Alumni Stories - Dogs
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We are showcasing here just a few of the many dogs that the SPCA of Northern Virginia has adopted out over the years.
If you have adopted an animal from us and would like to have your pet included, we would love to
hear from you. Please email the webmaster at
Webmaster@SPCANoVA.org with a photo of the pet (.jpg or .gif), it's name (plus name it had before you got it - if appropriate),
when you adopted your pet and a description of how it's doing now.
You can also mail your pictures to:
SPCA of Northern Virginia
Attn: Mary Portelly
P.O. Box 100220
Arlington, VA 22210
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Sophie

Anna Neubert and Camron Porterfield adopted Sophie (a sweet little Spitz-mix) in September 2009 and gave us this update:
I just wanted to drop everyone at the
SPCA a message of how thankful my husband and I are for our adorable pet! She is a huge delight and the most loving dog I have ever met!
We've just moved into a townhouse in Chantilly and are finally able to provide Sophie with a backyard (albeit small!) to run around and chase birds! We
are just so happy :) The pictures are on a car adventure and at Eleanor Lawrence Park.
Click here for Sophie's bio from before
she was adopted. |
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Benson/Voltaire

Alex and Rachael adopted Benson in July 2010 and renamed him Voltaire. They sent us this writeup and photo before his adoption was finaliazed! We (SPCA
volunteers) were quite concerned about Benson since he's a fearful dog who hadn't been socialised much so were VERY happy that this was such a good match:
We just wanted to tell you that Voltaire / Benson is doing amazingly great. We are very happy and pleased with him... and we think it's the same for him.
We can't imagine our life without him. He's such a joy. He's found safe spots all around the flat but always close to us. He loves his walks and he loves being petted.
He even tried to sleep in our bed with us last night, but then was content to sleep in his bed in the living room (or the couch when we are not looking
which is ok, as we put a nice blanket covering it so we can cuddle with him there). He eats well, and he loves his walks, although he is very afraid of
the harness so we went and bought a firmer collar, and now we walk him with it and he is fine. He is amazingly well house broken, we are soooooooooooo pleased
by that. He is very social, but you need to give him space. He still has panic issues, e.g. we had to carry him at the pet shop because he was scared of
noises, but beyond that, he is very independent and happy once he overcomes the fear. He does well with people, he does not back up when people try to pet
him as long as we are with him, reassuring him. We bought a squeaky toy in the shape of a bone and he's in love with it and when we want him to come from
one place to another, he responds very well
Update August 2010 A few days after Voltaire's adoption was finalized, he got spooked while out walking and got loose from his owners. He was on
the lam for 17 days before some very resourceful SPCA volunteers managaged to capture him. Alex and Rachael worked tirelessly on the search and were
overjoyed to get him back.
The photo on the right was taken on the day that Benson's adoption was finalised.
Click here for Benson's bio from before
he was adopted. |
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Justin - Who Rescued Whom?
By Edith von Stuemer - featured in our Summer 2010 newsletter.
One of the most serious cases of abuse
we have investigated lately is that of Justin, an American Bulldog,
who endured months of daily beatings by his sadistic owner.
When he hid under a table, shaking in fear, he was punched in the ribs or squirted in the
face with ammonia. A witness finally came forward and contacted us.
Upon confronting the owner we were told he had given the dog to his son because of problems in his
apartment building. We found this to be untrue. After doing more research we came upon some
disturbing information and were able to gain custody of the two-year-old dog. He was originally
adopted from a rescue group in our area, whose director was convicted of cruelty to animals and
received a jail sentence.
We immediately took Justin to one of our veterinarians, who determined he had a fractured
bone on the top of his head, gashes on the side of his face, lesions on his back and welts all over his
body from beatings.
