GRR Number: 17-034
Type of Surrender: Mexico City Shelter
Status: Available
Age: 4
Weight: 56
Mia is young rescue from the Mexico City shelter that has quite a personality. She arrived from Mexico into GRR care along with her daughter pup, Ophelia. Mia is a beautiful yellow Lab, and Ophelia is that irresistible mix of Golden Retriever and Lab. Clearly, mom was destined to be named “Momma Mia”. She embodies classic Lab characteristics, including mothering any and all critters that come into her view. This includes her foster’s older canines, whether they want mothering or not! She will attempt to pick up young pups in the household by the scruff of the neck and carry them off for more motherly attention, which they resist, of course! She has a great energy level, adapting to the goings-on of the moment. High energy play with young dogs or wrestling with young adults can quickly transition to calm and quiet relaxation with her foster’s hospice dogs.
She is decidedly the companion dog of the year, wanting to be with you wherever you are in the house. And of course, she thinks she is a lap dog. See an empty lap, fill an empty lap! Momma Mia is characteristically VERY protective of her canine pack. On a recent night, coyotes could be heard howling in the distance, and she was ready to rumble. Don’t mess with Momma Mia.
Mia has the run of her foster’s house, but is fine using her crate as well, with one condition. Interestingly, she will gladly go into the crate when asked, but just don’t try and latch the door. As long as the door is open, she will happily sit in her crate until released by command.
Mia has been super with the foster’s extensive dog family, but curiously, she is not friendly with toy breeds, growling at neighbors’ shitzu, dachshund and tea cup poodle. At the same time, she is great with another neighbor’s 6 month old large breed puppy and another’s 35 lb spitz. As she acclimates to her new surroundings and feels more secure, her breed-specific pickiness may likely subside.
Out of curiosity, a neighbor was testing Mia for commands in Spanish. No luck. But remarkably, she understands crate, sit, down, and off in English, and of course the perineal favorite “treat”. Her appetite is impressive, and she is not protective of her food, since it doesn’t stay in the bowl long enough. Undernourished in her previous life, her GRR vet estimates she needs to add 5 to 7 pounds, but Mia’s personal goal is more like 10!
As a true water dog, Mia cannot get enough swimming into her daily activities. She is hilarious as she swims and drinks at the same time! Next to swimming, walking is the best. Initially, Mia would pull and sway, but with a dash of training, now she is great on walks. Her foster mom says she is a very quick study. How relaxed can a dog be during thunderstorms, you ask? Mia snored through the whole round of recent mega-storms.
Mia is such a wonderful dog that her fosters are sorely tempted to adopt her, even though they already have a pack of 11! Now that is a testament to just how special Mia is.
Ideal Home: Mia’s ideal home is one where there is a LOT of activity, as in walking, hiking, retrieving with her in the big middle of it all! Multiple two and four legged family members are a big plus. The cherry on top would be a home with a pool, since she loves swimming so much.
Note: The adoption fee for Mexico City dogs like Mia is $450.
To learn about the adoption process and complete an application, click here. We do not guarantee the availability of the dog that you have expressed interest in as it may be matched to another waiting family. However, there are always new dogs available as rescue is dynamic. We appreciate your interest in adopting a rescued golden.
