We love to hear how Heavenly Hearts dogs are doing in their new homes. If you have a happy tail to tell, please use our "Contact Us" page to let us know!
Dear Heavenly Hearts,
Napoleon was abandoned in Kentucky and rescued by Heavenly Hearts, where he was lovingly fostered by Roxanne. Not many people inquired about him, and only one other family came to meet him. They told Roxanne he was ugly, which was a blessing in disguise. We didn't see any ugly dog at all. We saw a sweet, gentle disposition with kind eyes to match. We saw a dog that wanted to please and be loved. He and our Springer Spaniel became immediate friends,and Napoleon quickly found his new place in our hearts.
He started his new life with a new name: Sunny, to match his animated personality and his bright future. And life is good for Sunny! He has endless energy and never turns down a chance to play. When his people are pooped, he tosses his favorite toy into the air and entertains himself. He and Ringo are best of friends, and are almost always together. They stalk and point in the yard (Sunny likes to sneak up on snowflakes and dandelions), carry frisbees and tennis balls together, share rawhides, patiently wait for treats, and snooze in the same chair. Sunny has yet to meet a dog or a person that he does not greet happily, and he is doing very well in the Ozaukee County 4H Dog Project. Although he approaches new situations with hesitation, and looks to us for reassurance, he adapts quickly and never stops wagging his tail!
Many thanks to you Heavenly Hearts, for giving Sunny a second chance. Thanks to you Roxanne for all of your hard work. And yes,he is a brave boy! Thanks to our youngest daughter, who searched the internet for a dog to rescue - and found the perfect one!
Happiness....The Radtke Family
Hi Heavenly Hearts Rescue,
It has been one month since we adopted Louie aka "Gilley" and he is doing fabulous.He loves to come for treats, sit, lie down, and shake hands. He thinks his people family is pretty cool, but he definitely LOVES his brother Inky. They wrestle, play chase, and snuggle everyday!Louie has grown just a little bit and we are excited to see how big he will get.Everyone asks what breed he is and we smile and ask for guesses each time.We are very thankful for the volunteers at Heavenly Hearts and their efforts in rescuing so many dogs.
Thanks,
Dusty, Kristin, Inky, and Louie
Hi Heavenly Hearts Rescue,
It has been 6 months since we rescued Philly (Cayenne). What a sweet, loving, fun and playful puppy. He rarely leaves your side and loves to give "kisses."He is 8 months old now and weighs approximately 55 lbs. He loves people, car rides, long walks, and swimming in the lake. He especially likes going to Ruff and Ready Doggie Daycare every Thursday where he gets to play with dogs of all different breeds and sizes. He gets compliments on his looks and "sweet" behavior wherever he goes. He must get that from his mommy (Sweetie). We are looking forward to seeing how he adjusts to the winter snow. We have a feeling he will love it!
We would love to hear how his littermates are doing, as it was great to read about Sweetie in Happy Tails.Philly has been a wonderful addition to our family and we couldn't imagine life without him!
Thanks Heavenly Hearts! ~John and Jessy
Hello,
Just a note to let you know Foxy is WONDERFUL, We just love her to pieces. I think we've spoiled her some by letting her sleep with my oldest daughter and sometimes I find her in the living room arm chair (not ok) in the morning. She seems very happy, she is wagging her tail all the time. Our male orange tabby adores Foxy. I found him rubbing his chin on her legs and chest looking up at her with the most loving look! Foxy likes him, too. She has figured out how he likes to play and has learned to gently nudge him with her nose. They often play a hide and seek game that is very fun to watch. Foxy is so gentle with him, Sammie likes to play catch with her tail (it wags so much, such a temptation for him) when she's had enough she'll just turn to him and give a sign to stop. We've worked on commands, sit, stay, come, down, the basics. She learned very quickly, but Foxy is selective of when she'll obey "come" and "stay." She continues to be uncomfortable with strangers, dogs, different environments, noises etc. I got the "Cautious Canine" book by Patricia McConnell and will start doing some outside/neighborhood training. We're also working on making sure we use the door bell anytime someone is coming into our house and announcing the visitor to Foxy. People are instructed to not look at her or touch her, but throw some treats to her. This seems to really help Foxy reduce her stress. She's becoming very comfortable with some of our regular visitors. My friend has commented on how sweet, gentle, and quiet Foxy is. I can't imagine life without her.
