Donna

🐾 Meet Donna – A Little Girl Learning What It Means to Be Loved 🐾

💕 Donna is 5 years old, a beautiful Poodle and an ex-breeding girl who is now looking for a very special forever home. 💕

🩷 All Ready for Her Forever Home

Paw Prints Canine Rescue has completed all of Donna's veterinary work, including 3 extractions and a dental scale and polish, so all of that is now behind her. Donna's next chapter is about something much more important — learning what it feels like to be safe, loved and part of a family. ❤️

Donna is one of those little dogs who will quietly steal your heart rather than demanding it.

As an ex-breeding dog, Donna hasn't had the opportunity to experience many of the things other dogs take for granted. New people, new experiences, unexpected movements and loud noises can all feel very overwhelming for her.

She is timid. She is unsure. She is cautious.

But underneath that timid exterior is an incredibly sweet little girl who is slowly learning that life can be kind.

Donna isn't going to rush up to you on day one, jump into your lap and cover you in kisses. She isn't going to instantly decide that you're her person.

And that's okay. ❤️

Donna needs a couple or family who understands that trust cannot be rushed. She needs people who will give her time, patience, love and confidence building, allowing her to watch, learn, settle and decide for herself when she is ready to come closer.

Watching Donna slowly learn to trust is part of what makes her so incredibly special.

It has taken her foster family months to reach the point where she is comfortable receiving a good pat, and even now she can still flinch with unexpected touch. She doesn't like being picked up unless she knows and trusts the person, and someone reaching down and grabbing her can be frightening.

Her affection is very much on her terms, and her forever family will need to respect that.

But when Donna does feel comfortable, you get to see the sweetest glimpses of the girl underneath. ❤️

She loves a gentle chin scratch and has the cutest little habit of giving you a tiny tap when you stop, almost as if she's saying, “Excuse me... I wasn't finished!” 🥹

She is also discovering that food is pretty wonderful, with chicken currently ranking very highly on her list of favourite things! 😂

Donna loves being outside in her safe space, running around the yard, enjoying the sunshine and finding a sunny spot to lie in. She is a very quiet little girl and rarely barks.

For Donna, home is her safe place.

At this stage, she isn't ready for walks on a lead or adventures into the big wide world. She isn't comfortable on a lead, and busy places such as beaches, coffee shops, markets or crowded areas would simply be far too overwhelming for her.

Perhaps one day she will surprise us.

Perhaps she won't.

And that's okay too.

Donna doesn't need a busy social calendar or a life full of adventures. She needs a life filled with security.

She needs a peaceful home where she can have a soft bed, a secure yard, gentle people and another lovely dog beside her.

Donna is dog friendly and needs another calm, friendly dog in her forever home. She is still learning how to “dog”, and having a confident but gentle canine companion could help her enormously by showing her that new things aren't always frightening.

She is happy around dogs of different sizes as long as they are calm and respectful.

Donna has also been cat tested and showed very little interest in the cat.

When it comes to children, Donna is much less certain. She hasn't had much exposure to children and can find loud noises and unexpected movements scary. For this reason, we believe she would be happiest with older, dog-savvy teenagers or, ideally, adults with no children living at home.

She needs people who understand that she may retreat to the bedroom when visitors arrive rather than coming out to say hello.

And that's okay.

Her new family shouldn't try to drag her out or expect her to socialise with everyone who walks through the door. They simply need to let her have her safe space and allow her to come out when she feels ready.

Donna's progress needs to be measured in little victories.

The first time she comes looking for you.

The first time she chooses to sit beside you.

The first time she follows you into another room.

The first time she asks for a chin scratch.

The first time she gives you that little tap because you've stopped.

The first time she looks at you and you know she feels safe.

Those moments will mean everything. ❤️

Donna is toilet trained and has slept comfortably in a crate. We think having a crate available in her new home would be wonderful for her as a safe little retreat when she feels overwhelmed or simply wants some quiet time.

She currently has the choice of her crate or dog bed in her foster parents' bedroom and spends much of her time on her quiet bed. Every now and then, when she feels brave enough, she'll venture onto the couch and sit near her humans.

For Donna, those little moments are huge.

Her new family will also need to understand that she is a Poodle and will require regular grooming and brushing. This should be approached gently and patiently while she continues building her confidence.

🏡 Donna's Perfect Forever Home

Donna needs a very special home with people who genuinely understand that love doesn't always happen instantly.

She needs a family who will:

💕 Give her time rather than expectations
🐾 Never force affection or interaction
❤️ Respect her space and boundaries
🏡 Provide a calm, quiet and predictable home
🐶 Have another calm, friendly dog for companionship
🧸 Give her a safe space to retreat to
🌿 Have a secure yard where she can enjoy being outside
🤍 Celebrate the little steps as her confidence grows

Most importantly, her family needs to fall in love with who Donna is now, rather than expecting her to become a completely different dog.

Donna isn't looking for someone to change her.

She needs someone who will accept her exactly as she is and patiently help her discover who she can become.

She deserves a soft bed and a sunny spot.

She deserves chicken treats and gentle chin scratches.

She deserves a doggy friend who can show her the ropes.

She deserves people who will never force her to be more than she is ready to be.

And she deserves to finally know what it feels like to be truly, completely loved. ❤️

Donna may take her time.

She may make you work for that first cuddle.

She may never be the dog who runs up to every stranger or wants to be carried around.

But somewhere along the way, she will choose you.

And when a little girl who has spent so much of her life feeling unsure finally walks over and quietly chooses to sit beside you because she trusts you, that moment will be worth everything.

Donna isn't asking for the world.

She's simply asking for someone patient enough to show her that the world doesn't have to be scary.

And we think the person who gives Donna that chance is going to fall hopelessly in love with this very sweet little girl. 🐾❤️

The adoption application link is https://goo.gl/forms/PqpkCcE89ikDR2Lw1

** Please note applications will close Saturday, 12th September 2026 at 5.30pm

Please note
* Please only apply if you are read to adopt now
* A meet and greet is required so please ensure you have
- Your current dogs vaccinations up-to-date and have a copy of the certificate to send thru (please contact your vet asap if you don't have a copy)
- Your dog can travel to the carers location
- You are available to attend the meet and greet within the next 7 days