**WE DO NOT RESPOND TO APPLICATIONS MADE ON PETFINDER. YOU MUST APPLY ON OUR LINK WHICH IS BELOW** Valerie is a miniature schnauzer born on 4/26/19 who is looking for a great adopter or foster-to-adopt home. The first years of Valerie’s life were spent as a breeding dog at a puppy mill. When she arrived at her foster home in February, it was clear that she had never experienced human love and affection. Instead, she was showing clear signs of a life of trauma. She came into the rescue with a large belly, and we had suspicions that she was pregnant. We were shocked to hear that instead of puppies, she was carrying a large, infected hernia. We don’t know how long she had been suffering. She had surgery on the hernia right away, and is feeling so much better! Watching her settle into a loving home has been so rewarding. During her first few weeks, she would run and hide from us whenever we were in the same room. She would not eat if we were near her (we suspected she feared we would take her food away). While she still has a long way to go with her trust of humans, she has made huge strides! She is still a bit scared when we approach her, but she now lets us pick her up and cuddle with her. This week she has even cozied up in her foster mom’s lap for a nap. For a dog that likely has never been shown human kindness or cuddles in her whole life, this is huge! She has a favorite spot on the couch where she sleeps soundly during the day, letting out big sighs to let us know she is relaxed. She likes to run around the yard exploring with her foster brothers and sisters, and gets along great with other dogs. While Valerie loves her foster dad, she may be best in a home with only women. She is not aggressive, but when she is with her foster mom, she will bark protectively at her foster dad if he comes close. We think that Valerie will thrive with an adopter who is very patient and/or has experience with trauma and puppy mill release dogs. Valerie is spayed, microchipped and vaccinated. We’re so impressed with the progress that she has already made, and we know that the future looks bright for Valerie. Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/4u3tuy5c -Due to the high volume of applications, our Adoption Coordinator will only contact the applicant that best meets the needs of the pet. If selected, we require a phone interview, virtual house check, and meet and greet with your entire family. Please consider donating to help with medical costs or gifting something from our Amazon Wishlist! -Zelle: petprofilerescue@gmail.com -Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/Petprofilerescue_OFFICIAL -Paypal: paypal.com/ncp/payment/X4YK4D5VZLYPE -Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1PIG0Y2YAZ2MP