Carrie
Anne
We rescued our first dog, Maximus,
and we adopted our second dog, Isis. Maximus had a
family that kept him in his kennel in the garage
literally 20 hours a day. Dad let him out in the
morning before he went to work and again in the
evenings
when he got home. The wife didn't want the dog to
ruin her brand new furniture and the kids were
afraid of him (the lab puppy grew MUCH faster than
the kids did), so he never got any interaction
during the day. He was with that family from 8 wks
to 5 or 6 months. We "took him off their hands"
because my friend, who happened to be their
neighbor, couldn't stand that the lab - a very
energetic breed - had not interaction with anyone.
Maximus is now 2 years old and pretty much has the
run of the house. He even gets up on my brand new
couch when he thinks I'm not looking. ;)
I felt like Maximus needed a playmate, so we spent
weeks looking for the perfect match for him. We went
to several different shelters because I couldn't
imagine spending hundreds of dollars on a dog when
there are perfectly good "best friends" in a
shelter. Finally, an 8-week old puppy (we think
something mixed with a lab) showed up in the local
shelter. My boyfriend decided that she was the one,
and that little puppy was waiting for me when I got
home from work. She is now 10 months old and quite
happy. The two of them are still learning how to
play "nicely" with each other (they bite and growl
when they play... maybe that's normal? but it sure
does scare the neighbors' kids) They'll figure it
out one day. Sometimes, they are definitely a
handful, but I couldn't imagine my life without
them. ;)
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Mickie
Jenkins I work for a vet and a humane society
and minnie came into the shelter dying, so I took
her to my vet and took 2 month to get her better.
she almost died during her treatments and I told her
I would be her new mommy if she lived, she got
better and I'm her mommy now!!!
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Kathy Dunham Molly
- Yellow Lab adopted from Humane
Society in Fort Lauderdale (she's a
beach girl!) and Rocket - cattle dog
mix adopted from Friends for Life,
where I now volunteer (www.azfriends.org).
Regardless of where you get your
furry friend, always remember to
ADOPT - DON'T SHOP!
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William Higgins
got my dog
Friday from Lou. humane society her
name is Lucy '2 yrs. old beagle. a
lot of dogs there need homes.
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Nikki Schnell Killmer:
There is not
enough room here to add the
story of my 4 dogs I've adopted!
1. Petfinder is a great
place to start looking for
available dogs.
2. Don't let distance of
the shelter be a deciding
factor, if it's far enough away
make a weekend trip of it to
check it out. many shelters will
make arrangements to meet you
halfway or find other shelters
to help with transport. (we have
adopted out as far away as NY,
PA & CO, we're in IA, with the
help of even truck drivers) (:
3. If you must go with a
purebred please do your
research. ask questions of a
breed specific rescue. they are
there to help!
4. Mixed breeds are just
as wonderful as the purebred. so
please don't pass them by!!
5. Please be patient in
your search for that perfect new
family member. it takes time and
you will appreciate them so much
more that getting a pet as an
impulse purchase!!
6. Also be patient with
the shelter or rescue you
request an application from. as
with our shelter it takes time
to review the application and do
the reference checks. because we
want to make sure that you are
the right fit for who you are
applying for. since bringing
them back does have a emotional
affect on the dog and the
shelter volunteers, not just
you. these emotions can turn
physical in the dog and affect
their health.
I could go on but I am out of
time. thanks for reading!
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April Carroll
I rescued my palm
chiwow and shitz zhu mix from
some people that were going to
throw them in the dumpster. The
dad died before the puppies were
born. All of the puppies died
before they were one except for
my Cupid. Her mom got put in the
dumpster.
I would have had her 10 on
valentines day, but she died
last fall from a tangle with a
wild dog. All they left her with
is her head and spine! She is
buried where her and my dad had
their walks. I miss her Very
much! A couple weeks ago my dad
came home with a little tea cup
and mini chiwow. She was covered
in fleas and had the mange. She
is now flea and mange free and
re growing her hair!!! Her name
is Bella!
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Christy Marie Wahl
All my dogs were
rescued. Bruiser who is now 6
was adopted when he was one
(estimated age because of being
found on the streets) He came
from an abusive family who just
threw him on the streets after
they were done with. He suffered
from separation
anxiety for months. When we left
him he would go crazy & tear up
things. We tried everything the
vet told us to do but none of it
worked. We finally had the idea
to get a second dog to keep him
company while we were gone.