In spite of all this, he responded amazingly well to gentle hands and kind voices. Soon we were able to
take him to our adoption days, waiting to find the perfect home. Then, one day, Bob came along
looking for the perfect dog. It was a match! Bob is slightly disabled due to an accident. He
cannot drive, but walks well and was looking for a dog to accompany him as a service dog.

Justin took to him right away and eagerly responded to his new training. He now wears a “Service Dog”
coat when working and goes everywhere with Bob — grocery stores, shopping malls, the bus, and
fancy restaurants. If you should ever see the two, stop and say hello, but Justin may not be petted
while wearing his official coat.
If Bob takes a fall, Justin knows to stand beside him and tighten his back muscles so that Bob can use
him to pull himself up and get back on his feet.
Justin adores his new kind guardian, and Bob is so
happy to have found his perfect dog. We wish them many happy, healthy years together.
Click here for Justin's bio from before
he was adopted.
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Maggie/Astrid
Chelle Folts Winslow and her family adopted Maggie in April 2010. She posted a photo of her
to our Facebook page with this comment:
Astrid (a.k.a. Maggie) is doing great. It's like she's always lived here!
Click here for Maggie's bio from before
she was adopted. |
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Jackson/Glasgow
Naomi Friedman and her family adopted Jackson in November 2008. She posted a photo of him with his new brother
to our Facebook page with this comment:
Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since Glasgow (formerly Jackson) was picked up at Weber's and came home!
He might be a trouble-maker, but he and Bagel have so much fun together...
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Carter/Kona - It’s A Wonderful Life!!
By Edith von Stuemer - featured in our Summer 2010 newsletter.

That’s what this Italian Mastiff says
to his new owner every day. The complaint we received was not about this dog but
about two Pitbulls chained to igloos on the property. When we arrived we saw
no dogs. The owner said he rotates his dogs, sometimes they are inside,
sometimes outside. We requested to see them – they looked good.
Since we always check out the property, we walked
around and saw two pens in the back. One was empty, but loud barks came from the other one.
Upon asking what was in there we were told “He’s a friend’s dog who is boarding here until the owner
moves to a new place.”
As we walked towards the pen the frantic barking became louder.
Inside was a very large black dog with a huge head and tiny body,
tethered to a heavy iron chain. His hip bones and spine
were protruding and we could see every rib. The dog’s feet fell through openings
of a heavy wooden Pallet which covered the ground, causing open wounds.
We requested the pallet be removed so the dog could walk comfortably and that he be released from the
chain. We also requested that food and water be put in the two large empty bowls sitting on the ground.
When offered the dry food he didn’t eat it – he INHALED it. Then he drank water for two minutes.
It was obvious he had not been given food or water for some time.
We made contact with the owner of the dog by phone and requested veterinary care within 48 hours. He did
not comply so we returned and took the dog, whose name was Carter, into custody.
Our veterinarian reported the cause of his emaciated condition to be starvation. He was approximately 50
lbs. underweight.
Today Kona (his new name) is happy with a new owner in a new home where he is cherished and loved,
and has gained a great amount of weight.
He was taken to see the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin where many people stopped to admire this
magnificent dog. The photo to the right shows him with his proud new owner taking a break from the festivities at the 2010 Reston Pet Fiesta.
Click here for Carter's bio from before
he was adopted.
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Adam & Darcy

Marylynn Hayden and her fiance Jon O'Mara adopted Adam (one of the VonTrapps- chihuahua/beagle mix from
our Fall/Winter 2008 newsletter
"rescue stories") and Darcy (a stray border collie) together in Feb. 2009. This is what Marylynn wrote us:
We adopted the two of them together, as we wanted to adopt two dogs that could be companions with each other. Adam had such a lack of
social skills and was afraid of people; we were hoping with Darcy's trusting/friendly disposition, Adam could learn from her, and they
would be playmates. Adam has progressed beyond our expectations. He used to be "dog-focused," not wanting to have anything to do
with people. In fact we had to keep the leash on him at all times for the first two months, so that we could "catch" him to take him
out for bathroom breaks, and encourage him to go on walks. Since adopting him, he has had many huge milestones. He enjoys being with
people, especially Jon. He has really bonded with Jon, taking naps with him on the couch, snuggling up to him. He has to be close to
me at the dog park, and actually smiles there. He listens when you ask him to "go for a walk" or "go for a ride." Adam's tail was between
his legs for the first three months we had him. Now he frequently wags his tail when you take him on walks, and ask him if he's hungry.
