Happy Endings and New Beginnings

Banjo (nee Rosie)
 
 
 
Hi Delores

We just wanted to send you an update on Banjo! We 
are absolutely in love with her, and she is settling in beautifully. She has 
great house manners, and is a very quiet addition to our family (which is 
wonderful in an apartment-living situation). 

Banjo is probably the most 
affectionate dog either of us have ever met. Because of this, all of our family 
and friends just love her, and she has even made some canine friends in the 
neighbourhood. She has picked up on most of our house rules very quickly, and is 
very eager to please in the training department. Such a smart girl!

We couldn't have asked for a better-matched dog to our lifestyle. Banjo is just the 
sweetest, most friendly little dog in the world and we both feel very lucky to 
have found her. We just wanted to thank you and Banjo's foster-mum for taking 
such good care of her, and for bringing her into our lives. She is just the 
greatest little dog, we can't say enough good things about her!

Thanks so 
much,

Matt and Shannon
Buster (nee Molson)
Hello Dolores, 
Next week will mark our 6 month anniversary with Buster (aka Molson) I just wanted to take a moment to thank you again for suggesting him to me. I feel that after wanting a dog my entire life, that I have found my soul-mutt!  Buster has become a beloved member of our family and is a very popular friend to the many dogs in our neighbourhood. He is a very trustworthy fellow who does not need to be crated during the day. He loves his walks and to play with the dogs in the neighbourhood. He is a friendly and playful boy who has many doggie and human friends out and about. Our neighbours and especially our mailman just love him. 
Buster is a gentle and quiet boy in the house and he is always happy to have a great walk or play outside. Lulu our black cat loves to greet him in the morning and follows us for part of his first walk. She caresses him and rolls on her belly. It is a hoot to watch. Temu our oldest cat is a bit more reserved, but the two of them get on well. 
Buster is coming out of his shell more and more. He is increasingly comfortable with strangers and with men which is wonderful to watch. I have brought him to work on a few occasions and he is a very popular fellow who everyone finds to be so very well behaved. We also have started to take him on short day trips which is working well: took him to Niagara on the Lake this past weekend and he did wonderfully sitting quietly on the patio and playing with us in the park.
Thank you again for rescuing dogs like Buster and matching them so well with families like ours.
Laura
Lilly
 
 
 
Hi Delores.
How are You? Just thought I'd tell you that Lily is doing great. She is so quiet and well behaved. Loves her walks with Heidi and greets everyone and every dog with enthusiasm. She's had her nails trimmed, two baths, and been to the vet. She really seemed to enjoy the car ride. Her coat is improving with good food and the oatmeal shampoo. Lily is very sweet. One woman around the corner from me would love to take her home. I told her about A Dog's Dream and she seemed to be interested. 
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to adopt Lilly
Barbara.   
      
Anderson
 
Anderson has a permanent place in our hearts and in our home.
THANK YOU!
I wish you all the very best. Please keep in touch. I will email photos when I can
With fondest regards, Nicola
 Aurthur
Aurthur is well -   he has adjusted good -  still fearful of strangers  but  once you win him over he’s yours for good.    Eating well,  loves biscuits and toys, and of course a good shoe when he can get a hold of it.  LOL   He still gets car sick   even with the children's  gravol  he can make it about 30 minutes tops.      Recently he has found that his little legs can get him on the bed  and oh he loves that.     He would love to have a good play with the Cat Gizmo  but  he is too old and will not have anything to do with poor Aurthur;  never the less he keeps trying.  Johnny and him are great pals now -  even sharing their beds from time to time.
Thanks for the check in
Kathy
Ps he loves the cottage 
   

















Kirby (nee Graham)



Dear Dolores,

Wanted to send you a little update about our sweet boy Kirby(we did change his name). He has been such a little slice of heaven this past week. So good and adapting so well to his new home. We have been giving him the royal treatment such as a luxury style dog bed so comfy I want to sleep in it and on Sunday, Tom and Quinn took him to get the deluxe doggy grooming package at Petsmart(he smells very nice now!). We have him booked in to do some doggy obedience as he needs a bit of socializing as we discovered on some of our walks; he likes to insistently bark a lot at other dogs. The schooling should help him with that. He has otherwise been very quiet in our home, very happy and feeling very loved. On another happy note,  he has brought my whole family smiles and laughs including my mother who can’t stop bragging about “her sweet, cute Grand-Dog” and my 2 yr old nephew who laughs so hard when he sees Kirby wagging his tail so fast and giving him doggy kisses.

