Trixie is a perfectly lovely senior girl; she must have been an absolute knockout when she was younger.

She was fortunate to come into rescue, as she was a sad girl-- an absolute basket case, unlikely to be adopted from the shelter. Not only was she underfed, but she had an arthritic elbow made her almost unable to walk. She also had an undiagnosed and untreated condition that caused overproductive adrenal glands. Lacking treatment, the latter could have led to some very serious health problems.

After a few weeks of good nutrition, joint supplements and medication for the adrenal glands, she's bright as can be and full of vim and vigor. Her elbow still bothers her some, but she can now go on walks of a mile, and loves to do it.

We're terribly pleased with how far she's come and grateful that her love of life has been restored.

If you'd like to bring a little more sunshine into your life by taking in Trixie, please submit an online adoption application and send us a note at info@fetchingcompanions.org.

Quick! Close the doggie door! I hear the blimp coming!

There are few things Dutchess hates, but count the Goodyear blimp and small aircraft among them. Should she ever manage to bark one out of the sky and get to it, the result would not be pretty.

By contrast, this 11 year old girl carries on good relations with humans and dogs, though she likes to keep both under close supervision. (One just can't find adequate help these days, you know; one has to keep reminding all of what they're supposed to do. A Dutchess is royalty, after all, and deference to her position is expected.)

She's a wiry and healthy-looking dog. Her appearance and her behavior belie her years. She's a purebred with papers, but she'd never win in the show ring, lacking the wide-sprung ribcage and otter tail of a bench-bred champion. Having said that, she has a very appealing appearance, with an open, friendly, smiling face, an erect stance, and a carriage that is, well, regal.

She loves attention, her food, her walks, and fetching, but not necessarily in that order. As mentioned before, she gets along well with other dogs. She does tend to correct any behavior she feels is out of line. It's entertaining to watch this petite, 50 pound sylph bossing a hulking 95 pound male around.

Dutchess also likes children, but we haven't tested tested her with cats or other small animals. She's wonderful company and would do well as an only dog or as an addition to a family with dogs having no pretensions to royalty.

This girl has been a long-term project dog for us, having been delivered to us in rather poor condition. Restoration of her good health is a point of pride for us. She had the following problems:

• Total blindness due to cataracts, corrected by surgical implantation of artificial lenses. She needs eyedrops twice daily to prevent glaucoma.
  
  
• Badly torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in one knee, complicated by the meniscus being folded into the joint. This was corrected surgically.
  
  
• Diabetes, controlled by twice-daily insulin injections. This requires absolutely no medical or veterinary skills: anyone can do it quite easily.
  

If this sounds like a lot of trouble, it isn't. Dutchess cooperates nicely, because she knows she'll be rewarded with a cookie. If it sounds expensive, it's about $45 a month-- less than most people pay for cable TV-- and she's lots more entertaining than HBO.

If you want to make a big difference for a dog who's had some very tough breaks in life, and gain a wonderful companion in the bargain, Dutchess is your girl. If you'd like to meet her, please submit an online adoption application, then contact us at info@fetchingcompanions.org.

Callie is a beautiful, active, adult girl from championship bloodlines, and we have the AKC papers to prove it. She's 9 years--going on 1--and great fun to be around.

She's in excellent health. When we took her in, she was a tad full-figured, having been overfed, but she's now slimmed down and doggone svelte.

She gets along well with large-breed dogs, children, and adults. She loved to play with her 2 year old foster brother (since adopted) and kept up with him quite well, up to the point that he went into high-speed sprint mode. She doesn't have the patience to deal well with cats or small dogs. She's not a digger, by the way.

For any age, she's a high energy, playful girl, so she needs a family who will see to it that she gets plenty of exercise. She's up to lots of that-- she can do a 3 mile hike without missing a beat.

Take a look at this video to get a feel for how active this girl is. It shows her at play with her much younger foster brother, Chance, a two-year old, who has been adopted. Although she couldn't run as fast as he could, she kept up with him in every other way. In fact, she was usually the victor in their frequent tug-'o-war matches.

If you're interested in Callie, please drop us a line at info@fetchingcompanions.org.

Dodger is an adorable boy looking for his forever home! He is about 5 years old and has a beautiful honey colored coat. Dodger came into rescue a little on the plump side at about 85 lbs and he is currently on a diet and exercise plan. He loves to go to the dog park and romp and play with his friends so we think he will lose his extra weight quickly. If you are looking for a cute, happy, friendly dog-- here he is!

Dodger has great house manners and is very mellow when he is at home. He is housebroken and knows basic obedience commands. Dodger is good with other dogs of all sizes and he also likes children and gives great hugs. He shows no symtoms of it, but xrays reveal a degree of hip malformation. He can stay symtom-free for life if he's kept slim, given regular low-impact exercise (e.g. walking, swimming) and gets daily joint supplements. Because of his hips he isn't suited be a running partner or an agility dog, but he's a wonderful companion with lots of love to give!

Dodger is neutered, micro-chipped and up to date on his vaccinations. If you think he might be the companion you have been looking for, please submit an online application and email your interest to his foster family at: mary.ogorman@gmail.com.

Bodie, a beautiful purebred boy, was reluctantly given up along with his sister Jenny, because their owner had to move into housing where dogs aren't allowed. He is 2-1/2 years old, neutered, in prime health and up to date on his vaccinations.

