Lucia Black and Tan Coonhound Cincinnati, OH

Lucia is one healthy, happy coonhound! To look at her “glamour shots,” you might think she runs in the Westminster crowd. (Have you ever seen a shinier coat?!) But it’s been a long, long road …

Lucia (est. birth 2013) was found as a painfully thin stray (see profile picture) and taken to a county pound. Her condition (physical, behavioral and emotional) suggested that that she had been fending for herself for quite some time. She was terrified of human touch, walking on a leash, going out to the yard, coming back to her room … we had a hard time getting her to eat, and any semblance of housetraining seemed hopeless. For the first months at our shelter, she was a trembling mess. Completely shut down.

But we had faith that--with time, patience and the STAF village behind her—Lucia would blossom into the loving, trusting and fun-loving dog she was meant to be. After resolving her health issues and getting some meat on her bones, we began introducing her to canine friends to help build her confidence, teach her to trust, and show her what it’s like to be a normal, happy-go-lucky dog. (Shout-out to our friends at The Pet Spot, Red Dog Pet Resort and Redleg Pet Services, where Luca receives ongoing socialization in doggy daycare!)

But the biggest breakthrough for Lucia was spending time in the home of one of our volunteers who specializes in working with frightened and fragile dogs. Under her care, and in the company of the resident dogs of the household, Lucia has overcome her anxieties and discovered the joy of being a dog. She is now nearly perfect with her house-training, and has even learned to ring a bell to be let out! She sleeps through the night without accidents, and relishes days spent racing around the yard with her dog-friends. She’s good with babies, puppies (check out the video to see how patient she is!) and any dog that comes for a visit. Exceptionally eager to please, Lucia graduated basic obedience training at the top of her class and is wonderful on leash. In stark contrast to the cowering dog that arrived at our shelter, Lucia today loves cuddling … in fact, she *insists* on lots of hugs and pettings :OP

Despite how incredibly far Lucia has come, some scars will never heal. It will take a little time for a home to earn Lucia’s trust. She needs the emotional security of another dog, a securely fenced yard, and a family that is patient, kind and willing to help Lucia continue discovering how kind and beautiful life can be. If you think you can complete Lucia’s rescue story, please don’t wait to contact us! We can’t wait to meet the wonderful family that Fate has in store for this comeback kid!

• 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 unless otherwise noted in a dog’s profile.
• 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.