Troy

Hey everyone,

Here I am just a little over 2 months later in my forever home. I have discovered so many things which include stairs (which I used to be scared of), toys (didn't know what to do with them at first) and my own yard (I just love the fresh powder after it snows!) . I've become quite the social guy at the dog park. I also like watching TV, although when there are shows with dogs (even my SCARS buddies on Saturday mornings) I get a bit excited when I hear them bark.

Thank you SCARS for rescuing me!

Troy

Doc (Ernie)

Thanks to SCARS for this adorable dog that, despite being almost 100 pounds and 7 months old, was still just a puppy when we got him. He's adapted really well to life with our other dog and a house kitten that would very easily fit in his mouth. He's very gentle and never hurts other animals. He was a little horse shy at the beginning, but now he feels really comfortable around horses. Doc is a gentle giant and my 3-year-old boy loves to play with him.

Thanks again.


Pat

Lauper

Dear SCARS,

It is certainly time for an update as Lauper is almost a year old now. She has been a part of our family since June 2008.

I must say "thank you so much" to SCARS and Lauper’s foster parents for letting us welcome Lauper into our home. She has offered so much love and asks for so very little in return.

When Lauper first came home, I have to admit, I was shocked at what an impact she made and I questioned if I’d made the right decision in adopting my first dog. Just like a new baby, no one can really tell you exactly what it’ll be like.

After about two weeks, Lauper adjusted to our schedule and house training began progressing slowly. She instantly became best friends with her four legged pal Mugsy whom she often mistakes for another dog while playing and chasing him around the house. Although I was concerned that her “playing” with the cat was too rough, I was assured by our vet that the cat would run away if he was being hurt. I decided to trust this and the two have formed a great bond and often lay together with me on the couch. Lauper is very jealous when Mugsy gets attention and she is left out so it is usually cat and dog laying on me. Although the play gets quite rowdy at times, Lauper is a gem and listens so well when told to stop.

Lauper’s other best friend comes in the form of a two legged seven year old who has fallen head over heals for his very best friend. My son has adapted to being a big brother and takes on the responsibility of walking her and playing with her as often as possible. I often find the two of them playing in my son's room where Lauper has taken on the role of some imaginary character. My son is so happy to have the puppy he has always wanted that he is now asking when we can get another one.

Lauper has stolen the hearts of her grandma and grandpa too, who spoil her with treats when she is at the cabin. She has to stay on a leash out there though as the open space gives her ideas about running and not coming back when called. This is strange as when she is off leash anywhere else, she listens so well and does not run away. Must be the call of the wild…

Her favorite hang out is the dog park where she runs and plays so nicely with all the other dogs. She is quite timid and is instantly submissive when approached by another dog, and so long as they are friendly, Lauper is happy to play. Her favorite time is playing at the dog park and with the mention of the word park; she begins her whimper tantrum until she can jump out of the car and play.

Another favorite hang out of hers is coming to school with me. Luckily, being able to bring Lauper to school with me has provided her with a home away from home. She loves being in class with the students and is excellent at staying in her crate when it’s work time. Her favorite time is running around the classroom from student to student soaking up all the attention they give her.

I am absolutely pleased with Lauper as she is very good dog. She is attentive and listens well. She is bright and eager to please. She is fully house trained and has not had an accident for months. She demonstrates only one fault and that is jumping up to say hello to anyone new, but we’re working on that one. I could not imagine her not being a part of our family now, and wonder how I went so long without her. Her best trick is when asked for a kiss, she gives me one and when I ask her to give my son a kiss, she kisses his face non stop. He giggles and she just keeps going. The happiness she has brought to our family is priceless.

Thank you!

Krystal

Jasmine

Hi to all the wonderful people at SCARS,

It has already been 6 months since I moved to my forever home. I was a timid girl when I first moved in and it took a few weeks to get used to the idea that I could eat everything in my bowl, and know that the next meal would always come. I now live near to an off‐leash park and have made many new friends. I like to wrestle and play chase with the younger ones, and learn some grown‐up things from the older ones.

My family took me to my first obedience class just before the winter set in, and I think my family learned a lot. They tell me that I have a few more things to learn, so I will be going to school again later this year to hone up my skills. I have decided that I really like playing in the snow, even on some of those very cold days, but I am looking forward to new things to smell and explore when spring comes along.

My foster Mom was pretty close when she said I was just about perfect. But she was
right on the money when she imagined that some day I would be snuggled up with a
little human girl some day. That’s because I have a big sister who gives me all the
hugs and love that every dog deserves.

I send my thanks to all you hard working folk at SCARS for making my new life so
great.

Kimmi (Kemo)

Hi everyone, my name was Kemo but I'm Kimmi now. I thought I'd let you know what's happening since I got adopted. I got my forever home in November 2007. Andrea told my new family that I was a lovable dog who didn't get up on the furniture... well she was right about one thing... I am a lovable dog. On the way to my new home I had a bit of a "gas" problem but my new parents just opened the windows and kept me anyway. I eventually got over the gas. I think I was just scared. I have my own bedroom that I adopted the first night I was here. I sleep on mom and dad's bed for a while then I go to my own room until it's time to get them up in the morning. I like my dad a lot, he takes me to the park and for truck rides, but my mom is my favorite. I cry when I see her car pull into the driveway. I'll do anything for her.

I have a really big back yard and I have a wonderful (sometimes) brother. I let him think he's in charge. The two of us get to ride in the truck and go to the off leash park for a big walk every day.

We have Christmas parties and birthday parties and I even get presents. I now have a big collection of squeaky bunnies and I bring one to mom and dad every time they come home. "Green Bunny" is my favorite.

In the summer we go to the lake for two months and I get to go walking, boating and swimming every day. I think I am a very lucky girl.

Thanks, SCARS for finding me the best home ever.

Kimmi

Sofee

Hey everyone at SCARS;

I just thought I'd update you on how Sofee is doing. I know her foster family said that they thought she'd be the one dog whom would not be able to be adopted out, but when I saw her I knew she was the one. It's almost as though she chose me. Since then she's become quite the dog. She has an amazing personality that shines at every chance she gets. She's had some of her fur grow back since we adopted her on October 6th, 2007, and she's almost stopped licking and chewing on her paws altogether. Lately we've noticed she put on a bit of weight, which is good since when we got her she was pretty skinny. We changed the spelling of her name from Sofie to Sofee just to be completely unique. My older sister Kim had nicknamed her Magoofy at Christmas 2007 and since then she has lived up to that nickname. Her personality is most defiantly a goofy one. She's currently sitting here with her head resting on my lap, waiting for her walk, as she does everyday. At times she's even wanted to pass up eating just to go for her walk, but I always told her I'd wait for her to eat before I left. She fits in perfectly with our family, and gets along with everyone of us, even my friends say she's just like me.