Darcy has been great as well! She is very obedient, will play fetch, and loves attention from anyone. Not a good guard dog, but I am
hoping to have her take the "Good Canine Citizen" test this year, so she can be a therapy dog and we can volunteer together. She loves
to herd anything that moves, and runs laps at the dog park trying to control every situation. Darcy will lick Adam's face and clean his
ears. They frequently lay on the couch together, and they play tug of war with their toys. The two of them were so deserving of a
great home, and we feel lucky to be able to provide that for them. They have both been a blessing!
Click here for Adam's bio and
here for Darcy's bio from before they was adopted. |
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Winnie & Tigger

We got the following update from the Fleegal family in June 2010:
We adopted two of the most wonderful dogs from you guys a few years ago - Winnie (to read about her, click here) & Tigger. We moved from Springfield VA to Loveland Colorado in July 2009. We've been here
almost a year now and it has flown by! Winnie and Tigger are doing great and they love it out here! Winnie has trimmed down because she runs after Tigger all the time.
We have lots of room for them to run and every single house on our street has a dog! They've made lots of friends. Behind us there are houses with very large properties
and they have horses, alpaca, goats, more dogs, praire dogs, and buffalo!!
I wanted to share with you our exciting news! Last weekend we adopted a little 11 week old puppy, part Akita and part Border Collie, runt of the litter, cute as a bug,
and we named her Piglet. She has a curly tail, pink on her nose, and is very tiny. So now we have Winnie, Tigger and Piglet!!! We adopted her from Poudre Puppy Rescue.
We always tell people how wonderful Winnie and Tigger are, how lucky we were to find them through you, and what a great organization you have.
~Brett, Mo, Zack & Nick Fleegal, and Winnie, Tigger & Piglet
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Mollie/Tiller
John Reilley & his family adopted Mollie in August of 2009 & renamed her Tiller. John sent us this photo and update:
Before we adopted her, Mollie had been a stray on her own for more than a year, and showed little interest in people.
Now she is a very affectionate dog. She loves to cuddle up next to us on the sofa, sleeps on her dog pillow right next to our bed at night, and is petted often.
She has a sweet disposition and is great with the neighbors’ children, who know her by name and come out to pet her when she’s on a walk. She gets along wonderfully
with the other beagle we rescued around the same time. The two dogs usually sleep piled on top of each other or curled up touching each other, and share their kennel
and toys with no problems. Tiller has plenty of chew toys, goes on walks several times every day, and gets a lot of attention from her people. We love her dearly,
and are grateful to the SPCA for saving her. This photo shows Tiller and our other beagle (Bailiff) sleeping together in their favorite spot by the window (Tiller in front).
You can read about Mollie's rescue on our Humane Investigation page under
Mystery Solved.
Click here for Mollie's bio from before
she was adopted.
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Duffy
The Lovasz Family( John, Stephanie, James, Bitsy, Christina) adopted Duffy in June of 2008. John sent us these photos and update:
We were looking for a hypo-allergenic dog to fit into our family and the day we met Duffy we knew he would fit right in. He has become
a member of our family and loves each one of us. He was a little skittish when we first brought him into our home due to his abuse
from his prior home but once he got to known each one of us he let his guard down. He loves to take car trips and when we are not
looking to steal our tissues. We couldn’t imagine life without the Duffster because each day we come home looking forward to seeing
our white puffy dog with the big smile on his face.
