AMBER, 5 year old yellow female, was a personal give-up. Since purchased as a puppy, Amber had a crate schedule so regimented that it was tough to get her out of it. She was allowed out of her crate for only 15 minutes a few times a day. The 15 minutes were timed to the point that when her egg timer buzzed, she went running back into her crate. Amber was so programmed to do her bathroom duties at certain times, that even if she had been out of her crate for hours at her foster home, she would still often go to the bathroom wherever she was when "it was time." If that happened to be in the house, so be it. It was tough to de-program behavior that had been reinforced for five years, but Amber finally became comfortable with a more crate-free life. In fact, she became very puppylike to the point of being nippy. She wanted your hands in her mouth as often as possible. That behavior, coupled with her age, made her a somewhat more difficult placement. Then, we got a great application from a couple who were interested in an older yellow female. The wife worked for an animal shelter in her community, and she had no problem continuing to work through Amber's nippiness. Before they came to look at dogs, they saw Amber's picture on our web page, and it was love at first sight. No matter how many other dogs they looked at, when they got to meet Amber in person, she adopted them as much as they did her. She now reclines "in the Library" when her folks are away for short periods, where we are told she behaves herself very well. It appears living in a crate is a thing of the past for Ms. Amber! Amber has recently been busy, first helping her Dad get elected to state office, and then helping him do his job, as this news article shows. She is becoming our most famous LRR alumni!
GEORGIA, 2 year black female, is another Prince Georges County shelter alumnus. She was abandoned at the shelter by folks who claimed they were moving and couldn't take her. She was in heat when she arrived at LRR, and it was tricky making sure she was not at a foster home who was also fostering a yet to be neutered male! On top of that, she also proved to be heartworm positive. Some of our previous experiences with trying to alter heartworm positive labbies was not so good, so we knew we would have to be extra careful with Georgia since she most likely would not be spayed for another 2 months until after her heartworm treatment. Once her heat was over, we took her to our vet for the first part of the heartworm treatment. This is the difficult part of the treatment in which the dog must be hospitalized for the better part of a week while being given periodic arsenic-based intravenous treatments to kill the adult worms in the heart. During this time, we cross our fingers that the labby's organs are able to successfully process these toxins. Georgia had no trouble with this phase, and had so charmed her vet, that she asked to foster her during her four weeks of recovery. Since Georgia would need to be kept quiet during this time, we were more than happy to have added veterinary supervision. Georgia did do a fair amount of coughing while the worms were dying, but no close calls. Soon, it was time to get her for part two of the treatment which is an injection of ivermectin. That is done to kill any larvae left in her blood. Sometimes, there is a reaction if there is a large number of larvae in the system that are quickly killed, but again Georgia breezed through this final phase. We had to wait another month before she was given the green light to be safely spayed. During this time, Georgia was thriving under human care. She lost weight, her coat (after the terrible arsenic treatment) was now shiny, and she became more active as she began to feel better. We had discovered that Georgia had a stronger prey drive than usual that unfortunately included small dogs, along with squirrels, birds and the like. But with the help of her foster homes, she did learn to begin to tolerate smaller dogs with only an initial passing interest. While we were waiting for her to be spayed, a couple from VA became approved. They came out to look at a number of dogs, but really fell in love with Georgia. They live near water, which Georgia loves, but the area was also somewhat woodsy--the kind of place that would really stimulate a dog with a strong prey drive! Still, they couldn't get kissy Georgia out of their minds, so we discussed them fostering her during the last two weeks before her spay. While they did discover how strong she could be when interested in wild critters, she was quite the perfect lady with them, their friends and their friends' dogs. By the time we were ready to get her to be spayed, there was no doubt that Georgia had won a permanent spot in their hearts and home. The couple was so concerned about her, that they insisted on doing the adoption the night they brought her back for her operation. And, they also insisted on picking her up immediately from the vet's! Now Georgia goes everywhere with her new parents!
