SUCCESS STORY UPDATES - If you sent a success story in and don't see it posted on any of success story pages, please resend it and we'll be sure to post it just as soon as we can. Thanks!

BOONE (formerly known as Regal/Sarge)
Hello Homewardbound,

My name is Boone (aka Regal/Sarge) and I was adopted from your rescue in September of 2004. I'm sorry that it took so long to send you this e-mail, but it has taken me a few years to learn how to spell, send e-mails, etc.

I just wanted to let you know that I am doing great and am really attached to my mom. These are a few of my favorite things: Kong ball, daily walks, hiking in the woods, Kong ball, nylabones, swimming, sleeping in front of the fireplace, Kong ball, helping mom with homework, protecting my house, helping mom clean, stalking all things small and fury, hogging the bed, protecting my mom, stealing shoes, and my favorite, playing with my Kong ball. As you can tell, I enjoy a wide range of activities. My mom says that she does not know what she would do without me. She said something about never needing to go to the gym again as long as she has me.

I guess I just really wanted to thank everyone at Homewardbound for all that you do. I know that everyone who volunteers for Homewardbound has families, jobs, and lives, and cannot imagine the amount of time and commitment it must take. Please know that what you are doing has changed the lives of many pets and humans.

For anyone else who may be reading this e-mail, please consider adopting a pet from the humane society or a rescue group. There are soo many pets needing good and responsible homes. Oh-and please don't overlook the big black dogs. I am a shining example of how wonderful we are-just check out my picture!

Again-thank you Homewardbound!

Love,
Boone

GILL
Hello Homeward Bound Wonderworkers!

It has been 6 1/2 years ago since we adopted one of your kitties. His name was/is Gill. I thought I provide you with a short update. Above all, he is doing extremely well, live is very good for him and everyone in our family totally adores this cat - our serene Buddha of a kitty! Photos attached!

Gill has been an absolute joy to us from the day we picked him up. We had two female cats (both also adopted) that did not get along so we thought we needed a 'neutralizer' and Gill did exactly that. He plays and gets along with both females which is especially good as to this day the females have not learned to get along with each other. But more then that, Gill is the most endearing creature ever captured in a feline body. He is funny, playful, loves to cuddle and be held, sleeps with me at night, 'helps' with the computer the moment I turn it on and is an announcer when the two German Shepherd dogs (they too are adopted) want to come back inside the house from their romp in the yard. Gill is definitely partial to our dogs and we are certain that given a choice he would prefer to be a dog; maybe it is that they can go outside and he can not; although he has occasionally escaped he is easy to capture. He also likes to sleep with them, rub against them and is totally unfrazzeled when they bound up the stairs while he naps on the top step - maybe lazily glancing at them with no intention of moving...

Thank you for doing the wonderful work of finding homes for so many animals. We feel very blessed to have a total of 3 cats and 2 dogs all adopted from various shelters, thanks to people like yourselves who give so much every single day!

With warmest Regards,
Waltraud Brogren and her 'fur family'

BRIT (formerly known as Deuce)
Above is a picture of Brit (formally Deuce) at his 2nd Birthday party at doggy daycare. He is my regal little boy!! He has made such progress since the day I picked him up from Homeward Bound in October of 2009. He was so thin and so scared that day, but I remember looking into his eyes and seeing the sweetest dog who was only looking for love. Almost 4 months later, I am seeing his true personality coming out. He loves to run outside, and was thrilled with the snow this winter! He goes to doggy daycare twice a week which has done wonders for his shyness, they have really helped him come out of his shell and learn how to socialize with people and other dogs. He is slowly learning what playing and having fun is all about. At the end of the day though, the best thing in the whole world for him (and me) is to snuggle with mom on the couch. When I look into his eyes now, I no longer see the fear but the love has only grown. Thank you Homeward Bound for all the wonderful work you do in helping these animals and for matching them with their forever families.

-Sheila

PETE
I wanted to thank you for a WONDERFUL year! It was a year ago this week that I kept looking at Pete's picture on your website, wondering if we could really handle another dog. We made the decision on that Saturday that we couldn't leave Pete at that Petco.

We love him, and he is the sweetest thing EVER!! I know that I can have a nice warm little body to sit on my lap every night and he brings many hours of fun to his brothers. (I need to get a photo of all 3 together, but they are usually in action when they are close to each other).

I want you all to know that you are doing wonderful things and I feel SO lucky that we got to adopt him! Thank you for saving him so I can have my little peanut!

Thank you,
Shellie

LITTLE T (formerly known as Titan)
Hi,

This is Titan, and I wanted to let Homeward Bound know that everything is great.

I came home with Libby and James a couple of months ago. It was a bit of an adjustment for me, and I had to pat myself on the back for fooling them so completely. When they saw me a the adoption day, I was all 'sleep on my back, be mellow, act cool' dog.

Yeah, that's totally not who I am. I'm generally full of rocket fuel, but I had to get in the door somehow. I think they get it, though...we go to the dog park an awful lot, and I get walked three times a day. It's easy to be good when I've had my exercise.

I love my buddy Tucker. He's another adoptee, and he's been there a while. He's a little older and a whole lot mellower than I am, but we have a lot of fun wrestling with each other and tugging on each other's toys. Then we sleep. Eat. Play. Walk. Repeat. I'm learning the structure and fitting in better every day.

