THERE IS SO MUCH THAT GOES INTO RESCUING AN ANIMAL. IT TRULY IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT. IT'S HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS WHAT IT MEANS TO GET A DOG OUT OF A KILL SHELTER, NURTURE THEM, LOVE THEM, AND OFTEN TIMES REHAB THEM. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR SUCCESS STORIES.
BERNADETTE
When we met Bernadette (formerly Samantha) at the South LA Shelter we were so smitten we could hardly wipe the smiles off our faces for hours after meeting her. She was magical in every sense of the word and we raced home to come up with a plan to get her out ASAP. We had no idea that she had been sitting in the shelter for months as an evidence case dog who came in so underweight she could hardly walk-her head and face covered in fleas and ticks. We just saw a loving, balanced, happy girl who just wanted to roll on her back for belly rubs and cocked her head in each direction when you talked to her. The staff and volunteers adored her! Thanks to an amazing foster family stepping up we were able to rescue her. They gave her the moon and the stars and we are forever grateful-our foster families are just so very, very special! Soon Samantha met friends of ours who knew that she was meant to be theirs and is now settled into her home with her new Mom and Dad who will also love her to the moon and stars and back again and again and again (she even has a feline companion). Her new name is Bernadette aka "Bernie" and we could not be more thrilled to officially announce that our sweet little unicorn has found her happy ending.
CRICKET
Cricket now spends 5 days a week with her mom at the DogVacay office, where EVERYONE loves her - even the CEO takes time out of his busy day to say hi to Cricket! She makes the rounds every morning to say hi to people and get snuggles. She alaso has tons of dog friends, including fellow A.P.R. alum Willis! While she spends most of her time hanging out with her mom, she can easily be found lap hopping to get extra snuggles and treats. Erika says "My absolute favorite thing is getting to see her snuggle with her former foster mom Adria - it's like she knows Adria is why she has such a great life. Cricket is so snuggly and affectionate and she just cracks me up all the time; and it's so great to see her and my other dog Riley play and snuggle at home - she's totally helped him be less of a cranky old man. She truly is an amazing, and special dog and I couldn't imagine life without her."
BETTY WHITE
We rescued Betty White (formerly Judy) from the South LA Shelter and as soon as we saw her we knew this magical unicorn was something special! Apparently, so did her foster parents...because they just couldn't part with this adorable little tripawd lowrider! In fact, they knew within 48 hours that they wouldn't be able to let her go! I mean, how ADORABLE is this family?!?! Pleased to report that Betty White is off the market and has officially been adopted!
QUEENIE
Serendipity means a "fortunate happenstance" or "pleasant surprise" and that is exactly what happened when Gonzo met Queenie. It was meant to be. There was no doubt. Never. If you saw them together you would say the same...soul mates. Gonzo told us "I was walking queenie a while back with a friend and let me friend walk her and I stayed back a few feet. Queenie looked at me with these eyes and look of confusion like wondering where I was going. Pretty much from that day on I knew we were going to stay together." Once Queenie's Foster Dad, Gonzo has decided to become her Forever Dad. Gonzo and Queenie will ride off into the sunset...
SIMON
Simon is a 12 year old, blind Lhasa Apso who found himself at the ARF Harbor Shelter. We don't know how or why he ended up there but we do know how lucky we were to find him. The stars aligned for this sweet little man. AdriaAnn Hash opened her arms to this little one as her first foster dog. He hit the jackpot but I think she would say the same thing about him. He went to work with her at the Dog Vacay office every day where he was cherished and loved. Soon, this little old man left with his new family to start his new life. They travelled all the way from Oregon to welcome this amazing boy into their family. He now has a life where he will spend his golden years being loved and cherished. The Dog Vacay office loved this boy so much they even threw him a going away party complete with dog cake and slide show!