Alumni Stories Continued...

Fred - June 19, 2007

Fred is doing great....I couldn't have asked for a better dog. He now lives on five acres and spends his time playing with his brother Buster. I am very grateful for HART and all they do!!!

Misty (fomerly Helen) - June 8, 2007

Hi! We thought you would like an update on Misty (the beagle formerly known as Helen). She has come through house training successfully and is now snuggling with all of us, not just Mom. For the longest time, she was known as "Mom's shadow" (smart dog because she knows who takes care of her!). But these pictures show that she now loves us all, pretty close to equally. She still prefers Mom though :-).

She gets along with her sister beagle, Patty, very well, but not so well with other dogs, so she is in line for some obedience training in the fall. We think she is just very protective of her new family. After all, if you were a stray with a bad life and you found a good home, you'd be protective too! We need to teach her that other dogs aren't nosing in on her territory - they just want to be friends. The good news is that she loves people, including little children. And children love her too because she will just sit quietly and let them pet her.

Misty loves her walks and now knows the meaning of the word "walk" and will get all excited when she hears it. And being a beagle, she loves to eat and knows the regular feeding times (she and sister Patty gang up on us to let us know it's time for them to eat). We taught her "sit" in a matter of days and are looking forward to working more with her on her "manners" in the fall. She's a smart dog so we know she will pick up everything quickly.

Misty is just the sweetest, most loving little girl, and we are all so thankful to have her. She loves to be pet and will sit forever as you stroke her and often will roll over for a belly rub. She always puts a smile on our faces and warms our hearts. How can you not love a dog who can hop backwards for 8 feet when she is excited about feeding time? And a dog who takes up valuable space on the bed and the couch? She is definitely comfortable with us, and we can tell that she knows she has a good thing and that she wants to please. Unlike many beagles, she doesn't let her nose carry her away. She always wants to know where we are and never strays far from us. I think she is just as grateful for us as we are for her!

Thanks to you all for rescuing her and giving her a chance to enrich our lives - and for giving us a chance to give her the good life she deserves. Enjoy the pictures!

Bob, Cindy and Justin

Sissy - May 26, 2007

We thought we would send you some updated photos of Sissy.

She is doing very well and is still a big mush!!! We had a baby in October and Sissy is so sweet with him. We call her the "Dog Nanny" as she is always right there when he cries (any hour of the day or night). She still has her buddy, Rico, but hasn't really learned to "play". I think she gets confused when Rico nips at her feet :-0

Thanks again for saving this sweetie!!!

Jessica and Ted

Sam - May 23, 2007

Sam teaching his new sister the importance of properly sniffing all possible trees!

Naptime is over, and Sam is ready to play!

Hi Pat & co. -

I was looking at all the great alumni stories and was inspired to write in about Sam, the wonderful beagle mix that we adopted from HART 18 months ago. I'd sent an update a few months after we got him, but wanted to let you know that Sam is still doing great and is extremely loved. His favorite activities are taking naps and having his tummy rubbed. Sam also has a new favorite activity, which is playing with his adopted sister Mia, another rescue dog that we added to our family a few months ago. We just love Sam so much and are so happy that he is part of our family.

Thanks again,
Jen & John

Tangent and Cotangent - May 21, 2007

I adopted Tangent and Cotangent just over a year ago and wanted to let you know how happy we all are. Since they settled in and got used to their new surroundings, they have become my perpetual shadow. When I am at home, they are rarely more than fifteen feet away and love my lap almost as much as they love my girlfriend's lap! They are friendly, funny, and love attention. Honestly, we could not be happier.

Thanks again, HART, for blessing us with these two!
Jon

Sabrina the WonderBeagle - May 21, 2007

Hi Suzie,

I thought you'd like to know how Sabrina is doing. She's perfect! She doesn't get up on furniture, she doesn't chew things she's not supposed to, and when we go for our 30-minute walks, she stays by my side and at my pace. She's very friendly. All the little kids along our route know her name and say hi to her. She has full roam of the house and never gets into anything she shouldn't.

Our walk is pretty long. On the first hot day, halfway into our walk, she started looking for water and when we came to shady places, she wanted to lie down and stay there. So I carry a small cup-sized zip-loc container full of water and offer it to her a couple times after the halfway point of the walk. With the lid off, it's like a small doggy water dish. That solves the problem.

