IRENE OF HASTINGS

Good With Dogs: Yes

Good With Cats: unknown

Good With Kids: unknown

Kennel Trained: Yes

Age: Approx. 2 Years

Adoption Fee: $ 450

Fee Includes: Current vaccinations, microchip

If you want to be considered for adoption, fill out an application at emotionalrescuedogs.org

Irene of Hastings is ready for adoption.  She's a local celebrity, known for her Houdini ability to escape situations she feels are confining and remain on the run while being cleverly visible yet elusive.  

We're looking for an incredibly special adopter for Irene.  She's an incredibly special dog.  Irene came to rescue with an injured eye...and jumped the fence 12 hours after arriving, just hours before her vet appointment.  In her previous life, she must have been a street dog.  She knows all about finding scraps of human food at Fast Food joints but nothing about eating dog food.  That worked to our advantage though as more than 500 calls poured in, reporting sightings near Culver's, Arby's and Burger King.  The problem is, Irene had learned not to trust humans and she wasn't about to be grabbed.  One citizen was able to snap a pic of Irene next to her own Lost Dog sign.  The girl's got a sense of humor.

On day 10, she discovered a live, humane trap that had been set for her.  On day 11, she went in and that's how she managed to get emergency surgery to remove her badly injured and infected eye.

Since her return, Irene has engaged in a ton of "training".  Really, for the most part, she's been training her foster mom.  For weeks, Irene was walked outside on a leash.  Even in the fenced back yard.  Bonding with her foster mom and learning that the house and farm was her new "home base" was top priority.  Because Irene escapes: through screened windows, through open doors as people come in and out.  If she had thumbs, she'd open the door herself.

But.  The bulk of those escapes were so Irene could be at the side of her foster mom.  That's much better than having her run off.  Her new adopter is going to have to take GREAT care to establish a bond and new home base.  You'll never feel so rewarded as when you've earned her trust.

I don't want to sugar coat the issue here.  Having said that, Irene is remarkable.  She's learning that men, women and teenagers are ok.  Her days of hurt are over.  She's dog friendly too.  And she likes hugs.

Adopters need to have a fenced back yard and at least 1 other dog.  Please be close to Hastings.  She's going to escape and her foster mom will come running to help.  Plan on the possibility of coming to meet Irene more than once.  No doubt, you'll fall instantly in love.  Let's give Irene some time to think about it.  We're not in a rush.  We're gonna do this right.

Irene is a 1 to 2 year old Shepherd mix.  To meet her, apply at emotionalrescuedogs.org.