American Staffordshire Terrier puppies and dogs in Herndon, Virginia

Meet Polly! This petite Bully girl with adorable ears and a zest for life has blossomed in her foster home.  She had an unfair start in life, but her natural joy is unmatched. She loves her foster parents and her pack, romping in the yard, and playing with toys, and she is a champion snuggler!  Polly came to us from a rural shelter. She had been confiscated as a puppy by Animal Control from a bad home situation and was held as "evidence" until her prior owner was taken to court. Polly was rescued so young, she had little exposure to the outside world at the shelter before she came into rescue — stairs, car rides, and walks in a neighborhood were all new to her, so she had some catching up to do. Thankfully Polly has had two incredible foster families that changed the course of her life. Timid dogs like Polly typically need more time in their foster home to be ready for adoption. Polly was fortunate to have foster parents who worked with her, gradually exposing her to new things, and expanding her horizons. She has flourished with some TLC and her trusty dog pack by her side. Polly loves other dogs and would do best with a pup playmate in her new home. She gains confidence from other dogs and will continue to thrive with a playmate. FOSTER MOM UPDATE -9/29/24 We checked in with her foster mom, Shaleia, for an update: “Polly has come such a long way during her time with us! It has been a pleasure to watch her grow into the confident, loving, and playful dog that she is. She is no longer fearful of car rides or outings to town and really enjoys going on walks, especially if there are lots of new smells to explore. We usually walk her solo because she has a higher energy level than our other two and appreciates a much longer walk. On these solo walks she is one of the easiest dogs on leash I’ve ever handled, she is not reactive at all and doesn’t pull. Polly loves other dogs and has gained confidence from being part of a pack. She fell in love with our two dogs right away, but it did take us humans a little time to earn her trust. Watching her now you wouldn’t believe it! She is very affectionate and loves to cuddle and give kisses. It melts my heart when she comes up to me and pushes her head and shoulder into my chest for a hug. While Polly warmed up to me first, she loves to snuggle and play with my husband and our 11-year-old too. Her two favorite things in life are toys and treats. She can easily entertain herself with a new toy but gets so much joy out of playing tug and keep-away with her people. She loves to chase a ball - and she is fast - but it wouldn’t be fair to call it ‘fetch’ since you have to do some work to get it back, lol. It’s fun to watch Polly play, she is a real athlete and fearlessly leaps and twists to catch her toys. And when it’s time for a treat, Polly can hardly contain her joy and shows off her tap dancing skills. She will toss it, dance and prance around her treasure, and have her own little party. She treasures her toys and is the resident toy hoarder, always having one close by. Polly can still be timid in new situations at first, but she gains confidence more quickly with repeated exposure. Once she's comfortable with a person or place, you get to see her confident and sassy personality emerge. She’s made progress in every area of her development, especially in our home. We’ve proven that she’s good with men, women, and kids. She loves my husband and has proven to be an equal-opportunity snuggler." ********* Leash Skills - One major improvement area has been walks. I think she would be just fine walking through more dense neighborhoods now, though she appreciates the more natural walking trails. She really enjoys long walks and marches at a good pace, but also likes to be able to stop and sniff the roses... and other things. She does best on paths she knows, but she only needs to visit a new route a few times to gain confidence. She's comfortable with bikes/strollers/etc and just keeps walking.   Meeting New People - Polly is better at meeting strangers. She doesn't try to keep as much distance and seems more curious about them.  Having another dog there makes it easier on her because she'll be excited to say hi if they are. She follows their lead. She still takes time to trust new people and needs trust to be earned, but she has no ill will toward anyone, she just needs time to trust and verify they are OK. My friend who comes over for playdates has made great progress with Polly. We had her come into the house on the last visit to see how Polly would react and it went well. There was no barking or extra shy behavior. Now when we hang out, Polly will come up to her to say hi, get a couple of scratches, and give a lick to her hand too… Crate - She is crate-trained. We use the crate when the humans are out of the house. At night, she will go to her crate on her own when she sees us starting to get ready for bed. I think the crate is her safe, secure space and she sleeps through the night without issue.  Training/Commands - She knows a handful of commands but isn't always consistent with them. She's pretty good with 'leave it' and 'sit', though she is often so wiggly she doesn't stay in sit long She knows 'down' and 'stay'. Overall, she does well learning our routines and generally knows what we expect of her and is responsive, but she still has the excitement level that can distract her at times.” ****** We are looking for a loving, patient owner for Polly who will give her time to settle in and adjust to her new surroundings. We feel another social, playful, established dog in her home will help her trust and adapt more quickly. She will do best in a quieter neighborhood vs. city or condo setting.  If given a chance, this sweet girl will charm you, and we can promise she will make you smile and laugh every day. Apply today!   BREED ESTIMATE: Terrier/Pocket Pittie mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: ~ 35 lbs  APPROXIMATE AGE: ~  4 years old COAT TYPE:  short ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Warrenton, VA   FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area. February 11, 2025, 4:45 pm

