Meet Zebra Cakes – A Sweet, Wiggly Girl With a Heart of Gold!
Name: Zebra Cakes
Gender: Female
Breed: Shepherd Mix
Age: Approx. 4 years (may be younger!)
Weight: 45 lbs
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Zebra Cakes is as delightful as her name! This beautiful, fluffy girl is affectionate, playful, and eager to be part of a loving home. While she may start out shy, she quickly warms up and becomes a happy, wiggly bundle of joy once she realizes you're there to love her.
**Personality & Playfulness**
- Sweet and trusting: Initially hesitant when approached quickly (she may have been mishandled in the past), Zebra Cakes is already showing how ready she is to trust. She now greets affection with wiggles and a wagging tail.
- People-focused: Loves spending time near her humans, often checking in as she explores the yard.
- Playful pup: A true plush toy enthusiast! She’ll raid the toy box, toss them in the air, pounce, and repeat—without shredding them! Click here and here to see her playing.
- Toy collector: Loves gathering her plush toys into her bed when you’re resting or busy—an adorable habit!
**Home Life & Behavior**
- House-trained: No accidents so far—she’s doing great with her potty routine.
- Crate-trained (mostly!): While she prefers the couch or a dog bed, she will settle quietly in her crate, especially at night or when left with a treat.
- Food-motivated: Very responsive to training, and learning not to counter-surf. Getting regular meals to help her fill out her slim frame.
- Dog-friendly: Did wonderfully meeting her foster’s dog with proper introductions and boundaries—they ran and played together easily. She's respectful and takes social cues well. Click here to see her waiting for foster mom with her new best friend and here and here to see her learning take the hint that it's time for a play break.
- Quiet & calm when alone: May drool a bit in her crate, but lies quietly and waits patiently for her person to return.
- Beautiful & soft: Her coat is incredibly fluffy and soft. Bath time isn’t her favorite, but she handles it calmly.
Fun Facts & Quirks
- Likely younger than her estimated age—she’s got a youthful bounce!
- Enjoys naps but is always ready to be part of the action.
- Messy drinker—expect dribbles and splashes (keep a towel handy!).
- Very responsive and eager to please—bonding quickly with her foster family.
Ideal Home
- Zebra Cakes would thrive in a home where she can be loved and included in everyday life. She’d do well with:
- A fenced yard to explore
- A dog buddy (but would be happy as an only dog too!)
- A family that’s patient, gentle, and willing to keep building her confidence
- Someone who appreciates soft fur, plush toys, and sweet companionship
Included Veterinary Care
- Spayed
- Up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccines
- Microchipped
- Current on heartworm, flea, and tick prevention
Zebra Cakes is the full package—gentle, silly, affectionate, and already making strides in her foster home. If you meet her, you’ll see just how special she is. Come meet this sweet girl and let her steal your heart!
All adult dogs, cats, and kittens are altered prior to adoption. Puppies too young to be altered at the time of adoption must be brought to our partner vet in Ashland, VA for spay or neuter paid for by Operation Paws for Homes by 6 months of age. Adopters may choose to have the procedure done at their own vet before 6 months of age and be reimbursed the amount that the rescue would pay our partner vet in Ashland.
This dog's bio is based off the experiences of the foster and/or volunteers of OPH as well as any information that we received from the shelter or previous owner. This is very important because it means that while they may act one way in the foster’s home, you may experience something different in your home.