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?

We Know A Doggy Hero!

Hi everyone! We wanted to share a few happy stories (and one sad one) for the new year!
First, we know we have mentioned our neighbor dogs, Andi, Betty and Finn, before. They live next door to us. Betty and Finn were adopted together from a local rescue organization that specializes in saving senior citizen dogs, and Andi is a giant yellow lab was adopted as a puppy and is now a year old! We always play with them through the fence... especially Andi, who cries with excitement and tries to jump over the fence every time she sees us!
The sad news is that Betty got so old and so sick that she had to go to the Rainbow Bridge. She had a softball sized tumor in her stomach. Even when she was the sickest of sick she still mustered up the energy to bark ferociously at us whenever she saw us! (She had anxiety issues.) We are really going to miss her. But we know Finn is going to miss her the most of all! The two of them were best friends, ever since their days of being in a cage together at the shelter. They would wake up each morning and give each other kisses.
The news about Betty was sad for us to hear, but we also heard some very cool news about Andi! Andi's human aunt had been very ill and had had to have surgery recently. She was staying at Andi's family's house while she recovered, along with her own two dogs, so that Andi's human mother and grandmother could take care of them all. One day Andi's aunt was fast asleep on the couch. All of the humans were used to the aunt sleeping a lot lately and were trying to be quiet so she could get her rest. But Andi had a bad feeling all of the sudden.
Andi jumped up on the couch and started crying and licking her aunt like crazy! The other humans yelled a Andi to get off of her aunt and let her sleep. But Andi wouldn't give up! She just kept on whining and licking her aunt! When the aunt didn't wake up to complain about the gigantic yellow lab on top of her, the humans got worried and checked on her. Andi's aunt was not breathing!
Quickly the humans dialed 9-1-1. But before the ambulance had arrived, Andi's aunt woke up. Andi's vigorous licking had revived her!
It turned out Andi's aunt suffered an allergic reaction related to her surgery, which caused her to stop breathing in her sleep. To the humans, it just looked like the aunt was sleeping peacefully. But dogs have great hearing and can actually hear humans breathing all the time, so Andi was able to actually notice when that sound wasn't coming out of her aunt any more! If Andi hadn't been there, her aunt would have died. Needless to say, the humans treated Andi to a nice, big rawhide bone that night!
Of course, Andi has no idea that what she did was heroic.

In other news, we read on Facebook about this cool project called SharePet. It allows you to "virtually adopt" a pet, and post it on your blog and Facebook page. Then, when we or any of you want to spend money online for things like pet supplies, flight, hotel reservations, and even things you buy at sites like Amazon.com and Buy.com (There are a ton of sites on there) a percentage of what you spend will be donated to the shelter where that pet is, in order to help support that pet. The percentages are different depending on the sites. Some will donate 2%, some up to 20%! You can also share the pet on Facebook or Twitter to get others to notice him or her
We thought this was a great idea. Mama has a special place in her heart for bully breeds, but she knows we probably won't have one any time soon, for a variety of reasons. So she thought virtually adopting one would be a great thing to do! We found Precious, an American Staffordshire Terrier who is currently lost in Yonkers. Well, shes not lost, exactly, but she's in the municipal shelter! (The Yonkers, NY shelter is a "kill shelter" but not a high kill shelter. They say they only euthanize dogs who are considered unadoptable because of age, illness, temperament, etc... although a news article about them mentions that they do sometimes have to euthanize healthy pets to make room for new arrivals.  They have  recently raised enough money to build a brand new shelter that will allow them to take more animals, and give them better living conditions, including a larger outdoor area for play time and agility activities. The Yonkers Humane Society also helps out by taking their overflow pets.)
Precious has a similar story to Trixie! Like Trixie, she had a litter of puppies when she was brought to the shelter. And like Trixie, she was left behind at the shelter to take her chances. The weird thing is that Precious's previous owners kept all of the puppies (they probably planned on selling them) but dropped off Precious at the shelter. Unlike Trixie, who was on that shelter's list to be put to sleep within ten days, before she was rescued by Almost Home Foundation, Precious is not in immediate danger. However, she still wants to have a real home, instead of living in the shelter! Her profile says that she is a sweet, housetrained dog who gets along well with humans and some dogs. If you have other dogs you'd have to introduce them to see if they get along. Obviously this is a dog for someone who has experience with Precious's breed. Not many details are available about her, but if you are thinking of rescuing an American Staffordshire Terrier, we think you should visit her Petfinder profile and give the shelter a call to find out more about her. Also, if you are going to do any shopping online, please come to our site, find Precious's picture on our side bar, click it, and then click on "Buy and give." You'll be able to choose a category for what you're looking for. Amazon.com and Buy.com are also listed in all of the categories. We really hope maybe this dog will catch someone's eye! Thanks, everyone! 