I've got 'sit' and 'down' perfectly. I'm working on 'off', but I'd usually rather be 'on'. It's much more interesting.

All in all, much better than being a stray. I'm all about the the soft beds and rawhides and things like that.

I've enclosed a picture of the two of us looking handsome, as always.

Big wags,
Titan (now known more often as 'Little T')

FRECKLES (formerly known as Suzette)
Hi everyone. I'm attaching a picture of Freckles (formerly known as Suzette). We've been together for almost three years now and I tell everyone she's a rescue dog who rescued me. She is the sweetest dog on earth. After losing her back leg in a hunter's trap and being brought here from Kentucky she has settled down into a good life. She's not much for going for long walks because she's a beagle and likes to smell everything so what you see behind her is her dog buggy. She holds her head up high when she rides in it like the queen that she is. I can't imagine my life without Freckles. She is pure joy and love. Thank you so much for bringing her here from Kentucky so we could find each other.

Mary

PORKCHOP
Hello! My name is PorkChop. I was adopted from Homeward Bound Dog Rescue early May 2008. No one is exactly sure where I came from or my exact age but age is only a number anyway. My family thinks I am about 2 years at this point. I am a designer breed, which makes me feel very special. Part Mastiff and part Bassett Hound - Bass-Mass if you prefer. My family loves me very much. We have so much fun visiting the dog parks and going on an adventure walk around my favorite nature center and the neighborhood. My mom and dad are very proud of me on the leash now, we have been praciticing with the gentle leader. The best days are when I get a new toy! I love stuffed animals!! I throw them around, I chew them, I play fetch with them and carry them around where ever I go. I have people and animal friends all over and make new ones easily. One of by best buddies is Mauser, another Homeward Bound success story. He is the little white guy in my picture. He lives across the street and we hang out all the time.

Thank you Homeward Bound!

Love,
PorkChop

DANNY
i adopted danny almost 2 years ago ...i remember that day as all the workers at petco wanted to say good bye and were surprized i adopted him ..he is big and had been with homeward bound a year and a half ...he is such a joy...he came home to 10 of my g-kids waiting and had to greet them all...he has such a funny personality ...he loves to be by you and always wants to touch you ...he watches out for my g-kids when they play outside and if they get out of sight he will bark or get nervous ....my husky loves danny and they spend a lot of time playing ... we go on many walks and he has been to the nursing home i work at ...i dont understand why so many passed him up but very glad they did ...thank you katie for all the help ...it took me 4 times comming to pet adoptions to find danny and my shelby (my husky) let me know it was ok to bring him home ...she lost her partner 2 and a half years ago ....danny will never want anything or feel unwanted ...he will be pamper and spoiled ...i tell everyone i know to adopt and let them know about homeward bound ...THANK YOU

WINNIE
I was looking for something in my 'junk drawer' and came across my dog's original tag from Homeward Bound - she was number 000313, that was 15 years ago. On Valentine's Day Winnie celebrated her 16th birthday. She may have slowed down a bit, can't really hear anymore but she's still as sweet as ever. I just wanted to say thank you to your organization for doing such wonderful work and for sending me Winnie so long ago. Thank you.

PONGO
Remember that sweet, shy little Jack Russell terrier? We adopted him and have found the perfect dog. Gina and I love this little guy so much. He requires alot of attention and exercise, but we love it. Extra exercise for us is a good thing! Thanks again!!

KLAUS (formerly known as Chips)
I found your email in with Klaus's paperwork when I was going through it last night. So, I thought well I will send you a picture of my boy. We adopted him from homeward bound last March at the Petco in Maplewood. He is a wonderful dog, and we just love him to death. He is a great companion. He starts obedience training at the end of March, he went to puppy classes, but with spring ahead I think it will be a good time to go over things again. His placement was definitely a success story for homeward bound. Thanks so much for being at the Petco that day!

SOUNDER
We adopted SOUNDER over a month ago. He is a 14 month old CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER. We drove from Northern Indiana-round trip in one day. Sounder (we kept his name-it grew on us!) was well worth the 15 hours we spent in the car going up to Burnsville. Sounder has been a pleasure. Our children IMMEDIATELY took to him. He loves people, he loves going to the doggie park, he is so affectionate. He does not like the crate but we are working on that! Thank you so much for such a wonderful dog-the process of adopting him was easy and well worth the money.

Brett, Lisa, Eleanor, and Henry Wilson
Munster, IN

KIRBY
My two boys picked out Kirby at the Eagan Petco Store 10 years ago. Kirby was pretty sick with a bad cold when we first got him. We got him back to good health and he was never sick again. Kirby practically trained himself. He was told one time not to do something and he never did it again. He was the smartest and most sensitive dog I've ever known. Five years ago my boys moved away and left Kirby with me, for protection. That dog acted like he was on duty 24 hours a day, just making sure no one bothered me. He did an excellent job. He was at my side always, probably because I was the one who fed him, but also because he had a job to do. There was not a person who did not attach to Kirby the first time they saw him, even kids, and he was a big dog. He was a German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Malamute mix. His coat was always shiny and beautiful. Recently Kirby had several tumors which were cancerous and it took his life. He gave us an extra four weeks that we didn't think we had, which is the only thing that helped me accept him leaving. I think he knew I needed the extra time to be with him. He gave me the best 10 years of my life and he will be missed by me forever.

