Tommy, a Adoptable Shepherd in Arlington, VA image 1/3

Tommy

Adult
Male
Large

Shepherd

About Tommy

Arlington, VA

Breed

Shepherd

Physical Traits

Adult

(3-8 years)

Male

Large

(61-100 lbs)

Behavior

House-trained: Yes

Health

Spayed/Neutered:

Yes

Vaccinated:

Yes

Tommy’s Compatibility

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Tommy's Story

Meet Tommy! This handsome, sweet boy was found as a stray and ended up in a rural county shelter in South Carolina. He spent several months there with little interest from adopters, until he caught the eye of one of our foster moms, Laine, who volunteers at the shelter. Tommy was shy with new people but wonderful with other dogs. In fact, the shelter often used him as a “helper dog” to welcome new, unsure pups into the group. His gentle play bows and calm demeanor signaled to others that they were safe and could have fun. Laine knew Tommy would thrive in a calmer home environment and brought him into her pack. We’ve since seen Tommy in several foster home settings, and he’s done beautifully with every dog he’s met - big or small, young or old. He truly loves being part of a pack. Tommy is more submissive and a quiet follower with a “live and let live” personality. He would do best in a home with another social dog to help boost his confidence. He’s a great playmate who enjoys games of tug or chase, and he’s respectful and gentle in his play style, always sharing toys and space well. Tommy is currently being fostered by Sarah and Adam, along with his best buddy, Daisy. The two quickly became fast friends and love romping in the backyard. Tommy also visits grandma’s house regularly and gets along well with her senior pup. He’s a gentle soul with a medium energy level. While he doesn’t initially seek out a lot of affection, he does enjoy attention and becomes more connected and loving as he settles in. Tommy is house-trained and respectful in the home. His foster parents are working on basic commands like sit, down, wait, stay, and come. He sleeps in a crate at night in their room and does fine, but he can get a little anxious when crated alone. He loves walks, car rides, and public outings. He even went on a recent road trip to a vineyard and had a blast! Because Tommy is still shy with new people, he would benefit from having a confident dog buddy in his forever home. If you’re looking for a sweet, gentle boy who will thrive in a loving, stable environment and bring joy to your pack, Tommy is your boy. Apply today! BONUS: Tommy has completed formal training, and his trainer is offering a dedicated session to help ease his transition into his new home! BREED ESTIMATE: Shepherd/Lab Mix GENDER: Male APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 62 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 2 years old COAT TYPE: Medium coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 VET INFO: utd on shots, microchipped, neutered LOCATION: Sterling, VA FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.

How To Adopt

Tommy was listed as Adoptable by Worthy Dog Rescue

How can I adopt Tommy?

Click the Start Your Inquiry button, and share some preliminary details with Worthy Dog Rescue. They may then ask for more details or an official application prior to an adoption. If you're a match, they'll reach out with next steps and timing.

How can I find out if Tommy is a good fit for me?

Click the "See How You Match" button, answer a few simple questions, and see how you match up! It takes less than a minute to complete. You can also reach out directly to Worthy Dog Rescue for details on the pet.

When can I meet Tommy?

If you've submitted an inquiry, Worthy Dog Rescue will review your information and may ask you to fill out an official application. If you're a good fit for Tommy, they'll reach out to set up a meeting.

What if I have more questions about the adoption process?

Just reach out directly to Worthy Dog Rescue, and they'll be happy to help!

Worthy Dog Rescue's Adoption Policy

Thank you for considering adoption and choosing to save a dog’s life! As you search for your new dog, please remember that there is no shortage of dogs who need saving. There are far more dogs waiting to be adopted than people who are willing to adopt them, so if the dog in the picture who you’ve imagined bringing home isn’t available, there are thousands more amazing, loving dogs just hoping for the chance to be your dog. We ask that you keep an open mind, stay flexible, and we will do our best to work with you to find a great match for your family. We strongly encourage anyone thinking about adopting a dog to do your research and make sure you are prepared for the commitment. If you have thought about what’s required and are ready to adopt, here’s what you can expect when you apply to adopt a dog from Worthy Dog Rescue. APPROVAL PROCESS APPLY To start the approval process, the first step is to complete our non-binding adoption application REFERENCES If applicable, we check vet references to ensure that your pets have been kept current on care, and a copy of your lease to ensure that adopting doesn't violate your rental agreement INTERVIEW Once your application is submitted and reviewed, and your vet provides a positive reference, a Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will contact you to schedule a phone interview to discuss your application HOME VISIT A Worthy Dog Rescue volunteer will schedule a time to visit your home, in person, to meet you and verify that your home is a good, safe environment for one of our dogs APPROVAL Upon approval, if the dog you applied for is still available and a good match, we will schedule a time for you to meet the dog. If not, we will work with you to find another dog who will suit your family. TIMING The approval process can take a week or two depending on your availability and our volunteers’ schedules. The rescue is run by a team of volunteers from your community who love dogs. We are just regular people with jobs, kids, and lives whose time is as limited as yours. That means that during periods of high activity or seasonal vacations the process may take a little longer. THE DOG YOU APPLY FOR IS NOT GUARANTEED Worthy Dog Rescue cannot guarantee that the dog you apply for will be available once you have been approved. We do our best to work with adopters and meet your needs, but we do not adopt dogs on a first-come, first-serve basis. All applications are screened to determine the most suitable match for the dog and the adopter. We want to place dogs in good homes as quickly as possible, so the dog can start their new life with their family, and we can free up their foster home to save another dog in need. We understand how easy it is to become attached to a dog you’ve found online, but sometimes the dog you apply for may already be scheduled to meet another adopter, or it may not be the best fit for your home for a variety of behavioral reasons. Our dogs are fostered by one of our volunteers, living in their home as part of their family. This allows us to get to know the dog, what they need, their level of socialization, and the type of home that will best suit them. Our goal is to place dogs in loving, responsible, and committed permanent homes. We take great care in finding good matches for our dogs and adopters too. We look forward to working with you to find the dog that will be with you and your family for many years to come. ADOPTION POLICIES · Must be at least 23 · All applicants who live in a rental property must provide contact information for their landlord, and have approval from the landlord to have a pet at the residence listed on the adoption application · Applicants must allow Worthy Dog Rescue to conduct a home visit to confirm that your home will be a good environment for a new dog · All animals in the applicant’s household must be spayed/neutered and up to date on all vaccines before consideration · All adults living in the home must meet the dog and be in agreement about adoption · Applicants must be willing to keep their new dog and current family pets as indoor pets · All adoptive families will provide all medical care and treatment needed for the dog including, but not limited to, yearly medical checkups, vaccines, and preventative heartworm medication · Dogs will be adopted only as a personal companion and not as a gift, working animal, or guard dog · A fenced yard is ideal for dogs, but is NOT a requirement for adoption unless specified · Because young puppies require intensive training and care, we cannot place puppies younger than five months of age in a home where someone is consistently absent from the home for long periods of time · In the event an adoption does not work out, applicants must agree to return the dog to Worthy Dog Rescue rather than rehoming the dog themselves

Our Mission

Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping dogs in distress, especially those living on chains, in pens, or in neglectful and abusive situations. Our mission is to provide a better life for these dogs through rescue and rehabilitation, outreach and education in the communitie...