Barley

MEET BARLEY — THE BIG, BOUNCY, BEAUTIFUL BOY WHO DESERVES HIS “FOREVER” FOR REAL THIS TIME!<br/><br/>It’s not often that we receive a dog directly from a home and still have no meaningful history to work with. In Barley’s case, all we were initially told by relatives of Barley’s people was that he’d never even been given a real name - just called “dog.” Beyond that, the relatives couldn’t tell us anything about who he was or what his life had been like.<br/><br/>But then, we were contacted by the rescue that originally saved Barley, and they were able to fill in some important gaps. They recognized him from his profile pics instantly and reached out to share his story:<br/><br/>Barley was pulled from a southern shelter as an older puppy. He was transported north and adopted by a family here in Connecticut. That family eventually rehomed him because he was nervous and uncomfortable around children. From that rehoming situation, Barley eventually made his way to us. <br/><br/>And suddenly, everything made a lot more sense.<br/><br/>This sweet, goofy, good-hearted boy has essentially been bounced between shelters, homes, and uncertainty for his entire young life. He’s around 2–3 years old now, and it’s time - PAST time - for him to have stability, consistency, and a family that is truly committed to him. Barley deserves nothing less.<br/><br/>Now for the good stuff. Who is Barley today?<br/><br/>Barley is a tall, athletic houndy mix with a lean build (think Great Dane proportions but on a slightly smaller scale) and an absolutely adorable case of BPE: Big Puppy Energy. He doesn’t really run so much as bounce - part rabbit, part gazelle, ALL HEART. <br/><br/>He’s playful, active, and full of enthusiasm. He loves to chase, wrestle, and romp with his canine buddies. He had been playing daily with a slightly smaller male dog who shared his “rough and tumble” play style, and Barley LOVED it. Unfortunately, his playmate left the shelter and Barley hasn’t found his next BFF quite yet. Prospects should share that same spirited vibe and be tolerant of his joyful, wrestling-match approach to fun. (Please note - we have not yet tested him with small dogs or cats.)<br/><br/>Barley does need some continued work on manners; just basic things like not jumping, plus some confidence building for the momentary “stranger danger” he sometimes feels when initially meeting new people. The good news? He warms up very quickly, and once he does, he’s all tail wags, big romps, and charm.<br/><br/>What about kids? Given his history of nervousness and discomfort around young children, we believe Barley will be happiest and most confident in a home without small kids. Teens and dog-savvy older kids *may* be a possibility for the right match.<br/><br/>THE BASICS<br/><br/>Breed: Hound-type mix (your guess is as good as ours!)<br/><br/>Age: ~2–3 years<br/><br/>Size: ~70 lbs, tall and lean<br/><br/>Energy Level: High! Barley needs:<br/>• Daily physical exercise<br/>• Active play sessions<br/>• Walks, hikes, or runs<br/>• Mental enrichment (training, puzzles, games)<br/>• Consistent structure and guidance<br/><br/>Barley is an incredible dog. Sweet, silly, affectionate, playful, and SO very deserving of a home that finally gives him the security he’s lacked his whole life. If you’ve got room in your heart (and your home) for a tall drink of water who just wants to be loved, Barley might be the guy for you.<br/><br/>Ready to give this wonderful boy the lasting home he deserves?<br/>Please fill out our adoption application!<br/><br/><br/>Barley’s adoption fee is $150.<br/> <br/><br/>This animal is or will be made current on core vaccines, spayed or neutered, and microchipped by the time of adoption. Additionally, cats will be tested for FIV and feline leukemia virus, and dogs will be tested for heartworm disease and tick borne illness. Courtesy of our nonprofit partner group, Friends of the Wallingford Animal Shelter, all senior cats and dogs will have a full senior work up. <br/><br/><br/>**ADOPTION PROCESS - PLEASE READ**<br/><br/>The very first step of our current adoption process is to fill out our online adoption application. However, you don’t necessarily have to be interested in a specific animal in order to apply! Feel free to submit an app that includes whatever desired criteria (size, breed, age, energy level, coat type, etc.) and we can keep it on file to contact you in the event an animal comes in who fits the bill! <br/><br/>Our pet adoption application can be found here, or you can request one via Petfinder: https://www.wallingfordanimalcontrol.com/pdfs/WAS-Adoption-Application.pdf<br/><br/>You can submit your app using whatever method works best for you, whether that be faxing it to 203-294-2181, mailing it to Wallingford Animal Control at 5 Pent Rd, Wallingford 06492, dropping it off in our mailbox at 5 Pent Rd, or attaching it to an email and sending it to animalcontrol@wallingfordct.gov. All necessary information for any of these methods is also located right at the top of the application. Easy peasy lemon squeazy!<br/><br/>Please keep in mind that animal control duties and animal care are our primary responsibility and, depending on our general workload at any given time and how many other applications we have to process, it could possibly take up to a couple of weeks for us to get to it. We do try to process apps in a timely manner so that we can get our animals the heck out of dodge and into loving homes! We know that adopting a new pet is super exciting and that you’re probably very eager to get the ball rolling, but please try to be patient with us!<br/><br/>Please also note that we operate on a *best fit for the animal basis*, not a *first come first served basis*. As such, you may apply for one animal, and we may instead suggest an animal we feel would better suit your lifestyle, household, etc. Our goal isn’t so much to get every animal out the door as quickly as possible as it is to ensure a permanent and successful placement that is in the best interest of both the adopter and the adoptee!<br/><br/>Once your application is approved, WE WILL CONTACT YOU to schedule an appointment to come and meet the animal(s) of interest! There may be more than one animal we feel could mesh quite well with your household, so you could end up meeting multiple potentials during your appointment. We do require that all members of the household come in to ensure compatibility. If this takes multiple appointments to accommodate all of your family members’/roommates’ schedules, that’s okay with us! If you are adopting a dog with an existing dog or dogs already in the household, they will of course have to come meet your potential new pup too! It’s often best for just the humans to come first, and to then schedule a second appointment for dog introductions, assuming you choose to move forward with the adoption. Sometimes, multiple dog interactions will be necessary prior to us sending your new dog home. <br/><br/>Please also note that we do not have the time or resources to contact every single applicant if the application was not approved or the animal you applied for was adopted by another applicant. Feel free to call and check in if you do not hear from us in a couple of weeks. <br/><br/>So it’s great match, everyone is in love… now what?! <br/><br/>Before we send your new best friend home, they will need to be spayed or neutered! This could take an additional couple of days up to a week or so, all depending on our vet’s availability. If the animal has already been fully vetted, it may be possible to take them home the same day as your meet and greet! Though this is decided on a case by case basis, we’ll certainly make sure you’re prepared for this prior to coming in for your appointment that day. The adoption fee for cats and dogs is $150.00. Prior to adoption, all animals will be made current on core vaccinations, will be microchipped, cats will be screened for FIV and feline leukemia, and dogs will be screened for heartworm disease and tick borne illness. Senior animals will also receive a full senior work up, much thanks to our wonderful nonprofit partner group, the Friends of the Wallingford Animal Shelter, for making that possible! <br/><br/>Though our entire process could *potentially* take up to a few weeks total and sometimes longer (granted it doesn’t always!) we have found over the years that this truly does ensure the absolute best match and the most successful and permanent adoption possible, which is of course what we want for all of our animals, and for your family too!

