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Adopt Happy

Mixed Breed · Female

Happy was rescued from Ancsa, an overcrowded killing shelter. No one had cared for the small dog because Happy was severely traumatized and had bitten out of fear. At the animal shelter, she was given time and space. Within a few days, she became a little more approachable, her growling softer, and she gratefully accepted her food. Happy had retained her zest for life and after the long time in the killing shelter, she happily ran around in the run. However, her mistrust of people, especially strangers, ran deep. By now, Happy is happy when her trusted people approach, and if the opportunity arises, she quickly jumps onto their lap to gain some cuddles. She remains mistrustful of strangers and will snap if she feels cornered. We met Happy at our visit in late October. Initially, she jumped up with the other dogs at the fence, but when she noticed that there were strangers besides Ancsa, she quickly retreated into the hut. When all the dogs eagerly took the brought treats, her neck stretched longer, but her fear kept her in the hut. Upon approach, she growled, and if pressed, she would likely bite out of fear. When she was with her dog friends in the run where the photos were taken, she sought the proximity of Enikö. From her lap, everything seemed less scary. After a while, she became a little more secure and moved around in the run, running with the other dogs. A confident only dog in a new home would certainly be helpful for Happy's acclimation and the first steps in her new life. Happy is an anxious dog and thus seeks very special people who can give her all the time she needs to build trust. She should not be pressured. We wish her a securely fenced yard where she can unwind in the first weeks and months, as walks are not meaningful until trust has developed with her people. Perhaps it will take some time for Happy to start her new life, but we are sure that she will gain security piece by piece with Ancsa.

Read original (de)

Happy wurde von Ancsa aus einer überfüllten Tötungsstation gerettet. Niemand hatte sich um den kleinen Hund bemüht, denn Happy war schwer traumatisiert und hat aus Angst um sich geschnappt. Im Tierheim bekam sie erst mal eines – Zeit und Raum. Schon nach wenigen Tagen wurde sie ein bisschen zugänglicher, das Knurren etwas leiser und das Futter nahm sie dankbar an. Happy hatte sich ihre Lebensfreude bewahrt und sprang nach der langen Zeit in der Tötung fröhlich im Auslauf herum. Das Misstrauen gegenüber Menschen aber, besonders Fremden, saß und sitzt tief. Inzwischen freut Happy sich, wenn ihre Bezugspersonen sich nähern und wenn sich die Gelegenheit ergibt, springt Happy schnell auf den Schoß, um ein paar Streicheleinheiten zu ergattern. Fremden gegenüber ist sie nach wie vor misstrauisch eingestellt und schnappt auch, wenn sie sich bedrängt fühlt. Wir haben Happy bei unserem Besuch Ende Oktober kennengelernt. Zunächst sprang sie mit den anderen Hunden am Gitter hoch, als sie aber bemerkte, dass neben Ancsa Fremde waren, zog sie sich rasch in die Hütte zurück. Als alle Hunde begeistert die mitgebrachten Leckerchen nahmen, wurde der Hals immer länger, aber die Furcht ließ Happy in der Hütte verweilen. Auf Annäherung lässt sie ein Knurren hören und würde man sie in die Enge treiben, würde sie vermutlich aus Angst beißen. Als sie mit ihren Hundefreunden im Auslauf war, wo die Fotos gemacht wurden, suchte Happy die Nähe von Enikö. Von ihrem Schoß aus war alles nur halb so gruselig. Nach einer Weile wurde sie etwas sicherer und bewegte sich im Auslauf und lief mit den anderen Hunden herum. Ein souveräner Ersthund im neuen Zuhause würde Happy sicherlich bei der Eingewöhnung und den ersten Schritten in ihr neues Leben hilfreich sein. Happy ist eine Angsthündin und sucht daher ganz besondere Menschen, die ihr alle Zeit geben, die sie braucht um Vertrauen aufzubauen. Sie sollte nicht bedrängt werden. Wir wünschen und einen sicher eingezäunter Garten, in dem Happy sich in den ersten Wochen und Monaten lösen darf, denn solange kein Vertrauen zu ihren Menschen entstanden ist, sind Spaziergänge nicht sinnvoll. Vielleicht wird es noch eine Weile dauern, bis Happy in ihr neues Leben starten kann, aber wir sind uns sicher, dass sie bei Ancsa Stück für Stück an Sicherheit gewinnen wird.

Size
Small
Age
Location
🇩🇪Solingen
Shelter
Fellfreunde e.V.
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Cared for by Fellfreunde e.V. · SolingenLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 4 weeks ago

Bringing Happy home

What you'll need for Happy 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.

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    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

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    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

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

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    €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 Happy

What life with Happy looks like

Happy is a small adult mixed breed dog waiting at Fellfreunde e.V. in Solingen.

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 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.

Solingen, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Happy, answered.

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