SHORTY, nearly 2 year old black male, has had an incredible rescue experience with LRR. Last January, he came to LRR when the people who found him cold, wet, and abandoned on I-81 could not find his owners. He was a gorgeous young male, but he was dog aggressive, food aggressive and was fearful of having his paws touched. (His paws were cut and bloody when he was found.) He was immediately neutered, and once he realized that food would always be available, he ceased his obsession with eating fast and wanting to fight other rescues for their meals. No longer interested in fighting, he threw his nervous energy into becoming one of the most active dogs LRR has had the pleasure to host. LRR foster homes helped him to not only accept lots of petting (paws included) and affection, but to actually crave it and thrive on it. But, most adoptive families were overwhelmed by his energy level, so we began to look into alternatives for him. We pre-tested his potential aptitude for becoming a narcotics dog. This he seemed to enjoy, and the Virginia Dept. of Corrections accepted him into their program. Everything was going well, but midway through the training, Shorty decided he did not always want to accept every command or retrieve every item. So, Shorty flunked out and was returned to LRR. Now, not only was he active, he was super muscular and fit. Quite an awesome sight, but still a little more than the average adoptive home was looking for. Susquehanna Service Dogs called to see if we might have a young lab or two for their training program. They happened to see Shorty while looking at another lab and begged to try him in their program. By now, Shorty really liked people, so we thought he might respond better to a service dog training program. SSD reported he was doing very well with the specialized training, but ultimately could not handle the stress of large, noisy crowds well. Once again, Shorty came back to LRR, but we did learn from SSD that Shorty was actually very calm if he could be in an environment where someone was home most of the time, and he did not have to be crated for long periods. What a tall order! Now we had to search for a companion home that wanted an active dog and hopefully had someone at home most of the day! There were MANY days when we were beginning to wonder if Shorty would ever be placeable, or if we would ever find him the right home. Shorty was fast becoming this year's longest foster, and to reward our prayers, we received an application from a wonderful MD family. Dad (who worked from home!), Mom and the two boys had done lots of preparation and decided they wanted an active lab. Their interview and housecheck confirmed that they would be perfect for Shorty (and Shorty for them). Since Shorty can be a little ballistic on first meeting, we asked that they be able to stay for a while, so they could see the real Shorty. They gave Shorty lots of time to go through his initial craziness, and before the night was over, Shorty had adopted them! Because of Shorty's history, we asked that they foster him first to be sure that the whole family agreed he was the one they wanted for life. Over the next two weeks, we enjoyed getting Shorty Reports that found him going on lots of walks, including getting his new kids to the school bus stop, teaching Mom to play "Shorty Ball" (Shorty sits on the chair and throws the ball to Mom who is sitting on the floor!), and being petted until his fur hurt. So, it was no surprise when we received Shorty's adoption contract in the mail along with the following letter from Shorty:
Dear Susan and all the great people of LRR...
BOY! This is great! I think I'm going to like it here. Good food,
lots of running around, other dogs to meet, lots of belly rubs, toys,
what more could a nice guy like me ask for? I'm allowed to do just
about anything I want, although these people are trying to remind me
of a few things I learned once. I have a new Kong all to myself and a
pile of other stuff that I get to play with. The small people are
always playing with me, and they are the BEST belly rubbers I've ever
had! I have a crate which I sleep in if I want. The big bed is another
place I get to stretch out on. I have my own doctor I've visited (one
test wasn't so nice!), but he seems like a nice person. I have
heartworm stuff for the whole next year. When I first got to this
place I wasn't sure what was going on, but now I think these people
are going to let me stay forever. My food habits are getting
better--especially if there are some veggies in my food. The doctor
said I was 75 pounds and looking excellent! I think I'm going for a
car ride to Philly for Thanksgiving. Car rides are fun and I always
act my best in the car. After all of the stuff I've been through, I
think I am ready to settle down and love these people. They definitely
love me a lot! Well, I gotta go, it's time for another one of those
l-o-o-o-ng walks. This is when I get to mark everything in the
county. Please stay in touch with me--I'd love to hear from you. You
people saved my life, made me feel great, and gave me the chance to be
HAPPY!!!
Thank You, Thank You!!!!
I Love You Too....