To me, this makes our decision about Kirby so much more great. I feel great that we were able to save a loveable and sweet dog and give him the kind of home he desperately deserved. Also, I have never seen Quinn and Tom more happier. They have bonded with Kirby so much this past week.
Tom had lost a lot of motivation to go for walks in the evening and as you can see, he is a big man; one that I worry about every day about his health. He now has got that reason to go for walks and that’s due to Kirby. Quinn had has a lot to deal with this past year with getting a new baby sister and losing some time with his mom plus losing our beloved Tucker. He was such a big part of our life that we knew we needed another dog to fill that void;  somehow fishes just don’t match the love of what a dog can give. Somehow, Quinn seemed broken a little bit and that broke my heart. Now with Kirby, his sparkle and love of life is back. He loves the responsibility of going with us for walks and picking up Kirby’s poop; a task I just can’t bear to do, but Quinn does it no questions asked! He runs around the house playing “Catch me Kirby” and it is so fun to listen to him laugh when he does it; listening to Kirby’s little paws run is pretty cute too!

So, I hope that this letter finds you well and that you made the perfect decision to allow us to keep Kirby and welcome him into our home. It has only been a week and already you can see how happy he has made everyone around him. Thanks for our new family member and here are some pics for you to enjoy.

Take care
Nicole 
Sadie (nee Nestle)

Hi Dolores
I just wanted to drop you a line to keep you updated on Sadie. 

She is the best dog ever!!!!! I could not have hoped for a better dog than Sadie. We all love he r dearly. Sadie and I just got back from the off-leash park on Neyagawa and she had a blast with about 7 other dogs and she was the smallest one there. She ran and played and she was always well behaved. She shows no aggressive behavior at all but at the same time she is in the middle of all the action with her tail wagging. 

She is a quiet dog and rarely barks. I think I've heard her bark 3 times since coming to live here. She has improved with her cat-mates. She still wants to chase them but they are getting used to her and realize that she is not a threat. 

Sadie has met Dr. Sherrie over at NOAH - I am treating her for an ear infection and she had to have her anal glands drained, but other than that she is healthy. She is a little over-weight, weighing in at 44 lbs, but with all the exercise she gets, I'm sure she will be trim in no time at all. 

Thank you so much for all you do to help these wonderful animals. Without  your kind efforts and dedication, little Sadie would not be with us providing all the joy and sharing all the happiness in her heart. She is a pure delight.

Shirley
Baxter (nee Green Bean)
 
Baxter's day out! 



 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brody (nee Bristol) 
Hi Dolores!  
 
Brody (Bristol) has blossomed!! 

He is an amazing dog and fit into our little family perfectly! Thank you so much for 
helping us find our DREAM dog!

Laura 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sassy

Hi Dolores!

Just wanted to let you know Sassy is doing great these days! Marco and I 
are still taking her to training classes in Caledon and Sassy loves going to 
class! The trainers there love her as Sassy is so enthusiastic and she loves to 
be used as the "demo" dog during training sessions as Sassy loves to be the 
center of attention! Marco and I have learned a lot and the classes have really 
helped. Sassy is really affectionate with me now, we have really bonded and 
Marco and I love Sassy like there's no tomorrow! She has really settled into our 
home quite nicely. Hope this email finds you and your family in good health and 
Marco and I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season!!  
Kelly and Marco










Walter
 Hi Dolores! 