Meet Twix. This handsome Bully boy was found tied to a pole as a very young pup. Thankfully, a Good Samaritan saw him, took him in, and ensured he found his way to rescue. Twix has proven to be a vibrant, sweet, and smart boy, and we are thrilled to help him find his forever home. Twix is living with seasoned fosters, Laine and Gary, who have four dogs of their own. He was an easy introduction to their pack and quickly formed a bond with Ziege, their youngest dog, who is about his size. Twix thrives in an active environment and enjoys rough-and-tumble play, making him best suited for a home with a dog his size or larger who shares his energy and play style. Laine shared, “Twix is very sweet and knows his name, comes when called, knows how to sit, and loves his belly rubs. He loves to play chase with Girl and Ziege, and tug-of-war is his favorite game. He gets in the kiddie pools a lot and just about anything is a toy to him — my shoes, the laundry basket. He does great meeting new people and will talk to you from time to time. It’s the cutest thing.” Twix has shown himself to be adaptable and eager to learn. He’s housetrained, crate-trained, and has started mastering basic commands. He rides great in the car and does well meeting new people and other dogs. He has decent leash skills; he may pull a bit but improves with practice. Twix is very treat-motivated and learns quickly, so continued training in his new home will be a rewarding experience for both him and his adopters. He’s still a young pup who can get into mischief if bored or left to his own devices, so structure will be important for him. We believe that Twix will need an active home. He’d thrive with a family who appreciates his fun and goofy personality and is committed to giving him the structure and love he deserves. While he loves the company of other dogs, Twix would also be happy as the center of attention in a single dog home, provided he has plenty of interaction and activity. This lovable boy has so much to offer and is ready to bring joy, laughter, and unconditional love to his new family. If you’re looking for a loyal, active, and playful companion, Twix might just be the perfect fit for you. Apply today!   BREED ESTIMATE:  American Staffordshire/Bulldog/Bully Mix = Super cute! GENDER: Male APPROXIMATE WEIGHT:  46 lbs  APPROXIMATE AGE: ~  1 to 1.5 years old COAT TYPE:  short coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 VET INFO: utd on shots/neutered/microchipped LOCATION:  Centreville, VA   FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area. January 19, 2025, 12:18 pm