Her dog food was in the recall, so the vet did extensive testing. She was completely unaffected. She's got all her shots, she gets her flea goop and her heartworm pills. I give her special treats (such as Busy Bones), but I make sure it is at random and not connected with any event. I want her to associate the treats with me, not with an event, so that she develops a relationship rather than an expectation. She's become much more self-confident. She barks when someone comes to the door and sometimes she even barks at me if she thinks I'm not doing something I should be doing!

She's got places to smell, things to smell, and people to smell, but she doesn't forget to stop and smell the goosepoop!

Ken

Queenie - May 21, 2007

It has been just about a year since Queenie joined us, and I wanted everyone to know that she is very well and happy. When she and Sandy get up in the morning, there is lots of playful barking and running madly through the house--fun! Queenie continues to be very busy and energetic, affectionate and clever. John is very fond of her and he and Sandy and Queenie have a routine of a walk every evening where both dogs have fans in the neighborhood that they enjoy talking with. Queenie also loves her naps too, as you can see from the attached picture. I knit and this gray blanket is her favorite. Even while I was still knitting it, she would curl up on it so she could make sure I knew it was for her! Her health is excellent. A few months ago she had symptoms of a urinary tract infection (needing to urinate three times an hour), so I took her to Parkway where Dr. Covaleski started her on antibiotics even before the culture was back. The culture came back negative, but I noticed an improvement anyway--she is back to her normal pattterns--so I'm glad we did the antibiotics, given her history.

She is so content (me too). Doesn't she look like an angel when she's asleep? She sends kisses and thump, thump, thumps of her tail to everyone.

Fran, John, Sandy, and Queenie

Zeus II - May 20, 2007

Note from HART: Our special needs dog Zeus has obviously has found his special, special forever home!

Heidi (formerly Blackberry) - May 17, 2007

Good Morning, Nancy! Just an update to let you know Heidi is getting along just fine. She and Misty have become quite the "dynamic duo!" They spend almost every afternoon outside with me while I do yard/barn chores, and they love to "squirrel-hunt" together and guard the fence line against intruders (mostly my poor neighbors and their trash can!). Heidi has learned a lot from Misty about good manners and proper things to chase, including airplanes, vultures, hawks, and the occasional bunny and groundhog. They play a little bit, but mostly just enjoy each other's company. We love her dearly and rest assured...this is her "forever home." Hope you have a nice week-end and are enjoying the lovely warm weather!

Kathy

Lucky - May 8, 2007

Lucky's new family says: "Lucky is such a love bug! Everyone in the house is just LOVING him!"

Bart - May 8, 2007

Dear Mr. Orth,

Three years ago we adopted from H.A.R.T. a young Beagle named Bart. You came to our home in Herndon to check to see if Bart was in fact going to a good home. We remember your hugging Bart and whispering in his ear wishing him the best. We can assure you that Bart did get a good home and we love him very much. He is very obedient (as much as a beagle can be) and has learned a lot of tricks. He makes us laugh a lot.

We moved from Herndon to Northern New Mexico two years ago. Bart goes everywhere with us including our trips to South America.

We are sending along some photos of Bart in his new home in New Mexico.

Thanks and best regards,
Erminio & Nancy

Charley - May 8, 2007

Hello Gale,

Charley is doing very well. He is healthy and has recovered from his neuter procedure. I intend to send off the form to the county this weekend to license him. We are working on his leash manners (he tends to pull) and on his reaction when he sees people when we are walking (he barks at them). He is showing improvement. It’s a case of letting him know who’s the boss! One of the technicians at work is also a dog trainer and she has given us some good advice.

I leave Charley and Katie at home together. He likes to lie on the back of the sofa and is often to be found there if he’s not with John or me. As I attempt to write this note, Charley is on my lap paying very close attention to what my hands are doing on the keyboard. That is to say, his head is blocking my view of the keys and he is trying to lick my fingers. The little guy is such a lover who seems to need the reassurance of touching or being within a few inches of one of us much of the time.

Warm Regards,
Elizabeth

Jake - May 5, 2007

I adopted Jake, a Dalmation mix, when he was six pounds of spots. He is currently 65 pounds of pure love and is doing well. He is the world to my family and I. He is currently donating blood for dogs who have been hurt, and is a UKC agility champion. His sister lives right down the street from us and it's so cute to watch them play - even though she is smaller she packs a punch. I don't think I could have picked a better dog and I won't ever find one like him.

