SCOOBA
From the day we brought Scooba home with us, I knew he was going to be a great pet. He seemed to adjust to us so fast. He explored our house and within hours it seemed like he had lived there all his life. He is such a sweet, cuddly dog, which can be a small problem when an 85 pound black lab wants to sleep in bed with you, but we make room for him. He listens to everything we tell him, for the most part, and is an absolute joy to have around. If someone would stay outside and play fetch with him with his orange retrieving toy, he would be out there all day. We can leave him uncrated if we leave the house, and the only things that he plays with are his toys. He is the most wonderful dog I could have ever dreamed of having. He very rarely barks, and if he does it is just one or two deep barks and he stops. How he ended up in foster care for as long as he did amazes me. A lot of people bypassed a great dog, but I am so happy that we found him. Now that he his here, I could not imagine life without this amazing dog.

CHANCE (formerly known as Amor)
We adopted Amor in January 2007 and we can say it didn't take him long to get "comfortable" at home! We named him Chance, as in the movie Homeward Bound and we saw it fitting that he has another "chance" at a good home. He is in a deep sleep in this picture and enjoying his retirement at our lake home outside of Wyoming MN. Chance is the most mellow and well behaved dog. We originally came in to get my mother a dog, but as soon as I read Amor's story online, I knew he was the perfect fit for us! I had been without a dog for a year and didn't like the quietness without four paws to greet me when I came home. We also have acquired a family dog that is mostly deaf, he is an older Brittney Spaniel that has become best buds with Chance and together they play all the time outside. Chance is not much for going in the water because he appears to have had a lifetime of ear trouble, but he definitely has fun outside and stays really close to us. We have added a grandchild this past year, and Chance is the best babysitter! He doesn't like to hear the baby fuss; and when he does, he just comes to sit by the baby and make sure he is ok. The dogs love going for car rides, boat rides, sleeping on our bed when we're not home, and chasing each other through the house. Thanks so much for creating such a great atmosphere for these animals before being adopted. We have never been ones to kennel our dogs, so it was nice that they were house broken and we can say that we have never even once had an accident in the house from Chance. He doesn't chew on anything or make messes; he just wants to be loved and of course, beg for an occasional snack. I know that it sounded like Chance was at the shelter for several months because most people wanted to adopt a younger dog, and Chance was in the senior category. I personally didn't have the energy and time to start over with a puppy, so I am so glad that you had an older, well-trained dog that fit my schedule and energy level!

Best of luck this year as well finding great homes for wonderful animals! You all do such a terrific job and provide endless time doing something that means so much to you! The rest of us animal lovers want to thank you all! We hope this reaches the family that took care of Amor before we welcomed him into our home; and let them know how much he is loved and what a great life he has looking out onto the lake each morning he wakes up (on the couch, might I add). Yep, he's spoiled!

-Pete and Sarah

BUSTER (formerly known as Pooh Bear)
Hi! Given that my 6 monthiversary with Buster (formerly known as Pooh Bear) is next week, I thought it might be a nice time to give you an update on how he's doing. He had some pretty bad hot spots all down his back when I first adopted him, and we really formed a strong bond from the time I spent soaking & cleaning them. Even though he would flinch when I was cleaning them, at the end of each cleaning session, he would just lick my hands to say thanks. He healed up quite nicely, though he has some scars on his back where the fur won't re-grow, so now I have to remember sunscreen for both of us next summer! Other than a small fiasco after Thanksgiving that involved him finding and eating enough dark chocolate to warrant a night in the emergency room, (I guess that was his mischievous side that was mentioned in his description), things have been wonderful! He never barks, is well-behaved at home while I'm at work and he has free reign of the house, and he's only had accidents when he's had tummy problems.

Buster is every bit as sweet and loving as his description led me to believe. He's more attentive to people talking more than other dog I've ever known... he just tilts his head back and forth and makes you feel like completely heard. I also often get complements on how well-behaved he is--we took an obedience class in the fall he was the star pupil! (I must admit, the fact that he had a good 5+ years in age over the other dogs in the class probably had something to do with why he was so good at the attention exercises.) Most of the time we enjoy sitting at home and cuddling or playing fetch with squeaky toys, although he also loves to go for walks by Lake of the Isles and to the dog park. Now that it's cold out he wears a very cute jacket when we walk, and although his feet get cold in the snow and sub-zero temps, he refuses to walk if I put booties on him. After all, as a Lhasa, he needs to maintain some dignity!

All in all, things couldn't be going any better and I can't imagine my life without him. Every day I think about how perfectly matched we are in terms of temperament. Thanks so much for rescuing him and making it so easy for me to move 1100 miles (from MD to MN) and adopt a dog about whom I'd been reading & emailing all in the same week!

:) Jess Stahl

MURPHY (formerly known as Ringtones)
Dear Homeward Bound,

We just wanted to say thank you for helping us find our little Murphy (aka Murphy). When we saw her on your website this summer we knew she had that something special (but don't all the dogs!) and after meeting her we couldn't wait to bring her home. We adopted her in June and it's been a whirlwind of fun and training since then. She quickly adapted to her new home and she's already passed an Obedience class and an agility class, which was her favorite! We love her more than anything and we can't thank your organization enough for all of the wonderful work you do. Thank you!!!

We tell everyone we know about your group and hope you continue to have success in rescuing and placing all of the special dogs that come into your lives.

