Clyde (now Charlie)

Before Adoption	After Adoption

Charlie is doing VERY well. He is now at full strength and doesn't seem the least bit hindered by his accident. To the contrary, he seems to use it to help make high-speed 180 degree changes in direction by dropping to his stump, swiveling, and shooting off in the opposite direction. This transpires so fast that it takes awhile to realize just what he did.

Bedtime finds him waiting until we are both in bed, then he gets in his crate next to the bed, and stays there all night without being asked. In the morning when I get up he is ready to go: has breakfast, goes outside to do his business, then comes back in to make sure we are both up and ready for the day.

He will go outside and play several times a day. All he needs is his beloved hedgehog, which he tosses in the air and chases by himself. VERY soft-mouthed. Absolutely no damage to Mr. Hog. In fact, the squeak still works. Accepts treats daintily and carefully, then takes them to his pad to eat. Does tend to get excited easily at play or greeting, and wants to mouth, which we discourage with a gentle "no". Stands still throughout the grooming process, which I try to do every second or third day. Likes to have his teeth brushed, and would easily go through a tube of toothpaste a day. Last week I tried using a grinder on his nails and that was NOT appreciated. However, it does an excellent job. His nails are very hard to do with a clipper because they are all different colors and the quicks are not easily discerned.

The problem is that he is still a puppy and bursting with energy, and our energy is not what it used to be -- especially mine. I hope this is just a bump in the road and will improve soon. Shirley is going to add a few photos, so I will close. Keep warm, Bill

Before Adoption	After Adoption

Hello I have pictures I want to send but am at work and thought I needed to send a note for ya. I been meaning to for a couple weeks now and it just doesn't get done so here is a little note first. Hope renamed Cope like Copenhagen to match our theme of western named animals. Is doing wonderfully. He loves to play with the other cats. He is so loving and sweet sometimes it seems too much loving (if that is possible). He is totally laid back and takes life as it comes to him. We love him so much. Thank you for taking the time you did to give him and his littermates a good start. Without people like you many animals would perish. I will work on the pictures thing, but as life happens and it doesn't get done I thought I needed to give you an update and let you know he is such a joy!!! Love Sharla, Erin, Cory, Mikey, and baby Johnny

Hello Auntie Tina and Uncle Joe: I finally made my slaves go to bed and took over the computer. You took such good care of me I thought you might like to see me now. Aren't I big and shiny? My lady took those pic a minute ago. I was sleeping and not in the mood to model. She always is bugging me. See how fierce I am? How mean I can be? [Ok the truth is my lady caught me in mid yawn, but boy does it look scary.] The slaves take very good care of me. I have free feeding food and water. I come and go as I please. They know if I talk to them to let me in they better listin or they will be sorry. I have 2 other cats to play with. I reeeaaaaly want to get ahold of the two feathery slaves my lady and lord have (a sun conure and eclectus I am told). They say no "that eclectus was $2,000 you leave him alone." The little slaves can drive me crazy since I am such a prince in my own mind, but I just get up and run away if need be. I am the best at making the lord and lady pet me. They say "oh how cute he is so loving, I have never seen a cat want to be held so much" stupid slaves. They work for ME!!! I get on the lap they scratch they should be getting no enjoyment out of this. I try really hard to make the lady stop that horrible noise she makes when she sleeps, my goodness she must be dieing!!! She wakes up and moves me of all the nerve. I am just trying to help geez. Well I best be going before they learn I can use the computer. Hope all is well with you. Oh I forgot cover up that picture of that yellow lab you have on the computer. I think the lady is tempted and we just can NOT stand for anymore of those slobbering fools. That means less attention for me. Love, Copenhagen xoxo

Hudson (now Riley)

Before Adoption	After Adoption

Riley has adjusted very well! The vet said he is a very healthy puppy. We don't have children, but he seems to do well
around children when visiting. He is doing extremely well with the housetraining,. He does chew a lot, but we provide him with rawhide and toys to chew on (it's also lessening with time). He is pretty easy to train (he already knows "sit", "stay", "come", and "down"). Riley sleeps in his kennel crate next to our bed. He gets several walks a day (typically at noon and in the evening), and lots of playtime throughout the day. We are so happy with our puppy! Jason & Angela

Riley has totally adjusted to his new home--he loves it here! Riley is perfectly housetrained, and only chews now on his own toys and rawhide. We play fetch with Riley outside several times a day, and he gets a daily walk every night. He is a very healthy puppy. We don't have children yet, but will have a baby in March. We expect him to adjust very well--he's very adaptable.

I've attached a photo, but it's not a very good one! Riley is VERY difficult to photograph--he's so dark he's hard to see in pictures, and he hardly ever sits still (in this picture he was getting petted, so he was somewhat still)! We are having a little birthday party for him in a few weeks (since he'll be a year old), so hopefully we can get some pictures then.

Just keep doing what you're doing. We found Riley on your website, and we are so happy with him. Jason & Angela

This is his home by now! He sleeps on a pile of old blankets next to our bed. We play frisbee with him several times a day, and we take a long walk every evening, rain or shine. Riley was neutered at six months. He eats Science Diet Original Adult Formula.

