Adopt — Happy Tails

Every Month BARK checks in with our adopters to see how things are going. Below are just a few of the comments we’ve received. If you’d like to read all the comments, please email robin@barkva.org and ask to be added to our mailing list for the monthly newsletters.

January–February 2010

Although I miss you all, I am loving it here in Reston, VA living in my forever home with Miss Rachel. In just the one week I’ve been here, I've gone for long hikes in the Reston woods, met the Border Collie next door named Sadie, and got so many treats and new toys and a beautiful new red lead that goes with my gorgeous white and black spots! Miss Rachel thinks I’m pretty smart too. Well, I’m no dummy, I know a good household when I see one. I really like laying on my red Orvis dog bed in the living room, and when Miss Rachel is downstairs working on her bathroom remodel, I like to lay next to the fireplace. I even help her with her bathroom remodel by laying right in the way of Miss Rachel and the project she is trying to finish up and look at her with my woeful eyes. When I first met Miss Rachel at the adoption, I just didn’t feel like wagging my tail much, but now, wow I just can’t stop wagging and wagging and I love giving Miss Rachel hugs and kisses when she comes home from the office! I am really good with the neighborhood children too. Although I am still a bit shy around some tall men, Mr. Rich, the retired neighbor who owns Sadie, comes over every afternoon to let me hang out with Sadie and let me outside some while Miss Rachel is at work. I try to ignore him, but he is really persistent in talking to me and just letting me do what I feel like doing. Maybe one day I’ll let him pet me, but for now, I’m glad he is bringing Sadie over for visits! Oh well, I gotta get back to a nap, I can’t let Miss Rachel know that I’ve been typing on her computer again which is tough without opposable thumbs hehe! I think Miss Rachel is so happy to have me; I know that I am happy to be her forever doggie companion.
— Fergi

Rocky continues to amaze and educate. Rocky seems to be getting used to me and thrives on attention. He’s had run of the house since his second day and seems content to rest on his beds/blankets in the bedroom, kitchen, den and office. He’s impressed friends and family, and made my 1 year old grandson jealous that we were paying more attention to Rocky. He’s probably marked every tree, pole, hydrant, car tire, etc. in a ~ 9 square mile area, and I’m still trying to understand the information dogs exchange in that (“Urine the news...”). I’ve discovered that he’s not fond of other males, but he’s done well with submissive/female dogs thus far. Thanks again for getting us together.
— Paul

November–December 2009

We re-named Schultzy “Angus” and he is the sweetest little guy. I’m so happy it worked out for my dad and him. My dad is officially in love and calls me everyday to thank me for finding him. I would like to thank your organization for your dedication to these animals that need homes. I’m not sure if you realize this, but you help people just as much as you do the animals. My dad is no longer as lonely as he was before. He has a best friend now, and trust me, Angus keeps him busy. Thank you for everything.
— Amy and Charles

Lucas is doing GREAT! Each morning he looks forward to running to the barn with me to feed the horses and checking out what thebarn cats are up to. My son Jake is Lucas’s best friend, they play football and wrestle; of course you have to be quick about getting the football before Lucas does because he will eat it. We are all so happy to be together and we love to watch him run through the pastures. Even though the kids could use him as a pony he still thinks he is a lap dog. I have also attached a picture of Belle, our pony. Lucas thinks she is his playmate because they are close in size. It is quite funny to watch him try to get her to play. Thank you for allowing our family to provide a wonderful home for Lucas. Happy Holidays!
— Robyn

September–October 2009

Here is a picture of Simon and our grandsons that we thought you might enjoy. He has certainly been a blessing to our family. Thank you the great care your family provided for him.
— Lynda and John

I’m happy to provide an update on Barley. Since I brought him home about a month ago, he has definitely adapted to the creature comforts of living in a house. I’m pretty sure he spends his entire day laying on the couch, listening to music and playing with his toys. He walks wonderfully on a leash, was already housebroken, and even gets along great on play dates with his friend Bruno (also a BARK alum). The first weekend I saw Barley, I knew I couldn’t leave him at the farm. He had the most piercing, soulful eyes and I knew he was meant to be my dog. Thank you so much for providing a safe place for this wonderful boy to live until I was able to make him a part of my family. Without the hard work and dedication of Bob and all the BARK volunteers, Barley’s story may have been very different. So thank you and keep up the good work.
— Claire

July–August 2009

I am absolutely in love with Jase (formerly known as Rex). He is really a joy to have in our house. I am enclosing some pictures of him that I have taken since we got him. I have enrolled him in puppy training and he is really doing well with learning the commands and being a good student. His potty training has been pretty easy and he is just really a new best friend for me. I’m so happy to have found him and so happy to you for allowing me to adopt him. Thanks again!
— Jasmine

