This dog will be at Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, May 3rd from 12-3pm or until adopted. If you would like the first opportunity to adopt, please fill out an application to be considered.
 
Adoption Fee: $550
Her name might be Kitten, but this 4–5 year old Maltese–Shih Tzu mix is all dog—14 pounds of quiet bravery wrapped in a soft, non-shedding coat. Rescued from the shelter, Kitten isn’t the kind of dog who’ll come bounding up to greet you or demand belly rubs from the start. Instead, she’s a quiet observer, a careful tiptoe-er, and someone who watches from a distance until she decides the coast—and you—are safe. But when she chooses you? It’s magic.
Kitten is the kind of dog who feels her world deeply. Loud noises, sudden movements, unfamiliar people—those things still send her looking for her safe space. She doesn’t growl or bite. She retreats. She wraps herself around the person she trusts or scurries to her pen where things feel calm and predictable. While she hasn't been mistreated, Kitten simply hasn’t seen much of the world yet. Life overwhelms her right now—but with the right home, she’s already showing glimmers of who she’s meant to be.
This little lady is incredibly smart and completely house-trained. She knows the potty routine, gently whines when she needs to go out, and settles beautifully in her crate at night. She’s even beginning to explore the joy of toys—like when she surprised everyone by chasing a squeaky ball one day, reminding us there's a playful pup waiting just beneath the surface. She's not a barker unless the doorbell rings or something startles her (she takes her neighborhood watch duties seriously).
Kitten would thrive in a peaceful home that offers plenty of predictability, gentle routines, and an understanding heart. A calm environment without the energetic bustle of young children or other pets would give her the best chance to truly blossom. She’s happiest when she knows exactly where her belongings are, when she can enjoy her meals and toys without interruption, and when she has space to be her sensitive, soulful self. She shines brightest as the center of someone’s quiet world.
She’s not a first-time-dog-owner kind of pup—she’s for someone who’s walked this road before, who knows that some dogs bloom slowly and that trust is a gift that unfolds day by day.
Every day, Kitten grows a little bolder. From the pup who once barked from behind a gate, she now ventures over for pets and quietly settles nearby just to be close. She stretches one hind leg at a time in the morning (it’s ridiculously cute) and looks at you with the kind of eyes that say, “I want to trust you. I just need time.”
Kitten doesn’t need fireworks. She needs consistency. She needs someone who will celebrate her small victories and understand that the path to her heart is slow—but oh, is it worth it. If you're the kind of person who can offer love without pressure and patience without expectations, Kitten is ready to let you in.