Meet Cassie This pretty, flowy-coated pup was picked up as a stray roaming rural SC. She is currently being fostered in a busy household with a mom, dad, 10-year-old boy, two dogs, and two cats, and she has acclimated well. Cassie loves being part of a pack, both human and canine. Cassie has proven to be a sweet, affectionate, and playful pup. While she can be shy when meeting new people or experiencing new environments, once she feels safe, her loving personality shines through. She adores being close to her people, follows her foster family around the house, and is happiest snuggled up nearby with a toy-pile all her own. Cassie is very dog-friendly and integrated easily with her foster pack. She has also met neighbor dogs and visiting dogs and done well with everyone. She would thrive in a home with another playful, confident dog buddy to help continue building her confidence. She loves running and playing in the yard, wrestling with dog friends, and hanging out with her pack. Her foster mom says she settles much more comfortably when another dog is nearby, even happily relaxing quietly in her crate alongside a canine companion. She is moderate energy overall; playful and active when it’s time for fun, but also very content to cuddle and relax inside. Cassie is doing well with house training, and her foster mom is slowly introducing the crate using short periods of time paired with tasty treats to help make it a positive experience. It’s still a work in progress, as Cassie is likely to bark, but she's not to the point where she can be fully trusted loose and unattended for long periods. Thankfully, her foster mom works from home, so a home with a flexible schedule or someone around more often would likely be the best fit for her. She is also improving nicely with leash walking and becoming more confident over time. Loud noises like trucks, lawn equipment, and heavy traffic can still make her nervous, so she’ll need a patient adopter who understands she’s still learning that the world is safe. Cassie has done well around the cats in her foster home, though she is cautious and respectful around them. She adores the son in her foster home, but loud children outside the home can make her nervous. She just needs a little time and reassurance. Once she trusts you, she is incredibly sweet, loyal, and affectionate. Like many young pups, Cassie loves toys and chews and may occasionally “borrow” socks, shoes, or remotes if left unattended. She’s making excellent progress with both potty training and crate training. Cassie is the kind of dog who forms deep bonds with her people and dog friends. With patience, structure, and love, she is going to make an incredibly devoted companion. One important note: Cassie can be a bit of a Houdini in a new environment and may look for gaps in fences if given the opportunity, so a secure fenced yard with no escape points is a must. Apply today! BEED ESTIMATE: ShihPoo (Shih Tzu/Poodle Mix) GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 17 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~1 to 1.5 years old COAT TYPE: longer coat that needs regular grooming. ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: UTD on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Alexandria, VA FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.