Friends for Life Animal Rescue Adoption Blog

My Friends For Life crew

2012-01-20T22:38:00.000-08:00

Since April of 2006, I have adopted 8 kitties from Friends For Life……………….all but one – my latest "owner", sweet Missy - being FIV +. I like to think that my crew lives "the good life", in their "forever home". Not wanting them to be relegated to a continual life indoors, in July of 2006 I constructed an outdoor enclosure in my back yard which was supplemented in 2008 with a much larger one. My crew can now enjoy the best of both worlds – indoors and out.

It's a long way across the valley from my house to Friends For Life but I still love to come and volunteer when possible…………….and take some time to visit and schmooze all the kitties in the kitty house who are still waiting for their special person to walk through the door. I would scoop them all up if I could.

Alan Jacobson
Phoenix

toodles day one:)

2012-01-15T20:45:00.000-08:00

So, we just adopted him today. He is a year and a half so I was a little nervous about the transition. All I can say is wow!! So far I have not gone to the fridge or the restroom alone. He is constantly on my lap or my boyfriends. He just makes our life better. The only problem is that he cannot rest because he must follow us whenever we walk around. He is the sweetest cat I have ever met.....so thank you! Here is a picture of my boys taking a cat nap:) They are already in love!

toodles day one:)

2012-01-15T20:44:00.000-08:00

My Precious Magic

2012-01-15T11:17:00.001-08:00

To many, this story may seem as if I am crazy in love with my Magic.
For those of you out there that believes so all I can say is you are absolutely correct!
Some years ago I viewed a picture of Magic then called Madge by the good people at F4L
I contacted F4L to ask if 'Madge' was still available for adoption.
Just from her pic that was online I KNEW she was the one.

Later that same day a super nice womon by the name of Darrien Michael (I believe that was her name) came to my home and brought Madge.
Madge's foster home parent told me the story of how Madge and her litter mates were found dumped in a dumpster to die before being rescued by F4L.

There was, I believe, a picture of the little rescued pups in the back of a station wagon.
They all were so cute and seemed so grateful they were saved by the Angels.
Anyway, I absolutely fell in love with Madge while she was visiting.
My hopes were high that I would have a new member join the family.

Her foster mom, Darrien, said she was going to one more home to meet another individual that wanted to give Madge a loving home.
Darrien told me that after the visit she would make her decision on which home would have a new family member.
Needless to say, in the 2 hours she was off visiting I was an emotional wreck.
I recall I was so nervous I was driving Renee, my partner crazy! lol
Although I wanted Madge as a part of the family I did, even at the time, wanted her to be placed in the best home.
I honestly believe that the other home would have been one to love Madge also.

Looking back, the reason other than the fact that Madge would be loved in either home it just so happened that Renee and I had a cement footer under the back yard gate to prevent any escape.
When Darrien contacted us about Madge's decision of living with us I was so happy I just cried with happiness.
(BTW, I was impressed by the fact that Darrien actually took everything into account for the protection and happiness of any doggie. The footer beneath the gate was, I believe one of the reasons we adopted Madge).

As we were signing the papers I recall Darrien saying she hated the name Madge!
(I hope I don't get you in trouble with the individual that named her)
From that point on we changed Madge to Magic...

Magic was born about 02-15-99 but we celebrate her birthday on Valentines day each year.
She is the LOVE of my life and I just adore her!

I do wish to meet others that may have any sisters or brothers to Magic.
Wouldn't it really be great if we could get together and throw a birthday party for em ?

To all those very special and unselfish volunteers at F4L I thank you for giving me so much in the way of love!
Many heartfelt thanks also to all of those that decided to give love,open their home and hearts to all the loving 4 leggers.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story regarding Magic.

Stay tuned for another story about PeggySue, another F4L adoption next week!

U-Turn...Still U-Turn :)

2012-01-12T22:39:00.000-08:00

I adopted U-Turn at the beginning of 2011 and I can truly say he was the best gift that I have ever gotten..even from myself.

U-Turn now spends his time as an international dog in British Columbia, Canada. He doesn't really appreciate the rain or snow, but he has an awesome number of jackets to keep him warm. He loves his bed aka the couch, and he has taken over two full blankets for himself. He still has tons of attitude, but he can do a few tricks now and doesn't shy away when someone wants to pet him. He LOVES the dog park. He has also formed a very strong bond to my boyfriend, Chris. He doesn't even attempt to growl at men now...well actually it is just Chris he likes. :)

I can't say enough good things about Friends for Life from a volunteer's perspective or from an adoptive parent, but I can say that I wouldn't have found U-Turn without it, and I will always be thankful for the people there.

I love U-Turn so much and I know he loves me. He protects me and kisses me when I am sad. He always wants to cuddle and he tries to be the center of my attention constantly. He looks at me with those big eyes with so much love that I can't help but feel special. I can't say enough good things about him and how he has changed my life forever. I feel as if he adopted me, not the other way around.

Oh! I kept his name because it suits him so well and it always brings up a funny conversation. :)

Woogy

2012-01-12T13:58:00.000-08:00

Right around Halloween of 2011, I went out thinking we'd find a tough-looking, no-nonsense type of dog -- one suited to running with a gruff personality to keep scary people away. I didn't think I needed a sweet, cuddly type dog.

Thus we were excited when Woogy initially greeted with his ferocious bark. It was like he knew we were looking for a fierce dog to keep me safe. As some sort of rottweiler-doberman-pit bull mix, you'd think he was the poster child for dogs that could chew your arm off. Perfect!

Turns out, this fierce looking dog is really like one of those giant scary bikers with a big fuzzy heart that really wouldn't hurt a fly.

Woogy (also known as Woogy Chainsaw Rampage, Woog Master Flex, or simply Woogs :p ) is definitely a protector -- he has a ferocious bark when anyone comes to our front door and his tough look keeps people a safe distance away while we are running. But most of the time, he is a lover and a cuddling maniac. Be it his bed, our bed, blankets, plush toys, my fuzzy socks or your lap -- if it is soft or fluffy, he wants it. His bed is his security blanket/teddy bear. He drags it all around the condo with him and even brings it to us like a gift when we get home. For example, as soon as he hears the garage door closing when Tom comes home, he is on alert waiting at the door, jumping around when Tom gets inside, wagging his tails like crazy, and then he runs to bring his bed to Tom, prancing and jumping about like a kangaroo. It is quite an event; one that I look forward to each day. :)

It has been so amazing to watch Woogs come out of his shy, timid shell as he gets more comfortable and lets his loving, goofball personality shine. He is extremely smart, loves to sleep in, and gets so excited when you mention "park" that he will practically drag you to the car. He fits in perfectly as part of our family and has forever claimed a spot in our home and hearts.

Thank you F4L for introducing us to Woggy!
Kristen and Tom

Pilgrim (now Pono)

2012-01-11T21:05:00.001-08:00

Pilgrim (Pono) is adapting very rapidly to his forever home. He is so very willing to learn. And, he really already knows a lot about how to be a wonderful inside/house dog. We can leave him for short periods and he behaves perfectly (no barking, no destruction, no chewing, etc.). He sleeps in his open door kennel/bed at night and lets us know when he needs to go outside.

He's no longer showing food or toy aggression and for the most part has stopped jumping on people. He is improving with each walk and meeting with other dogs with less and less aggression. Pretty amazing results for such a short time. We let him know what is not acceptable and it's like he says "okay, thanks for telling me" and complies.

He's a wonderful spirit. We are so very delighted he has joined our family.

We thought you would enjoy this picture. He's a pretty relaxed guy.

Pilgrim (now Pono)

2012-01-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

He's a wonderful spirit. We are so very delighted he has joined our family.

We thought you would enjoy this picture. He's a pretty relaxed guy.

finley

2012-01-06T21:49:00.001-08:00

I was just chided by my husband for not including a photo of myself, haha!

Finley

2012-01-06T19:29:00.001-08:00

We adopted Finley from you in 2005. The second I saw him on petfinder.com I knew he was meant to be part of our family; no matter that we were in California at the time and would be moving back to the Pacific Northwest in a few months time. We flew to Phoenix and then drove back to CA and a month later relocated further up the West Coast. Our crazy Rhodesian Ridgeback has been such a blessing! He's very loyal to his "pack" and is a valued and indispensable member of our family. Finley and our son bonded almost from the moment we brought him home and the joke within our extended family is that we never have to worry about kidnapping with Finley around. He's lived by the sea, in the mountains, the desert and lush valleys with us. He's climbed mountains, hiked through wetlands, skjored through snow and ice, and traversed miles of wilderness, guarding, guiding, even carrying his own gear.
Thanks, Friends for Life!