SHORTY
CEASAR , 2 year old chocolate male was given up by his family to a Southern Maryland Humane Society when they had to move. While a very nice pet, he was the typical pacing tall American lab that just couldn't sit or stand still to be petted. When playing ball outside, he seemed to be directionally challenged. And, as much as he wanted to cuddle on a bed, once he was asleep, it didn't take long before he would roll off onto the floor. He would wake up quite confused, looking at the bed questioningly, trying to figure out what happened! As he went to foster homes, he began to relax and became more adept at playing catch. He was also great on a leash. About this time, we received an application from a guy who really wanted a chocolate American. He was living with his folks--Mom was a dog lover; Dad was not. So, we knew he had to have a low key, well behaved dog for this to work. Ceasar was the obvious match. In fact, Hogan (his new name), we are told, is perfect. He entertains Mom during the day, goes cruising with his buddy after work, and even Dad and Hogan are disappearing for evening walks. Dad thinks Hogan is pretty cool (for a dog!) Oh yeah, he still falls out of bed!
SCOUT, 2 year old black lab/shepherd male came to us as a victim of domestic violence. His Daddy had married a woman, but his new Mommy didn't like him much. She knew his was allergic to carpet cleaner. When Daddy decided to leave rather abruptly, he could not take Scout with him. "Mommy" was so angry, she decided to take out her bitterness on Scout. So, she poured carpet cleaning fluid all over him. The result was terrible chemical burns and fur loss all over his body, particularly on his back, rear and tail. His stomach was gray and shriveled like elephant skin. "Mommy" then took Scout to the Humane Society and demanded he be put to sleep. Because his tags showed she was not the owner, they took him but did not euthanize him. Finally, Daddy's daughter came to claim him, but she could not take care of him. When LRR went to look at him, it was obvious he was a mix, but he was chained and lying in the dirt with open wounds. So, Scout became part of LRR, and we set about trying to heal his sores and regain his trust. With medical care and TLC from foster homes, he began to regrow his coat and even his stomach skin began to improve. Slowly, his depression turned to joy, as he realized so many people cared about him. His sweet personality included an obsession with playing ball--to the point it was hard to put weight back on him. Every foster home that hosted Scout fell in love with him. So, finding him the perfect home was imperative. Amazingly enough, that proved to be with a single woman! She brought her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren to help her pick out the right dog. Right away, they all fell in love with Scout, and he really brightened up around the kids. His future Mommy was just about to pick Scout, when she saw a puppy that was also available. She was really leaning toward the pup, but snapped back to reality when she realized how much work pups can be! Much to her family's delight, she decided on Scout. His fur and skin continue to improve. He gets to play ball often with the kids and be petted and hugged every night with his new Mommy who loves him dearly. Isn't it ironic that Scout, who suffered trauma at the hands of woman he trusted, is now very happily living with a new Mommy?
Hi!
Well, the trip home was considerably better
than you had speculated it would be. Cleo was scrambling around the
tops of boxes and standing on armrests of the rear seating areas for
the first 45 minutes or so, but she calmed down nicely after that and
even slept for a few hours here and there. She only got excited again
when we stopped. I ran her briefly at a pet run, and she got the
chance to flirt with a couple of 90+ pound black labby boys. She drank
mineral water from her dish, and Uncle Freddie treated her to a BK
Broiler Chicken Sandwich, minus the lettuce, tomato and mayo. Our
svelte little girl dodged eating the bun; apparently we're watching
our girlish figure. She was very generous with kisses, even while I
was driving! Once home, she settled right in. She toured the place,
sniffing like a bloodhound. She helped herself to a Kong rope toy
present in a gift bag from my brother-in-law, his girlfriend, and
canine cousin, Bogey. She also discovered the new Kong and tennis
balls (doesn't miss a catch!) we bought for her. She had no interest
in begging for any of our dinner, but didn't want us to eat as she was
intent on playing. She did not stop playing until we finally hid her
toys about two hours later, much to her chagrin. She settled down for
the night on a fluffy blanket right outside our bedroom door. She
peeked in the room when the baby cried, but returned to her spot when
she recognized that everything was OK. I took her for a 30 minute
walk/jog this morning at 6am. She was outstanding on the leash. She
sat, without prompting, at 75% of a dozen street corners we
encountered and awaited the come command. Lisa called to say that the
baby was squealing with delight at watching Cleo dash back and forth
across the living room fetching the Kong on a rope. She and the baby
are well on their way to being good friends. We'll keep you posted on
her progress, but so far, so good!