Sue
Heavenly Hearts,
I just wanted to send you a few pictures of Sophie.She's doing great and we are so happy to have her as a member of our family.She loves playing in the yard with Alex and Evan.She especially loved playing in the leaf piles.Her favorite spot in the house is our front living room soaking up the sun or sitting in the family room window watching for her best friend, Milo.Milo is our neighbors dog and they love playing together, especially when we let them play in the same yard.
She has learned sit and down.Next we are going to work on stay.We're still working on leash manners.She wants to follow her nose and not walk straight down the sidewalk.Sophie also does not like the cold.When it's cold outside she will only stay outside long enough to take care of business.We'll send more pictures soon.
Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Ryan, Sarah, Alex, Evan and Sophie
Hi Heavenly Hearts, Sweetie is doing great. She is currently enrolled in Canine Good Citizen class. She is really doing well. It is good for her and us. Glad we don’t have some of the problems that some of the dogs do, like barking through the entire class each time. Barb and I are going to be taking 2 day Delta Pet Partners training on Nov. 7 & 8 in hopes of having a certified Therapy Dog. There is testing with the dogs on Dec. 13 that we are shooting for. We’ll keep you up to date on what happens.
We took a car trip to upstate New York to visit Barb’s daughter and Sweetie went with us. She really rode well in the car. Took two days each way. One of the best car riding dogs I have had. Of course she would get kind of antsy towards the end of the day. Barb’s daughter has a 4 year old Boston Terrier. He and Sweetie got along quite well. (See photo)
Hope you're doing well, Bruce and Barb.
Hi -
Just a short note to tell you about Lady - who is now Annie. She is truly my best love. She runs and plays in our fenced yard, tumbles with Jake our Border Collie mix, takes long walks every day, and in general is simply a lover! Thank you very much for rescuing her.
Dorothy
In Memory of Izzy (formerly Panda): I'm so sorry to have to let you know that our beautiful dog Izzy passed away from kidney failure last Friday, there were only 3 days from disease onset to her passing and it broke our hearts and leaves an empty place in our home.
I wanted to tell you about our girl. We adopted Izzy 2 years ago from Heavenly Hearts Rescue and from the moment she came home she was a part of the family. I want you all to know that Izzy was loved and could not have been a better friend to my husband and I and our other dog Rain (who is depressed as I write this). Izzy was a gentle soul with a kind heart, She had a smile that was hers alone. She was a friend to both man and beast. She loved to run at the County Grounds and we did so every night, Izzy was a mighty mouse hunter though she never caught her prize. She loved carrots and melon and the occasional slice of orange, she was not opposed to turkey.
In closing I wanted to thank you for the gift of this beautiful soul, we are better people for having known her even if for such a short time. She will be truly missed and as I write through the tears please know that she was loved very much. She could not have been a better dog.
Please continue to encourage people to adopt an "experienced" dog, no one is more grateful or more faithful. Her tail never stopped and she was joyful, it was impossible to have a bad day around Izzy. Feel free to add Izzy to "Happy Tails," she was a joy and a blessing and everyone should know that. If even one dog finds a forever home because of our beautiful girl then the story is worth it. God Bless you all. ~Gail S.