Cookie

2012-01-06T12:35:00.001-08:00

Thank you so much for all you do!! We adopted Cookie on December 2nd. She is such a joy to our family. My granddaughter, 5, who is a special needs child has become so attached to Cookie. She came with me when I adopted this precious kitty. Cookie has made peace with her partner in crime, Cleo. I actually woke up one morning to Cookie cleaning Cleo on the bed next to me. Cleo was also a rescue about 3 years ago. My girls are so special! Here are a couple of pictures for you.

Gator

2012-01-04T20:31:00.001-08:00

I adopted Gator at Barktoberfest in 2011. He was the first adoption of the day. This cutie gets along fantastically with his senior dog brother, Bucky. Amazingly, he gets along with my three cats - two out of the three sleep next to him. He's happy and spoiled in his forever home. Thank you for the work that you do.

Ely

2011-12-29T20:26:00.001-08:00

It has been almost a month since we brought Ely home. He has been such a joy and wonderful addition to our family! He is so playful, smart, and loving.

We are blessed that we chose "Friends for Life Animal Rescue" because we found our Ely! Thank you to everyone there, and we know Ely is thankful as well.

Jamie is Home for Good

2011-12-23T16:18:00.000-08:00

Jamie has been with us for 3 weeks, today. Less than 1 week of foster care, we fell in love with Jamie and just had to adopt her. She is adored by everyone that meets her. She loves her daily walks (and treats too). We found a small park that she loves to sit and smell the air, watch the kids play basketball and ponder on how good her life is. From the pictures, I think you can agree. She is very special to us and love her so much. She has brought a lot of cheer into our lives and warmth into our home.

Jamie wishes Ricki, her 4FL buddies and helpers a Happy Holiday!

P.S. I believe all adopted pets are angels that find their way into homes. We now have two.
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Jersey - The Foster That Never Left!

2011-12-12T16:30:00.001-08:00

Jersey, Jersey, Jersey. This little guy was a foster that, after a few weeks of going to the shelter for adoption day, made himself fit in more at my home than at the shelter waiting to be adopted. He came to the shelter with another little dog we named Frisco. Once Frisco was adopted I didn't like the thought of Jersey at the shelter without his "travelling buddy" so I took him to foster. Jersey knew he was staying long before I did, I have a feeling.

I kept his name because I had been calling him that for several weeks before I decided to adopt him, and a good friend said "Jersey implies swagger and attitude" and that describes this little guy perfectly.

Jersey's best friend is my other Friends for Life dog, Rocket. He loves to sleep with him and is always by his side. Jersey likes Molly too but Rocket is his buddy. Molly and Rocket (Friends for Life 2012 calendar cover models!) have learned that dogs come and go as we foster. Now Jersey is learning that as he has seen several come and go since he got here.

I knew I wanted to get a third dog in the next year or two, but wasn't planning on it this soon. Jersey really didn't care about that, though. He has so many cute "you know you love me" poses that I just couldn't resist. My camera card filled up within a week of him being here - in hindsight I should have known it was inevitable.

There are now three happy rescued dogs in my home. And occasionally a fourth who is a guest until someone adopts them. I wouldn't have it any other way - Jersey is the perfect little addition to this family.

A Tribute to Missy aka Licorice

2011-12-09T19:02:00.001-08:00

This is the story of Missy aka Licorice. I was lucky enough to find her at Friends for Life and adopted her in March 2005. Missy was almost 3 yrs. old at that time and she was my faithful, loving friend for the next 6 yrs. 7 months.

She was a lab mix with a tiny bit of Doberman (so I was told) and a lot of angel mixed in.
I think she must have been an outside dog at her first home, so it took a bit of adjustment for her to live inside. She always preferred to be outside, but would humor me and spend time with me in the house. Definitely liked my bed at night though.
Missy was never much interested in playing with toys or playing fetch, but mention going for a walk and she was always ready.

She was a opportunistic food thief so I quickly learned to be vigilant and put food out of her reach. She got a nice little tenderloin steak off the counter shortly after I adopted her. Never made that mistake again, at least not often.

As she got older, about the last 2 years, she developed skin allergies that were treated with allergy shots and special baths. Then it was found she had thyroid disease, which was well controlled with medication. What finally caused her to falter was finding out she also had Cushings disease. Missy had to take medication for that also and have blood tests every 3 months to make sure it wasn't affecting her kidneys or liver.
It was so sad to see her going down hill, especially in the last six months. At the end she stopped eating, could hardly get up and would just look at me with her sad, beautiful eyes like she was begging me to take away the pain.

On November 12, 2011 I let her go, hopefully to the Rainbow Bridge to meet up with Babe, another lab mix I had for 13 years. I think they would be good pals.

It's so hard to write this because I loved her so much and will miss my wonderful Missy girl forever.

With tears in my eyes and love for my girl,
Sue Grosse

Cali (aka Maui)

2011-11-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

First off, I do not believe I rescued Cali (aka Maui). She definitely would not be at the shelter long. If anything, I feel I stole her from her foster family.
Cali is a beautiful 7 month old Catahoula. I think that's Cajun for ball on energy. Actually Catahoulas are herding/hunting dogs with there breeding roots based in Louisiana.
Most mornings we start out with a 3 mile walk. She will wait by my bed watching quietly until my eyes open. When they do open its over. There is no snooze button with her. Her tail wags a mile a minute and she starts batting me with her front paws. Did I mention Catahoulas are herding dogs? Once up she herds me to the bathroom and then to the closet making sure I get the right shoes for walking.
When we go to the dog park she will take off, meeting dogs or people with no hesitation wanting to play. If anyone is running she is definitely headed that way. When one dog stops she looks for another to run with. I have seen her run full out for an hour and a half without a break. When we get home she will look at me as if to say what's next.
One benefit I wanted was to get a little exercise. I was getting pretty sedentary and wanted a way to force myself to exercise some. All I can say is be careful what you wish for. I have lost 9 lb in 2 months and have not changed anything else.
When home she will herd her toys to wherever I am. She is a very smart dog and I swear she knows when I laugh at her. If I laugh at the TV, I get no response but if she does something funny like let her toy hit her instead of catch it and I laugh, I get a stare. If I continue laughing she will walk over and butt me in the face with her nose as if to say quit laughing.
I am very lucky to have found Friends for Life and thank everyone, especially Jackie for helping me find Cali. Please know I am working hard to give her as much love and happiness as she is giving me.

Thanks
Michael Stephenson

The Shelby's

2011-11-03T21:20:00.001-07:00

Just to let you know that Saffy (aka ) Cleo that we adopted in July 2011, is growing & one happy cat. She loves napping in the window or my computer keyboard.when I'm working at the computer. She rules the house and is best friends with Baby the orange tabby, who we also adopted from a shelter. Thank you for letting us adopted her.

New member of our family

2011-11-03T12:42:00.001-07:00

We adopted Jambo AKA Rambler in early October. My kids were so excited it surprised my husband and I. He's just fit right into our family and we love him. It's also teaching my kids responibility and that's important. Jackie was our adoption consultant and she was very patient with our many questions. The big decision everynight is who is going to sleep with Jambo. :) I'm so thankful we went the adoption route.
The Roberts Family

Dusty (formerly Colby) is AWESOME!!

2011-11-02T20:09:00.001-07:00

I want to thank you for the wonderful cat we adopted from Friends for Life. He has the best personality. He gets along with our mini doxie and 2 other cats so well.

He is laid back and super cuddly. He is a true lap cat. He is a real talker and loves to play with his toys.

When I saw him at PetSmart, I knew he would be a great cat for us, but I didn't imagine him being as loving and sweet as he has turned out.

Thank you and may God bless you for all the good work you do for his creatures.
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Hattie (aka Harmony)

2011-10-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

My wife and I were lucky enough to adopt Hattie (aka Harmony). She was.shy and a little timid, and can still be, but she is making our house a home again. She is such a great girl and was using the doggy door right from day one. She is such a lover and is always ready to cuddle... She has a little bit of each of our previous dogs character inside her. She loves going for walks and loves chasing her chew toys. We can't thank Friends 4 Life enough for giving us the opportunity to meet and adopt her.