Madison

Howdy - May 3, 2007

Sydney (formerly Austin) - May 3, 2007

We are the lucky new owners of Austin (now called Sydney)! We adopted him on April 23rd and are soooo happy to have him. He is a complete joy, gentle, fun, playful, and a fantastic companion. In the past week he has begun to really come out of his shell! He is running and catching balls and swiping socks from the laundry (very cute)! He loves long walks and is so curious about the world...he loves all dogs he meets on his walks playfully chasing after birds.

His foster mom, Bonnie, was so wonderful, and we are grateful to her for all of her hard work taking care of him and the many other dogs she has fostered, and for providing us with a lot of great information about him to help us with the transition.

Thank you for all that you do!!! We could not be happier.

The proud new parents...Christy and Rick

Hunter (formerly Peanut Butter) - April 30, 2007

We have had Hunter (nee Peanut Butter) for five months, but it only took a few hours for him to become a member of our family. The three of us are successful graduates of a seven-week obedience school, where a skeptical trainer told us male, adult beagles are very difficult to train, a theory that Hunter was more than happy to disprove. During these last few months Hunter has learned to walk on a leash without pulling or sniffing, sit, stay, and lie down when told (something his afternoon walker appreciates). In the meantime, Hunter has taught us to hold an umbrella over him instead of ourselves while its raining (our beagle friend hates rain), that it's animal neglect to cook bacon or take cheese out of the fridge without giving some to him (he is an accomplished begger), and that beagle stomachs are very itchy and require constant scratching.

Hunter is always up for a trip around the neighborhood to terrorize the local squirrels or simply lie on the couch and take a nap. He is kind and friendly to every human and dog we have come across, and welcomes every one that enters our home with an impressive combination of jumps and spins that makes it impossible not to laugh.

In short, we can not remember what life was like without Hunter. We are so thankful to Barbara J., Pat Phelps and everyone at HART for rescuing Hunter when you did. He is a blessing to us and HART has made our lives fuller by putting us together with Hunter.

Amy and Jeff

Ayesha - April 30, 2007

Parker - April 26, 2007

Parker at the HART Dog Walk and Homecoming 2006

Frannie and Parker at the HART Dog Walk and Homecoming 2006

Parker's note to his friends at HART:

Hi everyone!! I'm so glad I have the chance to write a note to all my friends at HART who helped me over the past several years.

While I still have my alternating "begging" paws look, I have gained almost 20 lbs since July when I came to my forever home. My parents have put me on a diet to lose a few of the pounds but I can usually charm them into special treats whenever I want. I was just in New Jersey for Easter with Betty "white shoes" Johnson, a Border Collie who I met here in Virginia several months ago, and with my stepsister, Frannie (HART '92).

We had a really good time. And since Betty and Frannie are fairly deaf, I was asked to chase the numerous squirrels off our hosts' deck on a regular basis when called...like 20 times per day! For my "work" I got paid in Italian bread pieces after every squirrel chase. Boy, was that fun! Then my Dad showed me deer in their backyard and I got to bark at them from the deck and scared them away. More treats! The best thing was seeing a 500lb+ Black Bear at about 40 yards. Unfortunately, my dad told me to go inside the house immediately and he forgot to give me a treat.. so I went and got Frannie and Betty and the 3 of us pestered him until we got snausages.

On the way to New Jersey, my Mom would wake me up every time we went into a new state so I'd know where I've been. She tried the same thing on the way home but I slept thru it since I was exhausted.

I'm having a really fun life and I'm watching my Dad type this as I dictate. I always accompany him and my Mom when they are on the computer. As for the diet? My parents just can't stop rewarding me for being so darn adorable. They think they have me trained...yeah, right!

Love to all!
The PARKER Brother

Chris - April 17, 2007

Chris is probably the PERFECT first dog. He is perfectly housebroken, very loving, knows how to SIT and STAY very well, loooooves his treats, and is already getting perfectly settled in. I was afraid he would bother the cats, but it's actually the opposite - the cats bother him! He is scared of them, but is very eager to make friends with them at the same time. He keeps carrying his bone over to offer it to them. Of course, they ignore it but it's still a very good effort on his part. The cats actually teamed up on him yesterday - one chased him out of the kitchen and the other stood ready around the corner to give him a smack in the face. I reprimand the cats for that stuff and I keep them apart when we're not home, because I realized that our cats are bullies! I thought I'd have to separate them so that the dog couldn't harass the cats, but it's turned out to be the other way around. The dog is way too nice to them! Yesterday morning, I took him out for his walk. He did his "business" right away and after I cleaned it up, I started walking on, but he pulled me back to the door like he was thinking, "You're kidding, right? It's RAINING out here."

