Kerry Blue Terriers Available for Adoption

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Kensi, a 1.5 year old female

Rescue Coordinator: Sharon Arkoff <sharonarkoff@yahoo.com>
Fostered in the Midwest


Now, that is one silky-looking kerry coat. You can't tell from the haircut, but Kensi is a sweet, smart, eager to please kerry (she's been genotyped), about 1.5 years old, who was found starved to the point of weakness in midwest farm country. Her ears are not set, and her tail is docked on the short side -- about 3 inches long.

Kensi had the good fortune to stumble across a person who was very experienced with dog rescue, and though Kensi was too timid at first to approach people, she was (and remains) very highly food motivated, and was lured into a crate with food and thence entered a life of ease and affection and every convenience. Kensi soon flourished in a home environment, and has been to obedience school and is very eager to please and looks often to her human to give her guidance.

Kensi is in need of a new home, now that she is healthy and beginning to trust humans again, she has earned the wrath of the female Bassett hound with whom she shares her home with several other rescued dogs. There have been several confrontations that have escalated to fights between Kensi and another female (initiated by the other female), though Kensi is responsive to human voice intervention even in the midst of battle, and will "leave it" when ordered by her human -- but will not back down from another dog on her own. Kensi was food-aggressive when she first arrived in the home, but has responded nicely to "Nothing in Life is Free" training. If there is a food reward in sight, Kensi's eyes will be locked to yours in an eager search for guidance on how to obtain her treat! Kensi plays wonderfully with other dogs that she likes, but responds very quickly to aggression from another dog by matching that aggression. Kensi bonds very tightly, and will follow her people from room to room, sitting with her dad when he works from home, and always keeping an eye on her mom when mom is home. Kensi desperately wants to know what is expected of her, and craves the leadership that will help her understand how to behave. Once she understands, she absolutely blossoms.

She is crate-trained, housetrained, and stays close on walks. Kensi would do best in a home where someone is home most of the time to give her attention and guidance, and to continue her obedience training. Like any kerry, if Kensi is not given instructions on the proper way to behave around food, other dogs, and people, she will make the decision herself, and with her traumatic childhood, and as with any adolescent, her own decisions may not always be the best. The ideal home for Kensi will be one where she is the only dog, or at least the only female, and one in which her people continue her obedience work, to help her understand what is expected of her and to help her keep her head if dogs behave aggressively toward her. Kensi is described by her current mom as a joy and a true pleasure. She is affectionate and funny, and has silly moments that any owner will get a huge kick out of. She loves her people, her toys, and her food; let's get this girl into a home where she can enjoy knowing that she is home at last and no longer needs to stress about having enough food, attention, safety, and love.

For more information, contact Sharon Arkoff at sharonarkoff@yahoo.com and fill out our Adoption Questionnaire.

Deborah Saunders	Regine Corry	Elaine Fowler

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Bailey is 6 years old (Adoption Pending)

Rescue Coordinator: Agatha Hughes agamemnon@navpoint.com
Fostered in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Bailey has been with the same family since puppyhood. She loves adults, and when with her person or people, she is affectionate, playful, eager to please, and generally a bright, funny, healthy, darling of a dog. She gets carsick, but loves going hiking and going to the beach, and she is an amazing soccer player (she has her own ball that she bats and pushes around the yard).

She does have some things going on that require a special owner, however. Bailey, in her present home, is a "nervous Nellie." Her family loves her, but not having had any training, she can get anxious if she doesn't know her role. She hasn't been properly socialized to other dogs and, in her fear, will charge them aggressively (though she's never bitten another dog) and then will try to be dominant over them, which is of course highly ungracious. If slowly introduced to another dog in the yard, she calms, but still tries to physically dominate the other dog.

The main reason for her rehoming, however, is that she is very afraid of children (under the age of 10; that seems to be her cut-off), and her family has several young children plus other children are constantly in and out of the house. In an adult-only home, with enough attention and exercise, and kind but consistent guidance, Bailey should absolutely blossom. I believe this girl probably just wants to be able to feel safe and know what is expected of her. She just needs a chance to figure out her place in the world, and it needs to be in an adults-only house or a house with older children (ie, teenagers).

Perhaps you or someone you know might be the person to change Bailey's life and let her relax and live life with all the joie de vivre and happy games that a kerry deserves.

I warn you, though, don't look at her head shot (to come) if you don't think you're interested, because she is very pretty, and it will be too hard to get her little face off your mind.

The suggested donation for adopting Baily is $250. For more information, contact Agatha Hughes at agamemnon@navpoint.com or Sharon Arkoff at sharonarkoff@yahoo.com.

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If you don't find a Kerry for you on this page, don't despair. Fill out the Fill out the Adoption Questionnaire and mail it to your local Rescue Coordinator. You will be contacted if a suitable match for your home becomes available. You may also want to check the available puppies and the Kerry breeders in your area. A good article on adopting an older Kerry Blue is required reading. Whatever you do, don't get a puppy from a pet store.