Birdy Has A Forever Home

This is Birdy. He was at San Francisco Animal Care and Control (ACC) and logged in as “a stray” who was found outside the SF ACC shelter (which usually means he was dropped off by a previous owner who didn’t want to give any information). In the shelter he snipped at a few people so he was taken off the “adoptable” list. Luckily Grateful Dogs Rescue was called and met him at the ACC and they connected Birdy to a foster home a few days later.

Elizabeth, a Grateful Dogs Rescue volunteer foster, found Birdy to be quite a hand full, not house trained, afraid of everyone and everything, and an overall lack of trust of humans and other dogs. He barked and shied away from runners, bicyclists, children and most people on the street. After attending obedience classes and lots of consistent love and training work Birdy really seemed to like learning and doing his training drills – after all he’s a terrier mix! As Birdy got better he went to the park every day (where he learned dogs and people are really nice) and regularly got to run and get out his daily energy build up. Then he was able to relax and curl up at home and learn more about how humans can be his best friend. Neighbors were stopping us and mentioning he seemed to be much more relaxed. During all of this we were falling in love with Birdy and it seemed to be mutual.

"I'm So Grateful For Lilly"

"I just wanted you to know how grateful I am that your shelter allowed me to have Lilly. I don't know what I would do without her. She brings me such joy and cheers me up even in the darkest moments. She enjoys running around her big yard and playing with her playmates Mage, Kataren, and Kia (three border collie mixes each four times her size). She gets along so well with my cat and they even play sometimes when my cat isn't grumpy. :)

She has no interest in playing with a ball...instead she chews the fuzzy exterior off them till there is nothing left but rubber and fuzzy bits everywhere. She is there when I go to sleep, curled up at my side under the covers and there when I wake up in the morning. She greets me everyday with a happy face, a loving smile, and a furious wagging tail. My family absolutely loves her and she isn't shy of anyone anymore. She is still rather wary of my grandpa...Apparently she doesn't care for bearded men. She is very fierce when she is protecting mommy from people who are outside the car or the house...and barks until they go away or mommy says they are ok. :) She and I are going on a road trip soon to see some friends of mine, who are frankly more excited to see her than me. She is such a good companion...I couldn't imagine having a better friend. Thank you again and I have enclosed some photos of her."  Danai +Lilly (who is sleeping on my lap at the moment)

Angel

Angel was labeled “unadoptable” at the local shelter. She had not adapted well to the noisy chaos there. She growled at a volunteer and was pulled from available status. The local SPCA turned her down and she was placed on the disposition list. The shelter contacted several rescue groups but nobody had any fosters available. A shelter staffer noted: “Have to put in a good word for this dog, very affectionate, loves attention, wagging tail every time I walk by her kennel, loves being brushed, good on leash.”

One of our rescue volunteers describes her feelings when she goes through the stray kennels at the shelter and sees dogs like Angel: “…the dogs behind bars there already have two strikes against them, since both ACC and the SPCA have deemed them not worth saving.  And, knowing that we’re the last chance they have, more often than not we have to look them in the eye and say ‘Sorry, we wish we could save your life, and we know you could find a good home, but we don’t have room for you.’”

Bailey and Rio

"I adopted Rio, a Rottweiler/Lab cross, in 1996 when I met her in Georgette's  care (Georgette is a Grateful Dogs Rescue volunteer) at Riverside Equestrian Center. Although I never intended to or did compete, Rio flew through the obedience and agility classes we took  and has always been the most loving and obedient dog I have ever known. That is not to say that she doesn't have fun; chasing tennis balls and helping me run the horses have been among her favorite pass times!  I  think we all get one perfect dog in our lives, and Rio is mine.  Her  health was excellent until the summer of 2007 when a tumor extruded from  her body.  It turned out to be a vaginal cancer but it was surgically  removed and is not expected to return in her lifetime.  We have been  able to grow a little older together and I cherish every day!

Because of Brie

"After only two months with Brie, we cannot imagine life without this little dog.  Not a day goes by without a few laughs at her antics, lots of quick licks or kisses, and the joy of hugging and cuddling her in our laps.  She is such a delight, even when she is being naughty.  Toys for Brie are all around the front room with a special chair at the window so she can see out and greet us when we return home.  Even the visiting neighborhood cat, Hendrix, is fascinated by Brie and her playfulness.

