinem Tempo, was meistens nicht sehr schnell ist. Rassetypisch habe ich einen kleinen Dickkopf und versuche gerne, meinen Willen durchzusetzen. Da ich das Leben mit anderen Hunden gewohnt bin, könnte ich mir auch vorstellen, wieder mit einem souveränen Zweithund zu Leben, der mit meiner ruhigen Energie gut zusammen passt. Kinder sollten schon ein gewisses Alter haben, da sie mir sonst zu trubelig sind. Ich hoffe sehr, dass sich hier jemand findet, der sich von meinen Baustellen nicht abschrecken lässt und mich auf meinem Weg begleiten möchte. Dann melde dich doch bitte ganz schnell bei meinen Pflegern!

Size
Medium
Age
8 years
Location
🇩🇪Essen
Shelter
Tierheim Essen
Living with Dexter
  • Neutered
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with kids
  • Has special needs
Cared for by Tierheim Essen · EssenLearn about Shar Pei

Listed 3 months ago

Bringing Dexter home

What you'll need for Dexter 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 Dexter

What life with Dexter looks like

Dexter is a medium-sized adult shar pei dog waiting at Tierheim Essen in Essen.

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.

Note from the shelter: Blind, deaf, requires eye removal surgery, severe skin inflammation, needs single-level home, requires daily specialized care, very slow mobility

🇩🇪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.

Essen, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Dexter, answered.

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