Veronica is soft as Velvet!
Veronica and her sister Venus are affectionate and playful girls looking for forever homes. We are thinking these beautiful pups are a Labrador Retriever mix. The Velvet girls have lived most of their lives in Animal Control and we so don’t know how they will do in a household and a potential adopter will need to keep this in mind and go slow, work on socialization, give plenty of exercise, and provide training and structure as they transition from life in a shelter to life in a forever home. They are at higher risk of having separation anxiety, resource guarding, stranger-danger, and/or leash reactivity when placed in home environment. They would do best in a low-key household without much foot traffic, no children, and lots of patience and treats! Veronica is a little less confident than her sister.

They are playful with other dogs but sometimes get over excited or hyper and play rough. Both girls absolutely do not like cats and can’t go to a family with cats in the household. Venus and Velvet are a bit vocal and tend to bark in play, at other dogs, cats, and to alert you to strangers. As they have lived most of their lives in a shelter, they are not yet house trained, crate trained, or leash trained – but like most Labs they seem smart and we think they will pick up these skills quickly with a confident and patient adopter.

A fenced yard would be ideal so they could run and play safely, but if that's not available they will need lots of leash walks and opportunities for off-leash play in a fenced area. An obedience course is a must for these active girls; it will help teach them good manners and commands, further their socialization with other dogs and people, and will help build that very important bond between a dog and her human.

The Velvet Girls' story:  We don’t know much about their past other than they were picked up as puppies by Animal Control in Arkansas. They have recently been rescued and are now living in a loving shelter.

Medical Note: This dog was treated for demodectic mange while in the SOS program. The dog has responded well to this treatment. Please note that demodex can flare up in any dog in times of stress (eg, transport, transition to a new home, change in food, etc). As such, the adopter is advised to discuss this condition and best next steps with their veterinarian. SOS recommends that dogs with a history of demodectic mange be kept on regular NexGard or Bravecto for flea/tick prevention for at least 3 months or until 18 months of age. Please see here for more information on demodectic mange: http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/mange-demodectic-in-dogs/741. Please check with your vet if you should have any questions or concerns about this condition, and discuss any concerns you may have with your SOS Adoption Counselor.

**Additional info you should know - For most of our dogs, we are only guessing at predominant breed or breed mix. We get to know each of our dogs as an individual and do our best to describe and place them based on personality not breed label. Some dogs may not yet be in New England, nor ready for immediate adoption. There may be additional vetting, quarantine, waiting periods and/or fees depending upon your state of residence. If you have questions or concerns on any of this, you can discuss this with your Adoption Counselor.