Chloe (formerly Allie)

We just wanted to follow up on our wonderful Safe Harbor success story!  Since we adopted Chloe (nee Allie) she has just thrived as a member of our family!  As you know, her owners had relinquished her due to some urinary incontinence issues.  While we have continued to administer her medication daily, we do think that she may have had some emotional issues that could have contributed to her problem.

Chloe was very timid at first and was very unsure of meeting new people, as well as how to deal with a new family and yet another new environment.  We took her for walks and got her trained on the Invisible Fence (which she figured out immediately!), but her biggest step to winning our hearts was the day we casually tossed a doggy frisbee to her!  Chloe now greets us at the door with her frisbee in her mouth, ready to play!  She can run like the wind and catch it on a jump in mid-air, to my husband's delight!  We only have to say, "Where's your frisbee?" and she is ready to go!

Chloe also loves the snow and the water.  These last few weeks of blizzards have not slowed her down a bit and we have enjoyed hikes along the Highline Canal amid the drifts.  She stays right with us except to meet and greet other dogs, which she does with great enthusiasm and friendliness. She rides beautifully in our car, sitting on the back seat or lying down after a particularly athletic outing.

Our family and friends still can't believe that Chloe is a rescue dog.  We can't imagine our lives without her and, as you remember, we had a tough time bouncing back from our beloved Murphy.

The experience of working with you and Safe Harbor was absolutely great!  You have the patience of Job and truly do a job that means so much to so many dogs and so many families.  Kateri, you were so helpful and really guided us through the adoption process easily.  Thanks for being so flexible and understanding!

As we start a new year, we just wanted to take time to say thank you and wish you and everyone at Safe Harbor the best.  We would gladly recommend this experience to anyone who wants a lab as a member of their family!  Thanks again!

Kathy

Charlotte & JJ

I thought I would send you an update on Charlotte (adopted 9/2006) and JJ (adopted 11/2005). Take a look at the attached pic...need I say more?

These two are great together. Charlotte is an absolute angel. A better behaved dog I cannot imagine. She is our household "sweetheart". JJ is still rambunctious, but he's settled down a lot. Charlotte gets a lot of credit for that, plus he's maturing. As "in your face" as JJ can be, he also has a very sweet, mellow side. Charlotte seems to love him bunches, and he's smitten with her.

They love walks, trips to the dog park, and just frolicking in the backyard. They get lots of attention from the family. They are well-known at my daughter's school, and a crowd comes to welcome them when we walk to school in the morning.

So, all is well with these two pups! We love them both dearly.

Happy holidays,
Rohit, Diane,
Colin, Riley & Lara

Blue

Blue, 21 months old and 105 lbs when he hobbled into our program, desperately needed knee surgery.  But in order for the surgery to be successful, Blue needed to lose weight.  And a lot of it!  

Alameda East’s fitness camp at the Animal Lodge generously donated a membership to Blue and within 3 and a half months Blue was down to a svelte, muscular 77 lbs.  His knee surgery followed shortly thereafter and was completely successful.  

Soon afterward he was adopted and enjoyed an active, fun-filled summer.

Blue’s adopter writes:

“Our family welcomed Blue, at that time known as Blue #2, into our home, with the plan to foster him until he was adopted.  We knew, the day he came into our lives, he would be our Blue, number one in our hearts.   My daughter Amanda had recently lost her 14-year-old dog Maggie.  Blue filled her days with laughter, being the clown that he was, and continues to be.  He has been through a lot in his two years and he has met a lot of wonderful people along the way.  If he could talk, I am sure he would talk about all of the fun that he had at Alameda East, and how they helped him to lose all of that weight, and give him a new outlook on life.  Dr Stubbs performed the necessary surgery, to keep him pain free, to give him the chance to run and play like all good labs should.  Leslie, and all of the wonderful volunteers, at Safe Harbor gave him a second chance.  He is such a loyal friend and we are so glad that he is a part of our family.  Since he has come to live with us, he has learned to swim.  We take him to the Chatfield Dog Park, here he can run and run and run off leash. I am sure that he would tell you it is his favorite place to play.  Here is a picture of Amanda and Blue.”

Casey

Pictured are happy new friends Sarah and Casey.  Sarah writes:

"Casey is doing awesome.  We discovered that Casey must have had some disk training.  We have gotten into a club called Colorado Disk Dogs and Casey is a champ - unusual for a Lab we are told but wow can he catch a frisbee."