He went to doggy daycare today while I was at work and he was an absolute hit. He made best friends with a little pug and the supervisor told me that he is a very good-natured dog with a very sweet temperament, both towards dogs and people. I've notice that he is a little scared of men at first, but that usually goes away after a few minutes. He was a tiny bit afraid of my husband at first and now they are best buds. (And always up to no good together I should add, like when my husband stole french fries off my plate when I wasn't looking to give to the dog!)

So yes ... this was a very long reply, but in short: it's going GREAT. He is a sweetheart. Thanks for everything!! I keep thinking, How could anyone give this dog up?!?! But hey, their stupidity is definitely our gain. :-) Thank you and everyone at HART for all you do for these little guys. Judith

Kona Bean (formerly Sugar Plum) - April 12, 2007

Dear Charlie and all HART helpers,

Just wanted to give an update on Kona Bean (formerly Sugar Plum). She is doing great and we can not be happier. When we got her three months ago from you, she was incredibly shy and scared of most big things and noises. She has worked her way to being the sweetest little thing and the center of attention at all gatherings. She's quite the lap dog and cuddles with anyone who'll let her. She still gets scared from time to time, but she has brightened up our home 100%!

We also want to thank all of you for giving us Kona. Your generous volunteering and effort to save dogs is greatly appreciated. The day we saw Kona at your adoption event, HART had just picked her up from the kill shelter. Thanks to you we are blessed with our little Bean and another dog has been rescued! People and dogs are loved because you make it happen.

Please keep up the good work,
Luzette & Patrick

Lulu Belle (formerly Misty) - April 9, 2007

Hello to the Hart Staff!!!

We just wanted to send you an update on Lulu Belle (formerly Misty). What a lucky day it was when our family adopted Miss Lulu! Our older yellow lab (Maxwell) was in much need of a friend and she was just what the doctor ordered! She was very shy and scared at first (and had to devour several pairs of shoes, two rugs and a tv remote along the way) but we could never imagine our family without her now .... Not only is she a fearless loyal watchdog ~ she's also the first to snuggle and give out kisses to all who visit! (and wow - can she play catch .... for hours and hours and hours). Recently we brought home another big yellow lab (Buddy) to join the pack and Lulu believes he belongs to only her! She is constantly cleaning him and chastising him and using him as her furry blanket when she sleeps. Our three "pups" couldn't be happier .... and neither could we!!!

Many Many Thanks to HART and the wonderful work all of you do ....

Terry

LadyBird (formerly Shauna) - March 21, 2007

Joan,

We just wanted to let you know that Shauna (now LadyBird) is the greatest dog we have ever had. She has met all the neighbors and has quite astonishing manners considering she is new to the home. No jumping, barking, licking and she is quite good on the leash already. Now that she is getting 3 or 4 walks a day she doesn't pull on her leash at all. She is being fed twice a day and after the second day no longer hangs around the table begging for food while we eat. This evening she snoozed on her bed while we ate.

She is great with all the kids that have come to the house (and there have been many) and has only had one accident in the house--the first hour she was here (nerves). She is a great car rider and enjoys picking the kids up from school--with no barking.

She's amazing--I don't know another dog like her and we feel so lucky that she's a family member now.

Thank you so much for taking care of her before we found her.... Keep up the good work! I live in a neighborhood of high priced "designer dogs" and my beautiful, well mannered rescued girl is showing them all up!

Your organization was a joy to work with, fast, efficient and thourough and it's obvious the dogs are loved and well taken care of. Thanks again.

Robin

Bud - March 12, 2007

Hello-
Just thought I would give you a quick Bud update. Bud is a wonderful addition to our family. He has enjoyed our hikes and long walks! We saw a couple of deer in the woods, which he found interesting. He gets along so well with both cats that we can leave him out and about all day without any problems. We went to the vet last week and everything looks good. He loves visiting with the kids and dogs in our neighborhood. We are so glad we made the decision to adopt him!

I will be back to volunteer this weekend. I was glad to see Howdy and Beluah got adopted. Great news!

Take care,
Carrie and Andrew

Audrey - March 12, 2007

Hi Gale,

Audrey's doing great! She's made a lot of progress in the past couple of months. She still gets nervous around bikes and loud noises, but she's friendly and curious around new people and dogs.