Lesli & Chuck Stabenow

Hattie (aka Harmony)

2011-10-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

Lesli & Chuck Stabenow

Hattie (aka Harmony)

2011-10-23T19:11:00.001-07:00

Lesli & Chuck Stabenow

Miko!

2011-10-22T21:20:00.001-07:00

My mother and I recently adopted a white pomeranian (Miko) from the shelter and we wanted to give you guys an update. He has been adjusting really well to his new furever home and is getting along great with our other adopted pomeranian (Red, name after his "red" fur). He was quite shy when I first saw him in his kennel but now he is very outgoing and loud. Miko is always up for a game of tug-o-war. Occasionally, both of them play by trying to wrestle the other to the ground. Miko tries to emulate Red and follows him around wherever he goes. Also, both Miko and Red love to bark at the dog next door whenever they can. :)

My mother feeds the dogs quite well. One of the photos I have attached shows Miko and Red sitting in front of my mom for their dinner, which consisted of grilled steak...fed by hand too which is typically how they are fed everyday for dinner! Other than that, Miko seems to enjoy his new home quite well and we are so glad to have had the chance to adopt him.

Thanks F4L and we appreciate everything that you have done for us!

My Sweet Edie!

2011-10-20T16:59:00.003-07:00

I wanted a second dog (one I would feel safe with). Before I met Edie, I already owned a silky terrier/maltise mix. He runs the roost (or thinks he does). But he is just not ferocious enough to scare people off. I had a scare several months back while walking my terrier mix and then I stopped walking. I felt like a prisoner in this beautiful neighborhood. Now that I have Edie, we walk all the time (both dogs!) What I love about Edie is that she has the appearance and the bark of a big dog that says "keep your distance". But our secret is... if you came closer, she would probably lick you to death! She is such a sweeite and very patient with the little dog who thinks he rules.

I love the way she has to take her "baby" (any stuffed squeeky toy) with her everywhere she goes. You can see one of her babies on the bed next to her on the first picture. She also loves being in the great outdoors where she can run free! The second picture is up in Flagstaff... what a beautiful day! The third picture is Edie and my terrier mix (Reggie). They are patiently waiting for me to return home.

Edie has brought such joy to our lives since we brought her home in June 2011. We continue to discover all the tricks she knows (like catching popcorn in the air... Reggie lets it hit him in the face!) Now we are teaching her to leave a treat on her nose then telling her to get it. She's just about there!

Thank you F4L for saving Edie and introducing her to me. It was love at first sight!
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My Sweet Edie!

2011-10-20T16:59:00.001-07:00

Thank you F4L for saving Edie and introducing her to me. It was love at first sight!
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RAQUEL

2011-10-14T09:25:00.001-07:00

March of 2010 we adopted Giuseppe (formally known as Rocket), the following January we saw Raquel on the Friends for Life adoption page. We thought she was a beauty and wanted to see her. After meeting her and bring Giuseppe by to meet her we decided to foster her for a week just to see how it would go having her home with us.
That whole week we kept going back and forth on whether to keep her or not, but in our hearts we knew she was a perfect fit. Her adoption was final January 25th and we couldn't be happier!
She is THE SWEETEST, MOST ENERGETIC DOG! She's crazy, could run for hours and she loves everyone she meets, human and dogs alike. She's a good influence on Giuseppe, she even taught him to catch the treat when it's thrown to you, not just let it hit you in the face! We just love our dogs, thank you Friends For Life!

Sharing the Dream

2011-09-29T14:08:00.001-07:00

We recently relocated here from the northeast. Moving here has been a dream for us, and once we had found a house and moved in, it was time to fulfill another dream for our daughter...the dream of owning a dog. We had to put off getting a dog right away because of our move. So, getting this dog has been a long time coming!

We knew that there were many pets in shelters that needed homes, so we decided to adopt. My husband found Friends for Life online, and when we were ready, we went there to meet some of the animals.

It was a tough decision...all of the dogs were eager to go home with families, but we could only choose one, and we chose Otto.

Otto is a great dog, and we all love him. He fits in great with our family and brightens up our lives. He enjoys being outdoors, going for walks, and even swimming, but also likes just hanging out at home with us. His favorite time is meal time. He sure does love his food!

We are so grateful that we brought Otto home. Now we have the best dog in the world, and he has a family that loves him...we are sharing the dream. Thank you Friends for Life, for rescuing our "gentle giant" of a guy, and bringing us together.

Dakota - AKC CGC

2011-09-18T20:28:00.001-07:00

Dear F4L,

We wanted to let you know that we have been training Dakota since April, and today she passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. We are so happy to have Dakota in our home, and so grateful for all of the work, time and patience F4L dedicated to this special dog. We don't know what is next for this crazy girl, but we know the foundation provided by the amazing F4L volunteers like Kristina and Cyndy, not to mention a pretty awesome trainer, will help us go far. Dakota is certainly a welcome addition to our home and the smiles and laughter she provides for us are neverending.

Thank you!
Shannon Riggs & Michael Riggs
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Suzie Q

2011-09-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

Not all things work out just as you plan them! We had a very firm view of what we thought would fit with our family, a solid list so to speak. With list in hand, we went to petfinders website over several months in search of a cat that met our criteria. Everytime we thought we'd found one, we were turned down by the shelter, either because we had a dog door, or because we had four dogs. One Saturday my daughter and I thought we'd visit 'Friends for Life" in Petsmart (last ditched attempt), to visit 'the cat' that again fit our criteria (declawed, senior, female, lapcat, quiet).

Never say Never is all I can say! My daughter spotted "Imp" as she was called then, but I resisted. Imp was a slim kitten who slept the entire time in the back of her cage, but very soft. She did not meet the criteria, so we went to lunch and 'discussed'.

We returned to Petsmart one more time, and Imp purred as we held her. Worth the risk, we thought. Oh my, has this been the greatest experience EVER! Ok, so Imp, now named SuzieQ (after the senior cat we did not adopt) is gentle yet playful and just one of the 'dogs'. She had her first bath the day we got her home, with no complaints :) Suzie never complains when I clean her ears or her eyes, never bites or scratches and plays with her new doggie mom (my older female border collie). She never jumps on the counters (she has a big scratch post all of her own), and sleeps on my pillow every night. We're in love. Thank you Erika for recommending her to us.

Puppy Bliss

2011-08-20T23:13:00.001-07:00

We adopted "Nick" on July 7, 2011 and he is a perfect fit for us. We have renamed him Doc and we love him like crazy! He is fully house trained, kennel trained, and has learned commands such as sit and stay. He has officially lost all of his puppy teeth and is growing like a weed. He is pretty sure the couch was made just for him along with every toy in our house, whether it's his or not. He loves playing with our girls, our chihuahuas, and anyone else who comes into our house. He wants to play with the kitties but has learned to keep his distance! He loves walks, going to the park and playing fetch. Doc is a great dog and companion. My girls have to say goodbye to him every morning before we leave and give him hugs and kisses or they will cry. He loves when I hold his head in my hands and kiss him all over his face. He closes his eyes and smiles. It's so cute! Doc also chases his tail and gets so dizzy he almost falls over. We laugh at him every time! He is definitely a wonderful
addition to our family and we are so happy he has joined us! We look forward to the years ahead of us with Doc in our lives!!!

My Happy Life

2011-08-10T19:04:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends for Life,

My name is Rita Roo Bonita Cleopatra, but you can call me Rita. I lived at Friends for Life until my new mommy and daddy adopted me back in January of 2011. I came to my new home and found I had a new brother kitty, too! He was very tolerant and patient with me while I adjusted to my new home. I did not like being handled at all, so I just stayed in my own room for a few weeks while I adjusted to my new house. My mommy and daddy were very patient with me while they figured out that I prefer an open litter box and no scented litter. Pretty soon, I was walking around the house like I owned the place!

I've been at my new home for 7 months now and I couldn't be happier. My brother and I get along great, and we love giving each other baths. Sometime I tease him and chase him around the house, but it's all in good fun. My favorite activities include playing with my mommy's hair ties, dragging my glow-worm toy around the house, chasing my light ball, looking out the window at birds, and lounging in my cardboard box.

Life is good.

Thanks, Friends for Life, for helping me find such a great home.

Best,

Rita Roo Bonita Cleopatra

A Tribute to Noah

2011-06-01T05:32:00.001-07:00

Our Noah crossed the rainbow bridge on Tuesday, May 31, 2011. Noah first came to us from Friends for Life as a foster in the fall of 2008. In a short time we knew he was part of our family and we adopted him in February of 2009. He had medical issues with his teeth and digestion that were overcome working with Dr. Sam and the dental specialist over several months.

