Meet Shadow, a Rescue Terrier

Pictured on your left is Shadow, a 4-1/2-year-old terrier mix we are fostering who was surrendered by his elderly former owner after her living circumstances changed. Shadow is a quiet and friendly little dog who takes a few hours to warm up to new people.

Shadow would probably thrive best in a house with a lower amount of activity, as he is easily startled by loud noises and sudden movement. When frightened he cowers and shakes, but he does not snap or bite. Shadow appears to be a dog who would make a loyal companion for his next owner, and he would be easy to integrate into his new home.

Shadow seems to be housebroken, and he gets along well with the other dogs in the house. He tends to be more of a follower than a leader, and Shadow has not shown any aggressiveness toward the other dogs.

To learn more about adopting Shadow, or if you want to financially contribute to Planned Pethood's mission to rescue dogs and cats in Northwest Ohio, visit the Planned Pethood website for more information.

Meet Petey, a Rescue Yorkie

Pictured on your left is Petey, an 8-pound Yorkshire terrier mix who was rescued from a local dog pound. We think Petey is about nine months old, and he is a friendly and affectionate little guy who has a lifetime of love to give his forever family.

This puppy has one heck of a rough time the last few weeks, and he contracted parvovirus while in the pound. Petey almost died last week (serious, but not quite the automated external defibrillator ( AED) kind of event), and he is slowly working his way back to good health after a stay in the animal hospital. It will probably be at least two weeks before he is well enough to be adopted. He has already started eating again, and his energy level is close to normal, but we want to make sure that he has truly whooped the dreaded parvo.

Petey bonds quickly with people, and he really enjoys sitting on a couch or chair with his favorite humans. Despite his small size, Petey is surprisingly quite adept at standing up for himself, and he does not allow the bigger dogs to push him around. He also has quite a personality, and he wags his tail and grins when you talk to him as if he understands every word you say.

To learn more about adopting Petey, or if you want to help financially support Planned Pethood's mission to rescue dogs and cats in Northwest Ohio, visit the Planned Pethood website for more information.

Meet Lucy, a Rescue Pug

Pictured on your left is Lucy, a 13-pound Pug whose former owner could no longer care for her. She is not the proverbial spring chicken, as she is somewhere around seven years old, but Lucy seems to have many good years ahead of her.

I had several other pictures of Lucy, but this one I found especially endearing and representative of her personality.

Lucy is housebroken, gets along very well with our other dogs, and simply wants a forever home where she can cuddle up with someone. Lucy is best described with the phrases "affectionate" and "laid back," and I have yet to hear her bark. Lucy is just a good natured little dog who through no fault of her own found herself in unfortunate circumstances, and she will provide years of companionship to her next owners.

If you would like learn more about adopting Lucy, or if you want to help financially support Planned Pethood's mission to rescue dogs and cats in Northwest Ohio, visit the Planned Pethood website for more information.

Meet Bolt, an Australian Shepherd Mix

Pictured on your left is Bolt, a one-year-old Australian shepherd mix who was rescued from a local shelter. He is quite a bit underweight, weighing in at only 27 pounds today at the vet. Bolt looks like he will probably be around 40 pounds when he fills out.

Bolt gets along well with our other dogs, and he has a big toothy smile. He has a lot of energy, since he is still a puppy, though he already seems to know some commands. He is a bit timid at first, but he seems quite sociable and likes to sit at my feet while I work on the computer. Bolt is housebroken and also enjoys running around the backyard and being chased by the other dogs.

If you would like learn more about adopting Bolt, or you want to help financially support Planned Pethood's mission to rescue dogs and cats in Northwest Ohio, visit the Planned Pethood website for more information.

Meet Sammy, a Rescue Puggle

As the current owner of a pair of Puggles, I can testify to the fun-loving nature of these affectionate dogs, and our new foster Sam (or "Sammy," as we have been calling her) possesses all the most lovable qualities about Puggles.

