Rescue Pepe!

Hi everyone! Do you remember way back during Mayzie's Rescue Me Week when we wrote about the hoarder lady who used to work at a pet store and who had 50 dogs in her house? Almost Home Foundation found homes for most of those dogs, but there are still a few left. One of them is Pepe, an eleven pound chihuahua/terrier mix who is very sweet but can be very nervous around new people.

Pepe is another one of those chihuahuas who just doesn't trust people. This has been aggravated by the fact that he was raised by a hoarder, and did not get a lot of human contact. When he sees a hand coming towards him, he doesn't know what that hand is going to do to him, so he sometimes growls or tries to bite! But never after he's gotten to know and love a person. For instance, he knows and loves his foster parents, He will cuddle on their laps, play with them, and be a wild little guy around them! He loves to play fetch, and peek-a-boo. He is great at learning new tricks, and is very interested in getting some agility training if his new family would be willing to work with him! He is also usually fine with dogs who are his size and smaller, although he is afraid of larger dogs. 


One thing our Mama said she noticed, when volunteering at Almost Home Foundation's adoption days, is that many people who want to meet a small dog will walk up, and lean over the dog. This makes many smaller dogs, including Pepe, frightened! It can be frightening or intimidating to larger dogs as well. We thought we'd share a few tips for people who might be interested in meeting Pepe, or any other new dogs. 


Remember to always ask whoever is handling or walking the dog if it is okay to pet him. If it is okay, curl your fingers into a fist, and offer your fist to the dog to sniff. Don't shove your fist in the dog's face, but hold it far enough away so the dog can be the one to move his face over to you for a sniff. If he keeps on sniffing and seems happy, or if he pushes his head under your hand to ask you to pet him, you can! 

When you meet smaller dogs, if possible, it is a great idea to sit on the floor instead of standing over them. If you cannot sit down on the floor, ask the handler if they could pick the dog up so that the dog is at your level. Sitting or crouching on the floor can be the best way, though! If the dog seems nervous, it can help to avoid eye contact. With Pepe, our Mama has noticed that whenever she is sitting on the floor and talking to a human or playing with another dog, Pepe will walk up and put his paws on her or even climb into her lap! This may be because a person who is sitting down low, and who is not looking at him, can be the least intimidating person to a nervous dog. Once the dog has gotten a good sniff of you, he'll probably be more willing to be petted! Pepe is not as nervous as, say, Bermuda, and he will almost always become friendly within a minute or two of being petted.

Here are some things not to do when meeting a dog, especially a nervous dog. Do NOT lean or bend over the dog. Do NOT put your face right up to the dog's face unless you don't mind getting bitten in the nose. (Of course once the dog is yours, it may feel natural to put your face close to his and give him kisses, and once he knows you well he probably won't mind! But don't do it to a strange dog!) Do NOT run up to a dog or approach him in a quick, startling way. Do NOT walk up to a dog you don't know and start petting him, without giving him a minute to get to know you! (This may have worked out fine for you with a few dogs in the past, but you don't ever know which dog is going to be the nervous one who will think you're trying to hurt him!) And NEVER pick up a smaller dog that you don't know. Ask first. Some dogs will let anyone pick them up. Other dogs will be frightened by this gesture. 


Finally, the quickest short cut to a nervous dog's heart? Treats! Many nervous dogs will get over their stranger anxiety if you have something delicious to share with them!


If you live in the Chicago area and feel like you'd enjoy having Pepe in your family, please email plutollf@aol.com  for more info. We know you're going to love him! 

Rescue Gypsy Rose!

Hi everyone! We're still keeping good on our promise to write about an Almost Home Foundation dog who needs a home each week! We don't know if you remember Bermuda, who we wrote about during Mayzie's Rescue Me Week. Bermuda, by the way, is still waiting for a home, and is the only dog we've written about for Rescue Me posts who hasn't been adopted yet. So if you live in the Chicago area and consider yourself a chihuahua whisperer, please contact her foster dad by emailing him at c22036@email.mot.com, or calling him at 224-715-2526.
But today we wanted to tell you about another dog, who happens to be Bermuda's foster sister! Her name is Gypsy Rose, and she is a very unique looking little rat terrier mix. Her black head, on her scruffy white body, causes some people to comment that she looks like someone put her together with spare parts! Gypsy Rose was rescued from a kill shelter in Chicago, where she was in line to be euthanized. Thank goodness Almost Home Foundation got her before that could happen. It would have been a real waste of a very sweet three year old dog! 
Some people think Gypsy doesn't get along with other dogs. However, she really does get along with most other dogs! When big dogs walk up to her she sometimes gets intimidated and barks at them. She also barks a lot while playing. But she does enjoy other dogs much of the time. She lives with three other dogs (including Bermuda) and she has regular playdates with as many as seven dogs at a time! 
The other day while Mama was volunteering, she wandered over to where Gypsy Rose was. While Mama was sitting on the floor talking to another volunteer, Gypsy ran up to her and jumped into her lap! Gypsy licked her face, then ran and got her little stuffed toy and brought it to Mama to throw for her! Other volunteers mentioned that Gypsy was one of their favorite dogs ever because of her playful and affectionate nature. Gypsy loves kids, too! She's also crate trained and house trained. 