Hey BARK, Remember me? My name is Flag. I’m a German Shepherd that was with you until I was rescued by these crazy people, Bubba and Vicky Pond. They have this big long box with tires that they hook to the truck. I think they call it an RV. Anyway, they fill it with food and dog food and we leave the house, (which by the way I have found rather comfortable), for days on end. So far they have dragged me to Myrtle Beach, Natural Bridge and Pocahontas State Park. They even took me to Virginia Beach without the big long box and we slept in a room way up in the air that overlooked the ocean. It’s not so bad though cause my new older brother, Weaver, goes along too. He’s a German Shepherd too. He’s kinda old and I think I get on his nerves sometimes, but he is pretty cool to me. Everyone says we look so beautiful together. I guess over all, I got a pretty good place to stay now. I’m never alone anymore, I meet tons of new people and dogs, and the food ain’t bad either. Don’t tell them I told you, but they even let me get in the bed sometimes. I’ve enclosed a pic of me on my porch and one of me and Weaver lounging in the big long box with wheels. I’m in the foreground. Well that’s about it for now. I will keep in touch and tell you about my new adventures. Thanks for taking care of me and finding me a good home!
— Flag

May–June 2009

I LOVE my pal... We changed her name to Cooper. After losing my 17 year old Spartacus “Sparkie” I was devastated... BARK helped me find a new pal. We love Cooper so much, a huge thank you to all of BARK... Without BARK, there is no telling what would have happened to my happy girl. I cannot imagine her ever being in a shelter, living on the streets, or even worse, mistreated. We run and or walk, patrolling neighborhood for her enemies, the squirrels, every day, and go on weekly PetSmart adventures, and she keeps a watchful eye on the yard for the “evil” birds... She has gotten quite comfortable sleeping curled up next to me in the bed... She has provided me tons of love and happiness just in the short time we have had her... We both look forward to many more years of love, giggles, and car rides together. Cooper sends hello’s to all at the farm and thanks you all for taking such great care of her until we could find each other!
— Leesa and Jeff

Chipper (we just call him Chip, Bubbles, or now Hollywood) was featured on the Picture Your Pet on Channel 12!! I sent this picture of him playing in the sprinkler. He makes us laugh all the time! Chip loves life and finds the fun in everything (except for his furry sister, Rocket, who thinks he is just an annoying little brother!) He loves diving for rocks in his baby pool, chasing squirrels, going for walks/adventures, trying to climb trees (yes, it’s true as there are squirrels up there!) and can snuggle anytime! Thank you so much for bringing him into our lives. He is quite the “little buddy”!
— Judy and Jimmy

March–April 2009

Our little angels have been keeping us busy! Max (formerly Rocket) is very shy and frightened around strangers and other dogs, except Angel. Angel is a wild woman! She can hurdle the sofa in a single jump. She can land all four feet on the kitchen table. She can escape her crate and open the latch to let Max out of his crate. She is full of energy but very smart. I decided that we could use a little help in reshaping her behavior, so we’ve been taking her to private training lessons at PetSmart. It’s made a big difference. Even though Max is shy around others, he is very cuddly with our family members. Angel is friendly with all people and other dogs. We’ve never heard her growl once and neither of them bark very often. Because we were unsure of their birthdays, we let them share Dad’s BD on March 11. As you can tell, they are both spoiled rotten. When people ask where we got them, I always put in a plug for the great work that you do. Thanks!
— Robyn

Dawn and Eve (now Emma and Maggie, aka the Pointer Sisters) are doing beautifully. It didn’t take them long to settle into our home. We love them and are very happy with these two sweethearts. We’re so happy that we were able to take both of them! They might have been miserable if they had been separated. Emma and Maggie visited PetSmart a while back to show everyone how well they are doing. When we took the girls to the Pet Expo and made a stop at the BARK booth, we saw a couple of people who knew them! Thanks for taking such wonderful care of them before they were able to find their “forever home.”
— Mylene

January–February 2009

I’ve been meaning to write for a while now and give an update on how Madison (chocolate lab) is doing and send some pictures. Now is a perfect time since February 15 marked our 1-year anniversary! Madison is almost 17 months old and has been a source of great love and entertainment for the past year. Of course, a year of puppyhood with a lab is not without its troubles! By and large, she has been a very good puppy... never chewed on the furniture, never tore up shoes or clothes, hasn’t been too rambunctious... but she does seem to deal with some separation anxiety as the only time that she gets into anything that she’s not supposed to is when she’s at home alone. That’s when she goes counter surfing or seeks out any unguarded paper, cardboard, or plastic in the house that she can tear into tiny bits! (We joke that she’s big into recycling!) In just the past month, she has discovered the joys of the kitchen trash can and now I have to put it up on the counter before I leave or be prepared to come home to trash all over the downstairs. I tried crating her in the beginning—had to while still housebreaking—but she was not a big fan... bad memories perhaps. So now I just close off any rooms I can and pray for the best. (Anyone need a slightly used large crate?) Aside from a couple of remote controls, she hasn’t chewed up anything of great value, so we just clean it up and move on. Early on, Maddie exhibited some OCD in her front legs and showed signs of possible hip problems in the back, but she gets regular walks and other exercise and she gets Hip Action treats daily and has shown notable improvement. We were worried about her over the summer and early fall because she seemed awfully lazy for a lab puppy, but cooler weather and recovering from the OCD and then finally growing into her body has brought her back to life. She is still a bit slow when getting up and struggles with her back end, but she is much more active now and everything seems to have straightened out. All in all, Madison has been a perfect addition to the family. My parents live close by and she spends as much time at their house with their large back yard as she does at our little home. My dad loves her and her him... she immediately looks for “Grandpa” when we get there... and she often spends Sundays with him at the baseball field (he’s a high school baseball coach) while he performs field maintenance. He loves to walk her and play fetch with her. She is playful without being overactive and she’s a great companion! She loves to curl up on the furniture and cuddle in the bed... she loves her creature comforts. When I chose to adopt Madison, I was choosing between her and an older retriever mix. A concern for me when finding a dog was that they would get along well with my brother’s dog, Jackson, since the two would likely be spending a fair amount of time around each other. Well, I couldn’t have picked a better companion for Jack than Maddie. They are inseparable! We have never seen two dogs so in love with each other, and when they are reunited after a long absence... look out! They immediately bolt for the back yard and run each other ragged. Maddie has become a regular at the Hanover County Dog Park and makes friends wherever she goes. Those of the 2-legged variety gush over her... she really is a beautiful dog. The Ashland Police Chief met her recently and fell head over heels! He recently lost both his chocolate labs to old age and cancer and, after seeing Maddie, he’s now on the lookout for a new one of his own to bring home (since I won’t part with Madison!). I could go on and on about all the little things we love about her or the quirky things she does... or how much money we have spent on treats and toys at PetSmart over the past year (spoiled!!), but I’ll just leave it at this—thank you for knowing, even when I was unsure, that she would be the perfect match for me and I for her. You were right!!
— Erin

