Farley (Formerly Faith)

Farley (the dog) writes,

Hi friends,
Just wanted to give a quick update on how things are going in Melrose, MA after my first 6 weeks.

I am really enjoying my new life with Maria and Russ. Even though Maria made me dress up as the Easter Bunny, I really like hanging out with her. She takes me for walks every day and plays tug of war with me, no matter how slimy the toy. Russ loves that I greet him every night after work; I think he’ll soon fight over who takes me for a walk and puts me to bed. I’ve already got him sneaking me treats when he knows that Maria already gave me one.

My dog walker, Julie, thinks I’m the best dog. She doesn’t know that I chewed through the cord to the lamp last night (I was smart enough to unplug it first). I miss the snow but I think I’ll like the Spring here. Happy Easter!

Woof,
Farley

Abbie (Formerly Julie)

Abbie's new family says, "We adopted Julie just before Thanksgiving in 2005 and changed her name to Abbie. Both my wife and I grew up with dogs as pets and always wanted to rescue a dog, to give one a second chance. After we adopted Abbie, she settled in very quickly, getting used to her new home in Massachusetts. She's a very loving dog and just wants to be with us all the time. We couldn't have asked for a better adoption, even though we hadn't met her before we collected her from the veterinarian.

We quickly grew to become a family and when we were asked to relocate back to the United Kingdom (UK) in January of 2006, I made it clear that Abbie was part of our family and she had to come with us. So in late August we sold up and made the move across the Atlantic, Abbie as well, having already gone through the strict importation procedures for entry into the UK. On August 30th, we all boarded a plane from Boston to London and we picked Abbie up from animal control without any problems the following day. She made the flight with no adverse effects and was immensely pleased to see us when we collected her. Abbie is now an international passport holder and has a 100 foot fenced in yard in which to play and run around in, chasing the squirrels and birds. She loves her new home and we are so happy that we were able to give her a forever home, no matter where in the world we go."

Ruby (Formerly Esther)

Ruby's new family says, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for doing what you do every day. I know you must have quite a few difficult, sad, frustrating days when you see how many animals come in your doors, unwanted, uncared for, unloved. Esther sat at your shelter for well over a month (longer than many dogs you said). By the time my daughter and I came by, Esther sat in her dog run and just looked at us, not making a sound. She slowly laid down and showed us her belly, without whining, barking or anything. It was strange, considering the ruckus everybody else made trying to get our attention. Her eyes were sad, but still had enough life in them to ask the same question we did – “Will you love me?” She was unforgettable. We took note, and told you we’d be back.

Esther came home (instantly named “Ruby” by my 5 year-old), and she was anxious and somewhat reserved. Like other animals we have made part of our family over the years, she seemed to be holding out for the other shoe to fall – could this be real? We patiently waited for her, gave her lots of love and toys, and took her for many, many walks with the boys. As each day went by, her head and tail seemed to climb higher and higher until she literally started to bounce – which she is now very well known for. Surprise, surprise – she was housetrained from the moment we brought her home. (She had you fooled on that one!) One little accident the first week, and that was it. Better than my kids… Our animals enjoy being house pets, and only stay in the yard when we’re both working.

I forgot to mention…I gave her a bath as soon as we got home. After about 5 bucket loads of winter fur brushed out of her, Ruby was a brand new puppy. She had and still has the shiniest, most beautiful, soft fur I have ever seen. It is magnificent for about 4 hours every time she has a bath…that is, until she bounds into the yard and shoves her face in the dirt – her favorite pastime. I haven’t gotten a picture of it yet, but on our walks, she loves to dig holes in the woods, shove her face in it, and usually comes out with rings of dirt around her eyes and snout. So adorable, until she comes in the house and throws herself on the freshly vacuumed rug.

Ruby has many names at any given time – Pretty Girl, Bouncy Girl, Lulu, Happy Girl, Bad Girl (usually when accompanied by a peculiar odor of something special she found and rolled in), Crazy Girl (likes to run figure eights around Big Dog), and Shiny. Everyone in the neighborhood has remarked that she is just so SHINY.

You know that every animal that comes in your door has at least a chance of being adopted, and it breaks your heart when it doesn’t happen for all of them. But like Esther herself said, it had been a long time for this dog, but you knew that someone would want her. WE’RE SO GLAD THAT YOU WAITED. Ruby, like all of our adopted animals (it’s a little embarrassing, but we spend a lot of time spoiling 6 cats and 3 dogs) is extremely happy, every day, and gets all of the love and attention she deserves. Just so you know, Ruby got a home with 1.5 acres, a big fenced yard, a Mom, Dad, 6 and 11 year old girls, 2 other adopted dogs (one small and likes her a lot, one big and absolutely nuts about her), and 6 cats that really enjoy her happy temperament. She gets at least 3 walks a day, and plenty of time to play in and outside the house.

