Italian Greyhound Place
Italian Greyhound Rescue, Fostering, Adoption / Rehoming, & Resources
Available for Adoption
Welcome to Italian Greyhound Place Rascal!
Rascal is being fostered in the Philadelphia area of PA
Available to foster with the intent to adopt or to adopt
Rascal, a senior dog who recently turned thirteen-years-old and weighs seventeen pounds, was surrendered to a shelter due to his owner having a serious medical event. Terrified at the shelter, the staff, who worked with Rascal to ease the situation for him, did what they could to get him to a home environment. He is now in a wonderful Italian Greyhound Place foster home.
The shelter indicated that they believed Rascal to be an Italian Greyhound/Jack Russell Terrier. His breed mix is not known, but he is adorable!
Rascal is a great little dog who will need love and patience to adapt to his new life. He appears to have been taught a lot of great skills (he walks on a leash nicely, indicates
when he needs to go out – then potties immediately, and readily jumps into the car, traveling nicely in a crate). Rascal was loved by his owner and this transition is tough for him, but he is making progress.
The following was shared by his foster:
“On day three out of the shelter, he has allowed us to pet him a bit, but is still shaky and timid when approached by people (I am able to pet him from behind - so I can pet his rear if he's facing me, or his head and ears if he's facing away). He is also still warning us if he's not ready to be petted - but this is getting better each day, and we expect that he will be in a good place with some love and patience. He is doing fine with our three dogs (two IGs), and while he doesn't cuddle with them yet, he does like to be around them. He's also starting to investigate the house a bit, and has been good with our cats, but does give warning to the young one who is a bit too playful. He's done great on our stairs for a senior.”
Regarding the “warning,” Rascal does this as you want a dog to do so – he communicates that he does not want to be touched, giving lots of warning. As described by his foster, “The snipping gives you a LOT of warning if you approach slowly, but if you approach fast, he will move his head forward some. If you sit next to him and put your hand out, he'll sneer/show his teeth first, and if you keep moving forward, he'll do little air-snaps, and then if you continue, he'll move his head forward if you're too close. This is stopping for me though. It's very clear he's scared. When I started to scratch his head after sitting next to him for a while this morning, he leaned into it!”
The transition from an owner at this stage in life would “shake the best” of dogs and Rascal has been moved from his home, to a shelter, and to a foster home – at thirteen, he’s doing a great job
adapting. This little dog needs to be with someone who can love him, go slow with him, and build his trust. Other dogs would likely help, but he would do well as an only dog too.
If you would like to be the person (or people) to give Rascal love and patience as his bond with you grows and strengthens, please contact Italian Greyhound Place. Rascal can be fostered with the intent to adopt or adopted.
Italian Greyhound Place would like to give a huge thanks to the shelter for recognizing how terrified Rascal was, for easing his stay there, for doing what they could to get him in a foster home, and for working with Italian Greyhound Place.
A tremendous thanks to Rascal’s foster and her husband who immediately offered to get and foster Rascal, traveling approximately three hours each way to do so (and stopping at two pet stores to get a slip lead and ID collar ordered for Rascal). Their willingness to assist and their experience is greatly appreciated!
Ezio – A thirteen-year-old Italian Greyhound in NJ
Foster or Foster with Intent to Adopt Needed
Foster with Intent to Adopt Pending!
Due to work obligations, Ezio’s current owner is not able to provide him with the time and attention that he deserves. What is wanted most for Ezio, is a loving new person (or people) who will give him lots of affection and less “alone time” than he currently has.
Ezio is a very loving dog who “loves physical touch.” Although not overly so, he can be nervous/skittish and physical affection from his person makes him feel safe. He has a moderate activity level and enjoys walks – only occasionally pulling (Italian Greyhound Place would be
glad to provide information on loose leash walking); is friendly with both people and dogs, but does tend to “hump” other male dogs – gentle re-direction could be used when this occurs; and is not much of a barker, only barking when other dogs walk by.
Ezio’s crate is primarily used with the door left open, but he will stay in it (with the door closed) for a few hours or so. Although good in the car, he does get car sick – for longer trips his owner uses a car seat that “levels him to the window” and has found this to help.
