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Virtus

German Shorthaired Pointer · Male · Adult · 5 years

All information is provided by our Sardinian colleagues and local veterinarians. All dogs have mostly been visited and assessed several times by the placement staff, as far as is possible under their current living conditions. Age, height and weight may vary. We cannot provide further information on how the animal behaves with children and cats where "unknown" is stated. No illnesses are known unless an illness is specified. Dormant illnesses are of course always possible. What happened to me? Virtus was found together with his brothers Vladi and another littermate on a road near Olbia in Sardinia – alone, defenseless and left to fend for himself. For Virtus and Vladi, this day has still not come. Virtus lives at L.I.D.A. in Olbia, a shelter with several hundred dogs. Together with his brother, he spends day after day behind bars. Concrete, noise and monotony shape his life. For a sensitive hunting dog, this is no place to learn trust. And yet Virtus has not lost hope. Virtus is a beautiful, compact male with amber eyes that immediately draw you in. His coat appears almost black but shimmers in sunlight with a warm dark brown. He is somewhat more sturdily built than his brother Vladi and initially approaches new situations with caution. During our visit in April, we experienced something that deeply moved us. For the first time, we saw not just a shy dog – we saw a dog who found the courage to be curious. Together with his brother, Virtus walked carefully through the enclosure, wagging cautiously. A colleague spoke to the two calmly and lured them with some food. While Vladi came closer with a radiant doggy smile, Virtus also gathered all his courage. Step by step he approached her, his tail never once stopping its wagging. It was only a few meters. For many dogs, that would be nothing special. For Virtus, it was a huge step. In that moment it became clear how much is inside this wonderful dog. Behind his shyness there is no rejection – only the wish to trust. No one has ever shown him that people can also mean security and belonging. We are sure that once Virtus leaves the shelter, he will develop. Not overnight, but step by step. Because he has shown us that he is ready to engage with people. Virtus is looking for people with patience, understanding and a big heart – people who will give him the time he needs to settle in. As a German Shorthaired Pointer mix, he brings the typical traits of a hunting dog: he is sensitive, perceptive and attentive. That is exactly why he suffers so much from the overstimulation and daily routine of a large shelter. He does not belong behind bars – he belongs at the side of his people. A confident first dog would be a great help to Virtus, as he takes his cues strongly from other dogs. A calm home in a rural setting with a securely fenced garden would give him the perfect framework to finally discover the world. Whoever gives Virtus this chance will not get a finished dog, but a dog who is ready to open his heart. And experiencing this journey together is something very special. We place dogs throughout Germany. The suitcases are packed and Virtus can travel to Germany.

