Gertie's Story
In June of 2025, Gertie was discovered alone, wandering the streets of St. Petersburg. At only 29 pounds, she was trying her best to survive on the streets in the middle of the Florida summer heat.
​
A group of neighbors worked together to bring her to safety, where she was then transferred to Beacon Emergency Animal Hospital to receive immediate medical care. Gertie was given fluids, treated for fleas, and provided the nutrition she needed to begin her new life.
​
Since then, Gertie has made huge strides in a loving foster home. She is now a healthy 47 pounds, has been spayed, and received a completely clean bill of health. She is learning more and more every day that humans aren't so scary after all.
​
Now, it is Gertie's chance to find the forever home she so desperately deserves.
Gertie Then
Gertie Now
Since being in her foster home, Gertie has learned what love is again. She enjoys spending her days rolling in the grass, sunbathing, napping on the couch, and going for brisk evening walks with her foster dad.
​
Gertie also loves to go on daily outings with her people! Whether to the park, pumpkin patch, or even on a little car ride, she enjoys all the smells and sights there are to experience around her.
Gertie's Forever Home Checklist
-
Someone who is home often, works from home, or can take her out and about with them. Gertie does great being left at home alone, is not destructive in the house, but needs to be let outside regularly or to have access to a doggie door.
-
A single-story home or a home without many stairs would be ideal, as she sometimes gets a little stiff going up and down stairs.
-
Commitment to daily enrichment, exercise, and continuing to build confidence.
-
She would do well in a home with older, mature children, or smaller children who are respectful of a dog's boundaries.
-
Patience and will allow time for adjustment and decompression.
-
She's done well walking with other dogs and generally ignores them while out and about. In the home, it is recommended she have her own space to acclimate for slow introductions to other dogs in the home, but has great potential to be able to coexist with one or two other laid-back dogs.
-
A regular, structured everyday routine to follow.
FAQs
Here are some common questions people have asked about Gertie:
Is she housebroken?
Does she get along with dogs? Cats?
Does she know basic cues/commands?
Yes! Gertie is housebroken, and she will often ask to go outside by going to the back door and vocalizing to go out. She does need regular potty breaks, but she has also shown her capability of being trained to use a doggy door.
Gertie has been both dog and cat tested by her amazing trainer, and passed both assessments. When coming into a new home with dogs or cats, her new family must understand she will need very slow introductions and her own space for a while to adjust to her new surroundings/furry family members. Gertie does best with dogs her own size or larger.
Gertie knows "sit," "shake," "down" (or "lie down"), and is currently working on the "roll over" cue. She is very smart and extremely food motivated, making training fun for both her and her new family. She enjoys brain games, licki mats, and puzzle toys.
Is Gertie spayed/UTD on shots?
Absolutely! Gertie has had all of her shots and was recently spayed in September 2025. Her new family will be sent home with all of her medical records.
How can I help Gertie adjust to her new home?
Gertie's foster family has agreed to cover all training costs to help Gertie and her new family adjust to their new life together. Gertie has been working with Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Rachel Traubert. Follow her on Instagram @the_imperfect_paw
Is there a fee to adopt Gertie?
There is currenly no fee to adopt Gertie, but her foster family and trainer intend to be selective when choosing her home to ensure her saftety and well-being, including a home check visit before her adoption is completed.
Is Gertie affiliated with a rescue organization?
Due to overwhelming pet overpopulation in shelters and rescues, Gertie's entire recovery and adoption process is being independently facilitated by her foster family.