Thank you again,
The McCarthy's and Murphy

BIRDIE (formerly known as Candy Corn)
Dear Homeward Bound,

Thank you so much for everything you do. We adopted our beautiful English Setter, Birdie (formerly known as Candy Corn), through your site a little over a year ago. She has come such a long way since we brought her home last January! She had only been in foster care a few days when we met her, and was still recovering from being spayed, was 10 pounds underweight, suffering from kennel cough and worms, and had never been house-trained. She had also just been brought to MN from Kentucky where she was picked up as a stray, so her coat was terribly thin and straggly. This being my husband's first dog, he thought I was nuts when I fell for a dirty, sick dog with big brown eyes! She's in glowing health these days, and gained 15 pounds of muscle from helping Brian train for the Twin Cities Marathon this past summer. She is so eager to please us, and training her was a snap. Her tail never stops (we call it "The Helicopter") and people stop us all the time to tell us how gorgeous she is. Even my mother-in-law, not at all a fan of house dogs, loves her and sneaks her treats when she thinks we aren't looking.

I also have to tell you about Birdie's Lassie moment this summer. We were helping some friends of ours move into a new home, and their 1 year old daughter escaped attention for a few minutes and started climbing the stairs to the second floor. Birdie started huffing at me and running back and forth from the stairs to the kitchen, trying to get our attention. When I walked over to see what she was so excited about, I found her on the stairs, standing behind our friends' daughter and blocking her from slipping backwards down the stairs. Our friends think we really "won the dog lottery" when we adopted her!

We could not have dreamed of a more loyal and loveable dog, and we feel so lucky to have stumbled onto your organization. Thanks so much for everything you do for these animals, and thank you to the foster families who give them so much love and kindness! When it comes time for us to adopt again, we'll definitely be coming to you first.

-Meghan and Brian Kazmierczak

FUZZY (formerly known as Puppy)
I adopted Fuzzy (previously called 'Puppy') in January 2005 after fostering him through HB for a few weeks. I was told that due to his age (11 years old) he would be difficult to find a home for, but I fell in love with him immediately and adopted him myself. Three years later, he is still very active and in good health. He has even done quite a bit of travelling (that's a photo of him in Montreal!).

He enjoys snuggling on the sofa, eating pot roast, and barking at the evil to keep our home safe. When we go out walking, everyone smiles when they see his fuzzy face. He's looking forward to springtime when we can play outside more.

I hope his previous human sees this and knows he's doing well.

CALLIE (formerly known as Keisha)
I don't know if you remember us, but we adopted Keisha (now Callie) a year ago. I thought I'd send a quick update in case you did remember us and let you know how great Callie is doing w/ us. She has made herself right at home. She has lost quite a bit of weight, although she was very lazy this summer w/ the heat and needs her winter diet and exercise plan back! She finally quit chewing and doesn't even have to be kenneled anymore. She spends her days when we are at work looking out the sliding door protecting our yard from squirrels and rabbits, or sleeping w/ her stuffed puppy on her chair. She is getting along great w/ my mom's dog, Angel...although Angel is a princess and still has no desire to "play" w/ her, Callie gets playtime w/ some friend's dogs who appreciate her playfulness a little more than Angel does. Even though I am the one who brought her home, she has fallen deeply in love w/ m y husband who she adores more than any dog I've ever seen adore a human being. I think its because I'm the one who annoys her w/ nail clipping, ear cleaning (she has a tendency for ear infections if her ears aren't cleaned! She hates her ears cleaned!) and bathing, and he just plays w/ her and rubs her tummy...although she loves me too. My mom watches her when we are gone and can't take her with us, and my mom even got a fence in her yard so Callie could stay w/ her...she is quite spoiled. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that she is very happy, and so are we. I am so thankful for homeward bound because I can't imagine that Callie would have been euthanized in a shelter w/o your help. She is the worlds happiest most friendly dog in the world, and she deserved a family. Thanks for everything you have done for her and other dogs. I know when we are ready for another dog, we will look to homeward bound again!

MAPLE
We adopted our cat, Maple, at the Maplewood, Minnesota Petco in August of 2005! She was just a kitten then, and it was "Love at 1st sight!" She cuddled up in our arms and purred the whole time we were filling out the adoption papers. She has grown into a fun-loving, playful friend. She has a habit of catching and retrieving the tops of plastic pop bottles. All we have to say is "Where's your bottlecap?" and she searches for her caps throughout the house. She especially likes the noise they make in the bathtub. She also enjoys sneaking up on golf balls and batting them across the floor.

Thank you for Maple!!!

BUELLER (formerly known as Friday)
Bueller has been part of our family since April of 2007. When we got him, he was pretty ill and fairly thin: roundworm and a bad case of kennel cough were to blame. He had medicine for weeks. Despite his illness, he was accident-free and he learned things quickly. What a smartie! After the meds kicked in, Bueller became another animal entirely! He seemed to lose a dozen doggie years. He is social, energetic, intelligent, and loves the dog park (especially to herd the other dogs). We are thinking about enrolling him in stock dog training as his herding instincts seem keen.

Bueller is consistently a good dog and we are so happy to have him in our family! His potential seems limited only by our imagination. He catches on to new tricks faster than we can think of them! He makes us laugh and exercise more...both great things!

Thanks to Homeward Bound for taking in a sick little dog from a high-kill shelter and seeing past his exterior, because he is a great companion who is treasured, loved, and perhaps just a little spoiled.

-Melanie and David Wimmer

BOBA
Happy New Year, Homeward Bound!

It's me, Boba! I've been with my new family almost a month now and right from the first day, it seemed like I'd always been here. Mom takes me for really long walks every day at the State Park and I've learned how to walk right by her side and sit if she stops moving. I get along great with the other 3 dogs and cat and, best of all, I ALWAYS get to be with my people. (Company had come over and they thought that Mom and I were glued together since I never leave her side)

Please tell people not to pass the big, black dogs by. We may look plain on the outside but Mom says a diamond starts out as a piece of coal and it's not til you look inside it that you see the spectacular beauty shining forth. She tells everyone that she got a diamond for Christmas and she means ME!