Bianca

Bianca roamed the streets of San Francisco, scared, starving and so stressed out that she’d lost most of her hair. A kind San Francisco Animal Care and Control Officer rescued her and brought her back to the shelter for some TLC. Then, Grateful Dogs Rescue got a call about a nearly bald chihuahua needing some special care. Her foster mom Kate stepped right up to provide it!

Bianca (formerly known as Fergie) settled into her foster home quickly and proved to have a healthy appetite! As she gained weight, a gorgeous coat of chocolate-colored hair emerged along with a big personality. She bonded first with other dogs and the family cat in her foster home who showed her how luxurious basking in the sun could feel. Learning to trust people again took a while longer.

Carla and David accepted the challenge and adopted Bianca on January 1, 2010 as a companion for their cat Baby who was lonely. Since then, she’s touched many people’s lives. In the words of her new pack leaders, Bianca has a few health and behavioral challenges but they are small in comparison to the sheer joy and love she brings to our family. We are committed to her health and care for the long haul.  We truly appreciate all of the love and support we received from Grateful Dogs Rescue and Bianca's foster mom Kate. Our Bianca has a HUGE heart and a GIANT personality to match. We are very thankful that God has blessed us with Bianca.  She has been such a blessing to our family and thanks again to Grateful Dogs Rescue! ~Sincerely, Carla and David Estrada, Baby the cat and Bianca aka Fergie the Chihuahua, San Francisco.

Birdy Has A Forever Home

This is Birdy. He was at San Francisco Animal Care and Control (ACC) and logged in as “a stray” who was found outside the SF ACC shelter (which usually means he was dropped off by a previous owner who didn’t want to give any information). In the shelter he snipped at a few people so he was taken off the “adoptable” list. Luckily Grateful Dogs Rescue was called and met him at the ACC and they connected Birdy to a foster home a few days later.

Elizabeth, a Grateful Dogs Rescue volunteer foster, found Birdy to be quite a hand full, not house trained, afraid of everyone and everything, and an overall lack of trust of humans and other dogs. He barked and shied away from runners, bicyclists, children and most people on the street. After attending obedience classes and lots of consistent love and training work Birdy really seemed to like learning and doing his training drills – after all he’s a terrier mix! As Birdy got better he went to the park every day (where he learned dogs and people are really nice) and regularly got to run and get out his daily energy build up. Then he was able to relax and curl up at home and learn more about how humans can be his best friend. Neighbors were stopping us and mentioning he seemed to be much more relaxed. During all of this we were falling in love with Birdy and it seemed to be mutual.

Buffy

Buffy looked like a plucked chicken when she arrived from a rural shelter.  Her teeth were dirty and she was going bald. Her Grateful Dogs Rescue foster mom provided months of TLC. Once she was healthy enough, Grateful Dogs Rescue paid for Buffy’s spay surgery and teeth cleaning. Always sweet, good with other dogs and cats, and only four pounds, Buffy attracted several wonderful potential adopters. Ultimately, a family who were searching for a cuddle-buddy and a companion for their female chihuahua was chosen. After a careful interview process, Buffy met her new family "in person" and everyone agreed that Sugar, as she was renamed, found her forever home.

Here is an excerpt from a post-adoption letter:

“Yes, yes, yes, we want to finalize Sugar's adoption!  We are in love with her. She is very much daddy's girl. Her hair is growing in like weeds, her ear tips are completely healed and she has the greatest personality in the world.  She hops around like a rabbit and is faster than a roadrunner. She has such a happy disposition. She sleeps every night cuddled up to my husband. We couldn't be happier with Sugar. Thank you so much for rescuing her! Thanks also to Grateful Dogs Rescue for what you continue to do for so many dogs.  God bless for all you do!”

Buffy is now named Sugar  The first picture shows how terrible she looked when you rescued her, and she looks  soooooooooo beautiful now. We love her sooooooooooooo much and cannot even imagine our lives without  
her.  She is the best thing that ever happened to us.  Thank you soooooooooooooo much for rescuing her!!!!

Chester and Maybelle

"Chester and Maybelle were surrendered by their owner to San Francisco Animal Care and Control, as the family could not care for them anymore. Both dogs stayed in the backyard, so they had not been socialized. Unfortunately  due to their behavior they did not pass their behavior test and were stated to be unsocialized, not appropriate for adoption. Grateful Dogs Rescue took them in and they stayed with their foster dad. I was looking to adopt two dogs, as my two other dogs passed away last year (2009).  I had spoken with a volunteer of Grateful Dogs Rescue, and said I would be looking to adopt in March 2010. I received a fabulous picture of Chester and Maybelle from Grateful Dogs Rescue, and they looked so adorable.

