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Addie and Kimberly- Adopted 2007/2008
Addie, on the right, was welcomed home several months ago. About 8 years old and with a tumor recently removed from her rear haunch, she continues to run like a gazelle. Beautiful. She has a wonderful nature and a happy smile. Kimberly, The World's Smallest Lab, come home several weeks ago. She's an oldie but a goodie. At her age (10) you'd expect her to lag a bit on walks. Nope, she's the leader of the pack on a wonderfully loose lead. Perhaps a bit too friendly, she runs in the park each morning, staying close to us (no she does NOT retrieve) until another dog and its people arrive. She runs joyously to meet them, then follows them. As a result, we retrieve Kim.
The big galoot on the left is Dusty and weighs twice as much and is about three times bigger than Kim. He's our grand dog who came to live with us when our daughter was deployed to Iraq.
Altogether the Gang of Three is a happy pack. Thanks HOTLR. |
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Reggie- Adopted November 2008
I just wanted to drop a line about Reggie who I adopted from
HOTLR in November 2007. He and I are doing great; we sure make just the
right match for each other. Reggie adapted to his new forever home
very quickly. He really enjoys the neighborhood and our daily walks
because there are lots of cats, dogs, squirrels, and even the
occasional rabbit which he can sniff out... and he desperately wants
to chase that rabbit so I have to keep a tight grip on the leash at
all times. He loves the dog park, especially Redbud Isle or
Auditorium Shores where he can go for a swim, just like a lab will
do. He's a very social dog, loves people and other dogs. He's what
you might call aggressively friendly with other dogs - he likes to get
up there and give them a really good sniff, but he never pushes it
too far and he'll move right off if directed by a human. He's pretty
well mannered and only occasionally needs a reminder about
boundaries. It's just his great zest for life. |
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Picnic 08 Picture Links- Adopted
http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/hotlr/picnic%202008/http://picasaweb.google.com/HotLabRescue/HotLabPicnic2008
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Bailey (AKA BJ)- Adopted 2008
We wanted to let you know that Bailey is doing great. He fit right into our family from the first day, and we now can₼t imagine life without him. He is very sweet and so wants to please his people. He and our dog, Magic, are best friends and they love to go running with us, or go anywhere with us. Our cat not only tolerates Bailey, but he actually likes playing with him. They are pretty cute together. We₼ve decided that there must be an imaginary monster in our hot tub that only Bailey can see. As you can see in the pictures, Bailey is fascinated with the hot tub and would spend hours circling, peering into, and swimming in it if we let him. Thank you so much for matching us with a great dog! |
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Peyton (AKA Sparky)- Adopted 2008
She is doing EXCELLENT! She knows her name very well now, she does not run at all when we are in the front yard together, she stays right by my side! Her best friend is Lola, my Aunt and Uncles dog, they play together for hours! She has not had one accident at all but I do sense that she gets almost jealous when I am home and someone else is over and I am hanging out with them rather then giving her all of my attention....Last week my friend came by for dinner and I was not paying attention to Peyton 100% and she went over and chewed up one of my coasters! But for the most part she is an amazing dog! Attached are a few pictures of her! |
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Ginger- Adopted
Just wanted to send a picture of Ginger with her two biggest fans - Skylar and Makayla. We adopted her from hotlr a couple of years ago. She is such a wonderful dog and great family member. She is just super with the kids and other dogs as well. She is all lab outside and loves to play ball non-stop. She's very laid-back and mellow inside. Hopefully we can come to an event sometime so she can play with some other labs. Thanks for all the work you do. |
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Mavis- Adopted 2007
Hello! I?ve been wanting to update you for ages, but was waiting until I had nothing but the best of news to report. Since the start, Mavis has been an incredible dog, and the perfect fit for our family. She was a little worried when she first got here, and not quite sure how to fit in. But in no time, she learned the routines, our language and silly games, and exactly which couch she was and which couch she was not allowed on. And she never had an accident in the house, not even once. Within just a couple of days, she enjoyed the same freedoms and boundaries our Cass has known by heart for 5 years ? and once Mavis learns a rule, she never forgets it.
We noticed the first night that Mavis had a cough, and over the next couple of days that it was quite bad ? she was clearly uncomfortable with it, and was coughing up mucus. After a few trips to the vet and a few false starts at treating possible causes, we decided to go for the x-ray, and they found that she had pneumonia. She began a month-long course of antibiotics, then some follow-up testing and? she has just been declared pneumonia-free and the cough has stayed away for several weeks! She also had very advanced yeast ear infections in both ears when she came to us, but frequent cleaning and a new diet has cleared those up as well.
So now she is the best dog AND in perfect health. She and Cass play all day, and frequently entertain their friend Rosco (the third head in one of the attached photos). She is lively but very mellow, and has bonded very deeply with all of us. She and Lukas, our three-year-old son, are best of friends. We really can?t say enough wonderful things about her, and are so glad that she has found a home in ours. Thank you for helping her find her way here!
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Colt- Adopted September 2007
Ever since I adopted Colt from your group the beginning of September 2007, it has been a real adventure. As I may have updated you in the past, the early months were not without mishap, but were a joy compared to what I expected. He's never had an accident in the house, counter-surfed, or chewed up the furniture. He's settled in very well, having bonded with me early on and learned the routine quickly. Early on, he had pretty severe separation anxiety. But, that has dissipated through patience and hard work. He recently graduated from Beginner's Obedience School, where he was the star of the class. It was a great benefit to both me and him. Everyone that has met him has remarked on what a great Lab he is, and couldn't believe that he's only been with me for just a few months. All along the way, I mentally thanked you guys for providing me with such a fabulous companion. Every chance I get, I mention your group and the fine work you are all doing. |
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Jonas- Adopted
I adopted Jonas on 3 Nov 07 and what a wonderful dog he's been! I moved up to Abilene from San Antonio right before I got him so we both settled into the new place together. We've been running together just about every morning and he's improving all the time on the leash. He rides great in the car and absolutely loves going to the park! He just made the jump from wading in the water to swimming. We've also been doing PetSmart training and, of course, Jonas is a favorite of the teacher. He got to spend a weekend with my girlfriend's 10-year old Golden Retriever, Maggie, shortly after I got him and they had a great time together. We had him off the leash and you could definitely tell that he was learning from her! Jonas really has been an amazing dog. He gets compliments every day. I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to adopt Jonas and more importantly, for the tireless work you do to find forever homes for all of these great dogs. |
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Davey- Adopted 2007
Davey is doing great! The past month has been a blast having him around. One weekend he was in the mountains playing in knee deep snow and the next on the beach. He is really smart and knows sit, stay and high five. He also walks great on a leash. He has not had any accidents inside and seems to tolerate the cat. He would rather sleep on the bed but we have been working with him on staying in the crate. I have attached a few pictures of Daveys adventures. |
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Howdy (AKA TV)- Adopted 2007
Oh what fun the boys had together at the beach. Howdy is fitting right in like he?s been a part of the family all along. He and Austin adore each other. Austin is teaching him the ropes. We had Howdy pretty much leash free the entire weekend on the beach and around the condo and he did awesome. He stuck to our side like glue. We did lots of training?.sit, stays, recall, socialization, kids, people?. etc?.He?s a star pupil. So proud of him. He loved the birds, water, fetching sticks etc? He is definitely a retriever. We love that boy.
