DeNiro Labrador Retriever Mix Cincinnati, OH

In light of the coronavirus outbreak and in keeping with current safety guidelines, our shelter is closed to visitors and our dogs are in foster care with volunteers. While we are unable to arrange visits with our dogs until social-distancing restrictions are lifted, we are happy to answer your questions about our dogs, our adoption process, and whether we might have a good fit for you. If you are looking to adopt NOW, please check with your local county shelter. If you’d like to be considered for one of our current dogs once our world gets back to normal, we'd love to hear from you.

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UPDATE 3/28 Good things can come out of something even as horrible as the coronavirus. Just ask any of our lucky shelter dogs who are being temporarily fostered in the homes of our huge-hearted volunteers. Here's an update on DeNiro, who finally felt comfortable enough to try out the couch and has barely left it since ...

"The more time I spend with him as a foster the more I’m convinced that this lovable goof will make a great family dog! DeNiro first needs a home willing to give him the patience he needs as he settles in. The world is a big and scary place to him, but with time and comfort from his family he will feel right at home and offer bottomless love in return.

His ideal home has a yard with a privacy fence. (This boy can climb a wire fence!) DeNiro is a bit poo-shy and doesn’t like doing his private business on a leash, and he has Labrador-sized energy that he needs to get out! Zoomies in the yard would be wonderful when he doesn’t feel like going on a walk. He’d love to have a canine sibling who can show him the ropes and can match his play style. Having a buddy seems to make him far more comfortable and really helps him learn how to behave in a household. He’s definitely a follower and not a leader, which means he may pick up on some of your dogs habits (like barking at people walking by). DeNiro loves playtime of all kinds, especially with other dogs, but would love to play with his humans and would be great with older kids. Cuddles are one his favorite things. You can always calm him down with some cuddles and scratches!"


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DeNiro is a sweet, gentle giant who has totally stolen the hearts of our volunteers. He is so happy to soak up love and affection from anyone he meets. DeNiro doesn't show his love with typical doggie kisses ... instead, he will look up at you with his big brown eyes, and put his giant puppy paw on your arm until you give him some good scratches.

A social butterfly, DeNiro has tons of k-9 friends. He acts like a goofy, overgrown puppy and goes along with anything. He will play for hours on end. He's great around kitties, too! He can become anxious when introduced to new, unfamiliar settings. But--with a lot of patience and hard work with our volunteers--he has made huge strides. He is highly food motivated and smart as a whip, which helps him progress very quickly with training. His leash skills are improving every day. DeNiro really loves walks when he is in a quiet, familiar area.

DeNiro will need a family who is very patient, and reassuring as he adjusts to his new home. He may be stressed as he explores his new surroundings--but with a dog friend to play with, and lots of love and reassurance, he will gradually settle in and relax. He'll need some work on house breaking, and basic obedience ... but our efforts will be rewarded with the sweetest, happiest, most loving dog you could dream of.

DeNiro will do best in a home with a privacy fence (guy's got fence-climbing skills) and another dog to help build his confidence. This handsome hunk o' dog was a stray who came to STAF via one of our our county shelter partners. His weight hovers in the mid-60s and he's estimated to be around 2 years old.

• All of our animals are spayed/neutered and current on shots.
• We do not do same-day adoptions; we ask that you return for a follow-up visit before taking an animal home.
• You must be 21 years or older to adopt from STAF.
• We require a 4-foot-tall physical fence for homes with children under the age of 11. We also may require a physical fence for specific dogs on a case-by-case basis, depending on each dog’s behavior and exercise needs.
• Invisible fences: Due in part to increasing coyote activity/incidents in the area and the difficulty of predicting how a dog will respond to invisible fence training, we cannot adopt to homes with invisible fences.
• We do request vet and personal references.
• We can facilitate adoptions within a 75-mile radius of our Cincinnati-based shelter.

Please visit www.STAF.org for visiting hours, a downloadable application, and additional information.