Meet Oliver. This handsome boy is safe, warm, and living indoors for the very first time in his young life. For months, Oliver endured a life tied to a tree with little room to move and no shelter to protect him. Concerned neighbors repeatedly contacted the police and animal control, but no action was taken to help him. Fortunately, when his owner abandoned him, we were able to step in and give Oliver a chance at a brighter future. Oliver has been in his foster home for two weeks now, settling in with his foster mom, Lou, her husband, Scotty, and their two German Shepherds, Knox and Dozer. He had an easy introduction to his new pack and seems to enjoy their company. At first, he stuck close to the senior pup and pack leader, Dozer, learning the ropes. Before long, he found a playful buddy in Knox and has even discovered the toy box! Oliver loves to entertain himself with toys, showing us the joyful, curious spirit that was waiting to shine through. We checked in with his foster mom, Lou, for an update:  “Oliver is the sweetest boy and absolutely loves to cuddle. He’s so happy to be inside, warm, and part of a family. He has great house manners and is completely housebroken—he hasn’t had a single accident since he arrived. I’ve been slowly introducing the crate to him, and he’s learning that it’s a safe and cozy spot. When Scotty and I are out of the house for a few hours, we crate him since he and Knox are still young dogs who can’t quite be trusted not to get into mischief. At night, though, I now let him sleep out with the pack, and he does just fine. Oliver is naturally more of a submissive dog, which made introducing him to my boys one of the easiest I’ve done. He’s happy to follow their lead, and all three dogs sit calmly while we prepare their food. There hasn’t been a single argument between them, and Oliver shows no food aggression—remarkable, considering how skinny he was and what he’s been through. He’s really starting to settle into life as a confident, happy dog. The first few days, he was a bit scared of everything, which is understandable with all the new sights, sounds, and routines. But now he’s totally comfortable. He loves the couch, warm blankets, and snuggling with either me or Scotty whenever we sit down. He’s also a big fan of butt scratches! Energy-wise, Oliver is low to moderate, which is surprising for such a young dog. I haven’t heard him bark yet, but he does whine like a little baby puppy, which is both sweet and funny. Overall, he’s a gentle, loving, and very good boy who’s soaking up all the love and comfort he’s been missing.” ******** Oliver has quickly embraced home life and is thriving in his new environment. Now that he’s settled in and feeling safe and loved, his adolescent side is coming out…like stealing his foster mom’s slipper or following Knox’s lead to get into mischief. It’s great to see. Over the next few weeks, his foster mom will test out his leash skills and socialize him further with outings to the local pet store and Home Depot. Oliver has already been to the vet and Tractor Supply and did wonderfully. He charmed the vet staff, was an excellent patient, and calmly met strangers in the store. His calm demeanor and sweet personality shine as he adjusts to life as a loved and cared-for pup. He’s a pretty impressive boy!   FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 1/31/25 "I took Oliver to the vet and pet store today and he did well. There was another dog in PetSmart that was barking and going spastic and Oliver just ignored him. He also met a 4-year-old little girl while we were looking at the fish and he loved her. He let her pet him and never tried to jump or nibble on her fingers. When she got ready to leave she turned around and waved at him and told him bye Oliver, it was so sweet. He did get a little anxious outside because it was lunch rush hour and there was a lot of really loud traffic, but riding in my vehicle he did fine even with fire trucks in the ambulance passing us.  Everyone at the vet office was talking about him too and I heard so many great compliments about he's a wonderful dog, he's so cute, he's just perfect, he's a fantastic dog. He was so calm and relaxed, he actually fell asleep in the exam room when I was talking with the vet." ********* Oliver will be coming to the DC metro area in February.  Apply today to learn more! BREED ESTIMATE:  AmStaff/Boxer Mix GENDER: Male APPROXIMATE WEIGHT:  59 lbs  APPROXIMATE AGE: ~  1 year old COAT TYPE:  short coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 VET INFO: utd on shots/neutered/microchipped LOCATION:  Rock, Hill, SC - Coming to N. VA in February   FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area. February 1, 2025, 1:38 am