Gypsy wants you to know that if you meet her at the adoption show, and she's barking a lot at other dogs, she is probably just excited! Dogs never have their best behavior at the adoption show. It really brings out the worst in them! But even if you meet her at the show, she'll lick your face and want to play with you, and you'll see what an awesome doggie she is. Ask a volunteer to walk her to a quieter area of the store, so you can spend some special time just with her when she's not so overwhelmed by the crowds!
Gypsy Rose lives with Bermuda, so you can contact her foster dad with the same contact info above. He'd love to hear from you about either one of the dogs! Remember... Gypsy Rose is looking for just about any person or family who could open up their hearts to a great, playful dog. Bermuda is looking for a patient person who understands chihuahua issues, and is willing to take the time to earn her trust. (That could take anywhere from twenty minutes to a day, if you have time to spend just with her, with no other dogs and few humans around... and some doggie treats would really speed up the process!) 
Both Gypsy and Bermuda are anxiously waiting for their forever homes! We hope you find them soon! 

Rescue Daisy Dukes!

Hi everyone! As promised, we are writing about another Almost Home Foundation doggie who is waiting for a forever home. This past weekend, our Mama had the pleasure of hanging out with Daisy Duke! This cute little dog is a mix of a random assortment of terriers, with some Shih Tzu tossed in for good measure. She doesn't remember much about her background, because she was transported here from a kill shelter in Pittville. That place sounds unpleasant, doesn't it? She's a shy, mellow little girl who spent most of the time at the adoption show cuddling on Mama's lap. Occasionally she would hop down from Mama's lap, walk around a little, and investigate things. Then, usually if she heard a bigger dog barking or if she suddenly felt insecure, she would put her paws up on the edge of Mama's chair and ask to be picked up! (Of course Mama obliged! She adores lap dogs!) She was happy to let everyone pet her, including small children, although towards the end of the show she was tired and got a little growly. (She wouldn't bite or anything. She was just being cranky and missing her foster mom!) She gets along with most dogs as well, including the three that she lives with now. But she's not particularly playful. Even though she's only four years old, she really prefers being quiet and calm and getting attention from humans. Her other hobbies include shaking the stuffing out of her stuffies (just like Lily!) and chewing on rawhides. (Who doesn't love a good rawhide?) As an added bonus, this little smarty pants is already house trained! 
Little Daisy would enjoy having a home with anyone who loves cuddling with a small dog. She will be ever so grateful if you'd just hold her in your arms, scratch her behind her ears, tell her what a good girl she is, and promise to love her forever! 
If you live in the Chicago area and are interested in meeting Daisy Dukes, you can call  847-312-9908  or email sheldn8@aol.com for more information. 


We do have some good news, also! Remember during Mayzie's Rescue Me Week, we mentioned a dog named Coco who had been with a hoarder and had been deprived of human contact and love? Well, he finally found his forever home! Mama was there when the people picked him out, and she says it couldn't be a better home. The two ladies who adopted him already have three dogs, and they adopted two more. The first dog they adopted was Biscotti, a bearded collie who Mama worked with and fell in love with two weeks ago. But they also wanted a smaller, quiet dog, who would spend quality time with a lonely, homebound older woman who lives with them (I think its one of their mothers). The two ladies adore dogs, and one of them works at home so she can be with them all the time. So both Biscotti and Coco will now live out their lives surrounded by love! LuvDuv, who we also wrote about in this post, was adopted too, but we don't have all the details on her. Isn't it wonderful when doggies find great homes?

Rescue LuvDuv (and some Rescue Me Week updates!)

Hi everyone! During Mayzie's Rescue Me Week a few weeks ago, we promised to start writing every week to feature dogs from Almost Home Foundation who need homes. Well, Mama didn't go there for a few weeks because she was so busy with tests for school, and other things, but she did go do some volunteering there today. And she thought we should tell you about LuvDuv! 

