Alumni Stories

Angel (formerly Spot) - May 5, 2008

Hi, Dick!

I think you used to know me as "Spot" but my new mom and dad changed my name to Angel.  I like that much better.  In fact, I learned my name within a day or two of being in my new forever home.  Because I like my name better, I come when I'm called, especially when I think it's time to eat or get a really yummy treat!

I've been in my forever home for about two weeks now and I'm so happy to be here!  In fact, when I first got here, I really put Mom through her paces!  I was just sooooo excited to be in my forever home that I wanted to play all the time, and I also tended to get into things I wasn't supposed to.  I guess I was afraid I would be sent away again and I just wanted to enjoy this while I could.  My first night here was nice, but I was really tired.  I got to sleep on a mat in Mom and Dad's room and I was such a good doggy because I slept through the night and then let everybody know I needed to go out the next morning.  That weekend was really rainy so we couldn't walk, but we played and we played and we played...... a LOT!!! (I think I wore Mom out!)  I have some great chew toys, but they have this yummy fabric on them and I like to eat the strings.  For some reason, Mom has to put those toys up when I start eating the strings.  I don't understand that, do you?

When I first got here, I was also very afraid of the car.  I couldn't tell Mommy and Daddy, but I was really afraid that I would go back to the shelter again or that I would be sent way from my new home.  Mom was patient, though, and helped me through that.  I heard her tell people that she probably looked like a real dork (whatever that is) because we would walk around the car, and the she would open the doors and get in and just sit there with her feet out.  At first, I wouldn't look at the car, sniff at it, and I never took treats from Mom when she was near the car because I thought I might be tricked.  A few days later, Mom and Dad sort of made me get in the car and we went to this really great place.  It has organic and natural dog food, toys, and water if I get thirsty.  This really nice lady named Kim always pets me and gives me treats when we go there, so I kind of like visiting her.  My other favorite place to go is Petsmart.  There are neat smells, all sizes of people who pet me, and sometimes there are other dogs there that I can play with, too.  I kind of like going in the car now, and I even get in all by myself, which gets me lots of "good girls" from Mom and Dad.  We went to the vet on Saturday, and I was a very good girl (everybody said so) even if I did get two shots.  But I also got lots and lots of yummy treats from the nice people there!  I got in the car again later that day, so I'm still not scared of it.  Mom and Dad got a doggy type seat belt for the car yesterday, but we didn't like each other too much, so Dad got a different kind of doggy seat belt.  We haven't had a chance to try that out yet, though. 

Besides going to the vet on Saturday, I also had a bath.  I wasn't very happy about that and it took both Mommy and Daddy to hold me so I could be washed.  I finally got still but I was really happy when Mom turned the water off and I could get out of the big ole tub!  Of course, after I got washed, I felt so good that I ran all over the house, rolled on the carpet, and played and played!  I played hide and seek with Dad and that was fun.  Mom had to settle us both down, though because she said we got too rowdy.  We sure had fun, even if we did get rowdy!

Since I've been here for a couple of weeks now, I now know the rules and I'm much better at obeying.  We are working on "sit, come, stay, lay down, and shake".  I'm very good at all of those except "shake"; I just don't get that one. I've also calmed down a lot because Mommy discovered that I love to look out the window in the computer room while she works.  It keeps me occupied until she gets through with her work.  A little later in the morning, we get to go on a short walk and then we play.  I sleep a lot after that until the afternoon.  When it gets close to time for Dad to come home, I get excited because I know it's almost time to eat.  And when these two legged people eat first, I usually let them know about it!  I'm learning that I soon get fed so I don't quite so impatient anymore.  After supper, Dad takes me on a longer walk and I get really excited when I see him put on his walking shoes.  Sometimes, if I'm not too tired, we all get to play again and that's really fun!

I do like to get on the couch and Mom says she doesn't really mind that, but Dad does, so she has to make me get off.  I will test her every morning with this, but I'm a good girl and get off of the couch when I'm told to--even if I don't like it very much. 

This morning, Mom told me that one of my human sisters is coming home for a visit today.  That might excite me again, but as long as I know I'm staying here, I'll be fine.  I sleep in my crate at night, but I'd rather sleep next to Mom and Dad and what I'd really like to do is sleep on their bed, but Dad says that's a big no no.  When Mom goes out, she puts me in my crate and turns on the radio so I don't feel alone.  That's ok, but I'd rather have free run of the house.  Mom and Dad don't seem to think I'm quite ready for that, though.

Mom has taken some pictures of me (I think I like getting my picture taken) and she is going to try to send them to you. I'm laying down on the floor by the couch, waiting on Mom to finish her computer work so we can go on our walk.

I'll see if Mom can send you a few pictures here and maybe she'll write you an e-mail later this morning and send some more pictures.

Thank you so much for finding me my forever home!  I'm a happy dog now!

Time to rest up for my walk and later play sessions.

Woof  Woof!
Angel

Nelly - April 23, 2008

Note from HART:

Nelly was just adopted.  Here is a photo of her with her new owner – we have gotten great reports that she is very happy and they are overjoyed with their adoption!

Layla (formerly Taylor) - April 17, 2008

Hi there Gale!

Taylor (AKA Layla) is doing wonderfully. She is such a sweet girl -- we absolutely adore her! She has finally in the last 6 months gotten comfortable with the concept of snuggling with us. At first, she was jumpy and it was as if she was taught at some point that snuggling was not acceptable, especially in bed at night. But now, she hops up and plops down as if that was what she always had done.

She and our puggle, Chester, go to the dog park just about every day after I get home from work, and 95% of the time she gets along perfectly with all the other doggies (and always says hello to all the people as well, hoping to find a sucker to pet her endlessly!)

I have attached a few more pictures -- thank you again for helping me bring Layla into our home!

Kim

Sigfried - March 13, 2008


Thank you for saving Sigfried aka Ziggy for us. He has been with us for just 5 days and already is part of our hearts and family. He is a total doll and everyone, both canine and human, who meets him falls in love. Thank you thank you thank you.

Siegfried's new family - Tricia, Fred, Kate, and Kim

Pinky - January 28, 2008

Pinky's such a joy!  She loves our male greyhound and follows him everywhere!  She's stolen all of his toys from him and keeps them upstairs where he can't get to them, but he doesn't seem to mind, although he tries to curl up in her little dog bed, which is hysterical (he's 70 pounds compared to her 20!)  She enjoys her daily walks and is eating well and sleeps with us at night.  She's only had a few accidents in the house, but she's doing great on the house training. She's such a cutie pie - thanks so much!

Alisa and Steve

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