Dogs Adopted in 2009
BENTLEY
Hello to my friends at WAAGR, this is Bentley, but my parents usually call
me Ben.  You helped me find my forever home in February of this year, when I was 12 weeks old.  I think it was love at first sight for all of us.  I am a Golden/Springer Spaniel mix and at 8 1/2 months old, I already weigh 71 pounds!

My parents love me very much and always tell me how cute I am.  I have done really  well with all my training.  For example, I learned to ring a bell to let them know when I have to go outside, and it worked really well!  I have had no accidents and that made my mom and dad really happy.  They don't know this, but sometimes I ring the bell, even when I don't really have to go out but just want to see my bird friends!

I aced puppy school, and just have a few classes of the next level left to go.  My dad is the best ever - he takes me on two, one mile walks each day.  I am learning to walk on my leash quite well.  He has spent a lot of time with me, teaching me to be a great dog.

I have lots of toys but my favorite are big sticks!!  I have been swimming
in Lake Michigan, and have my own little pool.  I hear I might get to go on my first vacation soon and sleep in a hotel.  Wow, that sounds interesting!  Thanks for helping me find my new home.  My mom, dad and I are a perfect match!!

BERNIE
Hi everyone at WAAGR!  It's Bernie!  I wanted to tell you all how great my experience has been in finding my forever home.  I moved around a bit since I came to WAAGR, but I especially enjoyed my last foster home where I learned so much about being an obedient, loving dog and bonded really well with my foster mom, who I will always be grateful of.

 I met my parents in December, just a few weeks before Christmas and they really made my first Christmas in my forever home special.  They bought me presents and included me in the family.  I got to spend time with all of my new family and my new friends, Bella, a Golden Retriever/Lab mix, and Maddie, a Chocolate Lab, who I get to visit often.  I also have a new friend at home, Aiden, the cat.  No one knew how I'd do with a cat, but Aiden actually tried to intimidate me at first and I didn't know what to think, but now we are good friends.  Occasionally we sleep together and we even play together, until Mom tells me to quit, because I get too rough.  Since Christmas, I have figured out a lot about my parents.  I tested them out quite a bit at first and tried to hide from them all the things I really knew, but I learned that they weren't going to let me get away with everything and I'm glad they were patient with me.  I am listening to them better now and they know I will do anything for a treat.

 I saved my favorite thing about my new home for last... My huge fenced-in backyard!  I love to be outside, and my back yard gives me lots of room to run, play, and chase squirrels up trees.  I can spend hours a day outside with so much to do.  My picture shows me doing my favorite thing, which is play ball with my mom and dad.  They don't always come outside to play with me, which is fine, but I let them know when I want them to come play ball by bringing it with me to the door and pretending I'm ready to come inside.  When they come to the door to let me in, I grab my ball and run back to the yard.  This game never gets old and I usually get them to come outside.

 That's what I've been up to the past few months.  I wanted to say thank you to everyone at WAAGR for making it possible for me to find my forever home.  I know we had our challenges, but I've learned a lot through this journey and I'm very grateful to all of the people who took their time with me.  Thank you WAAGR!   ~With Love, Bernie

BROOKLYN
Brooklyn is my second rescue from WAAGR.  I picked up Brooklyn on Dec. 20, 2009.  The doctor said that she was about 9 to 12 months old when I picked her up, so I gave her a new birthday of Dec. 20, 2008.  Her name was Carmel at the time.  I went to Karen's house and I brought Jersey (my first WAAGR dog) with so he can meet his new friend.  We walked in the door and Jersey was looking at me like "what are we doing here."  Karen brought out Brooklyn for Jersey and I to meet and it was so cute.  Brooklyn looked so tired and all Jersey wanted to do was play.  Brooklyn is quite a bit smaller than Jersey.  She is only 50 pounds, she has the Golden coloring, and she can walk under Jersey without a problem.  I brought Brooklyn home and Jersey was always wondering when she was going to leave, because she was getting more attention from me than he was for the Training process.  From the day that I brought her home and to this day now, Brooklyn is the most loving dog that I have ever known.  I taught her how to do paw and sit when I brought her home.  Now every time she sits down, it does not matter where she is sitting, she will give you her paw.  She loves to be petted ALL THE TIME.  If you stop petting her she will look at you like why did you stop?  Then if you don't continue she will give you kisses till you give a reason to why you stopped.