JERSEY, 3 year old black female, came originally from a no-kill shelter in Newark, NJ. She was placed with a couple with a toddler and was living a wonderful life when tragedy struck. We got word in early December that the 40 year old husband had died from a heart attack suffered at work. Mom, who had just become pregnant, decided to go with her daughter to New England to live with her parents for awhile. They could not take Jersey there (who had really been her Dad's dog), so reluctantly she was returned to LRR. Fortunately, she was such a wonderful family dog, we knew she would not be hard to rehome. While she was good with kids, she seemed to especially like men. In his telephone interview, a single man from DC described his perfect dog as Jersey to a T. Once approved, he couldn't wait to see her. Within 5 minutes of meeting her, he was ready to sign the adoption papers, and she couldn't wait to leave with him. Now renamed Beau, she is ecstatic to have her own home and all the attention from her Daddy that she could ever want. While sad to lose her first LRR family, how lucky that Jersey/ Beau got even a third chance at a wonderful life!
JUDGE, now 3 year old black male, is an alum from 2 years ago. He was skin and bones and had been kept in inhumane living conditions. The foster home nurturing Judgie was visited by the wife's mother who was instantly bewitched by him. She immediately applied to adopt Judgie, and these past two years since the adoption, they have lived and traveled all over the U.S. They are inseparable. Judge, who was a wild, goofy puppy when he came to LRR, is now usually very obedient and quite the gentleman in most every situation--but one. Garden hoses and sprinklers bring out the mischief in him. Judge currently lives on a golf course and sneaks in a quick morning romp through the sprinklers on the third hole. His Mom reports that recently Judge accompanied her on a trip that involved a stop at an Arizona truck stop. Everything was going smoothly; Judge was finishing his potty walk, when all of the sudden he spied a worker watering flowers with (you guessed it) a garden hose. Before she could tighten her grip, Judgie was on his way to steal the hose right out of his hands. And, what does Judgie like to do with a garden hose? He likes to run around squirting people! Not only did he enjoy himself, but he drew quite a crowd as everyone volunteered to be squirted on a hot AZ day. The one thing Judge likes more than garden hoses is going for car rides. So, Mom hurried back to the car and pulled it up hoping he would jump in. He did... with the hose! While Judgie was hosing down the interior of her car, the gardener finally turned the water off. When Judge saw no more water was coming from the hose, he heaved it out the door and barked for Mom to now continue the road trip. Wet dog, wet Mom, and wet car continued on their way!
BAKER,14 month old yellow male, came to us from a Richmond, VA area shelter where he was given up because he was too active. He was a typical goofy, but very gorgeous, lab who enjoyed lots of human and dog play followed by even more human and dog kissing. (He kissed his foster dog's ears so much, she got an ear infection!) A Maryland family had recently lost a golden retriever they had adopted from a rescue as an older pet. Their other retriever was getting older, so they decided on a younger, yellow lab this time. Baker won their hearts immediately with all his antics and kisses, and the adoption was done. Their follow-up story wins the prize as most interesting. Seems the humans needed to make a quick trip and decided to leave Baker uncrated in their bedroom. Upon their return, they opened the bedroom door to find a wet Baker. Finding this puzzling, they looked further to discover that Baker had burst their waterbed! He was quite pleased with his indoor pool, and his new parents spent part of their weekend baling water from their bedroom. Even with this rambunctious beginning, they are still crazy about their Baker, and have even replaced their waterbed where Baker sleeps with them every night.
SNICKERS, 5 year old chocolate male, was a give-up from an Anne Arundel County, MD family that didn't have time for him anymore. As a result, he spent a great deal of time outside. Not one to be ignored, Snickers became an escape artist to find human attention. We knew he was going to be hard to place. He was too active for people wanting older dogs; and too old for folks wanting active dogs. On top of that, he was the typical mouthy and rough chocolate. A Virginia couple became approved. The husband had always had chocolates and was familiar with their quirks. He wanted a dog to play with; she wanted a dog to curl up with. Snickers was the perfect dog for both. It was love at first sight for both dog and humans and the adoption was done. Old Lonesome Snickers now goes for long walks where he is properly admired and sleeps with Mom and Dad who love him dearly.