With Love this Valentines Day

JoJo, Cheryl, Peter, Kimber-Lee, Rosie, and Sofee

Sarah

Well it has been about 9 weeks since my girlfriend adopted Sarah from Second Chance. She is really doing well at the acreage and has come out of most of her shyness. She is still shy with strangers, especially men, but warms up quickly especially upon the 2nd meeting. She used to be shy in the mornings but not anymore. Usually she does not let me out of her sight all day long. She loves her car and truck rides. She is getting very good at dancing especially if there is something extra in her food such as steak or hamburger. She used to gobble down her food with reckless abandon but is now way more relaxed and sometimes even leaves some leftovers for a snack later. She loves her toys but does take them outside on occasion and loses them when she gets distracted by deer in the yard. Oh well, spring will be here soon enough and I am sure we will find them along with other hidden treasures. She has really made a welcome addition.

A lot of people that we encounter are even famialr with Sarah from Global news and have seen her before. So hats off to the folks at SCARS and keep up the good work. I will keep you posted of her triumphs and tribulations!

Thanks Neil

Jose

Hello there,

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to adopt a wonderful dog. I was at your Pet Adoption Day on Jan 9 /09, and met all the wonderful dogs and amazing people in your organization. Once I got to know Josie a little, I knew that she was the match for me. She has bonded with me quite well, and has virtually never left my side since I adopted her. She is a wonderful dog and is learning quite well. She does have a few bad habits, but with patience and time she is getting rid of those. I am grateful to have been able to help her out and your organization. I have attached some photos of her and will keep you updated on her progress.


Thanks Again,

Brian

Belinda

Good evening,

My name is Nicole and we just adopted Belinda yesterday. I wanted to express our gratitude to you, your volunteers and others that help the animals in need. Please read a little about us.

Eleven years ago my husband and I gave up trying to have a baby and set out to adopt a dog. After several attempts we didn't find one that suited us. Several months went by and a friend mentioned that someone they knew was just going to take their dog to the SPCA due to a move they were making in their lives that made keeping their dog impossible. I sent my son, Michael, and husband to take a look and they returned home with our first family dog "Goldie." Shortly after we became pregnant with our 2nd son "Arthur."

Goldie was so much a part of our lives it was hard to think of her ever leaving but the time came and as painful as it was to let her go, we had to. This happened October 26th with not much warning. Michael, myself and a close friend came and we laid with "Goldie" while she fell fast asleep in our arms. Arthur was reasonably upset and wanted to do a fundraiser for cancer awareness with dogs. As much as I wanted to encourage him, I felt it was important to support already established needs such as SCARS and I showed him the web site. I even told him that perhaps after Christmas or in the spring we would adopt a dog from SCARS.

Christmas came and went. On January 20th my husband and I started the journey to search for another family member to join us. We walked into a pet store with several puppies in the window (which caught our eye while driving down the street) and spotted a few that might suit us. The decision needed to be made right away from the store and we didn't want to feel rushed... and perhaps a pet store purchase just didn't feel "right."

January 22, 2009. My son Arthur has a dental appointment and I tell him afterwords we are going to the Vet Office where "Goldie" was put to sleep to pick up her paw print, which we had made for our Christmas tree. We walked in and saw the SCARS calendar for sale and Arthur looked at me knowing full well we were going to buy it - no ifs, ands or butts. Then walks in Deb from SCARS holding this precious black bundle of love. I couldn't help myself and I ask how old "her" dog is. She tells me the age and that the dog is looking for a home. All of a sudden Arthur and I looked at each other and that was "it." I held her and then Arthur held her. No going back now. We knew then it felt "right." We then finally spoke with the receptionist and explained why we were there. Upon receiving the "paw" print, I asked Deb for her card and phone numbers, took a photo of her with Belinda and then rushed home.

When we got home, I showed my husband and older son and we were all in agreement. I called Deb and told her there was NO doubt that we already loved Belinda and our home was ready for her. It has now been 24 hours and she's not been a minute out of my sight or my heart. We've renamed her "Abby" and she sure seems settled in.

I want to, again, express my gratitude for doing what you and everyone else does for these animals. If it weren't for you, our family would not be complete again. You will always have our support, if not financially then with our voices and hearts. We hope to see you more on Global.

Sincerely,

Nicole, Art, Michael, Arthur jr. Taz (the cat) and of course... Abby.

Ronan (Panda)

I am writing this letter as a thank you for the wonderful family members that SCARS has provided for us over the last couple of years. It all started when my fiance and I were searching for a purebred dog to join our family. In the process, we stumbled across the SCARS website. Over the next few months, I would look at the website almost daily dreaming of the day when we could finally get a dog (we we’re waiting for our house to be built). Shortly after moving into our new home, the website posted some puppies brought into SCARS care. I immediately fell in love with a little puppy named Panda. Once he was old enough, we brought him home and named him Ronon. He was an excellent starter puppy, very willing to learn and loved our other four leggers (two cats and two lizards). Ronon was such a joy to raise that, once he was a year old, we began the search for another puppy to join our family so that Ronon could have a little baby brother. After the wonderful luck we had with SCARS we thought we’d begin our search there again. Well it didn’t take long before another adorable puppy caught our eye. His name was Salem and he was born into the care of SCARS. We called immediately to inquire about him and a couple weeks before Christmas we were able to bring him home. We named him Rodney. Training Rodney has been even easier then training Ronon. Rodney is Ronon’s little shadow and wants to do everything that his big brother can do. At three months old he can already sit, wait, come, lay down, shake a paw, bedtime, and if he was big enough he’d jump in the car when he was told (although he tries to very hard). When Ronon was 6 months old we did a long drive to BC and spent a great week camping, hiking and enjoying the water. Now we are looking forward to doing it again this year with both of our wonderful boys. Long story short… Thank you SCARS for letting us have the joy of having Ronon (formerly Panda) and Rodney (formerly Salem) in our lives. I can’t imagine life without our fur babies.

-Amber, Rich, and the rest of our four legged family

Dexter

Hi SCARS family!

I was at the last adoption event at Petsmart with Dexter (who I adopted this past July) and someone mentioned to me that I should send in my story. I don't think I ever told the SCARS people the whole gist of me and Dexter's story either, so here it is:

I've wanted a dog for as long as I could remember, but was never allowed. So instead, I ended up being the child who brought home the stray dogs all the time, went to the pet store and bought a hamster on my own when I was 11, and told other friends to buy budgies, bunnies, kittens, and if they could - puppies. Ha-ha! Anyways, once I got my own house, I started researching dogs immediately. I researched on breeds and training and costs and everything for almost 2 years. I knew about all the horror stories of people just buying a dog out of impulse and then because they didn't do their research and were not prepared for the responsibility, the poor dogs would be abandoned on the streets or surrendered to the SPCA and possibly put down. I wanted to make sure that I never did that.

