Nya

My story

Meet Nya. Nya is one of three Chihuahuas we rescued after their elderly owner passed away. After their owner's death, the dogs were taken in by the adult children, but sadly, they were kept penned outside with little care or attention. Thankfully, a compassionate groomer who had been a friend of the owner stepped in. She took all three pups into her care until rescue could be arranged. Because of her actions, Nya has a chance at the love and life she deserves. When Nya first arrived, she was understandably timid and unsure in her new foster home. It was clear she hadn't had much exposure to the outside world. She’s currently living with a foster mom and dad, and two other dogs, and has done well as part of a pack. Nya has excellent house manners and is very laid-back. She’s house-trained, not destructive, and has earned free roam privileges in her foster home. She has an adorable personality and a love for cozy comforts. Nya is a true blanket burrower and loves to snuggle, whether it’s under the covers or curled up with her humans or pup buddies. She also likes to hang out with her foster parents on the back patio, and fancies herself a lap dog at times.  We checked in with her foster mom, Christi, to hear how she’s settling in. Nya is adjusting more every day, growing in confidence, and starting to show her sweet,  affectionate nature.   FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 8/13/25 Little Miss Nya has been with us for 2 months.  It’s hard to express how much resilience this little girl has.  She has so much joy and happiness and makes us smile and laugh endlessly.  Her cute little pouty bottom lip and big smile when she greets you are so cute!   Considering she was very cautious around men when we brought her home, she has made a complete 180, and I think she loves my husband, Dan, more than me now, and our son, who is in college, is one of her besties, too.  Her favorite things are cuddling/lying on laps, going for short 20-minute walks around the neighborhood, running with our pack in the back yard, and is now what we would consider a bona fide chippie hunter.  No kills, but she loves the hunt nonetheless.  She works in tandem with our little scruffy terriers who run the fence perimeter and explore our flower gardens in the back yard (ever vigilant, waiting for a chippie to chase).   When she isn’t looking for chippies, she now loves to play fetch with squeaky toys (which is new to her, too). Now that she’s settled in, Nya is such a happy-go-lucky girl who has truly blossomed.  It brings me such joy to say that this beautiful little copper colored girl has transformed as she has settled in here.    When meeting new people, she takes just a little time to realize that they also offer pets and scratches, which she loves.  We have our neighbor girls who visit regularly (9 years old) to pet her and also join us for walks.  She does just fine with a calm approach. I still think she needs a fenced backyard and a confident, smaller dog as a pack mate.  She isn’t into playtime or wrestling with our dogs, but enjoys their company. We work at home during the day. This amazing little girl is ready for her final transition into happily ever after.  It’s been incredibly rewarding to be her foster parents and be part of her endless joy every day.      FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 6/8/25 "Nya has settled in quite well. She is the sweetest little girl.  She initially chose me as her person, but she will also mix things up and choose Dan to cuddle up next to or sleep with through the night.   She is 100% engaged with us. Loves to be where we are and take advantage of a lap to cuddle in.  Nya will accept and enjoys pets from my husband, Dan, and is warming up nicely to our 21-year-old son.   We gave her time to experience the three of us to earn her trust.   We are an active household in that we have projects and house and yard work.   I think we are more active than she has ever been accustomed to. She was a little cautious as we move about quickly or something accidentally makes a loud noise ( like pots or pans banging in the kitchen).  She may make a quick retreat under the dining table to assess the situation if something catches her by surprise.  She quickly realizes she is safe and rejoins us almost immediately.  This is 100% on par with all of our foster pups over the years.   She used to bark at my 20-something son when he would come up from the basement man cave.  I think the sudden door opening scared her. But she’s fine now. She sleeps in the office under my desk while I work through the day.  She loves to cuddle on the couch when we are catching up after the day or watching TV.  Drum roll … Nya is doing fabulously on walks, which was brand new to her!  We walk two times a day with our two little dogs. Not long walks (because our dogs are little), but 20 mins of nice exercise and enrichment.  Knowing she has never been on a lead in a walking situation, I got her a sturdy harness.   Her first two days with us, I put her harness on and a lead and offered to bring her out with our dogs. She followed our dogs down the driveway and made it two houses before she decided she was a bit afraid. I didn’t push it. I brought her back home.  But on day 3, she made it the whole 20-minute walk. She was cautious, but she did it.  It was really good for her.   Now, miss Nya gladly goes for her walks and enjoys all the sights and sounds. She is not reactive on leash.  We had an instance where a large, rambunctious dog on the other side of the street was barking excitedly.  She quickly reset, and we were on our happy way.  She does NOT tug on walks and learns quickly. In fact, after a few weeks, she is the leader of the pack on walks!   Nya has been respectful of our senior scruffy L.G., who is a little 12 lb low rider. The dogs do well with each other.  Our pups have taught her the joys of chasing birds and squirrels at the bird feeder. When they run out there she does too.   Very cute.   Our dogs don’t really play with each other, but Nya isn’t interested in play. Aside from chasing birds and squirrels in a pack setting, she’s pretty laidback.”   ************* Nya’s journey from outdoor neglect to cuddlebug is a testament to how resilient and loving dogs can be when given a second chance. She’s looking for a calm, loving home where she can continue to blossom and be someone’s loyal companion. Apply today! BREED ESTIMATE: Chihuahua/Dachshund Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT:  12 lbs  APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 3 years old COAT TYPE: Short coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION:  Fairfax, VA   FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area. August 13, 2025, 9:24 am

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