IRIS, 2 year old black female, was a very sad sight when we first spotted her in her Prince George's County (MD) shelter run. Her fur was overgrown, her ears were swollen and stiff, and there was a ring of fur missing around her eyes giving her that raccoon look. Still, beneath that mess was a cute little English girl that sought affection as we stopped before her run. It was obvious she had spent her recent time outdoors. We feared she would be heartworm positive, and on first glance, figured her bald eyes were a result of mange. At the vet's we were happy to learn she was heartworm negative, and that skin scrapings indicated she did not have mange. Brushing the dead fur out of her coat took forever, but slowly she began to turn into the cute little Iris of today. While in foster care, we took her to the LRR Reunion Picnic where she was a big hit. One of our adoptive homes was particularly smitten and jumped at the chance to foster her when we needed more space. We knew it would be only a matter of time before Iris would be a permanent part of the family and a big sister to Shamrock, an almost year old black male adopted from LRR earlier. While Iris will have the typical English lab skin problems during the summer, her ears have healed and fur is growing in around her eyes. What a happy change!
JIMMY, 3 year old chocolate male, was known to us all as the pick-up truck dog. He had been chained his whole life to the underside of a junk pick-up truck in Southern Maryland. When the County forced his owner to move the truck, suddenly Jimmy had no "home" and was no longer wanted. He first was given to a woman who wanted to rescue him from his situation. She got him cleaned up (he was covered with ticks), up to date on shots, and heartworm tested. As you might suspect, Jimmy was positive, so she turned him over to us for treatment, evaluation and placement. When we picked up this poor lab, he looked just like a robot--no expression, just existing. Once his health began to improve and he got a taste of the good life indoors, he became a whole new dog. He learned about playing and toys, and particularly enjoyed making "nests" out of anything soft he could find. Above all, Jimmy became addicted to tummy rubs and spent a good deal of his time on his back begging for more. While he was recuperating from his heartworm treatment, we received an application from a large Virginia family. Once approved, they all came to look at Jimmy. They formed a circle around him at his foster home, and he went from kid to kid to get his tummy rubs. Jimmy couldn't get into their van fast enough when the adoption was complete. He now has "blanket nests" in each room, his pick of kids to sleep with, and even a friendly goose to swim with. No more trucks for Jimmy!
MAX, 7 month old yellow male, was delivered to LRR by a Pennsylvania Mom. Her adult son had bought Max from a breeder, but had lost interest in him, ultimately abandoning the dog with her. As much as she'd grown attached to him, a chewy puppy was not what she needed or wanted. She felt Max deserved a loving home where he could receive the attention and training he needed. Max had been well cared for and was a happy well adjusted puppy with a championship pedigree. (Many of his ancestors could be found in The New Complete Labrador Retriever by Helen Warwick.) This lineage contributed to his amazing calmness. Needless to say, Max was another one that everyone wanted to foster and adopt. A Virginia couple with a five year old Golden mix, Jamie, could barely wait for the mandatory two week evaluation period to end so they could come look at him. It was love at first sight for the humans, while Jamie made it clear she was top dog. Max was only too willing for her to be alpha, and the adoption was a done deal. Mom tells us she comes home for lunch, and on the first day Jamie was very vocal about her role in picking up any sandwich crumbs from the floor. Mom was a bit concerned about all the sparring. However, when she came home the next day, she realized neither dog was there as she made and ate her lunch. Upon investigation, she found Jamie and Max (now renamed Jed) having so much fun playing, Mom was completely ignored!
GUNNER, 2 year old chocolate male, came to us from Pennsylvania where his transgression had been eating a house! He apparently began with the floor and worked his way up the walls until his people could no longer deal with his chewing. (Of course, they were not interested in trying a crate!) We wondered what this big guy had in store for us, but it was soon obvious that if kept busy, he was far too tired to chew. He loved to play; his specialty was making snow angels during the Blizzard of '96 and stealing his foster kids' wool hats! We received an application from a retired gentleman who was originally interested in a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, but was willing to look at chocolate labs too. We knew his waterfront home would be perfect for our big polar bear, so soon the adoption was final. They now spend their days doing "guy stuff", including cruising in the car, taking long walks, and heading to the pier to check on their boat (a perfect excuse for a quick dip.) And his chewing problem? Gunner's too busy and exhausted!