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Della
Jennifer Elliot and her family adopted Della on March 1st 2006. Jennifer sent us these photos and update:
We saw Della on Petline9 which airs Thursday at noon on WUSA. She was quite a challenge when we first got her but we persevered
and she is doing great. Her favorite activity besides eating is chasing squirrels in her backyard. As you can see she also loves the snow.
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Duane/Jack
Bobbi and Cleve adopted Duane in December 2009 ... just in time for a huge snowstorm. Poor Duane/Jack wasn't
tall enough to get through the snow so Cleve shoveled a path to his favorite tree. The people that
fostered Duane (before he was adopted) submitted this photo to
http://www.funnydogsite.com/ and it got selected!
Click here for Duane's bio from before
he was adopted. |
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Caesar
Caesar came to us a result of a Humane Investigation in 2006 (you can read about it by
clicking here). He was
adopted by Alma and Dade, who also have Maddox (a lab/dobie mix). They often get comments
from people about Caesars magnificent tail (most rotties have their tails docked but
Caesar managed to evade this) ... Dade says he's an "English Rottweiler"!
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Buddy/Edgar
Chris & Susan Collins adopted a wonderful dog named Destiny (who they
renamed Nellie) many years ago. They gave her a truely
wonderful life and were devastated by her passing. In March 2009, they
came back to us and decided to adopt Buddy - a beautiful, young German
Shepherd. They renamed him Edgar.
In August 2009,
they came to our Dog Wash fundraiser for Edgar to get lots of cuddles, along with his nail trim, ear cleaning & bath!
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Julian
Julian
never got used to coming to adoption days and didn't show well because he was always
stressed out and nervous so he was the perfect candidate for a foster home. Gloria
was that foster mom and the change in Julian was remarkable! He became a very calm,
confident, lovable dog ... so much so that Gloria decided to adopt him! She finalized
the deal in July 2009.
Click here for Julian's bio from before
he was adopted.
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Winter
We'd had
Winter (a very friendly, energetic Husky/Shepherd mix) for over a year when, in June
2009, Christine and her 10 year old daughter came looking for a companion that Christine
could take running with her. They picked Winter and made a great choice! Christine says
Winter is affectionate, well behaved, no accidents in the house, gets along with people and
dogs, rides well in the car, doesn't get on furniture, is good on the leash, etc. etc. Her parents are crazy
about her, too. She and her daughter, Danielle, are just thrilled with their new "Rocket Dog"!
Click here for Winter's bio from before
she was adopted.
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Isabella
Isabella (the little, incredibly cute, beagle mix) was adopted in Spring
2007. This is what her new daddy (Ralph LaMonda) wrote to us about her: Isabella ("Izzy"), is thriving and enjoying being spoiled. She loves her "big brother", Wilson (shelter adoptee) who chases her around the back yard and lets her steal all his toys. Izzy is the pipsqueak in the photo.
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Snowball
We have a wonderful photographer named Jim Poor who
comes to adoption days to take photos of our dogs for the website. In
September 2008, he met Snowball (an American Eskimo) when Snowball had his
photo shoot. Jim instantly took a liking to Snowball (he has a soft spot
for American Eskimos) but Jim and his wife, Tammy, were not looking for
another dog at the time. The adoption days passed and Jim kept his eye on
Snowball and kept thinking "one day ... maybe ...". At the end of the last
adoption day before Christmas 2008, Jim and Tammy decided the time had
come and took little Snowball home with them. Snowball is very happy
living in the "Poor House" and Jim and Tammy are kept entertained by his
antics.
Update
January 2009 - Jim has been taking portrait photographs
of his latest favorite subject. Here are two that he sent us:
Jim is
taking Snowball to a basic obedience class now and plans to complete
the entire gamut through Competition
Obedience, CGC, Canine Freestyle and perhaps a few others. According to
Jim "Most of all though, he's content to be a lap warmer inside and a
speed
demon outside"
Click here for Snowball's bio from before
she was adopted. |
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Oreo
In September 2008, Bev and Brian decided to adopt cute little Oreo. Here's is what Bev wrote to us about her:
Just an update after a month of OREO! What a funny little dog. She's doing fine, but I don't know if I will survive.
