Adopted Dog Monday: Millie

Millie is a shy young Poodle girl who was rescued from yet another terrible hoarding situation. She was a petite little thing and very much a puppy when she came to Pet Haven. Her foster, Sandy, fell in love with her instantly and knew that Millie was only going to go to the most special of homes....Millie needed a family that would be extra patient with her while she lived out that young puppy stage (potty training, teething, obedience, etc) and also while she learned how to be a family pet. Millie likely got very little attention before coming to Pet Haven and needed to learn how to be loved and cared for.

Sandy was right -after a few short months, the perfect family came along for Millie. It was love at first sight!

Here's an update from Millie's new family:

"Mille has fit into our little family very well and we all love her so much. I try and get her out for a walk everyday and though it was hard to just get around the block with her, we are now able to walk over a mile together. She gets braver and braver every time we go out...

When I pick my daughter up from school, Millie's fan club comes and gather around Millie wanting to pet her; this freaks her out a little but she is doing so much better and as long as mom is wiht her she knows she is all right.

During the day, Millie likes to follow me around the house as I do my daily chores and when she gets bored, she plops herself on our bed by the window and looks out to make sure there are not rabbits, birds, or squirrels upsetting our yard. She also likes to think she is protecting us from the two huge black labs across the alley and growls at them showing them who is boss.

She loves to be outside and though it hasn't been easy her these past few days with all the rain and wind, she loves to be out looking around.

We are very careful to keep an eye on her and bring her everywhere; we worry sometimes that someone might take her she is so cute and such a GOOD dog."

Adopted Dog Update: Traveling Sadie Mae

Sadie - co pilot of the traveling RV - she and
her mom and dad head to Florida in the winter months

We recently got an email from the mom and dad of Sadie Mae who was adopted from Pet Haven in 2003. We love getting these updates and can just imagine Sadie living the life of a queen as she so deserves.

Here's what we received from her family:

"Sadie Mae was adopted from Pet Haven in 2003 when she was about 1-1/2 years old.  As we understand it, she was taken in by Pet Haven from someone who rescued her from a puppy mill where she was bred and had had two litters!  She was miserable, still lactating, and afraid of her own shadow.  We immediately comforted her, got her cleaned up, and smothered her with love.  As soon as she knew she was safe and became comfortable in her new home, we had her thoroughly checked over by our vet and given a new hairdo.  She slowly recovered from the trauma experienced in the “hell hole” that puppy mills typify, and has become the sweetest little companion imaginable.  We call her “the perfect all-around dog”.  Sadie is with us constantly, loves our home in Minnetonka, and traveling with us in our RV.  Oh, one other thing, people commonly rave over her, and ask what breed she is, we always answer “she’s a rescue”, the best breed ever!"

Sadie enjoying the warmth of Florida
while the rest of us are freezing here in Minnesota!! :)

Adopted Dog Monday: Mikee!

Pet Haven volunteers have been saying for months - "Why is Mikee still with us?" Mikee is a chi, but he's no ordinary chi. He's playful and funny and loves to be the center of attention, garnering laughs from everyone surrounding him.

Well, we now know why Mike was sticking around for so long....because he knew he had to wait for the perfect family to come along.

Brandee and Kurt live in Uptown and they like to go for walks around Calhoun in summer. Your typical chi doesn't like to walk anywhere, but not Mikee. Mikee offers the best of both worlds because he'll walk anywhere with you, but he's also tiny enough that you can stick him in your bag if and when he gets tired.

Mikee now has 2 kitty siblings 1 12yr male and 1 15yr female...Mikee doesn't mind the cats - in fact one of the first things he did was show them his toys and "ask" them to play. I don't think the cats are quite ready for that yet, but at least they're all getting along.

Oh, and the best part is that Brandee and Kurt have friends with chi's so it sounds like there are lots of play dates in his future.



Good luck little Mikee - we loved having you at Pet Haven!

And good luck to Mikee's fosters Leslie & Danny - we know it was hard letting go of this guy!

Here's Mike with his new Dad, Kurt:

Adopted Dog Monday: Lucy!!

Lucy is a 2 1/2 year old Shih Tzu mix that came to Pet Haven from People For Pets in Spencer, Iowa.

It didn't take long for the perfect family to find Lucy and bring them into their loving home just in time to enjoy the holidays. Lucy now lives with a Mom and Dad and two human siblings - Nils and Lottie - who obviously just adore her!