He was wonderful in the car and out and about with us. He had many experiences. He was an absolute delight to watch in the sand and full of discovery.
He thought smelly seaweed was really neat.
They really started feeling better by Friday. Still a few coughs and hacks but oh so much better. We have a few meds left and they should be good to go. So glad to have that behind us. He is passed out on the downstairs bed right now after a huge play session with Austin and the talking gorilla toy. He is really growing too. |
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Bella- Adopted Baylee
In a few weeks, Bella (aka Baylee) will celebrate her one year anniversary
as a member of our family. As we were scrolling through the HOT website
tonight, we realized we never submitted our "happy tail." Although it was a
rough start with some hidden health issues and uncertainty with our black
lab, Midnight, all is so fun now that we can't remember her being the "new
kid on the block." We love her quirky ways.from laying her short, stocky
body spread eagle on the floor, rolling her pads up when she is standing
still, kneeling on her back knees, belching like a huge man, and racing like
a bunny rabbit to keep up with long, lean Midnight. They love to chase in
the back yard (and of course the house!) and go on morning walks. Her
favorite pastime is to gaze out the front windows watching for suspicious
critters or hanging her front feet off the back porch. Of course, her
ultimate favorite thing to do is eat. Each morning and each night she takes
up post at her bowl and patiently waits for our youngest daughter to feed
her (I've attached a pic of her most pathetic hungry look). If she runs out
of patience, she begins to lick the edge of her bowl and eventually starts
to slowly scoot it along the floor until the food arrives. We initially
decided to adopt another lab to occupy Midnight. What we didn't realize was
how much happiness, entertainment, and love she would bring to our whole
family! Thank you for enabling so many people to experience the love of
labs.they are truly family!
Keep up the good work! |
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SLG aka Pete- Adopted
Pete was fostered by HOTLR for almost a year. It was discovered that he had a very invasive form of cancer and one of his legs was amputated. He was given about 4-6 months to live. 2 years later, here's an update from his new family...
SLG' stands for "my Special Little Guy". Of course, our 'the man of the hour' is curled up by my chair as I write this, and he continues to work his way into
everyone's heart. His new nickname is actually "melty boy" because his soft, sort of oversized skin and floppy ears always look like they are in a puddle when he is laying down. He's in great shape - we visit the vet and try to be careful about not pushing him, and he seems to be thriving. Sometimes even too much. When we are a little tired of throwing his "boppity" bumper-thing into the pool and want him to give it a rest and calm down, he'll throw it in and keep on
fetching. He couldn't have been luckier than he was when you fostered him for as long as you did and we all owe you our gratitude for it. We had the best time
in Stowe; we just love it there. Wouldn't you know, Pete was so excited on the way, it was as if he was no stranger there, either. On our first trip to the
path, Pete started making a "honking" sound we hadn't heard, although he was determined to keep moving ahead. We called the vet and put him in front of the
phone and were told that that is the sound a dog makes when he is really excited. Hopefully we can get back there in the winter with my sister and her dog, a French Bulldog that copies everything Pete does.
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Tillie- Adopted 2007
Tillie is doing great and is a very healthy and
happy labrador. No complaints. She is a constant companion
to my kids, sleeps on their beds at night (and snoozes
on their beds during the day) and goes everywhere
with
us. Loves riding in the car and riding in my
brother's
ski boat out on the lake. She likes to sit up front
in
the bow with her nose to the wind. And yes...the
water...this dog loves the water. Its impressive to
watch her launch off a boat dock, catch big air as
far
as possible, swim back and do it as long as I let
her.
I've also put 8 lbs on her with Eukenuba fish-based
formula which has made her fill out perfectly and it
makes her coat look really good.
She is very well behaved, and of course, is a master
food thief so you have to watch her in the kitchen
at
dinner time and she loves to lap up the steamed milk
on a Starbucks latte.
We just taught her to lie down and roll over and its
hilarious. She is also extremely fast and retrieves
fetch toys at lighting speed. Very cool stuff.
Even my vet commented on how good of a Lab she was.
Friends of mine with Labs are also envious because
of
her good temperament and her ability to stay inside
without causing a ruckus. Has not had one accident
inside my house either. Anyhow thanks for matching
us
with a great dog. |
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Mochi (Muffin)- Adopted 2006
Hi guys
Can you believe its been a year since we adopted Mochi (Muffin) ? I
wanted to share some recent photos of our gal |
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Shelby- Adopted Bambi
I just wanted to give you an update on Shelby (adopted Bambi). This
past weekend she went to an agility trial and got her AX and AXJ
titles. We got Shelby an ILP number so she can compete in AKC events
and have now been competing in AKC agility for a little over a year.
She has exceeded all of our expectations qualifying 25 times with 16
first places, 7 second places, and 2 third places. I'm running out of
space to put all of her ribbons! We started her out in the Preffered
classes, jumping a lower height, and she earned her Novice Preffered
titles. Then we moved her up to regular competition and she earned her
Novice, Open, and now Excellent titles making her, Shelby's Sweet
Allure AX AXJ NAP NJP CGC. We hope to eventually earn the title of
MACH (Master Agility Champion). I'm looking forward to future shows as
we will be collecting legs for her MX and MXJ titles and earning
points and double Q's towards her MACH. We couldn't have asked for a
better dog than Shelby. Her future looks to be even brighter as I hope
to compete in Obedience and Rally and get her registered as a Therapy
Dog. Thank you so much for helping us find such a great companion.
