A Shelter Full of Hope and Promise

Lola

Lola has been in the care of WAG since 2018.....

Breed: Pit Bull
Gender: Female
Age: 6 years old
Size: Medium/ Large (approx. 60 pounds)

Energy Level: Medium 
Training Goals: Post adoption training with a WAG approved trainer - To work one on one with her & an approved trainer to help her settle into a new home, routine and continue working on her fears & anxieties using positive reinforcement methods.
House trained? Yes
Kids? No

Cats? No
Dogs? No
Medical Needs: I have had a very unstable past, so to help me cope with my fears I am on anti-anxiety medication. 

My Ideal Home:

-Is willing to take many trips to WAG to get to know me before taking me home. It takes several controlled sessions to make the slow introduction and convince me I don't have to be scared of you. 

-Understanding that it will take me much longer to become comfortable with new males, at this time, I trust women much faster.

-Is experienced with reactive dogs. It will be up to you to keep me and everyone else safe.

-Lives in a QUIET area – busy places are not for me! I need a direct and private access to the outdoors where I will not be running into strange humans or dogs.

-A safe, secure, and private yard is a huge bonus. If not though, lets get out and explore some secluded spots together! 

-Loves snuggly girls, watching movies, suntanning in the back yard, and SNACKS!

-Will continue with my training and take me on SAFE and SECLUDED walks/adventures only. I will not be able to walk down busy streets, go to dog parks, or other busy places.

-Patient with me on our first few meetings – I will be scared of you at first and you will need to make multiple trips to WAG before I understand that you are not a threat.

-Is pro-muzzle. I need to wear one in public to keep me and everyone else safe.

-Lives a quiet lifestyle with no visitors/social events at the house. I do not like visitors unless I have already built a relationship with them.

-Will love me forever no matter what!

 

About Me: 

The majority of my life has been at WAG, while they give me the best care they can, I'm hoping it won't be much longer until I find that dedicated family that wants to give me the life I deserve. 

The team at WAG keep my days full of fun and love, but I still know that I'm living in a shelter.  Once in a while some of the team can bring me for sleepovers, but no one has been able to provide me with a long term foster home, or the thing I wish for every night, a forever home.

The most exciting thing about moving into a home will be, no longer having to be bothered by the other animals. The cats keep to themselves and sometimes I might be interested in saying hi to one of the residents in the cattery (through the window in the door), their mews don't bother me too much. But boy oh boy, I can't wait to not hear the other dogs bark....especially when we have puppies, ugh, those things are annoying. Having my own home and my own bed where I'll get to cuddle and sleep in with my hooman on a Sunday with no barking dogs, that's the life I hope to find this year!

My friends at WAG like to get me out for big adventures in the car, particularly on days where being in town can be busy with folks out and about and other dogs (off leash dogs running up to me, rude!). We especially like to find good swimming holes! I love to swim and would gladly gulp up the whole body of water, whoops! Sometimes they call me a little piggie, but I believe that I am really a mermaid! But truthfully I love nothing more than finding a nice quiet spot on the water and swimming around with a long line that keeps me safe and allows me freedom. Then a good patch of some sunny moss to dry off and roll around for a decent amount of time, I love wriggling around.

I love getting a chance to go to new hikes, don't get me wrong, I like being able to sniff my favorite trees or play with leftover sticks on my regular routes, but boy do I like getting a chance to find new spots. In the wintertime I like to leap and slide through deep snow! I am a strong girl and can sometimes pull on the leash, things like proper gear will be super beneficial at making us a great team! Some stuff the WAG crew has on our walks are - muzzle, collar, harness, leash on each (2 leashes for safety is the way all WAG dogs are walked), weather appropriate foot wear (water shoes in the summer and spiked boots in the winter), treat pouch, poop bags, bear spray and LOTS of high value treats. Sometimes I wear a GPS tracker, sometimes they bring along a long line, they're always thinking about how else they can make walks and adventures more safe and of course more fun (hint, more treats and swim spots).

My forever family better be ready for a velcro dog!
I love to be around my friends, if you have a hand free, that could be scratching my ears or rubbing my belly. I love to trot around the house with you, supervising whatever task you are preforming, but I'm not intrusive, just curious. I'm very food motivated, but surprisingly polite in the kitchen, I like to monitor what I may be getting a sampling of later. But I have known to steal a piece of pizza or two! I don't mind putting in my share of help around the house, I'm very good at pointing out spots you've missed vacuuming (it's under me, cause I'm not moving out of my spot, you can vacuum around me). I can lick dishes clean.

