Dodger - last of dumpster pup gets adopted!

Many thanks again to Mary and her family... and Heather and her family for fostering the litter of black lab pups found by a dumpster in rural Iowa in mid April. Charlie, Oliver, Calcifur and Wyatt were adopted at our last adoption event on 5/17, leaving Dodger the dominant little boy. His foster family took him to the drive in last weekend: "He really enjoyed walking around getting attention from everyone. He did have a lapse in manners while we were grilling hot dogs barking to have one, but what dog wouldn't. He was content with a dog treat and soon settled down. Throughout both movies, with two stereos blasting, Dodger lay curled up in his own camping chair without a care in the world."

Last night they met Dodger's new family. He has gone to live with a young couple, with a large fenced-in yard and lots of neighbor labs to explore the world with.

His foster ended her email to us last night with "Finally after going over everything, signing the paperwork and exchanging email addresses it was time to say goodbye. I have a lump in my throat right now thinking of the last puppy kiss on my chin. I am really going to miss that big boy but I am confidant he has found a great home. So when do I get more puppies?"

It truly takes a community to save homeless animals -- we need adopters willing to take in rescued dogs, and we need fosters like Mary and her family, willing to love and care for their foster dogs, and let them go, so they can bring in another abused, neglected, homeless animal.

Spice Girl - our special 3-legged girl needs a home

Spice Girl came to us from up north in mid-April, rescued by Karen Good of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. With a rear leg injury, she carried a litter of pups, and only 2 of her litter of 5 survived. A few weeks ago, she had her injured rear leg amputated and has been healing very nicely in her foster home. You would never know she only has 3 legs. Spice Girl has an incredibly gentle disposition and temperament - she doesn't understand why no one is interested in her? She doesn't even consider herself a special needs dog -- just a very special dog! If you are interested in learning more about Spice Girl, visit our website or email dogs@pethavenmn.org

Adopted puppy - update

One of our black pups, Calcifur (from the litter of 5 found by a dumpster in rural Iowa) was adopted on 5/17. He went to a wonderful home, and we got the following update from his new family... his new name is Geordie.

"We are delighted with him. He is quite smart and a very sweet puppy. He kennel trained himself practically by going in the kennel we had set up for him when he was tired. He's been sleeping in there in our room through the night since about the third night. He's learning "sit" and "no bite" with some success and he walks on a leash quite well. His housetraining has mostly carried through - a few rough spots, but we're working through them.

Angus spend the first few days just ignoring Geordie. But Geordie has been persistent about trying to play with Angus and Angus is slowly warming up with him. Even though Angus hasn't been friendly, when he and Geordie have crossed paths, Angus has always been quite patient with him. Angus did make it clear, though, that his food bowl and the yogurt cups he likes to lick out are off limits.

Of course, Geordie and my son have been great pals since the very beginning. If Geordie hears his voice in the morning before we've all waken up, he immediately wakes up and starts barking because he wants to see his boy.

Thank you for this enormous gift!:

Photos from black dog/cat adoption event

Although it was a quiet couple hours, probably due to the holiday weekend... it was a beautiful morning and great chance to educate the few shoppers that came by the Plymouth Chuck & Don's for our special black dog and cat adoption event. Dodger was busy welcoming shoppers; shown above are Mollie, Shadow and Hector (all still waiting for that special someone to adopt them!)

Check out our cat blog (link on left) for photos of Dove and Tika (two of our black cats up for adoption).

Black Dog and cat adoption event - Saturday, 5/24

Did you know that black dogs and cats are often the last to be adopted out, and are euthanized at one of the highest rates in shelters across the country (a term known as "Black Dog Syndrome" in the animal rescue world)? We at Pet Haven LOVE our black dogs and black cats. We advocate for them and we believe they are simply beautiful!

Come learn more about what you can do to help be a voice for black dogs and cats! Come meet some of our adoptable black dogs and cats!

Take a chance.. stop by, and risk falling in love with a black dog or cat!

We will be at the Chuck and Don's in Plymouth on Saturday, 5/24 from 10 - Noon.

For more info download our flyer at www.pethavenmn.org from the events section.

Dodger - the lone ranger

At out adoption event on Saturday, 4 of our 5 black pups (read previous blogs for their story) were adopted. Only Dodger went home with his foster parents. He will be at our special black dog/black cat adoption this Saturday, 5/24 at the Plymouth Chuck and Don's. Here's an update from foster mom:

I'm falling in love...
We were worried bringing Dodger home from the adoption event all by himself. That was a waste of energy. Dodger played with our dogs in the backyard and after lunch he napped in the sun without a care in the world.

His first night sleeping without his brothers went smoothly. Dodger curled up on the "big dog bed" with Roxy and Pheobe and went right to sleep. After a full night with no accidents he woke up, went out with the dogs, came back in and went back to sleep. We had to wake him up at 9:30 to eat. This is a dog after my love-to-sleep-late heart. With only one puppy to watch after we are having less accidents in the house. He is strating to pace by the door to be let out and I am hoping my dogs will teach him to ring the bell we have hanging there.

Dodger is doing well at "sit", "stay" and "no". Dodger is going to be great at playing fetch. He chases the ball, catches it and brings it back about half the time. He also loves to chase the water out of the squirt gun and pop bubbles. While he loves to be near people and follows you from room to room, Dodger does well in the backyard with the other dogs and never cries to be let in the house. Now if I could only get him to teach this to my dogs!

Right now Dodger is curled up at my feet while I type. I am really going to miss this amazing puppy but I am confident he will find a permanent loving home.

Dog Adoption Photos - 5/17/08

Photos from our dog adoption event on Saturday, 5/17/08. It was a flurry of activity, with lots of adoptions!