Zanna is a 7-8 year old female Cross-Breed. She is fostered in Norwich Norfolk. We met Zanna on our trip to the Botosani public shelter back in March.
The first day trying to take in the overwhelming 900 dogs was rather a blur but when I got back to the hotel and looked at over a thousand pics I’d taken her face leapt out at me and I vowed to find her the next day and assess her to bring her here.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find her in the sea of 900 faces and I had no recollection of what pen she’d been in.
Three days it took me to find her and when I did she was the sweetest little girl who had no idea how to receive the affection I was desperate to share with her. All these weeks on and finally I have her here and now just need a five-star home for her.
Zanna is still a very humbling little girl who follows me everywhere and loves a fuss. She walks well on a lead and has been fine with the other dogs in her foster home. She can live with or without another dog in her forever home but has not yet been assessed with cats.
Zanna can live with respectful children aged ten plus. When you adopt a Safe Rescue dog, you MUST use a slip lead. This will keep your dog safe: your new dog will be nervous and will not trust you, and you will not know which situations might upset your dog.
If your dog panics, then a slip lead is the only way to prevent your dog from escaping (many dogs can escape from a collar and/or harness). It will take AT LEAST 3-6 months for your dog to settle in and for you to know your dog fully (longer for nervous dogs).
The slip lead must ALWAYS be used during this settling-in period. Even after your dog is settled, it is safest to use the slip lead in situations where your dog may become scared (e.g. visiting new places, around unfamiliar people, at the vet), and in situations where unexpected triggers might happen (e.g. around bonfire night).
Nervous dogs may always need to wear a slip-lead as a backup safety measure. The slip lead is a safety device and must NEVER be used as a training tool. Using the lead to apply pressure to the dog’s neck is damaging.
If your dog pulls on the lead, then we can advise you on training methods that avoid harm. Once your dog is settled, you may want to consider using a harness (together with the slip lead) if your dog is comfortable with being handled when it is fitted.
Most harnesses are not escape-proof, but harnesses with a strap behind the ribcage (e.g. Ruffwear Webmaster or Perfect Fit Harnesses) are safer. Retractable/extendable leads must never be used on our dogs. Adopted dogs must be collected from the rescue and transported straight home in a crate.