Which turned out to be just what
he needed. He's the best dog
now. Cali who's 5 was adopted
when she was 8 weeks old at the
human society & Rudy who is now
3 was adopted at 10 weeks old.
I think people need to realize
that dogs can be alot of work.
They adopt them because their so
cute but then get rid of them
cuz they can't handle them.
Before adopting I would make
sure your completely ready for
the responsibility.
Jennie Martinez
I adopted my heeler mix, Max, when he
was 3 months old at a shelter in Nampa, Idaho. That
was in June, 2002. A week later he was diagnosed
with Parvo, which he survived! He loves to get in my
truck, and sit in the extra cab part with his "sister",
until I start the engine. Then he trembles and
pants. He has for years, not sure why. He lives to
play fetch! In 2008, Max was paralyzed. He had a
blown disk in his lower back. I took him to a Vet in
Reno, Nv. Wonderful, painfully honest surgeon, told
he Max had a less than 30% chance of walking again
and showed me the special X-rays of his back. The
disk material had compressed his spinal cord.
Steroids were tried first, didn't work. I went ahead
with the surgery and still 4 days later Max couldn't
walk. On the 5th day, he got up. I was able to take
him home in 10 more days, for a long recovery period
of 6 weeks. We did exercises with his back legs. I
made a sling with pampers on it and I carried him
out to go potty. No stairs, no jumping on me or
furniture. Now! he is almost as good as new
and....he lives to play fetch :-)
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Mary Lind We
adopted our Stella through Petfinder
and a local rescue back in June of
2009...http://stellalind.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/shes-heeerrrrreeeeeee
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Wendy Loyd-Cook
One of my six rescues is my pug
Angus. He was picked up on the streets of
small town Oklahoma with a Husky and a Standard
Poodle. (He's quite the player) He landed in a
dog pound where they SHOOT the dogs if they're
not claimed in three days....Thankfully someone from the pound called the
rescue I adopted him from and they came and
picked him and his girlfriends up and I found
him on Petfinder.com. He and my husband (who
thought pugs were ugly) are now INSEPARABLE!
Another rescue of mine is my pug Petey. He was
abused by three small boys for the first ten
months of his life and was surrendered to the
same rescue I adopted Angus from. I also found
him on petfinder.com and fell in love with him
the moment I saw his photo. It took several
months but he finally came out of his frightened
little shell and has become quite the character!
I could go on and on about my rescues....
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Christine A.
Varcoe
All my pets are rescues, my
dog Brandi though was rescued from a shelter
that saved her from a puppy mill and was
close to death poor thing was less than 11
pounds terrified of people and could barely
stand. Even had a bum paw (which has ne...ver
held her up and causes no pain) probably
broken and healed wrong. She is now an
AMAZING healthy, loving, secure dog! She was
on death row at the shelter and considered
unadoptable thank god Heart Bandits rescue
which is in Illinois/Indiana drove to
Kentucky and scooped her up! We have had her
over 2 1/2 years now and even adopted a
sister for her from Heart Bandits as well.
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Samantha Peterson
my grandma and i
always find ourselves in the
situation of rescuing an animal.
dogs and cats we've rescued. now
the most recent dog- is an
german shepard mixed with a lab.
i can't describe to you how much
energy she has- i drive up and
down...
the driveway on a fourwheeler
10+ times a day or so and the
energy never stops! i should
request her to be the new mascot
of the energizer batteries, she
seems to have a million of those
in her somewhere. i could have
her run around the world a few
times and she'd be happier then
ever. by the way her tail wags,
you know shes found a home to be
happy of. in the wildlife and
rolling fields she can run on
all day. ♥
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Lisa Lombardo
I got Misty @an
animal shelter in Chicago Ridge,
IL. She was 11 months and listed
as a Shepherd Mix. Misty was in
the "sick" room when I got her
due to a broken leg-she had 15
staples and was recovering. I
later found out through DNA, she
i...s
a samoyed mix and after some
research I also found out she
was in the shelter at least 3
times. The first time as an 6
week old puppy-she was adopted
out, they kept her for about 3-4
months and brought her back. She
sat at the shelter for another
couple months, then she was
adopted again. This time she was
brought back after about two
months--I believe she was
brought back in with the broken
leg. Then I came along and five
years later I couldn't be
happier or blessed with a better
dog.
