"Troy"

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Overview:

• Arrived in Care: 23rd December 2025.
• Date of Birth: 23rd February 2016
• Gender: Male
• Breed: Chihuahua - Long Coat
• De-Sexed: Yes.
• Micro-chipped: To be confirmed
• Registered with NZCAR: To be confirmed
• Vaccinated: To be confirmed
• DogsNZ (NZKC): No.
• Council Registered: Yes - Christchurch City Council.
• Cat Friendly: Yes.
• Child Friendly: 8 years and older. 
• Human Sociable: with support, see below. 
• Dog Sociable: with support, see below. 

Personality:

Troy is a sensitive, sweet, but timid little soul who is still finding his feet in care. His foster mum is taking a slow, gentle approach to help him build trust, as he is not comfortable being picked up and needs a dog-savvy adopter who will respect his boundaries and let him move at his own pace. 

Troy will need a calm, patient and rescue-knowlegable dog owner going forward. He is wary of strangers, he is used to being at home with his one (elderly) owner and so his socialisation and confidence is something we will grow over time.  Troy may tremble when someone approaches, but this appears to be nerves rather than aggression. He has otherwise been calm and non-reactive around the other dogs, happily keeping to himself once settled in  new enviroment.

As he decompresses, Troy is choosing quiet, safe spaces where he can feel secure. He spent his first night moving between the lounge and conservatory, retreating when needed, and he is confidently toileting outside with easy access. It's important not to overwhelm him or expect to be hands on from the outset.

When the house is quiet, he is quite happy to wander around on his own. He has since discovered a bedroom at the back of the house and has chosen this as his main resting space, where he sleeps comfortably in his crate. 

With time, consistency, and patience, Troy is expected to blossom into a very sweet little companion.

Health: 

• Troy will spend some time settling into foster care, before meeting with our vet. From there, we will know whether any medical treatments or procedures are needed. Any issues, or ongoing health costs an Adopter will need to consider, will be noted here on this profile. 

• While settling into care, Troy’s foster mum has noticed a quiet cough. As a precaution, he will be seen by the vet this coming week. His previous records note a grade 1 heart murmur, so we are simply following this up to ensure we have a clear picture of his health and can support him appropriately.

• His prior veterinary history shows he had a dental in 2022. We suspect he may be due for another dental while in care and, if needed, this will be arranged. His vaccination and microchip status are being confirmed and will be fully up-to-date prior to adoption. 

• Please Note: All dogs from NZCR are adopted only after being medically cleared by our vet, desexed, vaccinated, microchipped (registered with the NZ Companion Animal Register and local Council), and treated for fleas and worms
  
  

What happens now - the next steps include:

• Step 1: When a dog enters care, they spend time settling in and decompressing, before they attend their initial veterinary consult, where a full health assessment is completed and medical issues identified.

• Step 2: Medical care is completed (it may include desexing, dental treatment, or other necessary procedures). As this process unfolds, the dog’s profile is updated, including details of ongoing conditions a future adopter would need to be aware of.

• Step 3: Our foster parents observe the dog’s health, behaviour, and personality as they become more comfortable. These observations help us understand their individual needs and determine suitable adopter requirements. Profiles are updated regularly, so please check back if you're interested in a particular dog.

• Once ready for adoption: the dog will have a photo shoot with Furtography and we will announce their availability through our website and social media. At that point, the adoption application and vetting process begins.

Adopter Requirements: 

* Please note - Troy has only just come into care and these are preliminary adopter requirements. Over time, these requirements may change as we get to know a dog’s personality and needs. 

• Dog-savvy, patient adopter:
  Troy will need an adopter who understands fearful or shutdown dogs and is comfortable allowing him to set the pace. Someone who does not expect immediate affection, handling, or being picked up, and who values consent-based interaction.

• Calm, low-pressure home environment:
  A quieter household with predictable routines will suit Troy best. A busy, noisy, or highly social home is likely to overwhelm him while he continues to build confidence.

• Respect for boundaries and safe spaces:
  An adopter who is happy for Troy to have access to quiet retreat areas, such as a crate or separate room, and who will not force interaction. Crate-positive or decompression-aware homes would be ideal.

• Adults or older, dog-savvy children only:
  Young children won't be appropriate, given Troy’s sensitivity to proximity and handling. Older children who understand dog body language (ie. 8 years+) are suitable.

• Experience with confidence building:
  An adopter willing to continue gentle confidence work through routine, positive reinforcement, and possibly professional support if recommended.

• Potentially suitable with calm dogs, introductions required:
  Troy has shown largely non-reactive behaviour around other dogs once settled, so a calm, respectful canine companion may be suitable, but careful introductions and ongoing management would be required.

• Commitment to ongoing veterinary care:
  An adopter comfortable with routine vet monitoring, including monitoring any heart murmur, and dental care if needed.

Note: Before applying to adopt, please ensure you meet the adopter requirements listed above. These guidelines are set with the dogs' needs in mind, based on input from foster carers. If you do not meet these requirements, your application will be declined, so please review the criteria carefully to avoid disappointment. Thank you! 

Adoption Fee: $TBC to be paid to the NZCR trust account no. 03-0823-0074502-000
 

Note: Our adoption fees reflect the dog’s age, health, and care needs. They cover microchipping (NZCAR registration), vaccinations, de-sexing, current-year council registration, and any necessary treatments, including flea/worm treatments, medications, surgeries (e.g., dental), and food. Payment plans are not available, as adopters must show financial readiness for the expense that comes with pet ownership. Click below for more details on our adoption process.