I love to be clean, I enjoy bath time, especially when I get a towel dry with a soft cloth afterwards and a cozy blanket, or one of my sleepovers I had a fire going, I like those! Although I'm still a young gal, I know when I'm ready to call it a night, if you're a bit of a night owl, I'll let you do your thing and keep the bed warm. Also, best believe I'll be allowed on your bed, and the couch, and a 'dog' bed for me.

I LOVE girls.
Sweet girls who call me pretty and give me lots of praise and chicken.
Boys not so much. That doesn't mean I'll never like boys, but I need them to understand that it's going to take me a LOT LONGER to become comfortable with you. Sometimes boys forget that they're tone, body language and eye contact can be a little too intimidating for me.

Please keep on reading below to find out more about my story, ideal home and recent important updates:

Follow along with my journey whilst I look for my forever home on Instagram @lookingforahomelola 

LATEST - NOVEMBER 2023

I've had a great fall, with making friends with new staff members and going on my walks day to day. It's been quite busy around here but one of my best friends at WAG was able to take me home for a couple of nights for girl time and sleepovers, that was fab. My highlight was seeing the WAG calendar for 2024 and I'm looking as gorgeous as ever. I'm a great model but I've been featured a few times now, I'd love to see my face in the calendar next year along with a happy 'ADOPTED!' success story like all the other long termers around here. That's the goal! I have been carrying on with my parallel walks and training with the team, thanks @WhistlerDogNanny for your continued love and support! These sessions are set up to safely practice staying under threshold when around triggers at a pace that I am comfortable with whilst building on my bond with my humans.

If you would like to donate towards my personal Long Term Care Fund then please follow the link below. I want to say a massive THANKYOU to my fans and supporters for assisting with my care:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/whistler-animals-galore-society/

JULY 2023

I've been making the most of the hot days and enjoying spending time outside, sunbathing in the yard or going to my fave swimming holes for a dip. I had a dental surgery at PVH to remove a couple of teeth that were bothering me and am recovering well. I  had been having trouble with a lump on my face too, but no further treatment from that was needed in the end as it has healed really well! THANKS to the whole team for looking after me, I love my Vets. I've also been continuing to attend the Whistler Dog Nanny (Kayla's) parallel walk dog classes in Whistler and in Pemberton and am continuing to learns lots of work on myself with my best friends beside me. Thank you Kayla, Lindsay and my whole crew 🙂

This month I've been really lucky cos I got to have a few sleepovers at a staff members house, I LOVE being in a real home and having snuggles all night rather than being alone in my room. We watched some movies and had lots of snacks. Girls night is my favourite night!

JUNE 2023

Following my recent Vet Checkup, I have been having a rough time with alump on my face and had an eye infection too! Not the best start to my favourite season - Summer! A course of antibiotics and daily warm compresses are helping me feel better and heal up whilst I wait for my recheck next month. I also got a new sunhat to protect my sensitive skin from the sun whilst I'm outside in the yard, and a new muzzle for my adventures outside of the shelter. After trying lots of different brands and sizes, this one seems to be more comfortable and extra safe so it gets a thumbs up from me so far!

MAY 2023 

Sooooo I went for my yearly check up today. I had to get sedated so they could have a good look in my mouth. They also listened to my heart and poked me to take my blood. Turns out I will be coming back here to have a few broken teeth removed and to have the lump on my forehead sorted. Special thanks to Dr. White and the team at Pemberton Veterinary Hospital for always taking such good care of me and for being so patient with me. Shout out to Lins & Kendall for always holding my paw during these moments. I was told I was a very good patient.

 

My Story:

I had a very unstable start to my life. I was impounded by the RCMP when my previous caregivers were arrested. They never returned to pick me up and I was left at WAG. It is believed that I was abused and neglected in my previous home, hence my fearfulness and anxiety. I have never had a stable home life, or proper training prior to WAG, both of which I need to continue with in my next home. The team at WAG provide me with lots of love and support, but nothing compares to my own home one day where I can't wait to continue my journey.