We found little Petunia running alongside the road above Antigua. She had a dirty collar and was dragging the chewed  remains of a piece of plastic coated electrical wire twisted into it. She was skeletally thin and malnourished, dirty, and had wet discharge in her eyes.

She was terribly hungry, and came in timidly when we scattered food, which allowed us to catch her. Petunia hid in an open crate for almost two weeks after we got her, only coming out when no one was near. After she had recovered and we were sure she didn’t have distemper, we let her start mixing with the other dogs an started working with her.

Petunia has blossomed in her foster home and is now a healthy and frisky pup. It took some time, but she has discovered toys and now loves to play with the other dogs in the home and at the rescue. Petunia is very sweet and has really developed trust and confidence, but she is still frightened in new situations and needs a little time with new adults to be comfortable. She takes her lead from other dogs, and follows them, so she settles faster with nice, balanced dogs or puppies around.

Petunia is a small dog. She is about 9 months old and weighs just over 20 lbs. We don’t think she will grow much more. She has been spayed and is up to date on her shots. She is doing well with her training and knows all her basic behaviors. She walks well on leash and loves her crate. She is also doing very well in her house training. Petunia lives with a cat in her foster home, and does not bother it. She loves to snuggle and cuddle with people, and she seems to like older kids very much. Toddlers scare her with their quick movements and loud noises. We think a quieter home might be best suited for Petunia.