Artie is a gentle, one-year-old Shepherd mix from Cyprus who is ready to start a new life after being found abandoned in a municipal pound.
Artie is a true sweetheart who is looking for the opportunity begin again. He’s a young dog, estimated to be no more than one year old, and he has already experienced more hardship than any dog should. 
He was found abandoned in a municipal pound before being taken in by one of our shelter partners when space became available. Understandably, he arrived frightened and unsure, with signs that he had not received the kindness or care every dog deserves.
Despite his difficult start, Artie has shown himself to be a calm, gentle and sensitive boy. He is not naturally trusting of new people and tends to hang back when meeting someone for the first time, but his shy nature is never defensive. Instead, he quietly observes, waiting until he feels ready to approach.
He will come to you ever so gently and slowly when he’s ready, you just have to earn it! With time and understanding, he begins to show interest, especially if you happen to have a biscuit in hand. Treats have become an important part of his confidence building journey and are really helping him learn that people can be kind.
Among other dogs, we have noticed that Artie has a naturally soothing presence and has formed some lovely bonds with other dogs in the shelter, particularly those who are nervous or have similar temperaments.
He has been a quiet source of comfort to many of them, offering calm companionship and helping them to feel at ease. For this reason, we believe Artie would thrive in a home with another friendly, well-adjusted dog to show him the ropes and offer reassurance.
He is still learning to trust the world around him and will need an adopter who understands the importance of moving at his pace. Artie would do best in a peaceful, semi rural home with access to a secure garden and without too much hustle and bustle.
A household with older children, ideally aged ten and above, would suit him better at this stage, as younger children may feel overwhelming for him. He has not yet been tested with cats so we have no insight as to how he may react to a resident feline.
Artie is a work in progress, but what he lacks in confidence he makes up for in heart. He is a gentle boy with no malice in him, only the quiet hope that life might finally offer him the love and safety he has missed out on so far.
With time, consistency and lots of patience, we believe Artie will come into his own and become a truly devoted companion.
If you are looking to make a real difference to a dog’s life and believe in the quiet power of kindness and patience, Artie may just be the one.
