05/29/2026
What you see at the shelter is only a tiny piece of who Francis really is.
The chaos, the constant movement, strangers coming and going, dogs barking at each other… it’s a LOT for him. Francis is a sensitive little guy, and shelter environment stress makes him a little on edge and not quite his best self. But if he doesn't come on Saturdays, the perfect person that might be just stopping in could miss out on him. So he comes. And he gets tons of love from volunteers who take him around on walks and play fetch with him and give him lots of belly rubs (And snacks of course).
But in foster care?
Completely different dog.
At home, where he feels safe and understands the routine, Francis is sweet, snuggly, funny, affectionate, and honestly kind of adorable. He loves fetch, couch time, peaceful walks, and quietly hanging out with his person like a tiny roommate with opinions.
He’s currently on medication for anxiety (“issues in his tissues,” as we lovingly call them 😌), and it has helped him SO much. He’s making really wonderful progress.
What Francis needs now isn’t “fixing.”
He needs:
💛 consistency
💛 calm leadership
💛 clear boundaries
💛 and someone willing to continue helping him feel safe and successful
He’s a little dog who has spent most of his life being treated like a tiny baby instead of a dog who benefits from structure and expectations. He’s learning things like:
🚪 no barking at the door
🛋️ settling when guests come over
🐾 respecting boundaries and routines
…and he’s doing really well.
Francis is not for everyone.
And we’re okay saying that.
He needs a calm adult-only home with no other pets and people who understand he's just going to need a minute okay? He warms up very quickly, especially if you have snacks. 😁
But for the RIGHT person?
He is going to be such an incredibly rewarding dog.
And because we know the shelter doesn’t show his best self, his foster has very kindly offered to let potential adopters come meet him in her home environment where his real personality shines.
So if Francis sounds like the kind of dog you’ve been looking for, please don’t let one overwhelmed shelter interaction make the decision for you. We would absolutely love for you to fill out an application and email us to schedule a foster meet-and-greet with him. If you are a good fit, we will happily get in touch with his foster to see if there's a day/time that would work best for everyone.
His person is out there somewhere.
And we really believe they’re going to adore him once they truly get to know him. 💛
📍 You can still meet Francis during open hours on Saturdays from 10–2
Dogs Forever • 809 Rockford Rd SW, Cedar Rapids
💌 But if you feel like you may truly fit what Francis needs, we encourage you to submit an application and email us to schedule a time to meet him in his foster home environment where his sweet personality really shines. An application to meet him outside of Saturday is required, and you do need to fit his needs.
📝 Apply here:
https://dogsforever.org/adopting-from-dogs-forever/adoption-foster-form/