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Category Archives: Happy Tales

Happy Tales – A User-contributed Blog

We love to hear from our adoptive families!
Do you have a Happy Tale? Submit your story and a photo of your pet. Email us!

MandyI’d wanted a dog for some time, and after researching different organizations I decided to visit APRA to get a feel for the adoption process as this was my first adoption.  I visited on a Saturday and at the very back of the dog section I saw and fell in love with Mandy.  After bringing her home 3 months ago it feels like she has always been apart of the family.

Her first day was quite memorable since she was unsure of the couch and had to be coaxed to jump on it.  I’m happy to say the couch is now one of her favorite spots to cuddle and take a nap.  In the short time she’s been here she has learned sit, down, hand shake, speak and play dead.  She loves going to the nearby dog parks and often gives Read »

Category: Happy Tales

OIt’s been almost six months since we adopted Baxter. When we first got him he was a little scrawny and under the weather but he bounced back pretty fast and has been healthy ever since. He loves the outdoors and would stay on the porch all day long if we would let him. He gets along well with our other dog, too. Much to our surprise he had been housetrained but we did take him to a refresher obedience class. He is very smart and a fast learner, but like all Westies he is stubborn!

We feel very fortunate to have a found a friendly and loving dog like Baxter. ~ Chris and Pam McS.

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Category: Happy Tales

CuervoI adopted the dog formerly known as Cuervo on March 30, 2013.  He has since been renamed Maximilian, or “Max.”  When I met him at the shelter, I was told he was a breeder dog, and he was very, very timid.  I had to give him several treats and be very very gentle to allow him to let me hold him when I first met him.

I am happy to report that Max has completely come out of his shell. He walks on
a leash, has a healthy appetite, and is a cuddle monster! He likes hiding his new toys around my home, but his favorite thing to do is snuggle. He regularly runs from my bedroom into the living room, jumps onto the couch, and immediately flips over for a belly rub. Sometimes he wags his tail Read »

Category: Happy Tales

BrunoBruno is pretty active so it is not always easy to catch him still for a moment. He took to us and the house pretty fast. It was about 2 hours after we got him home that he seemed to have the “Yep I own this place” attitude.

As we just moved into this house right before we got him he has been enjoying the environment of boxes being perpetually emptied as it gives him a lot of things to play with. We discovered his love for fake mouse toys which will make him go bananas for hours on his own until he wears himself out. He is very disciplined and food motivated so Amy already taught him to sit before he gets a treat.

The other day he forced his way into the fireplace and had soot all over him. He of course Read »

Category: Happy Tales

ChewyChewy is about to turn 3 years old in a few weeks.  He has been a member of our family for just about two and a half years.  What a joy he is to us.  He was so sick when he first came home with us and now he is a completely healthy boy with tons of energy and love.  We are so very grateful to have him in our lives. ~ Karen Y.

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Category: Happy Tales

Gus with his bonesHello! – We wanted to send an update on Gus (AKA Barley the pug) whom we adopted in January of this year. Gus was adopted HW positive and after his four month checkup, he is now HW free!  Yay!

He is so full of life and funny to watch! He loves to bask in the sun and run around in his (newly) fenced yard.  He has been such a joy and a wonderful addition to our family… He is already spoiled rotten and has more bones than he knows what to do with.  Thank you again for all you do to rescue these pets and find them good homes.  I recommend you to anyone I know looking for a new pet.

We will soon be looking for a brother or sister for Gus !

Thank Read »

Category: Happy Tales

Belle's BlogHere’s a little blog Belle asked us to help her put together.  She is such a sweet, smart little dog, and such a joy to have as a part of our family.  I’m sure she’ll want to keep you posted as she continues to settle in. ~ Paul & Sylvia T.

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Category: Happy Tales

HopeHere’s a picture of Hope sitting on our dock with us. We’ve had her two years and is such a sweet girl.  When we first got her she wouldn’t have anything at all to do with my husband.  Evidently she had been  badly abused by men.  She sleeps by my husband and will paw on him to pick her up when he’s sitting in a chair.  We love this little girl to death!  Thanks APR and to Alex Evelyn for all her help in making it come together.  We weren’t looking for another dog, it just happened. ~ Teresa

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Category: Happy Tales

KT1I post the Happy Tales stories on the APRA website and realized recently that I never post my own tales so here goes!!!

I adopted K.T. in February; she was rescued from Animal Control, was pretty skinny and had obviously recently given birth to puppies.  I had been looking for another large dog ever since two of my dogs, Charlee & Senji, has passed on 3-4 years ago.  When I met K.T., I knew she was the one and I was right; having her around has helped to heal my heart.

K.T. is a 3-year old goofball and, at the same time, one of the gentlest dogs I have ever known.  She knows how to maneuver around my small dogs and my cats without messing up a hair and is nicely protective of her new “home” when strangers Read »

Category: Happy Tales

Anubis & ShadowWe added Anubis (on left in photo) to our family on Saturday March 9th. He is doing GREAT in his new home! He absolutely adores his big brother, Shadow (on right in photo), and is always happy to see his feline siblings. He didn’t take long to integrate into our household but has just gotten used to his new dad in the past few weeks. We knew he had issues with men and he is working through them wonderfully. He is very happy to hang out in his backyard with Shadow and goes running with me about 4 times per week. He is slowly overcoming his fear of going in the car and making steady progress on so many other fears he exhibited when we first got him. We want to say a HUGE THANK Read »

Category: Happy Tales