Now that we've had Bodie and his sister for a short time, we've come to the conclusion that they will be better off placed separately. When together, they feed off each other's excitement and would thus, as a pair, be too much for most people to handle. When apart, they're each much calmer and easier to deal with.

Suffice to say that each is a lively, friendly dog and is excited to meet new people. Bodie is great with people (both adults and children), dogs and cats.

If Bodie appeals to you, please submit an online adoption application and drop us a line at info@fetchingcompanions.org.

Jenny, a beautiful purebred girl, was reluctantly given up along with her brother Bodie, because their owner had to move into housing where dogs aren't allowed. She is 2-1/2 years old, spayed, in prime health and up to date on hei vaccinations.

Now that we've had Jenny and her brother for a short time, we've come to the conclusion that they will be better off placed separately. When together, they feed off each other's excitement and thus, as a pair, would be too much for most people to handle. When apart, they're each much calmer and easier to deal with.

Suffice to say that each is a lively, friendly dog and is excited to meet new people. Jenny is great with people (both adults and children), dogs and cats.

If Jenny appeals to you, please submit an online adoption application and drop us a line at info@fetchingcompanions.org.

Café is a beautiful purebred chocolate lab. We think this girl is about 2 years old but could be younger. Café gets along well with other dogs big and small and adores people of all ages. She loves to receive pets and give kisses in return. Café is very attentive and is a quick learner. She is housebroken, takes treats gently and knows basic obedience commands. She does not chew (except for squeaky toys) and has great house manners. She also loves to go on walks and play fetch. Café is spayed, micro-chipped and up to date on her vaccinations. If you are interested in Café please submit an online application and her foster family at: heidithor@cox.net.

What a sweetie Shiloh is! He's a Lab mix with a Labbie temperament. He appears to be 2 to 3 years old, and his behavior is still a bit puppyish, but laid-back at the same time.

He's quite good on lead, knows "sit," and adores his toys and human attention. He takes treats gently. He mixes very well with our other dogs and has done fine on a couple of visits to the local pet store. He got a chance to see a cat at close range while at the vet and gave no sign of wanting to chase, so he may be okay with felines.

His appearance, behavior, and lack of rear dewclaws strongly suggest that the Labrador part of his gene mix is the dominant one. He is however on the low side of the Lab size range, at about 60 pounds.

If you'd like a playful, attentive companion to cuddle with, Shiloh is the dog for you. If you're interested in this love bug, please submit an online application and drop us a line at info@fetchingcompanions.org.

Meet Kami!

Kami is an adorable purebred chocolate lab girl who is about 3 years old. She came into rescue after being hit by a car and abandoned by her family. Kami had a broken pelvis and a tear in her diaphragm (that we did not know about when we brought her into rescue). We came very close to losing this precious girl but our wonderful vets were able to save her and say that she is a "miracle dog". We have nursed her back to health and she is ready to find her forever home!

Kami is a sweet and affectionate dog that has all of the qualities that we love about labs! She has a wonderful, happy lab temperament. She is not dominant and gets along well with all other dogs. Kami is great with children and loves to be near them and shower them with kisses. She walks well on a leash and knows basic obedience commands such as: "sit", "down", "shake" and she tries very hard to "stay" when asked. She is mellow for her age but she does like to go on walks and trips to the dog park. Our vet tells us that she has made a wonderful recovery but she is probably not a candidate as a jogging partner and this news doesn't seem to bother her one bit!

Kami is spayed, micro-chipped and current on her vaccinations. She is looking for a home ready to receive lots of love and kisses and in return she would like a cozy dog bed and some stuffed animals to carry around. If you think she may be the girl for you, please submit and online application and email your interest to her foster family at: Heidithor@cox.net

A large head thrusts up from under the dining room table and plants itself firmly on my chest. It's furry and chocolate-colored. It's Chance, the big ol' goofy love bug, trolling for a hug.

Chance is a tall, handsome, strapping lad, is around 1-1/2 to 2 years old, weighs in at about 75 pounds, and appears to be a purebred. Moreover, he's young and playful and always ready for the next play session, walk, or car ride.

He gets along very well with his foster brothers and sisters and loves to carouse for hours with Callie (nine years old, going on one). The pair love to play tug-o'-war, though Chance actually prefers for Callie to chase him. Despite his youth, he has excellent leash manners and will heel exquisitely for miles on end, needing only an occasional tiny leash-pop to keep him in position.

Although he established a reputation as a fence climber at the shelter, having scaled a 6-foot chain link fence, he's never challenged our 4-1/2 foot high wrought iron fence. Of course, a shelter is a dreadfully boring, stressful place; things around here are lots more interesting and fun.

He's the very picture of robust good health and appears to have absolutely no orthopedic issues. He's neutered, house-trained and up to date on vaccines.

If you're after a loving, devoted, playful, lifelong companion, you couldn't do better than Chance. If you're interested, please submit an online application (link), then drop us a line at info@fetchingcompanions.org.

Wrigley was so named because he is a wiggle-butt. He's a cute, very active young boy, about 1-1/2 to 2 years old and 66-67 lbs, who had an ACL injury to his right (rear) knee when we got him from the shelter. His injury was repaired by our vet on 12/30. He can now go on walks, even long ones, but he can't roughhouse or run for a while yet. The vet says 100% recovery will be attained inlate May.

Wrigley has a very nice temperament, but being a typical young lab, is full of himself, so he will need obedience training; we have not had time to do more than some basics. Wrigley gets along fine with our senior labs.

If you're interested in Wrigley, please drop us a line at info@fetchingcompanions.org.