By Janet McAfee
A dog named Betty waits patiently for a home at the main Riverside County shelter in Western Riverside. How long can a big dog wait in a shelter kennel before losing hope and becoming stressed? Betty arrived at the Riverside County shelter in Thousand Palms, the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, on November 20, 2021. She watched quietly through kennel bars as visitors walked past and adopted small dogs. On January 6, she was transferred to the County’s shelter in Riverside. The younger population nearby is more inclined to adopt young large dogs.
Betty is listed as a Rottweiler mix breed weighing 75 pounds. Upon intake, she was estimated to be 2 years old. Rottweilers are calm, confident, and courageous with a self-assured aloofness at first meeting as they assess new situations and people. These muscular animals need space and exercise including brisk walks, games of fetch, and yards big enough to run. Mental exercise is also important for this intelligent breed, and they do well in obedience classes and agility programs. A friend’s wedding included their three Rottweilers, happily strolling down the aisle and politely sitting at the alter.
Home security is another benefit from adopting a dog like Betty. No burglar will break in when they hear her loud barking. However, a dog does not provide home safety when it’s kept outdoors 24/7. This is just one of many reasons to allow your canine indoor/outdoor access. Dogs are social creatures, and their indoor companionship rewards us with better health and happiness.
Did you know dogs understand up to 1,000 words and know our INTENT behind those words? Large dogs like Betty have larger brains, and are experts at learning new skills. Large dogs become house trained almost immediately.
Did you know mix breeds are healthier than pure breed dogs in most cases? This is due to the absence of genetic problems which result in medical issues and costly veterinary bills. Pure breed Rottweilers may suffer from joint disease and/or heart disease, particularly if the breeder breeds related pups. As a mix breed, Betty should have good health and longevity with good vet care.
The staff named her “Betty”, which could have been prophetic with the recent passing away of animal advocate Betty White. This amazing heroine would have turned 100 years old on January 17, 2022. In her memory, this column hopes to find this special pup a home.
Betty is currently listed as “NEEDS RESCUE” due to her length of time at the shelter. She is available to private No-Kill animal rescues as well as to private adopters. She was successfully housed with another big dog at the Thousand Palms shelter, and did well in the big dog playgroup. Staff notes she likes people even more than other dogs. I met Betty when she was at the Thousand Palms shelter, and noted her calm and friendly demeaner.
Betty is vaccinated, microchipped, and will be spayed before she leaves for her forever home. Due to current overcrowding, Riverside County is waiving adoption fees for the remainder of January.
Head out to meet this gorgeous dog. The freeway drive from the Coachella Valley takes about 90 minutes. The shelter is open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday, no appointment required, 6851 Van Buren Blvd, Jurupa Valley (Western Riverside), www.rcdas.org. Betty is dog ID#A1648025. Call (951) 358-7302 with questions. Nothing is happier than the miracle of the FREEDOM RIDE when you drive your rescue dog home from the shelter. The grateful heart of a rescue dogs helps us realize life can get better if we just keep believing and hoping.
