Like all dogs, Gandalf the Maltese just wanted to feel safe—to be loved and cared for by a family who would treat him gently.

But his reality was far from that dream.

Gandalf lived under the care of a neglectful breeder who showed him no love. Over time, he began to lose hope that life could ever be different.

Eventually, the breeder decided to surrender him to Pawportunities, a rescue in Blue Springs, Missouri.

On the day of the handoff, something heartbreaking happened—the breeder accidentally injured Gandalf while shaving his fur.

Too Scared To Speak

When the shelter team came to pick him up and noticed the injury on his abdomen, their hearts sank.

They rushed Gandalf back to the shelter and called the vet immediately.

The little pup was in pain and shaking. Staff comforted him all the way, hoping he’d be okay.

Thankfully, the vet was already waiting. He cleaned Gandalf’s wound and carefully stitched it up.

There was no infection, and he was expected to recover fully.

Afterward, Gandalf was gently placed into his kennel—but his spirit had been deeply shaken.

He curled up in the corner, trembling. Unlike the other dogs, he made no sound.

A Heart In Need Of Healing

Though the staff shower Gandalf with love, the shelter isn’t the place he needs to heal.

He’s anxious, quiet, and still too afraid to approach visitors. Loud barking only makes him more nervous.

Because of his quiet nature, he might be overlooked by those searching for more outgoing dogs.

But his caregivers believe in him.

They know that with the right home—with patience, soft voices, and warm arms—Gandalf can rediscover what it means to feel safe.

If you think you can help him, please reach out to Pawportunities.

This little soul deserves to find the family who will remind him that he is loved—and always was.