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BackQuill
Foster Home Needed
Description
Name: Quill
ID # RT20240905-1
Estimated Age: 1 year
Sex: Female
Estimated Breed: Heeler/American Pit Bull Terrier Mix
Weight: 40lbs
Good with Dogs: Would be best as the only dog in the home
Good with Cats: No
Good with Children: Older children
Special/Medical Needs:
Estimated Energy Level: Medium
Current Location: BARC's Central, Airdrie, AB.
Adoption Fee: $650
Quill 🪶 (Quilly)
This girl will steal your heart with one soulful look. She was rescued in Red Deer, and found with a face and neck full of porcupine quills…which is how she got her name.
Quilly arrived traumatized and then continued to decline at the shelter. Weeks turned to months with no foster available, and she became fear reactive. So much so she needed meds and to be separated as best as possible from seeing other dogs.
When a foster home finally opened up for her the change was drastic and immediate in all the best ways for dear Quill. The shelter environment clearly wasn’t for her, and within hours of being in a home she began to relax. Her physical wounds had all healed, but it’s been a long time since she’d felt safe. It’s clear she will need a lot of patience and time to truly heal.
Day two in foster care she started smiling, offering a paw, and having zoomies. She shows interest in play, and wanting to make friends, but doesn’t express herself well. She’s a brute and throws her weight around, dominating play when attempting to socialize her into the foster pack. After multiple attempts it was determined that even though she does appear dog friendly, she would do best as the only dog in the home. Her socialization skills are severely lacking, and she barks aggressively when she sees animals moving about or getting attention from people, leaving her out. She also reacts this intensely when she is in her crate - though she has no issues or stress being in it, she reacts more often while she is inside it.
During walks she wags her tail as we pass other dogs of all sizes, and people. She’s easy to redirect and in general has very good leash manners. She’s also trained using the Sidekick, by Heather’s Hero’s, making outings quite enjoyable with Quill.
She shows her appreciation with face washes, tippy tappy toes and surprise snuggles. Her newfound joy is enough to bring a tear to your eye. She LOVES to play fetch, and a good game of chase. Balls are life for dear Quilly, and is definitely the way to her heart. Along with treats - she is very food motivated.
Quill will require structure and a confident leader. She struggles with anxiety, but seems to relax knowing someone else is in charge. She’s a lover of most people, though she does start off quite shy. She spooks easily, and her go to move is to bark. Sadly, this reaction tends to scare most people off. However her foster has noted that even when she is at her most reactive, her foster was able to walk right up to Quill and talk/touch her and she immediately calmed down. This is a prime example of how her reactions don’t seem to match her intent.
Quill would be best in a home with older children who understand going slow with her. Unfortunately while in foster care it became apparent that for safety reasons, Quill will need to be the only animal in the home. Her prey drive is intense and she tends to lose control, and things tend to escalate quickly.
With the right training and in the right home she will thrive. She’s fully house trained, crate trained and knows all her basic commands. She loves attention, and wants to be with her person/people as much as possible. She loves being outside. She also loves wearing boots! She would make an excellent outdoor companion, and at 45lbs she’s the perfect size!
Please consider being this girl’s hero. She has so much love to give.
If you are interested in fostering this dog, please fill out an application
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