Keep up the great work! |
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Wally and Vince- Adopted
We finally have a digital camera, so we can send pictures of our boys. Wally and Vince (you knew him as Rex) are good buddies they are rarely apart. Wally is still mellow, but Vince has inspired him to run and play in the yard. They run around so much they have worn out spots of the grass. Wally has taught Vince how to mellow out a bit. Right after I shot the picture where they are playing tug a war, they were both laying down tugging (that is mellow). Wally has lost quite a bit of weight we can sometimes almost see his ribs. They are learning slowly how to behave, they sit at open doors without darting out, although by the picture you can tell they don't like it.
The news here is that we are moving to Wisconsin. The boys don't want to go
because they like their pool, but we promised them they could go swimming
in the lake near our new home. As soon as we get an address we will send
it. Thanks for the great dogs; they have very different personalities, but
both are wonderful in their own special way. By the way, Jill, Wally still
does the duck dance and it's still adorable.
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Harlee- Adopted Harlee
Harlee was adopted May 2006 - his name did not change. Harlee has been such a blessing in our life. My girlfriend and I are truly amazed at his little habits. He enjoys running, swimming, napping, catching bugs, and hanging out with his best friend, Austin, who is my girlfriend's Border Collie mix. Harlee is still the best head-rester there is. He constantly comes up and nudges and rests his head. He loves being around other dogs and has made many trips to Town Lake to swim, Dog Boys Dog Ranch, and Taurus Training for doggy day care and boarding. We all know when Harlee is sleeping due to his groans and snoaring. We can't believe his treat eating habits. He loves carrots and celery for his treats. Thanks so much to Heart of Texas Lab Rescue. You guys are the best!!!!
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Bella- Adopted Dana
I just wanted to give you another brief update. Dana (we call her Bella) is doing so great! She is so sweet -- just a big cuddle bug. She actually took a nap on my lap this afternoon. She cracks me up on a daily basis, whether she's lunging at the broom while I'm trying to sweep (she thinks it's a game), or she sits and sometimes plops down (still a little clumsy). She is just a goofy little girl with so much love to give. She and Jade get along great and love to play together. Now both of them sleep in the bed with us at night. It is a
little crowded, but we love it.
I just wanted you to know that we love Bella, and she is a great addition to the family.
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Pixel- Adopted Donnie
Just wanted to let you know that Donnie is continuing to do really well. He loves playing with Kuttu, or having us toss toys when he is awake. When he is lazy he likes nothing better than lying next to us, head resting on our feet if we are sitting, or on our shoulder/stomach if we are lying in bed. He is an incredible cuddler.
His housebreaking is coming along well - only one accident so far. We even found treats he loves and are able to do a lot of obedience work with him. As a nod to the geekiness of our family, we'll be renaming him Pixel, though I already bought him a "Donnie" tag.
He weighed in at 50lbs yesterday. I am curious to see if he will just fill out this year or grow any taller. Either way, he is getting a giant crate like Kuttu's, so it will give him room to grow :)
Having two dogs is definitely very entertaining!
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Chula- Adopted Betty
We just wanted to check in with you and let you know how Betty is doing in our home in Fredericksburg. We have changed her name to Chula and she has been such a joy! She's put on some of weight and filled nicely - you'd never know she had the big shaved area from her surgery when she came to us. It is hard to believe that her life was ever anywhere but here - she never missed a beat and adjusted immediately to her new home. She has the sweetest disposition and has been such a wonderful addition to our family. Our 18 month old daughter follows her around and talks to her all day, loves to give her hugs and kisses and won't go to bed at night without telling "chu-chu" (as she calls her) goodnight. Chula is very laid back and so she always makes us laugh when she gets a big energy burst and starts playing really hard in the yard or starts running laps after she takes a dip with Taylor in the baby pool. Her favorite field trips are out to the creek at my parents house, just outside of town, where she can run as fast and as far as she can thru the shallow water. She's in doggie heaven!
Thank you for all the hard work that you put into the program - for the dogs
and for the families alike. We are so happy that Chula is a part of our
lives! Thank you for making that happen for so many families. You save the
lives of so many animals, but you also change the lives of the families you
place them with. We appreciate everything that all the volunteers at the
HOTLR do to make this amazing program possible!
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Cassi (aka Louie)- Adopted February 2007
I just wanted to let you know how much I have been
enjoying my new family. Thank you HOTLR for placing
me with my new parents. We've had a blast! Some of my favorite
times are the weekdays when I can curl up under my
daddy's desk right by his feet while he works. I also
love the weekends (the days that I can run out and
retrieve the newspaper) because I can spend all day
with my family. They've taught me so many new things
and taken me to some fun places. I love to camp and
fish, but my all time favorite is to swim. I love the
water!
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Earl and Trudy- Adopted
I wanted to drop you a note about Earl and Trudy since it has been so long.
They are both doing great. Earl is something around 14 now and Trudy is
somewhere around 8 or 9.
Trudy gets her meals supplemented with canned green beans as nutritious
filler. She has lost weight and is down to around 78 pounds. She is as
compulsive as always about chasing a ball. With the weight off and regular
exercise, she doesn't have as much pain in her hips with the mild hip
dysplasia. She's extremely energetic and still thinks she's a lap dog.
Earl's meals are supplemented with an occasional peanut butter sandwich (he
also gets meaty wet food). He is now up to 82 pounds and looking very fit.
At 14, he's incredibly energetic. He loves to play fetch in the backyard or
nearby creek. He will run all day long if we let him, but we usually keep it
abbreviated because he will pay for it the next day. But he gets so excited
when we hold up his ball and he will start jumping up and down like a little
puppy. He's overcome some of his issues too. He rides in the car fairly well
now. And he no longer dislikes being alone in the backyard. He enjoys our
large yard so much; he usually spends half the night and a large portion of
the morning out there just sleeping in the cool grass. However, his age is
starting to manifest more problems he will soon have to face. His eyesight
and hearing are fading. And his arthritis is getting (understandably) worse.
