Penny's Story

Hello, I am Miss Penny, a 4-year-old Vizsla farm girl from Nebraska who along with my sister Misty were surrendered by our owners to 2^nd Chance Vizsla Rescue as they felt they were getting too old to take care of us. 

After a long drive with multiple amazing volunteers helping with transport and housing us over night, we arrived in Albuquerque, NM. My sister, Misty went to foster Kevin and within a week or so found her forever home. I went over to fosters Katherine and Jeff with their Vizsla pup and Dobie/V mix. When I figured out that I could go to a safe place in my crate and no dogs would take my food, I dropped my food aggression and started to share toys with my foster siblings. I had a lot of anxiety and was super stressed when I arrived in the city. I wasn’t eating and needed constant contact for self-assurance. I really am a country girl and all the new city noises were terrifying. The first week I was in Albuquerque on a quiet walk in the neighborhood I witnessed the most frightening thing – a water serpent appeared out of nowhere! My foster mom claims it was only a sprinkler system – but I swear to you the way it sprang to life it had to be a water serpent lurking in the ground. 

It took some time but my true Vizsla personality started to show itself – very sweet, very playful, and very birdy. However, I wasn’t putting on weight. The vet suspected I may have issues processing food properly and this may be contributing to my anxiety. Through the vet we tried a variety of things, the last, TYLAN and bone broth, finally helped reset my system! 

I finally found my new mom. She was at the soccer fields where Kevin, my foster dad, takes his dogs often. She had met Kevin briefly before, and noticed he had three Vizslas with him so she walked over to say hi and get a little Vizsla fix. (My new family had lost their 16 1/2 year old Vizsla one year ago and had recently started the search for another). She was excited to hear that I was looking for a new home and soon after that, the whole family came to meet me for a walk with Kevin and my foster sisters. They were all instantly in love. They came to walk with us again before they went on vacation.

While on vacation, they received a message that they were accepted to be my forever family! They couldn’t wait to get home to welcome me. Kevin and my foster sisters took me to their house the same afternoon they returned home. We played a little, took some pictures and then Kevin and the girls left. I was a little confused that night. We went to the park for a walk that evening and that relaxed me along with a long walk/hike the next morning to acquaint me with my new neighborhood. Well, my new family showed me a lot of love, and I settled in quickly and guess what? My new family loves the outdoors and are really active too! I have a big yard that has become my playground, and there are ALWAYS lizards out there to chase around. We take a long walk every morning through the neighborhood and sometimes on the nearby trails, and I see deer and rabbits and lizards and birds right out our front door! It’s great fun! My new human siblings, a sister and brother, LOVE to play with me too. We play ball and play with my toys. My sister makes up games for us to play. I love the blanket game. For our evening walk, we usually take a trip to the park and walk and run and play some more. In between all this playing, I am glued to mom’s side or snuggling with someone.

I took my new family to visit my sister, Misty, who was adopted by a great family that lives about 30 min away. We had a little 5th birthday party for Misty and I, and my foster dad and his girls were there, too! I have also gotten to see my foster sisters for a play date/walk. I have already taken a couple road trips to Durango, CO and am loving being on a SUP and playing in the water and of course hiking. I haven’t shown my family any swimming skills yet, so they are being cautious and not taking me away from shore yet, but I am easing my way further into the water on my timeline. 

What my mom has to say: Penny is AMAZING! She has fit right into our family much quicker than we expected. She welcomes new faces and is so well behaved. She is a great traveler. She grabs a shoe or sock sometimes while I’m in the shower or away and takes it to “her” chair to lay on. (She claimed the chair her first evening with us.) Such a sweetie! She is an exemplary Vizsla - intelligent, high energy, adventurous and cuddly. We were so lucky to find this Penny! Thank you to Kevin and 2nd Chance Vizsla Rescue for allowing us to be Penny’s forever family!