Adopted Dog Update: Jasmine hit the jackpot!

We recently got an update on Jasmine from her family, and we just had to share!


"Jasmine Marie Humphries  came into our lives on a cold day on January 22nd
2005. We met her at a Pet Haven adoption event where we got to meet her 2 brothers.
Jasmine had started her life with  her 4 other siblings and mother by being thrown away into a dumpster. Luckily  someone found them and rescued them the first time. Two of Jasmines siblings  didn't survive to get the chance for rescue number two like Jasmine did.

I knew the instant that I  laid eyes on her, that I was totally and helplessly in love with this little fur ball. At that time, my husband and I were in the process of building a brand new  greenhouse business. So from day one, Jasmine came to work with us every day and  became part of our team! She had many family members to play with and follow  around all day, and free reign of a nice warm place to work/play. She also  got to spend the day with her Gramma and Grampa, and her new best friend, Uncle  Baily! (Gramma and Grampas big ole yellow lab). Oh how she loved to play in the  dirt, and un-plant things we had just planted :-) We had also found out how she  really likes to roll in stinky things, so we have since nick named her Stinky.  She has stolen the hearts of all who worked with her. Jasmine's photo's have been  in several greenhouse publications as our mascot.

During her puppyhood, we  attended puppy kindergarten and puppy social hour weekly, so she had plenty of  interaction with other puppies while growing up, and even a  cat! Eventually it became time for us to leave that job, we didn't know  what to do about leaving her home. She is such a social girl, that the thought  of her home alone all day just broke our hearts. So Gramma and Grampa daycare  was born! Each morning, she gets picked up by her Gramma and Grampa and her uncle Baily, and they go on a four mile walk on the Gateway  trail. (that is, when she will get out of bed when Gramma comes to get her,  sometimes we have to lock her out of the bedroom in the mornings when we leave  for work, or she won't come downstairs when my Mom comes to get her!) Then she  spends the rest of her day at their house, and gets to play with her Uncle  Bails, run around in their huge yard, and sometimes even gets to go bye-bye.  Then either Mommy or Daddy pick her up on their way home from
work. Its a pretty  good life.

We miss her each day  while we are at work, and are so happy to see her when we get home. Jasmine has  been with us camping, stayed in a cabin in Northern MN, even walked around  Gooseberry falls state park. She sends her allowance to a dog with a  heart condition each month and has for the past 3 years. We do our best to make  sure that if we go anywhere, it is dog friendly so we can bring her with. We  once brought her to an open house event that a home builder had that was dog  friendly, where she could get a free scarf, a photo taken, and even got to  "speak" to a pet psychic. The psychic said that Jasmine thought her name should  be Jackpot, because she is hit the jackpot when she found her new  Family. We also asked the psychic if she minded being called Stinky, and  she said No! I love to be Stinky!! She is loved by all, wherever she goes.


We  love our little girl more than anything, and thank God Pet Haven brought her  into our lives for her second chance at a great life. She has filled a hole in  my heart I never even knew I had and I don't know what I would do without my  little Stinky. To anyone who is reading this, please open your heart and home to  a rescue, they will spend the rest of their lives paying you back for doing  so."

Pet Haven Fall Benefit - 9 days away!

Our Fall Benefit is just 9 days away! Be sure to purchase your tickets soon. The event will be on Saturday, November 7th at 6 PM at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. You can purchase your tickets online on our website.

The evening will include dinner, silent auction and a pet fashion show, presented by Lulu & Luigi. Adoptable dogs and cats will be walking down the runway with local celebrities, including Pam Borton (head coach of the University of Minnesota's women basketball team), Lena Svenson of 101.3, Katie K9 of 107.1, M.A. Rosko of Fox9 Morning News and Donna Valentine of K102. The emcee for the night will be Staci Matthews of the Moon & Staci afternoon show on KS95.

As an all-volunteer foster-based animal rescue, all funds raised will go directly to supporting our adoption and spay/neuter programs.

We would like to thank our sponsors for their support of our third annual Fall Benefit.

Event Sponsor: Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet

Platinum Sponsors: Pampered Pooch Playground and Photographer's Guild

Fund the Need Sponsor: Downtown Dogs Minneapolis

Gold Sponsors: Canine Coach and Bloomington Vet Hospital

Silver Sponsor: Lake Harriet Veterinary

Bronze Sponsor: Richfield Credit Union and Plymouth Heights Hospital

If you would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities or donate to our silent auction click here.


For more information on the event visit our website. 

Your holiday shopping can support Pet Haven!

As the holidays approach, consider shopping for your friends and families at Twice the Gift and supporting Pet Haven and/or other local non-profits. Twice the Gift is a unique shop in downtown Minneapolis that showcases the products and services of over 50 Twin Cities non-profit organizations, of which Pet Haven is one. At Twice the Gift, shoppers can purchase products provided by each of the non-profits (including Pet Haven's blankets, treat jars, and other products), or purchase a Share Card, which honors a recipient's interests by providing a donation to one of the non-profits [Bode, a Pet Haven alum, was our quality control officer and ensured that the doggie treats were up to high standards ... as Bode says "only the best for Pet Haven supporters!]