LuvDuv is a terror. Wait, a terrier! Nope, terror might be right. Not in a bad way, though! LuvDuv is just a very mischievious and adventurous 16 month old Cairn Terrier mix. Her foster mother loves her lots and enjoys telling stories of the things LuvDuv does! A lot of these adventures involve food. For instance,  when her human foster brother left a jar of peanut butter on the floor, LuvDuv carried the entire jar down a flight of stairs so she could enjoy it in peace! She did not want to share! Keep in mind, LuvDuv is only a nine pounder, so it was pretty tough to carry that jar down the stairs. But she did it! She also managed to climb up onto a table to drink a glass of red Kool-Aid. Her foster mama couldn't figure out who drank the Kool-Aid, until she saw LuvDuv's red muzzle! We heard she did another trick once with a cup of coffee! We also hear that LuvDuv is very playful and enjoys squeaky toys, playing with her human and animal friends, and going for nice walks with her foster mom. She is also housetrained and is currently not crated while her foster mom is out. She stays out on her own and manages not to cause any trouble most of the time! She is happy for attention and love from anyone, including human adults, children, other dogs, cats, etc. She will cuddle and play with anyone who is nice to her! LuvDuv has also been known to dress up in clothes, including a straw hat. (We wish we had a picture of that!) 
We think LuvDuv would make the perfect doggie for just about anyone, as long as they have some extra attention and love to share with her! Since she enjoys being with people and other animals a lot, we hope she'll find a home with people who really love and enjoy dogs and want to spend time with her. If you think that sounds just like you, and you live in the Chicago area, dial (630) 572-3738 or email dogs@almosthomefoundation.org! 


We also wanted to share some updates about the dogs who we talked about during Mayzie's Rescue Me Week! We don't really get to know the specifics of all of the dogs... we really just know whether they were adopted or not. A lot of times we only find out from looking on Almost Home Foundation's website. But still, we thought you'd like to know!
Heathcliff, the sweet two-year-old standard poodle we wrote about, WAS ADOPTED! 
One of the days, we wrote about a hoarder who gave up 25 of her 50 dogs to Almost Home Foundation. Specifically, we wrote about Brandy and Coco. Brandy WAS ADOPTED! But Coco is still waiting for a home. Remember we mentioned how Coco was deprived of human contact for the most part, and although he is a very laid back dog, he can be very timid around new people and will just sit there and stare at them. However, he's so cuddly... in fact, Mama got to hold him for a while this morning, and he just melted into her like a teddy bear! If you live in the Chicago area and are interested in a sweet 5-year-old Griffon/Brussel/Schnauzer mix to be your own personal teddy bear, call (630)290-3384. 
Prince Pom, the very happy and loving Pomeranian mix with the great smile, WAS ADOPTED! 
Mar Lee, the adorable brindle doggie who reminded us of Mayzie herself, is still looking for a home. The website doesn't give much information about her, but strangely, they have changed her breed from an American Staffordshire Terrier mix (pittbull) to a Plott Hound! Plott Hounds are generally brindle, so this could make sense for little Mar Lee. She is now four months old and sweet as ever. If you're interested in adding a Plott Hound to your household, you could call (630) 775- 1819 for more info about Mar Lee!
Finally, Bermuda, the shy chihuahua who is wary of strangers but loyal to her loved ones, is still looking for a home. Our Mama saw her today and said she is doing great, and even getting a little better about allowing strangers to pet her. If you like chihuahuas and have the patience to get to know this sweet girl, contact her foster dad by emailing him atc22036@email.mot.com, or calling him at 224-715-2526.
So, for Rescue Me Week, we wrote about six dogs, and three of them have been adopted. Thats not bad, is it? We'll write again next week and tell you about more great puppies! 

Hi everyone! We're back for ONE MORE DAY of Mayzie's Rescue Me Week! This has been a great week, hasn't it?
Now we want to introduce you to one more dog, who is really hoping for a home. Strangely, he is named after a cartoon cat. Can you guess what his name is? Heathcliff! LOL!
Heathcliff is a two year old standard poodle. He was found as a stray dog, and nobody claimed him. Whoever his previous owners are must have had some real problems, because they gave up a great dog! He's such a smart dog, who adjusted to living in a house right away and understood all the rules like "Don't pee on the floor" and "Don't chew anything that isn't your own." He even knows how to do tricks, like "sit" and "shake." And he loves humans! He is so eager for love and attention, as you can see from the picture here. Heathcliff is even good with children, and other dogs!
One thing Heathcliff is working on is taking walks and "heeling." He doesn't think he ever got to take walks on a leash before he got to his new foster home. He gets really excited to go outside with his humans, but he's not sure what the leash is for, so he runs and pulls and yells, "Come on, lets go, lets go, lets go!" With regular walks and maybe some training, he'll get the hang of it.
Heathcliff's foster mom says he's just the perfect dog, an "easy foster." In fact, he doesn't even shed! So who wouldn't want this cutie pie to join their family?
If you feel like Heathcliff was meant to be your dog, he can't wait to meet you. You should call 847-212-6701 or email robertamecklenburg@att.net for more information about him.