Just kidding. What a sweet, sweet dog. Now if she would only sleep later than 4:00 am I would be happy. Poor
little thing must never have lived in a normal household where people actually DO stuff. She is afraid of
EVERYTHING, including Brian. We laugh all the time. Actually, she is so much better than when she first came.
Our one younger male dog growled every time she walked by at first, and now they are playing and wrestling all the time.
O is getting used to all the normal things around the house, like Brian carrying the laundry basket, the hair dryer,
shaking dog hair from blankets, etc., etc. She is a little lap dog and boy does she love to run. She makes circles
around the yard just for the love of running. And boy is she fast. She leaves the other in the dust, but they run
after just the same. The little old man (15) tries to keep up and it's a hoot. She figured out about the couch
without any trouble, and she sounds like a heard of elephants coming down the stairs.
She is getting used to the weekday routine and the house training is coming well. Just a few accidents.
She loves slippers and underwear from the laundry basket, and adores chew bones. She will run after a toy, but
hasn't figured out yet how to bring it back. I am getting as much exercise as she is. Every day gets a little
better and she is less afraid of the comings and goings. We love her to death.
At any rate, she is fitting in more each week and I am finally getting a little more sleep. I'm exhausted and she is
ready to play. She will keep all young. Just thought I would let you know what is happening. Tell Tony that there is
an occasional snarling match, but I keep right on top of them. Meal time works really well. I make them all stay out
of each other's dishes and they get it. Both O and Mosby eat as though it was their last meal, so nothing goes to waste.
We are having a great time, and so are the dogs. Thanks for everything you did for her and please pass the word that
she is doing well.
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Gracie
This article
about Gracie appeared in our Fall/Winter 2008 Newsletter: A New Leash On Life
by
Joan Hughes
Maybe it was those beautiful blue eyes. Maybe her shiny black coat. Something elicited a lot of inquiries about
Gracie from people who thought they had found the perfect dog. This sweet and friendly black Lab mix had a lot
going for her, but...
Crating a four-month-old puppy for as long as 12 hours at a time does not make for a well-adjusted dog. No dog
should be in a crate longer than four hours before being released to relieve him/herself and have some play time.
Her owners didn't mean to be cruel, but they worked long hours and simply didn't have the time to properly train
and care for such a young dog.
This was Gracie's life for almost a year when, through the intervention of a woman who has rescued many dogs, the
SPCA agreed to accept Gracie for adoption.
At Lisa Reid's kennel--Lisa houses our SPCA dogs-it was discovered that Gracie had separation anxiety with a
vengeance. She broke a kennel door, jumped a five-foot fence, shredded her bedding, and was an accomplished
escape artist from any kind of confinement. Not an easy dog to place.
Despite these drawbacks, a young couple saw Gracie at an adoption day and fell in love with her, and her
placement with them was approved. Since they both had flexible work schedules, they felt that they could work
through her behavior issues. But although Gracie was sweet, friendly and obedient when at home with her family,
any confinement threw her into a panic that even medication didn't prevent. Gracie came back to us three months
later.
She stayed with Lisa, and medication helped, but adoption events came and went and so did many would-be adopters
of this lovely but damaged dog. No matter how promising these prospects appeared to be, separation anxiety was
always the deal breaker.
Gracie had been off tranquilizers since December, 2007, and was doing much better when more than a year after
her return to us her luck (and ours) changed.
Enter Matthew Randall. his long-time canine companions had died and Matthew felt he was finally ready for a new
buddy. Gracie was the one. She went to her new home and is living a dog's life that we wish all dogs could live.
