Conchita

My story

Conchita / Female / 2 yrs. / 37 Lbs / Lab Mix / Needs Proper Intros to Dogs / Good with Kids / Good with Cats / From Mexico / Fostered in Oakville **Follow Conchita's journey on Instagram: @findingtheirforever_ Meet Conchita! Conchita’s foster describes her as a total lovebug who “can’t get enough skin contact.” Once a terrified street dog found eating from a garbage bag, she’s transformed into a gentle, affectionate companion who wants nothing more than to cuddle close and be your shadow. Conchita is soft, sweet, and incredibly snuggly. She loves going on walks, curling up beside you (or on you!) for naps, and trotting around playfully at home. If you sit on the couch, she’ll curl up right against you, sometimes placing a little paw on your chest. She naps best cuddled into her person and has endless love to give. She’s fully potty trained and has excellent bladder control—her last bathroom break is around 7 p.m., and she often sleeps soundly until 9 a.m. the next morning. With her people, Conchita is affectionate, devoted, and calm. She follows her favourite person everywhere—bathroom trips included! Around new people, she’s curious but cautious. She prefers women and is gentle with respectful children, happily sniffing them and accepting pets. She’s more reserved around men, especially those with dark features or clothing, and will sometimes freeze or give them space. In busy environments or large groups, she gets overwhelmed, but in one-on-one interactions or calm home settings, she does beautifully. Conchita has been around children as young as 14 months and as old as grade schoolers and is consistently gentle and curious. Based on her behaviour, she would do well with respectful children who understand and practice dog etiquette. She may need a little extra space to warm up at first, especially in rowdy or loud settings, but with time and calm energy, she becomes comfortable. Her ideal home is a calm house or townhouse with a fenced yard, or a quiet rural setting where she can feel safe on walks without exposure to lots of dogs or street noise. She would love a family who’s home often, doesn’t mind her constant companionship, and enjoys a good cuddle on the couch at the end of the day. A person who works from home or is retired would be an excellent match. At first meeting, Conchita is terrified of dogs, regardless of size. When she sees another dog, she may freeze, raise her hackles, or try to bolt. If approached, she’ll often try to avoid them and occasionally bark defensively. That said, once she is comfortable, she does well with dogs. She is getting more and more comfortable as she decompresses; she recently allowed a calm dog to sniff her nose, and we believe that with a slow and gentle introduction, she could adjust to life with a respectful resident dog. She has shown no signs of prey drive and has been briefly tested with cats—showing little interest. Conchita has low to medium energy. She enjoys three walks a day (25, 50, and 15 minutes), plus mental stimulation through training. Indoors, she is calm and relaxed. She walks well on leash and does not pull but is wary of strollers, trucks, and loud noises like lawnmowers and garbage trucks. She is not comfortable in high-traffic areas. Conchita is not crate trained but is fully potty trained and has free reign of the house when left alone (up to 90 minutes). She has shown mild separation anxiety, initially crying for a few minutes before settling down. She may still search for her person if they leave the room, but she’s improving steadily. She has not been destructive—her only mischief was stealing a paper towel with bacon grease off the counter (who could resist?). Training-wise, she came with no known commands and didn’t even recognize her name, but now she knows “sit,” “stay,” and “shake.” She’s eager to learn—especially when a treat is involved! Conchita is a truly special pup with an enormous heart, a gentle soul, and the funniest confused expression that will make you laugh daily. If you’re ready for a little shadow with a lot of love to give, Conchita may be your perfect match. Prior to coming into care, Conchita tested positive for Anaplasma, which is a tick-borne infection and is not contagious. A CBC was performed to see if there is an active infection. Conchita's CBC came back indicating that there is no active infection, however it is recommended that Anaplasma-positive dogs get an annual blood test to monitor and that pre-op blood work including a CBC test and platelet count be performed before any surgeries or dental extractions. If you’re interested in adopting, please apply at https://www.fetchandreleash.ca/adoption-info#adoption-form Conchita's adoption fee is $850. To learn more about our adoption fees and the foster-to-adopt process, please visit our FAQs at https://www.fetchandreleash.ca/about-us#about-faqs.

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