Letters From Home Animals

Description: Sharing my Abby.

Description: Hello! We adopted Abby (formerly Daphne) in July of 2008. We just wanted to let you know that she is doing great! At first, she was super super shy and scared. It took her months to start to come out of her shell, but once she did it was so exciting! She continues to make tiny improvements even over a year later; sometimes they are so tiny we don't notice until someone else points out how far she has come. But she is just the love of our lives! She's the best running partner and people laugh when we go running with her in the park because she is just so fast and you'd think she never tires out. But as I struggle to keep up with her it makes my day when she looks back at me with her goofy doggie grin to tell me that she is having the time of her life! As you can probably see in one of the pictures, she was truly made for speed! And when walking in the door after a long day and seeing her adorable little face light up, you can't help but instantly feel better. Thank you for such a special dog! Shawna and Dan

Description: Our family is so excited for Aggie to meet her brothers and sisters and MOM! We live near Dulles airport in Brambleton, VA. We are happy to travel for a reunion, and I'll be thinking of places we could meet that are more central to all of us...

Description: Hello Carmen, A Note from Miss Angel....... Just wanted to update you that I am soooo happy in my new home. I am attaching some pictures for you. I was thinking of you today, since it is my one month anniversary @ my new home. Miss you lots.... Also you can find me on Dog Book.... My name is "Miss Angel" Love you, miss you, Always, Miss Angel

Description: Hi A Forever Home - Just thought I'd send a much needed and very (very) delayed update about our baby Apple that we adopted over three years ago. She has been the BEST pet a family could ask for! The first day we brought her home, I think she knew she was here to stay. We've since added our son to the mix and she has been the best big sister a kid could ask for. We have moved from VA to SC and though we are no longer in the area we wanted you to know that we couldn't be happier and we thank you so much for giving us our baby girl. I've included a few pics too.

Description: Greetings! We adopted Axel, a Bouvier des Flanders, in December 2006 and he quickly became our "baby." Recently we added another baby to our family and, as you can tell from the photos, Axel is a fantastic "older brother" to Sebastian. Despite his large size, he's very gentle and protective ?he even curls around Sebastian when he's on mommy and daddy's bed, acting like a bumper to make sure he doesn't go anywhere! We are so happy to have Axel as part of our family ?thank you so much!

Sarah

Description: Hi Karen, We wanted to send you an update on Cash, now named Beamer (after the VA Tech Football coach...not car). We are so happy to have him in our lives and he has just been amazing since day one. He is extremely smart and was quick to learn everything from potty training to different tricks (he can do sit, speak, lay down, play dead, roll over, beg, shake). As curious as we are, we decided to go ahead and figure out his real breed by doing a DNA test. I think you will be as surprised as we are at the results. Beamer is over 50% Cocker Spaniel and over 25% German Shepherd. Go figure! He is definitely growing way less than the 50-60 we expected which is great for savings on the food! When we got him he was 12 pounds and he now weighs in at 32 pounds (approx a little over 6 months according to the bday given). We have attached some pictures from day 1...to him growing over the months. Please enjoy as we have the past 3 1/2 months. Thanks again for everything!! Kim

Description: We adopted Bear, Blizzard's brother, a week ago today. I just wanted to update you on how wonderful his presence in our life has been already. He is a fantastic puppy and I know that Mary and her family (the foster mom) deserve all of the credit. Bear is completely housebroken and has been from day one, he is smart, loveable and a joy to be around. He socializes well with both humans and animals and has made a lasting impact to our family already. We are just smitten and head over heels in love with Bear (His official full name is now "Bear too cute Thomas"). He loves shoes and carpet but we have figured out how to persuade him not to chew these things and we went on a puppy shopping spree fit for such a marvelous pup and will start obedience soon. He is so affectionate, independent and just an absolute joy. He can sit, lay, come, stay and give us kisses. Thank you so much for choosing us to be Bear's family, he is the best thing to happen to us in a very long time! Please tell Mary I would love to get her personal email so we could keep in touch and we will send another update and pictures to AFH soon. We have shots next month and are 'controlling the puppy population' in September, I'll make sure to forward you the documentation. Thank you all for the wonderful work you do saving the lives of these fantastic animals that might not otherwise of had a chance to make a family like ours so happy! God bless you all!

