Nala

Mixed Breed · Female · Adult · 6 years

Nala arrived at the shelter during our spay and neuter campaign for the municipalities of Ziros, Preveza, and Parga, inside a crate on the back of a pickup truck, and it felt as if the whole place suddenly lit up. Maybe it was her color, that soft beige with hints of grey, like untouched sand on a secluded beach. Maybe it was her sweet eyes, looking almost painted by hand. Or maybe it was simply something she carried within her. She seemed to have given birth recently, but no puppies were found anywhere. And as if that was not enough, she had been bitten by other dogs and was covered in abscesses. She needed medical care, so she came back with us to Athens and stayed with us. Nala is an incredibly sweet and gentle dog, with a warm gaze and a warm heart. She is kind, affectionate, and trusting toward people. On walks, she moves at a calm pace and every now and then she stops to look at you, waiting for a gentle touch and reassurance that everything is okay. Then she keeps going. When she is let out into the yard, instead of running off to explore, she stays close to you the entire time. She comes out of her kennel simply to be near someone, for no other reason. She looks at you with those huge, round eyes of hers, and if you are not paying attention to her, she will often come and sit quietly beside you. Sometimes we brush her, sometimes we give her treats, sometimes we simply pet her, and other times we take her out for a walk. Nala is a deeply people oriented dog. She has a very calm temperament and does not seem to need much physical stimulation or intense exercise. Two or three walks a day, along with a few hours of human companionship, would make her very happy. She has previously lived in a home and was returned because, although she transitions into a new environment very smoothly at first, after about a week she begins to become possessive over her space and belongings, both toward strangers and toward her own guardians. Nala is a dog who, when moving into a new home, will need clear rules from the very beginning. Her future family must be prepared to follow the trainers’ guidance consistently and carefully. Nala would not be suitable for a home with small children, nor for a large family. An ideal home for her would be one with one or two people who can guide her from day one and clearly help her understand the household rules, who is responsible for providing what she needs, and what her role is within the family. If she understands from the start that the new home does not belong to her, and that important resources such as food, the house, the kitchen, her bed, and other valued spaces are not things she needs to guard, she will become a calm and loving companion, offering endless affection and companionship to her people.

Listed 4 months ago