The three-year-old Sammy weighs about 25 pounds, and she appears to be in good health other than being a couple of pounds overweight. She is on the shorter and stockier end of the Puggle spectrum. She loves to sleep in bed with people, and Sammy enjoys sitting on your lap and smothering you with kisses.

Sammy is a friendly and agreeable dog who wants to please people, and she gets along well with the other dogs in the house. She is quite docile, good with children, and has a moderate energy level for a Puggle, dogs which can be rather rambunctious.

To learn more about adopting Sammy, or to help financially support Planned Pethood's mission to rescue dogs and cats in Northwest Ohio, visit the Planned Pethood website for more information.

Meet Atticus Finch, a Rescue Puggle

On your left is Atticus Finch, a 26-pound male Puggle who was rescued from an abusive environment and turned over to Planned Pethood. Atticus is a bit shy when he first meets people, and flinches when a hand moves suddenly toward him, but he is a gentle and friendly dog after he gets to know you.

Atticus gets along well with other dogs, and he is not a dominant alpha-type. As far as Puggles go, Atticus is on the calmer side, and his shorter legs and slightly longer body suggest either a Dachshund or Basset hound somewhere in the family tree.

His new owners will need to continue to reinforce housebreaking routines, though Atticus seems to know that outdoors is the best place for completing one's business. As of this point we have not seen any significant negative behaviors with Atticus, though his prior training appears to have been minimal at best.

To learn more about adopting Atticus Finch, or to help financially support Planned Pethood's mission to rescue dogs and cats in Northwest Ohio, visit the Planned Pethood website for more information.

Meet Ramón, a Rescue Dog

Pictured is Ramón, a two-year-old beagle-bulldog mix (perhaps part Puggle) who is a stray that was rescued from a Northwest Ohio dog pound. This 30-pound boy loves to run, splash in water, and any other activities that the group wants to do.

Ramón appears to be housebroken, and so far has not had any accidents in his foster home. He is quite affectionate, and will gladly slobber you with kisses. While he is a good-natured dog, Ramón loves to wrestle, and he should be placed with dogs his size or larger, since his idea of fun involves romping and jumping.

Ramón does not appear to have any negative traits so far, and he will happily go for car rides, walks, or any similar activity. He can be a bit of a wanderer, so folks with fenceless yards should consider fence installation. He pulls a bit on the leash, so his new owners will need to work with him on appropriate walking behaviors. To learn more about adopting Ramón or any other Toledo-area rescue dogs, visit the Planned Pethood website for more details.

Meet Godfrey, a Rescue Dachshund

Godfrey (German for "God's peace") is a 3-year-old, 19-pound Dachshund who was rescued from a local dog pound. He came to Planned Pethood a bit overweight, so his new family needs to closely monitor his food intake and to make sure that Godfrey gets plenty of exercise. Godfrey's energy level is not very high, so he would probably be best matched with an older couple or with people who share his love of a laidback lifestyle.

Godfrey is the prototypical "people dog," and he follows me around the house all day. In a perfect world, Godfrey would have a human hand rubbing his stomach 24 hours a day, and he reciprocates with affection to those who give him pets and attention.

Although he does not bark a great deal, Godfrey does seem to enjoy carrying on conversations with people, especially when he wants to be petted. He will make a playful "rowrrr-rowrrr" sound if you ask him questions like "Do you want some pets?" or "Who's a good boy?"

The only behavior that we have seen that needs some training is his dislike of people putting things around his neck, like his collar. He struggles quite a bit with this, which suggests that he had a bad experience at some point in the past. Godfrey is also clueless about the leash, and we are working to get him acclimated to the idea of walking on a leash. He is housebroken (although he marked indoors a few times when he first arrived), and has been sleeping in a crate since he went to his foster home.

Godfrey is a lovable little dog who would be an excellent companion for someone looking for a calm and affectionate younger dog. For more information on Godfrey, or any other rescue dog, please visit the Planned Pethood website.