Noah was not a dog of tricks and chasing after balls or chewing on toys. Noah loved people. He made instant friends with everyone he met. During our daily walks, he knew and greeted many people in the neighborhood. He would also greet their 4 legged companions but he was mainly interested in the 2 legged companions. He love to be petted and you never know – there may be a treat.

Here is a tribute to Noah written by my husband.

Saying Goodbye to Noah
By James Clancy

Once again, I am faced with the pain of parting with a loved one, which seems to equal my suffering experienced when I lost my Father and Mother. This time it is our doggie Noah, who has been our companion of two wonderful years. It seems unlikely to compare the pain of loss of parents with the loss of a pet but the pain I experience seems as authentic and deep as any previously experienced.

Often times we say that we will not accept the attachment for our doggies and the eventual pain of loss associated with them. We know that however youthful and alive they are as youngsters, that will pass and we will eventually be faced with their irrevocable loss. Perhaps by choosing doggies as companions we implicitly accept the pain we will experience at the end of the relationship.

Perhaps we need to look at our relationships with our doggies in a different way. Let me suggest that we think of them as beloved guests in our lives.

A guest, especially a house guest, whether friend or relative comes and we have the understanding that someday they will leave. When any guest arrives, we experience the excitement and newness of a developing relationship. Every house guest and every relationship has its ups and downs and our time with our doggies is no exception. We ascribe to our doggies a personality with quirks and traits, both good and bad. We come to understand their needs and pleasures and will cater to those needs in much the same way we entertain a houseguest. However much we enjoy the guest, we know that the visit will not last forever and must end. We accept this as a natural course of events. (Some who host their in-laws and relatives may suggest that the end is a welcome relief and a thankful return to a more normal life). We know that no matter how fun, enjoyable, pleasing, exciting the visit is, the guest must move on. This is much the same with our doggies. They are but visitors in o
ur lives and how much we may refuse to accept their passing, they will pass. The visit will come to an end.

We must hold in our hearts the memory of that visit. We must remember that our doggies remain alive in our minds and hearts even after their passing. We will always have the fun and pleasure of their visit. But remember also, that the next visitor into our lives is but a moment away or perhaps a just a short visit to a nearby animal shelter. If we expect this next visitor to be the same as our lost pet, remember even the visit of close relatives is always different. They as we all do, change with each passing moment, each new adventure in their lives. When the beloved human guest returns, they will be a different person and, try as we might, they will never match the memories we have of the previous visit. I believe that in much the same way, our next visitor will never match our old memories and they should not. As much as I would wish the return of my lost doggie, my last visitor, he would not be the same! He would be a new visitor, eager to share my life and the a
dventures that we would cook up, the times we would spend together.

I will try not to mourn, greatly, the loss of my doggies. Rather I will look for the next visitor knowing that our times and his personality will be different. We can't hold onto those things we love in our lives for but brief passing moments. I know that my time with Noah was all I could make of it. I don't know if it will help me to think of him as just a visitor however true that may be. But I will miss him and perhaps the pain of that loss will be more bearable when I think of the good times we will have on his next visit.

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Joe-Z

2011-05-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

I am a snowbird from Canada and have been involved with Friends for Life for the last 3 years. I have taken care of kitties that needed some extra TLC or some time away from the shelter. When I came back after Christmas, I was offered a cat to foster. He was very emaciated, and rescued in a Target parking lot by one of our concerned and compassionate volunteers. A quick exam at the shelter revealed that he was an older cat (12+ years) with very seriously infected, abscessed, and broken teeth. I picked him up at Dr. Sam's after his dental surgery, and the love affair between us began immediately. It was a pleasure to see him getting healthier and feeling better every day.

When it was time to return to Canada, I just could not leave him behind, so decided to formally adopt him. We had a couple of test runs in my van before we left Mesa. He preferred to sit on top of all my stuff, so I put his cat bed there. While we were traveling, he was very contented, snoozing along the way, and made himself at home in all the hotel rooms. He was the incredibly perfect traveler…as if he had been doing this all his life.

Once we got home, he was a very bad boy. He did not want to share me with my other cat, Holly and was very hostile towards her. So, he got closely supervised visits, lots of one-on-one TLC, and lots of time in solitary confinement. But, after 3 weeks, he decided that he would let Holly live in his kingdom without attacking her. Since then, they have lived happily ever after, just going about their business without paying attention to one another.

Joe-Z's favorite pastimes are sleeping, eating, sitting on my lap, and watching the birds and people outside my front window. He is a very happy, (now) healthy, mellow cat and an ambassador for demonstrating the joys of adopting a "senior" kitty. I am "happy, happy, happy" to have him living with us and bringing so much joy to our lives.

Daina

Gidget

2011-05-02T15:13:00.001-07:00

I adopted Gidget - formerly known as Lollipop - last August. She adopted Annie - her Lab/Border Collie sister right away and decided I was pretty okay too after a couple of hours. I wanted to send an updated picture and report that this little girl is smart, smart, smart! I've lived with heelers previously, and they have all been pretty sharp, but she surpasses them all.

The picture was taken at a Humane Society of Southern Arizona fund raiser and is a "mock" magazine cover. I took her to this event to help in her socialization with people since there would also be plenty of dogs around. She did great!

Rocket and Molly

2011-03-15T08:34:00.001-07:00

Rocket (left) was adopted from Friends for Life in April 2008. Molly (right) is a Fort Lauderdale babe, adopted from the Humane Society. Both have become best friends. Here they are holding hands (or so I choose to believe!) during a break from doggie daycare. I could not have found a more perfect pair of dogs!

George and Josie

2011-03-03T11:03:00.001-08:00

I had adopted George and Josie (kept their names) from Friends For Life in June of 2006 after I was first introduced to having cats as pets in 2004. They are both from the same litter and after seeing them for the first time, I knew I had to adopt both of them together since they've been with one another for all of their lives.

I'm glad this blog has been created because I've been meaning to let Friends For Life know that they have been well taken care of and are very happy in their new home. I understand that they were initially adopted as kittens through Friends For Life but later returned after their first family had a baby. They pretty much rule the house and spend their days lounging by the sun light against the sliding glass door and napping the days away on the couch or bed.

I can't imagine what life would be like without these guys. They're a great source of entertainment and make great companions and I'm glad I was able to give them a chance to live a spoiled life.

Thank you, Friends For Life. Keep up the amazing work you do!

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Tonto wil be missed

2011-02-10T10:59:00.001-08:00

Tonto's story is all to common - an owner moves and doesn't take the dog. But he didn't let this get him down. If you gave him a walk or a cuddle he made you a friend. He didn't realize he had no home or that he was abandoned. He was a lover boy and had a lot of character and spunk for his age. I was happy we made his last year the best for him. We were lucky to have for this time. Our office mascott will be missed.

Arrow finds her family!

2011-02-03T20:29:00.001-08:00

My boyfriend and I just bought a house in August last year, just me, him, and my 8 year old Rottie/Rhodisian Ridgeback mix, Zeus. We had been contemplating getting Zeus a little brother ever since we decided to move in together. We showed up just to meet the dogs at Friends for life on January 16th. We met all the dogs and could not get Arrow out of our heads. Kathy, one of the volunteers was nice enough to come in on their day off, Sunday the 16th, to let us foster to adopt Arrow. We were back on Tuesday to formally adopt her. Since then it feels like she's been with our family forever. She's started playing with all of Zeus' toys (she loves anything that squeeks and rawhide). She was very reserved when she first joined our family but now she loves to say hi to everyone that walks within fifty feet of her. She is a protector of the house just like her big brother, and has quite a scary bark for such a sweet little girl. Arrow did not like her crate when she first c
ame to us, but now she's realized that we will come home for her every day. She has mastered sit and up, and we are working on stay and lay down. She is very willing to learn as long as she gets snacks when she is a good girl. Arrow's very favorite thing to be loved. She is 54 pounds of pit bull and she will climb right up on my lap and fall asleep, she gives morning kisses and loves belly rubs. Arrow and Zeus have started playing together and it's so sweet how gentle Zeus is with her, considering he is 110 pounds. Although, sometimes she does get on his nerves like a typical little sister. I can't imagine our lives without her and I can't wait to wake up every morning to the three loves of my life!!!

