Paige never even made it to Memphis before being adopted

Paige

Paige is one of the seven dogs that traveled from Monroeville, AL to Tupelo, MS for vetting and awaiting their ride to Memphis. She is a middle aged malti poo.

We had already taken an application from Marty Brown for a shih tzu poodle mix. He lives in Pontotoc MS. Unbeknownst to Real Good Dog Rescue founder, Lisa, Marty got wind of some of Good Dog Rescue’s dogs being boarded at the Tupelo vet clinic and hightailed it to Tupelo to get a look!

Paige was “taking her exercise” in the outdoor run and she and Marty spotted each other at about the same time. Paige was so happy to see Marty and he fell for her immediately.

Marty owns his own hair salon in Pontotoc and could not meet Lisa in Tupelo the day she drove down to pick up the critters. Lisa was worried she would not be able to observe how Paige interacted with Marty, even though he had wonderful references and even the vet’s office people were trying to help Marty find the right dog.

So Paige, Lisa, and the other six dogs took a trip to downtown Pontotoc where Paige was delivered to “Hair on the Square.” I think you can tell how pleased Marty was with his new dog! He reports Paige went for grooming the following day and settled into his home like she has always lived there. She loves to sit with him in the recliner which is all he really hoped for in a dog.

Marty and Paige

Tiny’s living it up LARGE in Mississippi

Tiny when we first got her and had to have her severely groomed

Tiny is a small Shih Tzu who was surrendered along with two other Shih Tzu’s when their owner said he “could not afford to groom or spay them” They also were not so well cared for. Bad skin, matted hair, fleas.

This little darling deserved so much better!

Well, she found better … much better.

Her new person, Sarah Smith, sends this update at Christmas time:

Here is a picture of our Tiny Girl taken today.  She is so sweet.  We
just had her groomed last week and she is really becoming more
beautiful all the time.

Tiny sends you kisses!  Happy New Year!

Thanks, Sarah, for sending us an updated pic of sweet Tiny. We hope that Tiny and your family have many happy years together.

Tiny at Christmas 2009

Gracie

Gracie is a 1 year old Peekapoo who wandered the harsh streets of Memphis until taken in as a stray at the Memphis Animal Shelter. She is a very sweet little dog and needed her furever home.

The Markee family, from Richmond, Virginia, applied for Gracie 3 weeks ago. They came to Memphis for the Christmas holiday and the adoption was finalized.

Here the family poses with Gracie – looks like a VERY happy clan!

The Markee Family and Gracie - Matthew & Marybeth as parents, with Genna, Nate, and Ella

Senior Sophie finds the perfect home

Sophie

Joe and Barbara Manning spied our senior girl, Sophie, and were touched by her picture and her story. Even though Sophie is an older dog and a puppy would give them many more years of companionship, they wanted to give Sophie the home that she deserved in which to live out the rest of her happy life.

We are so grateful to Joe and Barbara for seeing beyond Sophie’s years to her great qualities. We wish for them many happy years together, filled with doggie kisses!

Sophie with Joe and Barbara

Paying it forward in honor of Dixie

Maxine, now Millie, after her adoption

A little while back we posted an update from Steve and Sue Oehman about their adopted dog, Millie (originally Maxine) and her life in her new home.

Recently Steve made a generous donation in honor of Dixie, a much-loved dog of his friend Linda Riggan. Not long ago Dixie had lost her battle with canine cancer.

Steve had one other condition to his donation – that it go to help someone who couldn’t otherwise afford to adopt a pet. Hmmm, we had to think about that one. For a short minute!

Katie, the miniature Pinscher

Enter our minpin mix, Katie, who had been in our rescue since May. She came to us from a high kill shelter. She had heartworms and required heartworm treatment. She was adopted once … and then returned … because of her extreme fear of men.

Well, we had found the perfect foster home for Katie with Rosemary Clark and her daughter, Sasha. Katie enjoyed being with them. Rosemary wished she could adopt her, but funds were tight since she only had a part time job.

With Steve’s generous donation, however, Katie is now officially adopted by the Clarks! We thank Steve, as both adopter and donor, for recognizing the role that animals play in our lives and for wanting to share his concern for his grieving friend to help another worthy canine.

Here’s our happy family photo! Thanks, Rosemary and Sasha, for seeing the beauty in our dear Katie.

Rosemary, Sasha, and Katie

Meghan’s having the time of her new life

Meghan is an adorable Yorkshire Terrier Yorkie mix who we rescued from Memphis Animal Services. She was recently adopted to her forever home. From there, she sends her foster mom an email updating us on her new life.

Ms. Vivian,

I’m having the time of my life! This family really needed me. I heard mama tell somebody on the phone she’s prayed for years to God for a magic wand to clean her house, and now He’s sent me!

I’m taking mama to obedience classes. As soon as she gets better at how to do things, I’m going to get her into fly ball or one of those things where you run and jump and do all of those fun things.

Lucy and I went to Camp Bow Wow last Friday for our “interview.” Mom was really nervous that I might not make it, but we passed and we can go back any time we want to, although I’m not sure we’ll be here – Dad keeps mumbling about going to the poor house – wherever that is, but I don’t think mama wants to go.