I was looking at purchasing a puppy from breeders when some friends of mine told me about SCARS. They had adopted a beautiful puppy who had a really hard life early on. After seeing him and how well he had healed and adjusted to their home and family, I looked into SCARS. During this time, I had also just found out that my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and would be starting chemotherapy as well as having surgery later on. I was stressed and worn down from all the extended family worrying and also from my own thoughts of "what if". But even with that going on, I was still set on adopting a dog. So I contacted SCARS and then went to an adoption day at Tailz and found my blessing.

When I met Dexter I just knew that he was meant to be mine. I went around to take a look at the others but I then noticed another family looking at Dexter and my heart yelled out: "No! He's mine!!". So, I put in my request and he was truly mine a few days later. Dexter was the absolute most amazing dog I could have ever hoped for. He was already so well trained and was so affectionate right off the bat. I took him to the dog parks almost every day and we had great walks and talks with other dog owners. He truly was exactly what I needed and getting Dexter has been the best decision of my life. I really believe that God blessed me with Dexter inorder for me to be strong for my mom and family and to ground me in my life. I find that taking care of him is actually taking care of myself as I don't work crazy long hours anymore and actually have food in my fridge and cook and eat at home. I also love going for those walks and the dog parks have given me serenity and a new found appreciation for this city. Dexter is always a hit with other dog owners and he has this way of playing with everyone! I've been told by numerous amounts of dog owners how good Dexter is and how he's helping to "train" their dogs to play and be gentle or that they're amazed that their dog is playing, etc. He's also a hit with all my friends and I'm constantly complimented about how amazing Dexter is and how handsome he is, and things like that.

Now I just adopted another puppy (who I named Reese) and he and Dexter get along so well. We're a family! Well, I'll send more about the new puppy soon. Along with pictures.

Thank you so much SCARS for all your hard work and the difference you are all making in this world! I am proud to have adopted a SCARS dog and appreciate you all so much.

Cheers and God Bless!

Sarah

Leo

Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Without your wonderful society we wouldn't have our Dog LEO. We adopted Leo in January 2006. 12 weeks old at the time....he is now 3 years old. A smart, spirited, high energy dog who loves to run, hike, swim and anything else that has to do with the outdoors. This is great for our lifestyle! During days that aren't great for the outdoors, Leo loves to do tricks for treats or play hide and seek in the house. He enjoys to cuddle and a nice massage or being groomed is great in his mind. I never thought it would be comforting to have a dog share my pillow.

Anyways, thank you again for the wonderful work you do.

Stephanie, Jeremy and Leo

Asylum (Layne)

Hello SCARS,

Thought we would drop you a line as we welcome in a brand new year.I adopted Asylum (formerly Layne) on Cinqo de Mayo 2008, and our bond began immediately. His adoption report indicated he was aggressivetoward other male dogs. The neighborhood I lived in at the time was surrounded by other dog owners, mostly males, and Asylum was having some difficulty. I had to overnight out of town for a couple of days on business and found a great boarding service to entrust Asylum to. I explained his aggressionto the facility and they assured me he would be in great hands.When I picked him up 2 days later, he approached me wagging his tail so hard that his body was swaying, and, surprisingly to me, was joyfully romping around with other male dogs. He hated to leave there, but I knew right then that he was going to return for some more fun. I booked him andI in for some training. In under 2 hours, Asylum already knew all the basics.We have moved since but still work on our training. He doesn't listen 100%of the time but I am so encouraged by his progress. He is so friendly withdogs, cats, babies, and adults. He loves meeting everyone and seemsflabbergasted when he meets a dog that doesn't want to play with him. Maybe he is a tad narcissistic.I have since taught him to run alongside my quad and we go for runs (well,he runs...I drive and laugh) often. We currently live on the northwestcoast of BC, where he has had his first salt water experience, and rode inthe elevator for the first time. He chases the seagulls, and as we are onour daily walks, we meet many so many people. He is a chick magnet !!!

Anyway, we will update you again in the future, but thought this photo ofAsylum might demonstrate how he loves hats. LOL.Curtis

Bramble (Beatrice)

Hi,

Thought it was time I updated you on Bramble’s progress. Since adopting her in August she’s come a long way but is still very shy with strangers. She’s very bonded to me and will try to follow me wherever I go. She absolutely loves her walks and that’s where her real personality comes out – she can relax and just be the young dog she is. Her favourite outing is to go tobogganing with the two little boys in her family – she races them down the hill and then runs back and forth while they slowly make their way back up. She’s very bright and caught on to the tasks in obedience school quickly. And while she hasn’t yet convinced the family cat that he should play with her, she keeps trying. Her best buddy is another SCARS adoptee who lives 5 houses down from us on the block – they’ve had many a happy day having a play-date in our backyard. While I know that Bramble will probably never fully overcome her fears, she’s still a wonderful addition to our house who makes us laugh with her enthusiasm for snow, stuffies and peanut butter.

Anneliese

SweetPea

Thank-you SCARS for giving us the chance to welcome SweetPea into our family!

She really fits in with our household. And she loves her new sister and brother. She loves to cuddle up with them on the couch and take a nice nap. In the mornings, she will sit beside me and put her paws on my shoulders and give me a hug, and it melts my heart. She also gives A LOT of kisses to everyone who will accept them. Even the cat. SweetPea also enjoys truck rides and just about bursts at the seams when she knows it's time to go driving. She likes to look out the window and bark at the birds. SweetPea has made our little family complete and we love her deeply.

Thank you SCARS.

SweetPea and Susan

Stella (Abby)

Hello everyone at SCARS,

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on Stella (who was named Abbey) who we adopted from Sylvia.

Abbey has been fantastic and a wonderful addition to our family. The first couple of days were hard on her as I believe she was adjusting to her new surroundings and family - myself, Lindsay and our two cats, Artoo and Felicity, but she is now definitely a huge part of our family. Since we adopted her, Abbey has gone from being quite shy and timid to very outgoing and playful. Christmas has been fantastic to all of us and Abbey received more gifts than any of us combined. We look forward to watching her grow and know that there will be plenty of Christmas' ahead to enjoy with her. So thank you SCARS and Sylvia for making our adoption process so easy. We never imagined that we would get someone as wonderful as Abbey. You've really enriched our lives with all of the hard work you all put in.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Tony, Lindsay, Artoo, Felicity and Abbey

Nikki (AKA Tuff, Niko)

Dear SCARS,

Niki is four now and the vet is so amazed at his progress. He is my constant companion.

Thank you all for your tireless work!

Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and all the best in 2009.

Christie and Niki

---

May 29, 2008

It all started when I kept trying to ‘steal’ my daughter’s beautiful dog ‘Sasha!’ My daughter told me to get my own dog! My younger daughter, Kimi, discovered SCARS and said she was amazed at the variety of pups and dogs on this rescue site! I didn’t want a new puppy, they were easy to adopt, I wanted a dog that would be a great guard dog, large, tough and powerful.

I was immediately drawn to Niko. Not the picture, (the photos never do these beauties justice) not really the story, but something drew me to him, a feeling maybe. He had already been rescued once before.