Roxy Livingston

2011-02-02T20:26:00.001-08:00

Well our family adopted Roxy (Sheba) on December 28, 2010. She has been a great addition to our family. At first she was quiet and just trying to get used to our house. She learned the doggy door in one day, she has not had any accidents in the house, and she has been perfect in our eyes. She is so good to the kids, plays with them and sleeps with them all the time. We laugh because she is so food motivated it amazes us. We enjoy every minute with her and she loves us very much.
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And BINGO was his name O!

2011-02-02T15:31:00.001-08:00

HI Everybody, it's me Bingo and do I have a story to tell!!

Let me see first of all I have moved to Moab Utah where you would not believe all the hiking trails, big rocks to climb and streams with chunks of ice (which I love to eat) while I romp up and down the river.
Sue my human friend has found how mannerly I am! Nope I don't jump on furnature, I only like to chew on my own toys and sleep contently in a big room where I keep my mauled up blanket nearby.

Yesterday while out roaming the frisbee golf course I met the coolest black lab and we ran up and down the sandy hills until I was so tuckered out, yeah hard to believe I can get tuckered out!

Right now I am laying very nicely while I am relaying my story which is being written for you so you all know just how great I am. You would not believe that I only bark occasionally and never at other dogs. Oh I came fully potty trained, Sue says I do better than her grandkids with that.
I know how to sit and stay, shake hands and lick your face after a drink from the toilet bowl.

Last of all, did you guys know kids are aliens, I am sure of it , so in the mean time I am working on meeting them with supervision, not because I am scared of them I just don't want them to abduct me!

WOOOF to all my buddies at F4L...............love ya BingO!

A Life Remembered

2011-01-21T01:27:00.001-08:00

August 1997 we adopted an adult tortoiseshell cat from Friends for Life. She was the second one we had adopted from you all. Amber became a part of our family. She loved to play with our chihuahua. She was set in her ways, with an established routine. She loved to sit on my husband's lap at night while he watched tv, and lay next to me purring at night. Sadly we had to put her down yesterday. She lost her battle with cancer. Thank you for giving us Amber, and for the many years of joy she gave us.

Perfect Match

2011-01-15T20:44:00.001-08:00

We adopted Rodney (now called Coda) in December. Coda was 9 months old and had only been at the shelter one day when we came to meet him. Coda was introduced to our 5 year old dog the same day and we could tell it was a perfect match. Coda has made our small family complete. My boyfriend and I fell head over heels the minute we took him home. Coda now loves the dog park, hiking, and snuggling in our bed. Coda is extremely well behaved and is very smart. We are so happy we visited Friends for Life on the day he was there. We could not ask for a better dog. Thanks Friends for Life!

Bentley Disney

2010-12-27T18:51:00.001-08:00

I adopted Bentley on December 8th. He has settled into our home and family perfectly! You'd think he's always been a part of the family! His demeanor is one of the most pleasant I've ever seen in a furbaby - very obedient, well mannered, docile.... We take him for a walk every evening and he walks right along with us and when people and other pets walk by us - he doesn't bark at them or go crazy, he just walks right on by! He rides so nice in the car - just sits on the back seat and looks out the window. I take him out with me to places sometimes and he is just so well behaved! And - he is a huge snuggler!! So loving! He is great with my cat, Sassy, who is 14 years old. And - is he the photogenic doggie! When I get the camera out, he comes running over to me and won't leave me alone - he loves to have his picture taken! LOL

This was his first Christmas with us and Santa Paws was very good to him! Bentley LOVES all of his new toys and treats!! He loves playing fetch and walking around with a toy in his mouth. So, he was very happy on Christmas day!

We are very happy to have Bentley as a part of our family and I am very thankful to the rescue for working with me to find the perfect fit for our home!

Lex

2010-12-16T14:49:00.001-08:00

When my yourngest son was going away to college we decided he needed company, someone to be there for him when he came home, some one to keep him company.
We never had a cat before, we thought we were "dog" people! Well, our hearts changed so fast when we took in a stray kitty "Jake" during the summer or 2010. We didn't end up keeping him because we were getting ready for a move and it was so stressful to pack and get things ready with a kitten to be responsible for. So we adopted him to a friend. From the hour we gave him away our hearts ached! We missed Jake so much! Right then we decided after we moved and got settled into our new home we would adopt a kitten. Thru prayer and a very special volunteer "Andrea" keeping hers eyes peeled for us we found "Lex"! Formerly know as Lilly.
We love, love , love, her soooo much.
I can't believe that I am a cat lover now. She is all I talk about. One of my sons tells me that she is the little girl I always wanted and couldn't have. Boy thats the truth.
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Turtle (Sissy) and Spacek

2010-12-13T14:35:00.001-08:00

We adopted Turtle (previously Sissy) and Spacek in 2001. They were sisters that came in together from a home that had several other cats and dogs. We first adopted Turtle, and then not long after, came back for Spacek. They explored their new home in the company of each other's presence and security. They loved us and even our dog, hanging out with us every day and following us around.

Turtle passed away a couple months ago after a long battle with hepatic lipidosis. Being a very smart cat, she knew it was coming and spent every day thanking us for giving her a second chance and taking her in. She always knew things... like when I was going to leave to go back up to college, when we were going on vacation, etc.

Spacek is doing well with the empty house and doesn't mind being the only (spoiled) child. When we first brought her home, she was very scared and shy of everything. That quickly changed and she blossomed once she settled in. Now she is a loving, obnoxiously vocal kitty that follows you around and will do anything for your attention. After 10 years she actually likes to be picked up and held because she realizes that's the best way to get this attention haha.

Thank you Friends for Life for rescuing these cats and making them wonderful parts of my life :)

Dexter and Elway (Ditch)

2010-12-12T18:36:00.001-08:00

My husband and I had just bought our first house a few months before we decided to adopt a dog. We went to the shelter to look and with the help of all the volunteers we found Dexter. The first few nights he was ok but you could tell he was still unsure of us. With the help of his foster mom Mindy he came out of his shell and we couldn't love him more. He is spoiled rotten!

A few months after we adopted Dexter we decided he just had to have a friend! We walked back into F4L and Kathy just knew Elway was our dog! He is such a cuddlier! Dexter and him bonded so quickly and now they are inseparable!

With the two of them our family is now complete! I can't thank you all enough from the foster parents who helped us through the rough patches to the volunteers who helped us find the two most perfect dogs!

P.S
Did I mention that you can also catch them hanging out at Gilbert Dogs!

Winston: Adopted In 2004

2010-12-10T16:07:00.001-08:00

HI my name is Taylor Dawson. I adopted a cat from friends for life in the year of 2004. That was the start of a friendship, and a life long bond. It was also the best decision I have ever made.
Winston is a long gray haired cat that actually picked our family. We walked into our local Petsmart to adopt a cat. There were so many to chose from. We were actually looking at the cat above Winston, which had already been claimed by an old lady. All of a sudden I felt something clawing at my pants and I looked down and there was a cute little cat paw stuck to my jeans! We pet him and he crawled into my lap. That's when we decided he was ours.
Winston was forgotten about and was under weight and hurt by children. Petsmart said we shouldn't take him, but we had to!!! It took him a while to get used to us, and I couldn't get his name right! That night I stayed up all night petting him and talking to him. I was the only one he'd really come near, and of course my mom. Soon we became best friends. He talks to us. He meows hello, out, and even no! It's very funny. Every night he sleeps with me under my blankets and waits by the door for me when I get home from school. We snuggle, which is rare because he is afraid to be held, and I carry him and call him my baby. He means the world to me and I love him beyond comprehension. My face lights up when I see him. Every time i spend the night at a friends house or I'm not home for a while he follows me everywhere meowing and letting me hold him and kiss him. As a matter of fact he is sitting in my lap right now as I type :) I love Winston. Even though he coughs up hairballs an
d scratches me every once in a while, he will always be my best friend. I could go on and on about him, but to sum it all up.... I LOVE HIM!!!!
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Winston

2010-12-10T15:39:00.001-08:00

Pinkie

2010-11-28T17:17:00.001-08:00

Pinkie is just wonderful! She is just such a sweet, and smart, puppy! I love her sooo much! She gets along with her sisters Tibbie and Molly (my other two poodles) very well. She and Tibbie enjoy playing tug and chasing each other around the house on a regular basis. Molly plays the role of referee to make sure nobody gets hurt. I must say that Pinkie has brought the excitement back in my house. She had a rough start but she is a happy, healthy 10lb puppy now. She is the perfect puppy, but she enjoys learning a few manners from Sam Kabbel at Pet Behavior Solutions. Sam comes to visit Pinkie on occasion to help with the basic puppy stuff and Pinkie is doing so well. Sam is GREAT!

