Snow White Searches for Her Happy Ending

With all the cute, cuddly, doe-eyed and well-adjusted adoptable pets out there, it’s easy to forget the reason pet rescue organizations exist in the first place. This week’s featured pet, Snow White, is a somewhat sad reminder.

Snow White, a Bichon Frise, came to Edina-based rescue group Secondhand Hounds from a puppy mill at about four years old and with limited experience with people. A princess in need of a rescue, she had spent the first four years of her life largely neglected, having puppies in a barn without electricity. She was not given the attention or care she deserved, only now learning to trust people and what it means to be a pet rather than a puppy machine.

Most would agree Snow White is forunate to have been placed with a patient and loving foster mom, Maura Nelson. When Snow White was first placed with Nelson, she was nervous and uncomfortable. She wouldn’t go near Nelson unless she was sitting completely still on the floor. Even then, Snow White didn’t want to be touched.

But in a couple of days she was wagging her tail and only a few weeks later she was following her foster mom around each morning, hoping to have her head scratched.

"She is the most happy and vibrant dog in the morning," Nelson said. "It is such a cool thing to watch."

Despite the pup having a fairy tale name, Nelson does not recommend that a family with small children adopt Snow White. She will not bite or be aggressive in the least, but the quick movements of small children scare her and would likely delay her progression as a pet. Snow White is most comfortable around people who move slowly and will allow her to approach them rather than the other way around. She tends to hide when startled or when approached by an unfamiliar person. 

While Snow White is uncomfortable around children and strangers, she would do well with other dogs. She has been great with every dog she has met so far and, while she doesn’t tend to be playful, she does seem to feel safer with another dog around. 

When inside, Snow White likes to watch TV—a new and intriguing thing in her life. Her happiest place, though, is outside. Nelson says she is like a different dog outside, carefree and relaxed. Snow White requires a home with a fenced yard, as learning to walk on a leash will likely take some time.  

She is house-trained and healthy overall, but Snow White does have a mild case of a luxating patella, a knee problem common in small dogs that causes her to be stiff at times. She also has thinning hair that is most noticeable on her back, most likely caused by poor nutrition or the living conditions at the puppy mill.

“She is a dog for someone who wants a challenge—a very sweet, rewarding challenge,” Nelson said.

Snow White is not the pup for everyone, but Nelson and Rachel Mairose, the director at Secondhand Hounds, hope the person with the right combination of patience and love will adopt her soon. 

“She might never be the kind of dog who will run up and jump into your lap, but she is a very loving, gentle dog who will be a great addition to a lucky family,” Mairose said. 

If you are interested in adopting Snow White or in volunteering with Secondhand Hounds, visit the organization’s website to fill out an application online.