Now he was back, rescued again.

Niki had spent the last two and a half years in very unfavorable conditions to say the least. Without going into details, I can only say this sweet boy did not learn the social skills puppies need to as they would when they grow up in calm happy homes. It was just the opposite for this pup. Needless to say, his social skills are lacking.

I am so grateful for the patience SCARS has with dogs like him. When Niko was rescued, for the second time, he was too close to being sent to canine-heaven; they came in the nick of time.

When I took him for his first walk, he saw a Doberman, and he ‘reacted’ like an “explosive bolt of lightning,” tore after the other dog, dragging me onto the road into oncoming traffic. (I cannot imagine what happened to him to make him react this way, but whatever occurred, I KNOW it was not his doing!) This is when I decided the 100 pounds of powerful Boxer-Lab and I were not going to die tonight! I tackled him, and rolled onto the sidewalk with him, thankful we were alive. (So were the man and the Doberman who kept running!)

The next day, we started our walks with a full harness, halter and collar, and I attached Niki to my waist with three leads. There was no way this would happen again! I would be ready! As soon as he saw another dog and started to growl, I gave him the very sharp and stern “LEAVE IT!” command. I made sure I was prepared and he knew I meant business. After months of walks, love, talking, love, commands, treats, love, training, love, treats, consistency, and building trust day in, day out, I realized I have a comical canine genius, who is 100% protective, wanting so much to please me. He is loyal, loving, neat and tidy (but I can’t get him to vacuum), great in the car, extremely Mr. Prefect in the house (not so much outside) but improving every day!

I can hardly wait to come home daily so we can play. I had to go to Sleep Country to buy a larger better bed, so we could both be more comfy! (YES really!) He follows me everywhere when I am home. (I’m at home a lot more than ever before because of my sweet Niki!) He has a new girlfriend next door. He adores my daughter and her boyfriend. He has a bed in almost every room and the best organic food money can buy.

He does not bark, rip furniture, make long distance phone calls, whine or destroy anything in the house. He is extremely content when I go to work (why not he gets the great bed all to himself!).

After our walks, he is happy to put his head on my lap as I read in bed or as I sit on the floor. (He never goes on the couch, as it is leather and he slides off! Too funny!) He is so patient and calm. During the night he gently places his large beautiful head on my hip and is so grateful for a warm place to live. (I can see this in his beautiful brown eyes!)

Considering he is lacking social skills, he is amazing with my four little grandchildren. Gentle and sweet and slurpee. (Babies drool, dogs don’t mind wiping it up – isn’t that great?) He loves women, he loves children, and sometimes… men. Niki has three times taken a protective stance in front of me during a walk when a male came too close, each time; rightfully so.

I may never be able to take him to a dog park, and he may not have the same skills other dogs have, but I would never give him up, not for any money. This beauty is a miracle.

So although my right arm is three inches longer than my left, it is no big deal. I can help reach for the cans at the top shelf at the store, so it’s all okay!

Niki would never be the right dog for every family, but he is the perfect dog for me. I am crazy about him. He may protect me, but I will protect him too! He will always have his freedom with me. He will never be chained up again, he will never be hurt in any way, and though he is still head-shy and ducks as I walk by to pat him, I lift his sweet face and let him give me kisses and eventually the pain of the past will start to fade as the love he is getting comes to the surface and drowns the memories he never deserved in the first place.

Thank you so very much SCARS!

Christie

Niki’s Mommy

Sox

Hi my name is Sox and I would like to update you on my forever home.

My people can't believe how much they love me. It's an unconditional love! Sometimes I can be a little knotty but even then my people seem to love me even more.

I have grown so much. They got me when I was about 5 weeks old, I was abandoned on a farm. I thought you would like to see me now. I am quite handsome if I do say so myself.

Sarah

Hi there:

My girlfriend recently adopted Sarah from you and she is living with us at our acreage by Stony Plain. She is really fitting well into the household. She really loves to sit on the couch and watch everything and the birds through the window.

We have also bought her a pet bed and she only took one night before she was sleeping on that. So she is a really nice doggy. Sometimes she is a little difficult to get in and out of the car/truck/house but is really coming around. She is shy in the morning but usually about 5 boy she really busts loose and really loves to chase that ball. So she is a really nice doggy.

Thank you.

Neil

Sage (Pebbles)

Hello SCARS!

I just wanted to send some updated pictures of my girl Sage (formerly "Pebbles" from the Flintstones litter!). As you can see, after her rough start at life, she is a healthy happy girl, and she owes it all to you! I hardly know how to say thank you for everything you did for her and her littermates. I was told that the others had broken jaws from being abused, and Sage was one of several who had parvo. They were all going to be shot. We look at her now, likely approaching her first birthday sometime soon, and we can't imagine what could have been.

Thank you for making her important and caring for her when no one else did. She is a crazy happy little girl, full of energy and life and as feisty as they come! She loves to run, "chewies" are her favorite, she LIVES for peanut butter and steals coffee every chance she gets no matter how much trouble it gets her in! (??!) She watches tv (her favorite is the Dog Whisperer! We hope she will pick up some things by osmosis haha!! )and she thinks one of her single missions in life is to rid the world of tags! (?!) She has character and personality plus... and she is LOVELY when she is tired!! :) She now comes to us for affection, and is becoming a little less independent. She prefers to be interacting with us instead of outside on her own now, and brings us her bones to hold for her while she chews as she crawls into our laps (I think sometimes she sees us as her staff..!). She is becoming more loving and sweet and is starting to cuddle and loves to give kisses on your ear! We have worked hard together to build a bond, and we are now seeing her mature into a wonderful companion.The support that you have ALL provided me since I adopted Sage in May has been phenomenal! Thank you for keeping in touch with us and for always making us feel important. A special thank you to Colleen and Rick for loving her and keeping her safe in her foster home, I know how hard it was for you that day we sat in the grass together... saying your goodbyes and trusting me to care for her after all you had been through with her....and Pam you've been a huge support, always helping me through the challenging days, and offering advice to help make her the best girl she can be. It was more difficult than I had anticipated, taking on a little someone with a bruised past and an alpha nature...but it has been one of the most rewarding experiences and I'm so glad for it...and for her.So thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for her "Second Chance".

Keep up the amazing work, and Sage and I will continue to be proud advocates and share our story!

Happy Holidays!

xo Jen and Sage

Tug (Tuxedo)

Hi everyone @ Scars,

Just dropping you a line to say Merry Christmas to all at the shelter. I have been living the life of Riley out here on the farm. It is so fun to just run and run and run. I have been at my forever home for over a year now, and have met some new friends. My very bestest friend is my new dog brother Charlie. He is an old, and I mean old, Basset hound. He dosn't move very fast, so I wait for him at the door, and try to get him to run, but with not to much luck. We have separate dog bed's in Mom and Dad's room, but we prefur to sleep together. We have become inseperalbe. I have met the neighbours. One morning in the summer, I was outside when it thundered, and I bolted. I went right on into there kitchen. By the way... I can open doors, if you were wondering. I am so scared of thunder, it is not funny. Mom and Dad do their best if we have grey skies, they head me right for the door if I am outside, or don't let me out if I am inside. I just sit there and shake. Other than that, I mow the lawn's with grandpa, herd the kids on the quad, been boating, herd the horses around, and sit outside by the firepit in the summer, and wait for the hotdog's to come my way.