I knew when Pinkie came into the shelter that she would be mine! I just had a feelin'

Thanks so much for rescuing her!

Streudel's New Name Is Sugar - "Shug" For Short

2010-10-18T18:06:00.001-07:00

We had lost two of our beloved dogs within two weeks of each other this Summer. One was our 15 year old lab mix we'd adopted from F4L when she was a puppy. Streudel's pic was on the website and I had no idea she would still be there several weeks later. We needed to make sure Streudel (now known as Sugar) would get along with our 5 year old shepherd mix and she did. After a brief few days of introduction, she has since won our hearts and is the most delightful companion. We took her on a road trip and she was an outstanding little traveler. Everyone fell in love with her. We left grandma's house early in the morning and she'd had so much fun she stayed at the door and wasn't sure if she was staying or going. Once we called her and her tail flew up and she ran into our arms it was our reassurance she was our forever dog in her new forever home. Thanks F4L for all you do! The unique personality of this little dog is truly a gift and she's a fantastic little snuggler.
God Bless !

Our Forever Friends

2010-10-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

Both of our constant companions were adopted from F4L. When we went to F4L to "just look" at dogs available for adoption we had a large lab mix in mind since we had always had larger dogs. What met us at the blocked off door of the kitchen as we were checking in was a terrier mix named Iggy. Iggy bounded up to the gate wagging his tail with a look that said "Well, what took you so long to get here?" We did go look at other dogs but the little guy with the big ears was the one who came home with us. We renamed him Arnie after our favorite golfer. We are not sure what mix he is but he has corgi legs, shephard ears and a personality the size of Texas. Arnie has become the mayor of our street and is convinced everyone he meets has come to play with him. We have had dogs in our house for 30 years but Arnie is by far the most joyful dog who has ever entered.

His partner in crime is Jack. Jack who was named "Nick" while at F4L is a keeshound/cattledog mix. He is the more laid back of the two until it comes to tennis balls and then watch out. His favorite game is herding three tennis balls in a circle and then having you throw them to him. We do this at least 2-3 times a day in the greenbelt across the street from our house and on weekends at the dog park. When not herding his tennis balls, Jack is our constant companion. Wherever we are in the house, Jack is at our feet or laying next to us. When you look into his beautiful soft brown eyes, his love for us just pours out and they seem to say, "Thanks for letting me be your dog."

Thank you F4L for bringing these two incredible companions into our lives. They fill our house and our hearts with constant joy.

Everything's Blissful with Bliss

2010-10-17T18:42:00.001-07:00

A couple of months ago, I wrote on the blog about how my 7 year old tabby "Clancy" (also a F4L adoptee) and I were looking for a feline companion. I'm happy to now report that we've found the absolutely perfect match in "Bliss," who in just a few weeks, has lived up to her name in so many ways. She and Clancy are already buddies and I couldn't be more delighted to have her as part of my home. Thank you so much again, Friends for Life! You're 2 for 2 in helping me find cats who I'll treasure for a lifetime.

Rocky will be missed

2010-10-01T07:40:00.001-07:00

Memories of "The Rock Miester":
Rocky was the shelter clown. He was always "up to something". I remember the story of Rocky climbing onto the roof of the shelter and running around on top of it! How he managed that was quite something!
Rocky was one of my all time favorite dogs at the shelter. Rocky was adopted out to a home not too far from the shelter. Soon after, Rocky decided, on his own, to come back to the shelter"s front door! He had to cross a very busy street to do this too!
Rocky stayed at the shelter for a while, then was adopted out again--only to be returned once again. He always had that "look" in his eye that said, "watch me, I can do anything!"
What Rocky was best at, was making me laugh. He could cheer me up on any day. He was a very loving sweet boy that I was very fond of.
Rocky finally found his forever home about a year ago. We knew the folks that referred Rocky's new parents to the shelter--we know that they loved Rocky dearly and he had a wonderful, forever home for the time he was with them.
His paw print will forever be on my heart.
Shannon
Dog Caregiver

Rocky will be missed

2010-10-01T07:37:00.001-07:00

Memories of "The Rock Miester":
Rocky was the shelter clown. He was always "up to something". I remember the story of Rocky climbing onto the roof of the shelter and running around on top of it! How he managed that was quite something!
Rocky was one of my all time favorite dogs at the shelter. Rocky was adopted out to a home not too far from the shelter. Soon after, Rocky decided, on his own, to come back to the shelter"s front door! He had to cross a very busy street to do this too!
Rocky stayed at the shelter for a while, then was adopted out again--only to be returned once again. He always had that "look" in his eye that said, "watch me, I can do anything!"
What Rocky was best at, was making me laugh. He could cheer me up on any day. He was a very loving sweet boy that I was very fond of.
His paw print will forever be on my heart.
Shannon
Dog Caregiver

Amazing Adoption

2010-09-28T20:11:00.001-07:00

How do I start....I lost my Jack Russell to Valley Fever last year and I couldn't survive without a dog so I starting searching for another Jack Russell and low and behold I found "Scooter" at Friends for Life....and I do have to say - their name is so true - she is our Friend for Life. We have traveled with her and walked her to school every day, loved on her and just snuggled with her. She is truely a blessing to our family.
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I'm Spoiled Rotten

2010-09-13T21:06:00.001-07:00

We adopted this spunky guy called Magic in September 2008 (its been 2 years already wow!) He was the sweetest boy alive so we named him Ipo (ee-poh) which means "sweetheart" in Hawaiian. He fits right in and is a great addit ion to our family! He is best friends with our American Bulldog Snow, they like to snuggle :)

Martin

2010-09-08T14:41:00.001-07:00

Hello. This is Martin. You may remember him as Mr. August in F4L's 2004 calendar. Someone found him in a trash dumpster when he was just two days old! They took him to F4L and I became his foster mom -- which, for the first couple days, meant hourly bottle feedings. I was warned not to get too attached to him since bottle feeders are sometimes too weak to make it, but 10 years later we're still together.

Bradley ( previously called Buster)

2010-09-05T14:25:00.001-07:00

We adopted Bradley back in April of 1997 from Friends for Life. He was born in Feb of 97. I believe he was born at a foster home. He's now a healthy 13 year old. He has two younger cat playmates. He enjoys playing chase with them. His favorite activities are sleeping and eating. He's a happy cat and we are glad to have him as part of our family.

GIUSEPPE

2010-09-01T22:02:00.001-07:00

We adopted Giuseppe (formally known as Rocket) back in March 2010, he has been such a blessing to our home. Though we liked the name Rocket we felt like Giuseppe suited his little personality! He really likes his new name.

When we got him we were told of his extremely high energy level so we took him jogging and roller blading every morning. When the summer months came around we were worried he would go crazy not being able to go out as much but he has been great! He still likes to run around but he is much more calm cool and collected then he was when he first came home with us. I guess he's comfortable! We get compliments all the time on what a cool dog he is.

Giuseppe loves spending time at Grandma and Grandpa's house because he has other doggie friends he can play with there, and boy do they play! The will chase each other around the pool for hours! They are a lot bigger than him but like most smaller dogs he thinks he is just as big! We've recently discovered Giuseppe has a special place in his heart for horses (and other farm animals). There is a farm not too far from our house and whenever we drive by it he tries to jump out the window to get to the horses. It's the funniest thing!

We can't thank you enough for rescuing this sweet boy. He has made such a positive impact on our lives, we forget what it was like before we got him. He is the perfect little guy for us. He brings us so much love and joy and really is our friend for life!

Gidget

2010-08-31T20:56:00.001-07:00

Hi! My name is Gidget. I used to be called Lollypop, but my new Mom thought that the name Gidget fit my personality better. I have a new sister named Annie that I pester all the time, but she does her share also! We meet lots of other nice dogs at daycare and most of them like to play with us too. My new home has grass in the backyard that I love to dig up and eat and it also has a pool that I love, love, love! Swimming is one of my favorite activities. I went to puppy class with my sister Annie on Sunday and she graduated with flying colors. I'm enrolled in puppy class now too and will start very soon. I can't let Annie show me up!! I'm so glad I have a forever home!