Meet Abbi, a Miniature Pinscher

Pictured on your left is Abbi, a 9-month-old, 9-pound Miniature Pinscher who was rescued from Defiance County. When she first meets people, she is a bit shy, and she barks at male strangers until she is more comfortable. After warming up, though, she is a friendly and affectionate dog, and likes to have her belly rubbed.

While an active dog, Abbi is not hyper, and she likes to sit with the people in our home. She is quite athletic, and prances about the house and yard with what appears to be springs in her legs. She gets along quite well with the other dogs in our home, and likes to wrestle, play tug-of-war, chew on toys, and splash in the walk in tub. When motivated by a treat, Abbi can nimbly dance on two legs, and we are working on the commands on "Sit" and "Stay" with her.

Abbi is still working on being fully housebroken, so her the people in her forever home need to be willing to patiently continue positive reinforcement. She comes when you call her name or when you whistle for her, and she loves to run in the backyard. On a leash, Abbi pulls a bit, so she might do better with a harness on walks in the neighborhood. This skinny girl is a bit underweight, so folks with a picket fence need to watch Abbi to make sure she doesn't slip through, although I should add that Abbi has not exhibited any runaway behavior to this point.

At this point we have not encountered any negative behaviors with Abbi beyond typical puppy curiosity, such as nosing in the trash or chewing on things she finds on the floor. Abbi has been sleeping in a crate at night, which she willingly enters without resistance, suggesting that she was crate-trained at some point. She would probably do best in a home with a higher level of activity, or with an owner who has the time to play with her during the day.

For more information on Abbi, or any other rescue dog, please visit the Planned Pethood website.

Adopt This Handsome Dachshund!

Percy is a 1-1/2-year-old, 18-pound male Dachshund who was originally a rescued stray from Fulton County. He found an adoptive home a few months ago, but the adoptive owners decided that they could not handle housebreaking Percy, so he is back with us.

We are hoping that he gets adopted soon, because we are becoming quite attached to the handsome fellow.

This is Percy's second time in our home, and he really is a sweet, sweet boy who loves to cuddle and play. He gets along fine with other dogs and children, and he is quite protective of his foster home, possessing a deep bark that he uses when strangers appear. Around the other dogs he generally defers to the alpha, but he certainly knows how to stand up for himself, in spite of his four-inch Dachshund legs.

One of Percy's best traits is his easy-going, agreeable manner, and he is always game for whatever the rest of the house wants to do. He likes rawhide bones and dog toys, though he will occasionally chew on inappropriate items left on the floor, such as pencils and pens.

Since he returned to foster care, we discovered that Percy had a urinary tract infection, and since undergoing antibiotic treatment, he has been just about accident-free for the past month.

However, we must insist that Percy's next home be one in which the owners will make a commitment to properly train him to go to the bathroom outside, or who can live with the occasional accident. He has bounced around too many homes in the past year, but in spite of the chaos he remains one of the nicest dogs you will ever meet.

For more information on Percy, or any other rescue dog, please visit the Planned Pethood website.

A Plug for Planned Pethood

Regular readers to this site are familiar with my association with Planned Pethood, the non-profit, all-volunteer Northwest Ohio based organization that has saved and found homes for thousands of cats and dogs since its inception. In 2007 alone the group saved over 2,000 cats and dogs, making it second in the area only to the Humane Society in its ability to rescue animals.

My wife and I have been involved with Planned Pethood for almost two years now, starting as adoptive owners, moving into roles as foster parents to dogs, and lately also serving to screen prospective adoptive parents and doing home visits. I can wholeheartedly endorse Planned Pethood as one of those exemplary charitable organizations that provides a highly efficient use of donated funds.

