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Lucky & Balto

Mixed Breed · Male · Senior · 14 years

The two best friends, Balto and Lucky, moved in with us on September 9, 2016. They originally came from Romania, where they were captured as puppies by brutal dog catchers and brought to one of the local shelters. From that day on, they lived a bleak life there, crammed into a small space with no mental stimulation or room to move around, and were often bullied by other dogs. They shared this together, giving each other support, always staying together, never losing sight of each other. That's why they can only be rehomed together. These photos were taken upon their arrival and show how intimidated and insecure they were then: Lucky was initially the more outgoing of the two. He quickly gained confidence and enjoyed being stroked. He reacted fearfully to new things, but once he saw familiar people, he would jump up and greet them with a wagging tail. Balto was more reserved but also curious. With Lucky as an example, he also approached us humans, but still didn't like being touched, which was normal and understandable after the experiences at the capture and in the shelter. Now, both have learned that there are also beautiful things in life, like going for walks, playing at the dog park, and the affection that animal-loving people give them. Update from June 2020: Lucky and Balto are unfortunately still with us, even though they have learned so much! Both can now walk on a leash, and Lucky has been taking long walks for months, without any problems with cyclists, joggers, etc. Balto is just starting with the walks, and getting used to being touched and the transition from the harness has taken a long time. Both jump into the car on command and enjoy going on small excursions. Lucky and Balto have developed into happy dogs and are a great team for which we hope to find a shared home soon. Update from March 2021: Balto has made huge progress! For several months now, he has been very happy to go for walks with his dog buddy Lucky, and after getting to know people, he also likes to be stroked. Here are a few photos of the two on their outings: These beautiful photos of the two were taken in July 2021: These happy pictures were taken during a trip to the dog park at the beginning of March 2022: These beautiful photos were taken in April 2025: These beautiful photos were taken in the summer of 2025: We hope that the right people will find Lucky and Balto soon, and we look forward to your call if you would like to meet this dream team.

DE·Show original

Die beiden besten Freunde Balto und Lucky sind am 09. September 2016 bei uns eingezogen. Sie stammen ursprünglich aus Rumänien, wurden dort als Junghunde von brutalen Hundefängern eingefangen und in eines der dortigen Lager gebracht. Von dem Tag an fristeten sie dort ein trostloses Leben, eingepfercht auf engstem Raum, ohne jegliche Beschäftigung geschweige denn Bewegungsspielraum und häufig gemobbt von anderen Hunden. All das haben sie gemeinsam ertragen und sich gegenseitig Halt gegeben, sie waren immer zusammen, haben sich nie aus den Augen gelassen. Deshalb werden sie auch nur gemeinsam vermittelt. Diese Fotos sind bei ihrer Ankunft entstanden und zeigen, wie eingeschüchtert und verunsichert sie damals waren: Lucky war zunächst der Zutraulichere von den beiden. Er faßte schneller Vertrauen und ließ sich dann gern kraulen. Neuem gegenüber reagierte er zwar schreckhaft, aber sobald er bekannte Menschen sah, freute er sich und begrüßte sie, indem er hüpfend und mit propellender Rute auf sie zu lief. Balto war etwas zurückhaltender, aber durchaus neugierig. Mit Lucky als Vorbild traute auch er sich in die Nähe von uns Menschen, mochte aber noch nicht angefaßt werden, was aber nach den Erlebnissen beim Einfangen und im Lager ganz normal und verständlich war. Inzwischen haben beide gelernt, dass es auch schöne Dinge im Leben gibt, wie z.B. das Spazierengehen, das Toben auf dem Hundeplatz und die Zuneigung, die tierliebe Menschen ihnen schenken. Update vom Juni 2020: Lucky und Balto sind leider immer noch bei uns, obwohl sie schon so viel gelernt haben! Beide können inzwischen an der Leine gehen, Lucky macht schon seit Monaten lange Spaziergänge, auf denen er keine Probleme mit Radfahrern, Joggern usw. hat. Balto beginnt gerade erst mit den Spaziergängen, bei ihm hat die Gewöhnung an Berührungen und das Umlegen vom Geschirr lange gedauert. Beide springen auf Kommando ins Auto und fahren gerne mit zu kleinen Ausflügen. Lucky und Balto haben sich zu fröhlichen Hunden entwickelt und sind ein tolles Team, für das wir hoffentlich bald ein gemeinsames Zuhause finden. Update vom März 2021: Balto hat enorme Fortschritte gemacht! Schon seit ein paar Monaten geht er super gern mit seinem Hundekumpel Lucky spazieren und läßt sich – nachdem er Menschen kennengelernt hat – auch gerne streicheln. Hier ein paar Fotos von den beiden auf ihren Ausflügen: Diese schönen Fotos von den beiden sind im Juli 2021 entstanden: Diese fröhlichen Bilder sind während eines Ausflugs auf den Hundeplatz Anfang März 2022 entstanden: Diese schönen Fotos sind im April 2025 entstanden: Diese schönen Fotos sind im Sommer 2025 entstanden: Wir hoffen, dass sich nun bald die richtigen Menschen für die beiden finden und freuen uns über Ihren Anruf, falls Sie dieses Dreamteam kennenlernen möchten. 🙂 Kontakt zurück

Size
Age
Senior · 14 years
Location
🇩🇪Grassau
Shelter
Häuser der Hoffnung e.V.
Living with Lucky & Balto
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Cared for by Häuser der Hoffnung e.V. · GrassauLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Lucky & Balto home

What you'll need for Lucky & Balto 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.

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    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

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    €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 Lucky & Balto

What life with Lucky & Balto looks like

Lucky & Balto is a senior mixed breed dog waiting at Häuser der Hoffnung e.V. in Grassau.

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 Germany

German rescues typically require an in-person home visit (Vorkontrolle) or detailed video home check before approving adoption. Animals leave the shelter sterilized, microchipped, and with a valid EU pet passport. Adoption fees usually fall between €250 and €450, covering veterinary preparation.

Grassau, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Lucky & Balto, answered.

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