 I thought I would email you and update you on Walter!
 
 
He is just the sweetest dog and we love him to 
pieces. He loves to cuddle and is great to have with us. He still pees in the 
house but when we keep him confined to the kitchen he feels a little more 
confident and does not have any accidents. He absolutely loves stuffed animals 
and never puts them down! He even goes outside to do his business with 
a stuffy in his mouth. He has lost a little weight going on regular walks 
and chasing the cat so he is not as "fluffy" as he was when he came. I hope you 
are well! I will include a few pictures of him for you.   


Sarah 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ridley 
Hi

We just wanted to give you an update on Ridley (burke 
star) he is doing fantastic! He is my very special friend we run and sleep 
together and he's like my shadow. The two dogs spend hours running with each 
other and playing. Things have been great and all the behavioral issues have 
stopped. In fact he is better trained than our other beagle, but she is 
stubborn! Anyways thanks again, wishing you the very best this 
holiday!!

Sincerely,
Sarah and Gavin
 
 
 









Briar

Hello again Dolores,



Briar is fitting in wonderfully with our family. He is being spoiled rotten with toys and gifts, and is constantly being visited by his friend dogs.   On our long walks through the neighbourhood, little Briar is eager to meet each and every dog and person we pass; he is such a loving little fellow.  We are learning funny little things about Briar, such as how to get his attention.  A little squeak toy brings him over immediately, probably better than a dog whistle.   We will continue working hard to try and teach him tricks and discipline.  We are so happy to have him around, and he is bringing great joy and exercise into all of our lives  

Thanks again,

PS Here are a couple pictures of Briar we have taken: (Left) Briar is showing off his beautiful new warm sweater. (Right) Briar and Divot are scoping out the backyard for squirrels!



 
 
 
 
 
 
Sheila
 
Good afternoon! 
We took her to the vet today and she's in 
gre
at shape. They loved her! We got her micro-chipped as well as her nails 
clipped and she was such a good girl.

I met another woman at the park and 
we were talking about our dogs - She adopted one from you too! I don't know if 
the name changed but his name is Boomer (her?) and shes black and white, pointer 
mix of some sort. Maybe with a beagle? Anyways, she's still doing great. They're 
konked out on the couch together and they walk like a dream now. She's been 
great in the car as well. 

I'm so happy she's gotten comfortable in 
this house - we've had no more messes and no more howling as well. Princess, our 
female cat, constantly goes up to her for licks and headbutts. It's very sweet. 
Here are some pictures!

Thank you 
again, 

-Katy 










Bandit

Hi Dolores,


Bandit is doing VERY well!  He is fitting in so well with Ellie and Darwin and is so very sweet.


He really loves his walks in the morning , and gets so excited to get out in the country and sniff.


He is a bit pooped when we get back and has to have a little rest, but then he's good to go.


My husband loves him too, and you can see went out and bought him a nice soft bed...although sometimes he's on ours too.


Hope all is well with you, and I'll keep in touch,



take care,

Linda












Charlie

Charlie has settled in well. He's sleeping in our room tonight. 
He's so tired he hasn't moved! We put a big duvet at the end of our bed on the 
floor and we shut all the doors and the gate so he can't get into anything. Ken 
will use the crate if he goes out tomorrow.

He spent more time in the backyard and we went for a walk. He does pull quite a 
bit. We picked up the martingale collar from erin and that did seem to help. I 
have a kong (with half a mashed banana mixed with peanut butter as you 
suggested) in the freezer prepped if ken goes out tomorrow. He was barking a bit 
tonight but some other dog across the path was barking and he was talking back. 
We told him to stop barking (a few times!) And he finally stopped. He's such a 
charachter!

Him and Trixie seem to have an understanding although Charlie 
is testing her a bit but the old gal stands her ground! He is actually quite 
gentle with her, he seems pretty clumsy but he watches her when he's walking 
around her which is good.  