I have had some minor surgury as well. I had to have one of my dew claws removed, it was looking funny and was getting infected. I was a real trooper though. Had my surgery, wore cool colored bandages for about a week, and ran and ran. That didn't slow me down at all. The vet thinks I should get into agility training. My mom said she would look into it in the spring.

Well I think I have about covered my life out here, Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the cats. I like them. I chased one of them up a tree the first day I got here, but since then, we have all worked out our pecking order, and we are now friends. Go figure, never thought I would be saying that.

Well all I had better "run" Just snuck into the computer room to drop this line to you. Thanks for finding me my new home. Everyone just adore's me as much as I adore them. You all do very important and great work, so dogs like me can find happiness. Sloppy wet Tug kisses to all the volunteers...

Happy Holidays to all, and I hope Santa drops a few dog bone's in your stocking from me...

"Tug " AKA Tuxedo

Flora

Merry Christmas everyone and a special hello to Sylvia from Flora and family.

Flora has had a wonderful year of fun and adventure- swimming with her new life jacket, going bird hunting with her dad, camping all over Alberta. She is coming to Jasper for Christmas with her best friend and canine brother Basil, since we had such a great time there hiking and playing in the snow last year. She is looking forward to a new obedience training session starting in January. She is truly our little gem and we are grateful for her every day. Here are some recent photos of her. Take care all the best to all of you and to all the SCARS animals in 2009.

Cailin and Andrew

---

May 8, 2008


Just wanted to say hi from Flora and us. It's so hard to believe it's already been one year since she joined our family- seems like we've had her forever. She is doing great. She continues to be the most loving, affectionate dog in the world. She follows Basil around like a shadow with a huge smile on her face and they are inseparable as ever. Currently, they are just lounging out in the yard eating some carrots (her favourite treat!) after a good wrestle together. One of her favourite thing to do is still to chase rabbits in the field. She has a one track mind when it comes to this and she can cover some serious ground chasing them. We are working on having her respond to a whistle because I'm always paranoid she will chase the rabbits too far. She loves to swim and we're going to get a kiddie pool for the pups in the backyard when it gets warm enough. I'm sending you some photos of Flora at Christmas in Jasper and around the house. Hope you are doing very well!

Take care,

Flora, Basil, Cailin and Andrew

Blackie

Blackie has been such a welcome addition to our family. We feel so fortunate to have been able to make him part of our lives. He is so well behaved and so eager to please. Blackie and I have started running twice a day (although running may be the wrong word as often there are very interesting things that require sniffing along the way) and the ravine by our house provides endless opportunity for exploration. We have established a routine and are settling in wonderfully.

I can't thank SCARS enough for the care the gave my little one while he was with you. Thank you Colleen (I have misplaced your email address but hope this will get to you) for your advice and care you provided Blackie while he was in your care!

I have attached just a couple pictures and will update you in the future!

Hope

Hello My name is Heidi and we adopted Hope July of 2007. We just wanted to let you know that she is doing great, she is such a wonderful friendly girl. She loves going to the dog park and chasing after sticks for hours. She is learning how to catch a Frisbee and in January we are going to start agility classes. She came on vacation with us last summer and got to go swimming a lot and made lots of new friends. She gets so much love and affection everyday and she makes us laugh everyday.

Thank you SCARS for all the hard work you do and thank you Brianna and Ryan (Hopes foster Parents) for training her so well. We are so greatful to have found such a perfect match for us.

Thank you,

Heidi and Jamie

Leah

Hi SCARS!!

I just wanted to give you an update on Miss Leah. She is doing very well and has my mom trained to suit her needs. Leah has decided she needs to sleep in the house at night and causes a fuss until my mom lets her in. She is not allowed in the living room, but has wrangled her way into the bedroom during thunderstorms!! At bedtime she has no desire to sleep in her princess bed. The back entry is just fine (although the cat disagrees). She is such great company for my mom.

Of course, Leah still comes over to our place to play with the boys and set them straight. Our friend's guide dog took a shine to Leah this summer. We laughed that the city boy fell for the rough and tumble country girl. At first Leah was oblivious to Bennett's advances, but now they are buddies.

Leah is very comfortable in our house thanks to my husband Mark. I took this picture of Leah on the couch as blackmail. If my mom finds out we let her up on the couch we will be in big trouble!!

Leah keeps us on our toes and certainly puts a smile on our face. She is a great addition to our family.

Huey

Hi there,

Just a quick note to let you guys know, Huey is doing great in his new home. He's adapting to our routine and gets along with our other dog, Elmo, very well.

He loves hugs and sleeping on your lap and also loves to play chase with Elmo. He's bonded very quickly with us and has made a wonderful new addition to our family.

Thanks,

Simon

Dexter (Runter)

Well November 15th was my day to find my companion!

I went to an animal rescue shelter for SCARS Second Chance Animal Rescue Society. Well to my surprise I came accross the most adorable 7 week old Bordie Collie x named Runter. He is light brown as his primry color with black facial features and a white belly. He was the smallest of the litter and weighs no more than 2lbs. He is a bungle of energy when he's not sleeping which is most of the time. In the 4 and a half days hes been home theres been 2 minor pee and only becase we did not make it outside fast enough......


I have encluded a few pictures to introduce you to our new puppy and his name is Dexter - he's my new male partner in crime...lol So far we have practiced getting use to that darn collar and leash, I get bribbed with great treats so it's not all bad, I watch t.v with the adults after our walks around the house, I stay inside pretty much all the time atleast till my shots are up to date, and the only time I get to go outside is well you know... I'm confimed to a 4ft x 4ft area which is easire to find in the dark arff. I love car rides and even went to the bank and grocery store stuffed inside my owners coat,,who knows maybe he was cold...Just wanted to say thank-you to all of you for taking care of me till I got my house with the fireplace cause it's gonna get cold..



Ciao for now and let me know if you received my 8x10 glossy head shots xoxoxo

Kaiser, Pekoe

Hi!

We brought Kaiser (aka Pekoe, one of Lilas pups) home at the end of summer last year. He has grown so much and become a joyful addition to our family.

He loves going for walks and being around people.He is a very healthy and happy boy and brings us smiles each day.

Thanks so much SCARS!

Cyrus

Hello Friends at SCARS!

My name is Cyrus, my “mommy & daddy” adopted me on September 6, 2008 from my foster mom Shelly. My “mommy” is having a little difficulty downloading some of the pictures of me, but hopefully she can have that rectified shortly and send them in.

