Thank you Dan & Dana for listening to your courageous hearts and finding your way through that difficult time. We know it wasn’t easy. We are grateful for all of the work you  did to polish up little Ava’s manners and thrilled that you decided you couldn’t part with her... Congratulations!

Dear Ava, you were the definition of “shelter punk” when we met you...completely untrained, unable to focus, snotty with other dogs. The shelter was clear, your antics were not going to fly there. You were a BIG project for being such a little dog, but what we loved about you was the look that said “tell me, tell me what you want.”  OK little girl, we’ll give it a shot.

 

With a dedicated foster home who provided a lot of patient, training you blossomed. Although there were some frustrated moments, it was really a lovely fit. Foster mom Dana was a bit of a training junkie...just what you needed...who’d a thunk you could learn so much self-control! And you Ava, confident little clown who loves people, were just what they needed too. After a particularly difficult introduction to pit bulls by a disreputable rescue that adopted them a very damaged dog, Dan & Dana needed your brand of pit bull love. We are so thrilled that the three of you found each other. Ava you are one of our favorite success stories. You’ve come a long way baby! And we are so glad to say welcome to the rest of your life!

 

 

 

 

     We always ask our foster homes to keep the foster dogs off the furniture, so a few weeks later when Amy sent us a photo of Ruby stretched out on the couch with the caption “you know what this means” we were grinning from ear to ear...Ruby was home! Thank you Amy, Michael and Jack for your patience, diligence, open minds and loving hearts...you guys are the best! Ruby you are a lucky girl to land in this family...

RUBY

   Amy is one determined, dedicated chick just like the dog that found her. When we cyber-met, Amy was looking for a dog to add to her family, which consisted of a slightly skeptical husband, a darling toddler (who we are convinced will be a master dog trainer one day) and two cats....oh and she lived well over an hour away from us but was willing to make the drive on most Saturdays to bring her foster-to-adopt dog to class. The family met a couple of our fosters and decided Benny was their boy. Benny loved Amy, her husband, their toddler and was respectful of one of the cats...only one of them...so after giving it a very good try, we all agreed that we were going to have to look for a dog that was a better fit for their family.  Sweet Benny went back to his foster home and we answered a request for exit from SDDAS for an older female girl and Ruby got her chance... 

   Ruby moved into her new home and was wonderful with the humans (of course!) and immediately respectful of the family cats. Shortly after moving in, Ruby was sharing her bed with kitty, Cheese, on occasion and providing her body as a pillow to the sweet, tiny human.

 

Dogs in need outnumber foster homes. Our ability to help dogs in shelters depends on people willing to open their homes to foster dogs. Responsible foster homes are worth their weight in gold and we are grateful for them! If you think fostering might be for you... send us and email...
Zorro’s path to his forever home was long and winding, but he thinks it was well worth the effort (and we agree!). He was at the Escondido Humane Society when we met him. Unfortunately a deciding factor for helping dogs in need is often the availability of willing fosters...after many months and a few close calls Zorro had a foster home...wonderful Jan stepped up for him! Jan was very committed to polishing up Zorro’s manners and had some great support from his fan club (many thanks Kathy and Linda!!). Jan’s work paid off so well, that she decided she couldn’t part with her darling boy. Congratulations and nice work Zorro and Jan!  

Happy Happy! Ferrous is staying put. The decision was confirmed in an email..."(We) very much wanted Ferrous to remain a part of our family...an option that 10 weeks ago we didn’t think was viable...I hope that you can celebrate the fact that despite a bumpy road along the way Ferrous is a success story in terms of having been in a shelter just one year ago".  Doing the happy dance over here my friends...we definitely celebrate your success...well, well done.
Lucky is the family who adopts a pit bull! Check back often to see who has joined our happy families...
Sadly, when older dogs find themselves in the shelter system, they are often overlooked by potential adopters. Unaware of the joys and benefits of adopting seniors, people choose younger dogs. Seniors, however, can settle into a routine easily. They are usually housetrained and through the chewing stage. A more mature attention span allows for easier training. And older dogs are grateful for the second chance at life and love…and boy do they show it! Looking for a senior...let us know
Dobby
Senior dogs rock! If you need proof just look at Dobby. She showed up stray at North County Humane in Oceanside. Old, underweight, signs of a stroke, ear infection...not exactly most people’s wish list for a dog...so Dobby landed herself in our compassion program (thank you Liz for being her advocate!). Lucky for Dobby she fit in so well with the dogs in her foster home that they invited her to stay.  Welcome home Dobby!

MIA turned up in a local shelter and when we met her our hearts nearly stopped. We couldn’t believe that this wonderful little creature wasn’t claimed! Mia is a darling little girl with a stellar personality. She is smart, fun, luuuves her people and is dog social.  At the Doggie Street Festival 2010 this special little gem caught the eye of some lovely people. Unsuspecting Tom and Amy came to the event looking for a Wheaton pup, but little Mia caught their eye...and while they tried to stay on task, Mia worked her bully magic on Tom. Returning to visit with Mia several times, he had great questions and was clearly smitten. Tom was in a hurry to stake his claim on Mia (and we certainly can’t blame him...he knows a good thing when he sees it), Amy tells us he sent the request for an application from his phone on the way to the car! But he has been a wonderfully patient, consistent and open minded ‘Foster to Adopt’ home for Mia...and we have enjoyed seeing their bond blossom. Congratulations and welcome home Mia!