Thank you Homeward Bound for finding me such a wonderful new life.

MAGGIE (formerly known as Pippi)
Dear Homeward Bound Volunteers,

Thank you for taking care of me until Rose and Florian came to take me home. I'll never forget the day they came to meet me. I was so excited and energetic that I was afraid I scared them away. At one point I ran so quickly to get outside with them, I ran into the sliding door because it wouldn't open as fast as I wanted out. I thought for sure I blew it, but they still took me home! Apparently energetic and goofy is up their alley :)

I really like my life with Rose and Florian. They have really cool jobs that allow them to work from home a lot so I get to see them all the time. Plus, I'm their first pet and they have no kids yet, so they pamper me a lot. They're such novices! I'm just waiting until they figure out that there's no such thing as a soft toy that I can't destroy. I think they may have caught on though because I've noticed a lot of my toys are made of rubber these days

Really though, life is good. There are lots of dog friends in our neighborhood. My best friend, a puppy Great Dane, even lives upstairs. All of Rose's friends have dogs too. They live by the lakes and the dog park. They teach me funny tricks that I use to get people to pet me. And Rose likes to run. I've been helping her train for the marathon. I just hope she keeps running after the marathon is over because I much prefer running over walking.

Well, thanks again for taking care of me, while I was waiting to be found.

Wet kisses,
Maggie (fka Pippi)

Just a mini-update. I originally thought Maggie would not enjoy the snow since she absolutely hates the rain. But she's a big fan. Because she's my running partner and spends a lot of time running the lakes with me (where they use sand and salt), I bought her some Ruffwear booties today. And now that the water pumps have been shut off around the lakes, somebody has to carry our water.

Thanks again for taking care of her until we could adopt her. She's such a joy to have!

TRIXIE (formerly known as Winn Dixie)
We adopted Winn-Dixie (Trixie) the wheaton terrier/schnauzer x from the shelter 2 weeks ago & she's been alot of work but also alot of fun! She totally gets along great w/her 3 yr. old Lab X brother-Ira & her 9 yr. old cat-Kiki! She fit right in, if they liked it or not!! I'm including a picture of Ira & Trixie's first nap together-now if this isn't love? Julie & Don Z. from Champlin

SCHATZIE (formerly known as Dirk)
I've now had Schatzie for 6 months. First of all, I'd like to thank Homeward Bound for Rescuing Schatzie and getting him to MN from Kentucky. Second I'd like to thank his foster parent for the excellent description of his personality - "An agility dog who can do amazing jumps and twists, runs like the wind, full of joy and youthful enthusiasm, with a funny sense of humor and a brain, who will bring a smile to your face." It allowed me to get the key characteristics I wanted in a dog and to know what to expect of him. Consequently, we are a perfect match!

Schatzie is my first dog since "the family pet" when I was young. I took dog ownership seriously devouring books on communicating with (invaluable) and training dogs. This combined with a really smart enthusiastic dog, 2 to 4 hours of exercise a day and tons of socializing with people, children and other dogs has truly giving me the best and most devoted canine friend I could have imagined. Multiple times a week people, including complete strangers, comment on what a great, well-behaved and cute dog Schatzie is...we've come a long way!

He is so smart and his face so expressive I can tell when he really "gets" something. Our exercise pattern is walk a while, play ball a while, then walk again. When it's time to walk again, I say "Enough, Ball in the basket, let's go walking". My first experience with his cleverness came after 3 weeks when I said this. I actually saw the light go on in his head along with a big smile on his face. He put the ball down (previously not so easy to get the ball away) and proudly and confidently walked towards the path leading into the woods. That day opened an exciting door to communication and learning that only continues.

I definitely got the walking partner I wanted. He loves it and I've lost 7 lbs. The first couple weeks I thought Schatzie had hip problems and then realized he was just stiff from all the exercise. We walk & play ball or Frisbee for 1+ hours each morning and night, 80% of the time off-leash. I fortunately live walking distance from 3 great forested parks for most of our walks plus we go to the Minnehaha and 28th street off-leash dog parks weekends and some evenings, and have spent over a month at the lake where the picture was taken. Schatzie isn't keen on swimming (yet) but is completely in his element exploring forests, chasing squirrels and deer, climbing rock cliffs and running along very narrow ledges and horizontal tree trunks. He can jump onto a 5 ft. wall. I never have to worry about him off-leash. He never gets too far away, always keeps me in site and waits for me if he gets too far ahead. He is sociable but often ambivalent with other dogs and has shown no aggression. He's far too busy sniffing and exploring to bother with overly friendly or grumpy dogs however an open field and another dog who likes to run is completely exhilarating.

Schatzie was completely house-trained, not a single accident, doesn't need to be kenneled when left alone and only barks when there's something to bark about. There are some issues we're still working on. While he's 100% gotten over chasing runners and bicyclists, the occasional car or motor cyclist is still an irresistible temptation. I expect we will be working on this for a long time. We did attend obedience school and are looking forward to agility classes in the near future. Schatzie means Little Treasure/ Sweetheart/ Honey in German. He truly is my little treasure. Thank you!

Jill Larsen
Minneapolis

PABLO (formerly known as Graduate)
Hello,
When we adopted our Australian Cattle Dog from Homeward Bound on March 17, 2007, he was named him "Graduate." We have renamed him Pablo, and we are very happy that he is a part of our family. Pablo gets along well with his sheltie big brother, Ernie, who we adopted through the Humane Society in January of 2001.

