Ivy

Meet Ivy

Ivy came to us as an owner surrender after spending far too much time confined to a crate in a garage, with owners who were not providing the care and attention she needed. She was on the waitlist for the county shelter, which is overwhelmed with too many dogs and not enough resources, so they reached out to Worthy Dog for help.

Ivy is a sweet Labradoodle girl who has come a long way. She came to us with pale gums, vomiting, and very little energy. Our vet confirmed that she was anemic, likely due to fleas and skin infections. She was emaciated and dehydrated and needed small, frequent meals just to get her stabilized.

Her foster mom, Cindy, has done an amazing job nursing her back to health and teaching her house manners. Ivy has gained more than 15 pounds and, while she still has more weight to gain, she finally looks like the healthy, happy dog she was meant to be.

Today, Ivy is a completely different dog. She is house-trained, uses a dog door like a pro, and is surprisingly calm and well-behaved in the house. Most of the time, she is either relaxing or entertaining herself with one of her many toys. She absolutely loves toys and will happily destroy a stuffed animal, so her new family should be prepared to keep a good supply on hand.

Ivy loves other dogs and has done well with every dog she has met, both at home and out on walks, hikes, and trips to the dog park. She loves to play, run, wrestle, and play tug, and she has a great time with her foster sister Libby. She can bark excitedly when she sees another dog, but it is always friendly. She has also been wonderful at the dog park, where she loves meeting both people and dogs.

Ivy is great with people and kids too. She will bark when someone comes to the door or fence, but she is friendly once people come inside. She is incredibly affectionate and wants to be wherever her people are. She is a loyal girl who has bonded closely with her foster mom and loves nothing more than being a couch and TV-watching partner.

She is also a great activity partner. Ivy loves walking, running, and being outside, and she would happily join her family for hikes, adventures, and just about anything else. She enjoys playing in the yard but is generally pretty calm once she is back inside.

FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 10/28/26

"Ivy is probably the most affectionate dog I’ve ever had. She will follow you around the house. All she wants to do is sit by you and be petted. When we first took her in she had no manners and had never been in a house. She has certainly acclimated to home life and has turned out to be a wonderful dog and a wonderful companion. She is very special. My husband absolutely loves her so does everyone who meets her. I think she really would love a companion dog that has a similar energy level as her. She absolutely loves to play and will entertain herself all day playing with Libby.

Ivy is the most affectionate dog we’ve ever had or fostered. She just wants to be with you! She’s a great couch companion and TV watcher, sleeps soundly through the night, and loves belly rubs and her toys. She’s calm in the house when she’s not playing with my dog.

Once she settled in, Ivy was great in the house. She’s completely potty trained, uses the doggy door, and isn’t destructive. She does love to steal socks, though! She’s also very food motivated, which makes her easy to train, but she’s a counter surfer, so keep food out of reach.

Ivy came to us at 32 pounds and now weighs 50. She LOVES walks and hikes, goes to the dog park regularly, and plays wonderfully with other dogs. She’s a great car rider and adventure companion. She’s delightful, goofy, and quirky, and everyone who meets her loves her.

An active family and a playful dog with a similar energy level would be ideal. Ivy and my dog, Libby, have become best friends, and having another dog could help her learn a new routine. She learns quickly and needs daily exercise.

Her leash skills are still a work in progress. She can bark and pull when excited to meet unfamiliar dogs, but she’s done well with every dog we’ve introduced her to. She also barks when people arrive at the door but settles once they come inside. She’s been good with visiting friends, family, and grandkids and is happy to accept pets from everyone.

Ivy is truly special. If I didn’t potentially need to care for my mom’s dog in the future, I’d probably keep her myself."

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Ivy has proven that she can happily live with another dog or as part of a pack, and would love to have a playmate. We think she could also do well in an active only-dog home as long as her new family is committed to walks and setting up doggy playdates. She really does enjoy play.

It is wonderful to see the happy, playful, and affectionate dog Ivy has become. She is ready for a family who will continue to give her the love, care, and stability she deserves and who will appreciate having a loyal, fun-loving companion by their side.

Apply today!

BREED ESTIMATE: Labradoodle GENDER: Male APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 50 lbs (needs to gain 2-3 lbs) APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 1.5 to 2 years old COAT TYPE: Medium scruffy coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: UTD on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Matthews, NC - Coming to N. Va on 11/7

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.