He will soon have to be confined to the downstairs as he has so much trouble
climbing the stairs to sleep next to our bed. But you'd never know he has
any joint problems the way he runs around and plays. So we'd say he is very
happy.
They are both spoiled rotten (Trudy is usually referred to as The Princess).
The Vet loves them both and they are always cooperative.
On our horizon, we are looking at purchasing our own ranch property so we
don't have to board our horses. We looked at a promising one this weekend in
Elgin. The tank doesn't hold water yet, but if we purchase it, you can count
on the dogs having a tank on their own 50-acre ranch! Sometime in the near
future, we may be able to host one of the annual Lab picnics.
Thanks so much again for letting us give them homes! I attached a couple
recent photos for you... |
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Ava- Adopted February 2007
We wanted to check-in (a little late :-) ), and let you know that Ava is
doing great! She has fully settled in, and she is being spoiled rotten! She
almost always has someone home with her, as Jacqui works in the home. And
now that the girls are home for the summer, she gets all that attention too!
The cats have adjusted to her, and they all get along great.
Ava is a really sweet dog. She loves attention and will try to get right in
your lap. She is actually pretty lazy, but she'll go for a walk almost
anytime. I usually take her in the morning before work around 5:30. She'll
get right up to go, but comes back home and goes right back to sleep :-) She
also loves to play catch and her favorite toys are empty plastic bottles
meant for the recycling. She loves batting them around the yard! She's been
camping and she enjoyed that too.
We had a really funny incident right after we got her. You had told us she
would do something in the first weekend we had her, e.g. potty, tear
something up. Anyways, we went through the first weekend without incident
and we were thinking that she was perfectly well behaved. I was out Monday
evening and Jacqui went to bed. She left Ava out in the living room. I got
home about 30 minutes later and she greeted me at the door. As we walked
into the living room I noticed some empty food wrappers on the floor. Ava
went and laid on her bed behind the couch when I went into the kitchen. I
heard some strange rustling noises, so I went over to where she was. Lo and
behold, there's a box of Girl Scout cookies (Do-Si-Dos) on her bed ripped
open. She managed to eat and entire sleeve! She had the other one behind her
bed, apparently saving it for later :-) She just laid there and gave me that
"innocent look."
Anyways, we are so glad we had the opportunity to adopt her and give her a
home for life. Thanks for saving her! Oh, and Ava thanks you too. We've
attached some pictures of our newest baby! |
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Mudpie- Adopted
Mudpie is doing really well! She took a couple of weeks to warm up to us, but since then she has relaxed a lot and we have had a lot of fun getting to know her personality. She makes me laugh just about every day.
We try to take her with us to as many places as possible (including the coffee shop and the pub at happy hour). She goes to the dog park at least once a
week, and we try to take her swimming often too. We've discovered that she loves the frisbee! Though she doesn't catch it in the air, she will chase it for hours! |
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Ollie- Adopted
We just wanted to let you all know how much we are enjoying our new family member. Ollie is a sweet girl who is full of energy. She loves going on walks and sleeps through the night. Although our cats were not too happy when we first brought her home, they have come to realize that she isn't going anywhere :). Ollie has tried to engage them in a game of chase, but they don't share her enthusiasm for the idea. She loves to fall asleep on top of our feet, and enjoys the cold tile floor after being on a walk. Ollie is very bright and has learned where we keep the food. She will wait in front of the pantry when she senses it is time to eat. She has learned to wait at the door when she has to go out, and goes in her kennel very easily. She is a wonderful dog, and makes a bad day disappear. We want to thank the rescue for helping us find a great addition to our family. We also want to send a big thank you to Ted Arnold and his family for fostering Ollie. She is a fabulous dog and we are grateful for all the work the organization and its volunteers do. |
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Shiner- Adopted May 2007
Just wanted to give you an update on Shiner. He has been with us for two weeks now and has completely settled in. He gets along great with everybody. He actually has gotten our other Lab, Happy, to play - something she will only do if you smell of treats or look like a tennis ball. They are both fetch-freaks and love the kiddy pool in the backyard on a hot day. We walk two hours every day and Shiner is such a sweetheart on leash. He only barks when someone comes to the door and sounds very fierce. If they only knew that his tail is wagging like crazy.
Shiner loves to be around us and will follow us around carrying his favorite stuffed animal in his mouth. His favorite spot is right behind my chair or at our feet. He sleeps through the night but the second you walk by him, his tail starts thumping. "Hey, you are up". We have gotten him started on some supplements that have pretty much taken care of his gas issues, so we are on the right track and he seems so happy. I know we are :)
I am in contact with Shiners previous owner who told us that Shiner can find your keys if you throw them in a field and tell him to "go find it". (Due to his previous life as a police dog) For now we have only been brave enough to try it in the backyard :)
Shiner has wandered right into our hearts on those big paws of his. Thank you for rescuing this sweet boy, so he could have his forever-home with us.
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Rolo- Adopted May 22, 2007
Rolo is one big lover. He is such a happy boy. We couldn't have adopted a better dog for us! He fits in perfectly! Rolo loves being close to us... either while we are watching movies in the family room, cooking dinner in the kitchen or just sitting by us while we are on the computer. He is always at our side. Rolo enjoys going on walks and is friendly with everyone he meets, including other 4 legged friends. He loves going to the hike and bike trail and is starting to learn how to run well on a leash with Eric. Rolo is very easy to train and he aims to please. He is extrememly affectionate and gives tons of kisses! He is always wagging his tail! Rolo enjoys sitting on the balcony and watching neighbors walk by. He loves to be brushed while he is outside too. Rolo has fun going with Melissa to work to see all the other dogs and friends at the veterinary hospital. Rolo still isn't very keen on getting in and out of Melissa's big SUV, but he is learning. Rolo mastered going up and down the stairs at the apartment which he wasn't very sure of the first couple weeks we had him. He likes to sleep in the funniest positions and we wonder how he can bend in those ways. Rolo LOVES when we put peanut butter on his nose and try to lick it off! Rolo's favorite spot is Mozarts Coffehouse... where he can sit and relax by the lake and stare down the swans, or go up to different people and make friends. We love him so much, we try and take him as many places with us as possible. We are so happy he is part of our family! Here is a video we took of him with some peanut butter on his nose... it's so funny!