Pablo loves to go for walks, and, after purchasing an attachment for my bicycle, he likes to go biking too (he runs alongside). We brought Pablo camping and boating in northern Minnesota and Michigan, and we think that he enjoys travelling. Pablo loves to watch my husband's softball games because the whole team likes to pet him. In June, Pablo completed his Level 1 obedience training class at the Twin Cities Obedience Training Club, and we started Level 2 on August 29.

We want to thank you for all of the hard work that you do rescuing dogs and coordinating adoptions. Your important work has found a home for Pablo and has made our family happier!

CHARLOTTE (formerly known as Muppet)
Life is grrrrrreat! Even though I shuddered when I had to take my medicine, my dermadectic mange is HISTORY! I charmed my new family in just 4 weeks into taking me to Lutsen (where I just had to sleep in bed with Mom and Dad). I've learned to shake, fetch, sit at curbs, stay, and come. I also love the dog park along the Mississippi and I have a new best friend named Nora who is twice my size. I'm about 30 pounds but my spirit feels as big as a Mastiffe. My favorite time of the day is snuggle time (my family says I'm spooning) when I get to stretch out next to my humans and get my bellie rub. My humans have come up with some pretty crazy stories about what my life was like as a stray, before the Tennessee couple picked me up and brought me to Homeward Bound--by the way, thank you and I'll always love you and my Homeward Bound foster family. My mom calls me a "healing dog" because I make everyone happy, so she's planning to teach me how to visit patients in hospitals and hospice. I'm about 6 months old now, so I need to wait till I'm a year. I'm hoping my humans get me a brother or sister because I REALLY know how to have a good time and there's a lot of love to go around in my forever home. Ciao!

BLARNEY (formerly known as Katarina)
Blarney was formerly known as Katarina, and was rescued from a puppy mill. She was so shy when we got her that she cowered and hid whenever anyone moved even slightly. Now Blarney loves playing to run around at her new home, a hobby farm with goats and cats and two other weimaraners. Blarney is now totally housebroken and sleeps in our bed at night. What a remarkable change! She has a lot more energy and is doing great- we would encourage anyone looking at adopting to consider the special needs animals, who deserve a good life with people who love them.

HOSS
Hoss is the one with the black head and back and white body (catahula leopard) and Walter brown and gray. (Wire haired pointer griffon). This was Christmas day. They loved their chew bones. Didn't last very long, they were gone in a week!!

It has been a year since we brought Hoss home with us. He is no longer the last one picked!!!

Hoss had been with homeward bound recluse for a long time. We wanted a new brother for Walter, after we lost Sam (a 12 year old black lab). On that Saturday morning we brought Walter to see if he would like Hoss as a new brother. They have been best buds since.

Hoss was a little jumpy when he first came to us, but he learned very fast that he was wanted. Dave and our 2 college sons wrestle and sleep with Hoss and Walter. You can not sit in a chair without petting one or both dogs. They like to curl up on your lap they don't know how big they really are. Walter and Hoss take care of the house while we are at work. They have toy boxes on every floor. At first Hoss gathered up one shoe from everyone in the house, put them in a pile and would lay by them until we came home. Never chewed any thing, just likes to herd things.

We take them to the dog park, swimming at the lake. Hoss wasn't sure about swimming, but after Walter helped him a bit, he has become a very good swimmer. This winter Hoss must not have seen snow before, he wasn't sure if he wanted to go out in that. We put his boots on and off we went. Doesn't matter rain, snow, fog sun, we are out walking everyday 2 or 3 times. Plus they love to chase each other around the yard. Walter had to teach Hoss about taking baths. We don't have stinky dogs in the house. Hoss wasn't sure of the dog was at first, but he now knows what to do when we get there.

We want to thank you for a wonderful new addition to our family. We could not have asked for a better dog.

We have told many people about your website, hoping they will find a great new family member as we have.

Thank you again,
Dave, Lindy, Ben, Justin, Hoss and Walter

POKEY (formerly known as Mopey)
I wanted to share with you the progress we have been making with Pokey - formerly known as Mopey. It has been almost a month since we adopted her. She is a joy and real sweetheart! When we first brought her home she was afraid of any little noise, even her own tags on her collar clinking against her dog bowl. She warmed up to us quickly and is making progress every day. She no longer jumps at any noise as long as she is safe inside the house. She is the queen of the house with a doggie bed in the living room to lay on during the day and a doggie bed in our bedroom right next to the bed for nightime. She has taken to me quite a bit following me all over the house and I proudly say she is my dog. :)

Pokey, also known as Pocahontas and Pokey the Honeybear, has touched my heart since the day we brought her home. It is hard to imagine the life she had before and I am so glad to show her each day that she will never live like that again. She wags her tail at us each morning when we wake up and this morning she even started to play! She ran toward us, then ran away, up the stairs, down the stairs, and back toward us again in the living room while wagging her tail. You could just see in her face that she was just having fun. She still has some fear of being outdoors and will go out to do her business, but then wants to come straight back to the house afterward. She has not had even one accident in the house.

Thank you for our wonderful dog! I keep telling friends and co-workers about your organization in hopes that others will spread the word and give a good dog a home too!

Sincerely,
Tricia Najera
Proud Owner of Pokey

BONNIE
Has it been only a month that Bonnie has been a family member? On one hand it feels like a few days since we first met, but, on the other, it seemed from the beginning that Bonnie and I have known each other for years! Homeward Bound's profile of her pointed out that she's the perfect dog -- one in a million. Truer words were never spoken.

Right from the get-go Bonnie slid into the routine of the household, making fast friends with Sadie, my 14 year old border collie mix and Claire, our 15 year old cat. Bonnie's always willing to have a petting from the neighbors (kids and adults), but will also lend a stern warning bark to those which could pose trouble.

