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Little Gem

Whippet · Female · Young · 2 years

This sweetheart really lives up to her name and has an absolute gem of a personality! She has stolen so many hearts here at the centre and brings a smile to everyone's faces! Gem can be a bit unsure around dogs and has been working really hard on building her confidence and wearing her muzzle during her time at Dogs Trust. She will require ongoing encouragement from her family, but you will be supported every step of the way by the teams here at the centre. Gem is also a big foodie and super intelligent which will be a great help for any training you undertake together! Gem travels well in the car and loves nothing more than a sniffy walk, so we know she will thrive in an active home with quieter walking areas. If you feel Little Gem could be the perfect addition to your home, please submit an application and don't forget to "favourite" her! This lovely lady is Little Gem. After giving birth to three beautiful puppies and watching them grow, now it is Gem's turn to find her forever home! Unfortunately, we do not have much history of Gem's life before coming to Dogs Trust so we feel she will be best suited to an adult only home. Gem can be a tad shy when meeting new people, but once she gets to know you she will be your closest companion for the rest of her life! She is an affectionate girl who loves a fuss and cuddle, so would prefer to be the only dog in her new home so she can keep all the attention to herself. Gem can be left for short periods, which could be built gradually once she's fully settled into her new home. She would love her own secure garden space where she can run and play to her heart's content! This would also give her a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some of her favourite enrichment activities to keep her clever brain busy!

Size
Large
Age
Young · 2 years
Location
🇬🇧Ballymena
Shelter
Dogs Trust Ballymena
Living with Little Gem
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with cats
  • Good with kids
Cared for by Dogs Trust Ballymena · BallymenaLearn about Whippet

Listed 3 days ago

Bringing Little Gem home

What you'll need for Little Gem 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 Little Gem

What life with Little Gem looks like

Little Gem is a large young adult whippet dog waiting at Dogs Trust Ballymena in Ballymena.

An young 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.

Ballymena, United Kingdom browse more dogs in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting Little Gem, answered.

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