Brady has become my MVP

I adopted Brady (formerly Mimi) last November after Thanksgiving. For years I've wanted a furry companion but having lived in apartments I never had the space. After closing on my first home and FINALLY unpacking all of my boxes, the time and space were right for a pet. Brady has been an awesome companion. She's spunky and energetic just like her owner. We've had so much fun going on hikes and participating in training classes. Although her namesake didn't go to the Super Bowl this year, they're both MVPs in my book!

Hairyette

Hi there,

I adopted Ella (now named Hairyette) on Saturday and she has won my heart. She is much less of a handful than I had feared and she is quickly learning the new routine and I am happily seeing the world outside my well warn rut.

Hairyette

a flash of fur unfettered
little lovely lithe is she
a caramel colored darling
who has stole the heart of me

By Ed Bansbach

Dallas

I adopted Dallas right after Thanksgiving last year. I already owned a 2 year old male boxer named Kona and wanted a playmate for him. The moment I met 7 month old Dallas, I had to have him. He was such a friendly happy puppy even while at the Rescue. Kona and Dallas were ready to play the moment they met at APR.

I made it clear to the volunteers that my dog was my child and I'm neurotic about him and adopting Dallas, I wouldn't be any different. I think our volunteer could sense Dallas was going to be in good hands when I told her I take Kona for daily runs to get his energy out and my weekends usually consist of taking him on trips hiking and to play with other dogs.

Dallas came home with us that day and I can not begin to explain what a blessing he is. Between almost daily walks at the park, hiking on the weekends and non-stop playtime with Kona, Dallas is greatly enjoying being with us. I couldn't have adopted a better dog. He gets along with Kona perfectly and loves everybody he meets.

His mange has healed nicely and he is at a healthy weight. It breaks my heart that anyone could just give up a sweet companion like Dallas. However, he obviously was meant to be with us! I love my 2 boxer boys!

In the pics, Kona (my original boxer) is the bigger darker boxer and Dallas is the smaller one with more white on the right. As you can see, they get along great and LOVE to snuggle together. THANKS APR for bringing such an amazing joy into our lives!

Alana Whitaker

Sanibelle (Blitzen)

We have been blessed with SaniBelle for a month now. She came to us as a shy little girl with no confidence. Today she is blossoming into a fearless soul with her brother Pancake and for the past two weeks, the game of grrrrrr....grrrrrr has gone on almost nonstop, except for sleep and chow. She still has trouble accepting strangers, however she is opening up to us, more daily. Her place in our bed is sacred to her and not even pancake dare invade it.. She now has her own page on face book (Sanibelle Hutchinson ) along with her brothers. As Merlot continues his journey thru his senior years, he, at least daily, attempts to join their game, only to discover that once he has gotten up, they have moved on elsewhere.... He knows that we are in good paws for the future.....

Thank you Atlanta Pet Rescue.

Otto-bot: The Snuggle Machine

Exactly one year ago today, I adopted Otto (then Hank). At the time, I knew I was finally ready for my very own dog, but I had a laundry list of requirements, with a hypoallergenic breed topping the list. After several weeks, I began to think I was searching for the Holy Grail of the dog world, the perfect dog. My parents kept urging me to talk to breeders, but I had seen many purebred dogs go through APR and knew eventually one would come along that would need the home I could provide. At last, I met Otto. When we took him outside, he just kept smiling and smiling and smiling at me with his crooked teeth and those silly, floppy bangs over his eyes. I couldn't leave without him.

Though he was found as a matted stray and never claimed from animal control, it's obvious that Otto was once part of a household. I will never understand how anyone could have let or put such a wonderful dog on the street. He was housetrained from day one (wahoo!). After some extra doggy-proofing to curb his mischievous streak, he has free run of the apartment while I'm away. He has to know where I am at all times when I'm home, but doesn't so much as make a peep when I leave. He gets along with most dogs we meet, even my sister's shih-tzu Oscar (the Grouch), but especially loves people. I brought him to a basic obedience class, where he quickly learned sit, down, come, leave it, shake, and rollover. Since then, I've taught him crawl and a stupid pet trick my roommate and I made up called "Otto-bot, Transform!" where he stands up and walks on two legs (supposedly like a Transformer autobot). He loves his food, long walks, snuggling, and any toy that squeaks. He's very cle
an and keeps all of his toys in several "forts" or "man caves" throughout my place. Some days he comes to my office with me, where he's been adopted by my boss and coworkers as our research group's unofficial mascot. My family also adores him. When I am busy with studies and research, he is content to lie at my feet or in my lap while I work. He always finds new ways to entertain me and always makes the vet and vet techs laugh. The words most often used to describe him are "well-behaved," "awesome," and "cute" – I've even had people stop their cars to tell me how cute he is or yell it as they drive by! Maybe he's not quite perfect, but I think he's perfect for me!

