Skip to content
TailHarbor
← Back to results
Available

Harley

Shih Tzu · Male · Senior · 10 years

About HarleyHarley is a lovely lad who came to the centre via inspectors after being found in absolutely terrible condition. This poor dog was completely matted and had to have all his fur shaved off, the fur that was shaved off weighed a whole kilo. His eyes were terribly sore from where the matted fur had irritated them so much. Harley was taken straight to vets for emergency treatment. After he was shaved, it revealed the true extent of how badly damaged his eyes were caused by the neglect. Harley was put on a strict eye treatment regime of three different eye drops four times a day. As each day passes his eyes improve little by little, sadly due to the infection and condition being left untreated for so long it has left him with permanent damage. He will need lifelong eye treatment for his damaged eyes, he is getting used to all eye drops with a little help with some primula squirty cheese. He is now a little visually impaired but is not totally blind and can see little bits. He needs his person to not let him fall down curbs and walk in to things. Harley is a lovely little lad who despite his terrible past is now loving life and making up for lost time, he loves to be with you and loves a fuss, he is then off again investigating everything that is new to him. Harley has missed out on so much up to now and now just needs that loving new home. He will make his new adopters a wonderful addition to the family.

Size
Age
Senior · 10 years
Location
🇬🇧York
Shelter
RSPCA York Animal Home
Cared for by RSPCA York Animal Home · YorkLearn about Shih Tzu

Listed Today

Bringing Harley home

What you'll need for Harley 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 Harley

What life with Harley looks like

Harley is a senior shih tzu dog waiting at RSPCA York Animal Home in York.

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 United Kingdom

UK shelters work under the Pet Travel Scheme (post-Brexit, the EU pet passport is not valid; a UK Animal Health Certificate is required for travel into the EU). Most UK rescues focus on domestic placements but some work with EU partners.

York, United Kingdom browse more dogs in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting Harley, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Harley?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. RSPCA York Animal Home handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Harley on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Harley if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — RSPCA York Animal Home 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. UK adopters: post-Brexit travel into the EU requires an Animal Health Certificate. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Harley 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 Harley 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 RSPCA York Animal Home early rather than rehoming privately; they know Harley 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 (EN). 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

More Shih Tzu pets

Filou, male young Shih Tzu for adoption at 4 Pattes Sans Frontieres

Filou

Shih Tzu · small

2 yearsMale
GAZOU,  senior Shih Tzu for adoption at Refuge Rêves de chiens, Viry-Châtillon

GAZOU

Shih Tzu

15 yearsUnknown
Snow, female Shih Tzu for adoption at Action 4 Pets, France

Snow

Shih Tzu

Female

More from RSPCA York Animal Home

Dottie, female 4yo Greyhound for adoption at RSPCA York Animal Home, York

Dottie

Greyhound

4 yearsFemale
Dolly, female 4yo Greyhound for adoption at RSPCA York Animal Home, York

Dolly

Greyhound · extra large

4 yearsFemale
Lottie, female senior Cockapoo for adoption at RSPCA York Animal Home, York

Lottie

Cockapoo

9 yearsFemale
Similar animals

More Shih Tzus looking for a home

Trigg & Fliss, female young Bichon Frisé for adoption at Freshfields Animal Rescue, Liverpool

Trigg & Fliss

Bichon Frisé

2 yearsFemale
Poppy & Pixie,  senior Labrador Retriever for adoption at K9Focus

Poppy & Pixie

Labrador Retriever

8 yearsUnknown
Bailey, male 6yo Shih Tzu for adoption at Dogs Trust Manchester, Manchester

Bailey

Shih Tzu · small

6 yearsMale
Tinkerbell, female 5yo Maltese for adoption at Many Tears Animal Rescue, Llanelli

Tinkerbell

Maltese · extra large

5 yearsFemale
Lemon Pie, female 4yo Shih Tzu for adoption at Many Tears Animal Rescue, Llanelli

Lemon Pie

Shih Tzu · extra large

4 yearsFemale
Toast, female 4yo Maltese for adoption at Many Tears Animal Rescue, Llanelli

Toast

Maltese · small

4 yearsFemale

Spotted something wrong? Suggest a change →