Meet Sydney! Sydney is a beautiful Australian Shepherd mix looking for the fresh start she truly deserves. She lived with one family since she was just 14 weeks old, but was recently surrendered to STAF when it became clear the home was no longer the right fit for her. According to her previous family, Sydney becomes nervous around young children and would do best in an adult-only home or one with older, respectful kids. She is friendly with other animals, but would likely be happiest as the only dog in the home so she never has to compete for love and attention again. Sydney can be timid when meeting new people, but with a little patience and kindness, she warms up quickly and becomes incredibly affectionate. She absolutely loves belly rubs, enjoys giving and receiving affection, and has such a sweet, loving personality once she feels safe. She is quickly becoming a popular, volunteer favorite at STAF. Like many Aussies, Sydney is playful, energetic, intelligent, and can show herding tendencies from time to time. She also reportedly rides well in the car and is house trained. In her previous home, she spent long hours in a crate, so we would love to see her find a family who has more time to spend with her and can give her the exercise, enrichment, and companionship she craves. When Sydney first arrived, she was understandably shut down and unsure of the world around her. But day by day, she continues to blossom more and more into the sweet girl we knew was there all along. Sydney has so much love to give and is ready for a home where she can feel secure, understood, and truly part of the family. Watching her confidence grow so quick has been so rewarding, and we know the right person is out there for her. Visit STAF.org for more information on our adoption process. *** Email adoptadog@STAF.org for next steps! *** • All of our animals are spayed/neutered and current on shots. • We do not do same-day adoptions. You will be asked to return for at least one follow-up visit, then take the dog home for a trial period before officially adopting. • You must be 21 years or older to adopt from STAF. • Due in part to increasing coyote activity/incidents in the area and the difficulty of predicting how a dog will respond to invisible fence training, we can not adopt to homes with invisible fences. • We do request vet and personal references. • We can facilitate adoptions within a 30-mile radius of our Cincinnati-based shelter