MEET BARLEY — THE BIG, BOUNCY, BEAUTIFUL BOY WHO DESERVES HIS “FOREVER” FOR REAL THIS TIME!

It’s not often that we receive a dog directly from a home and still have no meaningful history to work with. In Barley’s case, all we were initially told by relatives of Barley’s people was that he’d never even been given a real name - just called “dog.” Beyond that, the relatives couldn’t tell us anything about who he was or what his life had been like.

But then, we were contacted by the rescue that originally saved Barley, and they were able to fill in some important gaps. They recognized him from his profile pics instantly and reached out to share his story:

Barley was pulled from a southern shelter as an older puppy. He was transported north and adopted by a family here in Connecticut. That family eventually rehomed him because he was nervous and uncomfortable around children. From that rehoming situation, Barley eventually made his way to us.

And suddenly, everything made a lot more sense.

MEET BARLEY — THE BIG, BOUNCY, BEAUTIFUL BOY WHO DESERVES HIS “FOREVER” FOR REAL THIS TIME!

It’s not often that we receive a dog directly from a home and still have no meaningful history to work with. In Barley’s case, all we were initially told by relatives of Barley’s people was that he’d never even been given a real name - just called “dog.” Beyond that, the relatives couldn’t tell us anything about who he was or what his life had been like.

But then, we were contacted by the rescue that originally saved Barley, and they were able to fill in some important gaps. They recognized him from his profile pics instantly and reached out to share his story:

Barley was pulled from a southern shelter as an older puppy. He was transported north and adopted by a family here in Connecticut. That family eventually rehomed him because he was nervous and uncomfortable around children. From that rehoming situation, Barley eventually made his way to us.

And suddenly, everything made a lot more sense.

This sweet, goofy, good-hearted boy has essentially been bounced between shelters, homes, and uncertainty for his entire young life. He’s around 2–3 years old now, and it’s time - PAST time - for him to have stability, consistency, and a family that is truly committed to him. Barley deserves nothing less.

Now for the good stuff. Who is Barley today?

Barley is a tall, athlet