Meet Gracie! This adorable little nugget was found running as a stray in York County, SC, and picked up by Animal Control. That turned out to be her lucky day because one of our amazing foster moms, Laine, volunteers at the shelter and didn’t hesitate to step up and help. Now, Miss Gracie is safe in rescue and settling into her foster home with Laine, Gary, and their pack of four pups! Gracie has already won over her foster family and quickly bonded with her new pack. She loves to play, gets the zoomies, and hops like a rabbit when she’s excited—something that keeps Laine laughing. She was quickly welcomed by the resident dogs, finding playmates in the two younger pups and a bestie in her fellow pittie, Ziege. We’ve learned that Gracie is both crate-trained and house-trained! She was a little timid at first, adjusting to all the new sights and sounds of home life, but she’s settling in beautifully. Every day, her confidence grows with more exposure and reassurance from her foster family. Laine shared this update: "Gracie is a diamond in the rough, and I could just squeeze her to pieces! She’s such a happy girl—still a little too thin and always acting like she’s starving, but that’s improving now that she knows she can count on regular meals. She loves toys and can be so silly! Today, she decided the throw rug was a toy and pulled it into the dog bed with her. She’s also obsessed with the water hose and is learning how to have fun. I only expect her to blossom even more as she settles in." Gracie is already showing what a special girl she is, and we can’t wait to see her continue to thrive! Updates to follow as she settles in.  This cutie pie is ready to start her new life and will be coming to town in February.  Apply today! BREED ESTIMATE:  AmStaff Mix (bully) GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT:  42 lbs (should be close to 45lbs) APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 1.5 years old COAT TYPE:  short coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 VET INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION:  York, SC - Coming to town in February   FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area. February 12, 2025, 3:00 pm

This lady was brought to us with her pups after being found dumped in a yard. She is a sweet gal who had to have been someone's baby. She is housetrained, does well on a leash and likes car rides. She is friendly to everyone and is not aggressive at all. She has never snapped at any volunteer who has met her, nor any visitor. She is a great dog who deserves to have a home again. She is located in Tennessee but can be transported to you through Rescue Riders.

This sweet girl is one of many dogs who's fate it was to be abandoned here in the south. People are throwing sweet dogs out day and night in this economy. Ducky is one of the lucky ones that was picked up by a kind stranger and brought to a rescue that was able to find a foster! She is Spayed and UTD on required vaccines. Ducky likes other dogs but is rambunctious. She loves everyone she meets so older children would be fine. She is close to housetrained and will just need to get comfortable with her new routine. If you would like to add this sweet and very pretty girl to your forever family, please email omlc7@hotmail.com and we will send our info and app. If you do not see a response, be sure and check you junk folder.

 Hi I’m Arnold and I’m living with my foster mom and my two brothers Abner and Arthur. We were rescued from a shelter in SW Virginia on Saturday 1/25/2025. Shelter life isn’t easy and didn’t teach us good manners but we have come a long way in just 24 hours. We hadn’t ever used stairs but we had to learn to use them to go potty outside. Our foster mom carried us a few times but finally I got brave and got up the courage! I did great and my brothers were so surprised at how easy it looked that they got brave too! Our foster mom has to go downstairs first and then we get brave and hurry to meet her. Now we want to go outside and up and down the stairs all the time and are doing really great with accidents in the house. We will keep working on that. I would just like to stretch out and sleep on a soft bed and I’m doing lots of that. My foster mom says I have the sweetest demeanor, I’m confident and calm which helps us all to stay calm. We didn’t get lots of kisses, pets and snuggles in the shelter so we are making up for lost time. We are still trying to get settled in and all we want to do right now is to rest, snuggle and relax on the soft couch. Our foster mom will get better pictures and update our profiles soon. She tells us that our forever home is out there waiting for us and we can’t wait to meet you. We are about 13 weeks old and ready to be adopted on Saturday Feb 8 when we have our final shots. If you want more info or want to meet us you can get in touch with Fancy Cats to make that happen.  Adoption fee: $525, includes 1st DHPP, deworming, flea preventative, microchip   If you are interested in adopting, please fill out an application and a representative will get back to you shortly to answer any questions you may have. The adoption policies and applications can be found at the following links: https://fancycats.org/adopt-a-cat and https://fancycats.org/adopt-a-dog. Email us at  adoption@fancycats.org for general questions about our rescued cats. Email us at dogadoptions@fancycats.org for general questions about our rescued dogs. See our calendar of adoption events at https://fancycats.org/(scroll towards bottom) You can save animals like this one by becoming a foster! Fosters are like bridges between high kill shelters and forever homes. We need fosters so that we can save cats and dogs before they are euthanized at the shelters. If you are interested in becoming a foster, please visit: https://fancycats.org/volunteerMarch 6, 2025, 10:47 am

