Skip to content
TailHarbor
← Back to results
Available

Adopt Dutchess

Pointer · Female · Senior · 11 years

No one knows where Dutchess originally came from…she appeared in a sad state by the roadside and was fortunately brought to the animal shelter and revived. Once she was feeling better, the animal shelter was broken into, and she and another dog were likely stolen by the previous owner. Weeks later, she turned up in the Algarve…that’s about 250 km away. Again, completely emaciated and dehydrated, she was found by the roadside. We suspect that, due to her age and the lack of care from her “owners,” she can no longer travel hundreds of kilometers. She was revived again and, shortly after, despite increased security measures, she was stolen once more. The same cycle repeated…a few weeks later, she was found again in a pitiful state. Now, she is confined at night and hidden in hopes that she won’t disappear again. In Portugal, no one will adopt her; her only chance is a life abroad! Now about Dutchess herself: She is a very friendly and trusting female dog. She is still quite fit for her age and loves walks. After that, she would most like to nap in her dog bed or, even better, on someone’s lap. Dutchess is compatible with other dogs and, as far as we can tell, with cats. She finds children wonderful. She is a truly cuddly, gentle, and very people-oriented female dog. Due to partially missing teeth, only her food needs to be softened or given as wet food. Of course, we know that it’s hard to find a home for an old hunting dog, but it would be so wonderful if Dutchess could finally find peace with loving people.

Read original (de)

Keiner weiß woher Dutchess ursprünglich kommt…sie tauchte in einem traurigen Zustand auf der Landstraße auf und wurde zum Glück ins Tierheim gebracht und wieder aufgepäppelt. Kaum ging es ihr besser wurde im Tierheim eingebrochen und sie und ein anderer Hund wurden vermutlich vom Vorbesitzer gestohlen. Wochen später tauchte sie an der Algarve auf…das sind gute 250 km Entfernung. Wieder vollkommen abgemagert und dehydriert wurde sie auf der Landstraße gefunden. Wir vermuten, dass sie es aufgrund ihres Alters und der mangelnden Pflege ihrer “Besitzer” nicht mehr schafft hunderte Kilometer umherzuziehen. Wieder wurde sie aufgepäppelt und kurze Zeit später - trotz erhöhter Sicherheitsvorkehrungen - wieder gestohlen. Das gleiche Spiel von vorne…einige Wochen später, fand man sie erneut in erbärmlichen Zustand. Nun wird sie nachts eingesperrt und versteckt in der Hoffnung, dass sie nicht erneut verschwindet. In Portugal wird sie Niemand adoptieren, ihre einzige Chance ist ein Leben im Ausland! Nun zu Dutchess selbst: Sie ist eine ganz freundliche und zutrauliche Hündin. Sie ist für ihr Alter noch recht fit und liebt Spaziergänge. Danach möchte sie am liebsten im Körbchen dösen oder noch besser auf den Schoß. Dutchess ist verträglich mit anderen Hunden und soweit wir testen konnten auch mit Katzen. Kinder findet sie toll. Sie ist eine wirklich verschmuste, sanfte und sehr menschenbezogene Hündin. Aufgrund teilweise fehlender Zähne muss nur ihr Futter eingeweicht bzw. Nassfutter gefüttert werden. Natürlich wissen wir, dass es schwer ist einen alten Jagdhund zu vermitteln, aber es wäre so wunderbar, wenn Dutchess endlich ihren Frieden bei lieben Menschen finden würde.

Size
Large
Age
Senior · 11 years
Location
🇩🇪Speyer
Shelter
Hundehilfe Portugal
Living with Dutchess
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with cats
  • Good with kids
Create free account to contact →

Free account — 10 contacts included

Cared for by Hundehilfe Portugal · SpeyerLearn about Pointer

Listed 2 weeks ago

Bringing Dutchess home

What you'll need for Dutchess 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 Dutchess

What life with Dutchess looks like

Dutchess is a large senior pointer dog waiting at Hundehilfe Portugal in Speyer.

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 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.

Speyer, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Dutchess, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Dutchess?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Hundehilfe Portugal handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Dutchess on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Dutchess if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Hundehilfe Portugal 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 Dutchess 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 Dutchess 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 Hundehilfe Portugal early rather than rehoming privately; they know Dutchess 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.
You might also like
Adopt Dutchess — 11yo Pointer in Speyer | TailHarbor