Just in time for spring, our delicate flower Della has blossomed and is ready for a forever home of her very own. If you have a soft spot for the true rescues, for the dogs who need just a little extra, then Della might be your perfect match.

This beautiful girl spent the first five years of her life crated in a garage, left alone for up to 24 hours at a time. That’s no life for any dog, let alone one who craves love and attention as much as Della. The cramped conditions and lack of medical care left her with a mouthful of rotten teeth and a weakened back end, not to mention a broken spirit. But thanks to some proper veterinary care and the patient, loving efforts of her foster mom, Della regained that sparkle back in her eye. Just look at that bright, beautiful Frenchie smile! (Even if she only has four teeth left!)

Of course, it takes more than a few weeks for a dog to recover from years of neglect, and that means that Della has some quirks. She can’t do steps, is scared of screen doors, and absolutely refuses to walk on a leash. Potty training is also a work in progress, as this poor girl isn’t used to doing her business outside. Health-wise, Della’s primary concern is her weak hind end, which may be the result of atrophy, a congenital issue such as IVDD, or—in all likelihood—a combination of both. As a result, care must be taken to ensure that Della does not jump off of furniture, and she must be carried up steps. (Not that she’d walk up them in any event!) Foster mom has been known to take her out in a front-facing backpack, which was very enjoyable for Della (and probably the cutest thing the neighbors have ever seen).

Della’s preferred activities include cuddling, snuggling, snoozing, and then another round of cuddling, either with her people or her Frenchie foster siblings. She engages the resident canines in gentle play, and gets some extra pep in her step when it’s time for her (soft food) dinner, but most of the time Della just wants to relax and get some love. She craves attention and is happiest when next to her person.

The ideal landing spot for Della is a single-story home with a fenced yard, so she can get some easy exercise without that awful leash thing. She would love to have another friendly, mellow dog around to show her the ropes, and to help her feel secure when her people aren’t around. On that note, it is essential that Della have someone home for most of the day, and that she not be left alone for long periods of time. She is just starting to feel safe after so many years of loneliness, and we don’t want to undo all of her progress. A retired person or someone who works from home would be a great match, especially if they prefer spending evenings in. Kids are also a-ok with Della, so long as they are dog-savvy and understand that she must be treated with extra gentle care. Della has not been exposed to cats or other small animals, so to keep everyone safe, we have to say no to kitties or other household pets.

Della’s foster mom has climbed proverbial mountains for this darling girl, and says, “Della is the sweetest. She will be a great cuddle bug for the right home. She was previously left alone in a garage crate for 24 hours a day, so she lost some strength in her back legs, and might have some deformity. She is getting stronger. We are working on putting weight on her as well. She was very scared for the first few weeks with us and wouldn’t eat new foods, etc. She is doing much better and now loves peanut butter and bananas! She will not walk on a leash (maybe in the future with more strength– but now refuses!) and she is a low activity level dog, although she does love to play with our FBRN grad!”

Della has been such a brave girl, and it’s time for her to get a fairy tale ending. If you think you can give Della her happily ever after, please fill out an application to adopt and tell us why. Just be prepared to travel, as Della is soaking up love and sunbeams in the San Francisco Bay Area (insert hella Della joke here) and will not be shipped.

FBRN dogs are in foster care in people’s private homes. For the foster families’ safety, we do not disclose specific locations, and we don’t set up meet and greets prior to applications. For detailed information about the dogs in our care, please read the extensive bios on each dog.