Ruby brings great joy to our lives. I can honestly say that beside the fact that there is no more ROOM at the Inn, this dog completes our family. Everyone now has a buddy, playmate, and sleep mate. You can most often find Ruby in a tangled heap with Big Dog, lazily gnawing on each other’s legs and heads like old people without teeth. She is quiet, sweet, and on her feet in a hurry if there’s someone ready to notice her. She loves to give hugs and press her head and body against you for as long as you’ll let her. She is gentle and watchful of my girls, and is politely protective of the family when we go for our walks. She most enjoys having her head and belly rubbed, but has a hard time staying on her feet when you pet her. We have the most fun watching her slide to the ground when anyone touches her. The urge to lay and dream seems to overtake her every time.

To make a long story (OK how about over?), we are so grateful that you’re there. I wanted to remind you that for all of the sadness that you see every day, that there are happy endings because of what you do. This little girl has you to thank for her new family. Thank you for helping us find Miss Ruby. I just took a quick picture of her with the cell phone. This would be a few days after her last bath…

Sam

Sam's new mom says, "I looked for about a month for a medium-sized dog for our family on Petfinder.com. I found small ones and large ones but not just a medium sized dog that wouldn't get too big. Then I saw Sam (his name was Graham in the ad) and fell in love.

I showed Sam to my husband and kids to see what they thought. They thought he was meant to be their dog. I contacted the shelter to find out more about him. We emailed back and forth that week. Jackie Hale was great about answering my many questions! We drove to Dickson early Saturday morning, very excited to meet him. He was perfect!

He has fit into our family seamlessly and we couldn't imagine life without him. You see, Sam had been at the shelter for three months and no one had adopted him even after they took him to adoption days. His time was almost up when we rescued him. Everybody else's loss is our gain in this terrific dog. Our vet says we both lucked out, we got a wonderful dog and he got a wonderful family. So my family has the best darned dog ever and I have a third child, thanks to Petfinder!"

Laci

Laci's new mom says,
"Thought you all might enjoy this update... Laci is doing great and loving her new life.

I flew down in October to adopt her and bring her back to Maryland.

Enclosed is a photo from a sunny day last December when we were all out playing with the horses.

Also enclosed is a photo of Laci from today, playing in the snow and having a blast!!! She's turned into one beautiful girl, don't you think?

Thanks again for all your help in bringing Laci into our lives."

Dancing Delilah

Delilah's new dad says,
"Hi, I thought you might like to see Miss D dance and take a bow. That was our weekend adventure -- learning to dance and bow!"

Delilah's friend says,
"Just wanted to share these pictures of Dancing Delilah with you. I have received several e-mails from him and he is crazy about her. I love happy tails!"

Sandie

Sandie says, "Hello, everyone! My name is Sandie, and I'm a cocker spaniel mix. My mom adopted me in October 2003, the day she came back from a vacation to Falls Creek Falls. Once she saw me, she fell in love with me. She named me Sandie because of my color - I'm the white/tan color of sand.

I want to tell you about my hobbies; I've got lots of them! My most favorite hobby is running. I LOVE to run!!! I can run up to 15 miles a day. I run with my owner who is the fastest runner in Dickson County and won 2 state track titles in the Spring of 2004. I also run with my mom.

Another hobby of mine is playing with toys; I've got lots, lots, lots of them! My favorite toy would have to be...the white, fluffy, soft, squeaking, bone-looking toy. I love that toy! I love the squeaking sound!

I am a very good doggie; I go to bathroom outside most of the time. Did I tell you I have a brother? Well, his name is Scooter, a black lab dog. He is so kind, he even lets me sit on him when I feel cold and lets me snuggle up with him on his king-size bed. I am trying to get him to play with me but he is so lazy. I don't blame him; he is getting old.

I love to meet every person I can, especially little kids. I am having the best life here because I have 300 acres and a creek all to myself. I also do tricks; I love tricks because I get to have a yummy, tasty treat. I can do sit, shake, stand up from my hind, and come. I am working on my "roll over," it is very confusing to me, but I still get a treat anyway for almost doing it. I also love riding in the car from place to place. I even went to Nashville to see my mom run at the Steeplechase Course. It is my favorite event ever!!!!

