Gatsby

My story

Hi. I'm Gatsby. I Know You Want To Pet Me. Not Yet.I see you. I know you think I'm cute. You're right — I am. Nine pounds of terrier mix and, by most accounts, completely adorable. But here's the thing: I need you to slow down. Just a little. Just for me.I'm Gatsby. Four years old, and I have been waiting — very patiently, very specifically — for the right person. Not the person who walks in and immediately reaches for me. Not the person who needs me to be a snuggle bug by Tuesday. The right person. The one who understands that trust, when it's earned, is worth approximately everything.Here's what my life looks like when I feel safe: I am funny. I am curious. I am the kind of dog that makes you laugh out loud on a random Wednesday because I did something completely unexpected and perfect. I love water — genuinely love it, like if you had a pool with a shallow shelf I would basically live there. I love a yard. I love a bed. I love people who let me come to them on my own timeline. I love another dog around — big, small, doesn't matter — someone to take the social pressure off while I figure out that you're one of the good ones.What I don't need: a leash adventure. A road trip. A meet and greet where someone crouches down with grabby hands expecting instant magic. That's not me. That will never be me in the first five minutes. But five minutes is not the whole story.I've been in rescue for almost two years. Not because anything is wrong with me. Because I am waiting for someone specific — someone who reads this and thinks yes, that's exactly what I want instead of hmm, that sounds hard. Those are two very different people and I need the first one.If you are patient, consistent, and genuinely excited about the slow build — I will become your whole personality. Your friends will hear about me constantly. You will take approximately one thousand photos. You will tell everyone you meet about the funny thing I did by the pool.I'm worth it. I just need you to already know that before we meet.🐾 4 years old | 9 lbs | Terrier mix | Shy but worth every second | Needs patience and a calm home | Loves water / pool shelf = heaven | Yard required | Loves other dogs (big or small) | Not a leash or travel dog | Will become your whole heart — on his timeline

If you have any questions or would like to adopt Gatsby, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.