He's a wonderful boy and things seem to 
be working out so far so we will hope it stays this way. He's a very special 
boy. 

Talk to you soon and don't worry about "Chuck" as our neighbours 
have already dubbed him. He's doing great so far. :o) I have a video I'll send 
you tomorrow.

Pls pass this onto his foster parents so they know how the 
big goof is doing! 

Jennifer
 
 
 
 
 
 

Teddy (nee Bourbon)

Hi Dolores,

I just thought I'd take a moment to say hello, send you some pictures of Teddy (formerly known as Bourbon :-) ) and to also let you know how he's doing at the our home.  Teddy seems to have adjusted to our home quite quickly and quite well.  He eats well, has developed a fairly consistent routine with us and is surprisingly cooperative - very, very well behaved, I must say.  He loves to go on his walks and is very loving - always appreciative of the petting and tummy rubs he gets.  Overall he has made such a positive impact on our family - especially my girls.
Needless to say, they've been very happy with his company.  Even me - the guy who didn't grow up with dogs - I've got to admit I am quite charmed by this guy.  Our friends, Francisco and Isabel (who own two Portuguese Water dogs) are quite charmed by him too.  He's met them and their dogs and I'm glad to report they all get a long quite well.  Our only issue with Teddy has been his mild case of separation anxiety.  The first few days he had to spend alone (for just a few hours) were a little unpleasant for him, but day by day he has been getting better.  I do think he's starting to understand that we do come back from work / school and that it's not all that bad in our basement.  
 
That's it for now.
Kind Regards, 
Jorge 
 
 
 








Eric

Hello Dolores,
We all just wanted to send you some new photos of Eric.  He is such a GREAT dog!!  He loves to cuddle, eat and go for a walk, he is just an amazing addition to our family!  We love him very much... He came up north with us, on holidays, and well he did not like the water too much he certainly liked going for a hike and walks in the woods.  Oh and playing with the other dogs. His tail constantly wags around them and even cats too!  He truly is a wonderful companion for all of us and a great sleeper :)  Thank you again for bringing him to our family and home.

Janet








  
Mindy (nee Melinda)

Hi Dolores,
As you can see, Mindy has been having a difficult time settling in with us.
Mindy is a wonderful, sweet, smart and entertaining charmer.
She walks really well on her leash until she see a squirrel or a rabbit then the Beagle in her comes out and the chase is on. 

Linda













Sadie
 
Hi Dolores,
Sadie is doing really well. She has fit into 
our family very well. 
As you can see in the pictures, she has made a few 
best friends!
Cassandra
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Molly (nee Tammie)


Hello Dolores,
Molly is doing great. She has adjusted to our family and our daily routine's    really well.
We can see evidence that she is much more relaxed and comfortable with us.
She is sleeping a lot better now, in the beginning when she would sleep her breathing was very rapid, and she would jump up startled at every sound. We don't see too much of that now. She still sleeps in my bed and loves sleeping on her back !
She is starting to play with things a lot more. She has pink tennis balls that she loves!  And when we go out for walks she finds things like pine cones and plays with them. Tossing them up and knocking them around chasing them. And she has lots of rawhide all over the house. She loves to chew things.  She loves to chew my things especially!  She is  becoming really good on the leash, but still wants the squirrels really bad.

Last weekend  we took her to have her groomed. She had a top dog spa treatment (vanilla bath with deep conditioner for her coat) complete with a full  "Pawdi-cure" (Her nails were clipped and filed and her ears cleaned). She looks so great! Her fur is so shiny and soft. We stayed with her in the grooming salon the whole time ( 3 hours) so she wouldn't be scared. After she was blow dried, they put a big fake orange flower in her fur just behind her ear. She was so adorable! Unfortunately I forgot the camera, and the flower did not last long it fell out and she chewed it up. 
Thanks again, she is truly a blessing. We love her so much. She is so spoiled!! Everyone says we are spoiling her so much. We can't help it she deserves it. I love her.
                                                                                                                                Tammy