LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Every week, WHAS11 features an at-risk dog from Louisville Metro Animal Services. These are dogs that have been without a home for way too long, and due to no fault of their own.
This week’s WHAS11 Shelter Star is a sweet 1-year-old girl named Pepperoni Pasta Salad, who has come out of the Louisville animal shelter with the help of some extra love from LMAS.
"She was terrified of everything- the leash, the kennel, us. I slowly tempted her with treats, was able to get her out for rescue pictures. She met other dogs and has slowly opened up,” LMAS Staff Member Jade McLean said.
Staff call her Pep for short and describe her as so easy to love. She snuggles right into arms as soon as she's given the chance.
"She has the cutest little ears and big round fat cheeks and I think that she is worth someone to take a chance on her," McLean said.
Once her personality started to show, staff were able to learn a lot about Pep. She does great with other dogs, knows basic commands like "sit", has a very moderate energy level, and walks well on a leash.
"I think she would enjoy a combination of hanging out on the couch and maybe going for some walks or hikes. I think she would be a great buddy for either of those things. Probably a home with another dog that likes to play,” McLean said.
One of the challenges Pep is sure to face is the color of her coat.
For some reason, black dogs are often overlooked in the shelter. But staff have an important reminder about this:
"The ones that get overlooked usually end up being the best dogs here," McLean said adding that Pep is no exception.
Right now, Pep is in foster so the best way to meet her is to contact the foster coordinator at Metro Animals Services. You can email her at MASfoster@louisville.ky.dot.gov
Don’t forget the 3-3-3 rule.
When you adopt an animal from a local shelter, it's important to remember it may take time for them to truly settle in and show their true personality. Hence, the 3-3-3 rule.
The first three days after you adopt a dog, they won't be comfortable enough to be themselves. They may hide, avoid food or water, and feel overwhelmed.
After three weeks in the home, they'll start to settle in, hopefully feeling comfortable enough to explore and let their guard down. You may notice behavior problems, and this could be a good time to work on training.
But realistically, it will take three months for the animals to be completely comfortable in their new home.
Shay McAlister will be introducing you to a new dog every week in our WHAS Shelter Stars series. You can watch on WHAS11 at 4 p.m. every Thursday.
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