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Adopt Nova

Belgian Malinois · Female · Adult · 8 years

The lovely Nova is unfortunately no longer a stranger to those who have followed us for a long time. The years in the kennel pass by for our lovely Malinois. Nova knows that some aspects of her personality are not dreamy, but she is a sweet and adorable dog who just wants to learn and be loved. She arrived at the shelter at one year old in June 2018; she had been taken away due to abuse and was probably intended for breeding. A very heavy past, which has left her with some aftereffects. The work of our teams and the attention of our volunteers over the years have allowed her to make great progress. Most of her reactions are due to fear, and who could blame her after a past like hers? Like any respectable Malinois, Nova is very intelligent and learns quickly! She is very affectionate with humans once comfortable, and she is also a great athlete who will need a dynamic home to meet her needs. We are looking for a house without young children, and without other animals. Why? Nova is exclusive and possessive with her owner. She has previously shown that she does not allow another dog to take space in her home. Therefore, training courses will be essential. My story — Arrived at the shelter at one year old in June 2018, Nova had been removed due to abuse and was probably intended for breeding. A very heavy past, which has left her with some aftereffects. The work of our teams and the attention of our volunteers over the years have allowed her to make great progress. Most of her reactions are due to fear, and who could blame her after a past like hers? My personality — Like any respectable Malinois, Nova is very intelligent and learns quickly! She is very affectionate with humans once comfortable, and she is also a great athlete who will need a dynamic home to meet her needs. My needs — We are looking for a house without young children, and without other animals. Why? Nova is exclusive and possessive with her owner. She has previously shown that she does not allow another dog to take space in her home. Therefore, training courses will be essential.

Read original (fr)

La jolie Nova n'est malheureusement plus une inconnue pour celles et ceux qui nous suivent depuis longtemps. Les années en box défilent pour notre jolie Malinoise. Nova sait que certains aspects de sa personnalité ne font pas rêver, mais c'est une louloute adorable, qui ne demande qu'à apprendre et à être aimée. Arrivée à l'âge d'un an au refuge en juin 2018, Nova avait été retirée pour maltraitance et était probablement destinée à la reproduction. Un passé très lourd, qui lui laisse des séquelles. Le travail de nos équipes et l'attention de nos bénévoles au fil des années lui ont permis de beaucoup progresser. La plupart de ses réactions sont dues à la peur, et qui pourrait lui en vouloir après un passé tel que le sien ? Comme tout Malinois qui se respecte, Nova est très intelligente et apprend vite ! Elle est très câline avec l'humain une fois à l'aise, et c'est aussi une grande sportive qui aura besoin d'un foyer dynamique afin de combler ses besoins. Nous recherchons une maison sans jeunes enfants, et sans autres animaux. Pour quelles raisons ? Nova est exclusive et possessive avec son maître. Elle a déjà montré par le passé qu'elle ne laissait pas la place à un autre chien dans son foyer. Des cours d'éducation seront donc indispensables. Mon histoire — Arrivée à l'âge d'un an au refuge en juin 2018, Nova avait été retirée pour maltraitance et était probablement destinée à la reproduction. Un passé très lourd, qui lui laisse des séquelles. Le travail de nos équipes et l'attention de nos bénévoles au fil des années lui ont permis de beaucoup progresser. La plupart de ses réactions sont dues à la peur, et qui pourrait lui en vouloir après un passé tel que le sien ? Ma personnalité — Comme tout Malinois qui se respecte, Nova est très intelligente et apprend vite ! Elle est très câline avec l'humain une fois à l'aise, et c'est aussi une grande sportive qui aura besoin d'un foyer dynamique afin de combler ses besoins. Mes besoins — Nous recherchons une maison sans jeunes enfants, et sans autres animaux. Pour quelles raisons ? Nova est exclusive et possessive avec son maître. Elle a déjà montré par le passé qu'elle ne laissait pas la place à un autre chien dans son foyer. Des cours d'éducation seront donc indispensables.

Size
Medium
Age
Adult · 8 years
Location
🇫🇷France
Shelter
Le refuge du Penthièvre et du Méné
Living with Nova
  • Spayed
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by Le refuge du Penthièvre et du Méné · FranceLearn about Belgian Malinois

Listed 3 weeks ago

Bringing Nova home

What you'll need for Nova 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.

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    €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.

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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 Nova

What life with Nova looks like

Nova is a medium-sized adult belgian malinois dog waiting at Le refuge du Penthièvre et du Méné in France.

An 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 France

French refuges follow the SPA framework: adopters sign a cession contract that includes sterilization, vaccinations, microchip identification, and rabies passport. Fees are typically €150–€300. Many refuges work with rescue transport partners for cross-border placements.

France, France browse more dogs in France.

Frequently asked

Adopting Nova, answered.

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