Brooklyn has come up with some good nick names.  One of them is Smiley, because every time you look at her she is always smiling at you.  The other one is window lick-err, because she likes to lick my windows.  If we are outside and she is inside she will start licking the window that she can see us out of.  I have gone though a lot of Windex cleaning up the windows in my house. A funny story about the dogs is right after we got her.  We went by my parents' house, and Jersey and Brooklyn were both tired, so they lay down on top of each other.  It was the cutest thing.  They only knew each other for six days and they already bonded together.  After that I started to notice little things about the two of them.  For example, when I would get ready for bed, Brooklyn would come up and lay on the pillow by me, then Jersey would lay on the bottom of the bed by my feet.  When we would be lying in bed for a few minutes, Brooklyn would get up and lay down by Jersey.  She would kissing him good night.  This goes on almost every night.  After I started to notice that, I stated taking pictures of their little moments.  I could not have asked for two other dogs. I don't know how many times I can say that but these two dogs were meant to be together.

CHARLIE
Hello all of our friends at WAAGR! This is Charlie and you helped me find my forever home in July.  I just wanted to say thank you it was a perfect match!  I have a new Mom that spoils me and a new brother and sister that play with me and give me kisses all day long!  I was really shy at first but, I warmed up to my new family quick and now I even sleep on which ever bed I want at night! 

I have more tennis balls than your average dog and I go to work with my Mom every day.  They take me to the dog park and I get to run and play with other tailwaggers.  I have met all my neighbors and have learned to stay in my yard except for the occasional invading squirrel I need to defend off.  I finally learned how to swim and I love the water!  They love me as much as I love them and we make a great family.  You would be so proud of me and without your help my forever home would not have been possible!  So I am sending you tons of doggy kisses and my family says they are very grateful!  I will be attending your WAAGR events in October to show off and let others know how wonderful all of you are.  Keep up the great work!

COGNAC

Hello WAAGR friends, this is Cognac, aka Big Guy.  I‘m guessing it’s about time that I check in and let everyone know how I’m doing.  Life could not be much better here, everyone here loves me and there is always someone willing to rub my ears, throw a ball, or just snuggle and watch TV.  Life is good.

 

Besides my human sisters, I also have Ava to play and romp with everyday.  She is always willing to run, and wrestle, the two of us are inseparable and now quite a team.  When we are playing “who’s got the ball” Mom and Dad can’t seem to stop laughing at our antics.  Ava is a little quicker than me, but I am a little more clever when it comes to strategy.  Ava is a great sister and no longer fears anything and we are together always; except when we are at the dog park, where not even she can keep up with me.  I’m known around the park as the official greeter and with two gates on opposite ends of 10 acres, it’s a full time job running back and forth.  When not on official greeting duty I can be found chasing everyone else’s tennis balls and making new friends.  Mom calls me the social butterfly, but I can’t help loving every minute at the park.  Last week we were up north to the cabin where Ava and I did tons of swimming and diving for rocks, it was a blast.  We are going again next week and I can’t wait.