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!

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! 

Petfinder Wants You To Adopt The Internet Today!

ANNOUNCEMENT: DON'T FORGET TO GET YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS AND PICK OUT YOUR PRIZES! WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN TOMORROW MORNING!!!


Hi everyone! Today we're helping Petfinder.com to Adopt The Internet! We wanted to introduce you to Lacey, a dog we found in the Adopt The Internet Gallery. It was really hard to pick a dog to introduce you to... but we chose Lacey because she reminded us of Trixie. 

You see, in the picture Lacey is nursing her little puppies. Just like Trixie, she was found alone and abandoned. She was pregnant when she was found. (Trixie was found with her puppies.) Her seven adorable puppies quickly got adopted... just like Trixie's puppies. And, like Trixie was, Lacey is still waiting patiently for her turn to get adopted!


Lacey lives in a foster home in West Richland, WA, right now. She is a small Doxie mix, who loves people, including children, and loves other dogs as well. Do you want Lacey to be your doggie? Email her rescue organization for more information!


Good luck, Lacey! We hope you get adopted soon!

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! 

Almost Home Dogs - Amazing Grace!

  Don't forget about our three giveaways this week! You can enter to win the kitty surprise pack, the Kong Tugger Knot dog toy, and the dog treats fromClaudia's Canine Cousine! Remember, the last day to enter is Tuesday at 5:00 pm Central!
Hi everyone! Welcome to the feature of this blog where we interview a dog from Almost Home Foundation who is waiting for a home! This week, we want you to meet a beautiful 2-year-old girl who comes highly recommended by her human friends and foster parents. We mentioned before how sometimes pit bulls get a bad rap. Well, this sweetie doggie is part pit bull, and she is a walking, barking example of why humans shouldn't stereotype dogs by their breed. 


Everyone, meet Amazing Grace!

AG(Amazing Grace)  "Hi everyone! Thanks for inviting me to your blog! I'm happy to be here!"


TLS (US): "We're happy to have you! We were wondering, how did you get your very cool name?"


AG: "I'm never sure why humans do things. But I think they named me Amazing Grace because I was rescued, at the last minute, from a high-kill shelter. It was really overcrowded. I had stayed there for a few weeks and hadn't gotten adopted. And you know what was going to happen to me. I was gonna take an early trip to the Rainbow Bridge. But the people from Almost Home Foundation swooped in and took me with them! It was a moment of grace. They saved my life!"


TLS: "Wow, we are so glad you are safe now!"


AG: "Me too! I live in a great foster home. Do you know that I had a foster brother who couldn't see? He was a big doggie like me, and he was blind. I was friends with him. I was always careful to play very gently with him, since he couldn't see what I was doing!"


TLS: "Yeah, we heard you are a very gentle, laid back dog. Our Mama said, at the adoption show, a really hyper, barky little dog ran up to you and was growling and nipping at you. And what did you do?"

AG: "I just stood there and ignored him. He calmed down and started sniffing my butt. Then we were friends!"


TLS: "Are you good with kids?"

AG: "Yes, I am very good with them! I'm gentle. I might lick them with my big tongue though!"


TLS" "Are you good with cats?"

AG: "I don't know any cats... but I am very calm with anyone. I am pretty sure I would be very calm with a cat, too. I just want to be friends with everyone!"


TLS: "What are your favorite things to do?"


AG: "I really love playing "fetch" with a tennis ball."


TLS: "So does Lily!"

AG: "We should play together sometime! I also like just laying around and nibbling on my tennis ball, or on a bone. I like to play, but I also enjoy just being calm and hanging out with my foster family."