As far as health goes she's doing just fine. We walk her for an hour and a half each day, and we've been taking her to Burke Lake Park on the weekends when the weather is nice. She loves the exercise. And we've kept her up to date on her heartworm pills and frontline too.

Isaac

Pantera - March 1, 2007

Pantera is doing great :) We've been making a lot of trips back and forth to PA because of planning the wedding and she loves those trips! I attached a few pics of her from the new year! I hope you are doing well!!

Jack Sparrow - February 9, 2007

Hi Kim,

I just wanted you and the HART team to know that Jack has settled into his new home nicely. It was a very easy adjustment. He and Big Boy are the best of buddies now. They love to play chase and wrestle around. I think Jack prefers his feline companions to his human ones. He is a sweet guy and he's getting tons of love from the entire family. Thank you and HART for taking such good care of him!! He's the perfect addition. I hope you enjoy the pictures too.

Blessings!
Kourtney

Theodore (formerly Ryppurr) - February 5, 2007

Patricia-

I just wanted to drop a note to thank you for all you do and all you did for Theodore (Ryppurr)..... I am crazy about him. He is the sweetest, loviest cat I have ever known/had. He loves to eat especially treats! I race home everyday from work to see him. He sleeps with me and he sleeps on my neck or my head. It's too funny! He has been back and forth to the vet with his sneezing and his runny eyes. They have him on some more antibiotics and determined that he has dry eyes and is on 2 eye ointments for life. His eyes are so much healthier now. He can actually keep them open and I can finally see his baby blue eyes. He's my little angel. In the meantime we adopted a calico Persian out of Maryland. She is very cute too. On the younger side, she's 3. I won't keep you long but I can't thank you enough for taking him (and all the others! ) in and giving them a second chance that they ALL so deserve! Thanks again! I tell Eric all the time I wish I knew Theodore when he was a baby, but I am so grateful for the time he will spend with me :o) I love him dearly!

Virginia

Murphy - January 30, 2007

Dear Joan & HART staff,

I sent a message to you about Murphy (adopted May '06) through the Success Stories section. She is doing very well and has been a blessing to us. She traveled to the Tennessee mountains with us last summer and also enjoyed a weekend in Manhattan. She was not so thrilled about the NYC potty spot options but enjoyed all the city smells and people. She loves her walks through our neighborhood woods and to pick up our daughters from school.

She was monitored every few months by our vet but has now received the all clear and is in perfect condition. We're so glad she is a part of our family. Our 13 year old daughter is planning on going to Fairfax County's Doggone Spring Break Camp with Murphy this year. She is devoted to our girls and is liked by our cats (wow! ;). Her unfortunate situation turned out to be the best opportunity for us. Every week she shows us a new and wonderful side to her personality. I've attached her Christmas photo which was on our 2006 cards.

Thank you,
Christina

Ashley (formerly Holly 2) and Pippin - January 30, 2007

Ashley (adopted Oct. 2006) is now sharing her home with sister Pippin (adopted Feb. 2007)! Aren't they cute together?

KoKo - January 14, 2007

KoKo enjoys his new placemat from Grandma & Grandpa!

Happy New Year! I hope this email finds you doing very well! I just want to wish you all a happy 2007 and to send some updated pictures of KoKo and our second Christmas together. He is doing great and we are both loving each other's company. Everyone else loves him too and I always receive comments on what a sweet dog he is. I can't imagine a better doggie in my life than KoKo, and my heart just melts every time I think of him (and I think of him often!). Thanks again for bringing us together.

Again, happy new year and thank you for all that you do. We think of you and Hart often.
Love ~ Elaine and KoKo

Nicholas - January 4, 2007

Nicholas has been in his new home for 9 months now and is doing wonderfully. He is very well behaved and loves everyone he meets-especially children. When he first came home, I was nervous having him around children not knowing how he would react, but I think he prefers them to adults. I babysat a friend's 4 month old boy a few weeks ago, and Nicky would not leave his side. He let the baby grab his cheeks and put his hands in his mouth with no problem. He has put on about 25 pounds since you last saw him (about 5 pounds too many according to the vet!) but looks a lot healthier. I don't know how many calories are in socks and kleenex, but those are his snacks of choice when no one is watching. His hips are also much stronger, probably due to constant play/wrestling with his new brother. They would be lost without each other! Thank you so much for all you did to save his sweet life.

Meredith

Alumni Stories Continued...

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