We didn’t realize how much she enjoys the outdoors. She can’t get enough of sitting in the yard, enjoying the sights and the smells.

Missy is a hoarder. During our morning and evening walks, she searches for sticks. If she finds the right one, Missy carries it home. Her stick pile numbers more than 30 and each one is surprisingly different.

Missy is a great dog and we are so glad that she joined us.

Hello,

Lily is still what we call “in process”. She is a wonderful dog, full of energy, an eager retriever, great traveller, very friendly, and enjoys taking a stroll through Tractor Supply, But….

Lily has a mind of her own. She wants everything in her time so it is a constant challenge to make her understand just who is in charge.Except of course at 6:30 AM when she decides she has to go out. Get up, get dressed, take the dogs out. Afterwards Lily races into the house, goes upstairs and goes to bed and we’re standing there saying “Guess it’s time to make the coffee”.

Her “surfing’ ways are still with us and she still believes she will be fed from the table. NEVER HAPPEN! Lily is VERY SLOWLY learning not to bolt out of the truck when the door is opened. Sit, Stay, and then exit. She’s smart, She’ll learn it sooner or later.

She is a great watchdog quickly announcing that someone is at the door, and loves to chase the birds and critters that may dare to enter her domain. Lily loves Mrs. Neighbor because she always has a snack in her pocket. And of course she loves going to puppy-care where she can meet and socialize with other dogs. In the attached pictures you will see Lily as she practices for the Final Four. She can dribble but she can’t dunk the ball so she didn’t make the team.

Bruno is a very happy and healthy dog. He gets lots of attention from the family and gets along very well with our daughter’s minpin. He gets a lot of exercise from playing ball and walking on the local bike path. He absolutely loved rolling and playing in the snow this winter. He didn’t bark much when he came to us and he didn’t try to get on the furniture. He now barks loudly and has made his move for the couch. We are very fortunate to have him and NEARR did a great job bringing him to us in good shape. Thanks NEARR.

Missy has a follow-up appt with the vet for her second lyme vaccination next month.

Frannie is all set up setup with a daycare center near us, but luckily we only needed to send her a couple of days. My mother lives in the area and came to watch her on some of the other days we couldn’t get her over the center. And now that I changed jobs,going into freelance, I’ll be home more often to spend more time with her!

Recently Frannie got to meet her cousin Rascal, which we were excited about! Rascal is a westy/yorkie mix of about the same age and they got along great, immediate best friends!

Our training sessions have been fantastic and it all seemed to stick with her. We’ll be having the trainer come back here in the next month or so to help us work with her while off leash! We mostly walk in our neighborhood but once or twice a week we’ll take her to an enclosed park so she can run and play fetch with us!

She really is a sweetheart and we are very happy NEARR got us all together!

All the best from Frannie and the rest of us!

P.S. Here is a picture of Frannie on our new antique chair. It’s just barely too small for her but she loves it so much!

When I asked my family what to write about Dexter, the response was “He is perfect!”  He has just become a regular member of the family.  Not much has happened since our last report other than Dexter has traveled again to my parents for a visit.  He definitely enjoys the large park by their house where he can be off leash. 

He has also started an obedience class at a local MSPCA.  There are three levels to the class, and he has moved up to the intermediate level…we think that he is very smart!  He doesn’t seem to mind doing his “homework” either…who wouldn’t when there’s lots of treats involved!  Dexter loves to greet us when we get home, go for rides, go for walks, play catch/fetch with his ball, and just plain hang around and entertain us!  As everyone agreed earlier tonight, he is perfect!

He loves tennis balls!! Chases them like a puppy! He also loves riding in the car, with his head out the window! He and his brother, Toby, have started wrestling a little! They like to sleep together on the living room floor butt to butt. Dogs are crazy!!!!!

She prefers to sleep downstairs in the living room. She gets several walks a day, morning’s around 6:30, midday if I’m working in RI, a long walk after dinner and one short walk before turning in.

Missy seems to ignore the neighborhood cats and squirrels when she is in the yard with my brother.

