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Calista’s Story

Calista came into the SNAFU Rescue via a breeder release. Her breeder wanted her to be placed in a loving home and spend the rest of her years being a spoiled pet.

Calista is a sweet, passive, calm, quiet, curious, easy-going, well-mannered little who loves to be near her favorite humans at all times.  Even though she is a laid-back little girl, she does seek attention and prefers to be everywhere and anywhere her foster family and furry friends are.  Nap time is her favorite time! There is not a couch, bed, or lap that Calista won’t lie on during her many daily naps. Calista gets very excited to see people and will beeline straight to them for some good pets. She does find her active side now and again and will run around with her furry friends partaking in some Zoomies!  If she feels a bit overwhelmed, she will seek a time out and then will come to hang out with her foster family once she’s settled down. Calista is more of a spectator when it comes to the action in her foster home but insists on always being where the action is!  Calista is 1st in line for many things; cuddles, naps, pets, and scratchies. She is queen of the couch and there is not a human or furry creature that she won’t share a long snooze with!  When Calista first arrived at the rescue, she was a bit timid. Her confidence is booming and retreating to her safe spots is decreasing every day.  She lived most of her life in a commercial breeding kennel and is slowly learning to live her life as a cherished pet.  Although she is gaining more confidence daily and becoming more comfortable, it is important to remember that she is dealing with a big transition and as such will need a patient and understanding family.  She currently lives with a few furry siblings. Her foster siblings graciously allow her to share their space. They accepted Calista with open paws!  Calista enjoys napping with her furry friends but hasn’t shown much interest in playing with any toys, although this may come with time. Her foster family reports that she is extremely trusting and will seek attention from any guest who will offer her some chin scratches, belly rubs, or ear rubs.  Even though Calista hasn’t asked to play with other dogs, her foster family does think she’d thrive in a home with another dog so they can show her the ropes.   She is still learning the ways of pet life and finds comfort in being with her human, but living with one other balanced dog will certainly help her continue to learn and grow into the pampered pet she’s meant to be.  As with all of our dogs, slow introductions to other dogs in the household are a must.  Calista was around smaller children and confidently approached them and accepted all the hands petting her!  She can get easily overwhelmed by loud, abrupt noises so her foster family believes she’d do best in a home with older calm, dog-savvy, respectful children, but also fine with no kids in the home. She should always be supervised when she is around children to make sure both she and they are kept safe.  

Calista’s foster family happily reports she is 75% potty trained!  She made fast progress and picked it up quickly!  She hasn’t learned to signal to go out just yet, but if let out every couple of hours she’s done fine with that. She does mimic her foster sibling’s outside behaviors.  Her adoptive family will need to be patient, willing, and able to keep her on a regular and consistent schedule for her continued potty-training success.  Calista is fully crate-trained. Although it is not her favorite place, she will let out a cry before settling down.  Once calmed down, she sleeps quietly in her crate completely nearly accident-free while her foster family is away from them.  For her safety, we recommend a similar crating arrangement is suggested when her humans are away from the home and/or when she is left unsupervised, so she is safe and secure while no one is at home. Calista does not know danger and is still learning how to be a pet. Since she loves her humans so much and is quite the snuggle bug, we do think she would love to continue to share a bed with her adoptive family.

Medically, Calista seems to be in great health!  She has been spayed, updated on vaccinations/dewormings, heartworm tested, had a dental with several extractions, microchipped, and has been given the okay to adopt by our veterinarian.  She’s reported to have grade 1 luxating patellas on both her back legs.  A daily good quality joint supplement is recommended. Calista has deposits on her eyes, likely from previous poor nutrition, but does not appear to impact her vision at all; just something to keep an eye out for any changes.

Calista is a very adaptable dog, and we think she would do great in almost any type of home.  A fully fenced-in yard is preferred for ongoing safety because Calista has not fully mastered leash skills, has a harder time doing her business on a leash, and will run if allowed.  Calista would be most successful with a fenced-in yard for easy access to continue her potty-training journey.  A ground-level apartment with a small fenced-in area would be ideal to give her access to potty quickly.  Calista can manage a few stairs but would do best in a home with a small amount of stairs due to her luxating patellas. She does enjoy some time outside sunbathing and rolling around in the grass but a large yard is not necessary at all; any space is great for this VERY petite little sweetheart.   Work from home or a stay-at-home parent? Calista would love that!!! She spends each work day with her foster dad parked right on his lap. She participates in Zoom meetings, quietly snores during conference calls, and can sleep on a comfy bed the entire workday without a single peep!  Otherwise, we think she’d love to go to work with her new family, as long as it’s a quiet work setting, as she prefers not to be away from her people!  If her people are not able to take her to work with them, no problem at all – she’s completely happy sleeping a small part of the day away as long as she has a warm soft blanket, and her people can arrange for a mid-day potty break for her!  Calista is looking for a family to call her very own, one with family members to dote on her and one that will offer her unlimited snuggles, hugs, and kisses. Calista is about the sweetest little girl who insists on being the queen of the couch; she will make a family that loves a more chill dog very happy! This girl has a HUGE heart packed into a tiny package.  

If you feel like your family might be the perfect forever home for Calista, please submit an adoption application for her today!!