06/13/2026
Long stay pup Ivory is young, social, and most importantly she is a piece of clay in desperate need of an artist to shape and mold her into the attentive yet loving dog that is waiting to burst out.
She is searching for someone to show her what to do, how to do it, when to do it and how to get the approval she craves. She wants structure, routine and guidance. Most importantly she wants the confidence that comes from an owner who knows how to show her she need not worry about anything ever again.
In the shelter environment she is lost and that has made her also become lost in the shuffle. Sure, she goes out a few times a day and has some sessions in the play yard where she plays fetch happily with the walkers. But she wants more. And from the same family, every day, forever.
Ivory recently got a short taste of life in a home when she got a foster break with a family including two older teens. They reported she got along with everyone beautifully. They noted she loves to be outside and go for walks but more so just wants to be around people she can call home. In one anecdote, foster mom accidentally left the back gate open and Ivory just sat on the porch waiting for her foster mom to let her in rather than going to explore the big world all on her own. This loyalty towards her family is what gives Ivory her tremendous potential and tells us Ivory is indeed a very special girl.
What makes things tough for Ivory is she was a stray so how she landed at the shelter at this point in her life is a mystery. She is crate-trained (prefers sleeping there at night) and while she is unknown with dogs, her foster mom recounted an incident where they were approached on a walk by an off-leash dog and Ivory was calm, poised and not at all reactive. It didn’t take long for Ivory to learn her foster family had her back and she could count on them to keep her safe.
Ivory hasn’t had a lot of interest and her barrier reactivity makes it so she isn’t on the adoption floor. But she is available to meet upon request. Sometimes the odds feel stacked against these pups who have already had a difficult road, which is why we have sponsored Ivory’s adoption (we sponsored her spay all the way back in April). She would really benefit from a confident adopter who knows that getting Ivory transitioned from the shelter lifestyle to a warm and loving home will take a little time and patience. But once she gets settled in she is going to be an attentive, loyal and affectionate companion.
Come see just how much joy this girl can bring into your life and ask to meet her at the Prince William County Animal Services Bureau.
