My name is Judy Lopes. I am a professional dog walker in Vancouver.

I have a desperate plea on behalf of a dog I have known and walked for 5 or 6 years. This story makes me sick and angry.

I found out today (Nov. 28), that this was going to be Nellie's last walk. When I asked if they had found a new home for Nellie, the response was, "No, we are going to have her euthanized." I was shocked. Nellie is not the kind of dog that any responsible person would euthanize. Granted she has her issues but I have never experienced them on her walks. She listens well and is eager to please. Which leads me to believe she really just needs someone who understands dog behaviour and can show her who her leader is? I truly believe she is not getting this from her present people.

They have tried the city pound and SPCA. Neither one will take Nellie.

Can you please Help in anyway possible?

They (Nellie's people) are willing to wait to hear back from me, but who knows for how long.

Below is a letter I received last week, with a better description of Nellie’s behaviour (when with her family) and a couple of pictures.

Judy Lopes
cell number: 604-785-6701
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We adopted Nellie from the Vancouver Dog Pound when she was about one and now she is 7 ½ years old. We don’t know her background, but think she was abandoned. She’s a knee-high golden lab/husky cross, maybe with some sheba inu. She is spayed, licensed in Vancouver, healthy and up to date with her shots.

Nellie is fairly active as she is used to walking about 45 minutes every morning, at least 20-30 minutes every evening, has two longer outings on hiking trails with a dog walker twice a week and usually has other outings on the weekends. She is responsive to commands, but will chase squirrels, cats, and skunks given the chance and for this reason is usually walked on leash when in our neighbourhood. She loves parks, beaches, running and snow, and has spent many happy times playing in Tofino on the beach and in the forest.

Nellie is well socialized with other dogs most of the time. We have another smaller dog at home, and she is good with the other dogs she knows through the dog walker. She is better when meeting dogs off leash as she sometimes doesn’t react well to other dogs when she feels at a disadvantage. She does like to assert her alpha nature with some other submissive dogs.

Nellie needs a calm household with a clear alpha owner as she is high-strung and protective, even in situations where she doesn’t need to be. She responds well to deep, calm voices and consistent commands. She is very responsive to our female dog walker, so we think she will be suited to a home where the main caregiver will be a male or an assertive female.

Why does Nellie need a new home?

She is coming from a home where she is dearly loved, but is too chaotic, with too many kids coming and going, all of which make her nervous. Although she has been great with our own three kids (the youngest was two when we first got Nellie) she has recently snapped at two very small children (under two) and she barks at small kids which frightens them. This has led us to put her in a separate room when small children are around, which then makes her even more nervous of/threatened by small children. It isn’t fair on her to put her in that situation, but given our household we have to accept our reality that we do have small children around constantly. We think this also exacerbates her, at times, aggressive tendencies with some other, more submissive dogs.

We believe that given the right home, Nellie will thrive. She is a great companion dog, and will love her owner as she is extremely affectionate. She would love a home with an active person who loves to get out in the outdoors.