She has a splendid time heading out with Sadie and me for walks and short jogs, and delights in her three-mile runs. The local off-leash dog park is one of her favorite diversions; she's quick to take on new dog acquaintances there as playmates, running around like the dickens, but always comes when I call for her. There are times where Bonnie and Sadie wander to the far end of the park with me and are happy to simply sniff around.

You can't imagine how many people have either mentioned to me that Bonnie is "sweet," or whom I've eavesdropped on at the dog park while they've told Bonnie directly to her that she's sweet! She really is. Just this evening at their park I had someone echo exactly what Homeward Bound said, "She's the perfect dog!"

It's hard to believe that a short time ago Bonnie was an unwanted, unclaimed stray in Kentucky. Hats off to the rescue group there that got her out of that situation, and a heartfelt thanks to Homeward Bound for fostering Bonnie. She really is perfect, sweet and one in a million!

CLARA
Hi my name is Clara a cocker/Mini Aussie Mix, my mom adopted me in March and I love my new home. I have a fenced yard and my own little door that I figured out in a matter of hours. I can come and go into the yard as I please. My mom doesn't always like that because I have a tendency to bark at the other kids out for walks with their parents. I have settled in nicely to my new home and only put up with being kenneled for a few days before my mom started leaving me on my own. I have had a few bad days when I got bored and chewed up things like my bed, and a remote control I just told her she needed to be smarter than the dog!!! I am getting better.

I go to school now with my mom on Tuesday nights and have learned to lie down, roll over and leave. That's for things I am not supposed to have. I am also learning to be nice when I walk on the leash. That's still a work in progress because I have to be busy and am very interested in things. I have had a lot of firsts that my mom finds kind of funny, like chasing the sprinklers.

-Eileen Westman

ACE
We are the family that adopted Ace. He was a seven month old beagle mix when we brought him home. We kept his name, we thought it worked for him, and not to mention he comes to it. He has been such a wonderful addition to our family. We could not have asked for a better puppy. He is the sweetest guy, loves to cuddle, and loves to play. He has become an instant little brother to Dixie the smaller dog in the picture. She is only one years old and lost her older brother in January. Ace has helped our little Dixie find some doggy fun again. Don't get me wrong, they fight like brother and sister as well. They each want what the other has, and Ace is a notorious attention hound. His foster family had done a fantastic job with him. We love him and we think he loves us too. Thanks again to Sherri and thanks to everyone who passed on Ace and his big bark, because we have been so blessed to have added him to our home big bark and all.

STERLING
I adopted Sterling (then known only as Weimaraner puppy) May 13, 2006. I had gone to the adoption day to help my sister adopt a dog (which she did). I knew better than to pick a puppy up but couldn't hold myself back and outside we went to play. Even though he had been taken from a neglect situation, and was very skinny, he held no grudges and merely wanted to love and be loved. With my head a bit in the clouds I adopted him. The first day or two I worried I had made a mistake (I already had 2 other dogs), and was wondering what I had gotten myself into. Soon those fears disappeared as I saw my lab, Aztec (who is also a rescue), licking Sterling and snuggling with him to keep him warm. Sterling followed his older brothers cues and learned all about being a happy dog. Now, Sterling and Aztec have a great time playing together. They run so fast at the dog park they are merely flashes of color in the woods. My Sheltie, Dakota, still isn't so sure about having to share me with yet another dog but has accepted the fact they are all here to stay. I tell everyone I know to get a rescue dog and save a life. Thank you homeward bound for all that you do! (I also think that Sterling's mom is listed on the success story page....her name is Abby, formerly Wobegon)

I have included a picture of Sterling when I first adopted him at 8 weeks old and one of him now, at a year old.

Thanks again to everyone that makes Homeward Bound work!

-Brittney Anderson

LILY
I was told that when Lily first came to Homeward Bound, she had no fur (they didn't even know what color her fur was!), she was 20 pounds underweight, in heat, heartworm positive and had a dizzying list of infections. By the time I took her in to foster, about two-thirds of her fur had grown back and she had gained weight. Some of her infections were under control, but others were not and her front paws were swollen to twice their normal size because of it. She was also scared of tiled floors, stairs, sudden movements and riding in a car. I remember the first few days she was in my house, I thought that I'd be fostering her for a long, long time, because, honestly, who would want such a pitiful dog? Well, within a week, I knew that I'd be keeping her. Maybe it's the way she stands in front of me, looking to be petted and swaying back and forth like Ray Charles at the piano. Maybe it's the fact that she thinks dogs on TV are real, or that when it storms, she tries to get on my bed. Jumping on to the bed seems beyond her, so she'll slap her front paws on the mattress and try to haul herself up like a rock climber at the top of a cliff.

Lily's come a long way in the several months I've had her. Most of her fur grew back and her feet shrank back to their normal size. She now eagerly gets into a car and is fine walking on tile. Stairs are still an issue for her and when she gets stressed out or scared she'll hide food around the apartment. (My other dog, Betsy, follows her around and eats whatever she's hidden.) Her goofiness fits right in my household and she's been a lovely dog.

Thanks, Homeward Bound, for all you did in helping her recover!

APOLLO
Apollo is a wonderful dog and is doing great! As you can see from the picture, he and Ginger are best friends. (She even cleans his ears for him almost every day!) Apollo is the friendliest dog you'll ever meet. He loves everyone he meets, and he thinks everyone wants to play fetch with him - forever! Needless to say, he is an active dog, but running in our fenced backyard, wrestling matches with Ginger, and walks eventually wear him out for short amounts of time.

From the very second we brought him home, he acted like he had always lived here - no fears, and he loved getting 2 playmates, Ginger and Poco (our 15 1/2 year old miniature poodle). He did have some stomach problems for a few weeks (which we knew from his foster mom), but our vet helped us work that out. He just can't eat any of the other dogs' food! You would not believe how big he is - he is as long as Ginger is and about 34 pounds. He's very lean no matter how much he eats. Our vet thinks his main breed is miniature Australian shepherd - but he's got the wonderful tail of a border collie.