My sisters are really nice. Lucy and I play all of the time. Winnie doesn’t play much, but she does like to go walking. I think she has inherited the title “Drama Queen” from Winnie’s last sister Buffy. I tried to “play” with her when Lucy had to spend the night at the vet’s after surgery and she just squeeled like I was trying to jump on her. Just because we had a little “accident” when I first came. Really. She didn’t have to have any stitches. Only two little staples that only stayed in for a week.

I hope you like the happy I’ve sent you. I had to chew a lot of catalogue pages before mama got the right one. I’m just so grateful you took me in until mama found me. I think you are an angel.

Love & kisses,
Ethel

PS I almost forgot. Mama gave me a new name: Princess Running Dog Squirrel Killer Doo Doo Eater!

Thanks, Ethel, for the update! We are so very pleased to hear how things are going! Just the place for our Meghan, er, Ethel!

Millie works wonders in her job as stress reliever

Maxine was owner surrendered at Memphis Animal Shelter with Bree, who we believe to be her mother. At the time, Maxine was approximately 2 years old, weighing 20-25 pounds. She was housetrained and loves people!

Maxine was adopted by Steve and Sue Oehmen at one of our Wags & Whiskers adoption events. They recently sent us this Christmas update, along with some new pics of Maxine, who is now named Millie.

I have attached a few photos of our “Millie” who we adopted last February, if memory serves. She is happy and healthy and owns the place completely. She is a tremendously loving and affectionate companion and always makes us laugh even on those hard days with our students.

Thanks, Steve and Sue, for adopting one of our great dogs and sending us an update. We LOVE to read these … and readers of our blog also love to read these stories that reinforce the love that these rescued dogs bring into our lives.

Here are some updated pics of Millie.

Maggie Silver & new best bud, Rupert, “paws” for a Christmas shot

At this past week’s adoption event, Maggie Silver, one of our newest rescue dogs, was adopted by Haley Vincent. Haley already had Rupert, who looks amazingly similar to Maggie Silver. It was love at first sight for all of them.

Once home, Haley got them both dressed up in their holiday finery and Maggie Silver and Rupert cooperated by posing under the Christmas tree.

What a fabulous Christmas present! Thanks, Haley, for sharing with us – and for adopting adorable Maggie Silver.

Maggie Silver and Rupert make FABULOUS holiday gifts under Haley's tree!

A Very Special Adoption Event as Guinness (Mac) Finds his People

Yesterday we had two simultaneous adoption events! Wow! Were we ever busy!

First was our special event, the Canine Christmas, that was held on the grounds of St. Agnes on Walnut Grove Road. It was a fun time for all who attended, even though the weather finally won out and pushed our time frame for activities there a bit forward. See pics from the day here.

Second was our regular 2nd Saturday adoption event at Hollywood Feed on Poplar Avenue. Three fabulous dogs found their fur-ever homes … including Clint, Piper, and Guinness.

Clint and his new family

Piper and his new family

Guinness (Mac) and his happy person

Guinness has an A M A Z I N G story, though. You see, we found Guinness at the Memphis Animal Shelter in March 2009 where he had been brought in as a stray. He was an adorable dog, and an older one. He risked not being adopted and being euthanized because he was older.

Our leader saw his potential, though, and rescued him. It took us a little while to get him placed in what we thought was his permanent home. But then after a couple of months Lisa, our leader, received a telephone call from Tracy Dunlap, a volunteer at Memphis Animal Shelter who knew we had rescued him originally and who scanned for a microchip and saw it was registered to one of our volunteers, Vivian.

Apparently the person who adopted him gave him to someone else who then turned him into the shelter. As soon as we heard he was there, we hurried to the shelter to re-rescue him. We re-committed to finding this very loving dog his permanent home.

Well, at Saturday’s adoption event at Hollywood Feed on Poplar Avenue, a man stopped in that shopping center to eat at Huey’s. As he walked past the door to Hollywood Feed, he glanced in, spied Guinness, ran in and said “that’s my dog”!

Guinness had been lost by his owners last March. They did all the right things – notifying area shelters, putting up posters, and spreading the word. But they never found Guinness.

He called his wife who came as quickly as possible. With tears in her eyes she picked up her Guinness (whose name is actually Mac) and hugged him close. She had gotten puppy Mac in her freshman year of high school. We found out he’s 12 years old and has had a loving life … he can now live out the rest of his life with his one and only meant to be family.

What a wonderful Christmas gift!

Guinness (Mac) and his happy person

Whitley, now Daisy, is living THE life

Whitley is a Poodle, Terrier mix who came to Real Good Dog Rescue along with her buddy, Emeril. She was a real sweetheart in her time with us, even though she tested positive for heartworms and had to undergo that treatment.

Jan and Dave Stevens adopted our Whitley. They renamed her Daisy. And they sent us this update:

I’m pleased to report that Daisy has achieved two milestones:  She is heartworm negative on her follow-up test and she has logged her first hundred miles in power walking. Thought that you would like to hear the good news on both accounts.  The good life continues for all of us.

We are so pleased to hear of Daisy reaching these milestones. This is wonderful news! Thanks for taking the time to let us know!

Dave and Daisy - no doubt relaxing after one of their power walks