No happy ending yet for this “ugly duckling”

There is no worse feeling in the world than the feeling you are not wanted, or you are the ugly duckling who everyone overlooks.  This is how it felt for Rocket, a nine-month-old female Staffordshire/Dogo Argentino mix. When Rocket, a Christmas puppy was born, she wasn’t the cutest puppy and she was also the runt of the litter.  Poor Rocket was passed over again and again at adoption events while the more attractive puppies were selected.

However, as in the classic story, Rocket has grown into a beautiful dog. She has stunning brindle markings and a perfectly proportioned, athletic body. Unfortunately, Rocket was recently overlooked again and lost her opportunity for a home at the last minute when her potential adopter decided to take in a dog that was rescued from the Hurricane Harvey area. This occurred on Labor Day and since then, Rocket has been stuck in boarding; not the ideal environment for a young, healthy, high energy dog.

Rocket is currently in Oregon under the care of Animal Coalition Unlimited where she has been since she was born. They are anxious to find a home for this affectionate girl. She is described as intelligent, athletic, high energy and strong willed. This girl loves to run and will need to be in a home with a fenced in yard. She also loves car rides, long walks and is crate trained. She is further described as gentle and protective of family members, but no small children because she is quite active and strong. Rocket will make an excellent companion for an active and experienced dog owner. She does well with other adult dogs of the opposite sex and reportedly got along okay with a non-reactive cat for a weekend. She has not been exposed to other cats since then.

Like most dogs, if Rocket does not get enough exercise or is left alone for long periods of time, she will become bored, depressed and frustrated. She is a very curious girl and very inquisitive about her environment.

Watch her video here https://youtu.be/YTvIzm5FLyo

To schedule a meet and greet with Rocket, please fill out the application form here https://goo.gl/forms/xh4lxvWEK8JLiOlx2.

Animal Coalition Unlimited does not adopt their dogs out on a first come first serve basis but rather on the philosophy of finding the most fitting home for each dog.  If interested in Rocket, please send an email to  [email protected].

Visit her page on the Rescue Me website http://muttambassador.rescueme.org/.

Besides getting an amazing dog, Rocket will also come with a bag of grain free Petcurean and her favorite toys. It’s very important that Rocket’s adopter gives her a lot of exercise to stay sound and fit and also mental stimulation to keep her entertained and happy. When she first meets someone, she is calm and reserved while she tries to size you. Once she gets used to a person, then her true personality comes shining through and she becomes a rocket! She can run for hours with another dog without getting tired. She will make a great dog for agility challenges because she has very good coordination when she runs and jumps.

For updates on Rocket, visit the Animal Coalition Unlimited on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/animalcoalitionunlimited/.

If you cannot adopt Rocket but would like to donate to her care and boarding please send all donations via https://squareup.com/store/GivingPLEDGE/.

Rocket is not looking for a fairy tale ending to her story, or a castle to live in. She just wants a home with a caring person who will give her all the love, and exercise she needs. She will return that love tenfold.