12/08/2025
🍝MEET MEATBALL MARINARA! 🍝 THE BIG, HAPPY, HEFTY HONEY BAKED HAM WHO’S HERE TO STEAL HEARTS AND KNOCK OVER WATER BOWLS! (And probably lots of other stuff too.)
Like many of our dogs, Meatball Marinara arrived as a roamer, so we don’t have any history on where he came from, who he lived with, or what his life was like before he plopped his giant head into our laps. What we do know is that whoever had him before probably didn’t deserve a dog this wonderful. But honestly? Meatball isn’t wasting one second worrying about the past.This guy lives entirely in the present, radiating sunshine, joy, and the kind of goofy energy that makes you laugh even when you’re trying to be serious.
So who is Meatball Marinara?
Meatball is pure, unfiltered, happy-go-lucky good vibes. He doesn’t let a single thing ruin his day. Bad weather? Doesn’t care. Noise? Whatever. Someone raises their voice across the room? He thinks they’re cheering for him. He just wants love, affection, companionship, and as much petting as your arms can physically provide. His love language is 100% physical touch.
Meatball is also our go-to dog to bring out for a visit when groups come to donate or volunteer, and he absolutely EATS. IT. UP. He’s a big ham with everyone he meets; tail going, full body wiggling, rolling around at your feet, that big noggin shoving itself under your hand for attention…
What about kids?
Listen. Meatball is a big, clumsy dingus who has absolutely zero concept of his own size or strength. Total bull in a china shop energy, to the max. He is the canine equivalent of a friendly linebacker sprinting through a preschool. Small kids ARE getting knocked down. It’s not a matter of if, but when. For that reason, we think he’d do best with older, sturdier kids and families who understand that “friendly” does not necessarily equal “calm and gentle”. He truly means well… he just doesn’t operate very gently. 😬
And other pets?
Meatball has been totally non-reactive to other dogs while in our care. Unlike some of the other dogs, this big bubba barely notices drama. In fact, he stuck his nose a big too close to a kennel door, got nipped, and simply shrugged and kept moseying along as if nothing happened. Nothing seems to faze him! That said, he is big, strong, and super boisterous, so we’re not convinced he’d be a great match for:
• Small dogs
• Frail or elderly dogs
• Cats who don’t want a bulldozer for a brother
But with another sturdy, social, tolerant dog? Absolutely possible, pending some promising intros.
THE BASICS
🐾 Breed: Bully-type mix
🐾 Age: ~1.5–2 years
🐾 Size: ~65-70lbs; a big, thicc boi, blessed with a massive blockhead that could moonlight as a coffee table. He’s not tall dog, but he sure is dense
🐾 Energy Level: High! Meatball will of course need:
•Daily physical exercise
•Play sessions
•Walks, runs, yard time
•Training for basic manners (and spatial awareness… maybe 😆)
•Plenty of companionship and affection
He is a busy, bouncy guy, but also just the sweetest, happiest creature you’ll ever meet!
Meatball Marinara is a joy bomb of a dog. Silly, affectionate, unbothered by anything, and just waiting for someone who will laugh with him, love him, and appreciate all his goofy glory. If you’re ready for a big-hearted, block-headed best friend, please fill out our adoption application!
https://www.petfinder.com/dog/meatball-marinara-eda1ccdd-32b8-4a0d-a53e-eb77fb5766c7/ct/wallingford/wallingford-animal-control-ct227/details/
This animal is or will be made current on core vaccines, will be spayed or neutered, and will be microchipped by the time of adoption. Additionally, cats will be tested for FIV and feline leukemia virus, and dogs will be tested for heartworm disease and tick borne illness. Courtesy of our nonprofit partner group, Friends of the Wallingford Animal Shelter, all senior cats and dogs will have a full senior work up.
**ADOPTION PROCESS - PLEASE READ**
The very first step of our current adoption process is to fill out our online adoption application. However, you don’t necessarily have to be interested in a specific animal in order to apply! Feel free to submit an app that includes whatever desired criteria (size, breed, age, energy level, coat type, etc.) and we can keep it on file to contact you in the event an animal comes in who fits the bill!
Our pet adoption application can be found here, or you can request one via Petfinder:https://www.wallingfordanimalcontrol.com/pdfs/WAS-Adoption-Application.pdf
You can submit your app using whatever method works best for you, whether that be faxing it to 203-294-2181, mailing it to Wallingford Animal Control at 5 Pent Rd, Wallingford 06492, dropping it off in our mailbox at 5 Pent Rd, or attaching it to an email and sending it to [email protected]. All necessary information for any of these methods is also located right at the top of the application. Easy peasy lemon squeazy!
Please keep in mind that animal control duties and animal care are our primary responsibility and, depending on our general workload at any given time and how many other applications we have to process, it could possibly take up to a couple of weeks for us to get to it. We do try to process apps in a timely manner so that we can get our animals the heck out of dodge and into loving homes! We know that adopting a new pet is super exciting and that you’re probably very eager to get the ball rolling, but please try to be patient with us!
Please also note that we operate on a *best fit for the animal basis*, not a *first come first served basis*. As such, you may apply for one animal, and we may instead suggest an animal we feel would better suit your lifestyle, household, etc. Our goal isn’t so much to get every animal out the door as quickly as possible as it is to ensure a permanent and successful placement that is in the best interest of both the adopter and the adoptee!
Once your application is approved, WE WILL CONTACT YOU to schedule an appointment to come and meet the animal(s) of interest! There may be more than one animal we feel could mesh quite well with your household, so you could end up meeting multiple potentials during your appointment. We do require that all members of the household come in to ensure compatibility. If this takes multiple appointments to accommodate all of your family members’/roommates’ schedules, that’s okay with us! If you are adopting a dog with an existing dog or dogs already in the household, they will of course have to come meet your potential new pup too! It’s often best for just the humans to come first, and to then schedule a second appointment for dog introductions, assuming you choose to move forward with the adoption. Sometimes, multiple dog interactions will be necessary prior to us sending your new dog home.
Please also note that we do not have the time or resources to contact every single applicant if the application was not approved or the animal you applied for was adopted by another applicant. Feel free to call and check in if you do not hear from us in a couple of weeks.