Well, that wraps up Rescue Me Week for us! But here's the good news! Way back in the day, we used to write about a different Almost Home dog each week, and we sort of gave it up. We don't even remember why. But thanks to Mayzie, we've been inspired to start it up again! So, next weekend, look forward to reading about yet another doggie who needs a home! Thanks again, Mayzie!

Rescue Coco and Brandy!

Hi everyone! We are angry at Blogger all over again... once again we wrote a whole post and Blogger swallowed it! We are thinking of moving to Wordpress or Typepad. DO YOU HEAR THAT, BLOGGER?

Anyways, here we go again... This is our fourth day pawticipating in Mayzie's Rescue Me Week. We wanted to tell you  a story.

Once upon a time there was a lady who worked in a pet store. Lots of us know that pet stores buy puppy mill dogs, but do you know what happens to those puppies if they don't get bought within a few weeks? They go to the pound, and often get put to sleep! One more reason to stay out of pet stores and visit pet shelters instead, right? Anyway, this lady felt sad for the puppies who weren't bought by anyone, so she started taking some of them home to her house. That was a nice idea, we guess, except then the lady started breeding them so she could sell them! If some puppies didn't get sold, she would keep them and breed them with other dogs when they got older. BAD IDEA, LADY! She kept getting more and more dogs!

The lady had some dogs she really liked. She would let them walk around the house like normal pets, and she'd play with them and everything. Other dogs, she didn't like as much. She thought they were funny looking or got into to much trouble, or whatever. These dogs, she kept in a cage and rarely took out. She didn't pet them or play with them. They grew to love each other, but they were all very fearful of people because they just didn't know what it felt like to be petted or played with!

As you probably guessed, the lady had turned into a hoarder. She had fifty dogs! A neighbor called the police, who told her she had one month to find homes for the dogs. The lady called Almost Home Foundation fo rhelp. She didn't really want to give up any dogs, but Almost Home Foundation convinced her to give them twenty-five. After she gave up those dogs, she got anxious and angry and wouldn't return any of their phone calls about the other twenty-five dogs. But at least the first twenty-five were safe, and many have already been adopted!
There are still a few who haven't. Coco and Brandy are two of them. They may even be siblings or cousins, because of all the breeding the lady was doing, but they are not very much alike!

This is Brandy. She's a three year old Griffon/Brussels/Schnauzer mix. She was one of the lady's favored dogs, so she was allowed to run around the house and have plenty of contact with humans. As a result, Brandy is a friendly dog who loves human attention! She follows her foster mom all around the house, and loves to play with her nine-year-old human foster sister. When she meets new people, she is eager to get petted by them, will sit in their lap, and will lick their faces! She loves to play, and she also enjoys napping. If you think Brandy would fit in great with your family, you should email her foster mom at sheldn8@aol.com right away, or call 847-312-9908.

And here is Coco. Coco is also a Griffon/Brussel/Schnauzer mix, but he is five years old. Coco was one of the dogs the lady didn't particularly like. We think maybe its because of his funny, smushy face, although we think that face is super cute! Coco was one of the dogs who had to stay in the cage all the time. He didn't even get to go outside often enough to learn to be housetrained! So that is one of the things he's working on in his new foster home. Coco is very timid and afraid of people. He doesn't bite or anything... but if you call him to you, he will be too scared to come. It takes him a while to warm up to people. He doesn't understand what people are or what they want from him. It would be like if some giant monkeys on TV suddenly walked out of the TV and wanted to pick you up and talk to you! You'd be like, "AAAAAHHHH! I don't know if these things are friendly or what! What exactly is going on! Help!" But once Coco realizes you're a nice person, he'll be your best friend. He likes to snuggle on his foster mom's lap. He likes other dogs, cats, and children. He is really hoping for a family who will be willing to prove to him that humans are trustworthy and loveable! If you want to add Coco to your home, you should call 630-290-3384 for more info.

We usually only tell the story of one dog per day, but since these two have a very similar story, we thought we'd share them both! We hope both of these sweet doggies find wonderful forever homes soon.

