Nelly

🐾 Shy, sweet, soft-natured

💥Energy level: medium

🐈 Good with cats

🐕 Good with other dogs

👶 Can be tested with children

👽Shy around new peoplem, especially men

❄ What makes Nelly special: Nelly has a deformed front leg, which is a birth defect. When she gets very happy and excited, she waves her bad leg in the air for you! 

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 Nelly came into our care in the spring of 2023. She was born on the streets and grew up amongst a pack of stray dogs being fed and looked after by local animal lovers. Her front paw is deformed, a birth defect which unfortunately can't be treated. Because she needed extra care and protection, the people feeding the dogs let her live in the garden of their residential site, but this caused problems with the other residents. Some of the neighbours were so disturbed by little Nelly being in their shared garden, that they threatened to take her to the municipality shelter. Government shelters in Turkey are a hotbed of diseases, and most puppies don't make it out alive. Desperate to find a safe spot for her and give her a chance at having a good life, they asked us to take her. 

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Nelly is a shy, quiet dog, who tries to blend into the background in the chaotic enclosure.

 

When she feels comfortable and safe, she is the sweetest, most cheerful dog! Nelly is absolutely adorable, and her sweet face, and little waves with her bad front leg, melt the hearts of everyone who visits the Melez enclosure, even if she won't let them pet her yet. Nelly is shy around new people, and prefers to keep her distance when there are visitors in the enclosure. At a safe distance, she will try to sniff the strangers, and she will follow them around the enclosure. You can see that she wants to trust them so badly, but she isn't quite sure yet. Sometimes, she musters up the courage to come close enough for them to pet her, but this usually takes some time. She is especially shy around men, and can bark at men when she sees them on the other side of the fence.

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Once Nelly gets to know you, she is extremely affectionate. When we come into her kennel in the morning, she excitedly storms up to us to get cuddles. Nothing makes her happier than seeing the people she loves, and knowing she is going to get some attention! Nelly is a clever dog, and she appears to recognise volunteers who she has met before, even when it has been a year since she last saw them.

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In the crowded enclosure, where she is surrounded by stronger dogs, Nelly is very submissive. She hangs in the background, and tries to avoid conflict with other dogs. She does have a few friends she feels comfortable with though, and she likes playing with them.
She is friendly towards cats, and is very gentle with them.

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Outside of the enclosure, Nelly is very timid. The hustle and bustle of the outside world makes her feel insecure, and although she is used to walking on a lead, she will often freeze and lie down when something startles her.

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Nelly needs a special home, with adopters who can offer her lots of patience and stability, so she can feel safe. In a quiet environment, she can be her cheerful, loving, goofy self! But her adopters will need to help shield her from stressful situations and crowded places, to avoid her becoming overwhelmed and stressed.

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Some vets may recommend amputating Nelly's bad leg. The decision whether to amputate is one we can take in consultation with Nelly's adopters and their vet. The procedure can be carried out in Turkey before Nelly travels. Pain management may also be recommended as an alternative. Unfortunately, our local vets are not equipped to make a full assessment of what would be best for Nelly, and these are decisions we would love to be able to make in discussion with her adopter's vets.

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Nelly is currently in Turkey and is ready to travel to the EU/the UK

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TThe dogs arrive in their homes microchipped, up to date on their Rabies and Mixed vaccinations, spayed/neutered, dewormed and deflead and tested for Heartworm, Ehrlichia, Leishmania and Anaplasma. The dogs visit the vets for a final health check before they travel. If needed, their teeth are cleaned and X-Rays are taken of any potential areas of concern. Any concerns or potential health issues we are aware of will be communicated with you beforehand.