Dr. Seuss Horste

Darlene Horste from Westland found a new friend for her cat Geno on December 21, 2007 when she adopted 4 year old Dr. Seuss from the shelter.  Darlene says that Dr. Seuss like to "tear into our snack bags and play with my granddaughters toys on the floor". 

Seuss and his new brother cat Geno became friends in less than a week.  They groom each other daily.  They stick together like glue.  It's like they felt the same way, they both needed a friend.

A letter from Bowser Franko:

February 12, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to say Happy Anniversary - Wow I cannot believe it's been a year since you rescued me off those cold streets and I have been in my new home for 6 months.  Where does the time go?  Time seemed to just go so slow when I was at the shelter.

Hope all is gong well with everyone.  I want to tell you a little bit of what I have been up to since I left you guys in July.  First thing is my mommies have told me I should have shared some secrets with you and then maybe I would not have been with you so long at the shelter.  First I am housebroken - I haven't even ever had an accident in the house.  The other one is that I knew how to behave/respect a home.  I don't jump on furniture, (even though sometimes I like to try to hug someone that is sitting on the couch - but I can also do that sitting on the floor).  I only play with my toys that my mommies give me (I never touch anything else that does not belong to me).  I am not a nuisance barker - I only bark when someone comes to the door (because I want them to know I am here protecting my home)) but I don't bark at other doggies or people when they walk by - I just watch them.  I don't beg for food - when the grown ups are sitting at the kitchen table to eat, I just go and lay down in the living room until they are done, (I don't think begging for people food would do me any good anyways because I am not allowed any - just stuff made for doggies).  I also ride in a car real good, I just sit in there and look out the window or lay down in the back [seat].

I have enclosed some pictures so you can see how I look now.  The one picture is with my mommies and my cousin Ian.  I really like Ian and love playing with him but I know that I have to be very careful because he is smaller than me.  That is the same way I am with my mommies grandparents - I am real careful with them because they are a lot older than me. My mommies where really impressed that I knew how to behave with babies and older people.  The other picture is of me and my two buddies Dakota and Cheyenne, they come over often and we play well together.  At first I was playing a little rough, but those girls put me in my place real fast and I learned.

My mommies have told me because I have been so good that I am going to see if I can become a therapy dog.  She even talked it over with my doctor and they think I would be a real candidate.  They told me that because people where good to me, it's my turn to give back.  I think it will be fun because right now my mom sometimes take me to her grandma's house and there I get to visit a bunch of other people that live in the same place.  I love being pett[ed] by them and most of all I love how I make them smile.  So I guess I will be going to school soon.

Also you will find a gift from me - this is my allowance that I have saved up and my mommies they said I could do whatever I wanted with it.  I told them that I wanted to give it to the shelter so that they can help with other animals that where in the same situation as I was before.

Well I have to go now - but I will keep in touch.

Take care and thank you again for taking care of me.

Love ya lots

Bowser

 Zoey Janisse

Seamus Diggory A.

Seamus Diggory was adopted by Deborah A. in December of 2007.  He and his new family live in Rochester Hills.

Seamus is a cuddler and snuggler.  He travels very well in the car and by plane.  He has been to Florida and enjoyed playing on the lanai, catching lizards and riding in the golf cart.  He is a great companion!!  His favorite toy is a mouse that squeaks when it is batted around.  Seamus really didn't know how to play when he came "home".  He is learning to play hide & seek, come when he is called and how to play with all his new toys.

Angel Schultz

Angel and Erven's grandson at the Dearborn Hills Golf Club/Breakfast with Santa

Erven Schultz of Dearborn found out about a pup named Angel when his daughter attended the Breakfast with Santa event at the Dearborn Hills Golf Club in December of 2007.    Following is Angel and Erven's Happy Tail.

The photo is of Angel and my grandson at the Dearborn Hills Golf Club breakfast with Santa where Angel was presented by the animal shelter as available for adoption.  My daughter called me and told me about Angel.  We went to the shelter and I met Angel.  I had been looking for a dog at various shelters for over a month.  When I saw Angel I knew she was the right dog for me.  She was scared of me at first.  She tried to run away but she was found the next day.  She nipped at me in the beginning but I was not afraid.  I take her outside with a leash as her beagle instincts like to chase the scents she smells.  I continued to show her respect and affection.  Within one week I was her best friend.  She is very protective of me too.  I think she understands every word I say.  We are both very happy Angel has found a new home.

Katty D'Agostino

Katty, since the first time I saw her, I knew she had to be ours.  I saw her first and I took her out to play and she had so much love to give...I called my husband and asked if he could meet me at the shelter to see her.  He felt the same way.  He said he could have two girls to love and take care of.  She is pretty fast, but when she slows down she love[s] to cuddle.  She is just like a new born baby to us right now.  We love to play with her alot.  We can['t] wait to get home from work to see her.  We can tell she loves us just as much as we love her.

Dianna tells us that at home in Allen Park, Katty loves to play with mice or string toys on a stick.

This spot is waiting for a photo of Katty

Pepper Patterson

Buster H.

In the year since we adopted him, Buster has become a cherished member of our family.

 

So begins the Happy Tail submitted by Danielle H. of Milford, as she tells of life with Buster, whom was known as McDuff at the shelter, on March 15, 2007.  Danielle says Buster loves tennis balls,  chasing squirrels and learning new tricks.