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Paco

2010-08-30T15:05:00.001-07:00

Paco is a sweet, all black smooth coated chihuahua. I began fostering him at first and fell in love with him. So, I decided to adopt him. I really didn't want a chihuahua, but he turned out to be the perfect dog. He's real easy to care for, you can pick him up as he only weighs almost 9 pounds, he doesn't eat much or poop much. What I really like most about him is his affectionate nature-he loves to snuggle up against my body. He's also very timid which we share in common. I'm enjoying getting to know what he likes and doesn't like. I'm so thankful to God for giving him to me.

Diane

Desmond (formerly Molson)

2010-08-26T08:32:00.001-07:00

I was adopted on December 23rd, 2009 and given as a surprise to my best friend Kasey. She is 15 and a junior volunteer at Friends for Life. She loves ALL animals - but I'm her favorite! I also got an awesome new buddy - Riley (Kasey's little brother) who chases me, throws balls for me and wrestles with me! Kasey's mom is not really an animal person - but I've won her over with my fantastic personality and handsome good looks. They all tell me how much they love me every day! I have lots of toys & treats & no one ever even gets mad at me when I throw stuffing from one of my toys all over the house! I go on lots of walks and am learning how to play with other dogs at the dog park. I get to go with Kasey to grandma's house all the time because she always wants to be with me. I even got to go camping with her & will get to do it again soon. On my 1st birthday in July, I got presents, a new bed and a special treat - my own dish of vanilla ice cream! YUM!

Thank you Friends for Life for taking care of me and keeping me safe until my family found me! I am a very lucky guy & I know my family feels very lucky to have me too!

Maizy is home!

2010-08-21T13:52:00.001-07:00

My story of how I arrived at Friends for Life is not a wonderful one. I was found with my brother Peak - we were abandoned in the hot sun with no food or water and tied to a fence post. Thankfully someone at Friends for Life found us and we are now safe, fed, and have a big bucket of water! I am older and have hip dysplasia and bad knees. The vet said I do not need surgery, just someone with extra love in their heart. Despite my recent circumstances, I love people! The ideal home would have room for both me and my brother Peak (we are a two for one deal!), but Friends for Life has already started prepping me for the rest of my life without him - but we have already made new furry friends at the shelter! Please come and visit me - you will love me!

That was the begining of her new life.
My Maizy was Daizy but F4L already had a Daizy so she became Maizy. Well, now she live with a Daisy and Pheobe-oh and me...the human that they feeds them and they get to slobber on. I am so happy that she is now offically part of my family.

Gabe

2010-08-20T16:00:00.001-07:00

On Saturday our family created a life long bond with our new furry companion, and we are forever in debt to the wonderful people at Friends For Life.

Gabe is a sweet and caring (though sometimes shy) soul, who just desperately wanted a forever home. We had adopted our last dog from a pound, and decided after the experience of truly rescuing a dog, that finding a dog a home who truly needs on was an endeavor we would lovingly take one, and we cannot be more appreciative of the great and hard work done by the individuals at friends for life.

We are extremely excited to go on a new adventure with this happy little man at our side! if you have ever considered rescuing a dog, we highly recommend it!

- The Shotzbargers and Gabe

Clancy

2010-08-15T12:18:00.001-07:00

I owe a big debt of gratitude to Friends for Life for my precious boy "Clancy" who, for 6+ years, has truly been the gift that keeps on giving. It was love at first sight when I saw his advertisement in the newspaper in the Spring of 2004 and, if possible, I seem to love him more and more with each passing day. Clancy was the perfect brother to my tortoiseshell kitty "Murphy" who recently succumbed to cancer at age 16. Although Clancy surely misses his sister, he has become all the more sweet and cuddly since her loss. I'm now searching for a new feline companion for Clancy and would certainly welcome any potential match ideas from Friends for Life. Thank you so much for what you do!

2010-08-10T09:55:00.001-07:00

Good morning fur fans! What a beautiful morning for a walk. The air is fresh and somewhat cool after last night’s rain. The moisture makes for enhanced aromas wafting up from the roadside. My human, Cathy, adorned me with that special chain necklace and leash and we were off. Right out the door was Honey and her owner. He doesn’t need a leash to follow Honey. He’s well trained, but Cathy wouldn’t remember our course without the leash. I don’t mind pulling her around the trail. I put up with it because she is worth it.
I’ve been saving up the old “squirt” supply all night and I’m ready to mark my territory. Humans can’t or won’t pee on a wall or a rock. They don’t know what they are missing. They don’t seem interested in learning either. Oh well!
I saw the Cookie People this morning. They are such a nice couple! Unfortunately, they don’t have a dog to lead them, so they solicit by offering cookies to every dog they meet. I got TWO today, but I’m not about to abandon my Cathy and follow them home. Dogs have loyal souls, you know.
There are so many little dogs in our neighborhood: Harry (Terrier), Lily(Poodle),Charlie (not sure). I could go on and on. Mostly, they are afraid of me. I’m sure it is my size. I couldn’t have anything to do with my attitude, could it? I’ve been told that I appear to be staring at them the same way I look at a rabbit. Hmmm. Maybe. I suppose I do fantasize about chasing them, although I don’t know what I would do if I actually caught up with one. I wonder if they squeak just like my toys when I bite them.
I have seen signs that today may be a Bath Day. The hose is stretched out on the patio to warm the water inside. The towels are draped over the yard chair. The shampoo bottle is sitting in The Spot right next to The Stool. I need to BOL for that special leash. If Cathy takes off my leather collar and puts the Bath Leash around my neck, I am in for a wet time. Last time Cathy bathed me, she forgot to shut the doggie door. Before she could get the beach towel around my dripping body, I charged inside and shook off. HA! What a fun game! But really, I enjoy the towel rubbing and the brushing throughout the day as I dry off.
OH! I gotta go. It’s “hot dog time.” That means I have done a good thing – OR – I’m about to do a good thing, like take my medicine or …. IT IS BATH DAY! Here comes the bathing leash! Ohhhh! This is going to cost Cathy a few hot dog treats. I’ll start by planting my butt on the floor like I sat on superglue. Let the games begin J--‘
Later, my tail wagging friends,
Harlow Harvey

Eli & Geoffrey (formerly know as Arnold & Lance)

2010-08-08T18:20:00.001-07:00

Eli

The first time I met Eli at Friends for Life, I was told that he'd been there for FOUR years, and I just couldn't believe it! He was just about the friendliest cat I'd ever met. Many people chose not to adopt him because he has FIV, but with the right facts and information, he's simply a normal indoor cat. He's been with me for about a year now, and is super cuddly, loves to talk, and zooms around chasing toy mice. Sometimes I swear he's more of a dog!

More information about FIV from the ASPCA here:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cat-care-feline-immunodeficiency-virus.html

Geoffrey

I never intended to have two cats, but I just couldn't say no to Geoffrey. He was Eli's roommate in the FIV room, and while adopted by one of the shelter ladies, just didn't get along with her dogs. Geoffrey is such a sweetheart, and a definite lap cat. He's got a quiet charm and is very loving. He's a keeper!

Life is good! Thank you, Friends for Life, for introducing me to my two handsome friends.

Mabel/Scooby

2010-08-04T20:35:00.001-07:00

I was a brand new volunteer at Friends for Life and I decided to foster a puppy.

The first time I saw Mabel she growled at me. I brought her home anyway and fostered her for approx. 4 weeks until she was ready for adoption. When I started bringing her to the shelter for adoption she was just so naughty when anyone approached her. I would try to explain to families "she doesn't act like this at home, I swear! " She was such a sweetie at home and was very bonded to my husband and I. I decided after 6 weeks or so that she just wouldn't let herself be adopted because she had chosen us to be her forever home. A bumper sticker a good friend gave me says it all "my best friend rescued me". Rescue dogs are just the best! We renamed her Scooby and she continues to be joy in our lives!. She now plays foster Mom to other puppies we bring in to our home.

Lucy

2010-08-04T14:24:00.001-07:00

Lucy was the office dog for a few months. I have had her for a year. She is fabulous, she loves kids and people but is not too fond of other dogs. She will tolerate them but not for long. Lucy makes us laugh every day, she is such a diva and I am sure if she could talk she would have a CA valley girl accent.