BOBA
Hi Homeward Bound!

We adopted big, black Boba almost 2 years ago at your Maple Grove adoption event. This last year has been a tough one for us with job loss, major illness, and losing our house due to the economy. We certainly aren't the only ones who have dealt with loss lately but we're definitely making the best of it and getting by.

Getting rid of our dogs due to our situation was NEVER an option so.....we decided to sell all our belongings and hit the road in our RV and Bo has become a gypsy dog! We couldn't ask for a more devoted and gentle dog. Living in such small quarters with a big dog can sometimes feel like we're crammed into a closet sized room with a Shetland pony but we wouldn't have it any other way. I think Bo would be content to live under a bridge as long as he was with us.

We made a lifelong commitment to him when he was adopted and couldn't imagine our lives without him. It's been tough but he's family and that's all there is to it!

We're thankful you were there for a big, black dog when he needed you. Otherwise, we never would have found him!

-Chris Johnson and Boba

RUDY (formerly known as Bobby)
I've been meaning to send you an email for many years to update you on Rudy (formerly Bobby - lhaso apso). Rudy was found by Homeward Bound through Animal Control who found him as a very, very thin little stray with completely matted hair. I adopted Rudy (named Bobby at Homeward Bound because the animal control officer that found him was named Bobby ) from Homeward Bound 7 years ago. The day I adopted him he was so hungry he tried to eat everything in sight, whether it was edible food or not! Since that first day Rudy and I have been inseparable. Rudy travels everywhere with me and is my 'son'. Rudy and I love hiking, camping, and travelling together (he knows Lake Calhoun like the back of his paw!). He and I are also good couch potatoes together at times. Five years ago Rudy and I moved from Minneapolis to Louisville, KY. Now Rudy has a great big open backyard, warmer weather, and a brother (a terrier named Jed). I also have foster dogs waiting for their forever home and Rudy always helps me out to welcome and make the fosters feel at home. Rudy's such an important part of my life and we're a good team. Thanks to Homeward Bound for providing me the opportunity for Rudy and I to be together! He's a blessing in my life!

Thanks again!
Jeanine Skendzel

SHORTY (formerly known as Shortstop)
Hi Homeward Bound!

We adopted Shorty in August of 2008 at your Fridley adoption event. We went in to buy some cat food and came out determined to adopt that cute, shy, scared little dog that had only been with your organization for a few days.

Shorty developed kennel cough and moderate pneumonia a few days after we adopted him, and we are so grateful to you and your vet clinic in Becker, who took great care of him. He was back to himself a week later.

Shorty is an absolute delight. He gets along great with one of our cats, deals with paw slaps from the other, and is a total ham. He loves: tossing toys to himself and then running around at full speed shaking the toy to submission while growling, peanut butter Kongs, doing tricks for baked hot dog pieces, and snuggling on our laps, even though at 41 lbs., he's a bit big to be a lap dog! He also loves to run, and enjoys long walks and chasing rabbits and squirrels in our yard.

He is also a great camping dog. He loves camping and hiking, and after dealing with him stealing our camping chairs, we finally got him one for himself!

Thank you for Shorty. We love him so much, and he makes us laugh every single day.

-Shauna and Jason

IZZY (formerly known as Kendall)
It feels good to share the story of 'Izzy and me.' To begin with, I used to be really afraid of dogs. Not so my daughter, Mary, who decided to adopt a dog. It wasn't a snap decision. Lots of searching took place and finally she was told that they had found the dog for her. She was called 'Lady' but soon got her forever name of 'Olive.' The poor sweet dog came to her in quite a sad state, skinny and scared. Well, it wasn't long before I lost all fear of her and began to be 'grandma' to her. I loved snuggling with her and getting those sweet kisses and little by little, I began to feel like I would like to have some of that loving, all for my very own.

So began my search. I spent a lot of time checking the various rescue websites. One day, I saw the picture of sweet sad little Kendall. Her foster mom wrote that Kendall would be a happy dog, just to have a comfy spot to lay on. I could picture her laying next to me, two couch potatoes. I contacted her foster mom and we decided that we could possibly be a good match for each other. I met Kendall this past January at an adoption event. After a day or so, I decided to name her Isobel which seemed to fit herwell. I call her Izzy most of the time. We get to spend a lot of time together since I'm retired. She's been so good for me, getting me out during the winter months for walks that I really needed. Poor Izzy came from Kentucky, so this first winter in the north was quite a surprise for her. I got her a nice coat to keep her warm and some warm mittens and a hat for me. We're really enjoying our walks and now she keeps me company in the yard while I garden.

I can't begin to tell you how much she means to me and I think she feels the same about me. I can't imagine what her life was like before she arrived here. She has some scars and bumps, physical and emotional and we are still learning about each other, but I feel that each day she trusts me a little bit more. We are making our own memories. Like the first time she played with a toy for a minute or so, or that she follows me up to bed each night and finds her comfy spot at the foot of the bed. It gives me goose bumps when she licks my leg while I am getting her food ready for her.

That's just a bit of our story. Hopefully you will find the 'one' that you can make memories with too

BAILEY, JAMESON, & MURPHY
All of our dogs came from Homeward Bound Rescue.

