Darla’s story is a prime example of how important it is to secure a plan for your animals should you no longer be able to care for them. Darla was a well-loved companion to an older woman who passed away. Her family refused to take on a dog with long fur and that is how this gorgeous, well-trained, perfectly mannered ten-year-old sweetheart ended up at the Santa Cruz SPCA.
You could define the term sweet with Darla’s name. She is very gentle and interested in greeting any new person she meets by walking over and resting her head on their knee awaiting pets and scratches. She’s never one to bark, whine or complain and adapts quickly to new environments. Darla knows how to sit, shake, and lie down if you tempt her with a treat. A foster reported her to be perfectly housebroken as long as she’s taken out on regular intervals and enjoyed neighborhood jaunts and even a beach outing. She walks very well on the leash and will even stay by your side off-leash.
Because of her age, Darla does not need a ton of exercise and can do fine with back-yard access but does seem to enjoy outings. She is very kind and polite when meeting new people, including children, and does wonderfully with new dogs. Darla is a medium sized dog, weighing in at about 35 lbs., which is large for a Sheltie. She is currently a bit overweight and could stand to lose a few pounds. Ideally, she would weight closer to 25 or 30 lbs.
Darla is as close to perfect as they come and will make a truly wonderful and unforgettable companion to a very lucky person. Take a look at Darla on our Facebook! www.facebook.com/SantaCruzSPCA
The Santa Cruz SPCA is a 501c3 charitable organization and receives no government funding, relying solely on public donations to run its many programs that benefit the animals and people of our community. For more information call the Santa Cruz SPCA at 465-5000, or visit www.spcasc.org. The SPCA is located at 2685 Chanticleer Avenue in Santa Cruz, CA 95065 and is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the SPCA Mall Adoption.