My first few days at my “furever home” took some getting used to. I was very well behaved but would not play with any of my toys, go on my big orthopedic doggie bed, let my “daddy” take pictures of me and I gobbled down all my food as if it were my last meal.

After some begging and pleading on my “mommy’s” part, I laid down on my bed the second night. Although she had to lay down on it first (it’s really big, I think she misjudged how big I was when she bought it, we both fit on it comfortably). Now, when I know my “mom” is heading up to bed I run up after her and immediately plant myself on my bed. In the morning when my “daddy” gets up for work I take his spot in his bed. Ssshh, it’s a secret!

It took almost a full month for me to play with my toys and I would only play when my “mom” started it. I am now happy to report that I will grab a toy and engage my “mom” in a game of tug-a-war, catch-me-if-you-can, fetch and something my “mom” calls “give me that squeaky”.

For a Labrador retriever/pit bull cross, I am the biggest cuddle bug. Although I weight 40lbs that does not stop me from laying on my “mom” while she’s in the recliner watching tv. My “dad” calls me a cat. I am also as quiet as a cat. My “mom” thinks I may have been hit for barking, so she’s slowly trying to teach me that it is okay to bark, especially when someone is at the door or if I hear a strange noise.

I am a very quick learner, I know how to sit, shake paw, high five, stay, dance and “walk”. When my mom says “walk” I immediately run for my leash and sit by the front door. I also know how to smile. Yes, smile! Although my mom didn’t teach me this. When my parents have been away for a period of time and they come home, I meet them at the door and smile. I lift up the corner of my mouth exposing my teeth before I jump up to say hello. My “mom” says that it’s the oddest and cutest thing she has ever seen.

I want to thank all of the people at SCARS and especially my foster mom Shelly for rescuing me and taking such good care of me before my parents came along. Because I am such a good boy people are always asking my “mom” where I came from, she immediately sends them to SCARS.

Thank heaven for all you angels!
Cyrus, Lilyia and Greg.

Pumpkin and Maggie

Hello SCARS!

I wanted to give you an update on Pumpkin and Maggie.

We adopted Pumpkin 4 years ago as a very timid and malnourished little girl. She was found at a gas station at Wandering RIver and was 28 pounds (and had puppies) when we adopted her (she now weighs 35 pounds). She didn't know how to walk up and down stairs, was terrified of men, cats and the fridge turning on. I took her to dog obedeince classes for almost a full year to just sit and watch because she was so terrified of everything. After a year, she was physically well enough to enter Obedience classes, and from there we went on to Agility. She has just started competing in Agility this year. I get a lot of laughs when I line up with Pumpkin Pie at the agility trials when she is surrounded by dogs named Zoom, Swifty, and Rocket! Pumpkin has no problem stopping during a run to give me heck with her husky 'wooo wooo' howl when I've done something wrong, much to the delight of everyone!! She has gained a lot of confidence from when we first got her, but she is still timid, gentle and shy. Her new big sister Maggie has given her a lot of confidence and they play for hours.

Maggie, our big orange dog, was found in the ditch by Dave out by Parkland. Dave told us he stopped to pick up the dog, and was amazed to see puppy after puppy in the ditch- Maggie had 7 puppies in total. Maggie was found in December, 2007 and now almost a year later she is, as I call her, 60 pounds of love. The best description of Maggie was what Dave wrote about her: goofy. We needed a dog that liked cats as we have one cat who is deaf, and Mggie fit the bill perfectly. Maggie was used as an assessment dog at our daycare to see if other dogs had a suitable temperment to attend daycare. She loves small dogs and puppies, and she is left with them at daycare to mother them the entire day. Maggie is a ball of energy and she should be finished her agility training this spring, with the hopes of competing this summer. She is the baby of the family and is very spoiled.

I am so thankful and grateful to SCARS for saving these two dogs. They are members of our family and we are blessed to have them in our lives.

Kind regards,

Patrick and Penny

Autumn

Hi my name is Stephanie , I adopted Autumn (she is your Miss September in your calender) almost a year ago now.

She is the best dog I have ever had, we absolutely adore her. I took some great pictures of her and thought you might like to see how she is doing and what she grew up to be. She gets along great with all the other animals on our farm, the picture of her with the calf, that is her best friend, he was an orphan and grew up thinking he was a dog as Autumn was always with him.

Thank you for being there and giving these wonderful dogs a second chance. Steph

Jeckyl

Hello Friends at SCARS,

Just wanted to give you guys an update on how fantastic it has been since Jeckyl came into our lives! We adopted Jeckyl (after much begging and pleading on my end) on May 27th, 2008 and he has been spectacular ever since!

He is ridiculously high energy but that couldn’t have been better because it has forced us into a healthier lifestyle change that is full of 3-5 walks a day! He is always entertaining and actually just finished a huge adventure with me. Every Friday morning to Sunday night for 6 week-ends in a row the two of us would fly out to Kelowna to be trained by Brad Pattison so that I could become a Certified Educator Trainer for dogs and their families. Jeckyl was absolutely the BEST “textbook” I ever could have asked for because although he challenged me every step of the way he helped me to learn so very much. The changes I have seen since our 6 week-ends in Kelowna is amazing. He is a calmer and much more respectful dog! He became so well rounded with our trips out to Kelowna every week-end! The airports loved him and the moment they would see his big ears walking towards the “Oversized Backage” area I could hear people yelling “IT’S JECKYL, JECKYL’S BACK!” and they are all so excited to be able to hang out with him until we would board our plane.

My husband and I have also just bought a house with a nice big backyard for Jeckyl and Darren makes fun of me all the time saying we bought a bigger house to accommodate our big dog! And that is partially true but I think when you love something like your pet so much you will go out of your way to accommodate them! Darren who was so apposed to a dog in the beginning absolutely LOVES Jeckyl and every now and then I catch them cuddling together on the floor both asleep!

Jeckyl’s picture has also made the world wide web and can be seen on Brad’s website below:
http://www.bradpattison.com/edmonton/sara-klapstein.html

We are very thankful for the foster family that had Jeckyl before us as they did an unbelievable job preparing him for us. We couldn’t have asked for a better dog and hope that every dog placed with SCARS finds a loving home.

Thank-you so much!

Love,

Sara, Darren and Jeckyl

Sachee (Versace)

Hello Everyone:

We just wanted to let you know how Sachee is doing. Well, she is absolutely wonderful and spoiled rotten to prove it. She has been an absolute joy. We hadn't had a puppy in the house for 16 years. Lately it seemed we were rescueing older dogs which was fine. This time we wanted a puppy, we thought it would work better and it did.

One of the fringe benefits is that our oldest dog, that I found in a ditch, had never been properly housebroken. She was about a year old when we got her and it never really occured to us that she would need to be trained.

Over time we found out differently. Well in having to house break Sachee, Brenna was also finally house trained.

