Name/Age: Marlee - 5 y/o
Family Members: Sofia & her husband
How long has Marlee been in the family? Foster since January ’20, officially adopted in April 20’
Profession: College Student/ Student Teacher
Location: Atlanta, GA.
Nicknames: Mar, Bunny, Sunny Bunny
5 words/phrases that best describe Marlee?
Affectionate
Velcro Dog
Sweetheart
Misfit turned docile couch potato
Lil Mama - we call her our resident bunny rabbit! HaHa
What makes Marlee unique? Resilient regardless of her past life. She has become somewhat of a breed ambassador.
Happy Girl!
Rescue Story: I went to visit dogs at my local Lifeline shelter to see if I could take home a dog with their “weekend warrior” program (basically 2 day temporary foster) because I was planning on going on a hike the following morning. I stopped by with 30 minutes till close with a dog in mind. When I arrived I found out she had been taken home to foster only a few hours earlier. I messaged a volunteer friend asking for a recommendation, and she told me “Sandy” needed a break. I had seen her previously but never had desire to meet her due to her intense and not so nice kennel presentation. I took her home anyway and she won me over so fast! She first got to the shelter when picked up by AC as a stray. She was later reclaimed, then showed up as a stray once again. After a few months, she was adopted, then found as a stray yet again a few weeks later! After returning that time, she spent about 300 days in the shelter. She was labeled as “challenging” by staff due to her kennel behavior and only had a couple of volunteers willing/able to walk her. We decided to adopt her once she completed her heartworm treatment!
First week at her Foster soon to be forever home!
What is your favorite pastime as a family? We live next to the Chattahoochee trail, and she loves going for walks there. She also loves a good car ride, and is aware that a starbucks run means a cup of whipped cream for her! She is also super affectionate and likes to squeeze herself onto your lap to cuddle!
What is life like since you rescued Marlee? She has totally transformed since her shelter days, Marlee is a totally docile sweet baby now. Even my mother (who was previously scared of pit bull type dogs) adores her and asks for photos all the time! She has made herself at home and we all absolutely love and spoil her the way she deserves to be loved. She completes our family!
Photographers Note: Two things I want to touch on regarding Marlee. First of all, her ears are the cutest things on the planet. (see photo below on how they lay on her head in a relaxed state). They remind me a little draw bridge and when she see/hears something of interest they unfold and go up. So adorable……
The second thing is shelter behavior. Marlee is a great example of how you can’t judge a dog by how they are in the shelter. Shelters are very stressful places for most dogs, especially one that has spent 300 days there. If you give a dog an opportunity to relax and decompress you may find yourself the perfect forever best friend. There is not a single sign of the stress she experienced in the shelter in this sweet girl. She was happy and loved being able to explore the trails, very curious and all about the sniffs. This did not prevent her from giving a couple thank you kisses to the photographer when we were all done. So happy that Sofia and her family gave this girl the chance she deserved and now she is definitely living her best life!
Ear evidence!