I was really looking for older dogs, as usually they are not so active as the younger ones, and Chester and Maybelle were about 1 year old and very active. I thought about it and decided to go and meet them at their foster dad’s home.  They looked so gorgeous and yes, they were very active.  I decided that day that I would adopt them. I came back later that week to pick them up and take them home. They needed training, discipline, and love, and of course plenty of exercise. I have had them eight months now and they are happy, lovable, and healthy dogs, and love long walks in the Stern Grove Dog Park.   They  are wonderful with my grandchildren and my nieces, young children which range from the age of 2 months to 11 years old. My life  is so much more enriched with Chester and Maybelle, and they have helped me get through the loss of my mother with their unconditional love, she died August 20th, 2009. Many thanks to Grateful Dogs Rescue for the great work they do."  ~Chris Shegoleff

Delilah

Delilah came to us in September of 2008. She was being fostered with Michelle of Grateful Dogs Rescue. She was nine months when we got her and already had some strong basic training. It is apparent that she has shepherd in her; the other breeds are hard to tell. We think she might have some Lab (soft mouth, webbed feet, strong retrieving interests) and maybe Hound (floppy ears, strong sense of smell, slender figure). No matter what she is, she is absolutely beautiful and perfectly loving. We aren't quite sure about her history as she was dropped at a shelter, but she has always seemed well adjusted and friendly with anyone she meets.

Devon

I always liked Chihuahuas for their expressive personality. I adopted Devon in 2007 as a 3-year old Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix. He was a bit shy but within days he was affectionate and personable. He now gets to know people within an hour - everyone loves him Although I loved Devon the way he was immediately, I've seen how just a bit of structure and exposure has helped him blossom. He knows he will be fed in the morning and the evening.

Dino | AKC Companion Dog

Dino is the ultimate athlete and loves to compete. On December 29, 2010 he was the first ever mixed-breed dog to earn the elite Rally Advanced Excellence title through the American Kennel Club.
 

A short-legged Corgie-Australian Cattle Dog mix, Dino’s racking up titles faster than most people can blink! On top of multiple titles in Rally, he earned the coveted Mixed Breed Champion title through the Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America. Dino’s also earned his AKC Companion Dog title and is working on his AKC Companion Dog Excellent title. Recently, he took fourth place in a Companion Dog show beating out many seasoned dogs and their handlers.

Gracie The Flying Dog

"Gracie really lives up to her name. She was my first foster dog with Grateful Dogs Rescue who came to me after being deemed unadoptable by the SF/SPCA. I fully intended to help her reach a place where she felt loved and happy and safe. A place that would enable her to move on to her new forever home. I told myself that she belonged to someone else. I just needed to help her get there. When she arrived, she was afraid and aggressive. Understandably so, from my perspective. A little patience and love, that’s all that was needed. Well, three days later, I was in love! Her profile said that she didn’t like men. But then my son came over and she was star-struck-in-love!

(Gracie is the top dog with the purple collar)

Grover

Grover was a wily puppy. Lost or dumped in a local park, he spent several weeks fending for himself. Humans were not to be trusted. Many tried to feed or catch him. They failed until the day he dropped from exhaustion and hunger. Two Grateful Dogs Rescue volunteers rushed him to ACC for emergency care. Deemed un-adoptable by the shelter because of medical issues, GDR moved Grover to a private vet hospital where he fought off mange, kennel cough and the effects of starvation. Meanwhile, the San Francisco dog community rallied behind Grover. Funds were raised and tons of loving, healing energy were sent his way.

Dear Friends,
 It has come to my attention that I have acquired a captive audience as to my well being. After 5 months of recuperating from my ordeal, I’ve found a new home in Castro Valley. My new parents love me very much, and I have 3 other dogs to play with. There’s lots of great things to chew on, like the furniture although that seems to be frowned upon. I’m also enjoying 2 meals a day, and sometimes my new parents will even cook something special for us.  All in all, I’m really enjoying my new family; thank you all very much for all of your concerns and support. Without you, I would have never found the care I needed and the loving family that I’m so grateful for. 
Love, Grover

Lucy

"It has been five years since my husband and I adopted Valerie (formerly Lulu/Lucy). She is such an amazing little spirit, I don't think I would have made it through some of the sadness & loss we've had these last few years without her. Remembering how shut down and scared she was when we first meet breaks my heart, but to see her now is amazing – she's hysterical! She walks as the leader of the pack with her two rat terrier brothers with so much confidence!