Dazy Doolittle (aka Daisy)

2010-08-04T08:16:00.001-07:00

Dazy Doolittle--(aka Daisy) was an alumni dog from FFL. She was at the shelter for 15 long months with no one interested in her. Dazy had a rather "colorful" past which made placement in her forever home that much more difficult. We took her home, over a Memorial Day weekend, in 2007, just to get her out of the kennel environment. Dazy had an amazing time at our Memorial Day weekend party. Dazy would run ahead and flop over for her belly rubs or her "growl on the belly" time. We brought her back and forth from our home to the shelter thru out the summer months. Then it happened: someone else was interested in adopting Dazy! It scared us so much that we would lose our beloved Dazy, that we adopted her. What were we thinking?

We had a big adoption party for her! Dazy loved a good party--it was always all about Dazy--as it should be.

We loved that big girl--"large and in charge". She was gentle, loving and very loyal. Her "laundry list" of cautions never were an issue in our home--she was grateful for her forever home, as we were grateful to be blessed with such a sweetheart. Time was too short with Dazy Doolittle though. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer, January 2009.
Dazy Doolittle is forever our friend for life.

Norm

2010-08-01T23:59:00.001-07:00

Hey Friends for Life gang! It's me, Norm. I was adopted by Teri and Bryan (Sissy and Silly Daddy) back in November '09. My first day home was rather memorable. It was upon my arrival home I met my sister, Velvet the Cat. She's an absolutely beautiful Bombay, but her name is rather misleading. Sissy and Daddy should have named her Chomp! Well, after her third attempt to launch herself at me to attack, I tried to attack her and got put in time out. Sissy and Daddy kept us separated after that and did a slow introduction where we had a gate between us in separate rooms from mid-November until sometime in February so we could get used to each other and I could learn the "leave it" command. I had to accept the fact that no matter what the cat did, I couldn't retaliate because she's only 6lbs, and I could seriously hurt her. She's very slowly coming around. She also yells at me a lot less often and only tries to swat me maybe once a day. In fact just the other morning I caught her sleeping next to me in bed with Sissy (isn't that great? I get to sleep in bed with my people!).

Other than my sister, Velvet, life here is pretty good. I had major separation anxiety when I first came here. There was one day where I barked for 5 hours straight because I was so scared that no one was coming back for me. It was at that point I had to go on medication for about 6 months during my "therapy" (behavior modification), but I'm past all that now and don't need the meds anymore. I know I'm really glad to be here (even if it means living with that cat!), and Sissy and Daddy tell me all the time that I'm such a blessing in their lives. Thank you, Friends for Life, for finding me, taking me in, and giving me this chance at such a good life. I mean hey, how many other homeless dogs go from the shelter or pound to getting proficient with their person's laptop?

Shasta

2010-08-01T21:12:00.001-07:00

I got a call, "I have your next dog in my car". It was Erica who had just picked up one of our FFL dogs at county (the adopters turned the poor girl in there). I told her to bring her over and we would foster her. Fostering wasn't really a consideration because after being at our house a short time, we knew she was a keeper. Erica was right... How anyone abandoned this sweet, smart and loving dog is beyond what I can imagine. She is fantastic - she has so much personality. She was quite timid at first but has come a long way and is doing great!

Squirt

2010-08-01T21:04:00.001-07:00

This is the dog my boyfriend picked out but it didn't take long for the strongest and most amazing bond to develop between Squirt and me. Squirty is the best dog I could ask for and I love him like no other. I am so thankful that Friends for Life was able to save his life so I could adopt him. He has enriched my life in so many ways.

Heather (Scuzzy)

2010-08-01T20:57:00.001-07:00

She was found by 2 young kids and they brought her in soaking wet. I walked into the cat house and it was love at first sight. I BEGGED my boyfriend for a few days to let me bring her home. He also fell in love with her instantly. He wasn't much of a cat person but he thinks she is the cutest, sweetest thing in the world!!

Boscoe

2010-08-01T20:54:00.001-07:00

I adopted 2 kitties from FFL!! Erica told me how much we needed foster homes for black kitties. So, I agreed to "foster" Boscoe just during the Halloween season....6 years later, he is still here and has a forever home! He has a great personality and thinks he a dog. He wants to groom the dogs and torment them to no end! Great cat! Thanks FFL for rescuing him and bringing him into my life!

Dazzle

2010-08-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Dazzle the medium hair tabby came into the shelter with a broken hip and fractured knee. He was found at the dump by a worker and the vet said he probably broke his leg trying to free himself from something. He was only 8 weeks old! Normally I foster the senior kitties since they are my weakness, but when this little guy came along, he came right to my house. His surgery a success, he healed and went up for adoption. I lasted two Saturday adoption days. The third trip he stayed home and I did his adoption paperwork. :) He has added life to a house of older animals. He knew exactly how to work his way into the dogs hearts. His favorite toy is the dogs tails when they wag! His other favorite thing to do is snuggle up on the couch with me. I am so happy he stumbled into my life.

Windy formerly Laney

2010-08-01T17:00:00.001-07:00

We adopted Windy in March of 2010 and she has won everyone's heart. She is such a lover and showers you with thousand of kisses every day. She and our cocker/king charles cavalier, Lightning, spend hours chasing each other around the house trying to take the toy from each other. She loves to cuddy next to you in bed and you do not need alarm as she will wake you at 5:00 every morning standing on your back.

Cissy

2010-08-01T16:04:00.001-07:00

I adopted Cissy many years ago. I first got her as a FFL foster cat but because she was so shy she didn't show well. So after some time, I decided to adopt her. She is about 12 years old now. Cissy is still shy but is a very sweet girl. She shares her home with another kitty and a dog.
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Gomi

2010-08-01T14:45:00.001-07:00

I adopted the lone puppy of Bart and Lisa who came into rescue in Fall of 2007. From the moment I held Gomi, it was love. He has been my special boy. He is the goofiest boy in the world. Everything is a game to him whether my husband and I want it to be. One of his most favorite thing to do is open doors and lock them. He has locked me out of the house on a few occasions by hitting the deadbolt with his paw. I have since decided to keep a spare key in the garage as its a funny game to him to see me peeking in the windows when he locks me out! Gomi has recently been diagnosed with Glaucoma in his left eye and is completely blind it that eye, but it doesn't slow him down one bit. He loves to go in the car for rides (as long as I bring his favorite pillow) and camping and just being a lazy couch potato. Thank you Friends for Life for all of the wonderful work you do!

Poppy

2010-08-01T12:11:00.001-07:00

Erica knew we were looking for a dog to love. She called and I came over right away. WOW I can't imagine someone bringing this lovely lady back to the shelter but thank you very much. Poppy was scared of men but Mike worked his magic and I learned how to understand that Poppy (jumps to heights unimagined!) was bored and wanted to learn. She has learned so many tricks and commands I can't even think how many she knows. She has made my life so much more fun. She is also a wonderful companion to fosters. We have had several come through our home and with Poppy's assistance they have found a forever home.

Duke, formerly known as "Flash"

2010-08-01T11:58:00.001-07:00

Our family had a void since we lost a beloved basset hound in May of 2008. Finally in February of 2009 we decided to take a look at Friends for Life for our new family member. We found a gem! Duke (known at the time as Flash) was so cute when we played with him. He ran around the yard and enjoyed playing tug of war with the kids. We also saw a couple other great dogs, but kept coming back to Duke/Flash because his personality just seemed to be such a good fit for us. We took him home that night.

Our first night with Duke was lots of fun. We enjoyed showing him his new home and he loved sniffing around. It didn't take any time at all for him to learn how to use the doggie door, and in the 18 months he's been with us, he has still never had even one "accident" in the house. We did crate train him at first, which he didn't mind, but after about 6 months it wasn't necessary anymore.

He's not perfect by any means, but he's really smart and very obedient. He's playful, but also loves to be snuggled. Duke was a wonderful addition to our family and we're so glad we went to Friends for Life - a wonderful organization. THANK YOU FRIENDS FOR LIFE!!! Not just for connecting us with Duke, but for all you do for homeless pets.

Rocket

2010-08-01T10:30:00.001-07:00

Rocket's shelter name was Costello. Within a few days of seeing him move, he earned the name Rocket. He was tough at first - typical cattledog issues with barriers (glad I didn't know about that when I got him!) he has been with us a little more than two years and he has settled in beautifully. He and Molly (the lab) are best friends and do everything together. They play beautifully, they go to doggie daycare (thank you Gilbert Dogs!), and they are truly best friends. I could not have picked a more perfect companion for Molly, and for me. I don't know what I would do without him!