Recently the organization has encountered some unexpected expenses. Several litters of rescued puppies came down with parvovirus, saddling Planned Pethood with many thousands of dollars in veterinarian fees. In addition, a rescued Westie-poo named Jordan needed a leg amputation, which added to the financial burdens of the group.

If you have a few extra dollars to donate, I suggest that Planned Pethood would be an excellent vehicle for your generosity. Follow this link to the Planned Pethood donation page, and you will see a variety of donation options and payment methods to assist this worthy organization.

Readers whose companies participate in the United Way can designate their contribution to go to Planned Pethood by writing in the group's name on the third section of the pledge form. In addition, many employers will match your personal donation to Planned Pethood. If your company has a matching gift program, please mail the form along with your donation and PPI will process it.

Thank you for your consideration of this request!

Meet Rory, a Rescue Cocker Spaniel

Pictured on your left is Rory, a 35-pound, three-year-old chocolate cocker spaniel who was dropped off at an area dog pound by his owner. She told the agency that she "didn't like the way he was acting" around one of her children, although she said Rory had not bitten anyone.

When the Planned Pethood volunteer brought this handsome fellow home, she discovered that Rory might have had a reason to be a bit cranky: stuck in his bushy hindquarters was a wire hairband that had been poking him for an unknown amount of time. The device was so thoroughly intertwined with Rory's hair that it had to be cut out.

The poor dog's fur was a complete mess, filled with snarls, tangles, and mats that we had to cut quite a bit of his longer hair. After a few baths, though, Rory no longer smells like a skunk, and he still has the wavy mane on top of his head that makes him look like a distinguished gentleman.

Left: Metallic source of irritation for Rory

Rory is housebroken, though he did mark in the house a few times when he first arrived. He gets along well with other dogs, and is more of a follower than a leader. He has a deep bark when he sees strangers, and Rory demonstrated territoriality in his first day as he woofed at the new people he met. Rory likes rawhide bones, and he does not seem to chew inappropriate items. He is a little nervous riding in the car, and prefers to sit with his head on someone's lap while in the vehicle.

Rory likes to think he is a lapdog, and is quite affectionate with the people in our house. He knows a few basic commands, such as "sit" and "outside," and he loves to lope around the backyard with the other dogs. He seems to prefer to sleep with or near people, and he whined for about ten minutes when we kept him gated in the kitchen on his first night.

For more information on Rory, or any other rescue dog, please visit the Planned Pethood website.

Meet Gretl, a Rescue Dachshund

Gretl is a four-year-old, twelve-pound Dachshund who suffered years of abuse and neglect as a breeding dog at a puppy mill. She was rescued by a Planned Pethood volunteer from a local pound, and was scheduled to be euthanized at the time of her rescue.

Gretl has spent most of her four years locked in a cage, and at the time of rescue was suffering from an inguinal hernia that the breeder neglected to fix. The vet repaired her hernia in the process of spaying her, and she is fine now. She is a bit skittish around new people, though she warms up quickly. We are working on housebreaking Gretl, and teaching her basic social skills, such as walking on a leash and going outdoors on her own.

The perfect home for Gretl would be one that understands that this dog needs some time and a lot of love to overcome the years of neglect. Gretl is easily startled by loud noises and sudden movements, but she will sit quietly if picked up and petted. She has not demonstrated any negative behaviors, and she has a streak of Doxie inquisitiveness about her.

Gretl will provide many years of love for a person who has the patience to wait for trust to build between dog and owner, but she would probably best thrive in a house with regular routines and a lower level of activity. For more information on Gretl, or any other rescue dog, please visit the Planned Pethood website.

Meet Chantilly, a Rescue Maltese

Chantilly is a six-year-old, seven-pound Maltese who suffered years of abuse and neglect as a breeding dog at a puppy mill. She was rescued from a local pound and was scheduled to be euthanized at the time of her rescue.

