How do I contact the shelter about Rico?

Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Tierheim Köln handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Rico on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.

Can I adopt Rico if I live in another country?

Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Tierheim Köln 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 Rico 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 Rico 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 Tierheim Köln early rather than rehoming privately; they know Rico 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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Available

Rico

Male · Adult · 4 years

The small dog with bat ears has already had quite an odyssey behind him. Originally, he belonged to an older gentleman. When he could no longer handle him, he was passed on to a family with many children and pets. There, he was overwhelmed by the chaos and became suspicious and growly. For this reason, he was eventually given to us. After an adjustment period, he showed his charming sides here and became more approachable. However, he is not a snuggle dog. While he allows closeness, he absolutely does not like being pressured. He was rehomed with "terrier-savvy" hands, but came back after three months because he had probably barked too much. Unfortunately, he was "overfed" during this time, as you can see in the before/after photos. He needs to lose weight urgently, as this weight is harmful to his health. We are now once again on the lookout for a nice home for him. He is a good guy who, unfortunately, is also shaped by many bad experiences and losses. You have to take him as he is and must not pressure or overwhelm him. If you are interested in meeting Rico, please write us a detailed email.

DE·Show original

Der kleine Hund mit den Fledermausohren hat schon eine ziemliche Odyssee hinter sich. Ursprünglich gehörte er einem älteren Herrn. Als dieser ihn nicht mehr halten konnte, wurde er an eine kinderreiche Familie mit Tieren weitergegeben. Dort war er mit dem Trubel überfordert, weshalb er misstrauisch und knurrig wurde. Aus diesem Grund wurde er schließlich bei uns abgegeben. Nach einer Eingewöhnungszeit zeigte er hier seine charmanten Seiten und wurde immer zugänglicher. Er ist aber dennoch kein Kuschelhund. Er lässt zwar Nähe zu, mag es aber überhaupt nicht, bedrängt zu werden. Er wurde in „terrierkundige” Hände vermittelt, kam aber nach drei Monaten wieder zurück, da er wohl zu viel gebellt hat. Leider hat man ihn in dieser Zeit „fett gefüttert”, wie Sie auf den Vorher-/Nachher-Fotos sehen können. Er muss dringend abnehmen, denn dieses Gewicht schadet seiner Gesundheit. Nun sind wir erneut auf der Suche nach einem schönen Zuhause für ihn. Er ist ein guter Kerl, der leider auch von den vielen schlechten Erfahrungen und Verlusten geprägt ist. Man muss ihn so nehmen, wie er ist, und darf ihn nicht bedrängen oder überfordern. Wenn Sie Interesse an einem Kennenlernen mit Rico haben, schreiben Sie uns bitte eine ausführliche E-Mail.

Size

Small

Age

Adult · 4 years

Location

🇩🇪Cologne

Shelter

Tierheim Köln

Living with Rico

✓Neutered
✕Good with kids
✕Has special needs

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Cared for by Tierheim Köln · Cologne

More dogs in Cologne →More dogs in Germany →

Listed 2 months ago

Bringing Rico home

What you'll need for Rico in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

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About Rico

What life with Rico looks like

Rico is a small adult dog waiting at Tierheim Köln in Cologne.

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.

Note from the shelter: Overweight and needs to lose weight for health reasons; prone to excessive barking; requires patient, understanding owner who won't pressure him

🇩🇪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.

Cologne, Germany — browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Rico, answered.

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