Happy Rescue Me Week! We will be back tomorrow for the final day! We are so happy that all of these pets are having their stories told. Thanks again, Mayzie!

Rescue Prince Pom!

OMD, we are so salty with Blogger right now! We wrote a whole entire post about Prince Pom, only to have Blogger totally blank out and delete it. None of it was even saved as a draft, or anything! We are so mad! We almost didn't have the energy to start all over, but we decided Prince Pom  deserves his chance to be written about as part of Mayzie's Rescue Me Week. So... here we go again! (By the way, he's called Prince Pom because he's part Pomeranian, but you can call him Prince!)
Prince Pom is the perfect dog in many ways! He keeps getting so close to being adopted, but then it falls through. People change their minds because they think they want a younger dog, their husband or wife won't agree to let them get the dog (Mama says she'd totally get divorced if she had a husband who wouldn't let her get someone!) or their kids can't agree on a dog, they want a girl dog, they're not sure their dog wants them to have another dog, etc, etc, etc. Geesh! Give this cute guy a chance!
Prince Pom was given up by his owner. He is not sure why, but he thinks it was probably due to financial reasons. That is happening a lot lately! He is six years old, and in great shape. When people meet him, they often mistake him for a puppy!
Here is  list of Prince's virtues.
*He loves humans, including kids.
*He is friendly with other dogs... big, little, and in between! He used to have a foster sister, a tiny black chihuahua, who he loved so much! She got adopted, and Prince still misses her.
*He may or may not be friendly with cats. We don't know because Prince doesn't live with a cat. But Mama says once at the adoption show someone was walking a cat on a leash. Prince stood up on his hind legs to get a better look! He didn't growl, bark, or try to chase the cat, so we think thats a good sign.
*He's potty trained.
*He DOESN'T SHED!
*He's a nice, manageable size, about 20 pounds or so, for those who don't feel comfortable with large dogs.
*He has a great smile.
*Yes, you heard us right! Prince has a great smile! See for yourself!

If you live in the Chicago area and think Prince is an awesome dog, you should get in touch with Almost Home Foundation right away. Phone them at 630-582-3738   or email them at dogs@almosthomefoundation.org.
   .
We hope our friend Prince gets a great home soon!

Rescue Mar Lee!

Hi everyone! This is our second day of participating in our sweet friend Mayzie's Rescue Me Week! We love Mayzie so much, and Mama said when she met Mar Lee, she thought of Mayzie right away!
Can you guess why?
Here's a hint!
Look at Mayzie...

and now look at Mar Lee!

Now Mayzie...

Now Mar Lee!

Talk about two beautiful brindle girls, right?

Mar Lee is a puppy, three months old, and we're hoping that will mean she'll get adopted quickly. But puppies are sometimes actually harder to find homes for than adult dogs, because they need a lot of training, and because their sizes and personalities haven't fully developed yet. Added to that is the fact that Mar Lee is part American Staffordshire Terrier, a breed sometimes better known as pit bull. Many people are afraid of pit bulls, or feel that they can "turn" on someone at any time! The truth is, a puppy like Mar Lee who has never been abused, or exposed to dog fights, and who is already in the process of being trained to be an obedient doggie, would make a wonderful family member for someone out there! (She's also part labrador, so we think she might turn out to be a big dog... so she'll need someone who won't  mind that!)

Mar Lee is definitely a friendly doggie who is happy to meet anyone, human or dog alike. She loves to be petted and cuddled, loves to play, and loves to wrestle around with other dogs. At the last adoption show, she was spotted napping with her head on the foot of a brand new human friend!

If you live in the Chicago area and you think Mar Lee might be your new best buddy, you should contact Almost Home Foundation right away! You could email them at Puppyfoster101@aol.com, or call them at 630-775-1819. We're sure Mar Lee will be excited to meet you!

Happy Rescue Me Week, everyone! We'll see you tomorrow!

Puppy Palooza!

Oh my gosh, everyone! We've been away from our blog for a while, and we can barely understand what happened to Blogger! Whats up with this weird new editor?
Oh well. We're done with our extended Bloggy Break and Mama is feeling much better lately! In fact, we've got lots of interesting things coming up in the weeks ahead! But first, you might remember that Mama was puppysitting for some newborn puppies a while back and we promised to show you pictures. Everyone loves puppy pictures! Well, here they are... But sorry for the blurriness of some of the pictures! All Mama has is her cellphone to take pics with, and since the dogs are all black sometimes they come out as blobs!

This is the puppies' Mama (Not to be confused with our Mama!) 

