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My Heart Belongs to a Rescued Dog The moment I first saw you, So lonely and so lean - I wondered to myself that day What sadness you had seen. As soon as we connected, It's almost like you knew - That I would love you always Through the good and bad times too. Now you share your life with me We rarely are apart - A precious friendship rescued On the day I lost my heart.
 Here are just a few of the dogs we have worked with... they have all gone on to enrich the lives of their new owners even Budd at the ripe young age of 12. These dogs have so much love to offer and their lucky owners enjoy sharing stories of the everyday life with rescue dogs. "TYSON"    “Tyson’s Story”
The call came on a Thursday afternoon, “Can you foster a dog?” The usual response… “What’s up?” “His name is Tyson and he is so very thin but so worth saving. He needs special care for several weeks.” So off we went to meet up with Joan from Labrador Retriever Rescue Ontario and to pick up the new dog Tyson. We were not prepared for the condition Tyson was in when we saw him. So frail and thin he felt like a feather as I lifted him into the crate in my vehicle. Knowing he needed to be in isolation before he could meet up with my own dogs we gave him a nice quiet area of his own with lots of soft blankets for his comfort. First thing Friday morning Tyson was whisked into our vets office for a full assessment. Yes he was thin but as we started our routine blood work and check-up everything was coming up negative. Within 48 hours we knew that he was not suffering from anything that couldn't be fixed with proper care and attention. As an un-neutered male he still needed to be restricted in our kennel but at least now he could interact somewhat with the other dogs. We moved him into the house shortly after finding out he was clear. He continued to amaze us by the fact that he was house trained, didn’t counter surf, didn’t chase the cats and had excellent manners for a dog that appeared to have been so neglected. He blossomed in our care and soon had gained enough weight to undergo surgery for neutering and removing of rear dewclaws. His new family had already met him and had spent several hours playing with him and going for walks in our woods. Many hours were spent getting to know him and helping him become comfortable with them. The first time they went to walk away with him he looked back longingly like I don’t want to leave. He soon caught on that they had pockets full of cookies and lots of love and attention to shower on him. They came to take Tyson home several weeks after he first arrived in our care. This time Tyson didn’t look back. He eagerly jumped into the van, settled in among the children and gratefully accepted a cookie from an outstretched hand. Labrador Retriever Rescue
Ontario places
120-140 Labrador Retrievers annually. Foster
families are always needed. Tyson’s story
could have been very different, without the
intervention
of LRRO; Tyson would have been euthenized the next day.
Not all Labradors brought into our care are
as desperate as Tyson but they all need our help. For
more information on fostering for LRRO or adopting a dog
through the program please contact us at (416) 567-6249 or visit us on
the web
at www.lab-rescue.ca Written by Tari Yates  This drawing was given to us from Tyson's new family. They are very lucky to have this sweet boy and he is very lucky to have them! "BUDD"
39 labradors were seized by the SPCA. UPDATE: SEPT. 2005 Budd is doing really well, finding the humidity a bit hard, aren't we all !!!! He usually goes to bed about 9:15pm and sometimes takes himself off earlier, he looks at the climb up the stairs and says 'no way, no more tonight' and goes into his crate and settles down. He is wonderful with all the little kids who want to pet him, he stands there while they examine his big head and his ears and ask how old he is. Rosie is good with the kids as well but it's Budd who gets most attention, I think because he looks big enough to be a pony. They both have such gentle natures, we are so lucky to have them. Thanks again......k
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Candy
is a wonderful, sweet girl. She’s a perfect match. Everyone just falls
in love with her. “I don’t really like dogs, but I like that one”.
She’s
the perfect patio dog. 
Looking for something smaller than a labrador?
Try Shar-Pei Rescue
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As I arrived at the Bridge, I faced all the
animals that had gone there before me.
Before each of us go to the Bridge, we live our lives like the squares of a quilt, mirrored in the eyes of the animals awaiting us. An animal Angel sits before each of us sewing our quilt squares together in a tapestry that is our life. But as my animal Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life as a rescuer that had been difficult, the challenges I was faced with in my quest to save lives and the times I had been tempted to take the easy way out and avoid the controversy rather than speak for the animals that could not speak for themselves. I saw hardships that I had endured for the sake of the animals, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My animal Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been with the riches of the Earth. My animal Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter and the sweet kisses of the precious animals that Honored my life with their presence. But there had also been the trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took me from their world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights crying and praying that somehow the strength would come to go on, asking for help and guidance as I tried to help the Helpless. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time enduring it for the sake of the animals who looked at me with trust and love in their eyes. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined Squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the animals gathered there, who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image of an animal that had depended on me. All the animals at the Bridge stood before me, with warmth and love in their eyes. They said, "Every time you gave over your life to help us, it gave us life. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let us shine through, until there was more of us than there was of you." May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing the animals to shine through. ~unknown |