Well, I better go and take a nice, warm nap. Before I go, I want to tell you something about my friends from the shelter. They need a home. I want you all to adopt all those animals because they told me they would like to have a home and a family to care about them and play with them. Please, please adopt the pets at the Humane Society of Dickson County! Buh-bye! Nice talking to y'all!"

Kittens Galore

The kittens' new family says, "We thought you might want to see that our 4 new kittens are getting along famously, even though they are from 3 different litters and are all different ages. The big cats are adjusting to them as well.

The kittens don't know which is more fascinating: the birds, the bunnies or the bumble bees! They are having a blast, inside and outside. We love them very much. We just wish we could afford to take them all!"

Ginger

Ginger's new family says, "Here is a picture of the little dog you named "Clarissa." We renamed her "Ginger." She is doing very well. We love having her around. To our surprise, she was already house trained and is smart as a tack!!! She has endless energy -- no matter how many times you throw the ball for her, she's never had enough!!! She loves the two cats we have in the house. The four-year-old old doesn't like Ginger, but tolerates her. Smokey, the young one, loves her -- they chase each other around and Smokey lets the dog nibble on him (he's a very tolerent cat...lucky for us!).

 
Ginger whines alot when she wants to go outside and is bored. We have two labs outside and the younger black lab plays with her gently... She loves it!!! We recently found out -- when taking all the dogs for a walk to the creek -- that Ginger likes to chase cows and she thinks she is a big dog. At night, she loves to sleep with our 10-year-old son, Austin. We just wanted to update you all and let you know that she is doing wonderfully. Thank you for what you do each day!!!"

Baby Girl

Baby Girl's new family says, "We adopted Baby Girl in October 2004. Since her adoption, she has become a very important member of our family. She has become attached to our seven-year-old son that has seizures and has begun alerting us when one occurs. Now she is almost 9 months old and weighs over 8 pounds. Here is a photo of Baby Girl when we first brought her home as a kitten, and how she is now. She is our lil' angel!"

Meika

Meika's new family says, "Just wanted to give you an update on the pup we adopted. Her name is now Meika, and she is happy all the time. Meika is fitting in extremely well. Only bad thing is that she is a shredder, not just a chewer. She has chew toys galore, but will pass them up and look for something to shred. Hopefully this will pass (soon!). She comes when she is called and is learning to catch. Our vet thinks she will reach 100 lbs. We'll see!"

Spike

Spike's story is a true roller-coaster ride! After being surrendered to HSDC, the pit bull was stolen during a break-in at the Humane Society of Dickson County in June 2004. Authorities recovered the 3-year-old, 80-pound red pit bull in September, tied to a stake at the tree line in the backyard of a Hickman County residence. The shelter credits the offer of a $2,000 reward made up of private donations with leading to Spike’s recovery. Spike then returned to the shelter until he found a new home!

Spike's new family says, "When an article appeared on the front page of our local paper about Spike, a beautiful pit bull who had been surrendered to our local shelter and then was stolen during the night, we couldn't help but get involved. Being pit bull lovers and pit bull owners, we were outraged and wanted to help bring Spike home. Getting involved in the search became more of a blessing than we could have ever imagined. Spike's reward resulted in calls involving many pit bulls who were being abused and the shelter was overwhelmed with them. We immediately took in two to foster who otherwise possibly would have been euthanized. The calls ultimately stopped coming and after almost 3 months, our hope had dimmed at Spike ever being returned.

One day, out of the blue, HSDC Executive Director Lacey called to tell me that an anonymous caller had given them the address where Spike was being held. They went to the address and there he was -- chained to a tree in the backyard! Spike was brought back to the shelter and taken to a foster home. It was several days before we were able to see him. Then, the foster home didn't work out and he was back at the shelter. He was so much more than we expected. He was so full of life and love. They weren't comfortable with him at the shelter, so he went to a local vet to board. We went almost every day and took him to the park. He was always so glad to see us and played to his hearts content. We were always sad to take him back but with the two fosters we had, there really wasn't room for him at our house. That week, one of my fosters got adopted on Friday, and Saturday we prepared to bring Spike home to foster him until a permanent home could be found.

Within an hour he had mastered getting out of the kennel. I was gone and my husband had to decide whether to take Spike back to the shelter or not. He went out in the yard with Spike and Spike crawled up in his lap and some major bonding started. By the time I got home that afternoon, Spike wasn't going anywhere! Later that evening, my husband told me to call Lacey and tell her we were going to adopt Spike. He is an amazing dog. We were happy to learn that somewhere in his past he had obedience training and minds very well. He has taken up residence in the garage behind the house for the time being. When he comes out he stays right with my husband. As you can see they are big buds! Spike is a true ambassador for the pit bull breed."

