Meet Tarot

This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, October 24th from 12PM – 3PM (unless adopted prior to the event). 3910 Middlefield Road All DPS Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, flea/tick treated, and microchipped prior to adoption. Adoption fee: $650 Tarot: We See a Lot of Snuggles in Your Future Tarot has had enough plot twists for one little Chiweenie. At just 1–2 years old, she tested positive for heartworm and began a long journey through treatment and recovery. Now she’s finally cleared for exercise and ready to start her next chapter: discovering how much fun life can be with a family of her own. If Tarot could read your future, it would involve an incredibly soft little dog tucked into your lap, a suspiciously warm lump beneath your blankets, and dinner served promptly. Especially that last part. This girl believes in destiny, but she also believes in a schedule. The Cuddle Card: Always Face Up Tarot’s greatest talent is snuggling. Once she feels comfortable with you, she’s an affectionate little companion who loves curling up close and keeping you company. Her foster’s video meetings often feature a surprise guest appearance: Tarot climbing into a lap, delivering a few face kisses, and making sure everyone knows who deserves top billing. Once introductions are complete, she settles in for a lap nap. She follows her person around the house and, at bedtime, happily burrows beneath the covers. Add in her wonderfully silly expressions and occasional little smile, and you have a dog who can make an ordinary evening feel pretty special. Tarot may announce her uncertainty when meeting someone new, but she has warmed up fairly quickly in the foster homes where she’s stayed. Treats help enormously. Even her foster’s boyfriend, whom she adores, gets a vocal welcome before she remembers that his lap is one of her favorite places. A Day in Tarot’s World Tarot usually wakes when her person does, although an unusually early alarm may earn you a “please proceed without me.” After her first potty outing, breakfast arrives around 7:30–8 a.m., followed by a little playtime and a cozy couch nap. Between snoozes, she enjoys food puzzles and an appropriate chew to keep her busy. A lunchtime walk offers a chance to stretch her legs and investigate the neighborhood. By approximately 4:45 p.m., Tarot begins issuing dinner reminders. These start as grumbles and may escalate if management fails to respond. Her foster describes her as an “energetic couch potato,” which fits beautifully: she loves lounging, but there’s also a lively, playful girl in there. After so much time spent keeping quiet during treatment, she’s ready to gradually enjoy more walks, play, and exploration. Learning That the World Is on Her Side Tarot is a sensitive girl who feels safest with familiar people and predictable surroundings. Unfamiliar people and dogs can worry her, and she may bark or growl to express that uncertainty, particularly on leash. Sometimes she approaches someone with interest and then decides she needs a little more space. She responds well to encouragement, treats, and a cheerful “good girl.” Her foster has found that praising and rewarding her before she becomes overwhelmed can sometimes help her stay focused and comfortable. She knows “sit” and understands “go lie down” with a pointing gesture, though she also has a wonderfully opinionated streak about which requests deserve her participation. Tarot will benefit from a patient adopter who can build her confidence through gentle, reward-based training and introductions at a comfortable distance and pace. She has spent a long time with her activities restricted; now she has the opportunity to learn about the world one manageable outing at a time. Walks, Sniffaris, and Future Adventures In quieter settings, Tarot can be a lovely walking companion. With regular outings and a harness, she generally walks close to her person, with occasional bursts of enthusiasm and pulling. Some days she’s ready to cover ground; other days, every interesting scent deserves a full investigation. Passing people and dogs remains her biggest walking challenge. Her family should be ready to give her space and help her practice calm observation without rushing greetings. Her foster sees potential for a fun little adventure companion as her confidence grows. At home, her excitement can inspire ambitious leaps onto and off furniture. A thoughtful setup that limits high jumping will help keep this enthusiastic little long-bodied girl’s activities sensible. House Manners and Honest Little Quirks Tarot is housetrained and knows how to ask to go outside using her signature progression of grunt, grumble, and bark. She will also generally use a potty pad when needed. She enjoys having something appropriate to do when she’s awake. Puzzles and chews help channel her busy mind! Being left alone is another skill she’s still developing. She may bark for about ten minutes after her person leaves and spend time waiting near the door before settling more. Her adopter should be prepared to help her build comfort with departures gradually. The Home Written in Her Cards Tarot’s ideal home offers gentle handling, a peaceful atmosphere, a welcoming lap, and someone committed to helping her feel secure. She enjoys gentle play and can become frightened by rough handling, so a household without young children or roughhousing would be the best fit. Her experience interacting directly with other dogs has been limited during heartworm recovery, so her compatibility with a canine housemate is still unknown. A calm, gentle dog might eventually be a possibility with careful introductions, but she will need time and support. Above all, Tarot needs someone who appreciates both her enormous affection and her sensitive side. Her foster calls her an overall joy: soft, funny, snuggly, and full of personality once you get to know her. Tarot has already put in the time getting well. Now she’s ready for the good part—a safe home, happy outings, and a person who looks at this expressive little face and sees their future.