 Their Mama was a stray dog who was rescued from a kill shelter by Almost Home Foundation. When they rescued her, they were told by the kill shelter people that she had had many, many litters of puppies... they could tell by her large nipples and saggy belly. But when the Almost Home Foundation people brought her to the vet,  the vet said, "THIS DOG IS PREGNANT AGAIN!" The dog, nicknamed "Mama" for obvious reasons, was so bored by her puppies. She could barely stand to nurse them... she was just tired of being a mama! OUR Mama would have to pet her and pet her to keep her still when the little munchkins nursed.
First, Mama puppysitted the puppies when they were about three weeks old. They were so tiny... although not as tiny as Lily was when she was three weeks old! These are black lab puppies, so they were already growing fast!

 Pay special attention to the one with the brindle paws. Mama loved this puppy especially because she reminded her of our big sister Chopper who is at the Rainbow Bridge! Look at Chopper and then look at the brindle legged puppy. See the resemblance?

All of the puppies in their "Whelping Box."  When they weren't nursing, they were sleeping, playing, or....

 

 ... crying! "Someone take me out of this box!"

...

The next time Mama watched the puppies, they were about six weeks old. Now they were starting to get a little bigger, and transitioning to solid food! Five times a day, Mama had to mush up puppy food mixed with special puppy formula (like milk) and yogurt, heat it in the microwave, and serve it to the little monsters.

They "graduated" from a whelping box to a giant cage! You can't see it, but the age was separated into two sections, so they could go through the door to the second section to use the bathroom. There was also a small cage in there with blankets, which was suppsed to be their bedroom. These were definitely some spoiled puppies with their own apartment! 

They liked to swim in their water dish!

Even though they were only "transitioning" to solid food, some of them would steal their Mama's food when our Mama took them out to play! (Of course it is our Mama's favorite brindle-legged puppy who is the culprit in lots of these pictures!)

Whenever our Mama would walk into the room, the puppies would cry and yelp at her! You can see their Mama in this picture too, saying, "Calgon, take me away!"

A puppy stealing their Mama's bone.

 Playtime in the kitchen.

Mama loved this little puppy so much because it looked like Chopper!

"I want to nurse!"

Then, Mama didn't see the puppies for a few more weeks. By the time she saw some of them, it was at the adoption show, and the puppies were ready to get adopted! Here they are in their cage at Petsmart! They just about trippled in size since Mama last saw them, weighing between 7 and 12 pounds! Mama thinks they remembered her, because when she picked them up they wiggled all over the place and licked her like crazy!

And now for the good news... Just about everyone has been adopted! The puppies' Mama was actually the first to be adopted. She went to a wonderful home where she has a golden retriever sister to play with and a nice, big yard!

At last notice, five of the seven puppies had been adopted, all by awesome families! And the best news of all, to our Mama, was that her very favorite brindle legged puppy was adopted by the daughter of the couple who had been fostering them! The foster parents still babysit their grandpuppy during the day. This means that our Mama will get to see that puppy once in a while. Her new name is Mollyanna!There were still two puppies left as of this past Saturday.... Steevie and Janny. (Janny is the tiniest one, weighing in at a whopping 7 pounds.) So if you live in the Chicago area and are thinking of adding a black lab puppy to your family, be sure to contact Almost Home Foundation!

Well, that ends our PuppyPalooza post. We hope you liked it! We promise, we'll be back posting more ASAP... we've really missed all of our bloggy friends!

Almost Home Dogs - McFadden, The Shelf Pup!

Hi everyone! Its been a long time since we've interviewed an Almost Home dog. But now that Mama is starting to be a little less busy, we're going to try to get back into our blogging habits! This weekend while she was volunteering, Mama met a little dog who she really loved and wanted to share with you. So today, we want to introduce you to McFadden, the shelf pup!

M: Hi everyone!


TLS: McFadden, why does Mama call you the Shelf Pup?


M: Well, as you can see from the picture, I'm standing on one of the shelves at Petsmart. Your Mama was hanging out with me at the adoption show there, and I kept getting onto the shelves! It was like my secret cave!


TLS: We can see how you would like that! So, McFadden, some people say you look like a tiny German Shepherd. Are you?


M: No! I'm a full-grown dog... even though I'm still pretty young at about thirteen months old. I am a pug/chihuahua mix!


TLS: Thats a great mix... two of our favorite kinds of dogs!


M: Thanks!


TLS: Mama says you are a little afraid of men.