Hello Heavenly Hearts, We adopted Heidi in September and she continues to do great. She seems to be so relaxed and happy here. She loves her daily walks. Boy does she adore chasing chipmunks! And she can really move when she wants to! We took her up north with us recently and did Heidi have fun at the lake! She waded in the water constantly (but didn't want to swim.) She had a ball hiking on some trails and laying by the camp fire. She was not the best on coming when called off leash, so we have some work to do there. At home she is doing so great! She loves her pack and anyone else she can manage to meet!
As you know, Heidi needed to lose about 15-20 pounds to get to a healthy weight. She has lost 5 1/2 lbs at her weigh-in which was 1 month from her starting weight (73.5 lbs.) Now she is 68 lbs! I'm so excited. And she is RUNNING now! She runs through the house and outside at times too. Trotting on our walks is common too, but it’s so cute to see her all-out running! She is very playful now! And she even jumped onto our bed twice now, which she couldn't have done before! She loves to cuddle on the bed! Amazing what a few pounds off will do. What a friendly and happy creature she is! We love her so much! ~Lori
Hi Heavenly Hearts Rescue,
I just wanted to let you know that Abita is doing very well here.And we are so very grateful to you and Heavenly Hearts for bringing her to us.Everyone who meets her says what a sweet, calm dog she is.Isaac called her Buddha by mistake when he first met her but I think he was right.She has a zen like quality.:o)I walked her up to the playground to pick up Isaac after school yesterday and today and she allowed all the kids to give her pets and scratches.She met a couple other dogs up there and she is so interested in them but still very tolerant of even the bigger than her puppies.She does seem to crave other dogs company.She whines when she sees them in front of the house.Here's a pic to show how comfortable she is.That couch is under the front window so she can look out and watch people and dogs across the street.She also enjoys watching the squirrels and chipmunks that come up on the deck to steal bird seed.
Thank-you again for allowing her into our family.We are very lucky to have her. - Jana and family
Where does one ever begin to express the joy, contentment, and gratitude one feels being a "Forever Home" to two of the most wonderful dogs. Pete (Mr. Muscle) & Allie (Little Fluff) both came into our lives at special times. When we found Allie, we were looking for a companion for our 4-yr old Beagle/Doxie mix, Sawyer, who had epilepsy & lost his companion, our Ezra (who died at the age of 12). Sawyer was very lonely until one day we spotted Allie on the Heavenly Hearts Rescue and immediately knew she would be a perfect fit for our family. Sawyer & Allie met at Allie's foster home & were instant friends. We could hardly wait to get the phone call that said "Allie can come home with you;" we were all so excited! Sawyer & Allie played together & were such good friends until Sawyer's epilepsy took him away from us only two weeks later. We were so grateful to Allie for giving Sawyer so much fun & companionship and helping us through our grief, and we felt she deserved to have another friend.
So, back to the Heavenly Hearts Rescue web-site we went & there he was -- our Pete. Funny how you can just tell from the pictures that this is the one, but we knew Pete was it. So, off we went to Pete's foster home where he and Allie decided they really wanted to be a family. Again, we waited for the approval phone call & were so thrilled to be bringing Pete to our home.His description said he had been in a shelter in Kentucky for a very long time because he was "sort of plain looking." We think, though, that he was just waiting for us to be together. He is the most handsome, regal boy & we often call him Peter instead of Pete because it sounds so much more sophisticated. Allie, on the other hand, is our little "Barbie." She is the epitome of "look at me, I'm so wonderful, pet me - pet me." They are so much fun to watch and absolutely adore each other. They tussle, play tug-of-war with the rope, & chase each other all over the yard, but at nap-time, they snuggle up next to each other & just love being together.
We can never thank Heavenly Hearts enough for making our family so complete and allowing us the privilege of giving Pete & Allie a "Forever Home" with us. There is not a day that goes by that doesn't remind us how lucky we are as we watch these two beautiful dogs and benefit from the joy & love they radiate.
Pete & Allie also asked that I tell Heavenly Hearts Rescue THANK YOU for believing in them & rescuing them from the shelters they were in. They want you to please keep up your great efforts & to help their other doggie brothers & sisters to find their "Forever Homes" too.
