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Adopt Leo

Male · Senior · 10 years

Leo has a sad story behind him. We met him in 2023, when he had already been on the streets for years along with his owner, sharing with him hardships and misery. After his human companion was hospitalized with dementia, Leo ended up at the Muratella dog shelter, losing the only affection he had left, along with hope and trust in others. In the dog shelter he is becoming demoralized, he has become a cautious and wary dog, but when given the slightest gesture of affection, he reveals great sweetness and a touching need for love. Leo is no longer young but is in good health, and we sincerely hope that he may find some happiness at least in the last part of his life.

Read original (it)

Leo ha una triste storia alle spalle. Lo abbiamo conosciuto nel 2023, quando già da anni era finito in strada insieme al suo proprietario, condividendo con lui stenti e miseria. Dopo il ricovero in ospedale del suo compagno umano, affetto da demenza, Leo è finito al canile di Muratella, perdendo l'unico affetto che gli era rimasto, insieme alla speranza e alla fiducia negli altri. In canile si sta demoralizzando, è diventato un cane diffidente e guardingo, però di fronte al minimo gesto di affetto rivela una grande dolcezza e un bisogno d'amore commovente. Leo non è più giovane ma è in buona salute e ci auguriamo, con tutto il nostro cuore, che possa trovare un po' di felicità almeno nell'ultima parte della sua vita.

Size
Medium
Age
Senior · 10 years
Location
🇮🇹Rome
Shelter
LAV Italy
Living with Leo
  • Vaccinated
  • Neutered
  • Microchipped
  • Has special needs
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Cared for by LAV Italy · Rome

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Leo home

What you'll need for Leo 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 Leo

What life with Leo looks like

Leo is a medium-sized senior dog waiting at LAV Italy in Rome.

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.

Note from the shelter: Needs patient owner due to trust issues from difficult past

🇮🇹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.

Rome, Italy browse more dogs in Italy.

Frequently asked

Adopting Leo, answered.

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