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Hilda

Female · Adult · 5 years

Hilda is a large Romanian shepherd cross. Her passport says she was born Feb 2019 but she acts a bit older than six. We have been a part of Hilda’s life and her a part of ours for years. She was in the private shelter in Crivatu Romania the very first time we visited and stayed there until 2024. The story of how she came to be rescued, if indeed it’s true, is too horrible to put into print so I will just say that she has been through a lot and, although understandably scared of people, treats us with nothing but gentleness. Hilda is a large dog with a calm presence. She moves with grace and poise and is quite regal in her demeanour. She will avoid strangers if she can but once she is used to the people in the home she will choose to be close by and always looks like she wants to come for a fuss but she’s just not quite ready yet. When you go to her she is happy to be fussed and groomed and will fall asleep with her head on your lap. Hilda is not keen on her walks and really doesn’t want to go for more than fifteen minutes. We are not sure if this is a crisis of confidence or if it’s a mobility issue, she’s a difficult dog to read. She walks nicely on a lead but can panic when spooked so we are looking for a rural home for her as she will not cope with a lot of traffic or crowds. Despite her fears Hilda is such a gentle dog, she will need a calm and quiet environment with no children under twelve and with at least one other dog. Anyone considering adopting her must be calm and patient in gaining her trust and maybe she will never fully open up to humans due to the horrors of her past. She is fine with the safe rescue cat, but won’t look at him. Hilda fostered Norwich Norfolk If you are interested please message or call between 9am to 5pm Mon – Fri or 9am to 4pm Sat. . Adoption Donation Fees From 1st Dec 2025 are Puppies already neutered and all adult dogs: £430. Un-neutered puppies on spay/neuter contracts: £530 (You will receive a £100 rebate once you send us proof of neutering). Senior dogs (10+ years): £150–£250 (depending on age and individual needs). Adoption Terms & Conditions When you adopt a Safe Rescue dog, you MUST use a slip lead. This will keep your dog safe: your new dog will be nervous and will not trust you, and you will not know which situations might upset your dog. If your dog panics, then a slip lead is the only way to prevent your dog from escaping (many dogs can escape from a collar and/or harness). It will take AT LEAST 3-6 months for your dog to settle-in and for you to know your dog fully (longer for nervous dogs). The slip lead must ALWAYS be used during this settling-in period. Even after your dog is settled, it is safest to use the slip lead in situations where your dog may become scared (e.g. visiting new places, around unfamiliar people, at the vet), and it situations where unexpected triggers might happen (e.g. around bonfire night). Nervous dogs may always need to wear a slip-lead as a back-up safety measure. The slip lead is a safety device and must NEVER be used as a training tool. Using the lead to apply pressure to the dog’s neck is damaging. If your dog pulls on the lead, then we can advise you on training methods that avoid harm. Once your dog is settled, you may want to consider using a harness (together with the slip lead) if your dog is comfortable with being handled when it is fitted. Most harnesses are not escape-proof, but harnesses with a strap behind the ribcage (e.g. Ruffwear Webmaster or Perfect Fit Harnesses) are safer. Retractable / extendable leads must never be used on our dogs. Adopted dogs must be collected from the rescue and transported straight home in a secure metal crate. Fences and gates must be 5foot minimum in height and secure. Hilda is a large Romanian shepherd cross. Her passport says she was born Feb 2019 but she acts a bit older than six. We have been a part of Hilda’s life and her a part of ours for years. She was in the private shelter in Crivatu Romania the very first time we visited and stayed there until 2024. The story of how she came to be rescued, if indeed it’s true, is too horrible to put into print so I will just say that she has been through a lot and, although understandably scared of people, treats us with nothing but gentleness. Hilda is a large dog with a calm presence. She moves with grace and poise and is quite regal in her demeanour. She will avoid strangers if she can but once she is used to the people in the home she will choose to be close by and always looks like she wants to come for a fuss but she’s just not quite ready yet. When you go to her she is happy to be fussed and groomed and will fall asleep with her head on your lap. Hilda is not keen on her walks and really doesn’t want to go for more than fifteen minutes. We are not sure if this is a crisis of confidence or if it’s a mobility issue, she’s a difficult dog to read. She walks nicely on a lead but can panic when spooked so we are looking for a rural home for her as she will not cope with a lot of traffic or crowds. Despite her fears Hilda is such a gentle dog, she will need a calm and quiet environment with no children under twelve and with at least one other dog. Anyone considering adopting her must be calm and patient in gaining her trust and maybe she will never fully open up to humans due to the horrors of her past. She is fine with the safe rescue cat, but won’t look at him. If you are interested please message or call between 9am to 5pm Mon – Fri or 9am to 4pm Sat. . Adoption Donation Fees From 1st Dec 2025 are Puppies already neutered and all adult dogs: £430. Un-neutered puppies on spay/neuter contracts: £530 (You will receive a £100 rebate once you send us proof of neutering). Senior dogs (10+ years): £150–£250 (depending on age and individual needs). When you adopt a Safe Rescue dog, you MUST use a slip lead. This will keep your dog safe: your new dog will be nervous and will not trust you, and you will not know which situations might upset your dog. If your dog panics, then a slip lead is the only way to prevent your dog from escaping (many dogs can escape from a collar and/or harness). It will take AT LEAST 3-6 months for your dog to settle-in and for you to know your dog fully (longer for nervous dogs). The slip lead must ALWAYS be used during this settling-in period. Even after your dog is settled, it is safest to use the slip lead in situations where your dog may become scared (e.g. visiting new places, around unfamiliar people, at the vet), and it situations where unexpected triggers might happen (e.g. around bonfire night). Nervous dogs may always need to wear a slip-lead as a back-up safety measure. The slip lead is a safety device and must NEVER be used as a training tool. Using the lead to apply pressure to the dog’s neck is damaging. If your dog pulls on the lead, then we can advise you on training methods that avoid harm. Once your dog is settled, you may want to consider using a harness (together with the slip lead) if your dog is comfortable with being handled when it is fitted. Most harnesses are not escape-proof, but harnesses with a strap behind the ribcage (e.g. Ruffwear Webmaster or Perfect Fit Harnesses) are safer. Retractable / extendable leads must never be used on our dogs. Adopted dogs must be collected from the rescue and transported straight home in a secure metal crate. Fences and gates must be 5foot minimum in height and secure.

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 5 years
Location
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Shelter
Safe Rescue for Dogs
Living with Hilda
  • Spayed
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by Safe Rescue for Dogs · United Kingdom

Listed 3 weeks ago

Bringing Hilda home

What you'll need for Hilda 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

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About Hilda

What life with Hilda looks like

Hilda is a large adult dog waiting at Safe Rescue for Dogs in United Kingdom.

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 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.

United Kingdom, United Kingdom browse more dogs in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting Hilda, answered.

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