The Underdog Diaries 06: NINA

3 years and 6 months...

That's how long Nina spent with TLRD looking for the right forever home.

When we save dogs, we have absolutely no idea how long they're going to be with us. Some dogs stay with us for 24 hours, some stay for a year. It's an unpredictable world and some of our absolute favorite rescues have spent months and even years waiting for a family. They can be the perfect dog in our eyes, but that doesn't mean they'll find a home quickly. The average time in a foster is about 3-4 months and that's the time commitment we ask for from fosters before they take a dog.

Poor Nina spent 1289 days packing her bags 14 times to go to different fosters.

Nina is an adorable English Bulldog/American Staffordshire mix with a big ol' block head. We saved her from San Bernardino – she was pregnant with a broken toe. She's amazing with kids (total nanny dog), however she didn't get along with other dogs. That was the only factor holding her back – she needed to be the only dog in the home.

Not getting along with other dogs is common in the rescue world, so Nina's case still didn't make sense to us. She's a gentle little hippo with humans and it was heartbreaking to watch her be overlooked for almost 4 years. None of our team understood why Nina couldn't find her forever family. Volunteers loved walking her and she was a huge hit when we promoted her online. But for 3 years and 6 months...nothing came in for Nina!

Until August 31st, 2020 – the Salvaggio family took a chance on Nina and they fell in love. Nina went home with them on September 4th and there was not a dry eye in the room!

Although it's only been a few months, the Salvaggio's can't imagine life without Nina. Here's what Lynn, Nina's forever mom, has to share about adopting an underdog...



What were some of the challenges you faced when you first brought Nina home?

Trying to make her feel like she belonged here.
And what were some of the rewards once you adjusted to those challenges?
She is comfortable and warms up to all of us.
What's something unique about Nina's personality?
She is so mellow and easy going. She likes to sleep in even after we wake.
What's your favorite trait about Nina?
Her mellow personality. And she seems to purr!
How does Nina match up to your lifestyle? As in, do you both like to hike? Couch potatoes? OR did you have to adjust your lifestyle once you got Nina?
She adjusted to us perfectly, working with our schedules.
How does Nina make you a better human?
I like spending more time outside walking her. She gives us a welcome responsibility taking care of her.
What would you say to someone who was thinking about going to a breeder to get a dog?
Rescue dogs understand what is happening and they want to make you happy.
Anything else you want to share about Nina?
We are so glad that we have found the perfect dog for our family.



I think it's safe to say that Nina found the perfect match. We want to thank Lynn and the Salvaggio family for opening their hearts to an underdog like Nina!
Well, we hope you enjoyed another entry of The Underdog Diaries. Check back weekly for new features! In the meantime, here's where you can find more from TLRD:

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