Thanks so much for rescuing Otto. I can't imagine my life without him now. He's much loved by me, my family, and many other people. I am looking forward to many more years with him, and wish APR many more years filled with many more happy tails!
-Emily L.

Henry

Little"Henry" is coming out of his shell. He is still the perfect little angel, no barking until night when we go on our walks when he growls at oncoming people, protecting his mommy. Attached is Henry sleeping in his bed,a well behaved vet visit, and helping mommy with her grocery list...yep I'm in love!

Jalina

Lucas

Dear Atlanta Pet and Rescue,

My name is Mary Durant and two weeks ago I adopted Lucas. I just wanted to extend my gratitude and tell you that Lucas is doing wonderfully and loves his new home. We just spent the day at PiedmontPark and he loved it.

Thank you so much again!

Sincerely,
Mary and Lucas

Sophie (formerly Prada)

Dear Atlanta Pet Rescue,

I wanted to give you guys an update on the beautiful little kitty I adopted this week! She was a longer haired Siamese looking cat named Prada. I have renamed her Sophie :) She lives with us in a home with my other orange tabby named Obie and Pitbull named Maddie. Maddie has embraced her with open arms, and even gives her kisses much to Sophie's dismay! My cat Obie is still feeling her out, but there isn't anymore growling :) Sophie just kind of stares at him like why are you looking at me like that! She is a great addition to our home and is very sweet and loves to be pet and purr! Her favorite place is in the window sill and on the toilet seat to watch me brush my teeth and do my makeup! Thank you so much for all your help and friendly staff! I will send a picture when I can get Sophie to hold still for long enough when she is awake!

Trisha M. and Colin Mc.
Maddie, Obie and Sophie too!

Update on Vixen

I just wanted to update you on Olive the Shih-poo Pup, formerly known as "Vixen," whom we adopted from APRA in November 2010. I'm happy to report that Olive is now 8 months old and doing really well. She is playful, inquisitive, and super-snuggly, with perhaps the world's cutest underbite. She bonded with me and my husband very quickly, to the point that she started showing signs of separation anxiety when we were at work. So now she attends doggie daycare 4 days/week, hangs out with her teleworking dad on Wednesdays, and enjoys both her parents' undivided attention on the weekends! Meanwhile we went back to square one in dealing with the separation issues, and she is already showing great progress with being left alone for short lengths of time (e.g., while we're out to dinner). So maybe she won't have to attend doggie daycare forever, but for now it has been such a blessing—and the extra playtime helps her expend some of that puppy energy, too! Anyway, Olive sleeps through
the night in her crate, has learned to use a doggie doorbell when she needs to go out, and is doing great with basic obedience training. She has been such a gift. My husband and I lost our elderly cockapoo last fall, and we were just despondent without a dog in the house. We're so glad that we found tiny little Olive, who snuggled her way right into our hearts. Thanks, APRA, for rescuing Vixen/Olive (and her new parents)!

Bullwinkle

We adopted "Bullwinkle" 5 years ago this week and it was the best decision we ever made bringing him into our home. He was 6 weeks old when we adopted him and has been such a wonderful best friend to his now 10 year-old human sister, Maddy. We kept the name Bullwinkle but normally call him "Winkie" or "Binxter". Only "Bullwinkle" is used to call him if he lets his little hound nose get the best of him and he tries to wander off. He is such a smart dog and great cuddle buddy! I don't know how I lived so many years without him in my life! I also wanted to say "thank you" to all of you for giving us such a great gift and for all you do there at APR.

Thanks again,

Jetta

Doc

Hello,

I adopted a beagle/chihuahua mix named Doc from your organization several years ago and wanted to send along a message saying that he is doing wonderfully! He has a brother named Max (small lab mix) and we all have been living in Boston for about a year now (we moved from atlanta due to a transfer at my job). We love to take trips to all the dog parks around the city and we love to travel throughout the region to hike and to visit all the nearby beaches!

I renamed "Doc" Cooper after I got him and he has been such a blessing in my life. He is a charmer, and people always fall in love with him, understandably so. Thanks so much for what you do and for all the joy you bring to dogs and their owners!

Josh C.

Lillie (Dixie)

Lillie and I have been almost inseparable since Tuesday. I've begun a project blog about us in my blog, Sending Pages Out to Dry.
She's a lively girl with good manners. Someone obviously trained her well to walk on a leash, sit quietly without begging during dinner (though those brown eyes of hers are very speaking) and sit on command.

