Kyra, pronounced "Keera," is an almost 2-year-old purebred Golden Retriever. Her birthday is March 30. She came into our care from a breeder after she had a litter of puppies and could no longer be bred.

Kyra was spayed in January and later brought up to date on all immunizations. Today at the vet she received her last shot and was pronounced healthy at a good weight of 62 pounds. Her coat is a shiny dark red color very much like an Irish Setter.

This little girl has come so far in 5 weeks, from living in a cage to having free roam in a warm loving environment. She prefers to be in rooms where she can still see her safe place in the sunroom. (We have fostered many dogs and she is by far the easiest we have had. I have to find her a forever home soon or she may never leave!)

In the last week or so she began venturing into the den to be with the two resident dogs and foster mom. I noticed her watching very intently the National Rescue Dog Show this weekend. She looked closely at the dogs but left the room during the commercials—smart girl.

She loves her meals and treats and sits nicely for a dog biscuit. She is a very enthusiastic water drinker (think sloppy), so a mat or towel helps contain the drops. I have seen no food or resource guarding.

She happily plays tug of war with toys. We discover socks and other cloth items in her bed, not chewed up, just hoarded. She will chew plastic squeakers and household items if found on the floor.

Kyra is completely housetrained and has not had one accident in the house. She will go to the door to go outside but usually follows our resident dogs when they signal at the door.

She is timid and cowers when startled by loud noises. But when visitors arrive she goes up to them for pets and attention. She hasn't been around small children but gets along great with the 11-year-old boy next door. We don't have access to a cat so that relationship is unknown.

Following are some things Kyra will need to thrive in a forever home:

• Another medium to large confident dog for company and to teach her about her new world.
• A fenced yard where she can safely play and enjoy the outdoors. (No invisible fence!)
• A calm home with older children (age 10+) who are dog savvy and not likely to startle her. She loves to get petted and have her ears rubbed.
• Someone to clean her ears 2 to 3 times per week as she has had ear infections. She sits nicely for this treatment.
• Obedience training: up to now she has been too timid to participate with a group of dogs in a new space. She needs to learn to heel better on walks. She does come when called.

If you are looking for a quiet, sweet, and well-behaved dog and are willing to be patient as she learns what life is like outside a cage, Kyra will be a match. I look forward to finding her a forever family that she richly deserves.