Rescue Me: Elijah Is Looking For Someone To Spoil Him

FAIRFAX STATION, VA — Elijah, a 9-year-old retriever/lab mix, was a stray. He just turned up on someone's porch one day in terrible shape, dragging about two feet of chain with him everywhere he went. Who knows how long he had been on his own! His fur was dirty and matted and clumps of hair were missing.

At first, Elijah growled. He was scared, unsure what to expect from strangers. But as those strangers set about helping him — finally freeing him from the dragging chain, shaving the dirty mats off of his body — he began to open up. With just a little kindness, he seemed to become a whole new dog.

We are still learning so much about Elijah. For instance, we're learning that he loves big fluffy beds and toys. He loves playing tug-of-war and playing with his tennis ball. For all we know, this might be the first time in his life that he has ever enjoyed such simple luxuries. It's hard not to spoil him!

Elijah loves getting head scratches. He follows you around and does great in his crate. He is looking for a home with limited stairs as his back legs do have some lameness. He also has some eyesight/hearing problems but that isn't stopping him. He is very mild mannered and patient. Can you give him a loving home that he deserves?

Homeward Trails Animal Rescue adopts pets to homes in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland. Anyone interested in our animals can complete an adoption questionnaire. We work with applicants to ensure a good match between them and the pet and vice versa, the adoption questionnaire is how we start the adoption discussion. Most of our animals are in foster homes in the area. Others are available to meet by appointment at our Adoption Center.