We first rescued Bailey as a puppy. She came from a high kill shelter in Indiana. She is has been a dream since we got her. She absolutely loves people, kids, animals and life. She loves chasing tennis balls. She has been the biggest help in raising our two other dogs. She is the natural leader. They love to follow her around and do what she does. She is am excellent running companion.

We rescued Jameson as a puppy. He was owned by a farmer who had fed his dogs corn. Shortly after we rescued him, he became very sick and had a high temperature. At one point we thought he might die since he wouldn't eat or drink and we were vet's office for three days to get his temperature down. Eventually it did and he started eating and drink on his own. (I had been using a dropper to get water in him and feeding him baby food). Since he has been a great dog! His greatest enjoyment is laying on the bed (which we don't allow but always seem to find him on it or begging to go on it) and eating.

We adopted Murphy last. She does not have a sad story really. Just someone who wanted to try breeding but realized it was too much work. She was quite the challenge. We work nights and she of course wanted to be up all day playing. It took awhile for her to adjust and now she does great. She is the most stubborn of our dogs and is not afraid to let you know when you aren't moving fast enough to give her what she wants (which is usually to go outside). The girl loves to be outside. She is the first to go out and the last to come in. I usually have to physically go outside and make her come in because she loves it out there so much.

Thank you so much for rescuing them and allowing us to have them in our lives.

-Brandy and Dan

WALL-E (formerly known as Rootbeer)
Hello! In October, I adopted my little dog from Homeward Bound Rescue. His name was formerly RootBeer. I renamed him Wall-E after the Pixar movie because he is VERY sweet, homely, and has big eyes. I love him so much, I can't remember what I did before I had him. His favorite past times are talking W-A-L-K-S (we have to spell it around him), eating treats, having his tummy rubbed, and moving from cushion to cushion.

When I came to Homeward Bound, I was considering adopting a small dog, pretty dog of some kind, but I simply didn't connect with anyone. I kept being drawn to this hairless, shivering little guy. He was a Pekingese, but when the pound found him wandering the streets, his coat must have been matted because it was shaved. He watched me from his crate, shaking, and when I picked him up, he stopped shivering. I knew he was the one.

The next week I came back and picked up my handsome boy. He sleeps with me every night, snoring louder than a sumo wrestler and having loud doggy dreams. It's so much easier to wake up in the morning when you're met with a wagging tail. He has lost his 'slender physique,' however, and his human has stopped being amused when he wakes her up by sitting (HEAVILY) on her chest! At 14 pounds, someone needs to diet! Here's to hoping that after the snow clears we can go on our long (slimming) walks again!

Because of his mild, loving temperment, Wall-E is in the process of becoming a certified therapy dog. Soon, he will be visiting hospitals, nursing home, and other facilities to share his love and help in the mental healing process of patients.

The picture I have sent you took place about a month ago. My mother tried to pawn a hideous red, faux-fur coat off on me. Unenthused, I let it fall to the floor. Wall-E, however, decided that the hood was a nice little cave for him, and that's how we got the picture 'Santa Wall-E'!

Thank you so much for my little dog. We love each other very much.

-Betsy Langowski

SALLY (formerly known as Lady)
Just thought you might want to hear an update on Sally (Lady) who we adopted last fall. She has fit right in to our family and is inseparable from our pug Tubby. She is very very smart and has taught herself several amusing tricks. She loves to give people 'high fives.' She also loves her stuffed toys (as you can see from the picture). She has an entire family of toy babies that she shuffles around the house. She continues to be frightened of rain/wind/storms, but that is understandable if she lived through a hurricane. She is even showing some improvement in that area as well.

We were recently at a good friend's house for dinner, and Sally and Tubby came along to play with his dogs. He got some great pictures of Sally that I wanted to share.

Hope all is well at the rescue!

Take care,
Staci

MAUZER (formerly known as York)
Mauzer is a bichon/maltese mix that we adopted on May 3, 2008 from Fridley Petco. He has been a wonderful addition to our family. He is a sweet hearted, energetic, and loving dog. He loves the dog park and making new friends. In our neighborhood he has many friends and among theses are his adopted brother Milo (a 4 month old beagle/cavalier mix) and his best bud and cousin Pork Chop. Pork Chop was also adopted from Homeward Bound the same week. He is a basset hound/mastiff mix.

We are all getting along very well and are so thankful to Homeward Bound for bringing us this wonderful joy. Thank you!

REX (formerly known as Vice)
American Staffordshire Terrier: Loyalty, unconditional love, companionship and laughs. Rex, formerly m knowns as Vice, is an incredible dog and friend. He always makes us happy and is a great playmate for our other dog! We love everything about him. We are so happy we adopted him from Homeward Bound!

Thank you,
Melissa and Nic

NKITA (formerly known as Nite)
Dear Homeward Bound,

We just wanted to thank you for helping Nkita to find our family. She is a great dog. I knew from the moment I spotted her that she belonged with our family. When we first rought her home, we decided to name her Nkita, which is dog in Igbo. She began answering to her new name right away and immediately refused to answer to Nite. She is so smart! She's also both patient and loyal. We have enjoyed Nkita's company for the last three years, and she seems to enjoy our growing family. She and baby Kelechi have become the best of friends. Sometimes she grooms him and other times he tries to groom her!

Thanks so much for helping us find this very special dog. We all love her so much.