Here's an update we just received from the family:

"We finally were able to get a family picture taken with Lucy. It didn't turn out quite as we had hoped (Lucy blends in with Nils' shirt :-) I attached the family picture along with a better one with just Nils, Lottie, and Lucy. Thanks again for choosing us! Lucy has been a great addition to our family and everyone loves her. Brett & Jennifer (Nils & Lottie)"

Congratulations to Lucy and her new family!!!

Adopted Dog Update: Tia

We recently received an update on a Pet Haven pooch that was adopted over a decade over!! We absolutely LOVE receiving these updates and emails ... thank you Leah for contacting us and letting us know how Tia is doing ... we love to hear that she is being spoiled rotten and that she has had the life we wish for every one of our adoptable pup or kitty ... thank you!!

"After adopting our dog almost 11 years ago from your organization, I figured it was long overdue that I send you an update on our dog!


We adopted Tia (formerly known as Sassy from a pet adoption event at the Richfield Petco. We have had her for over 10 years now and we couldn't be happier with her.


She is such a fun dog, and she is such a special part of our family. At 12 1/2 years old she hasn't slowed down much at all, and we still enjoy and appreciate her energy. One of her favorite things to do is to come along in the car to pick up our son at preschool. We don't even have to ask her to come with, she always knows where we are going and just expects that she is invited to join us!


I wanted to thank you for the work that you do to keep pets out of shelters, and just wanted to send a brief update on her and how happy we still are with her.


Thanks again,


Leah"

Adopted Dog Monday: Lou!

Lou, a darling 6-year old American Eskimo Mix, was a recent owner surrender and former Pet Haven alum who was adopted out as a young pup in 2004.

After six years, Lou's family decided that they did not have the resources or lifestyle to further care for her (yes, Lou is a girl!). So, our wonderful Pet Haven foster Ann, took Lou in and cared for her for just a few short weeks until Lou's new forever family came along...

Erin is an active woman who just loves everything about dogs and couldn't wait to bring Lou into her life. Miss Lou gets to live with Erin and her two roommates, where I'm sure she's going to be loved and adored like every dog deserves.

Here is a quick update from Erin:

"Everything is going great! I've already swept twice and vacuumed once since Thursday but that's ok with me:) And my roommates LOVE her! "

We wish Lou and Erin a lifetime of happiness, long walks and an abundance of treats!

Adopted Dog Update: Missy

Missy, a young black lab, came to Pet Haven in 2009 from Sioux City, Iowa. When she came to Pet Haven, she suffered a terrible case of separation anxiety where she was terrified to be left alone and would engage in destructive behavior when her fosters left for the day. Her anxiety was so bad that she destroyed and broke out of two different crates and chewed/scratched a hole through the bathroom wall to escape and try to find her foster parents.
Because Missy obviously couldn't be left alone during the day, she was moved to one of our fantastic boarding partners, Pampered Pooch Playground where she could play with dogs all day and be surrounded by activity. Missy was also very fortunate to have Sarah, a Pet Haven volunteer, come by each day to take her for walks and runs and give her some one on one love and affection. Well, the two became nearly inseparable and after a short time, Sarah chose to adopt Missy and give her the safe, loving forever home she so desperately wanted.
With lots of love, consistency, and training, Sarah has given Missy a stable home where her separation anxiety has virtually disappeared. Here's an update from Sarah:
"Missy is doing great, and I couldn't be happier with her. Early on in Missy's time as an adoptable dog with Pet Haven, it became apparent that she was a dog that would need routine in her life due to the separation anxiety she suffered from. Missy has a pretty set schedule with me now and her days typically consist of the following:
- Wake mom up about 30 minutes prior to her alarm going off...:)
- Eating her breakfast and also getting a few bites of whatever mom is eating for breakfast (some toast ends, banana with peanut butter - her favorite - she gets to clean the remainder of empty jars of peanut butter too, or some Honey Nut Cheerios)
- Missy goes into her kennel by herself after she goes outside for her before-work bathroom break
- Mom gets home and we typically go to the dog park. Missy has taken an interest in looking for squirrels in the past few months and prefers that
over playing with the other dogs, but will take part in chases (whether it be chasing her or another dog) when they crop up
- Eat dinner and go out on the balcony and look for squirrels and bunnies
- Chew on her favorite toy - hard bones
- And finally, cuddle and fall asleep in bed with mom

Missy is a great dog - we were lucky to find each other!"
Thank you to Sarah who opened her home and her heart to this special girl who had some special needs. Dogs really do get a second chance at finding the good life....

