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Sanibel’s Story

Sanibel 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.

Sanibel is a sweet, calm, quiet, respectful, easy-going little Frenchie girl that is still coming out of her shell.  She has an overall timid and shy nature. Even though she is a laid-back and timid little girl, she is slowly opening up and accepting human love and attention.  Sanibel does love being near her people where she can always see and hear them.  When she is approached by her trusted human, she will pancake to the floor (like a typical breeder release) but will graciously accept a warm lap for snuggles when placed there.  Sanibel does love to cuddle but will not approach on her own.  Nap time is her favorite time! There is not a comfy spot or soft bed that Sanibel won’t lie on or snuggle in during her many daily naps. After a much-needed little snooze, Sanibel will request some outside time to sun her cute tiny buns.  Spending time in the backyard when the sun is shining makes her very happy!  When evening approaches and the day is starting to cool off, she knows it is time for a walk!  Sanibel gets very excited for her daily Frenchie-suited walks and will beeline straight to the door knowing her stroller time is coming soon. Sanibel walks for a bit and in a short time will be placed in her stroller to snooze the rest of the way!   When she isn’t shadowing her foster family everywhere around the home, (she looks to her people for security from afar) you can find her napping the day away. As mentioned, when Sanibel first arrived at the rescue, she was a bit timid and still is learning to trust. 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 several furry siblings. Sanibel does not seem to enjoy hanging out with her furry friends and mostly keeps to herself.  She much prefers the company of her humans over the furry type but can coexist with male dogs her size or smaller.  Sanibel does not like small female dogs and will immediately react negatively to the female French Bulldog in her home.  Once eye contact is made, Sanibel will growl and start to bark. Although the resident female dog is a bit of a wild child, loud and vocal, we still believe Sanibel should not be placed in a home with another female dog. Even though Sanibel hasn’t asked to “play” with other male dogs in her foster home, her foster family does think she could cohabitate with another male dog in her home that is passive and balanced (she is triggered by loud barking and high-energy dogs).  Perhaps another male dog could show her the ropes and help her acclimate. She is still learning the ways of pet life and learning to find comfort in being with her human, but living with one other balanced, gentle, passive dog that will be her pack leader will certainly help her continue to learn and grow into the pampered pet she’s meant to be.  Ideally, Sanibel would prefer to be the only pet in her home/. As with all of our dogs, slow introductions to other dogs in the household are a must.  She can get easily overwhelmed by loud, abrupt noises so her foster family believes she’d do best in a home with older calm, do-savvy, respectful children, but also fine with no kids in the home. She met a few children and ran away and hid from them as she was very unsettled.  She should always be supervised when she is around children to make sure both she and they are kept safe.  

Sanibels’s foster family happily reports she is fully potty trained!  She made fast progress and picked it up quickly as she has been kept on a strict schedule.  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. 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.  Sanibel is fully crate trained but much prefers a smaller gated dog safe space vs. a crate.  She spends time in her safe space while her foster family is at work. Sanibel exhibits some anxiety ONLY when she is in her safe space and her humans are home and she can hear them but not see them.  It is suggested she is not crated while her people are human to eliminate any anxiety that may occur.  For her safety, we recommend a similar 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. Sanibel does not know danger and is still learning how to be a pet. 

Medically, Sanibel seems to be in great health!  She has been spayed, updated on vaccinations/dewormings, heartworm tested, microchipped, had a dental with extractions, and has been given the okay to adopt by our veterinarian.  She does suffer from pesky Frenchie allergies and would benefit from a daily allergy pill during allergy season and a cytopoint during the high-allergy season.

Sanibel is still learning how to be a dog and would do best in a home with a fenced-in yard. Since she loves to roam around the fenced-in yard, dun her buns outside, and does not know danger, a fully fenced-in yard is preferred for her ongoing safety. Although a fence is not required for her,  she would need a family that is diligent enough to offer her the desired time outside on walks and even stroller rides.   Sanibel does great with stairs so a multi-level home would be okay for her.  Work from home or a stay-at-home parent? Sanibel would love that!!! 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 (once her confidence grows)!  Sanibel is looking for a family to call her very own, one with family members to dote on her and one that will offer her the space to continue to grow into pet life.  She loves comfy spaces, stroller rides, and car rides and has quite the travel bug.  Sanibel would love to attend shopping trips, outdoor eateries, wineries, breweries… really anywhere that would allow her to hop in the car!  She is just a shy, sweet girl that needs some time and patience to overcome her nervous nature. Sanibel is a doll and with time will flourish!  

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