We recently had a baby girl and were worried that Valerie may not appreciate the new addition, but she has taken to the baby like the big sister she is! Valerie has survived two bouts of cancer with two surgeries and is a happy, healthy senior lady! Thank you Grateful Dog Rescue!!!!!"  Opie and Andy Beswick

Malo and Zorro

"Grateful Dogs Rescue is an amazing non-profitable organization that gives dogs in need, good forever homes. An example of this is when I got my two dogs Malo and Zorro.

First there is Zorro, who was found by the police wandering in the Bayview District of San Francisco with a chihuahua. The chihuahua got away but Zorro -- who was named Rex then -- was brought to San Francisco Animal Care and Control. He was frightened by just about everything and when he got scared, he’d flatten himself out on the floor, which earned him the nickname Pancake. Because of his anxiety in the ACC kennels, Grateful Dogs Rescue stepped in to help and that was when we were informed that he was up for adoption. My family and I went to a place called Penngrove where he was sent for his anxiety and looking for a loving family to take care of him. In the end he was a cuddly sweetheart and we gave him his forever home.
A year and half later, we heard about Axel. His story began when a back-yard breeder dumped him and two of his siblings off at SF ACC as puppies. Another rescue group deemed Axel too aggressive to take and that’s when Grateful Dogs Rescue stepped in.  After a few visits, we snatched him up and renamed him Malo - “the bad one” in Spanish - for his barky, anxious behavior, and that’s how he became part of our family. Now, Malo and Zorro are happily living in my home, going out for walks and being hugged by me and my sister Samantha.  They play a huge and important role in my life by always being sweet and being my friends. And though they may sometimes be troublesome, Malo and Zorro make everyday better and happier, because they are amazing in every way.

 

Thank you so very much Grateful Dogs Rescue and SF ACC for giving my dogs a second chance for a great life. I appreciate all the hard work you do to help dogs in need get a happy life. If it weren’t for you I would have never have gotten my two little wonders, Malo and Zorro." 

Piper

Falling in love changed my life.  And like many love stories, this one had its ups and downs. Piper did not give up her affection easily at first. She was incredibly shy and fearful and her tail was always tucked between her legs. She hid under the furniture. She cowered. She barked at everyone.  I didn't know how to handle this sensitive dog.  I thought of returning her to Grateful Dogs Rescue but something told me she was a keeper. Finally. she jumped on the sofa next to me and fell asleep. That is when our love affair began. From then on I knew I would never give her up.

In fact, I felt she deserved so much more than to live in a tiny apartment. She deserved a yard. And a doggy companion. The world. So I quit my job and drove across the US to move toward a brighter future. Of course, Piper was right by my side, hiking and exploring and riding long hours watching the miles tick by. Because of this little canine, I am finally going to be what I want to be.

Thank you GDR for our little Roux -- We are so in love.

Roux was deemed "unadoptable" by San Francisco ACC in September 2009. The SPCA wouldn't take her nor would a few other local rescue organizations due to lack of foster homes and Roux's behavior assessment record. She was very overwhelmed by the active and fast paced shelter and snipped at a volunteer or two. She shied away from those who called her with her tail tucked close to her body and did not want to walk on a leash. Roux's last hope was Grateful Dogs Rescue. She was given a second chance when GDR agreed to rescue her and place her in foster care.

The strange thing is that Roux never displayed any of the described behaviors once she was removed from the shelter environment. Her foster mom described little Roux as a lover of life. One that enjoyed long walks, playing with her mini tennis ball, snuggling up in your lap...and a very happy girl.

Tikka

Tikka is a special blend of Yorkie, Shih Tzu and Bernese Mountain Dog according to her DNA test. She joined our happy home because I missed being a multi-dog household. After seeing her photo on the Grateful Dogs Rescue website, I spoke with a volunteer who confirmed that Tikka was a five year old sweetheart but she had heartworm. I still wanted to meet her! She trotted into our home, play-bowed to my cats and then kissed me. That was it! Grateful Dogs Rescue paid for her medical care and she recovered fully. The happiest day was her first trip to Fort Funston – eeing her running on the beach made the extensive treatment and months of forced inactivity worth it. Roman (see Grateful Tails link for Roman's story), our German Shepherd, adores her while she tolerates him and our three cats.