Cheers for the Poms!!

We are just loving the Pomeranians lately....and not just because they are cute and cuddly and oh so sweet...and did I mention they were cute? We've had four Poms come in this year so far and each one of them stirs up all kind of interest and activity on our website and at adoption events.

Remember Ollie? Ollie was the first Pom of the year to come in from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue and was adopted out to a wonderful lady, Paula, within a month or so of arriving in the Twin Cities.

Well Ollie, now Olivia, made an appearance at the 7/31 Adoption event as she was going in for her day of pampering at the PetCo Salon. Paula was very grateful to Pet Haven and couldn't stop gushing over her sweet little Olivia. We interrupted her spa treatments to snap a few photos of the lovely girl.

Congrats to Paula and Olivia...we hope to see you around other events in the future!

Adopted Dog Update: Flopsy

We received an update from one of our more recent adoptive families on Flopsy who came in from People For Pets this May. Flopsy was adopted by a young family who already had a papillon named Lucy, who is very attached to the Dad. Mom and the two young daughters were excited to bring Flopsy into their family to spread the puppy love around for everyone to enjoy!

Here's an update from Sarah, Flopsy's new mom:

"Oh, she is sooooo sweet!!! We just love her. And no, Flopsy did not get a new name! Both my daughters won't let me. I don't think they understand the concept of changing a dogs name and they think I'm crazy for trying! So Flopsy it is!! She is doing really well. I'm so excited to say that she is WAY more attached to me than my husband!! She spent her first few days following me EVERYWHERE (to the point where she was exhausting me!) and trying to get out of our yard. I think she was trying to fine your husband!! We had to rig up our fence so she couldn't escape!! Now she is much more relaxed. She still follows me around a lot but after a while I will find her sleeping on the couch!! We brought her on her first boating trip last week. I was really nervous about it but she loved it! She was so good in the car and excellent on the boat. We stopped at a secluded beach and let her off her leash and she stayed right by us. We are taking her camping for the first time this coming up weekend. Wish us luck!!"

And here's a recent photo of Flopsy showing off her new summer hairstyle:

Congrats to Flopsy, Lucy, Sarah and the rest of the family!! And many, many thanks to Agnes and Chris for fostering this sweet girl!

Adopted Dog Update: Tori

Tori came into Pet Haven's foster program a couple years ago from one of our rescue partners, Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. We recently got an update from her family ... looks like Tori is one HAPPY and SPOILED dog!! :) and as Tori would say, "as it should be!!" :)


"We adopted Tori, formally Torrence Chow-Tung, about two years ago. She came from Red Lake with a heartbreaking story of being found in a dumpster with her starved puppies... my husband and daughter and I made it our mission to spoil her rotten and give her the happiest life she could ever imagine. Mission accomplished! She quickly erased any doubts my husband may have had about inviting another animal into our house, she has earned a grudging respect from our three very elderly and grumpy cats, and she has even befriended the rabbit! She has discovered that marrow bones are an incredibly tasty treat and that bubbles are fun to chase. There are benefits to having a dog that we could never have foreseen, too, such as introducing us to a whole dog-loving community at the dog park, and being almost a sibling to our only child... the gentleness Tori shows when playing with her is incredible, and there never was a more patient dog for putting up with jewelry, tea parties and doctor check-ups.


Thank you to Pet Haven for giving us the opportunity to adopt this dog!"

Scout's in search of a new home

This is Scout, a lovable, eager to please lab mix that was recently returned to Pet Haven when things didn't work out in his last home.

This energetic boy would love for you to take him on daily walks or runs. This is a good thing, because at 42 lbs, Scout needs to lose a few pounds to get down to a healthy weight. I personally think that's just more of him to love, but the trainer says it's time for this boy to "dechunkafy" and get down to his target weight of 30 lbs.

Though Scout loves people and bonds quite well with his owners, he would be best in a home without small children (under 10 years) or other dogs. Scout tends to startle easily with unpredictable movement, which could lead him to get anxious and defensive. Other than that, he seems to be the perfect companion. See what Scout's foster mom has to say about him:

"In our 4 days with Scout he has been nothing but nice to us and is full of energy. He is 6 but still loves to play. He enjoys tugging on his rope toy and fetching his ball. He also has taken an interest in rawhides as well. He loves to go on walks and he likes to run too which has been good for him (and us) for losing weight. He is a huge snuggler and loves to follow Nick and I around when we are home. He also likes to sleep in bed with us at night versus the nice bed we made for him on the floor. He is trained to sit, shake, and lay down and loves to do his tricks for treats. And he has been very affectionate by giving us kisses to show his appreciation. He has been trustworthy while we are at work and doesn’t need to be crated or gated off. So far, he has been a pleasure to have around and an all-around good dog. "

Are you in search of your very own Scout??