He has taken obedience classes at TCOTC, which has been great. We even tried 2 classes of flyball last November. He just loved it! But the timing didn't work into our family schedule, so we're hoping to try again this fall.

When we had to put my dog Jellybean to sleep (in December 2004), I was sure that no dog would fill my heart the way she had. But then we got Apollo, who gives kisses and climbs into my lap or jumps up on me to give hugs. He sleeps curled up behind my knees or by my feet every night. He doesn't let me out of his sight! Can you tell how much I love this dog?

Homeward Bound is wonderful - we are 2 for 2 with our shelter dogs - and cannot imagine our lives without them. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

-Lynn Preis

MEATBALL (formerly known as Ginger)
Hey, guys!!! I am "Meatball," formerly known as "Ginger." I was adopted from the Homeward Bound doggie rescue about four years ago. Thank God that stranger stopped to rescue me off the highway!!! At first I was a little hesitant and gave them a good chase. In the end they caught me though. Little did I know at the time that I was being rescued. My life would never be the same. All because someone took a little extra time to fetch me off the freeway where I was roaming loose and abandoned.....not to mention starving to death. I weighed like 15 pounds, and I was at least one to two years old. At least that's what my teeth showed. Now I am 43 pounds.... time to diet. No more Meaty Bones, I swear. My old owners didn't want me. They abused me and yelled at me. Never fed me, never loved me, so I ran away. I ended up in a shelter home living with a lady and her husband while I waited for adoption. I am told that they wanted to keep me, because I am a little hottie, I must confess, but I ended up going for a long car ride to Petco along with about 30 other dogs. I got to play with all of my new friends. Just when I was about to take a nap, this blonde lady wanted to take me for another car ride. Just think, two car rides in one day!!! That car ride ended up taking me to the happiest place in my life. I have a NEW home. A lakehome too!! I also have a brother, T-Mac (American Eskimo). He is a little naughtly, but I love playing with him. He is like my very best friend. BFF, Best Furry Friend. My new mom really loves me. I get chew treats and toys everyday and there is always food and water in my dog bowl. No more stealing food and dropping it in the corner to chew. I can eat freely now, and even human food sometimes. Arby's is by far my favorite!!!! Anyway, just wanted to drop a note to you guys over at Homeward Bound to let you know how I am doing. I still have my little white mittens (white paws on all fours) and my little white belly, even though I am a little chocolate lab X. I am really loved now.....and more importantly, I learned how to love. Bye for now, Meatball Your BFF (Best Furry Friend).

SADIE (formerly known as Safari)

Greetings,

About 3 weeks ago I adopted a young brindle pit bull, Safari. Her new name is Sadie, and she is THE most loyal companion dog I've ever met.

When we left Petco, I had a difficult time walking her out of the store..once I got her out of the store, she was ok until she realized that we were heading towards our van. She really didn't want anything to do with cars.

I held her on my lap on the way home. I made sure my wife drove, because through experience, I've realized that when you adopt a new pup, they are forever bound to the lap they sat on on the car ride home. However, I had no idea the bond would be this strong.

We went directly to my moms place, because she was VERY concerned about us having adopted a pit bull. We got there and the first thing I did was let her out of the van, off leash (they have a very large yard, so I figured if she ran I could catch her and she wouldn't be able to get into trouble.)

My wife freaked out when I did this, thinking that she was just going to run away. However, Sadie refused to leave my side. I walked to my moms front door and Sadie was walking next to me like she was attached to me at the hip.. well, ankle?

Anyway, that hasn't changed. The only time she's on a leash is when we go to Petsmart, Petco, or walks to the park.. beyond that, she's free to walk with me wherever else, and she never ventures more than about 5 feet from me in any direction.. always looking back at me to make sure I'm there.

I got her enrolled in the Banfield wellness plan, so all of her vaccines, office visits, spaying, etc. are covered, and thankfully I did. She was a sick little girl. She got her vaccine updates, got rid of her worms, was groomed (she had a dandruff problem.. nice shiney coat now!), had some type illness that caused her to have a low good-bacteria count, so I fed her yogurt from a spoon 3 times a day for about a week.

Now, however, she's all better.. and BOY what a difference. She's a lot more spunky, LOVES to play with our pointer, and so eager to please that she has made training a breeze. I hadn't seen a smile out of her for the first week and a half and couldn't figure out why. Now that she's feeling better, she never QUITS smiling!

In fact, because of her willingness to learn and eagerness to please, she will be enrolled in class as soon as she's spayed and will be getting her Canine Good Citizen certificate shortly there after. Once she's achieved that, I'm hoping to get her into the ambassador program so she can become a service dog. I've also noticed that she seems to enjoy schutzhund, so we may embark on that adventure as well.

Long post, I know, and I will continue to update you as life goes on, but I really want to thank you for what you're doing and I know Sadie thanks you for her second chance!

Attached you will find a picture of Sadie girl with a big grin on her face! The thing at the bottom of the picture is the nose of my pointer wanting to be part of the picture as well.

UPDATE: I figured it was about time to give you another update about Sadie, the pup I adopted from you guys about a year and a half ago. She was formerly named Safari.

Anyway, not much has really changed since we adopted her. Still as loyal as ever, very, very good with other dogs, loves the dog park, and can't get enough of our daughter.

She's mostly out of the puppy stage now (that took longer than expected.. lol).. so we will be enrolling in the CGC program this winter. She knows the basic obedience stuff.. with a little more work, I think she'll pass with flying colors.

