Skip to content
TailHarbor
← Back to results
Available

Zelma

Female · Adult · 8 years

Everything indicates that Zelma spent many years in extremely hostile conditions - confined, without proper care, without friendly human contact. She learned to function in hiding from human eyes, which allowed her to survive and probably protected her from acts of violence. But what did she see during her years of imprisonment? We will probably never know, and perhaps we don't want to... After the initial shock caused by the change in situation when she didn't leave her crate for entire days, we managed to persuade her to take short trips to the yard. However, Zelma completely struggles in the shelter's reality. On the yard, just like in the crate, she avoids contact, hides in corners, and desperately tries to disappear. She doesn't establish any contact with dogs or people, although she bravely goes out and returns to her crate when asked. It is obvious that her stay here is a punishment. That is why we are very much asking for a home for this poor, unfortunate female dog. We are looking for a rescuer person who, together with his/her dog(s), will show Zelmi how to be a happy dog - that she doesn't have to be afraid, that no miracles are expected from her, that there is time for everything... At this moment, the female dog needs a house with a garden outside the city, silence, peace, and a patient approach without any expectations.

PL·Show original

Wszystko wskazuje na to, że Zelma spędziła długie lata w skrajnie nieprzyjaznych warunkach - w zamknięciu, bez odpowiedniej opieki, bez przyjaznego kontaktu z człowiekiem. Nauczyła się funkcjonować w ukryciu przed ludzkim wzrokiem, co pozwoliło jej przetrwać i zapewne uchroniło od aktów przemocy. Ale co widziała na przestrzeni lat uwięzienia? Tego już się pewnie nie dowiemy, a może wcale nie chcemy wiedzieć… Po pierwszym szoku spowodowanym zmianą sytuacji gdy całe dnie nie wychodziła z boksu udało nam się ją namówić na krótkie wyjścia na wybieg jednak Zelma zupełnie nie radzi sobie w rzeczywistości schroniskowej. Na wybiegu, tak jak i w boksie unika kontaktu, chowa się po katach i usilnie próbuje zniknąć. Nie nawiązuje żadnego kontaktu ani z psami ani z ludźmi choć poproszona dzielnie wychodzi i wraca do swojego boksu. Jest oczywistym, że pobyt tutaj jest dla niej katorgą. Dlatego bardzo prosimy o dom dla biednej, sponiewieranej przez los suczki. Szukamy człowieka-ratownika, który razem ze swoim psem/psami pokaże Zelmie, jak być psem szczęśliwym - że nie musi się bać, że nikt nie wymaga od niej cudów, że na wszystko jest czas… Na ten moment suczka potrzebuje domu z ogrodem poza miastem, ciszy, spokoju i cierpliwego podejścia bez żadnych oczekiwań. Tonia 602763034 Ida 694689970 Behawiorystka 514360970

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 8 years
Location
🇵🇱Warsaw
Shelter
Schronisko Na Paluchu
Living with Zelma
  • Spayed
  • Has special needs
Create free account to contact →

Free account — 10 contacts included

Cared for by Schronisko Na Paluchu · Warsaw

Listed 2 months ago

Bringing Zelma home

What you'll need for Zelma 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 Zelma

What life with Zelma looks like

Zelma is a large adult dog waiting at Schronisko Na Paluchu in Warsaw.

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.

Note from the shelter: Severely traumatized, requires experienced owner with patience and quiet rural home with garden

🇵🇱Adopting from Poland

Polish shelters maintain established transport routes to Germany, Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden. Animals leave sterilized and chipped. Adoption fees are typically lower than in Western Europe (often €50–€150) but adopters cover transport.

Warsaw, Poland browse more dogs in Poland.

Frequently asked

Adopting Zelma, answered.

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

Conan, male senior Husky for adoption at Schronisko Na Paluchu, Warsaw

Conan

Husky · large

10 yearsMale
Zuzia, female puppy mixed breed for adoption at Schronisko Na Paluchu, Warsaw

Zuzia

7 monthsFemale
Miodek, male 5yo mixed breed for adoption at Schronisko Na Paluchu, Warsaw

Miodek

5 yearsMale
Similar animals

More dogs looking for a home

Misiek, male Mixed Breed for adoption at Azyl dla Zwierząt w Tarnowie, Tarnów

Misiek

Mixed Breed · large

Male
Rako, male Mixed Breed for adoption at Azyl dla Zwierząt w Tarnowie, Tarnów

Rako

Mixed Breed

Male
Scrapy, male Mixed Breed for adoption at Azyl dla Zwierząt w Tarnowie, Tarnów

Scrapy

Mixed Breed

Male
Jimy, male Mixed Breed for adoption at Azyl dla Zwierząt w Tarnowie, Tarnów

Jimy

Mixed Breed · small

Male
FLIP i FLAP, male Mixed Breed for adoption at Azyl dla Zwierząt w Tarnowie, Tarnów

FLIP i FLAP

Mixed Breed

Male
CHUDY, male senior Mixed Breed for adoption at Azyl dla Zwierząt w Tarnowie, Tarnów

CHUDY

Mixed Breed

11 yearsMale

Spotted something wrong? Suggest a change →

Adopt Zelma — 8yo Mixed breed in Warsaw | TailHarbor