When we adopted Sachee we thought that she was going to be a large dog and we were hoping it would be true. Well by our standards she is small. She is about 18" tall and about 35 pounds. I can still pick her up and give her puppy huggings.

Sachee and the third dog Otis are best friends and play wonderfully well together.I have sent pictures of Sachee over the past year.

My husband and I thank you for doing all the work that you do and for allowing us the opportunity to have adopted and enjoy Sachee.

Cam and Pam

Gunner (AKA Goliath)

Dear SCARS Volunteers,

It is just over a year now since we adopted Gunnar (or Goliath) from you, and we'd love to update. Gunnar is personality PLUS! We have gone from taking a cautious "alpha" male to owning a 130 lb. dog that thinks he's a pomeranian ~ no one can escape him trying to climb on your lap for a cuddle! He has become quite the town celebrity, as a normal 30 min walk generally takes over an hour, because EVERYONE wants to visit with this gentle giant. (They aren't nearly as thrilled to see us..hahaha). There isn't a week that goes by that we don't have offers to adopt him. (We could've fostered 5 dogs like him and found great homes for ALL of them) He has really become an ambassador, and can usually be found riding in the work truck as a "Silent Patrollman", going for a walk doing "cat clean-up", or taking up an entire queen-size bed. What can we say.... we lucked out. He is really a joy to have around, and again we thank you for the wonderful job you do.

Sterling & Amber

---

July 5, 2007

Dear SCARS

This is a little update on our new family member, Gunnar (formerly GOLIATH). "The Big Guns" as he is known around the block has been with us for 2 weeks. We cannot tell you how happy we are! Gunnar has blended right in with our family ~ including his new "sister" Tikka. He is so incredibly patient with her and her puppy antics....and occasionally he lets her know when he's had enough!

We weren't given a whole bunch of information on Gunnar, because no one really knew a lot about him. What we DO know, even after this short time is that he is a big PUPPY! He is wanting to play all the time, and (lucky for us) he doesn't know his own strength! He likes to soak up a lot of attention, but he's learning he's not the only dog in the house.

As well, we were told to be cautious with him and small children. Gunnar is a very intimidating-looking dog. But I'm sending pictures of him playing and rough-housing with our kids. He wants so bad to please! I think he just needed a chance.

And here's a little secret~ (don't tell the other dogs) ~ but Gunnar is SCARED of squeaky toys. He avoids them like the plague... For a big guy, who knew?

We would really like to send a HUGE thank-you to Nicole and Jesse at Dogspaw. You are a credit to your profession, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We also cannot forget Carl (Goliath's chauffeur) who took the time to bring him to us. YOU ARE ALL AMAZING! Its sad to hear about all the dogs still waiting for a new home, but every last one of you should be commended for all the work you do to make their lives better in the mean time!

We thank you again!

Bailer

Hi to all you wonderful people.

Can’t say thank you enough for the beautiful Bailer we adopted from you back in 2007.

May I add an updated photo of Bailer to the existing post? Someone commented on the post looking for an updated picture because they adopted Bailer’s brother.

Here is an updated photo of Bailer at the lake this summer.

---

July 19, 2007

Bailer has adjusted very well to his new forever home.

He is a star!

Our other dog Koda loves him to bits. They romp and play continuously.

Thanks for such a beautiful puppy. We are enjoying him tremendously!

Leppard

Hello SCARS volunteers!

Thank you so much from my family for saving Leppard's life. Especially to Colleen & Rick who took such good care of her while being her Foster parents, including teaching her to sit and be good and just to give her so so much love.

Oscar

Well, here I am four years after my forever family found me. My family tells everyone that I am THE BEST DOG IN THE WORLD and that they adopted me from Second Chance. I get compliments all the time on how beautiful I am --- must be all that brushing my “mom” does in an attempt to decrease my shedding --- she says that’s my only negative drawback. I love my family, even these annoying kittens they just adopted; I sure put up with a lot. Good thing I’m such an easy going and laidback personality. I sure enjoyed camping this summer and meeting lots of new people and kids anytime I can sneak in the vehicle I”ll go along. Thanks to the wonderful people who gave me a Second Chance especially Sylvia for boarding me till my forever family found me. Thanks for making a difference for so many families who are blessed to have a SCARS dog.

Vinny

Hi from Vinny!

I am about a year old now, so I thought I should tell you how I spent my first summer. I am a VERY active dog and I love both people and dogs (and even my cat, especially when she lets me lick her head). My mom says the only time I don't listen all that well is when I NEED to visit another dog or nice person. Otherwise I am a very well-behaved girl. Most of all I love to play with other dogs. I go to doggie day care a few times a week where I have 50 dogs to play with. The day care staff call me the 'happy dog' because I am always friendly - even to dogs who take some time to make friends.

I also like to run with my owners in the river valley. I get to run a little in the house when we play the 'catch me' game, which I'm very good at. I surprised my mom one day when I had the patience to stand quietly behind a door for a full minute or two, and then leap joyfully at her when she thought I'd stopped playing!

For our holiday this year we went on a 3 week road trip, from Edmonton to Port Hardy. I learned to swim in the ocean (but NOT drink the salt water), climb mountains, and run around with kids without knocking them over (took a couple tries tho...)

Last weekend we went to Jasper for my Dad's and my birthday. (He decided that we share the same day!) We went to two different crags and of course I visited everyone who was climbing there. My mom painted most of the time, and I even managed to splash in her paints and help her finish a painting. I've sent some pictures from our trip. (I'm the one with the SCARS bandanna watching my dad climbing. In the picture with my mom you can see how I've learned how to carry my own treats and water - like a real mountain dog!)

I still remember all of the great people at SCARS who saved my life and cared for me. Everyone who meets me says they would like to have a dog like me and I send them straight to the SCARS website! My Mom says she will be forever grateful to the SCARS volunteers for bringing me into her life.

Bye for now - I've got to run to find a cat to lick, bone to dig up, trail to explore, dog to play with, and a new person to fall in love with me - all before noon. Vinny.

Turbo (Robbie)

Happy Birthday to me! I just turned 1 year old and my mom says I'm the best boy ever!! I was just a baby when I went to live with my new family and had worms so bad that it took four treatments to clear me up. I'm happy and healthy now though and very, very loved. I will never have to spend another moment living in a dump, what a relief!

My family includes a big brother Rocky, he's a 110lb Rotti and he helped show me the ropes. Now I think I must be a really big dog because Rocky lets me lay on top of him and "beat him up". Things just got even better and more fun because mom opened up a doggie day care so I have been making lots of new friends and get to play my favorite game all day....tug-of-war!!

Thank you SCARS and all the foster families out there for doing the amazing work that you do. Without your help who knows what might have become of me.