Thank you!
The Witticks

PRINCE
This black cocker spaniel mix stole our hearts in January 2005. We weren't looking for another dog as we had an older springer/cocker mix but Prince was just meant to be a part of our family. He was a 'senior adult' when we got him and we're happy to say we have had him for over four years! He is gentle, funny and the most appreciative dog we have ever had. He's just a bit grayer and slower now.

People usually want a puppy or young dog but please don't count out giving a home to an older dog. Prince came to us housebroken, well mannered and very loving. His favorite activity is playing tennis ball when we vacuum. He drops it in front of the vacuum so we push the ball around with it!

We want to thank Homeward Bound and all the volunteers for continuing to give older dogs a chance at a new life with a new family

Sincerely,
The Evans family, Minneapolis, MN

FALINE
I am just writing to say thanks for giving us the chance to meet the beautiful Faline! She is an absolute sweetheart, and my fiancee and I have spent the past few days puzzled over how such a pretty and well-behaved dog ended up as a stray. Luckily for us there are shelters like Homeward Bound to rescue dogs like Faline and give them another chance. Needless to say she's been pretty spoiled, sleeping on the bed and the couch and catching little niblets of food as we cook. She's also made plenty of friends, including a couple of other dogs.

Being first time dog-owners ourselves, (although we grew up surrounded by pets) we had our fears and reservations about adopting a dog from a shelter. Now we can't see how we would have done it otherwise. Knowing that we can give Faline the second chance she deserves means the world to us. We were also amazed and pleased at how many other dogs were being adopted that day, including the not-so-popular breeds that need a second chance just as much as the others. We wanted to let you know that after a month-long search for a new pet, we found the system that Homeward Bound uses to let potential owners get to meet the animals on their own (rather than trying to vie for attention with a foster parent) made it so much easier to find the perfect fit for us. Our lives will be forever changed for the better thanks to this opportunity, and we just couldn't keep our newfound happiness to ourselves. Thanks again for opening our eyes to the great work that shelters like yours accomplish, and we wish best of luck to your animals in finding their new homes!

Sincerely,
Erik Bergstrom and Lauren McCormick...and Faline!

BRIT & SUNNY (formerly known as Britannia and Sonny)
Dear Homeward Bound,

We have had two older, larger dogs adopted from Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of MN. We have had Brit (once Britannia), a bi-eyed Husky-mix, since the fall of 2006. She was surrendered by a family that was divorcing and could no longer keep her. She was 5 years old then and the fastest dog at the dog park, the oldest dog in our obedience class and the most affectionate dog I have ever known. Now, she is a few years older and is sadly no longer the fastest dog at the dog park, she is very obedient and attentive, and she is still the most loving and affectionate dog I have ever known.

Then, a little while later we saw Sunny (once Sonny), another Husky, late one night when we were 'just looking' at your website in late summer 2009. He was 9 years old and had previously been kept outdoors in all weather, craved human contact and affection, and in need of a forever home. He came to us with a lot of issues. He needed a lot of veterinary care. Between Homeward Bound, great veterinary care and us, we were able to get him feeling better and finally able to relax into his home with us. It was an arduous journey for us and for him, but it was worth it. So worth it.

Today, January, 6. 2010, we had to say goodbye to our beautiful sweet Sunny dog. He developed an issue that rendered him unable to walk or get up from his bed without suffering severe pain. We had to make one of the most difficult decisions we have ever had to make and had him euthanized. We were right there, never leaving his side, holding him and loving him as he departed. However sad, it was a peaceful parting. We knew that the most important thing was that he spent his last months in a loving and comfortable home where he was one of the family.

Sunny (renamed in honor of his disposition) will always have a place in our hearts. He was only with us a short time, but he was loved.

Thank you Homeward Bound for the great work you do! We will have space for another rescue in our home when the right time and fit comes along again. The work you do is so important and so often unknown or unrecognized broadly. We honor the important work you do.

Thank you very sincerely,
The Sebastienne-DeCoursey family and especially for Sunny (2000-2010) who is on his way...

BROOKE
Brooke has been with us a year now. I fostered her on November 1st after losing my first Homeward Bound dog (Carter who was known as Beaker) that summer. I was going away to college in a year and fostering was perfect for us because my parents didn't want the responsibility of a dog while I was at school. Little did we know that Brooke was to steal our hearts and we adopted her around Christmas time. Brooke started out a little rough around the edges: she didn't listen to her name or commands, was face-shy, was scared of children, didn't have great leash manners, would go to the bathroom in the house, wouldn't come when called, chewed up numerous things like several cell phone chargers, and the list goes on. Besides all of that she was a very sweet dog. A year later now, Brooke is a different dog. She is perfect in the house, great with children, very dependable on and off leash and quite the adventure dog. Some of the adventures that she has been on are on a canoe trip down the Current river in Missouri, visits to several farms, going to the Boundary waters and the Porcupine mountains several times and going to Bruce Peninsula in Canada. Besides all the canoe trips and backpacking trips, Brooke also has frequent trips to the Minnehaha dog park which she LOVES!

Thanks so much!!
Leah Cashman and family

UTAH
Hello HB Friends!

