Poor Derren had probably known nothing but misery his whole life before he came to us… He had an owner before, who most likely kept him on a chain with a collar that was so tight, it started digging into his skin. Although he has now been freed from his collar and chain, it took a long time for the damage that this caused to heal… He had almost no hair left around his neck, and his skin was bare and irritated. Once he was no longer wanted, his owner abandoned him at the government shelter, an almost certain death sentence for such a small dog. He went from a terrible life, to an even worse situation, until a local volunteer asked AFOT for help and we agreed to take him in.
Despite being surrounded by people who cared nothing for him his whole life, Derren is a very affectionate little boy who loves humans. It’s heartbreaking to see how forgiving he is despite how often people have let him down… He may have never known true happiness, love or safety, but he never let all his misfortune break his spirit. He is a cheerful, feisty little dog who craves human attention, and just wants to be cuddled.
Derren is a small dog with a big personality. He is energetic and spunky, and loves going out on adventures. He walks well on the lead and enthusiastically leads the way, excitedly sniffing every new smell. He is very lively, and we have yet to see him have a lazy moment. You won’t catch him snoozing in his kennel: as soon as there are people around, he is ready for cuddles, and he will excitedly dance around you to try to get your attention. He is so desperate to be close to you, that he never sits still: he is constantly running around you to make sure he gets the attention he so craves. Part of his spirited, high-energy manner stems from being overstimulated in a kennel environment. We expect that with a calm, loving home and a stable daily routine, Derren will finally learn to relax and have quiet, peaceful moments.
Being a small, weak, dog who has had to face many situations where he has had to stand up for himself, Derren is insecure around other dogs. He gets stressed when meeting large dogs and other male dogs. Once he has had the chance to get to know the other dog, and he feels reassured that the other dog isn’t a threat to him, he is much more at ease. He gets along well with the other dogs in his living area, but isn’t very interested in interacting with them – all he wants is to interact with people!
Having a stable, loving home where he can feel truly safe, will make a huge difference for little Derren. He needs a home with lots of stability and patience, where he can learn to allow himself to be calm the joy of quiet, peaceful moments. Learning that he doesn’t have to worry that he won’t get the attention he so desperately wants, and that he doesn’t have to work so hard for it, will transform Derren into a much happier little dog. He so deserves to feel at home and at ease!
Derren is neutered, vaccinated, chipped, and has been tested for Brucella, Leishmaniasis, Anaplasma, Heartworm, and E-Canis before leaving Turkey along with proof of testing and signed vet letters.
If you think you could offer Derren the forever home he’s been waiting for, please check out our adoption process via Adopting With AFOT. There, you’ll find everything you need to get started, including our adoption form. A home check is always carried out, and while there’s no fixed adoption fee, we do kindly ask for a voluntary donation to help with our ongoing rescue efforts.