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=melsteve101
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Sophie (AKA Ophelia)- Adopted April 2007
Just thought I?d let you know that Sophie (Ophelia) is doing quite well. She is losing all of her puppy teeth and only has about a ? mouth full of teeth right now. She just gums her chew bones! Right now she knows ?no?, ?sit? and ?stay? and we?re working on ?down?. A lot of the time she will do what Ranger does. Her and Ranger LOVE to play with each other, although she is definitely the instigator when it comes to those two getting in trouble. She?s made it her mission to get the cats to play with her but will settle for Kitty letting her follow her around and sniff and lick her. Aero has decided that Sophie?s no good to have around, but then again it did take Aero two years to warm up to Ranger! So in the meantime he?s tolerating her. Sophie loves to do the Labrador lean and especially to cozy up and sit on my feet. She will also scoot right up to Ranger as he?s lounging around and sit on his head or use another part of him as a stool! She also has developed one ear that sticks straight out to the side when she perks them up. I took her with to a golf tournament a few weeks ago and she liked riding in the cart and watching all the people. But she had the most fun batting a pine cone around the fairway! |
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Luci- Adopted
Just wanted to send an update on how Miss Luci has been doing. Well,
she has made herself at home as you can see from the photos. Luci is such a
smart and loving dog with a lot more personality that we had expected.
She loves (and I mean loves) taking long jogs with her Dad and then
crashing for a mid afternoon nap. She also likes playing endless ball
with me and then playing again while I take a turn exercising on the
treadmill. She likes dropping her ball on the treadmill and watching it
roll off for entertainment which is quite funny. Luci has also been
attending doggie daycare and gets along famously with her doggie
companions. Her favorite activity is splashing in the dog bone shaped
pool with her other lab playmates. Needless to say, we always bring
home a very damp but happy dog.
Anyway, we just wanted to say thanks for taking such good care of Luci
before she found her forever home. It is apparent everyday how much
time and effort you spent with her. She is the sweetest dog and we are so
happy she came to live with us.
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Kia (AKA Tasha)- Adopted April 2007
Hi Margaret and Greg,
I wanted to let you know that Tasha is doing great. We are so happy
to have
her. She got her first bath from us tonight. We were all outside
this
afternoon working in the yard and she found the creek. It is normally
a dry
creek but with all the rain we've had lately it's quite full. Anyway,
she
had a lot of fun splashing around in it. Both her and Koa are
dog-tired
tonight. :)
I think that she feels very comfortable here. She's not jumpy anymore
unless we move too fast toward her. She comes right up to us when we
call
and she stays very close to us. I think she knows she's my dog as she
follows me around wherever I go.
I'm trying out a new name on her and I think she's getting used to it.
It
may be to confusing to her and Koa so we'll see. I call her Kia
(don't
laugh). I know they're very close in sound but I'm going to try it
out and
see how it works.
Thank you so much for saving her. She is so precious to us. And
thank you
for trusting us with her care.
Come see her anytime.
I've attached a couple pictures of her. |
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Brandy (AKA Happy)- Adopted July 2006
Just wanted to let you know that Brandy has been a great addition to our family, and a very good friend to our older dog, Cody. All that exercise by the dogs has shed 10 pounds from Cody, along with some dieting. Brandy is well trained, can sit, stay, wait, down, no, and knows the names of several of her toys. Her favorite is "tennis ball". She loves riding in the back sit of the Tahoe, smelling out of the window. She has never chewed anything in the house, and never an accident.
All the chemical burns on her neck have been healed, and with a good diet with Omega 3 & 6 supplements, her fur is just beautiful and shiny. She is very affectionate and loving, and like the name given to her by Margaret, is happy all the time.
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TJ (AKA Cookie)- Adopted April 2007
TJ - stands for Tabitha Junior (formerly Cookie). Thank you HOTLR for placing me with my new family. It has only been a few days but I have been able to accomplish a lot of training. Notice how I have them trained to 'help' me retrieve my ball should I 'accidentally' push it under the freezer, desk, bed or any other piece of furniture my ball will fit under. I am enjoying these wonderful spring days in my very own backyard. There is plenty of room for me to teach my new family the best way to throw a ball so I can catch it and still have plenty of stopping space..........
Hugs and lots of kisses - TJ |
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Zeus (AKA Owen)- Adopted April 2007
Quick update on our new family member: He is as perfect as a puppy can be. He knows the words "No" and "Sit". He will go use the restroom outside each time I take him, so there really has not been a bad problem with him doing this inside the house. We are just having a problem with him recognizing his name and coming to us when called. This is what we will concentrate on this week. He is so lovable and snores when sleeping. For the most part he only chews on his toys. So we feel so lucky to have picked him. Frosty and him play for a long time each day. Except for when he takes his playing too far, I think she is also really enjoying her new little brother.
I attached a few pictures of Zeus' regular work day with me. |
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Shiner- Adopted summer 2006
Shiner, previously known as Melody is doing well at the gym. In fact she has really become a career girl. Check her out on the job: http://georgetownfitness.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=22&Itemid=51
Shiner (Melody) has turned into a beautiful dog ? shiny coat and lean. She has been steady at about 75-77 pounds for months now. She is non-stop fetching. I just need to work on her social skills with other dogs. |
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Maui (AKA Kinsey)- Adopted April 2007
Wanted to share some pix of Maui. Maui made an easy transition as our new beloved family member. She has already bonded with her big brother Kozmo......they are inseparable! Of course, all of Kozmo's toys are now Maui's toys. : ] Kozmo has been such a gracious big brother that he doesn't mind her climbing on him and tugging on his various body parts. Poor guy. He seems to be very content with her snuggling up to him for a nap.
We took Maui on her first leashed walk with Kozmo yesterday and she did very well and trailed very close to Kozmo. She is very intelligent and has taken to crate and house training very well.....but as expected, we have had some long nights as she would rather be with Kozmo instead of being in the crate at night. They are quickly becoming best of friends! We love our little girl!