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Kelly Peterson
I have two Bloodhounds, one from a
rescue and one adopted, also an
adopted Boxer, and rescued Pit Bull
mix....I love them all incredibly.
(I also have a Golden Retriever) My
dogs are the light of my life and
they make my husband and I as happy
as we make them! ♥ ♥
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Sandra Justis
I adopted or
should I say a sweet Golden Lab/Corgie
cross adopted my son at our
local shelter. We had recently
lost both my parents and had
some sad times and I felt we
needed a new adventure and a pup
could provide just that. Once at
the s...helter,
I was looking at taking a
different one home that day,
when the volunteer at the
shelter said, "Look down there"
I looked and saw a little blond
1 year old pup who was looking
at my son kinda the way I always
did, with huge heart smiling
love. That's all it took, and we
left that day with our sweet
Jewel. My son left for college a
year and a half later and then
it was just Jewel and I. She was
and is my saving grace in so
many things. Not only did she
become the best side-kick a 2-
legger could ever have, she also
became a very best puppy raiser
for Guide Dogs for the Blind,
when I decided we needed another
adventure, one that could
benefit the visually impaired.
She and I are on puppy in
training number 6 and at 10
years old, Jewel is going
strong. Funny thing is not sure
who rescued who with Jewel and
I. Happy Tailwags and have fun
with the new site! ~Sandi &
Jewely Jewels =]
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Nancy Ryan
Bruno my Basset Hound was found on
the side of the road starved to
death with sores all over him. The
day I got him we were BOTH lucky. I
hope my other Basset Roscoe doesn't
read because I have to say that
Bruno is the sweetest and cutest dog
I have ever had. He has been a great
companion for both Roscoe and me!
Bruno is healthy, handsome, and full
of energy now and affirms my belief
that two dogs are better than one! |
Tiffany
Huddleston
Our older one,
Speckles, was a rescue, we found her
running down the highway skinny as a
rail. We've had her 10 yrs now. Our
young one, Bella, was adopted 3 yrs
ago. She, her mother and litter
mates were found by a dumpster..
Rescued by a shelter and put up for
adoption, we adopted her the first
day! |
Camy Rimmel
Ranger is my
first rescue dog! I used to work
at a corporate company that had
animal shelters come and show
off their cute lil pups up for
adoption. I was in the process
of moving into an apartment with
a few of my friends and wanted
to res...cue
a dog. I walked down the line of
pups and saw this big eared, big
brown eyed Basenji/Lab mix. I
asked if I could get him out of
his cage to see how he was with
me, he BOLTED out and started
jumping all over me giving me
the biggest kisses ever. They
said he's always been so timid
since he's been with the shelter
and has never acted this way
towards anyone! It was love at
first site. He was 11 months old
when I got him in 2009 and he's
been my best friend ever since.
Everyday is an adventure with
him, he would do anything for me
and I would give him the world
if I could! lol He loves tennis
balls, and actually loves to
wear clothes! Haha
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Cathy Mintz
I have a rescued Pit
Bull her name is Raven. She is a
great dog!! |
Susan-Paul
Goodenough
We just adopted Macy a week ago from
the North shore Animal League in
Port Washington, NY. She was an
eight week old black lab mix. She is
a GREAT dog--we are loving her so
much. In just a week she has brought
so much joy (and work!!!) to our
lives!!!!
Lyn Hartwell:
I adopted 2 beagles from my
friends Beagle rescue. forever home Beagle
Rescue. Snoopy and Luci, Both females and
the sweetest dogs ever.
Ginger
McComas Peel:
Roxie ~ rescued in
Harrison co . Ky . Puppy mill mommy ~
cranked out multiple pups before rescue
( white schnauzer ) in Aug 2001 . Was
malnourished, matted , and terrified of
humans . Now happy and healthy .....
Slightly Overweight . And much
loved by the Peel family ~
Beth
Jermyn Reed We adopted our
Lab/Terrier mix from Cape Ann Animal Aid
in Gloucester, MA. He is a "sato" dog
(rescued from the streets of Puerto
Rico). He has brought us nothing but
happiness for all the 51/2 years we've
had him!!!
Susan Belt
Rescued two Shih-Tzu's, litter mates, brother and
sister four years ago. They are now 11 years old and
wonderful little loves! Teddy Bear is the little boy
and Princess is the little girl and rules the house!
I love the breed, these are the fourth and fifth I
have owned.
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