Just wanted to give you an update on Utah, who we first fostered in 2008 .... then several months later fell so in love with, that we could not let him go and so we adopted him. Utah is a 'senior' dog who initially had a difficult time adjusting, but he has settled in very well! He was an 'only child' in his previous life, but has finally made friends with his senior Beagle buddy and even the cats! He loves his walks and hunting/digging for gophers. He has managed a prime location in our bed. It has been such a delight to watch his sweet temprament and fun personality gradually emerge! Beagles Rock!

-Dee Torgerson

RUBY
Sherri and our friends at Homeward Bound,

We adopted Ruby, a Cockapoo, at the 3/28 adoption and it has been love at first sight! She has just completed a 4H class in Dog training and manners and received her AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate. She also competed in Showmanship and Pre Agility. Her handler is our 9 year old, and both learned a lot and are anxious to go back next year and win a trip to the State Meet. (Danny is too young to compete at that level this year.)

She has met many doggie friends and makes people friends wherever she goes. We are hoping to work towards therapy dog with her. She has been to dozens of baseball games, tennis matches and to the cabin (twice) and wherever we are people ask about her, and we are able to share our wonderful experience with Homeward Bound.

Please share our gratitude to all the foster homes, for the service they do for the dogs and the families they go to.

Best Regards,
Ruby's family, the Marschalls

EVAN
We adopted Evan on July 4th from Homeward Bound and he has been is an amazing dog. He initially had major intestinal issues (a few weeks after he came home with us) and we thought we might lose him. Evan is doing well now and we all LOVE to spend time with him. He has endless energy; not even tiring after runs with the kids. The recent snow provided an incredible playground for him. We feel fortunate to have him in our family. Thanks Homeward Bound for taking care of this stray!

-David and Sharleen Berg

MURPHEE
We adopted Murphee in September of 2008. He is very much the baby of the family. He loves to be wrapped in a blanket and cuddle with you on a cold winter day. He is orginally from Kentucky and his Southern nature shines thru during the winter as he can barely reach the end of the drive way before he is determined to go back into the house to avoid the cold weather. We are so thankful Homeward Bound brought him to Minnesota. My husband and I had an instant connection with him. He loves to eat fruit and vegetables! If ever my husband and I cuddle to watch a movie Murphee makes sure he is right in the middle. Everyone that meets Murphee falls in love with his sweet nature and playful attitude. He wins over everyone he meets! If we show someone his picture everyone tries to guess what kind of a mix he is. He is the sweetest dog and he is the perfect addition to our family. We are so thankful to have him as part of our family.

STELLA
I just realized that it has been a really long time since I've given you an update on Stella! She is still such an amazing addition to our family. Ruby absolutely LOVES her to death and just can't get enough of her. Stella is so faithful to Ruby and will let her lounge on her and kiss and hug her all that she wants. She still has plenty of 'puppy' in her, but she is growing up and becoming more obedient the more that I work with her. My sister recently got a puppy and Stella and Tucker just love hanging out together and Stella LOVES the dog park in Burnsivlle. Thanks again for bringing Stella into our lives!

CALLIE (formerly known as Butter)
We adopted Callie (formerly 'Butter') from Homeward Bound back in November 2006. She came from a shelter down in Kentucky where she was scheduled to be euthanized. She was really skinny so most likely had been on the run for a while. She had also been hit by a car which broke her pelvis and tail. We were told that she would have a permanent limp but seeing her now you'd never know she had any problems (except for the crooked tail which gives her character!). The limp is gone and she's at an admirable weight.

Since adopting her we've lost our 18 year old cat and our 6 year old Lhasa Apso mix both of which Callie adored. She is the lone survivor right now but would love some company so we're looking for the right fit for her. She is a very loving dog and we're so grateful that she has come into our lives. She is rather lazy but she does love going for walks, going to the dog park, going on car rides, and especially spending time in northern MN at our cabin.

Thanks Homeward Bound!

-Amy & Connie

CHAMP
We've had Jake, (aka Champ), for almost a year now. He is exactly as described on your website, which I greatly appreciate. He has tons of energy and goes to the dog park with his golden retriever brother Charlie every day for about 11/2 to 2 hrs where he loves to chase balls and swim and run through the woods, and still he would love me to throw the ball when we get home. When he comes in the house he settles down right away and wants only to be lying by Charlie, or your feet. He truly is a treasure. Thank you Homeward Bound

-Sandra Bostrom

CUBIE (formerly known as Big Joe)
We adopted Cubbie (formerly Big Joe) as an 8 month old back in 2005. He is a golden retriever/pyr mix. He is an independent thinker who likes to follow his own rules; and makes us laugh while doing so. He loves running at the dog park, going to doggie daycare, eating chicken, and keeping the neighborhood safe from the deer wandering around. He is also a champion snuggler. We adore our big white goofball.

-Gail Porter

SADIE (formerly known as Mia)
My family adopted Sadie (a.k.a. Mia) from Homeward Bound almost three years ago. I feel bad that I never got around to letting the great people at Homeward Bound know just how much we love her until now. Sadie's been a fabulous addition to our family. She's a smart, loving girl. She was very easy to train and is perfect even off leash on long walks in the country. We take Sadie on our yearly trip to the Minnesota north shore and she loves it. She is definitely a member of the family. I want anyone who is thinking of adopting a dog to know that Homeward Bound is the way to go!! They only want successful adoptions, therefore the foster family makes sure you know exactly what you're getting when you are thinking about adopting a dog. Sadie was just as they described, and after a couple of months of adjustment, she fit our family like a glove! Thank you Homeward Bound!

