She wants a family so badly 😭❤️️
Cartier found herself at a New York City shelter after her family decided they could no longer care for her. According to her surrender notes, they had kept her confined to a crate all day. Cartier spent seven long months at the shelter, where she won the hearts of volunteers with her shy smile, charming ear bonnet, and endearing, playful personality. In March, Rebound Hounds stepped in to rescue her, giving Cartier the chance to move to a loving foster home.
Cartier is currently being fostered by Katy Brink, executive editor at The Dodo, and her husband, Collin. They first spotted her while visiting the shelter last year to see another dog, and she stayed in their thoughts ever since. From the moment they brought her home, Cartier rested her head on their shoulders for the entire ride. A velcro dog from day one, she adores running in the yard and snuggling on the sofa.
There was just one hiccup. Cartier’s foster parents were hopeful that she would get along with their dogs, Jake and Lola. However, it quickly became apparent that this wasn’t going to work out.
“She had previously lived with a small dog, but it was clear from the beginning that our dogs were causing her stress, and she was stressing them out in return,” Collin shared.
Cartier is making great strides with her foster parents, working daily to feel more at ease around other dogs and thoroughly enjoying her training sessions. Meanwhile, she and her foster siblings need to be kept in separate areas of the house, which means Cartier spends a significant amount of time alone. To monitor her while she’s by herself, her foster parents decided to install a Ring camera.
Once the camera was up and running, they could check in on Cartier whenever she was alone. They soon discovered that, as soon as the door to Cartier’s room closed, she would always do something incredibly sweet and heart-wrenching.
“Whenever we left her alone, we could see that she would just wait by the door for us,” Collin shared. “It was pretty heart-wrenching, especially knowing she had spent so much time in a crate growing up. All she wants is to be your best friend and be involved in whatever you’re doing.”
The couple has developed a system to ensure Cartier spends as little time alone as possible. She spends her days with one parent in the home office while Jake and Lola are with the other parent. After work hours, Cartier retreats to her room, allowing her foster siblings to enjoy time with their parents. During this time, Cartier stays engaged with licky mats and puzzles to keep her entertained. The day concludes with Cartier enjoying cozy sofa time with her foster parents, filled with snuggles.
While this system is effective for now, what Cartier truly needs is a home of her own.
“She’s such a cuddle bug when it’s just her and us,” Collin shared. “She needs to find someone who doesn’t have other dogs and can give her this kind of attention full-time.”
Cartier adores people and craves constant companionship. She walks beautifully on a leash and enjoys her outdoor time, but she’s just as content sitting by your side and receiving belly rubs. She would thrive in a quieter home where she can finally relax and have her people all to herself.
“She’s going to bring so much joy to her future family,” Brink said.