Skip to content
TailHarbor
← Back to results
Available

Rufino

Mixed Breed · Male · Young · 3 years

Rufi appeared disoriented on a southern road, in the midst of a heatwave. He weighed just 8 kilograms and one of his legs was so deformed that at first, it seemed he had been hit by a car. As the days passed and we hoped that a dog shelter might take him in, there was no luck. So we ended up doing what we often do: finding a place where it seemed there was no room. And Rufi found his place at Molí de Fals. He is about two years old, a very distant cross between a bodeguero and he is missing a kneecap, so he walks the world on almost three legs. That's right, no one seems to have explained it to him. Because Rufi thinks he's huge. He's friendly, affectionate, restless, mischievous and has that energy of a small dog convinced that a giant lives inside his 8-kilogram body. His three legs don't stop him from wanting to be everywhere, investigate everything that happens and give affection wherever he goes. Today he is safe, loved and protected at Molí de Fals. And he can stay there forever. But Rufi is also up for adoption. That's right: after everything he has been through, we're not looking for a family of 10. We're looking for a family of 11. An exceptional family, patient, aware of his needs and willing to love him exactly as he is. Because Rufi has had enough of surviving and now it's time for him to live well. Very well. If that family appears, they will have the opportunity to take home 8 kilograms of friendliness, three unstoppable legs and a small giant convinced that the whole world is made to conquer it.

ES·Show original

Rufi apareció desorientado en una carretera del sur, en plena ola de calor. Pesaba apenas 8 kilos y una de sus patas estaba tan deformada que, al principio, todo hacía pensar que había sufrido un atropello. Los días fueron pasando y, aunque esperábamos que alguna protectora de perros pudiera hacerse cargo de él, no hubo suerte. Así que acabamos haciendo lo que tantas veces hacemos: buscar un hueco donde parecía que ya no lo había. Y Rufi encontró el suyo en el Molí de Fals. Tiene unos dos añitos, es un cruce muy, muy lejano de bodeguero y le falta una rótula, así que recorre el mundo prácticamente sobre tres patitas. Eso sí, parece que nadie se lo ha explicado. Porque Rufi se cree enorme. Es simpático, cariñoso, inquieto, salao como él solo y tiene esa energía de perro pequeño convencido de que dentro de su cuerpo de 8 kilos vive un gigante. Sus tres patas no le impiden querer estar en todas partes, investigar todo lo que ocurre y repartir cariño allá donde va. Hoy está seguro, querido y protegido en el Molí de Fals. Y puede quedarse allí para siempre. Pero Rufi también está en adopción. Eso sí: después de todo lo que ha vivido, para él no buscamos una familia de 10. Buscamos una de 11. Una familia excepcional, paciente, consciente de sus necesidades y dispuesta a quererlo exactamente como es. Porque Rufi ya ha tenido suficiente con sobrevivir y ahora le toca vivir bien. Muy bien. Si esa familia aparece, tendrá la oportunidad de llevarse a casa 8 kilos de simpatía, tres patitas imparables y un pequeño gigante convencido de que el mundo entero está hecho para conquistarlo.

Size
Small
Age
Young · 3 years
Location
🇪🇸Spain
Shelter
Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE)
Cared for by Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE) · SpainLearn about Mixed Breed →

Listed 2 days ago

Bringing Rufino home

What you'll need for Rufino 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.

    View on Amazon→
    €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

§ Affiliate links · TailHarbor earns a small commission, no extra cost to you.

About Rufino

What life with Rufino looks like

Rufino is a small young adult mixed breed dog waiting at Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE) in Spain.

A 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 Spain

Spanish protectoras generally include sterilization, all vaccinations, microchip ID, and EU pet passport in the adoption fee. Many maintain partnerships with rescue transport providers across the EU.

Spain, Spain — browse more dogs in Spain.

Frequently asked

Adopting Rufino, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Rufino?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE) handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Rufino on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Rufino if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE) 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. Transport is usually a separate cost, so ask for the exact figure before you commit.
Is Rufino 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 Rufino 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 Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE) early rather than rehoming privately; they know Rufino 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 (ES). 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.
You might also like

More Mixed Breed pets

More from Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE)

Kira, female senior Podenco for adoption at Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE)

Kira

Podenco

9 yearsFemale
Thor, male senior Belgian Malinois for adoption at Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE)

Thor

Belgian Malinois

13 yearsMale
Jack, male 7yo Brittany Spaniel for adoption at Asociación Defensa Équidos (ADE)

Jack

Brittany Spaniel

7 yearsMale
Similar animals

More Mixed Breeds looking for a home

ECO, male 6yo Mixed Breed for adoption at ADAM Protectora El Masnou

ECO

Mixed Breed

6 yearsMale
TYSON, male 3yo Mixed Breed for adoption at ADAM Protectora El Masnou

TYSON

Mixed Breed

3 yearsMale
ITZA, female senior Mixed Breed for adoption at ADAM Protectora El Masnou

ITZA

Mixed Breed

10 yearsFemale
GRIMM, male 3yo Mixed Breed for adoption at ADAM Protectora El Masnou

GRIMM

Mixed Breed

3 yearsMale
BRUCE, male 4yo Mixed Breed for adoption at ADAM Protectora El Masnou

BRUCE

Mixed Breed

4 yearsMale
PATRICK, male senior Mixed Breed for adoption at ADAM Protectora El Masnou

PATRICK

Mixed Breed

11 yearsMale

Spotted something wrong? Suggest a change →