M: Just a little. I don't remember what might have happened to me when I was a pup, but sometimes men freak me out when I first meet them. Of course, I can warm up to them if they spend some time with me and show me that they're not going to hurt me! It is a good idea for men (and anyone else for that matter) to sit or crouch near me and put their hand out for me to sniff, instead of towering over me or bending over me, when they first meet me. Otherwise, I might cower away and not want to go up to them! I am super close to my new foster father, so that shows that I am not too scared of men.


TLS: What about kids?


M: I think I like kids, as long as they don't hurt me! At the adoption show, a little girl came and sat by me, and I adored her! I laid in her lap with my belly up, wagged my legs in the air, and enjoyed her pets and cuddles. Kids can be great, if they know how to treat a doggie!


TLS: How about other dogs?


M: Sure! I love to play. I have a foster brother and we wrestle all the time. He's a terrier so he wants to play, literally, all the time! When he starts to annoy me, I have to growl at him and walk away. But we are good friends. And other dogs are great too! I've never met a cat, so I'd have to meet one in person and see how I feel about him. (Sammy-Joe doesn't count!)


TLS: Sensitive question time. Are you house trained?


M: Well... I'm working on it. My foster parents are trying to teach me about house training, since my previous owners forgot to cover that topic. I think I'm starting to get it, though!


TLS: What would be the perfect home for you?


M: I'm not picky. Anyone who will love me and be kind to me and never hit me. I would love to be someone's lap dog in the evenings while they are watching TV! I also love to run and play. I am soft, and cute, and very cuddly.


TLS: You sound like the perfect little dog!


M: Thanks! I hope someone will come and get me soon so I can have a forever home.


TLS: Thanks for talking with us, McFadden! Good luck!


If you live in or around Schaumburg, IL and you'd like to meet McFadden... or any of his buddies... please give Almost Home Foundation a call at 630-582-3738. You can also email them at dogs@almosthomefoundation.org. Some wonderful doggie is waiting for you! 

Almost Home Foundation Dogs: Norway, the Little Fox!

(Check out our FlaxyPet giveaway!)


Hi everyone! Welcome to the feature of this blog where we interview a dog from Almost Home Foundation every week! This week we would like to interview a fox.

Norway: "Hold it! I'm not a fox!" 

TLS: "What? You're not?"


N: "No, of course not! I'm a dog!"


TLS: "Are you sure? Because you look like a fox to us!"

N: "I'm a Shiba Inu mix, actually. We are known for looking like foxes! But I am very sure I'm a dog!"


TLS: "Oh! Sorry! We thought you were a fox, for a minute! Anyway, let us introduce Norway, the two-year-old Shiba Inu mix dog who needs a home."


N: "Hello!"


TLS: "So, why is a cute little fox... I mean, dog... like you looking for a home?" 


N: "I was a stray dog not long ago. The Animal Control people thought I was a lost dog, and they were trying to catch me so they could help me go home. But it took them two weeks to catch me! You know why? I am a fast runner! And all of my thick fur helped me to be right at home living outside in the snow."


TLS: "But they finally caught you?"


N: "Yes. And they looked for my owners. But I didn't have a tag. And nobody had reported me missing. Nobody came looking for me. I guess my old owners didn't want me anymore!"

TLS: "They must be crazy!"

N: "I don't know. Maybe. I've been told I'm a very good dog. I love people, including kids. I love other dogs, too! Sometimes I get nervous when bigger dogs bark at me or hit me with their paws when I first meet them. But I love to play! I live with three other dogs, and we play all the time! I am also very gentle with smaller dogs. I think little dogs are so cute! I just sniff them and lick them!" 


TLS: "Do you like cats?"


N: "I don't know. I've never met a cat. But they're kinda like small dogs, right?"


TLS: "Are you okay with kids?"


N: "Sure! I like to lick them and play with them, and I like it when they pet me and cuddle with me!"


TLS: "Now for the embarrassing question..."

N: "Yes, I am housetrained." 


TLS: "Sorry, we always have to ask. How about crate trained?"


N: "Yeah, I stay in my crate while my foster parents are at work. I don't mind it. I'd rather be with my family, though!" 


TLS: "What do you like to do in your spare time?"

N: "I love to run and play! I think the snow is awesome! I am happy to play with anyone... dogs or humans. I bet I would like water, too! I love to take walks. I love to get my belly rubbed. I am a very happy dog!"


TLS: "Do you know any tricks?"

N: "I can sit, lay down, and shake hands. I would like to learn more tricks, if my new family wants to teach me!"


TLS: "Everyone wants to know... do you shed?"


N: "A little. Not a ton. Don't hold it against me! Most dogs shed at least a little!"


TLS: "We understand. We all shed, too. What would your ideal family be like?"