Parker

Parker says, "My name is Parker and I flew on a plane to Massachusetts last week to meet my new family! I was the only one left after my brother and sister were adopted...my new family and their friends could not understand why! I am about 3 months old -- a chow chow/german shepherd mix. Mom was looking for more of a chow chow puppy, but fell in love with me when she saw my picture. She picks me up all the time and holds me like a baby...I will grow quickly so she is doing it as much as she can now!! Nana says mom holds me more than my human kids! Nana doesn't have any animals so she doesn't understand, but I heard her tell my Grandfather that I was pretty cute!

 
I am slowly getting the hang of things, but i just can't resist piddling on the hardwood floor instead of the puppy pad mom puts out! I go absolutely crazy when she brings me outside to go potty and won't give me that yummy treat until I've gone! I think I deserve a treat right away, especially when I do that "sit" thing she tells me about! She calls me a racoon because of the way I wrap my paws around her hand when she gives me a treat. I will also stand on my hind legs to reach her hand!! She tells me that I shouldn't do that but I know she can't resist it...she mentioned something about obedience class?

My big chow sister, Tabor, thinks I'm a pest right now, but mom says that she'll play with me when I am bigger! That's her in the photo behind me. Reese is my senior, older chow chow brother and he lays around a lot. I try to get him to play but he isn't really interested. He was adopted, too, and says I am very lucky to be here but that I need to behave myself!! My human sister Delaney is 5 and she hugs me a lot. Harrison is 8 and he runs in a huge yard with me! Mom tries to throw balls but I want my treat! When daddy comes home I can hear in his voice how much he loves me when he talks to me!

Before I go to my crate for the night, I wanted to ask you to please help one of my humane society friends find a good home like I have!"

Sydney

Sydney's Adoptive Family says, "Sydney is precious, and such a gift to our family. Thank you so much. Blessings to you and the Humane Society!"

Blaze

Blaze's Adoptive Family says, "Just thought I'd drop a line to let you know that Blaze is everything you said he was. He's extremely tolerant of the kids and the foster family did a wonderful job training him. We've only had minor incidents of normal kitty naughtiness. I'm amazed that he plays fetch.

Thanks again for your keen insight into the personality of your animals. We will return when we're ready to adopt another animal."

Hillbilly

Hillbilly's Adoptive Mom says, "Kenny and I just wanted to let you know that our puppy is doing great. We named him Hillbilly. He is going potty outside and he even gets along with the cat -- the cat follows him around like they are best friends. The kids love him, too. Brianna just went to bed and gave him a hug and kiss and told him, "good night." He will do great with us and we are glad to have him. We have had so many things happen in our lives since we have been here and having him will lighten things up for us."

Rowdy

Rowdy's Foster Mom says, "Rowdy was a foster kitten at our office for close to a year. We were beginning to believe that he was to be a permanent fixture in our office. He was a very awkward looking kitten -- all tail and ears. We called him "Little Bit" for the first 4 or 5 months he was with us. Once he started to get a bit more active, we changed his name to "Rowdy." Rowdy became everyone's favorite kitten at the office. As you can see in the pictures, he really grew into that tail and ears and became a handsome kitten. Other kittens came and went -- all finding new homes, but no one seemed to want to take Rowdy home. Maybe they thought he was the clinic cat and not for adoption? After having great success using the Petfinder site with other foster animals, we decided to put Rowdy's picture and biography on the site. Within 2 weeks of putting him on the site, we were getting calls and emails about him. One woman in particular showed great interest, but she lived over 200 miles away. We chatted on-line, and decided to find a meeting place halfway between our homes. We set a Saturday morning date to meet in Jackson, Tennessee. She immediately fell in love with him. We completed the adoption paperwork right there in Jackson, and she took Rowdy home, to his first real home. He has a brother (dog) named Bandit and a sister (cat) named Libby at his new home. We're so glad Rowdy found a home with a true pet lover!"

Rowdy's New Adoptive Mom says, "Rowdy is so sweet. Libby (my other cat) is doing a little better each day; they're not buddies yet, but I think they will be in time. Rowdy, the little rascal, loves to sleep with me under the covers, so I've got him on one side under the covers and Bandit (the dog) on the other side on top of the covers, so to say the least, I don't get to move. Thanks again so much for meeting me in Jackson and bringing my little angel."

