DARBY

HISTORY: Darby was an owner surrender from a family that could no longer care for her.

Meet our sweet Darby girl!

This girl is special, and looking for a special family to bring her to her full potential!

Darby is the sweetest girl, who has the potential to be a wonderful companion if paired with the right family who wants her to be their one and only. A family who is experienced with dogs and training behavior would really help Darby shine in a home and bring out the gem of a dog that she is through influencing positive behavior as well as developing trust and confidence.

Darby is a gentle soul who loves attention and will let you know she wants pets by very politely giving you her paw. However, once she gets the room to run, she can fly like the wind and jump like a kangaroo! Playing fetch with any type of toy is one of her favorite hobbies. Another hobby of hers is riding in the car. She loves to watch the world go by, and is on her best behavior as your little copilot. She listens well to commands and is so smart, you will be wowed by her ability to pick up new tricks! Finding an outlet for her to use her mind and body would help her not only gain that trust and confidence with a new family, but give her a way to burn off some energy. Darby puts her best paw forward when walking on a leash. She is calm and doesn’t pull, which makes walking her a real treat.

Darby does not like being confined or restrained so this will be something her family will need to work on with her. Dogs who have had difficult times in their life may understandably need some help to regain that sense of security, but they are undoubtedly worth the extra effort. With a girl as sweet, smart and affectionate as her, we see great potential in getting through these struggles and becoming the best version of herself.

Other dogs and cats are not Darby’s “cup of tea”, so a home in which she is the only pet would suit her best. Darby needs a family who will respect her boundaries, so children in the home may not be the best situation for her either. A backyard with a tall fence for her to safely run and jump would be best.

If you think that you could be the family Darby needs, come visit her for yourself! (WARNING: she will steal your heart!)

More about me November 2024: Darby is a very petite girl, with the face of a puppy, and the smushy nose of a boxer. . She has a very sleek athletic build and is in excellent shape. She is the Grace Jones of the pupper world. Graceful and regal at the same time. This girl has mad ups and jumps like Tigger when she sees her walkers coming. Although she is on the smaller side size wise, her personality is huge. Although Darby loves her long walks, what she really craves is attention. So much so that she has been known to try and kidnap her people friends by blocking them from leaving her enclosure. She is quite crafty at this. She will try and squeeze by them when they are trying to leave as if to say NO, please stay with me just a little longer. Forever wanting more snuggles and love, it’s so hard to deny this lovely girl of the love she so desperately seeks. Darby continues to enjoy her car rides and any other thing that involves her people. She recently joined Tim and I for a trip to the dump, and also on an outing to the local Ace Hardware in Fluvanna. Thanks to them for being dog friendly. If you are looking to add an only dog to your life, come grab her up. You will never feel lonely with her by your side. She has a canine degree in snuggle therapy.

Spring 2024 Update: Darby has a new friend. We use the term “friend” lightly as in general she’s not too keen on other dogs but when we swapped out her neighbors,  we feel as though she has taken a liking to new neighbor Mila.  What fun it is to see the 2 of them running and bantering back and forth from their respective pens!  In addition to a new doggy friend, she was recently gifted a new toy- a sturdy, squishy, foam fruit loop thingy.  Alas,  she was a bit tough on it so when the shredding began, the loop went bye bye.  She’s still a huge fan of her tennis balls and will work very hard as folks enter her pen to get them to please toss and engage with her in a heated game of fetch.    Staff and volunteers alike both really enjoy Darby and tying into a more recent movie,  her new nickname is “Darby the Barbie!”  With the onset of spring and the accompanying thunderstorms,  we’re fast on the uptake to move her to a more covered space to help with her anxious tendencies.   Now about 4 yrs old and approaching middle age,  Darby is still a very active, energetic lady and to that end we have more recently changed her diet so she’s getting a mix of 1/2 puppy food and 1/2 adult food to better suit her daily caloric needs. No middle age bulge on this beauty! We still have our eye on matching Darby with her new family and with no emerging health issues, we’re hopeful this year is her year to go home! 

Winter 2024 Update: “I have the cutest new winter coat. It’s a snazzy pink and purple plaid and I must admit that I really look pretty darn cute in it! Unlike some other doggies here, I take great care of it and wouldn’t dare shred it like some of my peers! LOL. I’m still on the schedule to go for a weekly car ride with one of the volunteers and I’m in a good, solid rotation with other volunteers who make sure I get in plenty of walks and also play time via tossing tennis balls with me. When asked if I like the chilly winter weather, I told foks I could take it or leave it. I am moved for night times into an even more posh and warm “house” so I’m toasty and can enjoy the fresh smells of snowy times while staying warm and feeling safe. My health is great and my spirits are high.”