Meet Missy Zelda.

Source listing notes: FL

Gainesville, FL · Senior · Maltese (medium coat)

Listed since Mar 5, 2026. Listing dates do not establish shelter intake or continuous availability.

First seen by Goodmorph Oct 30, 2026.

Rescue last updated: Sep 17, 2026

In the shelter’s words

Adoption Fee: $300 Meet Missy Zelda! Missy Zelda is a sweet 9-year-old Maltese weighing about 9 pounds, and she is ready to find the loving forever family she deserves! She is currently being fostered in Gainesville, Florida. Missy came to us as an owner surrender after her family was no longer able to care for her. She arrived in rough shape, but with some much-needed TLC, she is doing so much better! Today, she is safe, very loved in her foster home, and ready to begin the next chapter of her life with a family who will adore her just as she is. Missy is a special senior girl with some long-term health considerations, so her future family will need to be comfortable continuing to give her the care and attention she needs. The good news is t hat she is stable and enjoying life now! Missy has been diagnosed with pancreatitis, which means her forever family will need to be careful about what she eats. High-fat foods and table scraps can trigger a flare-up. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic, and if she experiences a flare-up, she may need veterinary care, medication, or even hospitalization. She is currently stable, although we cannot predict whether she will have another episode in the future. Keeping her on an appropriate diet and being mindful about treats will be an important part of keeping this little girl feeling her best. She also has luxating patellas (knees that occasionally slip out of place). You may occasionally notice her favoring her left back leg, but it doesn’t seem to bother her right now. Because of her age, surgery on her knees is not something we are pursuing. Missy also has a grade 3/6 heart murmur. For now, it is simply being monitored, although she will probably need heart medication at some point in the future. Her adopter should be prepared for c ontinued veterinary monitoring as she gets older. And then there are a few things that make Missy, well… Missy! ❤️ During her dental, Missy lost the nine teeth she had remaining, so she is now completely toothless. But don’t worry—she does just fine eating soft food! Her lack of teeth also means her little tongue likes to hang out of her mouth, which gives her an absolutely adorable, permanently silly expression. She has some staining on the right side of her nose because of it, and she also loves to lick her feet, which causes staining there as well. These are ongoing and will likely always be part of her unique little look. Missy also has a somewhat unusual habit: she will eat her poop! Yes, we said it. It can be difficult to catch her in the act, but her foster family does their best to pick it up right away. Unfortunately, there isn’t really a cure for this behavior, so prompt cleanup is the best solution. Her future family will need to be prepared for this quirky habit. Missy is also working on her house manners and will have accidents in the home. Her previous owners did not train her, so she has had a lifetime of doing things her own way. She will need patience, consistency, and understanding as she learns that her new family has different expectations. She may never be perfectly house-trained, so her adopter should be comfortable with that possibility. One of Missy’s other adorable quirks is her bark. She definitely still has a voice, but instead of a traditional bark, she makes the funniest little “quack” sound! It is pretty precious. Her veterinarian does not believe she has been debarked. Most importantly, Missy needs a family who understands that senior dogs sometimes need a little extra patience while they learn to trust and settle into a new home. We have seen that it can take Missy several weeks to fully adjust to a new environment. Giving her that time, consistency, and reassurance will be important. Missy isn’t looking for someone who expects her to be perfect. She’s looking for someone who will appreciate her for the funny, quirky, sweet little senior that she is—and who understands that her health needs and habits are simply part of loving Missy. In return, you’ll have a tiny companion with a huge personality who has so much love and life left to give. ❤️ If you feel Missy Zelda could be the right fit for your family, and you’re ready to embrace her health needs, quirks, and continued training, please fill out an online adoption application. Adoption fee: $300.00

RescueGroups record ID: 22308949

What this home needs

• Still to ask the shelter

  other dogs · cats · children · housing and stairs · medical and care. These details are not documented here; unknown does not mean no.

Roster last seen: Nov 2, 2026, 6:08 AM UTC
Goodmorph last synced: Nov 2, 2026, 6:08 AM UTC
Availability confirmed by a person: Not confirmed

Shelter staff and authorized volunteers: add a dated observation

This shared profile remains available for up to 90 days after it leaves the source roster, unless removal is requested sooner. Adoptions and applications are handled by the shelter.