Chewie is AWESOME. We love him so much. He is such a treat to be with. We found out he is a full bred Bichon Frise. Those dogs sell for over a thousand dollars!!!! He loves my daughter and my other dog, Theodore (who I also adopted from BARK). We got him as a companion to my Mom. We lost Dad back in June and she has been really sad (as we all have). Chewie has filled that void. She said she would never part with him, no matter what. It is so great to see her smile and laugh with him. He sleeps right up on her pillow and is with her all day. She took him to get groomed yesterday, he looks so handsome. We call him our little “English gentleman”... he looks like he should be smoking a cigar and drinking a glass of scotch. Theodore is my little man. I love him so much! I’m 8 months pregnant and have been having a really difficult time. He has been right by my side, going wherever I go and of course, sleeping right up beside me. He is my special man and I will do anything for him. He is so great; he does not even need a leash when we go outside. He does not like to be away from home at all and won’t go out of the yard. He stays right by me all the time. What a perfect dog he is!! I am enclosing some pictures of Chews and Theo. They love each other and are close brothers (you can tell that in the pics). BARK will forever hold a special place with us. After I have the baby, we are going to volunteer to help the cause. I recommend everyone I know to BARK and cannot speak enough of the blessings you give to us all.
— Jennifer

November–December 2008

I just wanted to send you a new photo of Zoiie (Fluffer X) that I thought you’d adore! Matt and my wedding was Sunday (10/26), and Miss Zoiie was our Flower Girl! Update: she’s doing so much better with the potty training now that we’ve got her (and ourselves!) on a schedule! Now if only she’d stop licking our toes so often :-) We love her, and are so blessed to have her as a part of our family.
— Katii, Matt, and Zoiie

Jazzy is great and we couldn’t love her more. Her name suits her and she keeps us laughing with her antics. She enjoys a good game of hide and seek with my son—when she’s not lounging on the couch. My son couldn’t be happier with his loving companion. His teacher says he talks about her non-stop. Thank you so much for this wonderful gift of companionship and love.
— Amy R.

September–October 2008

Hi Bark Folks, Tilly is doing well. She is quite comfortable in the house and protective. She has learned to sit to get the leash on for her walks. I gave her a bath in the backyard yesterday in a kiddy pool and she was really good. She is still skittish about traffic especially large vehicles when we walk, but she is doing better with the sounds that surround us. Michael and I walk her several times a day and she loves to take walks. Tilly still hates the crate, but it is getting easier to put her in although she still fights it. I give her a bite of chicken each time I put her in the crate. Tilly and our cat Lilly are getting along well and they meet nose to nose each time and they are friends. Thanks for checking on Tilly!
— Jackie

Rebel is doing very well. When we got home and brought him inside, my oldest beagle, Baegel, growled and barked for a few minutes... I think she was telling him in “puppy-ese” that she was the leader of the pack and what she says goes... Java my male beagle is happy to have another playmate. He is crate trained, he doesn’t stay in it anymore but he stores his toys in there. When Rebel plays with the toys... Java is my little helper...he picks the toys up and puts them back in the crate when they are done... lol. Rebel is eating well, he devours his food, loves the peanut butter dog biscuits and the cheweez rolls too. And of course he has had some “people food”, he likes pizza hut breadsticks... lol. He doesn’t sleep in the new bed we got him... he prefers the dog bed that massages... lol. I don’t blame him... I’d like to lay on it once in a while too. Please keep in touch and I will keep you updated. We love Rebel and he will always have love... a good home... a full belly... and any medical care he needs. Thank you!!!!
— Alexis

