Rose, a 12-year-old Chihuahua mix, will be available to adopt on Feb. 8. (Photo courtesy of James Long)

(This story has been updated from the print edition)

If you are in the process of looking for a new pet, consider those who really need a home. Right now, there is a dog discovered in Benicia who is is desperate need of a foster home.

In early January, a 12-year-old female Chihuahua mix was found wandering around the open space near Hastings Drive where many coyotes are known to have been sighted. Because a dog of her size is a target for those animals, she was spending a few days wandering in the cold wet in an area that posed great danger. On Jan. 8, she was caught and taken to the Vallejo animal rescue nonprofit CARES. Upon arrival, the animal was damp and disheveled.

“She didn’t have any tags, and she wasn’t microchipped,” James Long, the owner of Pups ’N’ Purrz which has partnered with CARES for adoption events, said.

CARES were able to turn things around for Rose— named because of her close vicinity to Rose Drive. She was vaccinated, bathed, had her nails trimmed and treated for fleas. She was also groomed over at Featherer Pets.

Now that she is in reasonably good health, Rose is in need of a home. Long said a foster family was lined up for her, but because of unexpected health problems that put the couple in the hospital, Rose was again left without the opportunity for a new home.

Due to a 30-day holding period, Rose will again be available to adopt through CARES starting Wednesday, Feb. 8. Long said the ideal owner would be somebody who would be home to spend quality time with the dog.

“She would prefer that the person who adopts her would want to cuddle her and not just be someone who goes to work for eight hours and just feeds them,” he said. “Someone who’s really home most of the time, if possible.”

As the owner of three senior Chihuahuas himself, Long stressed the need for senior dogs to be adopted.

“Senior dogs are the least popular dogs that people want to adopt because of their age and health issues,” he said. “They’re the ones who usually end up going first for euthanasia and being put to sleep.”

“We as a community need to support animals whether they’re young, medium or seniors,” he added.

Rose has been house trained and is considered not much of a barker. She was found to be good around other dogs as long as they are calm and leave her alone, but she has not been tested around cats.

CARES is located at 96 Springstowne Center, Suite B in Vallejo. For more information, contact Cindy Shay at (650) 438-9027.

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