Jewel

This is Jewel (formerly Coco). I gave her that name because she is a jewel of a dog! She is the sweetest, kindest, gentlest dog I have ever known. I had never even heard of an Australian Kelpie until I got a call from Jewel’s foster mom, Janis. If Jewel is representative of her breed’s disposition, I’ll take a pack of them!

We got her on August 26, 2006 and so that is when we will celebrate her birthday going forward. My cat, Charlotte, was taken aback to see this canine suddenly in her midst. She hissed and left the room in disgust. On the other hand, Jewel hardly looked at her. This went on for several days and I swear that Charlotte seemed almost offended at Jewel’s disinterest! Slowly things settled down, though, and while I don’t expect any interspecies cuddling, Charlotte has accepted Jewel as a member of the family. Jewel loves her back yard and walkies. I walk her every morning and every evening without fail and on weekends we go on special hikes in the mountains. She tickles me to no end when she looks at me with those deep brown eyes and cocks her head with one ear pointing straight up and the tip of the other permanently flopped down. It’s like she’s trying SO hard to understand what I am saying!

Jewel wasn’t much for ball chasing or socializing with other dogs when we first got her, but she is doing both with a twinkle in her eye and big smile. Her favorite thing to do is to chase a ball and then play keep away with it. Despite her age she is quick and nimble! And again the twinkle in her eye says it all. She has a group of pals that congregate in the late afternoon at Cuesta Park and she likes to play referee (I think that’s her herding instinct kicking in) to the other dogs’ play. Or, as Mark says, “She’s the RUFFeree”.

It makes me very sad to think of her in a shelter and I thank HAL and Janis, her foster mom, everyday for rescuing her. She is my cuddle bug and constant companion. We cannot remember life without Jewel. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Rebecca Duncan and Mark Lemke

Cee Cee

Sending a special thanks to Joyce and Home at Last Rescue for rescuing Cee Cee (formerly Sissy). We adopted Cee Cee a few months ago and we are just so happy. Cee Cee is very loving and smart. She loves to play with her tennis ball and rope chew toy, chase every bird in town and most of all rollerblade with her mamas.

We are so thankful for Cee Cee, can’t imagine life without her now. Thanks to Home at Last for the opportunity to adopt a wonderful dog. Here are a few recent pics… she loves to swim!!!

Lacey

Dear Home at Last,

Being a first time dog owner, single parent and busy professional, with a small child, two elderly cats, and yes, even two pet rats, I spent a great deal of time researching breeds, and combing through literally hundreds of online pet profiles in the hopes of finding the perfect family dog. After nearly two months of searching, my daughter and I found Lacey!

It's been two months now that Lacey's been "home" and it's already hard to remember a time before her. Everyone told me to expect her bad habits to reveal themselves once she settled in, but with the exception of some leash aggression (which we're working through), there is not a bad bone in her pretty little body. She is an absolute ANGEL and respects the rules of the house. She knows and obeys all the basic commands, she knows what's hers to play with and what is not, she understands that we don't chase the cats or eat their food, and she waits patiently in her room for us to return home at the end of the day. No barking, no whining, no begging, no jumping, no scratching, digging, or chewing (except on those yummy bully sticks) and she is always so careful and so aware of what she's biting when accepting treats or playing tug of war. I have yet to meet a dog as genuinely kind, and polite as our Lacey. I honestly believe that she lives to cuddle, and make us happy.

I had no idea going into this that dog ownership would be so rewarding. My absolute most favorite part of the day is coming home...there truly is nothing better in this life than a wagging, smiling dog to greet you.

It really is heartbreaking once you realize the sheer number of animals who are out there, abandoned and lost, waiting to find homes. Thank you for allowing us to bring Lacey into our family, and more importantly for sticking with us while we work through her leash issues. Your dedication and commitment to these dogs is amazing, and hopefully success stories like this help to remind you how truly important the work you do really is.

Hugs & Lacey Kisses, Jennifer, San Jose, CA.

Sam

Best regards, Tom Soltes

Dulce (formerly Bisbee)

Hello! This is Dulce, formerly "Bisbee" I got Dulce back in July, and my life has changed enormously. From the day I brought her home, she was fantastic with my cat, and still is. She's like my child, I take her everywhere with me, even to work! She just graduated from "Basic" training, and is currently in "Intermediate" class. She's doing great, and is without a doubt a breed ambassador.

She's the best thing that has happened to me in a long time, and I am so grateful to have her in my life. Thank you so much for giving me such a wonderful creature!

Liz, Dulce, and Friskie