Meet Decker

Decker's story started on a dead end road in Smithville in October 2025. She had been dumped there and spent roughly three weeks surviving in a drainage culvert beneath the road. She was extremely skinny, frightened, and wouldn't let anyone get close. Eventually, she started sneaking onto the deck of a nearby home, which is how she earned the name Decker.

Her finders began leaving food out and patiently waiting for her. At first, any attempt to approach sent her running back into the woods. Then one day, hunger finally won out. Decker came close enough to eat and allowed a gentle hand to pet her. That was apparently all she needed. The dog who had spent weeks running away suddenly decided these were her people and became glued to them.

Decker wasn't microchipped, and no owner was found. The veterinarian estimated she was around a year old at the time. Interestingly, she was found wearing a Christmas collar, but whatever happened before she appeared on that road remains a mystery. What isn't a mystery anymore is Decker herself. She's happy, incredibly energetic, smart, affectionate, and ready to do just about anything as long as she's moving.

The Promise We Made to Decker

Decker survived being left on her own, but that's not the life she deserves. Our promise to her is to find the home that can give this active, loving girl everything she needs to thrive and make sure she never finds herself abandoned again.

At a Glance

Energy: High

Training: Knows her name, "sit," and "shake." She needs continued work on leash manners and jumping.

Dog Friendly: Yes

People Friendly: Yes, although she can initially be cautious with new people.

Kid Friendly: Friendly, but her jumping and energy make her a lot for small children right now.

Cat Friendly: She has been slowly introduced to two cats and currently leaves them alone, but they have not been left together unsupervised.

Small Animals: Decker has a strong interest in chasing and hunting small animals.

Potty Training: Unknown. She has primarily lived outdoors, although she has not had accidents when spending time inside the garage.

Personality

Decker is excited, happy, affectionate, and always ready to go. She has a lot of energy and would happily spend much of her day running, exploring, wrestling with another dog, or heading somewhere with her person.

She's also smart. Decker knows her name, can sit and shake, loves routine, and is very treat motivated. She hasn't had formal or consistent training, so there's a lot of potential there for someone who enjoys working with dogs and wants to help her put that busy brain to use.

When it's time to occupy herself, a big bone is always appreciated. Decker is a chewer, a digger, and apparently a collector. She likes burying treats and has accumulated quite the collection of hidden treasures around the property.

In the Home

Decker has primarily lived outdoors since she was found. Her current setup includes a fenced area attached to a small shed for shelter, and she has become accustomed to a consistent daily routine.

Her mornings start with a walk, followed by another walk and time in the backyard in the afternoon. In the evening, she gets another longer walk before settling in with food and a treat. Because the property doesn't have a large fenced yard, she doesn't have many opportunities to safely run freely.

During particularly hot or cold weather, Decker has spent time inside the garage and has never had an accident there. She also keeps her outdoor area clean unless she's been left for an unusually long period. Because she hasn't actually lived inside a home, her future family should expect to help her learn the routines that come with indoor life rather than assuming she'll immediately understand them.

With Other Dogs

Decker loves other dogs. She's always excited when the neighbor dogs come over and enjoys wrestling, playing, and hanging all over them.

Another playful, compatible dog could be a great addition to her future home and give her an appropriate outlet for some of that energy.

With People

Decker can be cautious when she first meets someone new, which isn't particularly surprising considering how she was found. She seems to take some direction from the people she trusts and warms up quickly once she realizes they're comfortable with the newcomer.

After that, the caution disappears pretty quickly and is replaced by kisses and hugs. She has a big bark and may growl at unfamiliar people approaching the property, such as delivery drivers, but she has done well with everyone she's been properly introduced to.

With Kids

Decker loves people, including kids, but enthusiasm is currently her biggest challenge. She jumps, gives kisses, and doesn't always recognize how much dog she's bringing into the interaction.

She isn't trying to hurt anyone, but until she develops better manners, her energy and jumping could easily knock over a small child. Continued training will be important.

With Cats and Small Animals

Decker has been slowly introduced to the two cats in her current home. At this point, the cats ignore her and Decker doesn't seem particularly concerned with them either. They have not been left together unsupervised, so we can't say how she would behave living freely with cats.

Other small animals definitely get her attention. Decker loves chasing rabbits and has returned from exploring the property with rabbits, possums, and animal hides she's found. Her future family will need to take that strong hunting interest seriously and manage her appropriately around small animals.

Training & Care

Decker hasn't had formal or consistent training, but she's already shown that she's smart and capable of learning. She knows her name, "sit," and "shake," responds well to routine, and loves treats.

Her biggest areas to work on are leash pulling and jumping on people. With her strength and energy, training isn't something we'd consider optional for Decker. She needs someone willing to teach her how to channel all that enthusiasm into better manners.

Decker is spayed, microchipped, and up to date on her vaccinations. In April, she was believed to have been bitten by a copperhead while running in the yard. She was treated at an emergency veterinarian, received antivenom, and required an overnight stay. She returned to her normal self afterward and has had no other known medical issues.

Ideal Home

Decker needs someone who looks at her energy and thinks about all the things they could do together.

Hiking, running, exploring, training, and getting out into the world would all suit her well. A securely fenced yard where she can safely burn off energy would be ideal, and another playful dog could be a wonderful match.

Her current family loves her enough to recognize that what they can provide isn't necessarily what Decker needs for the rest of her life. They gave a terrified, starving dog a reason to finally crawl out of that culvert and trust someone. Now they want to see her with a family that has the time, lifestyle, and experience to take her the rest of the way.

A Note from Her Foster

It's hard to reconcile the Decker of today with the skinny, terrified dog who once disappeared into the woods whenever someone tried to approach her. All it took was finally letting someone pet her, and suddenly she was glued to the people who had been patiently waiting for her to feel safe.

She's incredibly sweet, energetic, and full of personality. Her current family feels lucky that she found them, even though they also know they aren't her perfect forever match.

Promise Pup Highlight

Decker spent weeks hiding from people just to survive. Now she covers the people she trusts in kisses, wrestles with her dog friends, buries treasures around the property, and seems determined to fit as much activity as possible into every day.

There's a lot of dog packed into this 40 pound girl.

The Promise Moving Forward

Someone abandoned Decker on a dead end road and left her to figure out how to survive on her own. She already did the hard part.

Now it's our turn.

We'll find her the person who wants the energy, the adventures, the training, the kisses, and everything else that comes with loving Decker. Most importantly, we'll make sure the next place she belongs is the one she never has to leave.