HUGHESVILLE — Sophie is 12 years old, weighs about 7 pounds and, by the account of the people caring for her, has no plans to act her age.
The Yorkshire terrier mix is waiting for a home at the Charles County Animal Care Center, which introduced her on Facebook Oct. 20 as “12 going on 2.” Shelter staff describe her as a happy, energetic dog with enough pep to keep a household entertained.
For an adopter, Sophie comes with a lot of the hard work already done. According to the shelter, she is:
- Housebroken and crate trained
- Good with children
- Good with other dogs
- Able to do a few tricks
She enjoys time outdoors and, in the shelter’s words, is ready to be the center of someone’s attention. That makes her a fit for a home that wants a small, social companion rather than a dog that keeps to itself.
One question the shelter could not yet answer: how Sophie does with cats or other small animals. When a commenter with cats and ducks asked about her prey drive, staff said they were not sure. Families with cats, birds or other small pets should ask the shelter about a meet-and-greet or more time to assess her before bringing her home.
Sophie’s post drew dozens of reactions and more than 40 shares within hours, and staff confirmed in replies that afternoon that she was still available. Interest moves quickly for small dogs, so anyone serious about meeting her should call ahead.
The case for a senior dog
Older dogs are often passed over at shelters in favor of puppies, but they come with advantages for the right owner: a known personality, settled habits and, in Sophie’s case, house and crate training already in place. A 7-pound dog also fits easily in an apartment or a home with limited yard space.
Adopters considering a senior pet should plan for a veterinary checkup soon after adoption and ask the shelter about any health information on file.
How to meet Sophie
The Charles County Animal Care Center is at 6707 Animal Shelter Road in Hughesville. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the county’s Animal Care and Control page. The shelter can be reached at 301-932-1713 for questions about fees and the adoption process.
Sophie is one of a steady stream of adoptable animals the Chronicle has featured from the Hughesville shelter this month, including a blue-eyed puppy named Ice Ice Baby and a toy-shredding Lab mix named Loki Boy. Readers who are not ready to adopt can still help by sharing Sophie’s post.
