You guys, we need to talk about Sheila.  This girl is just two weeks away from the one-year-in-the shelter mark. That will be half her life spent as a shelter dog. And she is a hidden GEM.  Like, I work here and it’s my job to know how great every animal is and even I had no idea until I met her in the right setting. But, oh my goodness is she a lot of fun!  Sheila is a dog who just needs to get the heck out of here and isn’t going to really shine until she does. She’s like a gorgeous tropical flower trying to make it in frozen Missouri soil. It’s not the flower’s fault if you put it in all the wrong conditions and it doesn’t thrive.  So, in her kennel and in the yards, she’s scared. She gives strangers the “don’t mess with me!” bark when they approach… which, given that she’s only 43 lb, is not very intimidating, but does give one the impression that she’s not interested in becoming friends. But that’s not it at all. What she’s trying to say, in the only ways she knows how, is “please don’t hurt me.”  But, in the more home-like setting of our meet & greet area, with friends she knows, and when she had a sleepover weekend, Sheila was like a totally different dog! She’s bouncy, wiggly, cuddly, and full of joy. She LOVES to play, gives lots of kisses, and wants to be as close to her favorite people as possible (ideally, touching them). She’s a quick learner, good in the car, and figured out the basics of home life with just a little bit of a learning curve. She’s a little socially awkward with other dogs, but would be open to living with a dog friend after a slow introduction. She hasn’t met cats.  Sheila lives a life right now where she’s on alert most of the time, with moments here and there where she can let her guard down. She needs that to be flipped: safe, comfortable, and happy 95% of the time and, even when she’s out of her comfort zone, never far from someone she trusts to take care of her.  So come and save this little tropical blossom and see how she flourishes in the right setting!  Sheila is two years old, spayed, up to date on shots, and fully vetted.