MOOK (formerly known as Wilder)
When we adopted Mook over Labor Day weekend in 2006, his name was Wilder. He was very thin, only 80#, and his coat had been shaved off because it was so matted. We were told he had belonged to a backyard breeder in Iowa. Mook now weighs 100# and his coat is fully grown in and very shiny. He is quite the character and enjoys the perks of indoor life, like air conditioning. As far as he's concerned, the cooler the better. He's a calm, quiet guy and we have only heard him bark twice in over 3 years. He absolutely adores us and wants to be with us no matter what we're doing or where we're going. He comes with us when we go to visit friends and relatives, and he comes along to work with his dad on a lot of Fridays. He just loves having his belly scratched and will let us know by pawing at us to get our attention!! As you can see in the picture, he even helped us thank all of our guests when we got married in August!! Thanks to Homeward Bound for making Mook such a special part of our family - and Happy Holidays to all!!!

-Jason, Annara, Tahlia and Mook (formerly Wilder)

KORKIE
I brought Korkie home over 5 years ago now after seeing him on your website, and it was easily one of the best, most rewarding decisions I have ever made. Despite his noticeable handicaps (I was told he was dropped as a puppy and his previous owners had given him up because he was not agile enough to do things like jump up on their boat), he is the sweetest, funniest dog I have ever met. There were a few times that I didn't know how much longer he would be with me and it broke my heart, but thankfully each time he rebounded back to his goofball self. Some of his favorite things in the world are getting a Milk Bone which gets him as excited as if he'd won the lottery, and carrying a new stuffed toy everywhere with him. He has also been known to climb up and lay on top of someone who is sick just to cuddle; which at 85 pounds is something that at least makes them laugh. For a dog that was supposed to be euthanised as a puppy, he has been a HUGE blessing to me. Thanks so much for the work you do in taking care of dogs that otherwise might not have made it.

RAYANNE
I have been meaning to send you a note for the longest time. I just wanted to let you know how much we love the dog you called Rayanne, an Australian cattle dog mix. She is Rainey to us, and she is so much a part of our family that we can't even imagine not having her. She is so smart. She heels without a leash, shakes, sits upon command or just when I pick up the leash to go out. Her favorite toy is a stuff bunny (with one ear-guess what happened to the other). She carries it around, and squeaks it. One of her favorite things is to ride shotgun with me in the car, wherever I go. She will run outside and sit next to the car door until I come and let her in. And, she really loves the dog park. She can outrun pretty much any of the other dogs, and tries to herd them all the time, whether they want to be herded or not. She is sweet, loving, and very protective. One of the best decisions we've ever made. Thank you so much for helping us get there. My husband had not wanted a dog because he doesn't like them in the house-how he grew up, and I understood. Now, he just says, 'Thank you, Sher, for letting me get a dog.'

Thanks, Katie, for all your help!

-Sher Foerster

BITSY & SASHA (formerly known as Blindy)
Hi Guys! I had a spare minute to write you and let you know how Bitsy and Sasha (Blindy) are doing. These two 'ol biddys have brought my family such happiness, comfort and humor over the last few months. They continue to impress us with their cute-ness, even though they're not the 'prettiest' girls on the block! They'd never know that, though, because we call them our 'pretty princesses' and 'beautiful girls' all the time! We bring them to Bobbi at Bone Adventure for a day of beauty, and they respond with a much younger bounce in their step every time! They're doing very well medically, and they can't wait for spring! I always bring them out to play and lay in the grass, and they LOVE it! During this long winter, though, we've made sure they have their own confortble pillow and blankie to lay on. Bitsy will begrudgingly share her pillow with Sasha when she HAS to, but she prefers it if we provide them their own seperate beds! I included a pic so you can see how pissy Bitsy gets when her sister tries to take over her space.

I'm so grateful for Homeward Bound, Libby and her family, and our good fortune for our precious find. As I'm typing, I can hear Sasha snoring from two rooms away! And I know Bitsy will be up in a few short hours to go potty and see Brett off to school.

Warmly and with much peace,

-Jules Vogl

MACKEY (formerly known as Ellie)
Hey there, I wanted to say hello and send you some pics of Ellie. Actually we have changed her name to Mackey now. She is doing great and growing so quickly. She is smart and really is a great dog and everyone that meets her loves her! We absolutely love having her!! Here are some pictures of her. We went to a lake for the 4th of July. She went on a boat ride and went swimming. She also loves to play in the dirt and of course loves to snuggle and sleep too.

We are completely in love with her and already can't imagine our lives with out her!

-Katie

PAISLEY
Here's a picture of Paisley in a rare moment of peace with one of the cats. We all just love her!

Colleen & Bruce

WEAVE
Weave is just the best dog! We adopted him in February as a Valentines Day present and is he ever. Being Australian Shepard and Border Collie, he is nothing but energy, but is also willing to cuddle and get a belly rub. His manners are wonderful and every day he learns something new. He figured out how to roll over in 3 days! He is still a bit shy when strangers come, but if they throw the ball once, he's ready to be friends. Even though our house is small, he's still able to run laps up and down the hall and loves to wrestle. He has never bitten us out of anger, only play and usually the bit becomes a lick. I just couldn't imagine this lover being in a kennel! Everywhere we go we get nothing but complients! Thank you so much for bring him into our life.