Thank you again for rescuing her and her family! We will keep you posted as she develops. |
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Kaikoura (Tootsie)- Adopted 2006
Kaikoura and I have been doing well since I adopted her last March. I have attached a couple of pictures of her. She is the same girl that she was when you brought her to my house that first time: she lives to play fetch and to be in the water. She can hardly control herself when we drive to Town Lake. I couldn't have asked for a better, more livelier companion. |
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Joy- Adopted 2007
Joy is doing very well with her family. She is happy to be with her canine sisters, and she has gotten in some good sniffs with her feline siblings, so we are hopeful that she is going to quit barking at them! She spends her day lounging around on the bed with both of her sisters and one of the cats! Joy is such a loving girl. She seems to be very happy here, and we are very happy with her. Thank you for all that you have done for this little girl, and thank you for getting her home, where she belongs. |
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Lacey- Adopted
Remember us, Jules and Cynthia and our daughter Hannah? A couple of months ago you helped us find Lacey the lab. We brought her into our family and it has been wonderful with her. She fit like a warm glove into our routines and is now a valuable member of our family. Thanks so much and please don't forget us. We never will forget you. :- )
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Betty- Adopted
Just wanted to let you guys know that Betty is doing great! She has adjusted very well into our life and we are enjoying her greatly. She is really doing well with our 16 month old daughter and our min-pin...very smooth transition. Thanks, so much, for all that you all have done in facilitating our adoption of Betty. We really do appreciate all that you do in helping all the rescue dogs.
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Lilly- Adopted
Lilly (Jack calls her ?Lilly-dog? ? well he kinda mumbles this anyway) is just doing great here. The kids simply adore her and she is so patient and gentle with them (see pic). Right away she also acclimated to being a good guard dog as well making, the times I am away from the home less stressful for the rest of the family. We feel so fortunate to have her ? during the day she likes to camp out near my office desk where I usually work from home (we have a bed for her there). Sometimes I have to nudge her a bit to quit snoring though when I?m talking to clients on the phone (do they make breathe right products for dogs)? ;-) Anyway, just wanted to give you a short note that we?re taking good care of your former charge ? and we hope to be back again someday to perhaps seek a playmate for Lilly (although I think the kids do a pretty good job of wearing her out). |
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Trevor, now Hogan- Adopted June 2006
Just wanted to let you know that all is well with Hogan. He quickly
became a member of the family and is very happy with his new big sister
Ryder. He gets along very well with our daughter and has made himself
right at home (as you can see in the picture)! We couldn't be happier,
keep up the good work! |
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Ace- Adopted January 2005
Just want to update you on Ace. We are doing great. He and Ben are really
tight. Ben had a friend over on Saturday and they were playing in Ben's
room with the door closed, Ace sat right by the door and whined. It was so
cute. We went to our second obedience lesson on Tuesday (the first was a
debacle, he had to go to time-out and barked, cried and whined for over an
hour), but the second was much better and he did not get a time out and Ben
got him to sit for 2 minutes! The leash pulling is still terrible, but the
teacher gave me some tips. He has already broken out of the crate (I am
not sure how), but has not chewed or had an accident, so he has run of the
house (almost) while we are gone. I have been able to work at home in the
afternoon, so he is not alone too long. He and Ben wear each other out and
have pretty much been asleep by 8:15. He is sleeping on the bottom of
Ben's bed, and many times both end up with me (and I have about 1/4 of the
bed). He is definitely part of the family. As soon as he is a bit better
trained, he and Ben are going to agility school (Ben has him going up the
playscape and coming down the slide).
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Trudy and Earl- Adopted November 2004
UPDATE 3/06: I just thought I'd give you an update on Trudy and Earl...
They're both doing very well. They still get to go swimming regularly at
Walnut Creek Park in north Austin. But they have a new diversion now. My
girlfriend has five horses and we spend most weekends out with them in the
pasture working and riding them. Trudy and Earl love being out there and
running around with the 'big dogs'. Earl's demeanor around the horses just
reaffirms my suspicions that he used to live on a ranch. He is very
comfortable around them and always wants to run off with whoever happens to
be riding, even if it's just someone else riding through the pasture. Trudy
has gotten quite comfortable around them as well. They know to move very
quickly when a horse lunges at them (there is one out there that belongs to
someone else that hates dogs). I've included a few photos of them with the
horses for you.
Earl has also gotten much better in the car. He still drools and pants quite
a bit, but has stopped whining for the most part (at least after a couple
minutes). It took the better part of the year he's been with me but he gets
better every time. He also enjoys sticking his head out the side window, and
of course, the entire side of the vehicle is covered in drool! I have an SUV
now and they are comfortable in the back or sticking their heads out the
side.
Earl has finally put on some more weight and his ribs have covered up. Trudy
was very ill about a month ago and lost 10 pounds, and has kept it off (she
ate too much horse manure and was quite sick for about 10 days). So they are
both looking very fit. Earl's arthritis is starting to catch up with him,
but you'd never know it watching him play. He now loves chasing a ball and
brings it back every time. Trudy has been diagnosed with mild hip dysplasia
and gets a little sore and limps after she runs hard, but she still is
extremely compulsive about chasing her ball. They are wiped out tonight from
being in the pasture all day.
-Todd
ORIGINAL UPDATE: Trudy and Earl are getting along great. They wrestle and chase each other
around the house. Earl has become the alpha but Trudy hasn't minded. I have
to have two of everything because Earl will take whatever Trudy has and make
Trudy go get the second one. Occasionally, this goes on for quite a while
and they just keep swapping. But Trudy just lets him without any trouble.
There is a beautiful park (Walnut Creek) nearby and I take them there 3-4
times a week. It's a leash free park with many trails and lots of water.
They get off the leash and have a blast. They tear around in the water,
swimming in the pools and running as fast as they can in the shallows. Earl
keeps up with Trudy all day long. They chase the tennis ball and fight for
it in the creek. Up on the trails, they run loose also. Earl likes to run
ahead, but as soon as he gets out of sight, he stops and comes back until he
can see me again then continues on. He always comes back all the way to me
when called too. Trudy will usually stay next to me on the trails. She is
never more than a few feet away from me. They love running around in the
water with the other dogs they meet there.