July–August 2008

Burris is doing great, from day one fit in like he has always been here. We were expecting some adjustment time, there really honestly has been none, he is simply happy. The kids LOVE him. He has been on a road-trip to MD already (travels great). Has had a haircut (he looks like a COMPLETELY different dog... we all... I think even him... like the cut). He loves his walks, and has quickly learned how to walk on a leash without dragging us around. He has made fast friends with the Lab and Golden that live behind us, and has regular puppy-play-dates. He is looking forward to going camping this weekend. He has a new backpack that he has been practicing with that he LOVES to wear. He acts completely differently with his pack on, like he has a very serious purpose... very funny. Burris is smart (sometimes too smart), but VERY eager to please. As long as he gets enough energy “burned off” in a day he is fine... if he has extra energy, he can be a handful of jumping, nipping, running, climbing on the tables (literally). There is something about a 60 lb. dog standing on top of the glass table in the porch drinking the kids’ milk that is both comical and frustrating. I think he now understands that tables/counters (even if you get a better view from up there) are not a place for him... goes back to him being smart... he gets it... now he just needs to remember it... Truly a great fit.
— Stefan B.

We are coming up on 1 year that I have been adopted and I love my new family. They changed my name from Bobbi to Blondi and gave me a new home with an older dog who is almost 16 years old that I love, and who is putting up with me. I have learned to retrieve balls and have gone through the beginner education class at pet smart and was the top of my class. There is not much that I cannot learn if given the chance, and enough treats!!! I also have a chance to play and make new friends at doggy day camp every couple of weeks. I hope that other doggies that don’t have homes get a chance to be adopted and have a safe and loving home as I do.
— Blondi (Adopted by Jenny and Steve)

Hello everyone at BARK, I just wanted to give you a little update on Batman (formerly Josh), whom we adopted back in January. Well, he’s been with us for half a year now but we’ve really bonded. He’s gained a few pounds since he got here and has gotten really strong (and really, really cute). He just loves playing fetch and has recently taken up just going belly up whenever you come near, as he’s discovered the joys of a good belly rub. He’s become equal parts outdoorsy, enjoying long walks, and cozy indoors dog, enjoying frequent doggy naps throughout the day in his chosen spots around the house. He's also learning lots of basic obedience commands and eventually maybe he’ll learn a trick or two. He still barks like crazy whenever he sees another dog, but he’s slowly but steadily becoming a better canine citizen. We love him and can’t imagine our little family without him now. Thank you so much, BARK, for saving and taking care of him until it was time for us to meet him and give him his forever home. Thank you so much for the amazing work you do for the dogs!
— Ivette

May–June 2008

I am so thrilled to be able to send you some recent pictures of Bear Bear. He is truly my greatest gift after my children! He is the best and everyone agrees. I don’t know how I got so lucky. He has settled in nicely and is a lot calmer now than he was when he first came home with us. He was never hyper or anything like that, as you know, but he seemed anxious and maybe nervous. Now it is like he has always been here. The vet said I need to get him to put on some weight so I am trying but this is all new to me. He is the best dog ever and loves to go anywhere/everywhere with me. He is like my shadow, and we have added on to his name which is now Bear Bear Shadow Baby. Bear, for short. My husband says he is definitely my baby. Every morning he and I go walking for 2–3 miles as the sun is coming up. When we get back he heads right for the end of my porch and relaxes there while I get myself and the kids ready for the day. It is a great joy to know I can take him to the park, a friend's house, or into town with us and he is as good as gold. He seems to love it, which is the best part of all. He has gotten really good at hopping in and out of my jeep! He also readily gives me his paw now when I ask, and he sits for me about 75% of the time. I don’t know how long it takes to train a dog since this is my first time, but he seems to learn so quickly! My kids love it that they can shake his “hand” whenever they want, ha ha! My 4 year old just climbed up on my lap and says “He’s doing great and he’s good as a car rider.” Bear Bear sleeps in my kids' room every night. One of his favorite places is under the porch or under the baby grand. I am so happy and feel completely lucky to have him. My husband often looks at me with Bear Bear and sings snippets of love songs, ha ha!, saying how in love I am!
— Jacqueline & Jeff C.

Copper is doing great. He has become my constant companion as I work from home. He enjoys traveling in the car with me, often to visit my mother in Ashland, and walks on a leash very well. He and my husband are still finding their way to friendship. Other than my husband, Copper seems to be able to overcome his initial shyness with new people. For some reason (possibly someone from his past?) he is still very nervous around my husband, but they are working on it. Sadie, our other recent BARK adoptee, and Copper get along great, and they love sitting on the little loveseat in my office as I work. They also enjoy romping together in our backyard. Sadie definitely brings out the puppy in Copper. My son Kenny adores both dogs. His dream has finally come true. Thank you and all of the volunteers at BARK for doing what you do! — Diane C.

