Sweet Vida is ready to meet her family! Vida is a mutt X from a northern community in Manitoba where she was living as a stray. A community member was worried about her well-being as winter approached, so our friends @manitobaanimalalliance took her in and kept her safe until she made her way to Ontario. Vida is a shy girl who is slowly adjusting to life inside a home. She’s looking for a patient family (and maybe a doggo sibling!) to call her very own!

Having spent her life as a stray, Vida is new to indoor living. When she first arrived in foster care, she was terrified, trembling and unsure of everything. Now, Vida is still shy and cautious, but she’s also curious, brave in tiny bursts, sweet at a distance and quietly blooming in the safety of a home. Her fosters have two dogs who’ve offered a lot of comfort to Vida. She is leashed while inside (a common trick to aid with a safe transition into a new space) but when the leash is dropped, she likes to be near the family dogs. She wants to play and sometimes her bravery overtakes her: she bursts out in a little hop before catching herself and retreating. Vida is learning dog social skills from scratch and is trying so hard to fit in! She loves her canine companions: she’ll howl and whine whenever they leave the house without her. Vida would definitely benefit from a home with another dog, especially a lower-energy pup who can provide comfort and boost her confidence! This is the only time she uses her voice – she is an otherwise very quiet lady!

Right now, Vida is more of a dog-dog than a people-dog, but she is starting to warm up to her foster family! It has taken time for her to trust her fosters and she now opts to spend more time outside of her crate, hanging nearby. She shows her affection by licking her fosters’ hands or toes. She’s also learning that head scratches and ear rubs feel good, but she hasn’t figured out how to ask for them!

Vida prefers the safety of an open crate, returning often throughout the day. Her den also acts as a place to collect her treasures, which include toys, treat bags and the occasional personal item with her family’s scent. She never destroys these items and always relinquishes anything that isn’t hers! Vida’s day to day exercise varies. She receives limited walks (due to a “frozen hip” – see below MEDICAL NEEDS for more); she’s indicated that she’d love more frequent exercise but her fosters are remaining cautious due to her hip. She likes to lie in the backyard, especially when it’s sunny (she’s not a fan of snow, despite her northern roots). A forever home with a backyard would be a dream for Vida, though a secure yard is mandatory since she actively seeks an escape route any time she’s outside. Vida has learned lots of basic obedience and has mastered one skill that many dogs may never achieve: gently taking treats!

Vida is potty trained, microchipped, spayed and up to date with her vaccines. She is experiencing some issues with one of her hips, which our vet team is currently assessing.

Since joining her fosters, Vida has taken lots of small but impactful steps. We have no doubt that time and a continued sense of security will help Vida blossom into the sweet and affectionate companion that’s hiding beneath her beautiful coat!

SOCIABILITY: Humans (adults and older kids); not cat tested, but she’s likely be fine!
ENERGY: Low to medium
QUIRKS: She very politely takes items from lower surfaces or open bags or purses and prances back to her crate, where she tucks them away as if building a nest or den – she loves relinquishing her found treasures!
TRAINING NEEDS: Continued basic obedience, continued decompression and exposure to new things
MEDICAL NEEDS: Vida has experienced some intermittent stiffness/limping caused by an issue with her hip; the MUTTS team is working with the vet to further assess and determine next steps
WEIGHT: 42lbs
FOSTER LOCATION: Keswick