Sometimes she exhibits high levels of energy–she actually sprinted to me yesterday. Sometimes she plods along like an older dog.

Anyway, we are all glad we got her. Her temperment and pace fit nicely in our household.

Hello Out there!

Paddy here with my one year update a month late! (I am having too much fun…) I would have to say that this is the place I belong. My forever family (affectionately referred to as the “peeps”) is crazy in love with me. I have to admit, I love them too! I have put on a few pounds since my adoption last January. I now weigh 91 pounds but that doesn’t stop me from being a lapdog as often as I can get it! The vet still thinks that I am perfect and she hugs me too. What can I say…….I’m a gorgeous guy with the personality to match!

I have kept the squirrel population to a minimum here. Wait ‘til I learn to climb trees….then I’ll get ‘em all! This winter was a bit of a disappointment as we had no snow but that made walks to my secret swimming spot more fun as it did not freeze over. This also made it possible for me to stand in the water and get a nice long cold drink after chasing sticks. Never too cold for a Lab!

I continue to keep Dad company everyday while Mom goes to work. He’s smitten with me…ask…he’ll tell you! I also still love to go in the car, not matter the destination. That backseat is mine alone! (Although I have been known to share it with my human siblings) Basketballs remain my very favorite thing to chase (next to squirrels) and I keep 4 of them tucked away in the yard in various places. My manners with other dogs have improved quite a bit, due to my feelings of security in my forever home and Mom is waiting for the day that she can adopt another Lab so I can have a canine sibling to play with!

Anyone out there that might have an inkling that they would like to adopt a dog SHOULD! Look at me, a favorite with the peeps and a hit wherever I go! Who knows where I might have been if not for the great folks at NEARR. Well, I am off for a bit of exercise and perhaps a cookie for my performance…..gotta love the peeps…

“Til next time,
Paddy (a.k.a. Padfoot, or Sirius Black)….and the peeps

I have just completed my 8th month in my forever home out here in the country. Still got the “peeps” wrapped around my paw (so to speak). The big joke here is that NO ONE has ever seen such a “spoiled” dog…..Now I personally hesitate to use the word “spoiled”… I prefer to think of it as LOVE;-) ! Just because they vie for my hugs and kisses does not qualify me as spoiled….

Lets see…Summer was good. I did a lot of swimming and ball chasing (in the water), gosh it was nice to cool off in that heat! My Mom was home for the summer so I got a lot of extra attention. It was hard to send her back to school in September but I have Dad who’s retired and he hangs out with me outside on most days and when it’s chilly he sometimes lets me snuggle on the couch (sigh). My sister has been home a lot this fall and one weekend she came home with her roommate. They BOTH think I am one fine pup and I actually slept with them one night. Wish you could see that picture! Me in the middle of the pink people bed with one co-ed on each side of me….LIFE IS GOOD! (I could be the poster-dog for that company!)

My summer coat is starting to thicken up and I have a wavy mantle down the middle of my back. Gotta get ready for all that snow rolling this winter! I continue to LOVE my basketballs. Presently, they are all over the yard and I find them as I romp around looking for slow squirrels or any other unwary animal. We had some interesting smells in the yard last week. Apparently a bear was hanging out in the yard for a couple of nights. It left a pile of “smell” that I COULD NOT figure out. I am not allowed to go out alone at night without a leash.

I still have issues with other dogs, but I don’t go as crazy as I used to and as soon as they find a trainer who can address this me and Mom will enroll in a class to help me with my “issues”. Car rides are still amongst some of my favorite things although the ice cream stand has closed…that sort of limits my snacks but a baby sized soft-serve fits the bill on occasion. All in all, ife here is the best. I am loved and well cared for and my peeps are trying to figure out how to get me a brother or sister. I want a baby one so it makes it a little tougher. I will see you all in January when I celebrate a year here. Have a happy and healthy holiday season! I can’t wait for the homemade biscotti!

Love as always,

Padfoot (a.k.a. Paddy, Sirius Black (you know…LIKE IN HARRY POTTER!!!)