DE·Show original

Alle Angaben sind Informationen von unseren sardischen Kollegen und Tierärzten vor Ort. Alle Hunde wurden meistens mehrfach von den Vermittlern besucht und auch beurteilt, so gut dies in den jetzigen Lebensumständen möglich ist. Alter und Größen- sowie Gewichtsangabe können abweichen. Wir können keine weiteren Auskünfte im Umgang mit Kindern und Katzen geben, wenn hier “unbekannt” angegeben ist. Krankheiten sind nicht bekannt, sofern keine Krankheit angegeben ist. Schlummernde Krankheiten sind natürlich immer möglich. Was ist mir passiert? Virtus wurde gemeinsam mit seinen Brüdern Vladi und einem weiteren Geschwisterhund an einer Straße bei Olbia auf Sardinien gefunden – allein, schutzlos und auf sich gestellt. Für Virtus und Vladi ist dieser Tag bis heute nicht gekommen. Virtus lebt in der L. I. D. A. in Olbia – einem Tierheim mit mehreren hundert Hunden. Gemeinsam mit seinem Bruder verbringt er Tag für Tag hinter Gittern. Beton, Lärm und Monotonie bestimmen sein Leben. Für einen sensiblen Jagdhund ist das kein Ort, an dem man Vertrauen lernen kann. Und trotzdem hat Virtus die Hoffnung nicht verloren. Virtus ist ein wunderschöner, kompakter Rüde mit bernsteinfarbenen Augen, die einen sofort in ihren Bann ziehen. Sein Fell wirkt fast schwarz, schimmert im Sonnenlicht jedoch in einem warmen Dunkelbraun. Er ist etwas kräftiger gebaut als sein Bruder Vladi und begegnet neuen Situationen zunächst mit Vorsicht. Bei unserem Besuch im April durften wir etwas erleben, das uns tief berührt hat. Zum ersten Mal sahen wir nicht nur einen schüchternen Hund – wir sahen einen Hund, der den Mut fand, neugierig zu sein. Gemeinsam mit seinem Bruder lief Virtus vorsichtig wedelnd durch das Gehege. Eine Kollegin sprach die beiden ruhig an und lockte sie mit etwas Futter. Während Vladi mit einem strahlenden Hundelächeln näherkam, fasste auch Virtus all seinen Mut zusammen. Schritt für Schritt näherte er sich ihr, die Rute hörte dabei keine Sekunde auf zu wedeln. Es waren nur wenige Meter. Für viele Hunde wäre das nichts Besonderes. Für Virtus war es ein riesiger Schritt. In diesem Moment wurde deutlich, wie viel in diesem wundervollen Hund steckt. Hinter seiner Scheu verbirgt sich keine Ablehnung – sondern der Wunsch, Vertrauen zu fassen. Ihm hat nur nie jemand gezeigt, dass Menschen auch Geborgenheit bedeuten können. Wir sind sicher: Verlässt Virtus das Tierheim, wird er sich entwickeln. Nicht von heute auf morgen. Aber Schritt für Schritt. Denn er hat uns gezeigt, dass er bereit ist, sich auf Menschen einzulassen. Virtus sucht Menschen mit Geduld, Verständnis und einem großen Herzen. Menschen, die ihm die Zeit geben, die er braucht, um anzukommen. Als Deutsch-Kurzhaar-Mischling bringt er die typischen Eigenschaften eines Jagdhundes mit: Er ist sensibel, feinfühlig und aufmerksam. Gerade deshalb leidet er besonders unter der Reizüberflutung und dem Alltag eines großen Tierheims. Er gehört nicht hinter Gitter – sondern an die Seite seiner Menschen. Ein souveräner Ersthund wäre für Virtus eine große Hilfe, denn an anderen Hunden orientiert er sich sehr. Ein ruhiges Zuhause in ländlicher Umgebung mit sicher eingezäuntem Garten würde ihm den perfekten Rahmen geben, die Welt endlich kennenzulernen. Wer Virtus diese Chance schenkt, wird keinen fertigen Hund bekommen, aber einen Hund, der bereit ist, sein Herz zu öffnen. Und genau diese Reise gemeinsam zu erleben, ist etwas ganz Besonderes. Wir vermitteln bundesweit. Die Koffer sind gepackt und Virtus kann nach Deutschland ausreisen.

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 5 years
Location
🇩🇪Köln
Shelter
STREUNERHerzen e.V.
Living with Virtus
  • ✓Neutered
  • ✕Good with kids
Cared for by STREUNERHerzen e.V. · KölnLearn about German Shorthaired Pointer →

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Virtus home

What you'll need for Virtus 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 Virtus

What life with Virtus looks like

Virtus is a large adult german shorthaired pointer dog waiting at STREUNERHerzen e.V. in Köln.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. A larger dog like this one needs daily off-leash time when possible — a fenced yard or regular access to safe walking trails. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇩🇪Adopting from Germany

German rescues typically require an in-person home visit (Vorkontrolle) or detailed video home check before approving adoption. Dogs and cats typically leave the shelter sterilized, microchipped, and with an EU pet passport.

Köln, Germany — browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Virtus, answered.

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