You can learn more about Scout here. If interested in Scout or any of Pet Haven's adoptable pets, please contact dogs@pethavenmn.org.

Adopted Dog Update: Jack hits the jackpot!

We recently got an update on Jack who was adopted last fall. Jack truly hit the jackpot when he got adopted by his new family. He's got a two-legged brother and a four legged brother, Geordie (who was also adopted through Pet Haven) ... and Jack's family is also now fostering Herman. We are truly happy to have Jack's family as a part of the Pet Haven family!

"Since we got Jack last fall, as we've gotten to know him, we have felt increasingly honored and blessed to have found him. He is a dog of such kindness and dignity, so willing and game. We've watched, too, as his enthusiasm and interest increased as he became an active member of our family. He was rather quiet and a couch-sitter when we first got him. Now, while naps are still definitely good, he's happy to join in in whatever is up.


He is the shepherd of our family, keeping track of things, keeping watch over our son, Ian, and our dog Geordie, as well as the fosters we are gifted to have (Wayne and now Herman) but never being bossy or presumptuous. More and more he has gotten comfortable asking for affection and moaning in pleasure when we rub his shoulders, his face, his ears, his belly - he practically purrs when we pet him. He went with us on vacation because he is such a gentleman - quiet, listens to and follows instructions, a willing companion to our son in the back seat. He greets everybody with friendliness and warmth, but is rather stern with the squirrels who come on our deck. He makes his wishes known in the most courteous way - won't eat his food unless there's just the right amount of water on it but patiently waits until we get it right.


He has his own bed, but willingly shares it with any other dog who might want to tuck in with him. Doesn't feel shy about coming up on the bed for pets and snuggles before bed. He loves his long walks and capers about when he's invited to go outside and play. When Ian is playing in his sandbox, Jack goes over and lays down by him and at Jack's own request, sleeps in Ian's room on cushions on the floor. We feel so immensely privileged and happy to have Jack as a member of our family."

Adopted Dog Update: Little Man Charlie

Charlie, an adorable 2.5 year old poodle came into Pet Haven's foster program at the end of last year. In less than a month, he was swooped up and landed in a wonderful home. We recently got an update from his new guardian:

"I adopted Charlie following the passing of my 16 year old beagle mix, Maddie. I waited a few months, and knew that I was looking for a dog who would be a friendly companion for me, as I live alone. Charlie stole my heart from the first moment I met him. I attended a Pet Haven adoption event with the idea that I was just beginning the adoption process, but I think Charlie had other ideas. While I was talking with a volunteer, Charlie ran right up to me, tugging his volunteer along behind him on the leash! His is such a cute dog, and of course that's the first thing I noticed about him. But as I heard a little bit of his story and was petting him, I looked into his eyes, and I could feel that he was a very special dog. That was it, and two weeks later he came to live with me.

He's a sweet little man, who likes to play and also enjoys downtime on my lap or laying nearby. He's a friendly, active dog. He loves to go for walks, and really loves to meet new people. Since Charlie came on the scene, I'm meeting neighbors I've never even seen before while we are out on our walks. He's got a lot of magnetism! Charlie's gentle, but insistent invitations to play get me off the couch, and put a smile on my face every time.

In Yiddish there is a word, "beshert," which describes when one is destined to join with another. That's exactly what it's like with Charlie -- I couldn't have imagined a better dog for me.


Thank you, Pet Haven, for bringing Charlie into my life!"


We love to receive updates ... please email us at editor@pethavenmn.org with your updates and photos!!

Adopted Dog Monday: Harley!

Harley was adopted last weekend after being featured on the Pet Haven blog.

We know that Harley is going to love her new home as it’s full of people, and she’s sure to get attention anytime she wants it...which is basically ALL the time! Harley even has a new sister, Paris, who seems to equally enjoy being spoiled with love and attention.