House trained to potty outside during walks, Ezio does mark in his home and his owner, therefore, uses a belly band with him. An adopter extremely patient with, and accepting of accidents, is needed (Italian Greyhound Place would be glad to offer information on house training).
If you are interested in Ezio, have lots of love and affection to offer him, and are home more than not, please contact Italian Greyhound Place.
Ezra – A six-year-old Italian Greyhound/American Bulldog in GA
Although Ezra is a sweet dog, he is reactive with dogs and, since his owner is moving to a situation that would necessitate Ezra being around other dogs, the tough decision was made to locate a new home for him. Ezra needs a human companion (or companions) who do not have other dogs in their home. Since Ezra currently has a fenced yard, a fenced yard would be ideal. Located in GA, Ezra’s owners will drive a significant distance to place him in a loving, forever home.
Weighing about thirty pounds, Ezra is believed to be an Italian Greyhound/Bulldog, with his owner indicating that “the Italian Greyhound comes through in a lot of his mannerisms as well as those long, skinny legs.” This guy is “goofy, shy sometimes, and food motivated.” He loves people and will “happily chill out with them.” His activity level is low – “he has a spurt of energy once a day and one walk is enough to wear him out.”
Ezra is house trained (potties in a fenced yard and on walks) and is accident-free; doesn’t pull significantly on-leash unless
he views another dog; is crate trained, but is given free roam of the house when left alone; only tends to bark when someone is at the door or he views a dog; likes to wear sweaters and jackets; and loves car rides.
He is reactive with other dogs, but other than that is very relaxed and loving. Ideally, Ezra’s new person will continue to work with him so that he can walk calmly past other dogs; when on-leash and he views another dog “he is reactive (fur stands up, low growl, pulls), but it’s made worse if that dog barks at him (then Ezra barks and pulls hard).” Due to Ezra’s on-leash reactivity, he has only been off-leash with a relative’s dog and the owner “had to intervene to stop a fight twice. Once was food-related (started by Ezra) and the other was retaliation against
Ezra’s territorial behaviors (started by the other dog).” Italian Greyhound Place would be glad to provide information on desensitization and counter-conditioning which can be a very effective approach. Ezra’s food motivation will be of benefit here!
If you have questions about Ezra or think he could be the canine companion for you, please contact Italian Greyhound Place.
Royal – a three-year-old Basenji mix in CT
From Royal’s foster: “There is so much joy to this boy.”
Due to medical reasons of their own, Royal’s people were put in the sad position of having to locate a new home for him. Royal is currently with a foster (she fosters and locates new homes for dogs) and, although he has been very fortunate to be with her, he needs a forever home.
Royal, who is three-years old and weighs forty pounds, is “very energetic” and is “looking for someone who is active and ready to explore the world with him.”
This guy is fun (goofy and playful!), friendly, and affectionate. In fact, his foster describes him as a sweet dog who “is BEYOND friendly; he loves every dog and human he meets.” Royal responds to cues, "but
sometimes needs a refresher because he is always genuinely excited and happy.” When excited, Royal “does this little pounce thing (you will see him do this very often lol).” It is not known how Royal is around cats, but his foster shared that “he gets excited around children” and will jump on them (and steal stuffed animals!). She would, therefore, ideally like “a home with no young children so there’s no risk of them getting knocked down.”
Royal would benefit from an adopter who can spend time with him and work with him in a positive fashion on his manners. He also needs an adopter willing and
able to offer him exercise – without sufficient exercise, he tends to chew destructively. Mental stimulation would also be a great option for Royal and can be fun to implement (Italian Greyhound Place would be glad to offer canine enrichment ideas/resources).
He has been accident free with his foster (potties outside in an enclosed area), travels nicely in the car (although he occasionally gets car sick), only tends to bark when excited, and does not pull if a slip lead is used. He was crated in his previous home and this listing will include current information after Royal’s foster experiments with a crate (she currently uses a very large kennel). If in a fenced yard, a six-foot high fence is needed. His fur is super soft!
If you have an active lifestyle and would like to share your love and home with Royal or have questions about him, please contact Italian Greyhound Place.
Please contact Italian Greyhound Place if you have an Italian Greyhound or Italian Greyhound mix who you would like to have listed, or if you would like your dog to enter into the care of Italian Greyhound Place.