TLS: "Now for the awkward question... Are you house trained?"


AG: "Yes I am! I told you I'm Amazing!"


TLS: "What kind of a family are you looking for?"


AG: "I am not picky. If you will love me, I will love you! I promise to be a very loyal doggie to whoever wants to keep me."

TLS: "We know you'll be a great doggie for someone! We heard your foster brother got adopted the other day!"


AG: "Yes he did! Some relatives of my foster family wanted him."


TLS: "Thats great! We hope someone picks you next, Amazing Grace."


AG: "I hope so too!"


If you are interested in meeting Amazing Grace, you can get in touch with Almost Home Foundation by calling them at (630) 582-3738, or emailing dogs@almosthomefoundation.org. You won't regret it! 

Almost Home Foundation - Episode 3: Awesome Lawson!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Don't forget about the doggie toy giveaway that is still going on! The last day to enter will be Monday at 5 pm Central.

H everyone! Welcome back to the feature of this blog where we interview a dog from Almost Home Foundation who is looking for a home. Yesterday our Mama had the pleasure of meeting Lawson, a big, happy retriever/lab mix. Lawson is almost two years old, and loves people! Our Mama said she was petting Lawson, and when she stopped, he grabbed her arm with his big paws and groaned, trying to say, "KEEP PETTING ME PLEASE!" Mama knew then that she wanted us to interview Lawson. So, everyone say hello to our new buddy!

TLS(us): So, Lawson, hows it going?

L(Lawson): Not so good. Its been a rough week!

TLS: Really? Why?

L: Last week some people came to the adoption show to meet me. They even brought their dog! We all got along great. The people decided they wanted me. They brought me home with them. I thought I had a family!

TLS: But then what happened, Lawson?

L: They brought me back. They didn't want me after all.

TLS: Oh, poor Lawson! How could they not want you?

L: Well, they said something about having allergies. Maybe I did something wrong? I don't know what it could have been, though! I was a good dog! I liked playing with their dog! I was happy with them!

TLS: We're so sorry that happened. We hpe you'll find another family soon.

L: Me too. I live in a foster home now. But its just not the same as having a place you can call your home forever.

TLS: Our Mama says you're a really friendly dog!

L: I am! I am! I love people! I love to be petted and cuddled. When I see people, I get so happy! I like dogs, too! I always want to play! And I really love to make people happy. I like being trained, because I get a chance to show off how smart I am!

TLS: Do you know any tricks?

L: I can sit, lay down, and give paw. You can teach me more! I would love to learn! I'm also great at going for walks. I'm a very obedient dog.

TLS: And for the awkward question we always hate to ask... are you housetrained?

L: Of course I am! I told you, I'm a very smart dog!

TLS: What would you like your new home to be like?

L: Mostly I just want some people who will pet me and play with me and love me. It would be fun to have someone who would work on training me some more. I really like pleasing people, so I can be taught a lot! I want someone who loves big dogs and won't get mad when I'm clumsy. My tail has a mind of its own, you know! I would like a yard where I can run. I think my yard should have a fence around it. Otherwise, when I'm running, I might run too far, and get lost! That would be scary. I wouldn't want to lose my new home.

TLS: Is there anything else you'd like?

L: I would like for people to scratch my rear end. Your Mama scratched my rear end today! It felt so good, I groaned and stomped my feet and wiggled my butt! Oh, I loved it!

TLS: Yeah, we know what you mean!

L: I would like someone who doesn't have allergies... or if they do, they are willing to do things to deal with the allergies, like have me groomed often and use a special vacuum cleaner. I wouldn't want someone to bring me back again because of their allergies.

TLS: We think you will be the perfect doggie for someone.

L: You really think so?

TLS: Of course! We know you'll find a great home, soon.

L: Thanks, guys!

TLS: Thanks for talking with us!

If you'd like to meet the awesome Lawson, get in touch with Almost Home Foundation! You can call 630-582-3738 or email dogs@almosthomefoundation.org to find out more about him. There are also lots more wonderful dogs and cats... including Bermuda and Sushi, who are still looking for homes!

Good luck, Lawson!