Here's an update from Harley's new forever Mom, Michelle:

"we all just love her and she is being spoiled on a regular.....paris had an attitude for a day but is getting used to her being around but keeps laying in harley's new dog bed.....so then, harley gets top-dog status on a fur blanket up on the couch.....they both mooch for treats equally and are very good at it!!......harley has been eating but is very picky like you said she was.....i am keeping up on the warm milk in the morning and she seems comfortable sleeping with me at night"

Sounds like Harley has hit the forever home jackpot!

We wish Miss Harley and her new family all the best and look forward to receiving future updates on Harley and Paris!

Adopted Dog Update: Jonnie Cakes (aka Lizzie) from Dumpster to Dog Park

Meet Jonnie Cakes, a Red Lake Rosie dog who was found roped to a garbage dumpster in Ponemah. She was starving and full of mange when she was rescued by our friend, Karen of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue.

Fast forward 9 months to when I met Lizzie at the Three Rivers Dog Park in Eden Prairie. "JC" had been adopted prior to me joining Pet Haven so I had no idea I was playing with a Pet Haven dog until I started talking to Lizzie's mom, Nancy. Lizzie was having a wonderful time running around the park, herding all of the other dogs. Nancy was just the proudest Mom telling the other dog owners how smart Lizzie is and how well she has done with her training. She can't believe the progress that they've made in just six months. Lizzie is a very sweet girl, a non-discriminating friend when it comes to both dogs and humans!

I spent quite a bit of time talking to Nancy about all sorts of things and I truly believe that Lizzie found Nancy, just as much Nancy found Lizzie. They are great friends!

Another very successful adoption story!

Look at Lizzie (aka Jonnie Cakes) now...she couldn't be more happy!

Adopted Dog Update: Joey aka Joey-roo!

Joey came into Pet Haven's foster program in January, 2008. In March, 2008 he was adopted by a very special person! He's had an exciting life and even has in own blog! His mom has allowed us to catch a glimpse into his life ...

Here's a post from January, 2009:

Joey and I have been doing well .. he is antsy to be outdoors in the cold. I am lacking motivation to embrace the frigid weather we have had recently. This picture makes me think of warmer days. Note: you can barely discern it - but I am eating an ice pop -- aka it was summer!

It appears that Joey has a reputation for being an escape artist ... and recently he has taken to getting into a lot of mischief.  You see that sweet face above... well, check out what the sweet little Joey did to his mom's home when she was gone!! :) Despite all of it, she loves this boy so much ... here's her latest blog post on the Joey-Roo blog where she takes photos of what she walked home to one day .... 

We would love to hear from you if you have adopted a dog from Pet Haven! If your dog has a blog please share that with us as well. We love following the stories of our Pet Haven alums! :) ... email us at editor@pethavenmn.org.

Adopted Dog Monday!

Gulliver's new family met him while he was on a run around Lake Harriet with Lauren, a staff member of Pampered Pooch Playground, where Gulliver was a foster dog.  They had been thinking of getting a new dog after losing their senior Chocolate Lab Harvey several months ago, but weren't thinking that they would do it just yet.    After spending time with this sweet year old Black Lab from Sioux City Animal Control, the family decided that now was the right time, after all.   The older daughter in the family calls him Gull-lover-er.    He is a loving boy and while he won't replace Harvey, he and his family will make lots of good new memories together.

Johnson the English Setter went home last week after being with us for several months. Thanks to Sharon and Barbara for transitioning from respite foster care to full-time foster care for this beautiful dog.  (They have since returned to respite fostering.)  Johnson had a bit of a tough time when he came to Pet Haven.  He was nervous about the transition from his former home to his foster home but Sharon and Barbara were so patient and persistent that he eventually settled down and find his forever home.

If you would like to feel the satisfaction of loving a good dog until he or she finds a forever home, won't you consider fostering for Pet Haven?  For more information, email us at volunteer@pethavenmn.org.

Adopted Dog Update: Mr. Black

A couple weeks ago we received an email from a couple who started off fostering Black (photo on left) in February, 2009. I distinctly remember Black as I had the good fortune to meet him at one of our adoption events when his previous owner was having to surrender him due to foreclosure. It was a bittersweet meeting ... I had the chance to spend time with Black's previous owner, who was an amazing spirit. I could feel the love she had for Black and the pain she felt in having to give him up. It touched me deeply that I found myself reflecting on it and writing about it on my personal blog. I shared that blog posting with others who then shared it with others. To read my reflection on that bittersweet morning click here.

As luck would have it, someone read the post and inquired about Black. They then fostered him, and soon after adopted him.

