A foster puppy, eagerly waiting for a permanent home, has developed an endearing habit that will require continued attention from her future family.

Dolly, originally brought to the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter on January 14 as a stray pup, was in poor condition—dirty, overweight, extremely anxious, and hesitant to go on walks, according to the shelter. However, as she settled into the shelter environment, she gradually became more relaxed and affectionate, blossoming into a loving companion.

Moved in with shelter volunteer Katie on Valentine’s Day, Dolly has since made remarkable progress. Although she sometimes displays an excess of confidence, one standout trait is her constant desire for her paw to be held.

In an April 18 Facebook post, the shelter emphasized Dolly’s need for hand-holding, stating, “Knowing this, we’re requiring Dolly to go to a home that can hold her hand as much as possible…”

Dolly’s foster mom explained that the paw-holding began as a way for Dolly to seek attention. Katie taught her the command “paw” to ask for pets, and Dolly quickly learned that offering her paw meant she would receive affection and attention in return.

“As soon as I’m seated, she’ll jump up on the bed or couch, sit beside me, and extend her paw for me to hold,” Katie shared. “She craves my attention and affection, especially in the car for some reason.”

Once Dolly is buckled into the front seat and the car starts moving, her paw immediately goes up. Katie has no choice but to drive while holding Dolly’s paw.

Despite receiving ample love and care in her foster home, Dolly is still available for adoption and eagerly awaits her forever family.

The shelter is puzzled as to why Dolly hasn’t been adopted yet, considering she is housebroken, behaves well in the car, and gets along with other dogs. They suspect it may be due to “black dog syndrome,” a phenomenon where darker-colored dogs tend to wait longer for adoption.

This syndrome also affects black cats, possibly due to superstitions, negative portrayals in media, or their features blending into the shadows of kennels.

With millions of pets entering shelters each year, efforts to promote adoption, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation are crucial in reducing euthanasia rates.