Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley

Over the course of one year, Animal Protectors provides temporary homes to hundreds of cats and dogs. Many animals are adopted quickly while others wait for their special homes for a few months, sometimes longer. Our volunteers and staff take extra time to get to know these animals to work on training and to learn their characteristics to make them more adoptable.

Featured Pet...Cruiser!

Learn more about Cruiser! Told from the perspective of dog walker Bob Purcell, Cruiser’s bud!

"Cruiser has been at the shelter since July of 2012. He is probably nearing two years of age and has plenty of energy and smarts. Cruiser is a mix of… Shepherd? Rottie? Hound? In any case, he is a handsome and motivated boy.

I walk Cruiser every Saturday morning. He likes to be petted, but he has to run off some energy first. And boy, he is one intelligent dog! I think that a big reason that Cruiser has not been adopted yet could be his cage presentation; we are working on that. Being in a kennel for most of the day is difficult for him, and he has not yet found a way to channel his extra energy. But now Cruiser is attending training classes, and the objective is to make him more adoptable. He will learn that when people approach his cage, good things happen when he sits or gets down on the ground, versus jumping around. That gives someone a chance to really look at him!

We’re also working on his leash skills. Right now, Cruiser tries to outwit whoever is walking him by biting the leash...perhaps he thinks he could walk himself better than we can? Since Cruiser is extremely treat-motivated, he should learn very quickly to do what is expected of him rather than to display undesirable behaviors.

Cruiser is a great dog with tons of potential. He just needs someone to take the time to look at him; we all know that black dogs often are overlooked in shelters. Secondly, a potential adopter needs to be active and ready for the challenge of keeping this boy’s mind occupied, he needs stimulation. He most likely would excel at agility training or any other competitive canine sports! Please give the shelter a call at 724-339-7388 to learn more about Cruiser. He is ready to get out of the shelter and into a great home.”

Featured Pet...Moe!

Learn more about Moe, as told by his favorite dog walker, Gretchen Ocilka.

“Moe has been with us since June of last year. He was still just a puppy when he came to us, and he doesn’t deserve to grow up in a shelter!  Now he may be getting close to two years old. He is one of the smartest dogs you will ever meet, and he needs an owner who can really challenge him to meet his full potential.

Moe does not show well in his kennel, and that may be a large part of the reason he is still with us. It certainly isn’t because of his looks - he is a very handsome boy! He must find it to be so very frustrating to be stuck in a kennel, when all he really wants to do is run around and play with toys. His favorite toy is a pink rubber barbell; he likes to play tug (in moderation, of course!) and will play fetch with it. Although he doesn’t always want to give it up, if you substitute a treat for the toy, he will drop it. Moe also likes tennis balls and stuffed animals.

When Moe is in the play yard without any human companionship, he likes to sit upright on a chair, surveying his surroundings like a prince looking over his kingdom.

Moe has learned to walk better on a leash over time, but he needs continued practice with it. His mind is sharp, so the more you can make him work for something, the better off he is. He is very motivated by treats, so if you have a treat in your left hand, he will walk right beside you in order to earn that treat.

Moe would not like to be in a household with cats, but he is fine with older children and some dogs. He does like attention and to be petted. With continued training, and some patience and time, Moe will be a real treasure for a special owner! An adopter would likely have to visit Moe a few times before deciding to adopt, he enjoys making new friends, but needs some time to get to know you. Please give the shelter a call at 724-339-7388 to learn more about Moe. I’d really like to see him in a loving home.”

Moe Update: Since this article was written, Moe has been taking obedience lessons and is proving to be a quick study! He is learning to sit and lie down voluntarily. He also is learning how to relax while being approached and petted all over his body. Plus, he is mastering control and has learned to patiently wait to be rewarded for his behaviors. For more information on Moe’s training progress, please call the shelter at 724-339-7388.