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Merlina

Mixed Breed · Unknown · Young · 1 year

Merlinas story begins with a picture you'd rather forget. On 22.03.2025, she was found all alone in a rural area near Villena - in a shockingly bad condition. She was far too thin, covered in fleas and had large matted fur knots, under which her actual condition was hardly discernible. It was obvious that she had not had anyone to care for her for a long time. But Merlina has fought her way back into life. And today, many months later, she is barely recognizable. From the completely neglected dog, an impressive, healthy and beautiful dog personality has emerged. What is particularly touching: Merlina has retained her wonderful character despite everything. She is extremely friendly towards people and also shows herself loving and open with children. She enjoys the proximity to people and approaches them with a calmness that can only be admired in view of her past. Merlina is a real personality and knows exactly what she wants. As a herding dog, she belongs to the dogs that were not bred to carry out every wish of their human. Herding dogs work independently and make their own decisions. They are attentive, self-confident and protect what has been entrusted to them. Merlina is also a self-confident dog with a strong personality. She does not want to be bossed around or patronized by other dogs and likes to take the lead herself. That is why she lives in the animal shelter with other calm and balanced dogs with whom she gets along well. She is rather dominant and tends not to be bullied. For Merlina, a harmonious environment is important, in which she does not have to constantly compete with other strong personalities.

DE·Show original

Merlinas Geschichte beginnt mit einem Bild, das man am liebsten vergessen möchte. Am 22.03.2025 wurde sie ganz allein in einer ländlichen Gegend bei Villena gefunden – in einem erschreckend schlechten Zustand. Sie war viel zu dünn, übersät mit Flöhen und hatte große verfilzte Fellknoten, unter denen man ihren eigentlichen Zustand kaum erahnen konnte. Es war offensichtlich, dass sie lange Zeit niemanden hatte, der sich um sie kümmerte. Doch Merlina hat sich zurück ins Leben gekämpft. Und heute, viele Monate später, ist sie kaum wiederzuerkennen. Aus der völlig vernachlässigten Hündin ist eine beeindruckende, gesunde und wunderschöne Hundepersönlichkeit geworden. Was dabei besonders berührt: Merlina hat sich trotz allem ihren wunderbaren Charakter bewahrt. Menschen gegenüber ist sie ausgesprochen freundlich und auch mit Kindern zeigt sie sich lieb und aufgeschlossen. Sie genießt die Nähe zu Menschen und begegnet ihnen mit einer Ruhe, die man angesichts ihrer Vergangenheit nur bewundern kann. Merlina ist eine echte Persönlichkeit und weiß genau, was sie möchte. Als Herdenschutzhund gehört sie zu den Hunden, die nicht darauf gezüchtet wurden, jeden Wunsch ihres Menschen auszuführen. Herdenschutzhunde arbeiten eigenständig und treffen selbst Entscheidungen. Sie sind aufmerksam, selbstbewusst und beschützen das, was ihnen anvertraut wurde. Auch Merlina ist eine selbstbewusste Hündin mit einer starken Persönlichkeit. Sie möchte sich nicht von anderen Hunden herumkommandieren oder bevormunden lassen und übernimmt gerne selbst die Führung. Im Tierheim lebt sie deshalb mit anderen ruhigen und ausgeglichenen Hunden zusammen, mit denen sie gut zurechtkommt. Sie ist eher dominant und neigt dazu sich nicht unterbuttern zu lassen. Für Merlina ist ein harmonisches Umfeld wichtig, in dem sie nicht ständig mit anderen starken Persönlichkeiten konkurrieren muss.

Size
Extra large
Age
Young · 1 year
Location
🇩🇪München
Shelter
Tierschutzverein Europa
Living with Merlina
  • Neutered
  • Good with kids
Cared for by Tierschutzverein Europa · MünchenLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 1 week ago

Bringing Merlina home

What you'll need for Merlina 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 Merlina

What life with Merlina looks like

Merlina is a extra-large young adult mixed breed dog waiting at Tierschutzverein Europa in München.

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 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.

München, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Merlina, answered.

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