Jayde needs a foster home

Jayde had her back leg amputated last week and has been recovering at the clinic. She is doing very well, however, she would really like to have time to recover in a foster home (no steps please ... we learned last night that stairs and Jayde don't go well together, at least, not for now). If you would be willing to provide temporary foster care for this sweet 3-legged dog while she recovers, please email dogs@pethavenmn.org.

Cheech at our 5/3 Adoption Event

Cheech announcing our adoption event... "Come on over! Come say hi! Guaranteed.. you'll fall in love with us!"


"Hmmmm... that coffee sure smells good"



"oh, that's not Starbucks!"



"Why are they screaming 'Don't Jump! You're not super dog!'... i thought that's what this cape is for"



"Ooookay, if you insist.... i'll wait patiently for someone to adopt me"



"I really am the sweetest dog.... email dogs@pethavenmn.org if you'd like to learn more about just how great I am!"

Special needs - We need your help!

Spring arrives with some difficult cases. Ann, our dog intake coordinator, spends countless hours on the phone with one of our partner vets to discuss the health and surgical options for several of our recent intakes. Difficult cases - difficult choices. Each case handled with love, compassion and a heavy sense of responsibility to ensure we make the right decision for the animal, and for Pet Haven.

In recent weeks we have incurred extraordinary vet expenses for the following special dogs: 1) Hazel, a sweet, pocket pit bull, diagnosed and being treated for heartworm. She is being hospitalized as she goes through treatment, 2) Spice Girl, a beautiful boxer mix, who came to us from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue - her hip dislocated, and almost deaf. She had her back leg amputated and is being nursed back to health in a loving foster home, 3) Jayde, a sweet yellow lab mix, who came from up north. Her brother hit and killed by a car, while Jayde survived. She came with a serious leg injury. X-rays revealed a severe fracture. Jayde, like Spice Girl, had her back leg amputated, 4) Hank and Zubeau - two of our dogs who came with cherry eye and required surgery, 5) surgery on Bear (a poodle mix) to remove a blockage, and 5) Most recently, one of our sweet black labs (Shadow) was seen by an eye specialist and has a chronic perforation and no vision in the eye. She will have her eye surgically removed, and will be a special black dog with a permanent “wink.”

We need your help so that we can continue to help these animals who come to us with special needs. Please consider making a donation (any amount helps!). You can make a donation online at our website (www.pethavenMN.org) by clicking on the “Donate” tab. In your comments, please put “Special Needs fund”.

Thank you for helping Hazel, SpiceGirl, Jayde, Hank, Zubeau and Shadow.

Calcifur and Wyatt - Pup update!

Calcifur and Wyatt wanted to make sure that you didn't forget about them. They want you to know they're just as cute as their siblings Charlie, Oliver and Dodger.

Here's an update from foster mom: "The boys had their Dr. appt. yesterday at BVH and both were negative for parasites! YAY! They have just about got the house training thing figured out. Their bladders are still so small that they have tinkles overnight, but otherwise they go outside! They have been very helpful with the gardening as you can see:) They helped install the dragon sculpture too. Wyatt is now too big at over 8 lbs. to get into his favorite spot in the neck of the dragon so now he likes to climb on top "king of the hill" style for like 2 seconds when he comes tumbling down. It's ridiculously cute. Cal is very into the root ball of a bush I removed recently. At a whopping 9 and a half lbs. it doesn't have a chance as he jumps on it like it's a monster and bites on the sticks. Both of them are healthy and happy sweet mellow boys. The girls love to run in the yard with them and taking them on a walk is like being in a parade. People can't resist coming up to us and adoring them. We live 3 blocks from Powderhorn Park and they just love to walk down there and be treated like little superstars!"

Black pups basking in the sunshine!

Here's another update from the foster home of Charlie, Dodger and Oliver: "We are very happy with the warm days. The puppies love the back yard and can play out there for hours. They still can't be left alone for more than a few minutes or they notice I'm gone and start crying. I don't mind being outside so it works. I have had to put barriers around my newly sprouting plants. The puppies think it is fun to rip the plants. I am not so amused.

They had their first encounter with a toddler and they loved her. Chloe was being pulled around by all three of them and she laughed the entire time. Their personalities are very evident. Dodger is dominant, the most laid back and very playful. He likes to jump at you, barking. Charlie is the fraidy cat and cries when he hears loud noises (like Tino tossing logs into a pile) and has to be encouraged to try new things. He also has the most vinegar. He pounces on the other dogs, attacks leaves and sticks and loves to play tug of war. Oliver is the explorer. He checks out all the nooks and crannies he can find. He loves stuffed animals, chewing and running around with them. He is also a big cuddler and loves to nap on the couch next to us.

All three of them love the pile of leaves in the back yard. They wrestle and roll around in them. Sticks are a favorite chew toy as well as your pant legs. We have to provide them with lots of toys or they will get into mischief. One of their favorite toys is a screaming, stuffed monkey. They play with that thing all the time.

We are still working to get them to sleep later. We have gone from 3am to 5am to 6:30. When they want to get up they let you know, loudly!"

All five pups (Charlie, Oliver, Dodger, Calcifur and Wyatt) will be neutered on 5/6. They will be at our 5/17 adoption event! Be sure to get your application in if you are interested in adopting one of these adorable pups!

Won't you consider fostering?

Home fostering provides the lucky break these dogs need. People are much more willing to consider adoption when they can get some feedback as to how the dog is in a home environment. Many people debate fostering because they think it will be hard to give up the dog. On the contrary!! This is a great way to find your own dog – a “trial run” so to speak. Or alternatively, there is no better feeling than to see the happiness on the people’s faces when they pick up their loving new addition. To know you had a part in providing that opportunity for that dog is extremely rewarding. Without foster homes, we cannot save these dogs. Please consider fostering.

To learn more about fostering and to read some testimonials from fosters, visit http://www.pethavenmn.org/feature/dog-foster.php. For questions, email volunteer@pethavenmn.org.

A quote from Jeanne (who fostered Bart, shown in the photo - visit our Happy Tails page to read Bart's story):
"If you're someone who REALLY loves dogs, fostering is the most fun you can have that isn't illegal or fattening!!! It becomes addictive - because the rewards are so great. You might lose your heart to your foster, as I've done more than once, but when you see him/her/them go to a home where they are loved and really WANTED, it eases any pain you feel from the loss.... and it makes you eager for the next one - just to go through the process all over again.

Be a voice for the voiceless!

If you have a passion for animals, and you want to make a difference, please consider joining our outreach team. We have learned at Pet Haven how it takes a community to come together to save one dog or one cat. We need your passion, your skills, and your voice to join us as we reach out and educate the public in fun and creative ways about the beauty of black dogs, dispel myths around bully breeds, and stress the importance of spaying and neutering. Send an email to volunteer@pethavenmn.org -- we need more voices in outreach, and we could always also use more fosters!

According to the Humane Society, 3-4 million healthy, adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters across the country. Together let's work to stop these needless killings.