Love,
Turbo

Heidi

We adopted Heidi from SCARS just over a week ago and she is fitting in perfectly! After the loss off our Wheaton "Sophie" we Welcome another Loving Female into our family to fill the void the that we felt when our sweet Sophie left us. Heidi is a Wonderful little Dog and she seems to like it here! She is still Very timid, and We Realized right away that she hadn't had much of a life. So We are Gently introducing Her to all the things that our other Dog(Zeus) takes for granted, like car rides and going for walks. We would like to Thank SCARS for the opportunity to rescue Heidi! I have attached a recent picture of Heidi and Her Brother Zeus! Thanks Again! and We will defiantly keep in touch!

Soleil

Hi there!

I met Colleen Good through Edmonton Earthcycle, and mentioned that we got our most recent dog through SCARS. She said she was involved with SCARS and mentioned this update email. She suggested emailing you an update on Soleil so I thought it was high time to do so!

Soleil is a wonderful girl whose name is really applicable, since she has truly brightened our lives. We’ve never rescued an adult dog before, so it’s been interesting watching her settle in. Initially she really seemed to suffer from separation anxiety. She cried when we kenneled her and if we tried to leave her in the yard by herself, she was right at the door scratching to come in. She never let us out of her sight. She scarfed down her food like it was her last meal each time she ate, she scrounged in our garbage, she developed a bladder infection and green pussy eye, and her bones poked out too much for our liking.

We got the bladder infection and green pussy eye taken care of right away through the help of Dr. Steve Marsden at the Natural Path Clinic, and it took some months, but she eventually gained a bit of weight, so that she’s still lean, but a little more healthy to pet. J Today I put my face in her food bowl while she was eating, and she continued to eat slowly and methodically. I went into a garden centre one day and didn’t want to leave her in the hot car, so I tied her up in the shade of a tree. I went into the store secretly watching her from a window, and she waited patiently for my return without uttering a peep!

Soleil is a really quick study. We take her for numerous walks and runs, and she’s learned tricks like high five and shake with both paws, down, stay, wait (at the door so we can walk over the threshold first), and leave it. She heels, sits when we stop walking, and she loves ALL people she comes into contact with, adult and child alike. She’s even learning, through the leave it command, to tolerate the vacuum cleaner and weed trimmer. The lawnmower no longer bothers her at all.

We recently started working with a great trainer/behaviourist on things like motorbikes, skateboards, bicycles and scooters, so that I can take her rollerblading and biking for exercise. The border collie in her really wants to run however, I need some help teaching her to be calm when I’m on my blades or bike to keep us both safe.

Soleil’s boundless energy keeps us hopping and her sweet personality melts our hearts. What more could we have asked for!

I’ve attached a few pictures so you can place a furry face to the name!

Have a super day and thanks so much for the work all of you at SCARS do!

Shannon

Chester

Good Afternoon Sylvia,

I thought of sending you a note sooner but things have been crazy. I saw you on the news getting the Woman of Vision Award. I was very pleased to see this. You really do deserve it. Congratulations!!

Chester is a wonderful dog. I attached a picture of him and my daughter Laura.

Everyday we learn something new about him. He has changed and opened up so much. I remember when we met him in the IKEA parking lot. I just knew he was the dog for us. He was so gentle when Katrina gave him that dog treat. When we got Chester I remember he was at that point of shedding where his fur needed some real good brushing. My husband didn’t really want a dog at the time but he knew that it had become a losing battle. My Children and I were ready. I knew we needed Chester to look his best. So on the way home we took Chester to a dog wash and groomed him all up. We were really not prepared for this experience, After all we did not bring towels or anything. Chester took it well. He hated the spraying and washing but not once did he growl or nip. He did wiggle and squirm a lot though. Once he was all shiny we loaded him back into the van and brought him home.

My husband got home a couple of hours later. We always laugh and say that Cliff doesn’t have an overabundance of soft feelers. He comes from a farm background where dogs have a purpose. Well when he saw Chester he couldn’t help but smile with approval. Chester instantly won him over with those beautiful eyes.

When we went to take him home, you mentioned you were surprised that he got into the van so easily. Well, now he is trained to get into the back of the van or the truck and he loves it. I can’t go anywhere without him. No way could we get him into the small pool for a swim or a bath. Today, he not only got into the pool but he even laid down and rolled around in it.

We have learned that when we are not home he is an excellent guard dog, yet he is so gentle with children. He is awesome with the kids. Katrina (4) just loves him. He doesn’t jump on her and he loves to be loved and petted. It’s a match made in heaven. My older daughter Laura (9) is his main care taker. She feeds him, grooms him and takes him for a daily bike ride on top of the walks and other things he does with the rest of the family. She is also taking him to dog obedience. He is doing wonderful. Of course we have a leg up since he was already partially trained when we got him. We’re hoping that we can put him into agility training.

We can not understand why someone would have given him up but we are thankful because he is an absolute wonderful dog and we couldn’t be happier. Thank you for taking the time to rescue these dogs and thank you to the volunteers who take the time to help you.


All the best,
Della, Laura, Cody, Katrina & Clifford.

Juno (Josie)

Hi,

My name is Amanda and we adopted Josie (re-named her Juno) in February of 08. I just wanted to let you know that she's doing great! She loves going to the dog park, playing fetch, playing with our 9 month old daughter, and being the center of attention, lol. At the Tails on the Trails, we actually ran into one of her brothers, Bandit! They look so different because she was the onyl shepard looking dog in the litter!
We're moving to Vancouver Island in August and she'll have tons of fun playing in the ocean.
You can publish the pictures and her story on your website as well if you want. The one with Juno and Zoe was taken about a month after we got her and the other was taken a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks so much for helping us find this great addition to our family!

Amanda, Cal and Zoe

Hunter

Hi All,

My name is Hunter and I was one of Nikki’s Pup’s and turned 2 years old on 08 March 08. I saw a picture of my brother Tucker on the web page and since it has been a while since I posted a look at me now update I thought I better get my paws a tappin’ on the key board and let everyone know how things are going!

Well since my last update lots of things have changed. We moved from Alberta to Manitoba and let me tell you that was an experience. I love driving in the car but that drive was a little too long for me. I did get to leave my mark on lots of trees on the way here so I can always find my way back.

I have a new house and a new back yard and now since I am closer to Grandma’s house in the country so I can go and visit. There is lots of space for me to run and run and run……..and RUN! I also love to play soccer but there is only one problem. I keep popping my soccer balls. Get a little too excited while playing! I usually run and play so much I sleep all the way home and then sleep the whole next day.

Things are great here in Manitoba. In the neighborhood where we live there are lots of KIDS and boy I love kids. When my family takes me for a walk I get to meet them and they pet me and get me a little scratch behind the ear. The neighbors are great too, a couple of Yorkies and boy do I like to egg them on. They get to barkin so much I just sit on my side of the fence and grin.
I just had a follow up with the new vet and she says I am a healthy 47lbs!!!! I bet my Mama would be proud…..I think I far out grew her at about 8weeks old!

Gotta run, it’s a rainin out and I got puddles to run through. I am sending a cute picture of me chillin out.

Bark to ya again soon…..Hunter