Meet Baby

Meet Baby! A soulful eight-year-old, 74-pound American Staffordshire Terrier/American Pitbull Terrier/German Shepherd mix currently living in Menlo Park, CA, whose heart is as big as her brindle-and-white frame and whose journey is nothing short of miraculous. Baby has a brindle-and-white coat, the biggest brown eyes you’ve ever seen, and an adorable smile! She is a people-lover through and through, happiest curled up beside her favorite human, soaking up belly rubs, doing her best baked-potato impression in the yard, or going for a drive. She gets bursts of energy where she loves to zoom around, play keep-away, or chase a squeaky ball, but she’s patient about choosing her moments and is otherwise wonderfully calm and low-maintenance around the house. She’ll sleep much of the day, do her own thing, and is a great work-from-home companion. She curls against you like a parenthesis for pets, sneezes when she’s excited, and rolls around on her back with her little bunny feet paddling in the air; and, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch her yipping quietly in her sleep. She’s house-trained, knows Sit, Down, and Wait (usually), and is genuinely easy to have around. She’s also comfortable on her own. She’ll happily hold down the couch for seven hours, uncrated, and has stayed with several sitters without any trouble. Multiple sitters agree that she is a breeze to care for! So she suits someone who works from home, and someone who doesn’t. She is usually great with people. She does best meeting strangers gently, perhaps with the help of a few treats, and can be wary of unfamiliar men, but she warms up quickly, and she loves being around a group of friends and soaking up the social energy. She hasn’t lived with children, so we can’t speak to that from experience, though she’s gentle taking treats and is patient by nature. Baby needs to be the only pet in her home, or with her best friend, Boogie. She’s deeply affectionate with Boogie (8 years old, 80-pound neutered male, also available for adoption) and would be delighted to live with him, but she doesn’t get along with other dogs and isn’t safe with cats or small animals. On leash she walks nicely in low-traffic areas but will pull and lunge if another dog passes, a manageable challenge for someone with experience, and one that gets easier with quiet routes and a good harness. She has no bite history (for any species). She’s an easy, low-key housemate who simply wants you to herself. Her allergies are well managed with an allergy-friendly diet and regular ear cleanings, which she tolerates like a champ. She had small low-grade mast cell tumors removed in 2025, recovered fully, and her surgeon gave her an excellent prognosis. Baby also has arthritis in both knees and a possible cruciate ligament injury. Her condition is currently being managed conservatively, although surgery has been recommended for the future. Her medical insurance is expected to cover approximately 80% of the surgical costs, subject to policy terms and approval. Her future family should be prepared to support her ongoing joint care and any recommended treatment to help keep this sweet girl comfortable and happy. Baby comes with support! Her medical insurance is covered for her first year, along with a consultation with a professional trainer if you’d like one. We’d also much rather begin with a two-week foster-to-adopt trial than a handover. There’s no pressure, and she comes back to us if it isn’t working for either of you. Baby was pulled from Oakland Animal Services in December 2024, shortly before she was due to be euthanized, and has been in a loving foster home ever since. She and Boogie would love to be adopted together but can also be placed separately (they are currently fostered separately). Baby is open to a long-distance adoption, and we’ll handle getting her to you. If she sounds like your kind of dog, or you’d just like to ask a question, please reach out to adopt@joyfulpets.com. Follow her adventures on Instagram @adoptBabyAndBoogie: https://www.instagram.com/adoptbabyandboogie