We had a baby boy (Erik) in March. Riley is doing pretty well. He wavers between being curious about the baby, and completely uninterested. He has never shown any signs of aggression around Erik, so we think he'll do well in the long run. We make sure Riley still gets lots of attention, playtime, etc. We suspect Riley will love him when Erik starts throwing his food on the floor... Jason, Angela and Erik

Riley is doing very well--even the cold doesn't usually stop him from his daily frisbee-playing! He is getting really good at catching it, even though we don't seem to be getting any better at throwing it! It is hard to believe he is two years old already, but it's also hard to remember what our life was like before we got him! We recently bought him a new bed, since his pile of blankets was getting too hard to keep clean. He didn't want anything to do with it at first, but now he snuggles up in there and you can hardly get him to get out of it! We will be traveling for the holidays, and Riley is coming with us. He's a great little traveler, and he loves to visit his "grandma" and "grandpa" since they have a nice big yard and house, and he always gets new toys and treats from them. He is warming up to our 9-month-old son, Erik, lately. He greets him with a sniff every morning, and his tail wags when Erik tries to pet him (and Riley has been a very good sport when Erik gives his fur a tug instead of petting him gently like we're trying to teach him). Anyway, that's all for now. Thank you for the work that you do--there are so many animals out there that need a place to live. Happy Holidays! Angela & Jason

Hi, Tina-
The Olivers have been busy too--we are actually in the process of moving to Indiana! Riley is adapting very well to the Midwest so far, and his fur feels so soft in the more humid climate! The attached picture is from last summer. Our son Erik (who is almost two now) absolutely adores his buddy Riley, and often crawls into his bed with him. Riley loves Erik too (his tail wags every time he sees him), but I know they'll really have a blast together when Erik is old enough to run around outside with Riley. Riley still gets frequent walks and daily frisbee-playing--he is really getting good at jumping and catching the frisbee, no matter how badly we throw it! He's still getting fed Science Diet food and a daily Greenie treat, and is still very healthy. He has been such a wonderful addition to our family. We will send more pictures once we're settled here. Thanks for everything! Angela & Jason

Shelby (now Mel)

Before Adoption	After Adoption

We went on great camping trip. Shelby (who was immediately renamed by my older daughter and is now known as Mellow Yellow, "Mel" for short) was born to be a camping dog. She loved going for walks, playing in the lake, chewing on sticks, and sleeping in the tent (where she asked to go out and didn't have a single accident!)

Now that we are home, she is still doing great on her housebreaking and only has accidents when her owners misunderstand her! My husband (also a Joe) has visions of her cuddling in bed with us at night but she is so independent that she insists on sleeping in our bookshelf headboard and only sharing a pillow with one of us. It's so funny. She is also incredibly patient with my kids. They are trying very hard to be gently but every once in a while they get carried away and she merely yelps to get my attention. Very smart little girl. Her biggest accomplishment though, is that she is now walking happily on a leash. Our first walks with her took a lot of coaxing and now she runs along beside me.

I'm sending along a few pictures of my camping pup. She is so cute that my mother, who always had pictures of my kids as her computer wall paper, now has pictures of mel as her background.

Thank you so much for helping me find my puppy. She has quickly become a member of our family. How lonely we must have been before we found her!! Sarah

Hey guys, We are loving mel. She has become a hit in our neighborhood and even my father (who claims not to be an animal person) has been charmed by her energy and sense of humor.

Mellow and my two daughters recently spent a weekend with my parents in Kalispell while I took a vacation with my sister. They have hard wood floors that have always scared our pets. Not Mellow. Melly takes a running start through the kitchen (linolium in there with better tracton) and then hits the hard wood and goes flying. She does all kind of crazy spins, knows to duck to slide under the table, and just puts on a great show.

My girsl (3 and 4) took to calling her their sister. But then things started to get confusing when the 3 of them would come in from outside and the 3 year old would say "my sister pooped in the yard". It took us a while to catch on that she meant Mellow and not her sister Jezi. So, now Mellow is known affectionately as their fuzzy sister. Seems to suit her.

Thank you so much for our wonderful puppy. It is amazing how much warmer a house feels with a dog. Even though Mellow is rather small she has a good bark and makes a pretty good watch dog (if you don't count the times she tries to run off with the pizza guy!). My husband works late hours and I always feel better with Mel curled up next to me. I'll include a picture or two!! Sarah

Mellow is doing great! She has been having a great summer. I was gone for a week and she stayed with my mom and her beagle. They are best buds! Then my mom was gone for a week so the beagle was here. My mom got the beagle last summer and no one could believe what a gentle, sweet, dog Mellow was with her. She tends to be very high energy and yet with baby beagle she just took care of her.

Our new pet is a bearded dragon lizard. Tiki. She is 2 months old and already making friends with Mellow. Right now they just kind of sniff noses but I'm sure that next year when Tiki is a bit bigger they will be great buds!

We have not had any formal training but my mom was just saying yesterday that she is the best behaved, untrained dog, ever! She knows basic sit. Stay. Down...just not fancy. Sarah

Previous