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Harlequin

Unknown · Adult · 4 years

Looking for a trustworthy human for a free-spirited (and curious) herder! Harlequin, a large mixed-breed Maremma dog, born around January 2022, entered the dog shelter in August 2024. Gets along with other dogs, but we prefer to place him only with female dogs. He spent months wandering the towns, left to his own devices. Doesn't know humans well, but something in him tells him that maybe it's worth trusting: he's curious, approaches and - surprise! - appreciates caresses and attention, although still with a little bit of shyness. The leash? He doesn't even know what it is, but he has a lot of desire to learn and discover that life with a human by his side can be truly special. For him we are looking for a patient and loving person, ready to earn his trust and help him discover that, after so much solitude, there is a world of love and security waiting for him. If you think you could be his reference point, contact us: he's ready to start a new life, step by step, by your side! He is in a private dog shelter affiliated in Basilicata and we place him both in Lazio and the North, after the necessary pre-adoption home checks, vaccinated, spayed, tested for leishmaniasis and obviously with a microchip.

IT·Show original

Cercasi umano fidato per un pastore dall’animo libero (e curioso)! Harlequin, meticcio maremmano di taglia grande, nascita presunta gennaio 2022 ed entrato in canile nell’agosto 2024. Va d’accordo con gli altri cani, ma preferiamo affidarlo solo con cani femmine. Ha passato mesi a vagare per i paesi, abbandonato a se stesso. Non conosce bene l’essere umano, ma qualcosa in lui gli dice che forse vale la pena fidarsi: è curioso, si avvicina e – sorpresa! – apprezza carezze e attenzioni, anche se ancora con un pizzico di timidezza. Il guinzaglio? Non sa neanche cosa sia, ma ha tanta voglia di imparare e di scoprire che la vita con un umano accanto può essere davvero speciale. Per lui cerchiamo una persona paziente e amorevole, pronta a conquistare la sua fiducia e a fargli scoprire che, dopo tanta solitudine, c’è un mondo di affetto e sicurezza che lo aspetta. Se pensi di poter essere il suo punto di riferimento, contattaci: è pronto a iniziare una nuova vita, passo dopo passo, al tuo fianco! Si trova in un canile privato convenzionato in Basilicata e lo affidiamo sia nel Lazio sia al nord, dopo le dovute verifiche preaffido, vaccinato, sterilizzato, testato leishmania e ovviamente con microchip. Settore Adozioni Associazione ALFA OdV SMS/WhatsApp: 3280034508 email: un volontario ALFA ti contatterà per darti tutte le informazioni Preso atto dell'Informativa privacy di Alfa, acconsento espressamente al trattamento dei miei dati personali con le modalità sopra indicate, ivi inclusa la comunicazione dei miei dati ai soggetti menzionati: per l’invio di comunicazioni informative, di eventuali nostre newsletter, con qualsiasi mezzo (conosciuto o non), ivi compreso, a titolo esemplificativo e non esaustivo, posta, Internet, telefono, E-mail, MMS, SMS da parte di Alfa, nonché da parte di entità fisiche o giuridiche legate contrattualmente ad Alfa e/o che, comunque, collaborino alle attività di Alfa

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 4 years
Location
🇮🇹Roma
Shelter
Associazione ALFA
Living with Harlequin
  • Vaccinated
  • Neutered
  • Microchipped
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by Associazione ALFA · Roma

Listed 2 months ago

Bringing Harlequin home

What you'll need for Harlequin 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 Harlequin

What life with Harlequin looks like

Harlequin is a large adult dog waiting at Associazione ALFA in Roma.

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 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 Harlequin, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Harlequin?
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 Harlequin on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Harlequin 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 Harlequin 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 Harlequin 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 Harlequin 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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Adopt Harlequin — 4yo Mixed breed in Roma | TailHarbor