Look who’s rolled onto the Available Page! It’s our black-masked wonder Penelope, who knows there is a perfect forever home out there just waiting for her.

Penelope arrived in FBRN after a herniated disc left her paralyzed in her back legs. But in true canine fashion, Penelope has adapted to her disability and hasn’t let it dampen her loving nature or joie de vivre. She is a doll baby of the highest magnitude who enjoys snoozing in sunbeams, playing with toys, romping with her doggie foster siblings, and snuggling with her special person. Penelope absolutely adores her humans, and her forever family should be prepared for a snorty little sidekick who doesn’t want to leave their side!

At just three years old, Penelope still has tons of young dog energy, so it’s not surprising that she took to her wheelchair like a fish to water. She zooms around with wild abandon at home, but also has perfect manners when out on a leashed walk. And since she loves meeting new people and other dogs, she hopes that her new family will give her lots of opportunities to socialize, whether it’s a stroll around the neighborhood or a trip to an outdoor café.

Now for the nitty-gritty: Penelope’s paralysis requires specialized care that isn’t particularly difficult, but is absolutely essential. She is unable to urinate on her own, which means her bladder must be manually expressed regularly to prevent leakage and urinary tract infections. Penelope does have some degree of bowel control and can poop on her own, but she needs to be taken out on a regular schedule. Foster mom reports that once she figured out Penelope’s schedule and signals, potty accidents have been very rare. But just in case, Penelope wears a very fashionable skort with a liner pad when she’s hanging out at home. And if she does spring a leak, she will sit patiently while her person cleans her up.

On that same note, Penelope’s nether regions must be kept scrupulously clean, to avoid any chance of infection. She doesn’t need full-on baths more than every couple of weeks, but her backside must always be wiped and kept sanitary. Penelope also benefits from regular at-home physical therapy exercises and a high protein diet, to prevent muscle wasting and keep her strong. (“I’m cute AND buff!” says Penelope.)

The perfect home for Penelope is one where her person (or people) have the time and resources to dedicate to her special care. She needs someone who is home for most of the day and can keep her on a strict potty schedule, and who isn’t squeamish about her bathroom needs. Penelope is crate trained and can be left alone for a couple hours at a time, but she absolutely needs someone to express her bladder on a regular basis. For that reason, unless she could accompany her new person to work, she isn’t a good fit for someone who works long hours outside the home. Penelope loves people of all ages (kids included!) and dogs as well, so she’d be happy to join just about any type of family. (Although she hasn’t been tested with cats, so we have to say no to kitties.) The most important thing is that her new guardians be able to provide her the care she needs.

Penelope’s foster mom is understandably smitten with this sweet baby girl, and tells us, “Penelope is super smart! She is very food motivated and easy to train as a result. She will attach to any person, so finding a kind, patient, even tempered person is our responsibility for her lifetime of happiness. Penelope would be a GREAT therapy dog, especially for children with disabilities or sick kids in a hospital setting. I am currently training her for her AKC Canine Good Citizen test and am planning on testing her as a therapy animal in the future. A person who has a background in treating or working with children and has the time to continue to train Penelope is the gold standard for a new family.”

If you think you’ve got the perfect forever home for our very special girl Penelope, then fill out an application to adopt and tell us why! Just be prepared to travel—Penelope is melting hearts in the beautiful state of Maryland, and will not be shipped.