Volunteer Information for Dogs

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What is this page?

The information on this page helps MLAR volunteers see which animals on the website need additional information added to their profiles. If you are interested in becoming a MLAR volunteer, please check the www.mlar.org/volunteer web page. Thanks!

Meet Zorro

All about Zorro

Zorro is a 4 years, 5 months old male Miniature Poodle/Maltese who weighs 12 pounds.

Zorro is an absolute hilarious furball who loves his people with everything he's got. Although he's an easy "sell" based on looks and his delightful and silly personality, Zorro requires a very specific family.

Zorro is prone to pancreatic flares a few times a year, causing vomiting and diarrhea. It is difficult to pinpoint an exact cause of these flares, but it is likely due to stress and perhaps is related to irritable bowel syndrome. These flares do require medication when they occur. However, they often only last a few days and he quickly reverts to his bouncy self again once resolved.

Zorro has an old neck injury which also sometimes flares, making him very sensitive and defensive when being handled or pet and will also require veterinary follow-up. Because of his sensitivities, his new family must not have any children under 15.

He lived successfully with other dogs, cats, and a parrot in his foster home, but he did have some issues with a dog he lived with in his original home. We believe with proper management, he can live with other animals.

We made a promise to Zorro. We promised him that we would find someone who could safely and responsibly manage him both medically and behaviorally. And now the search is on.

Zorro's adopter should be very experienced in recognizing dog body language and signs of fear, anxiety, and stress. But we know that person is out there to show him the patience and care he deserves, allowing him to be independent when he's not feeling himself and giving him the love he needs, no matter what it takes.
Photos (click for full-size)
Zorro 1
Zorro 2
Zorro 3
Additional Information

Site: MLAR

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Photography tips

Having photos for each of our animals is a priority! It is difficult to get a prospective adopter who is sitting at home surfing the web to get enthusiastic about a new pet that they can’t even see, so we want to get photos on the website as early as possible. Sometimes, though, the photos available are photos of the animals in their prior shelter homes (lots of chain link and concrete) or from a clinic setting (lots of hands wearing blue gloves). We want to replace these with happy photos of the animals as quickly as we can!

The following is some guidance about how to create the best photos

  • No photos of dogs in their runs. Preferably, no photos of dogs indoors at all. We want green grass and blue skies! When outside, think about background objects (trash cans, etc) and frame your photo to keep the distractions to a minimum.
  • Photos you submit do not have to be square, however the photo will appear square (cropped, not stretched) in many places on the website(s). Therefore, make sure that if your photo isn’t square that the animal is centered in the photo so that important details aren’t lost if the photo is shown cropped.
  • We can put three photos on the website for each animal*. At least one of those photos should be a “full-body” photo so that prospective adopters can get an idea of the size and shape of the animal.
  • Preferably, the animal is off-leash for the photo, but if that’s not possible, at least ensure that the leash is slack. Think about the prospective adopter, who has no idea how the animal is being treated, and make sure that the photos do not give them the wrong impression that a particular animal is difficult to control or that they are not being treated gently.
  • Get low! You’ll get a better photo if you’re down at the animal’s level than if you’re shooting down on them from five feet above.
  • It is better to have the sun behind you than behind the animal. Your color fidelity will be better if you can avoid shadows or shaded areas.

* PetFinder supports six photos (or five photos and a video), so we can post additional photos there.