‘Sweet’ shelter dog has ‘adorable little quirk’ of hiding treats. She needs a home
A “sweet” shelter dog has an “adorable little quirk” of hiding treats — and she needs a new home.
Elena is ready for her next chapter after she was found wandering as a stray in the remote wilderness, according to a Florida animal shelter.
“She was found by a resident who saw her roaming a desolate wooded area for days; emaciated, heavily scarred and injured,” Orange County Animal Services wrote Nov. 5 in a Facebook post. “The resident was finally able to gain her trust and coax her out, and held her close until our officers arrived.”
The rescued dog was taken to the Orlando-area shelter, where she has lived since early September, according to her online adoption profile. Over time, she has become known as a shy, “affectionate and sweet” pup.
“We don’t know her past, but her scars tell her story better than we could,” the shelter wrote. “Elena has had a litter, maybe more than one. She’s been in fights with other dogs, and is heavily scarred on her head and legs.”
The shelter said 2- to 3-year-old Elena hasn’t had much training or interaction with people but is quickly learning new skills. She’s also not a fan of spending time with other dogs.
“Elena is treat motivated, but when she receives a treat, she runs away and hides with it,” animal services wrote. “Maybe it’s a lesson she learned from being a stray; maybe she’s scared to lose her treats. Either way, it’s kind of an adorable little quirk.”
The shelter hopes Elena will find a new owner who will shower her with love. But the person also will have to be patient.
“When she’s happy, she turns into a puppy, zooming around the play yard, now and then going in for a hug or a kiss,” animal services wrote. “But when yard time is over, she never, ever wants to go back inside. She’ll pancake, pull back, and will stubbornly refuse to move. Sometimes she has to be carried back, and sometimes, an extra treat will do the trick.”
As of Nov. 7, Elena was still available for adoption, shelter spokesperson Bryant Almeida told McClatchy News in an email. Details about the facility’s adoption process can be found at orangecountyanimalservicesfl.net.
“We know for the right person, the right heart, Elena is going to be an absolutely amazing companion,” the shelter wrote.