Harley Champion (Formerly Rosie)

Harley Champion's New Adoptive Family says, "Rosie is now named Harley Champion! We adopted her on March 7th, and she is wonderfulllllllll. Again thank you, we love her very much."

Princess Taylor

Princess Taylor says, "My name is Princess Taylor. I was adopted in January from the Dickson County Humane Society when they brought me and a bunch of other dogs and cats to PETCO in Bellevue. I am a Min Pin with friend...The friend contributed my 'naturally curly hair' but I have the Pincher black coat with beige accents (paws, face and eyebrows). In January, I weighed 5 1/2 pounds and was told by my new Vet that I was close to 2 years old. He figured this out by looking at my teeth.

My new home is wonderful. My parents are elderly and they have been without a dog for 7 or 8 years. They feed me great food with lots of snacks so I think I may have gained a pound. I have lots of toys. In fact, my house is full of stuffed animals and dolls. The latest is a big Lamb Chop. Some of the toys are mine now. Some disappeared, but I don't bother the others. They look real good lining the stairway in front of our front door. My Dad takes me for long walks so I can meet all the other dogs in these condos. My Mom takes me for short walks while she checks the flowers and trees on the creek bank behind our home. She throws sticks in the creek and we watch them race away. The grandchildren Brandi and Bill came to visit and they took me into the creek to play. We got sopping wet but it was a nice warm day and Mom was waiting with dry towels when we got out. I have a fur comforter in my cage/bed and I sleep there every night and during the dinner hour. I also have two hidey places. One is under Mom's bed upstairs and the other is under a chair in our den.

I really do goof up sometimes. I took a pine cone and tore it all to pieces under the chair. Mom was very mad. She said if I get a belly-ache maybe I'll learn not to eat dumb things. The very next day, she let me out on the patio and for some dumb reason I decided to dig holes in Dad little garden. I did not bother the tomato or cucumber plants or the marigolds but I did make an awful mess. I must try to be nicer. I get to ride in the car on short errands if the weather is cool. Guess what??? I learned how to roll down the window...just put your paw on the little button.

I visit my old friends when they come to PETCO. They were so nice to take me...cleaned me up and helped find me a new home. I'll always love them for that!!"

Chance

Chance's New Adoptive Family says, "Chance came to us in February, and it was a lucky day for all of us. He was and is still very shy around people, but he loves being around other dogs. With the help of our other family dogs, he has learned to feel secure in our home. He fits right into our family; he is so sweet, funny, and happy. We are so happy to have him.

Stretch

Stretch's New Adoptive Family says, "La Dawn, my daughter, adopted a Basset Hound at an adopt-a-thon. "Stretch" rode home like a proud king on the front seat between La Dawn and Lynzee. At the stoplight, a driver in an adjacent truck honked at us, giving the "thumbs up" signal, pointing to the good looking "boy" sitting on the seat between La Dawn and Lynzee.

Stretch met the other family members: Sunday Rain, Robin, Stolen and Misfit all welcomed the new comer. Stretch quickly took over Sunday's bed and took a long nap. He certainly has personality when it come to his meals. He's step is quick and he voices his happiness. When Stretch follows the other two dogs out the dog door, it is like watching a Greyhound Bus going through a tunnel. It takes a few seconds for Stretch to enter or exit all of his body through the dog door.

We all love him, and he knows and shows it. It is the happy endings for some of our 'friends' that makes our every effort worth their weight in gold."

Gus (Formerly Buster)

Gus's New Adoptive Family says, "Gus is a smart one. We've done a little research on him and realized he's not a Lab mix; he's a Rhodesian Ridgeback. The Ridgeback was bred in Africa to hunt lions, so you know he'll be REALLY BIG!

Gus loves to play tug of war and just to be inside. He wasn't too hard to housetrain and he's soooooo eager to please. He likes to play with our 9-year-old Dalmatian, but our cat is still avoiding him. He loves water, which just thrilled us, since my husband really wants a dog he can take on his boat. Our girls just love him and he loves being around them. We couldn't be happier with him. Gus really fits with our family!"

Submit your own "Happy Tail" by emailing HSDC's Webmaster: channing@copyshark.com!

Please click here to see our recently adopted pets on Petfinder Happy Tails!

Humane Society of Dickson County
Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CLOSED SUNDAY, MONDAY & TUESDAY

410 Eno Road
Dickson, TN 37055
(Click here for directions to the shelter)
Phone: 615-446-PETS (7387)
FAX: 615-446-7455
E-mail: hsdcdx1@aol.com
Webmaster: channing@copyshark.com