Thank you so much, from all of us
Kirt/Judy/Tiffany/Katie/Pete & Allie
Hi Heavenly Hearts Rescue,
My apologies for not emailing you since you allowed us to adopt Shiloh. If you don't remember him, we adopted him 2 years ago this June. He was a brown & white terrier mix. I want to thank you so much for letting us have him. He has made our lives a lot richer & fuller. He's gotten his CGC certificate & is currently in round 3 of advanced obedience classes. We've also taken him through 1 agility class & now are doing a tracking class with him. He also goes to playcare 1 day a week - it's about the only day of the week he gets really tired out! I'm not sure who accommodates who, but he is as willing to sit with us watching t.v. as he is to go for a walk. He loves meeting dogs (and people) on walks and absolutely LOVES going to the state park nearby. He's a favorite both at our classes and playcare. He loves to perform in front of people ... I'm not sure what he likes the most between the treats and the attention! I know he wouldn't be half the dog he is if it wasn't for the care he received while being fostered with you. I am truly grateful for everything you did for him! I've attached a picture to help you remember Shiloh. Thank you, again, for allowing him to be part of our lives. We are blessed in having him.
Take care,
Charlene
We adopted Maddie (formerly known as Mindy) in September 2008. At the time, we had Baxter and were looking for another dog that would fit in with him and our family. My husband insisted that our next dog had to be part lab. Baxter was 4 years old and a great companion to us, but didn't play with other dogs. He would go to the dog park and hang out alone. We'd met a few other potential candidates, but they weren't compatible. We saw Maddie on the website, watched her video, and were very hopeful that she would work out. Needless to say, she's been a wonderful addition! It took a couple of weeks for Baxter to figure out how to play, but thanks to Maddie's docile nature with him it all worked out. Now they chase each other with the tennis ball and share bones...We love her endless tail wagging, clumsiness, snoring on the couch, and eagerness to please. We're so lucky to have a "pretty girl" like Maddie.
Hi. …my name is Penny, and they call me “Pretty” Penny sometimes.(Can’t you see why?!)I wanted to tell you that I feel SO good now that I have my forever home, and I wanted to tell you how I’m doing!I have a yellow lab brother, Scout, that likes to rough-house with me, and I also have 3 kitty friends that can’t believe how sweet I am.The kitties and I all sleep together at night.I used to have separation anxiety, and now I’m doing great because my mom is home with me all day, and I’ve learned that even if mom and dad go away, they will always come back.I am such a well behaved girl that I don’t ever have to go in one of those crate things anymore, which I am deathly afraid of.
My mom and dad tell me that they love me SO much, and think I am the best girl in the world.Sometimes I think my name is lucky, because they keep saying how lucky they are to have me…..but actually, it goes both ways.
Anyway, I am doing great, and hope that many other doggies will be rescued and find their forever home’s too.Keep up the great work Heavenly Hearts Rescue.
Love,
Penny (and John and Lisa) March, 2009
Cate went to her new home in mid-October 2008, just as Heavenly Hearts was celebrating fifteen years in rescue. Her family called recently to report that she is dearly loved in her new home. She has settled into some routines that show she has important responsibilities around the house. For example, when Tom takes an afternoon nap, Cate curls up close by in her dog bed. Cate watches him the whole time he's sleeping and when Pat gives the signal that grandpa's naptime is over, Cate jumps up on Tom's pillow and starts licking his face until he wakes up. Then she gets three dog biscuits for a treat. She keeps Tom and Pat smiling with her dainty eating, her cute post-groomer hairdo, and her lap dog personality. What a wonderful life Cate has with her new family.
Hello Heavenly Hearts, Chip and all of us are doing fine. He is getting kinda chubby! I think I need to think about cutting back his treats! He is so cute. He has been a real trooper in this cold. He still has to have his walks no matter what because he just does not understand that he can "go potty" in the yard!