Description: I have attached a pic of KC and Bella, thank you again for all your help to make Bella a part of our family. She fits in very well and KC adores her he immediately turned into a "PaPa Dog". Bella is very smart and goes outside to potty, she will even let out a sigh to let you know she has to go; KC doesn't even do that...Many Many Thanks, Shelley

Description: Dear A Forever Home Family,

We wanted to update you on our beautiful puppy that we adopted on October 25th, 2009. Since the day Bella came home, she has been such a high spirited and fun-loving dog. She loves people and tends to greet them with a million kisses upon their arrival. Bella also enjoys her daycare where we are told she can play for hours on end. She has grown up so much these past 6 months and we can't believe how much she has learned! Bella enjoys car rides, playtime on the beach and in the snow, and staring out the window as the head of our neighborhood watch. Simply said, she always makes us smile. We are also writing to extend a special thanks to the AFH family. You were all so wonderful to work with and when Bella is ready for a playmate, we would surely turn to you again. Thank you so much!

Kate and Matt

Description: Hi All at Forever Home, We just celebrated Ben's second birthday. What an enrichment to our lives this monkey has been the last 18 months. He's beautiful, smart, naughty, playful and full of life and greatfully all ours. Thank you for bringing him into our lives. Barb & Tom

Description: Hey, Maribel! Wow! our new puppy is doing great! Bonnijean has adjusted amazingly well to her new home so far... We love her and we are thrilled to have her. She slept in her crate all night, no sounds, no mess.... Elaine and her family obviously did a wonderful job fostering these special puppies... Thanks so much for the work you do on behalf of these precious animals... you're an angel! Take care and thank you for your time, Heidi

Description: ...I did adopt Boomer and Ozzy from you in 2002 and they are doing so well! Here is a recent pic of my babies.

Description: Here are pictures of the Albany N Siblings litter Reunion.

Description: Carmen and Judy ?

Thought it might be fun for you all to see all of my work AFH doggies! Starting from the Left the Cocker Spaniel is Riley Bumps (formerly Marley) the Min Pin is Rudy Walsh (formerly Denali) Me and Elvis Mason (formerly Sable #6) and Emme Loyd (formerly Fuzzy). It is so nice that I get to see all my fosters!

And the others (besides the Frenchie and the poodle) are rescues as well!

Still working on a few more folks to add to our pack.

Thanks for all you do!

Cara

Description: Hi Carmen,

Just wanted to tell you how much Cody (formerly Caesar) has brightened our lives! We brought him home five months ago and now I can't imagine life without him. He's always happy and brings a smile to everyone's face. He graduated from his first "manners class" and knows the basic commands. He even learned how to ring the "Poochie Bells" when he wants to go outside! I attached a couple of pictures because they're so cute and show his personality.

Thanks again for helping us adopt Cody.

Sarah

Description: Judy, Pics of Curley, Copper, Phillies & Bianca. Everyone is doing fine.

Description: Here in this house... I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs 'out there'.

I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake, my world will not have changed. I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat. I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat. I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose. My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house... There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level. I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the words. I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many. My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house... I will never be a substitute for anything I am not. I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves. I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be. I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity. I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all. If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.

Here in this house... I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch... knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me. If I am ill, I will be doctored. If scared, I will be calmed. If sad, I will be cheered. No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and known to be of value.

I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough. My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought. I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house... I will belong. I will be home."

Description: Hello-Here is an update on our two A Forever Home dogs! Roux was adopted in 2006. He was a scared little boy with no training at all. He wanted to be petted in the worst way but was so fearful of humans that he tried to nip anyone who gave him the affection he was so desperate to have. He has come a long way since then, learning to be a great companion around the house and falling in love with our female dog Cricket (adopted from the DC Humane Society). They are pictured together hiking at Great Falls. They are great pals, and Cricket has helped Roux learn to relax and enjoy life. We added Daisy to the family in October 2009. She is a complete snuggler with lots of get-up-and-go. She's learning more every day and loves to go running with me. Here she is enjoying a snow day; she loves to be in her yard in any kind of weather. Cricket sees her as a puppy, even though she is twice Cricket's size, and she is Roux's partner in tug-of-war games. None of our dogs are perfect, but they are all perfectly loveable! Thanks to A Forever Home for bring us together! Jenn Beach and John Herring

Description: Happy New Year From Dot!...I think she thought we were nuts but she was a good sport about it! Happy New Year! Love, Amy & Blair