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Abel- Adopted 2004
If there is such a thing as a "poster dog" for lab rescue -- Abel has to be it. Lost or abandoned when he was just a few months old, Abel found his way to the animal shelter. While he was in the shelter, Margaret saw something in this pup -- who was injured and could barely walk -- and decided to take him into the HOTLR program and into her home (for which we are extremely grateful). Abel soon left for drug dog training, destined to be a part of Homeland Security. But alas, Abel was not meant to be a drug dog. He left the training program and returned to HOTLR. His foster family, the Sharps, took wonderful care of him (for which we also are extremely grateful) and taught him some really neat tricks. But despite his sweet and playful disposition, Abel had a hard time finding a permanent home because he was such a BIG lab. About 17 months after he was rescued, we came across his sweet picture on the HOTLR website. It was love at first sight; and, after reading his bio (so accurately written by Greg), we knew that Abel was the dog for us. After we completed the adoption process, Abel began a new chapter in his life and started settling into his forever home about five months ago.
We couldn't be more thrilled to have Abel as part of our family!! We love and encourage his playful nature -- but also adore his sweet, cuddly side. Abel is such a happy-go-lucky dog. He loves every person and dog he meets, and they love him. Abel quickly took a liking to Maverick, our nearly twelve-year-old black lab. They became great buddies, napping together back-to-back and playing tug. Sadly, Maverick lost his battle with cancer last week; and Abel is now "the" dog of the house. Needless to say, Abel has been a great comfort for us.
Abel's daily routine includes walks and trips to the neighborhood dog park. Watching Abel outrun every other dog at the park in pursuit of a tennis ball or frisbee, it is hard to believe this energetic two-year-old lab is the same injured puppy who was barely able to walk. The only dogs who can (barely) outrun Abel are two Greyhounds who live nearby, but Abel still manages to get the ball first because he is so agile and can stop/turn on a dime. Hardly a day passes without Abel taking a swim in the backyard pool; and he loves weekend trips to the ranch, where he can run around and swim in the lake to his heart's content. Abel also loves to accompany us as we run errands (he loves car rides), visit the in-laws for the evening, or take out-of-town trips. And he has a ball when his Akita "cousin" comes to play! He also has found great playmates with the neighborhood kids and a black female lab that lives down the street.
Abel has the run of the house and is no longer interested in the crate. He can be trusted to stay out of trouble when left alone. (Although a shopping bag or empty box occasionally proves to be too tempting.) Countersurfing is a VERY rare occurrence, and he now leaves the food container located on the floor alone! Can you believe it? At night, Abel curls up on his dog bed in our bedroom. By morning, he is sprawled out on his back -- such a funny sight!
To sum it up, Abel is a wonderful dog who is very much loved and spoiled! Thank you for rescuing him! Although we want to spend some one-on-one time with Abel for a while, we have discussed the possibility of adopting another lab or acting as a foster in the future. We will keep you posted! |
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Henry- Adopted January 2005
Henry is in training to be a drug-detection dog. Here's his first report:
Just wanted to give you an update... Henry seems to be doing just fine. He was a little bit whiny the first night, I think he missed his momma.
We did three short training sessions on Friday, and introduced him to marijuana scented towels in the afternoon. I had him jump into the bed of a truck to get the towel. No problem, then I threw one up on the hood of another truck, it got stuck by the windshield wiper he jumped on the hood and got it. (Good Boy)
Today we did about three short sessions and he did real well, he doesn't seem to be distracted by other odors inside buildings or outside.
Things are going well he and Shiner are getting along just fine. Shiner keeps trying to get Henry to chase him but no luck yet. Last night they were playing tug of war with a piece of wood they were growling at one another as the pulled on the wood.
Also today Henry located several marijuana scented towels hidden both inside and outside without anything being thrown. Which is good for the second day. |
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Kayla- Adopted Feb 2004
Well, its been a great year for all three of us. Kayla adjusted almost immediately and we?re all firmly attached to each other. Kayla?s personality is mirror image of our previous best friend Brandy. The only difference is that Kayla just loves to fetch and that is just fine with us. When we bought our house 8 years back we bought it because we really liked the pool. Little did I realize that we really bought it so that Kayla could use the pool for lap training. Kayla?s an absolute love bucket and that was what we were looking for when we picked (or she picked us). She?s only had one problem. In December we noticed a lump under the skin behind her right rear knee. We took her to the vet and had it removed. Turned out to be cancerous. Since the didn?t take much out around the tumor we ended up with a second round of surgery to remove more of a margin around the site. All of this was sent in for testing. The final report came back negative and as a result the prognosis is excellent. |
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Molly, now Harley- Adopted 2004
Thank you for asking about Molly...now called Harley. May I just begin by saying she is the world's greatest dog. I do not exaggerate when I say this. Both Brent and I continue to be amazed at how awesome she is and what a gift to our family. Harley has fit in well from day one. She is obedient, loving and fun. It may sound silly but we truly thank God for her often. Adopting a dog can be such an unknown but not this one. Here are some specifics on just how great she is...none we can take credit for either.
1. We decided she could have access to any room in the house...but not the kitchen. When she would come near it, we would gently tell her no...and she would stay out. To this day...she stays out.
2. When we open the front door she does not bolt...unless she has to go potty...then she does her business and comes right back. And when we are out front playing w/our kids...she joins in and NEVER takes off. The neighborhood loves Harley too. Gentle w/kids and adults also love how sweet she is all around.
3. On walks (whether long or short)...most of the time she does not need a lease...but sticks right by our side.
4. Harley goes where we go...and is inside most of the time except when we are gone for a long period of time (in a day).
She is truly an extension of us. Most everyone who meets her comments on how great she is... that she does not jump, lick, bark...etc. All she wants is love...and we an abundance to give it to her. Thank you so much for allowing us to adopt her...words can't express how awesome she is...and how blessed we are to have Harley part of us. A great match indeed. |
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Delilah- Adopted August 2004
What a sweetie she is! Since adopting her last August, Delilah
has provided constant excitement for our household. Maggie and I share duty
in Delilah's 2-3 fetch sessions a day. She is one of the most focused dogs I
have seen when it comes to playing fetch. If a ball is in sight, Delilah
ignores all else. We've had to invest in a ball thrower (for distance and
saving our arms) and a glow-in-the-dark ball (for anytime fun) to subside
her obsession. It's quite interesting to see a blinking green light somehow
floating through the darkness...we've stopped a few folks with that trick.