She's also 66.3 pounds of lap dog.. she'll lay on her back.. on my lap/chest.. legs spread wide (very, very lady like, I must add) with her lips flipped up, just about over her eyes.. snoring.. and I'll introduce her as my "vicious pit bull".. kind of throws people off.. but she's managed to change *a lot* of peoples minds about the breed.. she's become a true ambassador.

I've included a picture of her.. she's uh.. filled in a bit since we adopted her.. :-).

- Matt & Rachel in Coon Rapids.

MICK (formerly known as Michelob Lite)
Hi there, I'm "Mick", the Dog Formerly Known as Michelob Lite. Perhaps you saw me with another nice big lab, my pal Jasper last winter on the Dog Owners Wanted page. I picked some decent owners from Burnsville where I now live most of the time, along with their doggy playground lake cabin in Northern Wisconsin.

At first I was pretty rambunctious, even for a one year old, and tried to jump thru the windshield while we were driving home from the shelter. The family cats were mighty nervous too when I arrived. But they got over it and now I just chase them once in a great while for fun and they mostly like it. I've turned into quite a relaxed dog and haven't chewed up anything of value. And am getting better all the time at sleeping late and stuff. The family says I might well be their best dog ever and they've apparently had some good ones.

My new owners exercise me a fair bit and I've lost 10 lbs. thru a stable diet and running and fetching and following this family on their bikes, skis, walks and snowshoes and stuff. The Vet says this is a good thing and I could be in the Dog Olympics maybe. Cause I'm pretty big and strong.

I should like to mention swimming as this is still quite a challenge for me. I went skeet shooting and pond fetching with the family and a couple other older dogs to teach me last weekend. It was really cold and mostly I just splashed a lot in the water and didn't go very fast even though I have like flippers for feet. Then I tried to run around the pond instead of swimming into it. The humans laughed but I heard them say it seems I will make a good hunting campanion later this year with practice. So I'm still working on that part. If it ever warms up.

Maybe you'll see me some day, and Big Thanks to those Homeward Bound people who hooked me up with this good home..... Mick (owners Dave and Mary Pramann)

KICKOREENO (formerly known as Trixie Belden)
Trixie Belden's new full name is Kickoreeno. Reeno for short. Kickoreeno is the name of a go-go boot brand from the 60's. I had a pair and always thought it was a fun name. She has white boots on, so the name fits.

She is a really good dog and has the softest, most kissable ears! Goes to doggie daycare at Auntie Ruth's one day a week, and I work from home one day a week, so she's alone all day while I'm at work only 3 days a week (she stays in her kennel while I'm gone and she is quite content and safe there). Its great to keep her socialized and having fun with other dogs at doggie daycare--she's exhausted when she comes home!

We walk about 1.5 hours every day -- its great for both of us. If more people walked their dogs like I do, we would all be in better health! We meet people with other dogs on the walking path, so that is nice, too.

She LOVES the snow--the first time it snowed out I wished I had a video camera. She was so puzzled, looked up at the sky, looked all around the yard, very gingerly stepped in it, then went WILD! Yesterday when it was so warm out she laid in a pile of snow--you'd think her belly would get cold, but clearly she loves it.

Though I'm not looking forward to having tons of fur in the house, I hope she loses enough of her coat so she's not miserable in the heat this summer. I'm going to get a good brush and brush her, too.

She also loves squirrels. I have set up a spot in the living room where she can see the birdfeeder; she jumps up there and loves to watch the squirrels and whatever else is going on in the yard. Once outside, if she can chase a squirrel, she tries to climb the tree after them, jumping and jumping with her front paws on the tree, but not barking. Its a riot!

Things are going really well. She's been doggie naughty a few times, but I only discipline when she is caught in the act, and she learns from it really well. Yesterday she decided to dig in the mud (what a mess!), but I didn't catch her in the act, so can't do anything about it yet. Need to keep an eye on her, then, when she does it again, will tell her Loud No! Bad Dog! and clap my hands. Usually that's all it takes.

We're also going to dog training at Cloud Nine in Hopkins. We both love going to class, the time just flies. I only wish class was more often--its so nice to do training in a huge area like that.

Am planning on getting her a playmate once I have a fenced yard, but am not going to jump into it until I am ready. Have told lots of people of my good fortune in getting such a wonderful pet from Homeward Bound, so am spreading the word and very thankful your organization exists!

MAGGIE (formerly known as Dani)
Definition of good = Maggie! We adopted Maggie (formerly known as Dani) 2 days before Christmas, 2006. We saw her curled up in her kennel at the Maplewood Petco. I quickly noticed her beautiful blue eyes. We were not looking for a big dog so we continued our search for a second beagle to add to our family. We were given a business card with the Homeward Bound Rescue website on it so we went home and did some more searching. I came across Dani and just couldn't resist asking about her. They raved that Dani was one of the most well-behaved dogs they had even seen. I was hooked and had to see for myself. It's now been over 2 months that "Maggie" has been part of our family. She is even more wonderful I than expected! She is such a gentle soul. We have 3 kids (ages 6, 4 and 3) and Maggie couldn't be better with them. She tolerates all that they do and has never shown an ounce of aggression. She has the patience of a Saint! We continue to see more of her personality as time goes by. She is a really, really good dog.

The Singer Family,
Woodbury, MN

BUDDY (formerly known as Ragamuffin)
We took home Ragamuffin last January when we saw him at your show in Petco. He's a Bearded Collie/English Sheepdog mix, and he was about 12 weeks old, which now puts him around 7 months. We renamed him "Buddy", because Ragamuffin was too many syllables, and we didn't want to call him Rag for short! I have attached a picture, although he is bigger since that was taken, now 31 lbs.