N: "I think I'd like a house with a fenced-in yard where I could run... or regular trips to a dog park. I'd like an active family who would do a lot with me. They would play with me and spend time with me. I would be interested in trying out agility training... my foster mom says I'd be great at that! I especially want a family who will love me forever!"


TLS: "We want that for you, too! We know you'll find a great home soon, Norway!"


If you're interested in meeting Norway, you can email his foster mom at robertamecklenburg@att.net or call (847) 212-6701. He'll be waiting!

Almost Home Foundation Dogs: Winnie Is A Winner!

Hi, everyone! Welcome to the feature of this blog where we interview a different Almost Home Foundation dog each week. First of all, we wanted to let you know that Cabernet... the dog who was thrown from a moving car... has been adopted! Hurray!


On Saturday when Mama was volunteering, she fell in love with two dogs! One of them was Brindy, the cutest little brindle pitbull puppy! Mama was sitting on the floor and Brindy (who was not the dog Mama was in charge of) kept coming up and plunking herself down in Mama's lap! She just wanted to cuddle and cuddle and cuddle! Mama wanted us to interview Brindy... but Brindy got adopted that very day! We can't even find a picture of Brindy on the Almost Home Foundation site to show you. They must have moved her off of the Adoptable site but not put her on the Adopted site yet! She was so cute and sweet. Mama almost cried when Brindy got adopted because it meant she won't see her again.... but we're happy that great dog has a home!


The other dog Mama loved was Winnie, the puppy who Mama was actually in charge of. Winnie is 8 months old,  and spent the entire day trying to play with other dogs! (We say trying because not all of the other dogs were happy to play.) When he gets excited, he hops up and down on all fours, like a pogo puppy! He's really cute and needs a home, so lets welcome Winnie! (By the way, this photo doesn't do him justice... but he was so excited to be around other dogs, it was hard to get him to hold still for a picture!)

W(Winnie): "Hi! Hi! Hi! Are you dogs? Do you want to play? Lily looks small like me. We should wrestle! Hey, Sammy-Joe, you're small too, but you don't look like a dog! Do you want to play? Trixie, you're bigger than me! Will you eat me? Hi everyone!"

TLS (us): "BOL! Slow down, gym shoe! We'll play with you later, but first we have to ask you some questions so we can help find you a great home."

W: "Oh, good, a home! I like home! I had a home once. When I was a tiny puppy some people bought me from a pet store. But they didn't want me any more so they sent me to the pound!" 

TLS: "Who wouldn't want a cute puppy like you?"

W: "Well. they had a little kid and they were trying to potty train him and me at the same time. They thought it was too hard to try to potty train both of us. We both kept having accidents! The people felt like they were always cleaning up pee! They said one of us had to go. And for some reason society frowns on sending human babies to the pound. So... it was me who had to go away." 

TLS: "What a hard situation. We want to remind everyone who might be looking for a pet, to think about these things. Dogs take work! If you're already overloaded with your kids or your job or something, and you think you won't have enough time to take care of your dog... you probably shouldn't get one right now."

W: "Yes! But I am not so much work anymore! I live in a foster home now, and they have house trained me really well! I now know. We pee and poo outside, not inside."

TLS: "We hear that you really love other dogs!"

W: "Yep, I'm always ready to play! I prefer small dogs like me, because we can play without getting hurt. But I wouldn't mind playing with bigger dogs, as long as they promise not to eat me. At the adoption show yesterday, there was a giant pit bull puppy named Brindy who was biting my ear!"  

TLS: "She was just trying to play, right?"

W: "Yep, she's  puppy like me and she wanted to play... but I'm really attached to my ears!"

TLS: "Do you like kids?"

W: "Sure, they're fun! I am a puppy though, and sometimes when we puppies play, we like to nibble each other. If I get excited while playing with you, I may nibble your hands! It doesn't really hurt. But some little kids might still get upset."

TLS: "But you can learn not to do that, right?"

W: "Of course! I'm a smart dog, and I can learn anything!"

TLS: "What would be the perfect home for you?"

W: "I love to be around people. So I would love a home where someone can be home with me a lot of the time! If you work long hours and do not have time for me, I might be lonely. I am hoping for a home where people will pet me, cuddle me, play with me, and love me!"

TLS: "We know you'll find that perfect home soon, Winnie. Good luck!"

W: "Thanks! Can we play now?"

TLS: "Sure, lets play!"

If you think Winnie would be a great dog for you, you can visit Almost Home Foundation's website and fill out an inquiry form, or call them at (630) 582-3738. 

We hope you'll find your new best friend!