I adopted Bruno now “Justamere Zahm” from BARK approximately two years ago. He has become a very major part of the family. We started obedience training last year and he loves going to school. When he hears me getting his collar and leash he goes crazy because he knows we are headed out. AKC offers a fairly new class for dogs called Rally. Both Zahm and I love participating in this sport and decided to enter some trials. In his very first competition he scored a 94+ out of 100 and placed third in his division (Novice B) for which he received a beautiful yellow rosette and a green qualifying ribbon. In his next two trials he also received qualifying scores and therefore received his Rally Novice title in three consecutive events. We are absolutely delighted over his accomplishments and now plan to move up to the next level, which is Rally Advanced and requires all exercises to be performed off lead and also includes small jumps. We hope to start competing in this division soon. Zahm would be upset if I did not mention his girlfriend, Kussen, formerly Lucy also adopted from BARK. She is his biggest fan and loves romping around the backyard with him. They are the best buddies in the world and enjoy our walks together in the wildlife preserves and nature parks throughout the eastern part of Virginia.
— Pat S.

Clara is doing great! She has truly become a member of our family…and our family’s family as well!!! We have enjoyed every minute of getting to know her and hanging out with her and can’t wait for all of the good times to come!…She is not only our puppy, but my parents and Ben’s parents have taken to her like the grand- doggie she is, and boy does she get spoiled with love and treats. She is great with all people, kids and even other dogs, including my Ben’s family’s dog, Whitney, who she adores playing with as often as she can…Maybe they bond over being rescued into one big crazy family!…We love having her and thank you at BARK for the opportunity to have such a special dog who has fast become the center of our lives. With warm regards and great thanks...
— Suzie, Ben and Clara.

March–April 2008

Kelsey and Charlee have become the best of friends. They have taught each other different ways to play with their different backgrounds, they like to nap together, and even retrieve together. Kelsey has been working with my husband at catching balls and Frisbees in the air, I don’t know who is having more fun. We just wanted to thank you all again. We were looking for a friend for our Charlee and we got just that!
— The Mareks

Brandy is truly a gift from God and is fitting into our home very nicely. It is difficult to determine what may have happened to leave Brandy homeless as she appears well on her way to being a great pet. Nevertheless, we are very glad that we have her. She is very appreciative, likes her loving and is taking to her basic training very well. She enjoys her numerous walks and stretches out every chance she gets. She was checked out by our vet (Shady Grove) and everyone fell in love with her. Her appetite is good (very good) and we have taught her how to speak which helps her to express her needs. Thanks again for what you do; Brandy is an outstanding addition to our family.
— Steve A.

January–February 2008

We adopted Pogo from BARK in May and she is doing well. We are very happy to have her. She gets along with everybody here at our little horse farm... She even made friends with two young deer who showed up behind our house one morning. When Pogo first saw them, she barked a few times. The deer were curious and came closer and closer, just checking her out. I took probably 30 pictures before Pogo decided to run in the woods behind the house. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the deer followed her. About one minute later Pogo came back to the house, followed by her new friends... Enjoy!
— Karin H.

November–December 2007

Thanks for sending the newsletter. Terri e-mailed me a few months ago about sending an updated picture of “Tessa.” We have named her Patience and she is doing wonderful. She has breakthroughs every week. She has bonded extremely well to our other dog Wrigley and she is really starting to come out of her shell—she even licks my hand when I get home from work. She loves to play with our other dog and her tail wags all of the time—especially when my husband and I get home from work. Her health is great. She is at a healthy weight and her coat looks great. She is learning how to play with Kongs and she LOVES peanut butter. She is a true hunter and she will look for rabbits on her daily walks. We have a nice sized back yard and she will often run around...boy, she is fast! Please let all of her former foster parents know that she is doing so well and we are so grateful that we could give her a safe and loving home.
— Lynn and Mark M., Wrigley & Patience

September–October 2007

Riley is doing absolutely wonderful :) We really couldn’t have asked for a more perfect dog!! He is extremely affectionate and always happy. He is a bit of a couch potato and has his own couch and blanket that he claimed very quickly. He loves to go for long walks everyday (especially if he can catch sight of a squirrel :) We just took a trip back to PA last weekend and brought Riley along—he was really great with the other dogs and kids and such a big hit that we had several offers from guests to keep him as their own! I can’t imagine why anyone would have ever given up this amazing animal but I guess in a way I’m thankful they did—otherwise he would never have made it into our home. Thanks again for all of your help—we will definitely contact you again when we look for a second dog.
— Nicole

Bear is doing really well and has settled in nicely. We’re very glad to have him and he seems happy to be here too. We go on two big walks every day as well as spending a bit of time running after his favorite toy, a stuffed squirrel. At first, he wasn’t very confident and rather shy especially with other dogs but we’ve been socializing him with the neighbor dogs Shadow and Stella and now he’s very playful; we took him to a local dog park yesterday for the first time and he held his own, running and playing with the big dogs. His confidence has visibly improved and he’s very loving and happy. He’s well-behaved too and good with commands (though the urge to chase squirrels will sometimes override his best intentions!). His wonderful personality has made him a favorite with our friends and neighbors. Thanks for making it possible for us to meet Bear. We’re really pleased your organization brought us together.
— Adrienne and Paul

I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how much we adore Pepsi, (now Maddy). She is the best dog we could have ever dreamed of!!! She is so mellow and gentle with our young girls. She is such a wonderful addition to our home. Please let Bev know how much she is loved. I know Bev had a special place in her heart for Pepsi and I want her to know that she has found her ‘forever home’ with us.
— Bob, Sue, Lauren and Sammie H.

