I am really enjoying hanging with my brother Winston! Despite his feline nature, I have officially decided that he is a part of my pack. It isn’t unusual for Mom and Dad to find the two of us snuggled up in the bed. I usually make a nice soft nest for the two of us by kicking the covers
around. Once I settle down, Winston will climb right in alongside me. I will whine if he isn’t in the room with me. After all, pack members look out for one another!

Mom has taken me to lots of fun parks over the past two weeks. My favorite has a pond and a great walking trail. Mom and I will walk around and say hello to all of the other dog owners that frequent the park. I am always friendly and love to make new friends. Then we will pick a bench and sit down for a drink of water.

My parents feel that I am really settling in well. I have my first vet visit Monday. We’ll let you know how it goes!

Many blessings,
Fantastic Frannie

Lily is a great dog! She is extremely smart as well. We have our rose bushes behind a wire fence since one of our previous dogs loved the taste of roses. Sometimes when we are throwing the ball for Lily it goes inside the rose fence. Lily has discovered the secret people only passage into the rose garden and races right into the garden grabs the ball and brings it back to us.

Lily is still learning the rules of the house and now knows that all toys are not hers. Sharing can be fun! Our other Lab used to tell us when it was mealtime. He doesn’t do that anymore since Lily took over that job. She lets you know when the time is near and would prefer it if you could hurry-up.

She passed her obedience school but we had attended more for socialization than anything else since Lily knew all of the commands and does most of them quite well. We are still working on noisy streets which she doesn’t really like but she’s getting there.

Lily has her own bed schedule and goes to bed on her own around 7:30. We have to call her down around 9:30 so she can take her last outside call and get a snack before the real bedtime. A snack is a tradition in our house usually consisting of a couple of bits of fruit or veggies. She has learned to enjoy all kinds of fruits and veggies and knows that she will only get food in the kitchen away from the table.

On her last Vet visit Lily weighed 78 Lbs. and the Vet said she was in perfect health.

She continues to be a great watchdog letting us know of any imminent danger and does not like to see any squirrel walk across her deck. She really wants to catch one!

Lily enjoys going to the dump because she will get a biscuit there. Fun stuff! And of course she loves riding anywhere. Take me! Take me!

She is always with one of us going food shopping or working outside and sometimes in the house can’t quite decide which one of us to stay with. So she shares a few minutes with one and then with the other. Usually she is carrying her toy bear with her and always remembers where she left it.

She is a sweetheart!

It’s a few days early but I wanted to drop you a quick (and final, formal) update on Prince Charming. It is just one year now since he was formally adopted to me as part of the foster-to-adopt program. Time flies when your dog is having fun.

Sir Prince is still doing very well. His health is fine and he is still very active, often puppy like. His favorite activity is eating. Eating his food, your food, my food, anything remotely food-like that he can reach. He does respond to ‘no’ commands and doesn’t really beg. Begging is beneath his royal charm. Instead, he watches and waits for the best opportunity to swoop in and steal a bite from an unsuspecting person at a party or to dive into an open trash can if its open. It’s a normally manageable condition but occasionally I forget to guard something and he is ready to act.

He, of course, also loves to hike and swim and play with his toys or big sticks. We went camping several times this summer and fall- one the pictures here is of him getting ready to go to bed. And when at home with me on an average workday, he likes to nap next to me on the day-bed I got for him. It might look like he is sleeping in this picture but I know he is actually studying me, looking for some sign of something edible.

Thanks so much for bringing him to me! He has been and will always be a blessing to me.

Hi to all that read this. Hailee is a doll. Within 20 minutes of arriving home a week ago, she found the toy box and brought a nylabone up on my bed to chew next to me while I was on the phone. She made herself right at home and hasn’t seemed stressed at all. Sam, our other yellow lab has been somewhat stressed and has been trying to assert his dominance and Hailee tells him off. I think Hailee may become the Alpha dog. Tug toy is her favorite game and she likes to play keep away by running around the house. We will begin to train her about the invisible fence in the next week or two. We have taken her down to the state park for several longer walks with Sampson.

The other day we were busy working and looked over and Hailee was standing in the middle of the room with a clean sock hanging from her mouth. She wasn’t getting attention so she went into our bedroom and pulled a sock out of the clean folded clothes in the laundry basket and paraded it into the family room. She has since done that with my slipper twice. There is no question that she is a very frisky 9 year old. Sam can’t keep up.

We took her for her first vet appointment and she passed with flying colors. The doctor was pleased by her temperament and condition. She is at the perfect weight. We have started her on Frontline as we live in the woods and continued with Heartgard as well. Hailee is a remarkable dog and we have been so impressed by how quickly she has made our home hers. She is truly part of our family.

Here is a picture of Bubs the stoic dog. We have been having a blast. He joined us for trick or treating, we go romping at the beach, and we walk every morning with our next door neighbor Mandy, the Golden. We started training a couple weeks ago and we have seen a great improvement in how Bubba listens to everyone in our house rather than just me. He is definitely a mix between a couch potato and a 2 year old. He gets his bursts of energy around 4 every day. He loves kicking the soccer ball around in the back yard and looks for our neighbor who like to rain treats down on him over our fence. It is pretty cute. He is definitely a people loving dog although I think five 6-year old girls the other night running around our house was a bit much for him. He walked up the stairs and waited for everyone to leave. Everyday, he is settling in a little more. Our families can’t wait to meet him over Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Thanks again NEARR for another amazing NEARR dog experience.

We just got home from picking the girls up at school. Bubba is the love of the playground. He now has a new human 6 year old buddy who lights up when he sees Bubba and they walk around the playground together. It is way too cute. We could not have asked for a better dog, especially around kids.

The family has been spending lots of time on the weekends going to our favorite dog spots; walking at the farm and in the woods, checking out the bay at the park and taking rides to do errands. Bubs is so happy to get in the car.

Lets see, he has claimed a space on the couch but knows he can only come up when his blanket is down. He sleeps in our bedroom but sometimes I will find him sleeping on one of the girls beds. The transition has been easy, with a couple bumps but nothing we can’t work on. He still loves to surf the counter. We are working on that one. He is getting used to the sounds of our street and house but still likes to bark at random noises. And he LOVES a good crayon. It makes picking up poop very colorful. Also, we start training next week.

He also has a new friend, Mandy the 3 year old golden retriever. We walk with Mandy every morning and Bubs is now trying to get her to play with him. It is great and really funny to watch.

Attached is a picture from one of our adventures to the park . Will send more soon. All is well with Bubs. We are all enjoying each other.

Little Orphan Frannie
First Week Update

I am loving my new home! I have to admit I miss my foster parents and my canine foster brothers.

My new mom takes me for a long walk everyday and I run with my new daddy every morning. When we go for walks, my mom plays “red light, green light” with me. The game was suggested by my new trainer and is really teaching me not to walk mom. Instead, I let her walk me!

My feline brother Winston seems very nice. I am always excited to see him and whine when he isn’t in the room. I like to think he is part of my pack.

I am getting lots of hugs and kisses! I also like my new routine since Mom comes home in the middle of the day. Tomorrow, she is taking me to her favorite park. I can’t wait!

Thanks NEARR for keeping me safe until I found my forever home!