Matthew finds no need to confine her. (She's a canine Houdini, remember, and she knows how to turn door knobs, so
why bother?) Apparently, when he's away she spends her time on his bed chewing toys and watching TV. We're not
sure of her dexterity with the remote.
She has become quite the party animal, too. A Labor Day gathering was a blast, and she loves to swim in the pool.
Now that it's covered for the winter, Gracie has discovered that the tarp makes a wonderful trampoline and
bouncing on it has become her favorite sport.
The photo was taken when Matthew bought her to Weber's to our 2008 Holiday Photos fundraiser. Gracie was offleash
for most of her photo shoot and modelled perfectly!
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DESIGNER DOGS - BACKYARD BREEDERS GONE BAD
Throughout 2008, a number of remarkably similar looking dogs were dumped in the same general
area of Virginia (just east of the
Shenandoah mountains). Click here to read their story. |
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Jenna
This article
about Jenna appeared in our Fall/Winter 2008 Newsletter: Why We "Hang In There"
by
Joan Hughes
"Don't give up," "stay the course," "hang in there,"--any of these phrases could apply to our determination to
find the right home for even the most hard-to-place dogs.
Jenna is such a dog. Some of you may have read about her in the Fall/ Winter 2006 issue of "Paws to Consider." The
sting operation in which the SPCA took possession of Jenna and 1 I other puppies, her extreme shyness, with her
tail tucked beneath her, the time it took until she was adopted--all are part of the history of a dog whose earliest
days are a mystery but who was damaged nearly beyond saving.
It took six months to find her a home and it was a wonderful home. A couple who had adopted another dog from us thought
Jenna would be the perfect companion for him, but he didn't agree- and simply ignored her. There were other problems and
Jenna came back to us.
But this past summer Jenna's luck changed. Dr. Diane Moczar, an historian and writer who adopts animalss only
from rescue groups, saw Jenna's picture on our wedsite and thought she might cure the loneliness exhibited by one of her dogs who
was grieving the loss of another canine companion.
A visit to her home disclosed a dog's paradise: three wooded, fenced acres, two welcoming dogs, and a human guardian with
love, patience and understanding.
Although she admitted that Jenna: was "the most difficult dog and afraid of everything," Dr. Moczar was determined to
make the adoption work. She now reports that Jenna is a tail-wagger finally exhibiting the puppyhood she never had. She
chases a ball, plays with her canine pals, and runs like a deer through those three acres. There are still some issues but
she's "99 percent improved and a happy dog." Perseverance pays.
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Reba McEntire & Buddy/Willie
Susan & Jonathan found a cute miniature pinscher running loose near the Pennsylvania Turnpike so,
after trying to find her original owners, then turned her over to the SPCA to find her a new home.
But Susan & Jonathan had already grown attached to Reba and realized that her new home should be with
them ... and their dog Willie that they had adopted from the SPCA a few years ago and their two cats,
Phyliis & Dolly Parton. Strangely enough, at the same time that they adopted Willie (who used to be named
Buddy), one of our volunteers (Orion) adopted a different Willie who Orion renamed Buddy!
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Oliver
On Mother's Day in 2008, a
Girl Scout troop came to our adoption day with bags of dog food, blankets, towels and dog toys
that they'd made themselves (our dogs say a big Thankyou!). One of the Girl Scouts (a redhead)
fell in love with a very shy pup named Oliver and persuaded her family to adopt him! Oliver is still
enjoying being carried around and his new nickname is "Ollipop"!
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Louie/Baxter
This article
about Louie appeared in our Summer 2008 Newsletter: Little Dog Lost -- And Found!
by
Joan Hughes Icy wind, frigid temperatures
and trapped by a leash that
was tangled in bushes. Not the expected conditions for a little dog who less than three days earlier had gone to a
new home.