 Hi. I’m Abner and I am living with my new foster mom and my two brothers Arthur and Arnold. We were rescued from a shelter in SW Virginia on Saturday 1/25/2025. Shelter life isn’t easy and didn’t teach us good manners but we have come a long way in just 24 hours. We hadn’t ever used stairs but we had to learn to use them to go potty outside. Our foster mom carried us a few times but finally Arnold was brave and got up the courage! He did great and me and Arthur were so surprised at how easy it looked that we got brave too! Our foster mom has to go downstairs first and then we get brave and hurry to meet her. Now we want to go outside and up and down the stairs all the time and are doing really great with accidents in the house. We will keep working on that. I growl to keep my brothers away when I’m eating but my foster mom will keep working with me on that to know that I will always have food. I also growled at her the first time i met her but now I hog her lap and try to get all the pets. It’s just my way to show I’m scared but as soon as I knew I was safe I haven’t growled since. We didn’t get lots of kisses, pets and snuggles in the shelter so we are all making up for lost time. We are still trying to get settled in and all we want to do right now is to rest, snuggle and relax on the soft couch. Our foster mom will get better pictures and update our profiles soon. She tells us that our forever home is out there waiting for us and we can’t wait to meet you. We are about 13 weeks old and ready to be adopted on Saturday Feb 8 when we have our final shots. If you want more info or want to meet us you can get in touch with Fancy Cats to make that happen.    Adoption Fee:$525 Included in adoption: All shots, sterilized, Heartworm test, Microchip ,Dewormed, Flea Preventative   If you are interested in adopting, please fill out an application and a representative will get back to you shortly to answer any questions you may have. The adoption policies and applications can be found at the following links: https://fancycats.org/adopt-a-cat and https://fancycats.org/adopt-a-dog. Email us at  adoption@fancycats.org for general questions about our rescued cats. Email us at dogadoptions@fancycats.org for general questions about our rescued dogs. See our calendar of adoption events at https://fancycats.org/(scroll towards bottom) You can save animals like this one by becoming a foster! Fosters are like bridges between high kill shelters and forever homes. We need fosters so that we can save cats and dogs before they are euthanized at the shelters. If you are interested in becoming a foster, please visit: https://fancycats.org/volunteerMarch 14, 2025, 6:17 pm

Meet Austin! Austin is an adorable Labrador Retriever and Boxer mix, born around October 2024. He may have been the smallest of his five siblings, but he certainly has a big personality! Austin is a calm and affectionate pup who loves being a homebody. He enjoys cuddling up and taking long naps on the couch, making him the perfect companion for cozy evenings at home. Austin is a well-behaved boy who sleeps peacefully in his kennel at night without making a fuss. He is still working on his potty training and improving every day! Especially if there are treats involved. While Austin is playful and curious about the world around him, he does have a little bit of anxiety when it comes to going outside. Having spent the first few weeks of his life in a shelter, he's still adjusting to outdoor environments but is making great progress and becoming more comfortable and confident each day. If you’re looking for a sweet, snuggly companion who’s ready to learn and grow, Austin would love to meet you and find his foever home.     Adoption Fee:$525 Included in adoption: All shots, sterilized, Heartworm test, Microchip ,Dewormed, Flea Preventative   If you are interested in adopting, please fill out an application and a representative will get back to you shortly to answer any questions you may have. The adoption policies and applications can be found at the following links: https://fancycats.org/adopt-a-cat and https://fancycats.org/adopt-a-dog. Email us at  adoption@fancycats.org for general questions about our rescued cats. Email us at dogadoptions@fancycats.org for general questions about our rescued dogs. See our calendar of adoption events at https://fancycats.org/(scroll towards bottom) You can save animals like this one by becoming a foster! Fosters are like bridges between high kill shelters and forever homes. We need fosters so that we can save cats and dogs before they are euthanized at the shelters. If you are interested in becoming a foster, please visit: https://fancycats.org/volunteerMarch 14, 2025, 6:17 pm