Bull Creek and Redbud Isle are by far her most favorite dog parks. Although,
you can find us most often getting a daily swim in the quarry lake near our
house. We are very grateful to have Delilah as part of our family. Thanks!
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Chester (Baxter)- Adopted Jan 2005
Baxter now Chester - adopted January 2005
Chester is such an awesome dog! We feel so lucky to have such a
sweet-tempered pooch in our house. The most worked-up this dog gets is when
we pull out the vacuum cleaner, which throws him into a barking frenzy!
He is so friendly to everyone he meets - people or dogs. He can be shy at
first, but then is ready to play within minutes. Chester loves to take long
walks and go to the park.
Chester is also going to training classes where he gets to meet other dogs
and learn his basic obedience too. Many times in class he has been pointed
out as the perfect dog because of his calm temperament and ability to learn
new things quickly. We couldn't agree more!
Thanks for introducing us to this amazing dog. We feel so lucky to have
such a sweet and loving one in our home.
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Abel- Adopted 2004
Thought you would be interested in an Abel update. The big boy is doing
great, and he has been thoroughly enjoying the pool this summer!! He also
has been showing the ropes to a couple of fosters.
Two weeks ago, we took in our first foster dog for Companion Animal Network
(CAN). CAN works with the Animal Welfare Committee of the Dallas
Association of Young Lawyers, of which I am vice-president. I received an
email plea seeking a foster home for a darling yellow female Lab named Rue,
and could not resist (we had been talking about getting involved with some
of the local rescues as a foster). As a small puppy, Rue was hit by a car.
Fortunately, someone picked her up and took her to a vet in Sunnyvale. The
vet mended her broken leg and took great care of her as they tried to find
her a home. The vet eventually contacted CAN and asked for help. Rue is
just under 1 year old, and is a beautiful -- but small -- Lab weighing in at
35-40 pounds. She and Abel immediately hit it off, and became great play
buddies. She has no fear, which is good given that Abel weighs more than
double her weight! During their wild play sessions, they successfully
rearranged our furniture multiple times. Rue was an ideal houseguest and a
quick learner. Abel really enjoyed having her around, and we absolutely
loved her (I was inclined to keep her). But we remained committed to
fostering and helped find her a great home with a wonderful family.
Fortunately, her new "daddy" works with me, so we will still get to see her
and plan on setting up playdates with Abel.
The same day Rue went to her new home, Rodney, Abel and I accompanied Gail
(who runs CAN) to check out a 6 year old chocolate Lab, Jake, who was no
longer wanted by his family. Gail found out about Jake through a vet
friend, who called her when the family brought him to their clinic to be
euthanized. It seems the wife no longer wanted to deal with the dog. The
husband raised the dog since he was a pup, but had never owned a Lab (or
probably any other dog), and he had no idea what he was getting into. Jake
stayed outside at all times, in a yard that lacked a single tree, shrub, or
any means of shade. He had little attention, and his only contact with
other dogs came during an occasional walk. He is a gorgeous 110 pound dog
but his coat is horribly bleached from the sun. Jake also has clearly been
abused, and didn't seem to respond to his own name. Despite all this, he is
very sweet and gentle. He and Abel got along well during our visit, so Jake
became our new foster. To signify the beginning of his new life as a loved
family member, Jake has been re-named Kodiak ("Kody") because he looks like
a bear and is as sweet and loving as a giant teddy bear. Kody has been with
us since Sunday afternoon, and is already improving and learning to trust --
although we have a long road ahead before he overcomes everything. He is
not nearly as jumpy as he was before, and he no longer flinches when we
raise our hand to pet his head. He is discovering what it is like to be
inside -- learning to climb stairs, watching television with keen interest,
and picking up Abel's Kong ball (although he still does not know how to
play). He wants to be a lap dog, and would be perfectly happy if we did
nothing but love on him all day and night. Kody watches Abel's every move,
so we hope our big goober can teach him how to be a Lab. For example, it
took about 10 minutes of watching Abel jump in and out of the pool for Kody
to (not so gracefully) jump/tumble into the pool. Kody is now a water dog,
and gets in the pool whenever he is outside. Abel has been doing his best
to get Kody to play, but Kody so far is not getting it. I think he will
come around, though. All in all, I am sure Abel would rather have Rue back.
But he is great with Kody, and Kody desperately needs the love and lessons
he is getting from us and from Abel.
I know I have said this before, but Rodney and I are eternally grateful for
the love and care you provided to Abel while he was with you. That is what
has inspired us to help other Labs in need. I hope this email finds all of
you well. |
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Connor- Adopted 2004
Connor is great and he is doing wonderful! He really enjoys our home. He and our cat, Nelson, are good buds.
The neighbors comment on how soft and sweet Connor is. He's definitely a favorite. I think that his smile is what folks really enjoy. We've taught him to smile on command and we've almost got him doing an ?Elvis? on command (he lifts one lip like the King).
We got our pond redone and Connor loves to sit there and watch the koi and goldfish (see the attached photo). He doesn?t like the pool, though. He won't go in it, even after we've coaxed him with treats and his toys. I have started a new game with the water from the water hose. He likes to drink the water, but is a little hesitant when I try to get him wet. When we're out by the pool, we don't mind the heat since we're in the water, but he's got to be hot, so I try to spray him down. I make a big fuss so he's enjoying our water hose game a bit more.
We have all enjoyed the wonderful weather, with extra long evening walks in the neighborhood. One evening we were out walking and Connor, who doesn't normally bark, started barking very insistently. He had cornered a possum. The possum just stood frozen and we called Connor off. We're glad to know that he lets us know when someone or something is in our yard.
There are 2 owls that fly around in the creek behind our home, a herron, lots of cardinals, a possum, an armadillo, the fish in our pond, his cat brother and just recently a turtle that laid eggs in our side yard. Lots for him to see and smell. We even tell campfire stories on Friday nights with our daughter, Lexi. We hear the owls and try to make up stories about "the white dog." That's what we call him in our not-so-scary, scary stories.
Thanks for all that you do and keep up the good work.
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Otis- Adopted 2005
Otis is doing very well..he is much loved here and inseperable from the boys...he is a very gentle fellow...very clever and very loving. |
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