Louie had been found as a stray in Shenandoah National Park in September, 2007. He was taken to a rural
Virginia shelter where he was rescued by Lisa Reid, whose kennel shelters our dogs, and was put up for
adoption by the SPCA.
Dena Manzi saw his picture on our website and thought the scruffy little terrier mix "looked like a dog
that needed a home." She found Louie (now Baxter) to be shy at first, but friendly, as so many once stray dogs
can be. After spending a good amount of time with him at an adoption day in late November, Dena applied to
adopt him.
Two weeks later Baxter went home with Dena and
began to settle into his "adoption
pending" routine. In fact, he found the couch quite comfortable. But it was now December, and like the mail
carriers, dogs and their humans must brave wind and rain and all the other conditions that cannot
keep them from their appointed rounds.
Three nights later, as Dena walked Baxter before bedtime, a gust of cold wind blew the leash from her grasp as
she switched it from one hand to the other. Baxter took off running, dragging his leash and managing to stay
just ahead of her. He disappeared, and a frantic Dena and friends searched for him until 2:00 a.m. without
success.
The next day they went out again to search the area. There was an SPCA tag on Baxter's harness as well as an
ID tag that Dena had attached. Local shelters were notified, along with Lisa Reid and SPCA personnel. Baxter was
so easily spooked by wind, cars, and people that finding him could prove to be a problem. Lisa took two dogs to
look for him and more than 100 flyers were posted.
As any parent can testify, teenagers will at times break the rules. Luckily for Baxter, that was the case
when a girl took a forbidden short cut through the woods on her way home from school. Sounds from some
bushes drew her to Baxter whose leash was tangled in them, preventing his escape. She wrapped the shivering
pup in her sweater and took him home, where her grandmother called the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. The
shelter, in turn, notified the SPCA that a dog fitting Baxter's description had been found, although his
tags were missing, and that he could be picked up at the finder's home. Dena didn't waste any time. As an
added twist to the happy ending. Baxter's rescuer turned out to be a pupil in the school where Dena teaches.
Back where he belonged, Baxter kept his tail between his legs for about two weeks but gradually recovered from
his ordeal, lost some of his shyness, and became more sociable. He acts like a normal dog now, rolling in the
grass, and "dancing" for treats.
Dena claims that her "little prince," as she calls him,
is smart, cuddly, and lovable and the best investment she's ever made. When
Dena was contacted for this story Baxter was cuddling with her on the couch. He
was probably wagging his tail in agreement.
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Skylar & Fawn
In August 2007, Lidia Sabin, her husband
and daughter became the proud new owners of a 6 month old, wiggly Rottie pup named Skylar. As Skylar grew in into
a magnificent dog, they decided that they should adopt another dog so came back to us in May 2008 and got sweet
Fawn. This is what Lidia wrote:
We believe Fawn was the piece Skylar was missing since coming with us back in 2007. Every day that passes proves
we made the right decision to adopt Fawn. They romp around a lot everyday, like a whirlwind, until each is
tired and they decide to flake out They play as if they have been together forever. Fawn, at roughly 20lbs, has
control of our gentle giant Skylar, 100lbs.Their tussles sometimes end with Skylar on his back with Fawn mouthing
his ear. That this little 'street' dog from Puerto Rico with so much history fits so well into the family is a
miracle. Her loving gentle nature has spread to the whole family. We are so grateful for all the people that have
been involved with the Northern Va SPCA volunteering their time, talent and energy getting Skylar and now Fawn HOME!
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Friedrick/Pepe
Friedrick was one of a group of dogs abandonned
from a defunct puppy mill. Their luck turned when they were found by Lisa Reid, who took them all in and
socialized them ready for rehoming. On the first day that Friedrick came to an adoption day (in March 2008), a lady
named Martha came looking for a companion. She sat down to read about the dogs and Friedrick jumped right up on
her lap ... as if to say "Here I am!". She agreed with him ... and is now looking into taking him to visit
people in nursing homes and hospitals.
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