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Adopt Messina

Female · Young · 1 year

Messina was found on the streets of a village in full fear. Although the locals provided her with food, she initially allowed no one to approach her. However, over time, she began to approach a woman and her dogs during walks. With patience and plenty of food, it was eventually possible for her to enter the woman’s garden and was then caught and brought to safety. At the vet, Messina tested negative for Mediterranean diseases. However, it is not yet clear whether her slightly shortened tail is congenital or docked. Therefore, it must be decided whether she is allowed to travel to Switzerland. I will of course inform you accordingly. When Messina arrived in Melampo, she was very frightened and hid herself at the very back of her run. However, she is showing progress every day. It touches us to see how she is gaining more trust and slowly discovering that the animal shelter and the volunteers can be a safe place for her. Step by step, she is gaining confidence and discovering her courage. She now begins to play and shows her joy because she is slowly feeling secure. She learns very quickly. In dealing with people and during daily care, Messina shows no signs of aggression. Additionally, she is gradually getting used to new sounds and environmental stimuli. Currently, it is being tested how she gets along with other dogs. We are closely observing her development and are convinced that with some time, Messina will be able to further reduce her fears. Then, her loving, friendly, and gentle side will be shown more and more. We will of course inform you about her further development.

Read original (de)

Messina wurde voller Angst auf den Strassen eines Dorfes gefunden. Die Menschen vor Ort gaben ihr zwar Futter, doch sie liess zunächst niemanden an sich heran. Nach und nach begann sie jedoch, sich beim Spazierengehen immer mehr einer Frau und deren Hunden anzunähern. Mit Geduld und viel Futter gelang es schliesslich, dass sie den Garten der Frau betrat und danach eingefangen und in Sicherheit gebracht werden konnte. Beim Tierarzt wurde Messina negativ auf Mittelmeerkrankheiten getestet. Allerdings ist noch nicht klar, ob ihre leicht verkürzte Rute angeboren oder kupiert ist. Deshalb muss zunächst entschieden werden, ob sie in die Schweiz reisen darf. Ich werde selbstverständlich entsprechend informieren. Als Messina in Melampo ankam, war sie sehr verängstigt und versteckte sich zunächst ganz hinten in ihrem Auslauf. Jeden Tag zeigt sie jedoch Fortschritte. Es berührt uns sehr zu sehen, wie sie täglich mehr Vertrauen fasst und langsam entdeckt, dass das Tierheim und die Freiwilligen ein sicherer Ort für sie sein können. Schritt für Schritt gewinnt sie Vertrauen und entdeckt ihren Mut. Inzwischen beginnt sie zu spielen und zeigt ihre Freude, weil sie sich langsam sicher fühlt. Sie lernt sehr schnell. Im Umgang mit Menschen sowie bei der täglichen Versorgung zeigt Messina keinerlei Anzeichen von Aggressivität. Ausserdem gewöhnt sie sich zunehmend an neue Geräusche und Umweltreize. Aktuell wird getestet, wie sie mit anderen Hunden zurechtkommt. Wir beobachten ihre Entwicklung aufmerksam und sind überzeugt, dass Messina mit etwas Zeit ihre Ängste weiter abbauen kann. Dann wird sich ihre liebe, freundliche und sanfte Seite immer mehr zeigen. Über ihre weitere Entwicklung werden wir selbstverständlich weiter informieren.

Size
Age
Young · 1 year
Location
🇨🇭Melampo
Shelter
Melampo
Living with Messina
  • Spayed
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Cared for by Melampo · Melampo

Listed 1 week ago

Bringing Messina home

What you'll need for Messina 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.

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    €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.

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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 Messina

What life with Messina looks like

Messina is a young adult dog waiting at Melampo in Melampo.

An young adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. Two reasonable walks a day plus play time is usually enough. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇨🇭Adopting from Switzerland

Swiss shelters require a home visit (Platzkontrolle) and proof of suitable accommodation. Cantons each have their own additional dog-keeping requirements (e.g. SKN training in some areas). Animals leave sterilized and chipped.

Melampo, Switzerland browse more dogs in Switzerland.

Frequently asked

Adopting Messina, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Messina?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Melampo handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Messina on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Messina if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Melampo 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 Messina 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 Messina 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 Melampo early rather than rehoming privately; they know Messina 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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Adopt Messina — 1yo Mixed breed in Melampo | TailHarbor