Living a life at a puppy mill can be horrific, and Chantilly has spent most of her six years locked in a cage. In spite of such unpleasant conditions, though, she is a sweet little dog who needs a patient, quiet home in which to blossom. We are working on housebreaking Chantilly and teaching her basic social skills, such as walking on a leash and going outdoors on her own.

The ideal home for Chantilly would be one that recognizes that this dog needs some time and a lot of love to overcome the years of neglect. She is easily startled by loud noises and sudden movements, though she has already started wagging her tail and showing signs of fondness for the people in our home.

Chantilly will provide many years of love for the right home, but she would probably best thrive in a house with regular routines and a lower level of activity. For more information on Chantilly, or any other rescue dog, please visit the Planned Pethood website.

Meet Lilliput, an Affenpinscher Who Needs a Good Home

Lilliput is a 15-pound, 4-year-old Affenpinscher mix, which is German for “monkey dog.” Her wiry black hair is easy to maintain and requires hardly any grooming. A bath and a brush is all she needs to keep that monkey hair tamed. Lilliput, by the way, is the country of the Lilliputians in Gulliver's Travels, but she responds to just about any name spoken in a warm tone.

Lilliput is cautious at first about meeting new people and she takes a while to warm up. Within a few minutes, though, she likes anyone who wants to pet her and talk sweetly to her. Lilliput will sit in your lap or snuggle on the couch with you, and she also rides well in a car. If you hold a treat over her head, Lilliput will dance on two legs across the room.

Lilliput was a stray and ran loose around a trailer park all summer long. When the weather turned especially cold, she made a nest under one of the trailers. Finally, a resident in the park decided Lilliput needed help and called Planned Pethood. Since she has been in a foster home, she has not demonstrated inappropriate chewing behavior, she is housebroken, and she knows a number of basic commands. Lilliput plays well with other dogs, big and small, but she will snip at other dogs when they invade her space. Lilliput would probably best thrive in a home with older children and calmer dogs.

If you are interested in adopting Lilliput, be aware that she will be quite shy and reserved for the first few days. However, our experience has been that Lilliput comes out of her shell once she learns the new routines of the house, and she is a sweet dog who is eager to please the people around her. Any abuse that Lilliput might have suffered does not seem to interfere with her ability to be a loving dog.

For more information on adopting Lilliput, or any other rescue dogs, see the Planned Pethood website. If you would like to see Lilliput in person, she will be at the Adoptathon at the PetSmart in Spring Meadows on Saturday, December 29, from 11 am to 2 pm.

Santa Welcomes Dogs and Cats

(Toledo, OH) Santa Claus never forgets our pets, and the Jolly One is making visits at the PetSmart location in Spring Meadows on Saturdays and Sundays before December 25 to wish good doggies and kitties a Merry Christmas.

Now, given the American predilection for overfeeding our pets, I might suggest that a treadmill is in order for some of these hefty critters, but my excess baggage leaves me hardly in a position to criticize overweight dogs and cats.

Santa's visits are sponsored by Planned Pethood, a worthy animal rescue group in Northwest Ohio for whom my wife and I foster dogs. In case you were wondering, the beautiful female Jindo we were fostering was adopted today. While we grew quickly attached to this 2-year-old sweetie, we are glad that she has found a good home.

Meet Scarlett, a Rescue Jindo

Pictured on your left is Scarlett, who is a beautiful 2-year-old Jindo rescued last week from the Fulton County dog pound. Scarlett is a good-tempered and highly intelligent dog who seems to bond very quickly with caregivers. She is housetrained and was crate trained in her previous foster home, and gets along well with the other dogs in our home.

Scarlett has a long, loping gait not unlike that of a wolf, and to watch her run is truly a moment of natural grace. She seems to crave affection, and already knows some basic commands. Though not a frequent barker, Scarlett has a deep voice and has a commanding bark when strangers come to the door.

A word about the Jindo breed: while these are not hyperactive dogs, they do require exercise and room to run. Jindos can be very affectionate, and love to cuddle, but they should be matched with owners who can ensure their need for physical activity.