He has been an absolute joy to have around, and a big hit wherever he goes. He is now house trained and has ruined only 5 pairs of shoes (our fault, don't leave 'em out!). Just today I taught him how to shake. He gets along wonderfully (ok, has his moments!) with our cat, and really just wants to play with him. They already nap together on their favorite perch by the window. We took him to a series of puppy training classes, which was a big help. We live near Minnehaha Creek and Lake Harriet, and take him for walks virtually every day and he definitely will like the water come summer!

People ask all the time as to where we got him, and we always promote Homeward Bound and the great job your group does in placing dogs.

We sure love Buddy, and just know he is well taken care of.

Best,
Dale & Peggy Dissmeyer
Minneapolis

GINGER (formerly known as Gypsy)
We adopted Ginger (formerly Gypsy) in May 2005. She was just as sweet and shy as her bio said, but she really came out of her shell with our family. You would not believe she is the same dog! She loves, loves, loves to play and to be outside. She doesn't mind snow (she actually eats it) or cold temperatures. She was finished being housetrained in 2 weeks, and she is very smart - she learns things so quickly! She loves our other dog, Poco, and wants to play more than he does (he's 14, but he does play with her now and then!). As you can see from the picture, they do curl up together on the couch, and sometimes our bed. Ginger bonded with me quickly and then my daughter, and she doesn't hide anymore when people visit. She took a little while to warm up to my son and even longer to my husband (we knew to expect this because she had not been socialized around men), but now she plays and wrestles with both of them. She is very much adored by all of us! We are so glad for the work you do with your shelter - thank you! We plan to come to an adoption day soon and find a younger playmate for Ginger (and then Poco can rest!).

-Lynn, Charlie, Alexander, and Ariana Preis

RYAN (formerly known as Swizzle)
Hello to everyone at Homeward Bound!

My name is Angela Holden, and today is my one month anniversary with Ryan (Swizzle) the sheltie. I brought her home on Oct. 23, and I couldn't be happier. She gets along beautifully with my other dog, Risky, also a sheltie. Ryan wasn't house broken, didn't know how to walk on a leash, and flinched every time I reached out to pet her. Now, every day when we wake up, she is happier and more excited to see me than the last. She walks perfectly on her leash, she was house broken in 2 weeks, and somedays I think she will burst if I'm not rubbing her tummy or scratching her butt. She sleeps on my bed with me at night, and frankly I'm surprised at how a little dog can take up so much room. She wakes me up promptly at 5am every morning to go outside, and my boss has noticed that I haven't been late to work in a month. I figure that if she's willing to tell me when she needs to go outside, I should be willing to take her.

It has brought me so much joy to give this little dog a home, and to love her and care for her. I can't imagine my life without her. Thank you Homeward Bound for rescuing Ryan so I could adopt her.

Love,
Angela, Risky and Ryan

UPDATE:Hello! You might not remember me, but I adopted a sheltie from you on Oct. 23, 2004. Her name at the time was Swizzle, but I renamed her Ryan (sable on the right). I think of you folks often, and I wanted to give you an update on Ryan. She is such a wonderful dog! Still a little shy of strangers, but other than that, fat and happy! She walks perfectly on a leash, comes when she's called, and overall, is one of the sweetest dogs I can imagine having.

When she came to me she wasn't house broken, was very thin, and scared of everything. Now she actually will let someone other than myself pet her, and is perfectly house trained. She is kenneled everyday while I'm at work, and all I have to do in the morning is open her kennel door and she hops in to lay next to her toys. She is loose at night and either sleeps in bed with me, or if she gets too hot, she likes to sleep in the walk in closet.

She has an older brother, Risky, who I've had for almost 12 years (black tri color on the left). He's also a Sheltie. They are two peas in a pod; the day they met it was like they had always known each other.

Last summer I moved us out of our apartment and into our first house, and we've never been happier. I felt it was important to keep you all updated and let you know what a wonderful service you provide to these animals, and to people like me.

SAMMY (formerly known as Mighty Mouse & Muenster)
Hello Homeward Bound!

Just a quick note and some pictures to update you on Sammy- the adorable little chihuahua we adopted from the Maple Grove Petco on September 2nd, 2006.

Sammy is doing great! We are so glad that we have adopted him! He is a wonderful addition to our family.

He is a fast learner and very smart. He is fully potty trained now and on a schedule....when he needs to "go" off-schedule, he lets us know by jumping on us and tapping on our knees and gives us that "I have to pee" look. He loves treats and knows where they are......he runs to his snack cupboard the minute he comes back in from doing his business. In the beginning, he would pretend to want to go out so he can come back in and get a treat. We soon found out that was his trick!

He also loves to jump and climb baby gates....especially to get away from Alex. Alex loves to hug and kiss (sometimes even lick) Sammy but Alex has to catch Sammy first! Once Sammy is caught though, he is very patient and kind and lets Alex kiss him and hug him as much as Alex wants to. We think Sammy and Alex will grow up to be the best of friends! But as of right now, we all have dibs on Sammy!

Just like with our human kids, every day is a wonderful and new experience with Sammy. We enjoy watching him grow and interact with each member of his family. His newest thing lately is that he likes to "protect" us every time there is a knock on the door or when the doorbell rings by barking and making a sound which we think is close enough to a growl! We call him our "Big Bad Bodyguard" and he gets all excited....you would swear he was smiling! He also knows when Daddy comes home by the sound of the truck engine- that's when he goes to the door by the garage and waits for Daddy without even a bark! Isn't that just cool? There are so many amazing things that he does to enrich our lives.

He is such a small thing but has the biggest heart and we love him dearly!

Thanks for helping us to find our little protector!

Regards,
The Khambounmy Family