We received the following email from Black's adopters a couple weeks ago ... they are looking to adopt a Pet Haven cat!!

"My partner and I have a home in S. Mpls that we share with a dog we adopted from Pet Haven in February 2009. Someone may remember Black whose former parents had to move before of foreclosure. He did not spend any time in a Pet Haven facility because we fostered him right at the time his parents needed to find a home for him.

Anyways, we love Black (whom we call Mr. Black) and has adjusted nicely to our home and family. We now think we are ready to begin looking to introduce a new family member ...

Black is a lab-husky and will be 2 years old in May. He is young but very friendly with people and other animals. He's laid back and overall a very good dog. He gets lots of exercise so this helps his demeanor. I think he would do very well with another animal in the home."

We are so happy to hear that Black aka Mr. Black is doing so well. Our cat adoption director is working with them to find them the perfect cat to add to their family ... I am sure Mr. Black is looking forward to having a playmate and a sibling to hang out with :)

Adopted Dog Monday!

Our black beauty from Red Lake, Kayleigh, was adopted this week.

The couple who adopted her were looking for a senior black dog to love.  As rescuers, we love to hear this!  Kayleigh is perfect for them -- she is truly a "move-in dog" who comes with no training needs or special care instructions.   All she needs to do is learn to peacefully co-exist with the resident cat.  Kitty (that's his name) has all of his claws, so if Kayleigh doesn't get it at first, she might learn the hard way that when a cat says 'no', he means 'no'.

Kayleigh is shown here with former foster brother and fellow Red Lake dog, Orlando.   They were lovingly cared for at Rescue Buddy Boarding. Seems that Orlando was a little lost after Kayleigh moved to her new home the other day.   I'm sure that Laura has a dog or two coming to visit this week, so the boy shouldn't be lonely for long.

Here are Kayleigh and Orlando.  Orlando is being fostered for Red Lake Rosie's Rescue.  Contact Laura at Rescue Buddy Boarding if you are interested in meeting this young hound mix.

Adopted Dog Update: Ahnung - continuing to shine

It's been over a year now since my last "foster failure" (in animal rescue term that translates to ... the foster can't let go of their foster dog and adopts their dog!! ... fyi, this last foster failure was my third one with Pet Haven so I am officially on the DO NOT LET MARILOU FOSTER!!) ... On January 3rd, 2009 I officially adopted Ahnung (pronounced ah-NUNG and means star in ojibway). Ahnung came to Pet Haven from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue .... dumped along with her litter of 8 puppies in October, 2008. She has come a long way since then ... she arrived with heartworm, lymes disease, coccidia, and no front teeth (grinding her front teeth down to her gums in search of food) ... after adopting her and getting a thorough check by our vet we learned she had also been shot and has remnants of a pellet in one of her nipples. There is so much to her story, and to mine, as we have walked this incredible journey of healing together. And as we have done we have expanded that circle of healing to include youth at a program of St. Paul Public schools called The Lab that serves youth in special education, grades 7-12 and are committed to providing creative and experiential learning opportunities that support long-term social & emotional health for urban youth.

Last year Ahnung and I spent many hours and months bonding and going through training. At the end of 2009 Ahnung officially passed the Delta Society therapy dog test and we are now a Pet Partner team as we volunteer doing animal assisted education at The Lab. I wrote a reflection piece that was posted on The Lab's website that shares more of the work we are doing at The Lab. I named my sweet girl Ahnung because I wanted her to have a name that will always remind her of her roots ... I wanted her to know she came from Red Lake reservation and to be proud of her ojibway roots. I also wanted her to know that she is my north star and as she works with youth at The Lab I have witnessed over and over again the birth of a star as I witness the connection and healing that takes place between a youth who has been through so much (just like Ahnung, and many of us) and an angel with four legs and lots of fur! :)

Ahnung and I will continue our work in the community and at the end of April will be going through training so that we can volunteer at hospices in addition to schools.

If you would like to read more about her journey and her adventures, she has her own blog: http://ahnung-northstar.blogspot.com/ and you can also find her on facebook ... search for "Ahnung".

I have been blessed and honored to be serving my third term as president of Pet Haven. And I share with you just one story of the gift I have been given through the work of Pet Haven ... there are many more, and I am sure all of you have many to share as well. If you have adopted a dog or a cat from Pet Haven we would love to hear from you. Email us at editor@pethavenMN.org.