Twice the Gift is located in the IDS Tower's Crystal Court, 80 South Eighth Street in downtown Minneapolis ... on Nicollet Mall and 8th Street. A grand opening celebration will be held on Wednesday, October 28 from 3-7 p.m. Pet Haven and A Rotta Love Plus will be the featured non-profits on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5.


The store is open from mid-October to December 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as on the three Sunday's preceding Christmas, from 12 noon to 5 p.m., and December 24 and 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See http://twicethegift.org/ for more information. We hope you'll stop buy to purchase some of our products or a Share Card in Pet Haven's name! And another HUGE thank you to the volunteers who helped make the products!

Hosea - little guy who loves his stuffed bear!

As small as Hosea is, between 5 and 6 pounds, he’s got the energy of many larger dogs put together. He loves to fetch his small, stuffed teddy bear as many times as you want to throw it. He’s into car rides, short walks, runs in the backyard and really cushy dog beds. All this at 10 years old.

Housetrained, Hosea can go 4-5 hours without telling you it’s time to go out. He hates being kenneled and will put up great protest if confined. He loves to play in the yard only if the weather is perfect. Rain or snow put him off his game, so make sure you walk him on those days, even if it’s just a short stroll.

Being a small guy with not a ton of fur, Hosea likes to burrow under pillows, cushions and blankets to stay toasty warm. Just make sure to be extra careful where you sit. Hosea might be napping out of sight.

If you are interested in learning more about Hosea email us at dogs@pethavenmn.org.

Adopted Dog Monday!

Sammy Jo has been in Pet Haven's foster program for a year. On Sammy Jo's one year anniversary from the first day Gayle and Sammy Jo (now just Sammy) met, Gayle made the adoption final. Sammy Jo says, "at last!" Gayle has spent countless hours working with Sammy to calm her fear based aggressive behaviors. She has been to classes with Maureen at Canine Coach and it has payed off for both Gayle and Sammy. Even canine brother Rusty is enrolled in a class now. Gayle also installed a brand new fence so Sammy can not go chasing squirrels around the neighborhood. 


Congratulations Sammy and Gayle!

Frosty, a 2 year old 12 lb maltese mix, found his forever home on Friday. He is the only canine companion of a very attentive mom. He has a big house to explore and grandkids to meet, so the first week in his new home will be very busy.  Frosty is such a well-behaved and happy boy that he is sure to charm the socks off of everyone he meets, just like he did with his new mom. His two most favorite things are walks and toys. His new mom walks three times a day and greeted him with a basket of toys when he came to visit her. Frosty's dream came true!

Stories from adopters: Brandy

We have a collection of Happy Tails from adopters who have shared with us how their adopted dog or cat is doing. If you have an adopted a dog or a cat from Pet Haven we would LOVE to hear from you. Send an email to editor@pethavenmn.org.

Our most recent story is one in memory of back packing Brandy. Here's an excerpt from her story:

"On her first backpacking trip back in 2001 she had a blast. She was a typical herder, going out front and then to pick up the last hiker, so she would walk twice as long as we did. She had her own doggie backpack in which she carried her food, water bottle and on that first trip extra items that didn't fit in our friend's backpack. We took her out to Utah's Uinta Mtn Range in 2005. She learned to cross a couple of rivers on that trip, once slipping off of the logs to cross the river, and almost getting carried under the logs by the current. One of friends had already crossed the river, quickly grabbed her and pulled her to safety.

Sadly this past May she started to cough quite a bit, so we brought her to our vet. She was diagnosed with lung cancer on June 7, 2009. She sure had slowed down a lot the past few months, and we think that is the toll the cancer is taking on her. We're sad to say that we had to put her down on Wed July 15, 2009, just 2 months short of her 13th birthday. Thank you for saving Brandy for me to adopt her."

Thank you for all the work you do for animals. We were both so grateful to be Brandy's parents for as long as we did."

To read her full story click here.

Our beloved furry companions are only here for a short time. Our greatest gift to them is to love them, care for them, and make them a valued member of our families --- Brandy's family did just that. When we open our hearts to these innocent creatures, in turn we learn how much they are in fact teaching us about life, loving, compassion, playfulness and letting go.

Giving back! Thanks Suzy!

Suzy's story is one that will make you cry ... she's been featured in our newsletter and in previous blog posts. In February 2009 she was part of her "then future dad's" proposal to the woman he had loved since the previous summer. To read more click here.

Suzy is another big black dog that came to us from one of our partner shelters in rural Iowa. After a rough start to life, all she does now is smile.... and she has all the reasons in the world to be happ

y now. Her mom and dad also feel the same way.

Just recently her mom and dad "tied the knot" ... she got to hang out at Rescue Buddy Boarding while they got married. Not a bad deal as the owner of Rescue Buddy Boarding was her foster when she was in Pet Haven's program. Suzy's parents decided that they wanted to give back to Pet Haven so at their wedding, for their dollar dance, they raised $100 and have donated it to Pet Haven! Suzy thinks her paren

ts are pretty cool. Well, we at Pet Haven think so too!

Check out what Suzy has to say about her mom and dad and how she thinks they just rock: Rescue Buddy Boarding blog.