He is so loving and still loves to give kisses as much as when we adopted him--maybe even more!  He's turned out to be a big boy (we think he's part Irish Wolfhound), but he's incredibly sweet.  No more food bowl aggression or submissive urination.  We're still working on staying calm around new dogs, but he has improved incredibly, thanks in large part to the help of Trainers Academy, located in Troy (the picture is Buster at Trainers Academy day care over the holidays).  Thanks so much for sheltering Buster until he could be adopted--we simply adore him and can't imagine life without him.

 Nala Dolin-Dickinson update

[Nala] is doing so well and she loves her best buddy, Callie.  I adopted Callie at the same time I adopted Nala, and they have grown up together.  Both of them are in the clothes basket together sleeping in the ...picture I sent.

Nala is a wonderful girl and we feel so lucky to have found her.  You guys are doing a great job at the Dearborn Animal Shelter and I wish you all a wonderful new year.  I will keep you updated with new photos of Nala as she grows up.

Thank you

 

Click here for Nala's original Happy Tail

Cooper Wayt Update

On January 28, 2008 we received an update on Cooper from Twila Wayt.

Cooper still has some "puppy" qualities in him.  But he is improved so much    that I dont have to crate him as much. I can safely leave him for an errand run.  He might pick up a shoe and carry it around, but he doesnt chew them.
He will give us a bit of a challenge every now and then.  A sort of "turf war" when he steals a stuffed animal that belongs to the grandchildren and we try to retrieve it.  He's never once won a turf war.  I am so glad he is in our home.  He might have been a bit much in those moments for a first time dog owner.  Right now I am looking around for the right obedience class.

Since he is an assertive dog I know I need to find a program that isnt too "passive" yet not "mean" either.

He's been great with the grandchildren.  The baby pulls on his lips and giggles when he licks her face. He is very tolerant....except when he thinks he owns  a toy. Then I have to respectfully watch him closely. So we still have some things to work on.  I think he's going to work out to be a wonderful member of our pack with just that once last kink worked out.

His latest achievement has been that he has realized the can steal things off the counter tops.  I did come home to a bunch of bananas smashed all over my kitchen floor recently.  But that is almost under control.  He gets down on command.  But he will still try.  LOL. He can take an incredible verticle leap when appropriately tempted.  I am thankful that I have a five foot privacy fence.  And we believe he thinks the garbage cans are space aliens.  He saw them roll in the breeze just after the garbage men visited.  He barked for twenty minutes with the hair standing up on his back.  I had to get dressed and brave the cold and remove them from his sight.  He's quite the devilish
character and never ceases to amuse us.

We took him to Virginia Beach in November.  He traveled wonderfully.  He was an absolute dream in the car.  I bought him his own special bed and put it in
his crate.  So when we traveled, it already was his familiar spot.  The bed went in the back seat. The crate got folded in the trunk.  Cooper had his own designated space and that seemed to work.  He never got sick or anything.  My daughter kept him for the entire week with her Lab Bosley.  I wasnt sure how
Cooper would do.  Cooper's one consistent trait has been that the thinks he should be the boss. Well....he and Bosley were pals.  And the visit to
Bosley's favorite dog park let Cooper understand that he was NOT Mr. Alpha dog....LOL.  He played wonderfully with other dogs.  There was one playground
bully there, and it was NOT our Cooper.....LOL.

Anyway, we are getting along quite nicely with some expected bumps in the road.  The future looks bright. I still think we'll keep him...LOL.  I'll send you another note in Coopers words with some Virginia beach pics too.  Maybe some more recent ones.  I have a movie of him "cleaning the baby's face" in between bites of her morning meal.  It is too funny.  You will hear from me again soon.  Just as soon as I get that teen son of mine to load up that vid to youtube....LOL

toodles
Twila
 

Then on February 1, 2008 Cooper sent in his own update.

Hi there!

It's me Cooper!  I wanted to send you some pics of my vacation in Virginia Beach last November.  Mom and Dad said I traveled perfectly.  I had a blast visiting Bosley and his mom and dad.  They kept me for the week since my mom and dad's condo wouldnt allow pets.  Bosley took me to his favorite dog park and I met a lot of friendly humans as well as dogs.  We had a lot of walks along the beach with our people.  It was a blast!

http://s153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/tjwayt/Coopers%20Vacation/

Since then, I have been learning how to be gentle with the dog-sized people.  I am not crazy about them coming over and messing with my toys.  I can take it for a little while, but mom says I get a bit stingy.  The crate is sometimes a welcome relief cause that busy dog-sized kid, just tires me out.  Shes not allowed to bother me when I am in my special place.  Will say one thing...those pint sized beings are tasty.  Here's a little movie of the tiny one sharing her breakfast with me.

http://s153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/tjwayt/?action=view¤t=CooperandMadiline1.flv

As you can see, aside from a tiny dispute over a stuffed animal, I am getting along with a pretty good sized pack.

I wish every dog could be so lucky.

Till next time,

Cooper

Click here for Cooper's original Happy Tail

Cooper and Bosley

Bosley and Cooper

Cooper at Virginia Beach

walking on the beach

at the dog park