We had to rename Bruce because we thought he looked more like a Jake—so hopefully all of Bruce’s old friends are ok with that. When I call Holly during the day I ask her how our little man is doing? He has settled in fast and even has a few dog friends that come visit. He loves to ride in our truck and our Jeep. We bought him a harness lined with sheep skin for him to wear while he is riding in the jeep. He loves to hang out wherever we are and has adapted great. He even likes riding on the pontoon boat and watching us go for a swim. He has been in the water but he still is not sure whether he likes swimming or just watching. After our little Rosie Dog passed away we had a huge empty place in our hearts and we think Rosie sent us Jake to fill some of the emptiness. Thanks Guys for giving us the chance to take Jake in to our lives and home. God Bless and great job!!
— Dolph & Holly H.

Bart is loving life I do believe!! Considering he is on our bed with a raw hide, he is very loved!! Thanks so much for bringing him into our life! He really has brought a lot of joy! He is working on sitting, laying and is doing great on a leash! Every morning we go on a walk and he has several girlfriends he is crazy about. It is so funny to see his little tail circle around with a huge grin on his face when I go to put his leash on in the mornings! I promise to continue sending updates! Thanks so much for your email. I really appreciate what you do for the rescues and paying close attention to their happiness!!!  -
— Candace H.  

Reading your newsletter has really been an eye opener. It seems so many of these poor little guys go to new homes timid and fearful. How nice it was to read that they come around and start to be happy again. Midge has finally decided that it’s in her best interest to be friends with Jerry, so except for our antisocial cat, we are one big happy family now. He’s so proud that she finally allows him to put the leash on her, that he tells everyone about it. I can see people subtley backing away from him with a frozen smile on their faces, because he forgets that they have no idea what he’s talking about, and what a huge step this was. I’ll look forward to future newsletters.
— Dolores 

Just a little note to let you know Elmer is still great. He is the most loving “little” thing. He and Shiloh have had their moments, but are starting to have fun playing outside while I am walking them. I walk them together and they chase each other and have a great time. We went to the vet today, just for a check. Guess how much Elmer weighs? The vet said he was very healthy, just a little over weight. 66.5 lbs!! Wow! He is a big one. But we are definitely walking several times a day, so we feel that will help him. Thanks!  -
— Terry

July–August 2007

We wanted to give Layla (formerly Shelia) some time to settle in before we responded, since she was such a shy girl when we got her. First, thanks to Pam and Matt for the great job they do in fostering dogs. It’s an awesome sacrifice they make and it helps so much having a sense of the personality and temperament of the dog. Layla is doing great in our home. She has fit in well with our other two BARK dogs, Lexus and Madeline. They immediately established her place in the pack by pinning her on her back and she took it in stride. She has started barking at strangers, thanks to their example, and has really come out of her shell. We have a wildlife feeder as well as two bird feeders in our backyard, so Lexus has taught her how to chase squirrels as well as showed her his favorite places to nap in the shade. Layla and Madeline are best pals and Layla follows her sister around; they love to play in the water when our sprinklers are running! We can’t say enough about the joy and love that our three four-legged kids from BARK have brought us. Each one has their own personality and preferences and we love them all. I hope those who read the website will know what a great organization BARK is and the wonderful work you do to find homes for all of these sweet dogs.
— Julie and Larry A.

Sark (AKA Thomas) is doing really well in every way. He is coming out of his shell and becoming a big-time player. I take him to work with me everyday, he is a clinic favorite. He has started his Search & Rescue training last week and is doing pretty well. Unfortunately for me he is more food motivated than toy right now so we are using chicken as his reward for “finding” people. He LOVES it. I, on the other hand hope one day he will take the toy instead, chicken is messy, but I am glad he is happy to work for something so I won’t get picky. Last Saturday he joined my distractions class on a field trip to a horse farm. He was such a good boy around the other animals, I was very impressed. Plus he wasn’t overly interested in them which is good for Search & Rescue, it wouldn’t do to have him running off into the woods chasing deer or bunnies. Thanks again for letting him join my life.
— Wendy

Tessa (who we have now named Patience Martini Meyer) is doing wonderful. She and our other dog Wrigley have really bonded and they get along very well. Wrigley is about a year and half old. We took Patience to the vet and estimates that she is between 4–5 years old. We are sad that we won’t have her as long, but we will maximize the time we have... She loves her morning and evening walks. Mark and I take them out each morning and after dinner. There is a cute hound dog up the street who keeps flirting with her. We had a major break through with her a few weeks ago—she actually licked my arm... a small, but very good sign. She is starting to get excited when we get home and her tail starts to wag. She has learned the word “cookie” for dog biscuit, so we are figuring out what makes her happy. She and Wrigley sleep in their beds next to ours—too cute... We are just thrilled to have adopted her.
— Lynn, Mark, Wrigley & Patience Meyer

Just finished reading updates on the adoptees. So glad all are doing so well. I adopted Essa last fall and she has been a delight—especially for an “old gal.” She sleeps by my bed and NEVER leaves me when I’m at home. (Would love to go to the bathroom just once alone, but she’s worth the lack of privacy.) The vet said she was about 9 years old, but is in great shape. She loves her walks and likes to be in the middle of everything. Likes to ride in the front or back seat with her new “seat belt.” Thank you, thank you.
— Susan M.

