Lela

My story

Meet Lela!Lela was brought to the Queens Animal Care Center by NYC Parks Rangers after being found abandoned in a park. Witnesses reported two people entering the park with two dogs-and leaving with only one. Lela was left behind. Though frightened at first, she allowed staff to leash her from the crate without issue and calmly walked to her kennel.🐾 My ideal homeLela is looking for a quiet, adult-only home where she can feel safe and decompress at her own pace. She's a sensitive soul who thrives in a calm environment, ideally with access to a yard for sniffy walks or lounging in the sun. She'll do best with adopters who can provide structure, consistency, and lots of patience as she learns to trust.👶 Good with kids?No, Lela should be placed in a home without children. She needs slow introductions to new people and can be easily overwhelmed, so an adult-only household is the best fit.🐕 Good with other dogs?Lela has shown mixed and sometimes escalating reactions to other dogs at the shelter. She has not sought out dog-dog interaction and has displayed signs of discomfort or reactivity in several playgroup settings. We recommend she be the only pet in the home and avoid dog parks altogether.🐾 Leash MannersShe walks well with level 3 volunteers and can pull moderately at times. While she's made progress, she does best with handlers who understand her need for a slow approach and calm energy.🩺 Overall healthLela is about 3 years old and weighs 52 pounds. She's been vaccinated, microchipped, and cleared for surgery. She experienced some mild GI issues (diarrhea) during her stay but they've since resolved. Lela also had some minor skin irritation from rubbing on kennel bars, which has improved with stress-reduction efforts.🧠 Behavior determination: Level 3Lela is considered a Level 3 dog, meaning she needs a slow and patient adopter. She can be anxious, especially in the shelter, showing signs like panting, pacing, and hypersalivating. With trusted handlers, she begins to seek contact-nudging hands and leaning in for gentle pets-but prefers to do things on her own terms.🎉 One fun factLela has a signature move: if she trusts you, she'll press herself against your legs just for a moment-her quiet way of saying "thank you."Lela may have had a rough start, but she's ready for her next chapter-one where she's finally seen, safe, and loved. Could that be with you? 💛 Primary Color: Brindle Secondary Color: White Weight: 45 Age: 3yrs 1mths 3wks

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