She's quite sweet and gets along well with the other dogs at Piedmont Park's dog park. We checked out the little dog pen today and she had a blast with the poodles, cairns and a terrific little retriever who acted as coach and had them all (except the Pomeranian) running in fast circles. We'll be going to Piedmont a lot.

We start training at Pet Smart next week.

She's not crazy about the crate I bought her; I'm afraid it's too big or, because she shivers fearfully when placed inside, that it brings back bad memories...but I could be projecting. She's okay in the small crate, which I keep in the car.

Form Submission from: www.healthypawsfoundation.org

Whitney (Roosevelt)

My male friends didn't like my calling him "Rosie" for short and Roosevelt was just too long a name. He comes when I call him "Whitney," so it's a mutual decision. I am madly in love with this little dog, but I have no digital camera. Whitney is snuggly, playful, obedient, well-behaved, good with other dogs once he gets comfortable. He plays regularly now and cuddles up with an 85 pound Rottweiler-German Shepherd named Nicky. Nicky loves other dogs and will let little dogs climb on him, take toys from him, and they can even try to hump him. He's a gentle soul. When Nicky and Whitney play, they chase each other around my yard. So I want Judy to know (she fostered my sweet little boy) that he's becoming a very confident guy even around a very, very large dog. As a friend pointed out to me, "You are five feet tall. Imagine having someone who is 20 feet tall chasing you." Whitney is enjoying chasing and being chased by a dog that is nearly four times his size.
He had been coughing and sneezing a bit so we visited my vet. He's taking a cough suppressant and he seems perfectly well now. His weight was 23 pounds, so he is 2 pounds heavier than when first rescued. His weight is perfect and I plan to keep him at that weight.
Whitney likes to sleep with me. He was intensely affectionate from the moment I brought him home and that has not lessened. He no longer tries to leave by the front door when I'm going out. He seems happy here. Part of his happiness may be that I'm a homebody who can give him lots of affection and attention. He understood the rules here immediately, he's not done one thing he shouldn't, and he's completely trustworthy about using the dog door.
Thank you for rescuing this wonderful animal!

Puck (formerly Kelsey)

Just wanted to let you know things are going great with the two dogs. They became best buddies almost instantly. We have a friend coming in mid-day and spending about 30-45 min with them. They love their new fenced-in run, and seem to be starting to get the hang of using that area to go to the bathroom.

We renamed Kelsey - Puck (from midsummer's night dream), his sister is Libby. I've attached pictures for you.

Thanks,

Cecelia B.

PS – Puck's ear has straightened up, a good sign I think.

Sadie (formerly Twiggy)

Hi APR friends,

I celebrated my four year adoption anniversary in January and I thought I would check in and say hi. I'm sending you some pictures of me and my baby brother watching the Superbowl. He likes to cuddle with me sometimes. I tolerate it, mostly because he feeds me a lot and that makes us very good friends. He drops food over his high chair when mommy is not looking. In fact, Dr. Ewing told mommy to feed me less food (bummer!) since my brother is supplementing my diet. Needless to say, the name given to me when I arrived at APR, Twiggy, has not really been appropriate ever since I left.

Licks and Love to all my APR buddies,
Sadie

Toki and WarPig (formerly Big Bob & Gabby the Tabby)

One year ago today my husband I and brought home a pair of furry little brothers. They've kept our feet warm - and our chairs warm, and our pillows warm - every day since.

We had gone to APR's website seeking one kitten, and fell in love with two. Toki is our quiet, shy one, and WarPig lives up to the name that we gave to him - waking us when it's time for breakfast by biting our toes, but they have added a lot of warmth and adventure into our home and lives. We couldn't be happier that we came home with both of them.

Many thanks and much love to everyone at APR.

Cody (formerly Cliff)

I wanted to give you an update on Cliff, who is now Cody (aka Codybear).
We adopted him last March from Judy with APR.

I've attached some pics, as you can see he's doing very well and we're having a great time with him.

Thank you,

Melody R.

Daisy

Bobby and I were told that Daisy would be a 'blossom dog' when we adopted her in August 2010. Blossom she did. From shy and timid to spunky and adventurous. She recently played a part in our engagement! We couldn't be more thrilled with her! Thank you Atlanta Pet Rescue!

Best,
Hannah and Bobby

Happy Tail

I just wanted to share the joy that Luke has brought into my life. He has settled in quickly and is adjusting so well! He has quickly become a neighborhood favorite with his stunning good lucks and playful personality. He loves his daily walks and his plush squeaky toys!

We went to the park this past weekend and Luke enjoyed meeting other dogs & children. He is so gentle with the little ones!

He is so full of life & love (and a great snuggler, too) Thank you APR!