 

You guys would also be proud of me as I have learned so many things since being here.  I now know my yard and can play outside without a runner.  I can also tell by all the praising I get from Mom and Dad that I must be listening better.  Actually this stuff was easy, I just didn’t want to let on at first.  Well, I think I better say goodbye for now!  I sure miss seeing you all and I will be sure to tell my friends about WAAGR.  Sincerely, Cognac

 

FINLEY (on right in the photo)
This is Finley (aka Lucy) and I was adopted in February 2009.  I was a bit skeptical of my new home at first, mostly because of Pumpkin, my cat sister.  She was pretty scary at first, but now we love to chase and wrestle.  My mom and dad have been teaching me so much – I know how to sit, stay, lay down, come (for the most part, sometimes I get distracted by the squirrels), and “give five.”  I passed a dog manners class with flying colors and my teacher said I was very smart.  I sure liked him a lot – he gave me a lot of hot dogs!   My dad and I play with the tennis ball in the backyard and it’s so fun!  I love jumping into the air to grab it on one bounce.  I also love playing hide and seek with my mom in the house.  I always find her, even if it takes a couple of wrong turns.  I also get to go on two walks every day, and now my mom has started letting me run with her. I love feeling the wind go through my ears, and usually check up on her to make sure she’s still following me!  My mom and dad are also giving me more freedom because I’ve been such a good dog.  Sometimes I don’t have to be on the leash in the backyard so I get to walk alongside my mom or dad when they take the trash cans down the driveway or get the mail.  I sure love doing that!   I’ve been on plenty of car rides, mostly short trips, but I have gone up north a few times this summer. I tried swimming a bit, but the water is so cold!  I prefer to be up on land with all the other people and dogs.  This last time we went up north there were lots of people to pet me and tell me how cute I am, plus 6 other dogs for me to play with!  I had so much fun running around that I slept for two days after we got home.  I am so grateful to WAAGR and Sharon for taking such good care of me and for helping me find my new home!

KOBY
Hello everyone!  This is Koby and I wanted to give you all an update on what has been happening in my life.  WAAGR helped me find my forever home 5 months ago.  I now live in a house with a nice big backyard to play in!  Mom and Dad think that I have a lot of energy!  OK, so maybe I do like to play a lot, but I am only 2 years old after all!  My favorite activity is to play fetch.  I could do this all day!  I have a new tennis ball stick and both Mom and Dad will take me out everyday to play.  I am told that I am a great retriever:  Go figure!  I also have a lot of other toys that I like to play with.  I love my squeaky toys.  Mom and Dad think I am amusing when I roll onto my back and hold my toys, like I have a pair of hands!  I take a couple of two mile walks a day.  I am told by Mom that I am getting better on the leash, but she says that I still have some work to do.  Also in my spare time I love to watch birds!

 

I have finished my first Basic Manners Class.  I am working very hard on the lessons I was taught.  I am quite good at a few of them already, such as sit, down, shake and leave it.  Mom and Dad also feel that I am listening much better, especially when I am called.

 

This summer I have been busy.  I started to go to doggy daycare, although at first I didn't want to leave my parents' side.  Now I can't get there fast enough!  I go there once a week for four hours for a little socialization.  I play well with the other dogs, and after I am there for a while, I am pretty tired.  Also this summer I have spent a lot of time playing with my four-legged friend who lives next door and is named Teddy.  I love playing with him.  Another four-legged friend I love to play with is my cousin Kahne who is another golden like me.  We love to take a toy and play keep away from each other.  This summer I also went on a boat.  Mom and Grandpa took me fishing.  Not sure if I was a good fisherman, cause every time they casted, I wanted to jump in after the bait!  But hello, I am a retriever!  I did enjoy the boat ride.

 

I wanted to thank WAAGR for helping me find such a great family.  I have a lot of people who love me, and quite frankly, I don't know what they would do without me!  Love, Koby

 

PORTER
From his forever home:  Porter is doing wonderful!  He is definitely a family dog who does well when we are around.  He still thinks he is a lap dog at 80 pounds.  He gets along fine with our Border Collie, Scout, and they play well in the yard together.  Porter's recall is great thanks to his addiction to any type of treat.  He knows where his next meal comes from.  We are now getting back on our daily walk schedule with the warmer weather...It really works wonders for him!  We do, however, have to be diligent about keeping socks out of his reach.  He still manages to find a towel laying around and will carry it in his mouth.  He will come and drop it when instructed, which is a good thing!  As you can see from his picture he blends in well with our golden oak floors.  He's a sweetie.