SAMPSON, 1 year old yellow male came from the Richmond area where his energy level was too much for his owners. The "Doggie Pez Dispenser" as he came to be known lived to play ball. His nickname came from his skill at holding three balls in his mouth at once and then spitting them out one at a time. Sampson could not be separated from his tennis balls for long. In fact, he usually put them in his food bowl while he ate, so he could be sure they would be there afterwards. Wearing him out was nearly impossible. This focus and activity level were similar to Ginger's (see below). So, it soon became obvious he should follow in her drug sniffing footsteps. Sampson was accepted into the Virginia Dept. of Corrections' Narcotics Dog Program and is currently doing very well. We hear that his officer is having trouble keeping up with him. We'll keep you posted on his progress and his new street name.
GINGER, 1 year old yellow female. LRR volunteers recently traveled to Richmond, VA to attend the graduation of Ginger (renamed Speed) from the Virginia Dept. of Corrections Narcotics Dog Program. We are pleased to report that she graduated at the top of her class and will be working at the Richmond International Airport with her officer. We got to watch a demonstration which included Ginger finding a small amount of heroin in the hubcap of a van. Apparently, all this training is play to Ginger, who wants to "play" even after the long sessions are over. Her officer told us he lost 22 pounds in 12 weeks trying to keep up with her. In fact, he was nursing a pulled leg muscle he got during his last test when Ginger got so excited to find the car with drugs that she yanked him down as she went under three rows of cars to get to the "set up" car. All of this from a dog that was given up to LRR because "she's a worthless dog that's too dumb to hunt." She's so "worthless" that U.S. Customs would like to have her and will, in fact, share her at RIA. Once again, this is an example of a dog that could not find happiness in a companion home. She needed more activity and stimulation than an average home (she had 5 before coming to LRR) could give her. Special kudos to her foster home and especially to their lab for discovering Ginger's talent. Poor Bear would have to fake sleeping to avoid Ginger's insatiable need to play. Her new officer has no doubt that it won't be long before Officer Speed will be making her first drug bust!
SABLE, 1 year old black female, came from a Wild Wonderful West Virginia shelter. She is a little English lab that was in need of love and care. After a 4-way relay to LRR, she was soon enjoying LRR foster care and letting us see a perky personality. A Coast Guard couple was looking for a second companion dog for themselves as well as their older dog. Sable was exactly what they were looking for. They decided to foster her during their vacation to confirm their feelings of love at first sight. With the exception of a slight case of the shoe munchies (easily solved with the purchase of a crate), Sable was indeed the perfect lady and bonded quickly to both the couple and their dog. With Sable's love for water, we're betting she makes a great Coastie!
MERLIN, 1 year old chocolate male. When the LRR volunteer picked up this unneutered boy from the Gloucester County, VA shelter, it soon became obvious why he was named after the "Wizard". He did not miss a tree or shrub. By the time the neutered Merlin traveled North to LRR foster care, he had almost become the perfect gentleman. He loved to give hugs and play. A Maryland couple thought they had to have a yellow lab. She wanted a cuddly bed buddy. He wanted a playmate. They first looked at a very active yellow lab, but soon realized he was too much dog for them. We knew Merlin was the best match, and before long, they were willing to look at a chocolate. Sure enough, it was love at first sight, proving once again, it is the personality, not the color that makes the best match. Merlin, who had been living with Dewey, the foster home's 9 year old dog that performs tricks, had been paying particularly close attention to Dewey's door opening demo before he went to his new home. During one follow up call, we discovered that Merlin is opening their oven door! Fortunately, he does not burn himself, but it was driving them crazy wondering how that door was opening. Kids -- gotta love 'em!
HARLEY, 1.5 year old black male, came to LRR as an unclaimed stray from the Prince George's County Maryland Animal Control Facility. Since he was an American lab who liked to run, we named him Harley after the motorcycle with similar characteristics. While active outside, he was quite the calm lap dog inside. This gentle temperament led us to first try him as a service dog. Susquehanna Service Dogs, Inc. of Harrisburg, PA (SSD) really liked him, but one his hips was not perfect enough to make it. Fortunately, an active family in PA became approved. Harley sounded perfect for their smaller kids. The logistics worked out so that we could pick him up from SSD and take him to the family in a nearby town. The family was impressed that Harley only played with dog toys and did not pick up the baby's toys. In fact, Harley's gentleness with the baby, while enjoying a good run with Dad, was the perfect combination. Needless to say, we came back without Harley, who at last report, was preparing for a family camping trip.