My friend Laura got a yellow lab this past fall and they are fast friends. I have included some pictures of both of them. Laura's dog is Diesel and Chip is jealous of him sometimes. When Diesel comes over Chip will do everything he can to get between him and who ever Diesel is trying to say hi to. We call it the "Chip block." We think he's saying "Hey! I was here first!" Chip tries to "herd" Diesel like he a sheep. That must be the border collie. They are a lot of fun to watch. It's been great getting to know Chip. I have never had a dog like him before. He has a very different personality than my labs! We love him so much.
The Hoovers
Hello Heavenly Hearts, We adopted Simon in November and he has adapted so well to our home. He is a wonderful addition and we love him with all our hearts. He loves the snow and plows thru it with his face like a bulldozer!! He chewed our daughter's glasses the second night he was with us!!..but we've forgiven him for that. He probably thought they might help his dry eye condition. His "dry eyes" are handling the drops well.
He loves people and everyone that meets him is so impressed with his good behavior. He spends time with Jake, our son's Springer Spaniel (a 72 pounder!), and our granddaughter's border collie.
Our thanks to all of you at Heavenly Hearts for the wonderful work you do, and to Gressi, Simon's foster mom, for taking such good care of him. He's the best.
Karen
Dear Heavenly Hearts,
Maddie (formerly JuJu Bee, one of the lab -mix pups born in April) is now tipping the scales at 57lbs. It's hard to believe she is growing up so fast! She is doing great though and brings us a lot of joy and fun. She absolutely loves the snow and plays outside every chance she gets. Last Monday she graduated from obedience class. She was of course the star of the class or maybe I should say class clown. One of our first nights they had us walk our dogs around the room. Over to the side on one wall there was a big box of stuffed animals and toys. Of course who is the only one who has to grab a stuffed animal as we walk pass - you guessed it none other than Maddie. Despite her funniness she really did great in the class and the instructors really enjoyed her. We received so many compliments about what a great temperament she has and that she was such a good dog for being so young. She learned to sit and stay, down, heeling, wait and many other things that will be very helpful. For being the youngest in the class she was far ahead of many of the other dogs. Besides the good things she's learned in class she also has learned how to break out of her kennel and how to get the bottom tray out so she can walk the kennel around the room and grab random things off the couch and chair to chew on - she's too smart for her own good. We now have the bottom of the kennel pad locked so she can't kick the tray out and we check the kennel every time we leave to make sure all clasps are secure. Never a dull moment with her :) Regardless I wouldn't trade her for the world. She is great to have around and we truly enjoy her no matter what antics she is up to.
I hope her brothers and sisters are all doing well and we would love to see a Happy Tail from them too! I hope her mom is good too - make sure to tell her hi from Maddie :)
Angie & Ron
Hello!
We adopted Teddy (born as Rollo) in June of 2008 from a foster home in Waukesha. He was one of a litter of ten pups. Teddy is such a ball of energy, is smart and has made a difference in my life! I walk him twice a day, 1/2 hour at a time, and my cholesterol has dropped more than 20 points from June to November. (My husband gives him his 3rd walk daily.) I really credit Teddy for keeping me motivated to walk. He makes my kids laugh every day with his antics.
Thank you for the gift of Teddy.
Colleen
Hi! We adopted Ruby-a yellow lab mix in May 2007 and we just wanted to let you know that she continues to be a wonderful addition to our home. We have just been busy and have not been able to write with an update in a while. She now joins 4 little girls in our family. We had our 4th and last daughter on 6/19/08. Ruby has been wonderful with our girls who range in age from 8 years down to 6 months.
I am sending a couple pictures from last Halloween when she was dressed up as an angel. She went trick or treating that way with all of the kids, as you can see. I will try to send a separate email with a couple more pictures of her at home to try to show you how happy she is...