Thanks again
The Ahola Family

RENZO (formerly known as Rebel)
Dear Homeward Bound,

It's been about a month now since we adopted Renzo (formerly Rebel), a German shorthaired pointed, from your wonderful rescue. (He came home 8-11-09). We fell in love with his picture online and knew we wanted him in our family! He joined 'big brother' Boston, a chocolate lab, and they have since become BEST BUDS! They LOVE to play fetch in the backyard and go for long walks together. We discovered over Labor Day '09 that Renzo is quite a sailor, he loved riding on the boat at the lake! I think he is happiest though at the dog park where he can run run run! He has been a great addition for us so far, we are so happy to have him in our hearts and home forever!

(My husband and I are both architects and spent some time living in Italy, so he is named after the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano!)

Thank you so much!

TULA (formerly known as Shae)
Hi! I just wanted to update everyone on our adoptive family member! My mom and I adopted an Italian Greyhound/German Shepherd named Shae about 6 months ago. She is now known as Tula and is an enormous amount of fun! She started out as a shy, timid dog who wouldn't do anything at all to being a rambunctious little girl who got into everything! I took her to training class and she's mastered a lot! She's pretty happy here with her new friends Bart and Drifter. I cannot thank everyone enough for going to Kentucky to rescue her from who knows what kind of conditions. Thank you so much again!!!! -The Burgess Family

MOOSE
Just wanted to let you know we adopted Moose for homewardbound in February 2009. He needed a retirement home with no children, we had just lost our 18 year old dalmation and were really missing something in our lives. When we first met Moose we feel in love with this giant polar bear, we brought him home to our little black cat and they get along just great. He just turned 11 years old, and he is very happy with his new family. We have met with the previous parents several times so they know exactly where he is and we keep in contact with them and let them know how hes doing. We just love him and we did not question his age cause we knew he had a lot of love to still give. He gets scared of little children but so do we! It's a perfect fit, it was nice to have a dog already trained, and one who loves to go for park walks. Thanks again to everyone at homeward bound, who saves and rescues these wonderful dogs. You must have a group of dog angels working for you! Moose is saying thanks with his smile! Thank you! -Margie and David Rotondo

KYLA
Greetings to homeward bound,

Thanks again, we love her,
Becky, Chuck, Misty and Sonnie

LUCY (formerly known as Sandy) (My picture will be posted soon!)
Dear Homeward Bound,

It's been about 6 months since my husband and I adopted Lucy, f/k/a Sandy (adopted 3/7/09). We are completely in love with her. She is the most mellow, sweet soul and adds so much joy to our life. She's an absolute dream in the house and her leash manners, that were good to begin with, have gotten even better since we adopted her!

It's fun to see her soak in all her new life experiences, since it seems she didn't have any in her former life (she doesn't even know how to play L). She loves her weekly trips to the park, going anywhere in the car with Mom or Dad, going hiking with her backpack on and all the fun camping trips she's been on this summer.

She seems to have a bed or a blanket in every room of the house, but 99% of the time, we find her curled up on any piece of clothing we may have thrown on the floor. She definitely prefers anything worn by Mom or Dad over a soft bed, which we find adorable.

Lucy has absolutely found her forever home. We can't imagine a better dog for us. Thank you to Katie for suggesting her!

Here she is sunning herself this summer...one of her favorite things to do!

DARCY
Our Girl Darcy! Tender. Sweet. Fun. Gentle. Loyal. Adorable! We adopted Darcy, a Beagle mix of 2 1/2 years of age, after she had delivered 8 puppies! Anyone who adopted one of Circus' puppies could contact us. She is the most wonderful dog! Our family of '5' feels so blessed to have her. She has made it so easy to love her and get used to having a pet in the home. She has brought serenity to our lives, with a splash of energy and TONS of tender loving moments! We feel like we've "hit the doggy jackpot!" She loves her belly scratched and only licks the face of her Great-Grandma (who's 84) and anyone who's consumed peanut butter!!!! We are so thrilled to have Darcy in our lives! THANK YOU HOMEWARD BOUND for the great work that you do to bring these animals into their Forever Homes! We are eternally grateful! Blessings to all of you.

SAMMIE (formerly known as Max)
Sammie and I celebrated our one-year anniversary together this past weekend. Hooray! Many thanks to Homeward Bound for assistance during the initial adjustment period with excellent materials and pointers! In honor of our anniversary, I plan to make an annual contribution to Homeward Bound. I encourage other owners to do the same for this wonderful organization.

Sammie (aka Samster, Bubba, Sweetpea, etc.) has adjusted well to his new home. For the first few months, he paused for every school bus that drove down our street, waiting expectantly for the kids to exit the bus. I'm sure he was waiting for 'his kids;' he must have loved his former family. Luckily, my Minneapolis neighborhood is full of kids. Sometimes I feel like the Pied Piper when we take our walks!

I feel like I hit the jackpot with Sammie. He's a wonderful companion who brings a smile to everyone's face

-Julia Van Etten

TEXAS
Thought I would send you some pictures of Texas. He is doing great. We took him to the vet a couple weeks ago and he weighed in at 35 pounds!!!! He loves to play and is a big baby. He sits on Danielle's lap all the time. He is a good boy! We are really enjoying him! -Janet, Danielle, and Ashley