Hi… I’m Laila. I am a 8 month old Shih Tzu/Lhasa Apso mix, weighing 11 lbs of full of sweetness. I’m spayed, vaccinated, microchipped, and healthy, but the thing I want most isn’t found in a medical chart. It’s found in a family… a lap… a warm voice… a safe place to rest my head. I am from Southern California and coming to live with my foster family in Ridgefield, WA by the middle of April and can travel to Vancouver, BC if there is a potential adopter for me. My adoption fee is $900USD Adoption Application Link: https://forms.gle/rh4RkabUr7fYkRDV9 (If not clickable, copy & paste into your browser) Here is my story: I’m still learning about the world. Sometimes it feels a little big… a little loud… a little too fast for a small girl like me. When things move quickly or noises surprise me, I might pause… or take a step back… Not because I don’t want to be brave— but because I’m still figuring out how. But if you give me a moment… if you let me go at my own pace… you’ll see something beautiful begin to happen. I start to relax. My tail gets a little softer… my eyes a little brighter… and slowly… I come closer. I really do love people. I just need to know I’m safe first. Once I feel that… I become the sweetest little companion you could imagine. I’ll stay near you, quietly… watching, learning, trusting. And if there’s another gentle dog around? Oh… that helps me so much. I like having a friend who shows me that everything is okay… someone to follow… someone to learn from… It makes me feel a little braver every day. I don’t mind cats either— I’m a peaceful kind of girl. I’m not looking for a loud, busy life. I’m dreaming of something softer… A calm home. Kind voices. Patient hands. A place where I won’t be rushed… where I can grow into myself, one little step at a time. Because I promise you… with a little love, a little patience, and a little understanding… I will blossom. And one day, you’ll look at me and see not the shy puppy I was— but the loyal, gentle, loving companion I’ve become… all because you gave me the time to feel safe. I’m ready to grow… I just need someone to grow with me.