Daisy (formerly Babe)

When you picked me up and took me to the "doggie spa," I was really scared.  But the people there were really nice to me and my friend "Star."  We exercised and learned to play, but they didn't feed us very much because they said we were too fat to get "fixed," whatever that is.  I thought I was doing fine, but then I was told that I was very, very sick with something called cancer and couldn't be adopted.  After having surgery, a nice lady who I met at the spa, took me home.  She said that she and her family would take care of me till I died--and they didn't think that would be very long. 

I was scared going to that home with the other 2 dogs and a kitty in it, and I hid in laundry baskets and closets for a week.  But they were so nice to me here.  My mom's would play with me and take me on walks.  They gave me lots of kisses and hugs, and talked to me so nicely.  I even got my own bedroom because they said I snored so loud.  I learned to have so much fun!  And I started feeling better!  Over the months I lost 35 pounds and I am able to swim, and run after balls in the park.  I went hiking in the mountains with my family this summer.  And I'm not even afraid of the people who I don't know any more.  Everybody who comes here is so nice to me, and I can almost always get them to throw my ball.

I had to go back and get my check up at the doctor last month and he was so excited that I was feeling so well.  I don't understand what really happened, but my moms say that I out-lived my warranty and now they were going to get to adopt me for real!  It doesn't matter to me.  All I know is that I love living here with my family and I get to stay here forever!  Thanks for all you've done for me!

Your friend,

Daisy (formerly Babe)

P.S. I'm the bleach blonde in the family!

Tally (formerly Sugar)

Meet Talley (formerly Sugar) —she’s the pretty four-legged blonde in the photo with her brother, Yoshi, and her humans-Steven and Sarah.  Talley says she feels very fortunate because the shelter in Grand Junction called Safe Harbor and asked them to help her find a home.  Steven and Sarah were looking for a new sibling for Yoshi after their other lab Tasker (both from Safe Harbor), passed away unexpectedly.  Talley was in the right place at the right time.

Talley says that she can’t believe all the fun things that go on in her new home.  She gets to go hiking, swimming and on long walks.  She loves playing with Yoshi in her big backyard, and chewing on bones whenever possible.  Talley does admit that it is fun to help Steven and Sarah discover if there is treasure buried somewhere in the dirt- so much so that she’s earned the nickname “Talley Monster”.  Now if you asked Yoshi, he would say that he loves Talley a lot but she’s somewhat obnoxious, as little sisters can be, because she loves to bite at him when he’s trying to be the obedient lab and bring back his Frisbee.

Talley reports that she loves the fact that Steven and Sarah let her cuddle on the sofa with them.  She curls right up and snuggles at night.  Then when Sarah goes to bed, she follows her right up there.  Talley thinks that one of her jobs is to be a foot warmer so she wants to take that job seriously.

Talley just wants to thank Safe Harbor, Steven, Sarah and Yoshi for loving her and letting her be part of their wonderful family!!

Champ (formerly Bo)

Here is Champ (formerly Bo) pictured with David.

“Champ is awesome!!!  A real sweetheart…an energy filled lab!  He loves retrieving Frisbees, tennis balls, chasing around, and then he ends with great big hugs and slobbery kisses.  We love it!  Champ loves the car and jumps in every time someone in the family tries to leave without him.  He is a wonderful, happy dog full of joy and smiles.  We are delighted that he is in our lives and nestling at my feet.  I truly believe he knows he is finally home.  Thank you for caring for these dogs who just want to love and be loved!”

Bette, David, Kurt and Michael

Spinner (formerly Snow)

Pictured are Alan and Maureen with Spinner on the left (formerly Snow) and Jasper on the right, all enjoying a beautiful day in the Rockies.

Spinner’s new family writes, “Spinner continues to settle in nicely.  She is growing on Jasper, and she is having a great time hiking in the mountains.”

Sadie

We're belated in telling you how much we love Sadie the 6 year old black Lab we rescued in May.  She actually rescued us!  She is a wonderful, mellow, affectionate dog.  She has really settled in ~ wants to be with us wherever - home, in the car, etc.  She loves to play.

Thank you for all your patience and kindness in helping us make our decision!  Thank you for all your good work.

Best to you ~

Tom and Donna