Meet Nilla, a beautiful girl who joined Good Catch Dog Rescue in late January. Nilla’s journey to safety started when her previous owner passed away, and she was left to live as a stray. After surviving on her own for four months, she was rescued just days before a rare cold snap brought freezing temperatures and snow to South Texas. Thanks to a dedicated volunteer, Nilla was brought into a loving foster home where she began her new life.
While we don’t have much information about Nilla’s life before her rescue, we’ve learned so much about her since she found safety. Within hours of being rescued, Nilla seemed to understand that her struggles were over and that she was beginning a brighter chapter.
Her foster family helped Nilla decompress and settle in, and what we’ve discovered about her has been worth the wait. Nilla’s integration into her foster home was celebrated as she quickly adapted to her new routine. House training, crate training, and leash training were all mastered in no time, suggesting she had some prior training before becoming a stray. As she grew more comfortable, her foster family began to see Nilla’s true personality emerge. She’s gentle, calm, and curious, and although she’s initially reserved when meeting new people, she warms up quickly once she trusts.
Nilla would thrive in an active home but needs a calm environment without overwhelming chaos. She would do best with older children who understand the importance of respectful, controlled interactions. Nilla’s gentle nature means she’s eager to trust, and with patience and consistency from her family, that trust grows stronger every day.
She’s a submissive dog with both people and other animals, including cats. She tends to avoid conflict and gravitates toward those with a calm, friendly demeanor. While she’s done well with dogs of all sizes and both sexes, loud noises and high-energy dogs who don’t respect personal boundaries make her anxious. Nilla has shown some resource-guarding behaviors around food with other animals, but she has never displayed aggression toward people.
This sweet girl is smart and treat-motivated, making training a rewarding experience. She has some minor separation anxiety, so she would do best in a home where she doesn’t spend long periods alone. Structure, mental enrichment, and regular physical exercise—such as leashed walks, jogs, or hikes—will help ease her anxiety. A securely fenced yard is also important as she adjusts to her new family.
Nilla is a 35-pound husky mix (see her Wisdom Panel DNA above) and is approximately 1.5 years old. Knowing her breed, we can safely estimate that she would max out around 40-45 lbs. She’s been spayed, vaccinated, microchipped, heartworm negative, and has received her Proheart 12 injection, which provides 12 months of heartworm prevention. Her favorite things include sunbathing, being brushed, spending time with her humans and other dogs, going for rides, and being the cook’s personal taste tester. We are excited to watch this gem bloom into the affectionate and loyal companion she is destined to be. Our commitment to making the best match is our top priority because she deserves nothing less than a lifetime of loyalty, happiness, and love.
We use trusted transport partners to deliver our dogs to their families up North.