April–June 2007

Thanks for checking in on Sallie. Sallie is doing AWESOME! She has really adapted well to her new home and she is a great addition to our family! Sallie is fully housebroken and loves to be outside with the kids. She loves being on the farm and she has really settled in well. Sallie has put on a few pounds and is very healthy. She got to stay with Carrie and Todd for two days when we went to visit Baltimore and she seemed to love seeing all her old buddies. PLEASE keep doing the work you’re doing for the dogs, it is a huge blessing to all (both the dogs and the families). We are considering making a part of our farm available to take in pets who are waiting to be adopted. Have a very blessed week!
— Tom, Diana, Josh, Ryan, Nikki, Jacob, and Sallie W.

Lizzy seems to be happy here and we enjoy her. She loves when I take her to the Hanover Dog Park to run with other dogs. She doesn’t know about balls and toys. So the dogs chase the ball and she chases them. If the ball is soft, broken and slimy enough she might play with it. She loves to be around people and kids. Wish we had some, she would enjoy their company. Occasionally neighbor kids come and run with her. She looks for the school bus in the afternoon. We were lucky to find her. Thank all the BARK volunteers for us.
— Linda S.

Spot puppy, who I renamed Max, is doing great! He is about 35 pounds and the vet thinks he has reached his size limit. He loves to play with his toys, fetch and go for long walks. He is really healthy and is very well behaved. This week he is going to go to Doggy Day Care for the first time so he can play with some new friends! Everyone who meets him thinks he is so cute and I have to agree! Thank you so much for my Max, I love him so much!
— Sara G.

January–March 2007

Timmie is doing great and she seems very happy. I absolutely love her and she’s really made our lives better. I did change her name to Ani but she doesn’t seem to mind. She’s got a lot of energy and a few minor bad habits (i.e. chewing) but nothing unexpected for her age, plus, she’s so cute you just can’t get mad! We are in training classes and she is so smart that she catches on to new tricks right away. She is settling into a routine and getting along fine now with her new doggie sister, Clarity. Clarity is shorter then Ani, so when they play, Ani rolls on her back or lets Clarity get up on the couch to be fair. Ani’s favorite thing seems to be crawling under the covers in my bed with a toy. I wanted to thank everyone at BARK for all that you do to help dogs, and for rescuing Ani. I love her so much, I can't imagine not having her here.
— Karen

Mia is doing great! She doesn’t like to potty in the snow—but she LOVES to play in the snow.  She jumps in it and it is hysterical. She is my lovebug and pretty much has the run of the house (with some boundaries of course). I cannot thank BARK enough for suggesting and explaining adoption to us. We are all so very happy with her. Thank you for Mia and everything.
— Kathi

I just wanted to let you know that Sheba, who we now call Mara, is doing very well in her new home. She loves to sit by the fire and chew on some rawhide bones with her brother Houston. I was home with Riley yesterday... and Mara stretched out on the futon with us and actually watched Lady and the Tramp! She gets along well with Houston and is wonderful with Riley. Thank you for helping us find the perfect new addition to our family!
— Lindsay Z.
Here’s a note from Mara:
I am doing very well in my new home. Christmas was GREAT! I got lots of Rawhide chews and some pig ears. I also got a really noisy ball! Today I am just taking it easy with my new brother Houston and my cousin Layla. My two legged sister, Riley, got both me and my brother a trip to the Pet Smart salon for Christmas—we are going tomorrow morning at 10:00am; I can’t wait! Things here sure are fun. Mom has been off for the Christmas break, so I get to run outside and play all day, then I head into the kitchen to help Mom with dinner (I clean the floor immediately if anything drops—I helped a lot last night with the Turkey). My new parents got me a really nice bed; however, I don't want them to miss me too much, so I just sleep with them! There goes my noisy ball—gotta run! 
— Mara

November–December 2006

Since day one, Biscuit (whom we have renamed Hooper from the movie Jaws), has adjusted wonderfully to his new home. He and Jericho (our other dog) have become the best of friends. When they are outside, they are both high energy and complement each other nicely. There is never a dull moment in their lives. While inside they enjoy confiscating the couch, playing tug, and eating the occasional doggy biscuit (go figure!). Sometimes we even catch them sneaking kisses. Their relationship has truly blossomed into something special. I can’t even begin to describe how happy we are for the both of them. Jericho recently had a FCE (Fibrocartilagenous Embolism) while they were playing in the backyard, and since we were home at the time, we were able to rush her to the ER right away. When it initially happenned Biscuit/Hooper was by her side the whole time. He’s also been really supportive of her recovery. He has been her motivation to get better. You can tell he really loves her. I should also mention that he gets along great with our cat Punkin’. He sniffs her a lot and tries to get her to play. Sometimes she even engages him. He’s always very gentle with her. He is definitely one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known. Thanks for everything!
— Rebecca, Krista, Hooper, Jericho and Punkin