Scarlett seems to bond first with men, and follows me around the house most of the day. As I write this post, she is laying next to me on my bed, content to pass the time with human company. In our first days together, I have not witnessed any negative behaviors with her, and she seems like the ideal dog for a family with older children (I have not seen her near young children yet).

For more information on adopting Scarlett, or any other rescue dogs, see the Planned Pethood website. If you would like to see Scarlett in person, she will be at the Adoptathon at the PetSmart in Spring Meadows on Saturday, December 15, from 11 am to 2 pm. You can also see a short video of this gorgeous dog by following this link.

Sassy Still Needs a Home

I wrote last week about Sassy, who is an 11-pound chihuahua and schnauzer mix we are fostering. This is a wonderful dog who can bring a great deal of joy to the right home for many years to come.

Sassy has fur that is a combination of wiry and soft textures. Sassy is 7 years old and has had the same owner all of her life. Her owner went away to college and the kid's parents decided they didn't want to care for a dog any longer, so they dumped her off at the Fulton County dog pound, where she was rescued by Planned Pethood.

Sassy is a sweet little dog. She's very friendly, not at all hyperactive, but still has plenty of energy and a lot of living to do. Sassy is fine with other dogs, with cats, and loves children too. She is quite numble, being able to dance on two legs for an impressive amount of time. Sassy is housebroken, and walks to the back door when she needs to go outside.

Sassy will bark at strangers, or when someone arrives at the door, and is known to give squirrels a good chase. Generally, though, she prefers to cuddle, and likes to play hide-and-seek if you are sitting on the couch with a blanket. We are especially desirous of finding Sassy a good home because our children are becoming quite attached to this well-mannered lttle dog.

For more information on adopting Sassy, or any other rescue dogs, see the Planned Pethood website. If you would like to see Sassy in person, she will be at the Adoptathon at the PetSmart in Spring Meadows on Saturday, December 8, from 11 am to 2 pm.

Meet Sassy, a Loveable Dog

Meet Sassy, who is an 11-pound chihuahua and schnauzer mix, and she has fur that is a combination of wiry and soft textures. Sassy is 7 years old and has had the same owner all of her life. Her owner went away to college and the kid's parents decided they didn't want to care for a dog any longer, so they dropped her off at the Fulton County dog pound, where she was rescued by Planned Pethood.

Sassy is a sweet little dog. She's very friendly, not at all hyperactive, but still has plenty of energy and a lot of living to do. Sassy is fine with other dogs, with cats, with HDMI cables, and loves children too. She is quite numble, being able to dance on two legs for an impressive amount of time. Sassy is housebroken, and walks to the back door when she needs to go outside.

For more information on adopting Sassy, or any other wonderful rescue dogs, see the Planned Pethood website.

Skip is Looking for a Loving Home

Click picture for a larger image of Skip

Regular readers of this site know that my wife and I are involved with Planned Pethood, an animal rescue organization in Northwest Ohio. Pictured on your left is Skip, a 10-pound male Maltese-Shih Tzu mix.

Skip is only 5 months old, so we are working on housebreaking him. So far he seems quite willing to do his business outside, but he has had a few accidents since we picked him up Saturday. Skip likes to chew on rawhide, but has shown no proclivity to engage in undesirable chewing behaviors.

I have yet to hear Skip bark, though he does whimper a bit if I am in another room, such as the restroom with the door shut. He gets along well with our other dogs, and seems more inclined to be a friend than a rival to them. Our Puggle Eddie Haskell - who is notorious for his rowdy behavior with new dogs - seems to be cutting Skip some slack, which is an indicator that Skip can get along with any dog.

In short, Skip is a sweet little dog who enjoys the company of people, and whose easygoing demeanor makes him a desirable pet for adoption.

For more information on adopting Skip, or any other wonderful rescue dogs, see the Planned Pethood website.