Willa

Background: Brought in stray by finder on 10/1/26. Finder reported that dog had been straying for one month. Finder had dog in the home for 3 days, bathed the dog and fed her. Noted that they could not keep the dog because dog caused two senior members of the household to fall. Given yellow dot on intake. Staff noted that dog was nervous but tolerated all handling for intake procedures, including vaccines.

O: Wiggly at the front of the kennel. Easy to leash. Occasionally pancakes in the ward. When socializing with leash dropped, dog stays close to handler, climbing into handlerbx00s lap and pawing at and climbing up on handler after consent checks. Does not pick up treats or tossed toys. Walks well on leash, staying near handler. Pulls back on leash and does not follow handler back into the ward. Allows being handled and picked up to return to kennel. B

A: Friendly, approachable puppy. Shows enjoyment with pets. Appears somewhat anxious and shows a preference for interaction with people, with no interest in toys or treats at this time. Appears to have limited to no basic training. Yellow for volunteer handling: Resists rekenneling. Dog is a puppy and should be handled only in certain areas d/t risk of exposure to infectious disease in the shelter.

P: Make available for adoption. Affiliative juvenile. Adopter must be prepared for the time, energy, patience, and commitment needed to raise and train a puppy.

Willa – Smart, Affectionate, and Playfully Wiggly

Meet Willa, a 6-month-old German Shepherd mix weighing 48 pounds, with a bright mind, a loving heart, and plenty of adorable puppy enthusiasm!

• Smart Little Learner: Willa knows “sit” and “down,” is practicing “paw” and “spin,” and shows great focus despite her wiggly excitement. She loves treat-finding games and follows treat lures like a pro!
• Affectionate Lovebug: She leans into pets and happily pops her front paws onto your lap for attention. Willa loves being close to her people and soaking up affection.
• Playful Puppy: Tennis balls are a favorite! She loves chasing them and carrying them proudly in her mouth. When excited, she may get mouthy and try to play with your hands, so she’ll benefit from continued puppy-manners training.
• Dog-social Explorer: Willa plays well with other dogs in doggie playgroup. She may pull excitedly at the beginning of walks but soon settles into sniffing and exploring.

Willa would do best with appropriately matched dogs or as a solo dog with well-matched canine friends.