October 2006

I just wanted to let you know that Pearl (now named Stella) is my new hero. On Labor Day (4 September 2006), someone broke into my apartment at 3:00am WHILE I WAS IN THERE. The person came up the three flights on the fire escape to my apartment and kicked in the window fan. I heard all of this and was terrified. Thankfully, my bedroom door was closed and I had Stella in the room with me. She barked and growled possibly preventing the burglar from coming into my room. The burglar left without causing any physical harm to me or the dog. I ultimately decided that Baltimore wasn’t the best place for me. I’ve moved back to New Orleans with Stella. We are both fine and feel safe. Stella has her own yard now and is adjusting to her new surroundings. I just wanted to let you know how brave Stella was when I needed her to be. She is my new hero!
— Lillian

We adopted Zeke, a 5-year old, very polite Beagle mix who’s had some serious training. The kids love him and we all seem to have bonded well together. The only thing we need to do is get him on a proper schedule and everything should be fine. He’s a great addition to our home and I know he likes it here.
— Hugh

September 2006

Thank you for updating us on BARK and all of the great work that you do. I, too, would like to share our successful adoption story. We had the pleasure of finding and adopting Cooper, the black lab that was severely malnourished and desperate to find a family just like the one that left him at Henrico County pound. We’re happy to announce that since Cooper’s (we kept his original name) adoption, he has gained 15 lbs and has become the BEAUTIFUL dog that we knew he could be. My daughter is his best friend and has abandoned all of her toys for rolling around with Cooper. Please be rest assured that Cooper is in great hands and has added a missing link to the Lemon family!
— Jill L.

Tammy Faye has been renamed Taffy (she responded very well!) and is doing great. She settled in very quickly and is a great companion to her ‘brother’ Keefer. They love to ‘rough and tumble’ together and play tug of war with their toys. Needless to say they have destroyed most of the stuffed toys!!! Taffy is doing good with her basic raining (learning to ‘heel and sit’ on our walks and loves to wade in the kiddie pool we have put out for the dogs in the recent hot weather. Need to download some pics to send but here is one taken shortly after we brought her home.
— Amie

August 2006

Just a quick update. Pibbs is doing wonderfully!!! He is super fun! He has such high spirit... we have played lots of ball and fetch with him... and he is very unique at the height of his jumps and cute flips he does. We are working with him on his kisses... he tends to jump up and give them... and we are trying to get him to tone it down some but he is doing great.  Mason has a fit in the morning to get him out of the crate to play. Pibbs and Sarah and I go to get him and Wiley and they are so excited to play with Pibbs. Mr Wiley has been a super sport through it all. He is taking Pibbs in, and loving having his new pack member. The kids are loving the dogs to pieces ...they can’t get enough of playing with them. We are  finding that each child has a dog at their speed. Tori is learning slowly how to get Pibbs to work with her and listen to her...he can be a handful when leading but loves to be walked with Mason. We did a three hour walk this evening and they are so worn out... Mason is snoring!! 
— Carolyn

Blue Belle is now called Lilly and is doing wonderful. We are getting her socialized and in eleven days is doing great. We love her lots and she is right at home here. It seems like Lilly was meant to be with us. She has only had one accident in the house and seems to be housebroken already. Thank you all so much and please give a special thanks to Amy for all she did in helping us find the perfect addition to our household.
— Barbara G.

July 2006

Jingle has her own BLOG!

We actually changed Joanie’s name to Hallie. I’m sending a couple of pics of her (and Hank) enjoying the beach and bay. They are getting along beautifully. Hallie can already swim out as far as Hank! She’s been a little sick, but after several trips to the vet and a change in diet, she seems to be getting better. We are so happy with her and Hank. You guys are awesome to work with. We’ve actually met a lot of people here on the beach who also love dogs and are looking to adopt, and we’ve recommended you guys and petfinder.com!  
— Shandi

June 2006

Rudy has been re-named Snoopy and he responds well to his new name. He has done EXCELLENT with his crate training and loves to play with my 5-year-old son. They have become best friends! He even gets along well with our cat, Chloe. Snoopy is very happy and healthy and learns very fast and is growing larger by the day. He is so well behaved for a puppy. We can’t wait to get him out to the beach this summer to play in the water!!! Thank you very much for the newest addition to our family. We love him!
— Denise A.

I just wanted to let you know that we have been nothing but thrilled with the Basset Hound, Fletcher, that we adopted!!!! We adopted him in January, and he has been such a wonderful friend to our family!  We are leaving for vacation tomorrow, and unfortunately couldn’t take Fletcher with us... We left him with my mother-in-law today, and my twins—who are 4—actually cried when we left, not saying good bye to Grammy, but to Fletcher!!!! It was so sweet!!!! From what we were told, Fletcher was found on the side of the road, and quite frankly I cannot believe how lucky we are to have him as an addition to our family! How anyone could ever lose him, I don't know... Thank you so much, we love him dearly!!!!
— Stacey, Jimmy, Tyler, Zachary, Tori and Cassidy... and Fletcher!

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