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Adopt Rita

Mixed Breed · Unknown

"Rita" is a shy dog, very unsure of herself. In new situations or around strangers, she can easily get scared or tense up. This is a dog that will need time and to learn to trust before she can be tamed. We have noticed that "Rita" does not really like being handled (and even less so going to the veterinarian). She does not yet know how to wear a muzzle. It will be necessary to teach her to wear a muzzle for greater safety in environments where she is less comfortable. Over time, she is nevertheless able to form bonds and show affection towards the people who take care of her, becoming a very affectionate and attached ball of cuddles. We will still avoid placing her in a home with children. "Rita" is not very comfortable with other dogs. She has made significant progress with other animals of the same species thanks to the work of the trainers at the shelter. This work will need to continue with her future family. During walks, "Rita" does not pull on the leash. She can sometimes be startled and frightened by loud noises or sudden movements. A life in a house with a garden or an apartment with daily walks could suit her. Several visits before adoption will be necessary to get to know her with our canine trainers. An experienced adopter who knows the signs of calmness in dogs would be ideal for "Rita". The future adopter of "Rita" must commit to continuing with a canine trainer after the adoption. Also, "Rita" is one of the dogs from the shelter accompanied by Educ Dog, which offers her future family 5 days of training at its canine center in Montpellier to help them start on the right foot.

Read original (fr)

« Rita » est une chienne craintive, très peu sûre d’elle. Dans les situations nouvelles ou auprès d’inconnus, elle peut facilement prendre peur ou se crisper. C’est une chienne qui aura besoin de temps et d’apprendre à faire confiance avant de se laisser apprivoiser. Nous avons pu constater que Rita n’aimait pas vraiment se faire manipuler (et encore moins aller voir le vétérinaire). Elle ne sait pas encore porter la muselière. Il faudra prévoir de lui apprendre à porter la muselière pour plus de sécurité dans les environnements où elle est moins à l’aise. Au fur et à mesure du temps, elle parvient pourtant à créer du lien et à se montrer affectueuse avec les personnes qui prennent soin d’elle et devient une boule de câlin très attachante. Nous éviterons quand même un placement dans un foyer avec enfants. Rita n’est pas très à l’aise avec les autres chiens. Elle a fait de gros progrès avec les congénères grâce au travail des éducateurs au refuge. Ce travail sera à continuer avec sa future famille. Lors des promenades Rita ne tire pas en laisse. Elle peut parfois être surprise et avoir peur des bruits impressionnants ou mouvements soudains. Une vie en maison avec jardin ou en appartement avec balades quotidiennes pourrait lui convenir. Plusieurs visites avant l’adoption seront nécessaires pour apprendre à la découvrir en compagnie de nos éducateurs canins. Un profil d’adoptant expérimenté et connaissant les signaux d’apaisement chez le chien serait l’idéal pour Rita. Le futur adoptant de Rita devra s’engager à assurer un suivi avec un éducateur canin après son adoption. D’ailleurs, Rita fait partie des chiens du refuge accompagnés par Educ Dog qui offre à sa future famille 5 jours de stage dans son centre canin à Montpellier pour l’aider à repartir sur de bonnes bases.

Size
Age
Location
🇫🇷France
Shelter
SPA de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest (SPA 33)
Living with Rita
  • Good with dogs
  • Good with kids
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Cared for by SPA de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest (SPA 33) · FranceLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 4 weeks ago

Bringing Rita home

What you'll need for Rita 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.

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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 Rita

What life with Rita looks like

Rita is a adult mixed breed dog waiting at SPA de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest (SPA 33) 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 Rita, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Rita?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. SPA de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest (SPA 33) handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Rita on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Rita if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — SPA de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest (SPA 33) 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 Rita 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 Rita 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 SPA de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest (SPA 33) early rather than rehoming privately; they know Rita 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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