Description
At only around 4 to 5 kg, Dafi is a very small dog who should never have been left trying to manage alone on the streets.
She once had an owner, but she was abandoned and left to fend for herself. For such a tiny dog, life outside would have made her particularly vulnerable to traffic, larger animals, harsh weather and countless other dangers.
Thankfully, a kind woman found Dafi and took her in.
She is now safe in foster care, where her carers have been able to see what she is actually like when she does not have to worry about surviving from one day to the next.
Dafi is an incredibly sweet little dog.
She is affectionate, friendly and enjoys being close to people. Human company clearly matters to her, and she is very happy being included in everyday life rather than keeping herself at a distance.
Considering that she was abandoned by the person who was supposed to care for her, it is particularly lovely to see how willing she still is to trust people and enjoy their attention.
Dafi is also very sociable with other animals.
She is great with other dogs and can potentially share her future home with canine company. Despite her tiny size, she is comfortable around other dogs and does not need to be the only dog in the household.
She is also good with cats, which opens up the possibility of a home that already has feline family members. Sensible introductions would still be important when bringing any new animal into an established household, but Dafi has already shown that she can live happily around different animals.
Dafi is also good with children.
Her small size does mean that any children living with her should understand how to interact gently and respectfully with a tiny dog. At only a few kilograms, Dafi can be physically vulnerable even during well intentioned play, so interactions should always take her size into consideration.
Although Dafi is small enough to be easily carried, she should still be treated as a dog rather than simply as a lap dog.
She will benefit from regular walks, opportunities to explore and sniff, play, enrichment and continued positive training. Small dogs need the same opportunities to use their minds, experience the world and develop good everyday habits as larger dogs do.
At home, Dafi’s affectionate nature means she will appreciate having plenty of contact with her family. She would suit someone who wants a little dog who can genuinely become part of their everyday routine and who enjoys having their dog nearby.
Her future family should also remember that she has already experienced the enormous disruption of losing her previous home and then finding herself on the streets. Moving from foster care into another unfamiliar environment will be another major change, so she should be given time to understand her new routine and become comfortable with her surroundings.
Dafi has already shown that she has plenty to offer a family. She is friendly with people, good with dogs, good with cats and comfortable around children. She enjoys affection and has settled well into the safety of foster care.
She may only weigh around 4 to 5 kg, but Dafi is not looking for a home simply because she is small and cute. She needs people who will give her the security, attention, exercise and care that every dog deserves, and this time that home needs to be permanent.