ANNIE, 2 year old black female lab/shepherd mix, came from an Anne Arundel County, MD shelter. She was picked up frequently running at large, but her owner usually bailed her out. At last, the fines got too large, and Annie was left behind permanently. While a mix, we agreed to try to place her. We thought her sweet temperament might make her a good service dog. However, she was so submissive, she would spend most of her time on her back begging for tummy rubs. She was also good at fence jumping and climbing which added to the difficulty of placing her. After several months, we placed her in a new foster home that seemed to fall in love with her. Annie was terrified of car rides, so this family took her everywhere. We thought surely they would adopt her, but the Mom just could not be persuaded by her family to agree to such a commitment. Poor Annie - shuffled from foster home to foster home for nearly half a year. As if to reward our patience and reinforce that most dogs are adoptable, the perfect family finally came along for Annie. Mom, Dad and the two boys wanted a dog, but it had to be especially gentle because the youngest was a little intimidated by dogs. When Annie ran over to him and went inverted, he giggled and gave her lots of tummy rubs. She so impressed the family, they could not wait to adopt her. Now, little Orphan Annie has her own devoted family that keeps her so busy with attention, that she no longer needs to run. We were pleased to receive this recent Annie photo and this nice letter from Mom:
Dear Susan, Mary and LRR:
This is a letter I've composed in my head many times--usually when I am gazing fondly at Annie, patting her, and thinking once again what a great dog she is and how lucky we are to have her in our lives. I wanted to let you know that she really is a wonderful dog--good looking, very intelligent, and, of course, affectionate. She jumps on our bed in the evenings and mornings, puts her head on our pillows, and stretches out for endless tummy rubs. We bring her to all the boys' team practices and games, and all the kids and parents know her. We are proud parents when people often comment about what a nice dog she is. Even though we have not trained her much, she is so smart and eager to please that she is really well behaved and walks with me with voice commands. She has turned into a real source of security. It was nearly six months before we heard her bark, but when she did, the base in her voice made us jump! When someone new comes to the door, she can look fierce until we tell her it's OK. One night a volunteer fireman came to ask for a donation, and Annie waited at the door with her eyes locked on him while I went upstairs to get my checkbook. I no longer wake up at night and wonder if I heard a noise, because I know I have the best security alarm around. But, mostly, she is a source of such love, affection and puppy playfulness as a 3.5 yr. old dog. I have told the story of how she came to be with us and talked about your wonderful organization to all of our friends. I often end the story by saying that having Annie, I would never get a puppy. Thanks again for helping us find her.
SMOKEY, 16 month old black male, was an alumnus of the Gloucester County (VA) shelter. He was a typical playful big puppy, but he especially loved water. His foster home had a terrible time keeping him dry. He also loved to play with the other dogs. In fact, it was his willingness to be a dog buddy that got him adopted. Two DC roommates and their 3 year old Dalmatian, Jake, were looking for a lab to be their second dog. They were originally looking for a black female, assuming the myth about two males not getting along was true. A quick trip to the LRR foster home, where five males were getting along just fine, opened their eyes. Soon Jake was playing with various candidates. It did not take long before he picked Smokey. The roommates thought they wanted active until they saw one of our super active labs. While Smokey liked to play, he did have his calm moments which made him the perfect choice for both 4 and 2 legged members of the adopting family. Smokey will get in lots of hiking, swimming, and even an occasional trip to the office.
WALLY, 5.5 year old black male, came to us as a give-up from central Virginia where he was kept chained in the garage. He had outlived his usefulness and novelty as a family pet, and when he protested the lack of attention, he was banished. Once in the LRR system, we discovered his love of water. Any foster home hosting the Wal-Man had to have a kiddy pool. He responded well and quite mannerly to his new found attention, but his age was a problem for most potential adopters. Then, we got a call from our service dog contact looking for an older dog--not for service work, but for an older relative. She had lost her husband and her dog within two weeks of one another. She was desperate for a dog to talk to and care for. Wally was the perfect choice! So off to Ohio he went to live to get more constant love and attention than ever before. We hear he is already getting spoiled, as his new mistress alternates between adding chicken breasts and tuna to his dry food. When she found out he loves car rides, she takes him for a ride everyday, even if it is just around the block. And, of course, he has his pool! Word has it they are keeping each other very young. For Wally, life began at 5!
