Hi there!

We are so in love with our little Rocky! He has definitely found his forever home with us. The kids are just so thrilled and our Boston Terrier, Polly, has welcomed him too. Right now he is at the beach with us on a long weekend and he loves the water! No fear in this little guy. He LOVES to chase the laser pointer and boy, can he jump HIGH! Right now he's curled up safe and snug next to his "sister dog" in their matching beds....with all four paws in the air, belly up!

We just love him and thank you all so much for doing what you do. The wonderful people at your organization are truly angels and we are grateful for all their hard work and dedication. We wish we could take in more!

Thanks again,

Dear Lost Cat & Dog Rescue Foundation,

Hi, my name is Bear.

I was adopted last October from the PetSmart in 7-Corner, Falls Church, VA. I'm an active Schipperke-mix who is about 4 years old.

My new parents are Mark & Kate. They're super great!! Originally, they put up with a lot as it took me awhile to adjust.

They like me because I'm very loyal, protective and love to cuddle with them on the couch. This summer they took me to basic puppy school and I taught them how I operate - what commands I knew, and what I needed to learn. Eventually, they took me to the "doggie park" where I learned the 'way of the pack'.

Unlike at my first owner's house, I get the run of the house when they're out - but I usually just nap and occassionally bark at people walking near my house. On weekends, I get spoiled with extra-long walks. Pretty much I've got it made living in Falls Church.

Thanks for keeping me safe and helping me find a new home. You did a awesome job.

Thanks,

"Bear" (formerly Noby)

Our family of five adopted Kiki, a one year mama whose puppies were taken and was left in a WVA shelter. Her destiny would soon change to become our other dog's BFF. We had a one year old lab mix who was high energy even for three kids! He couldn't have been happier to meet his match! The two get along famously, have free reign of our house and romp around til their hearts' content.

Part of our success was due to the great kindness and prep work that Peggy Bowers put in during the three weeks she had Kiki. It truly helped us feel comfortable and make such a smooth transition. We are truly greatful for our new blessing and to all of the wonderful foster parents!

We adopted Kaci (then called Dandy) in November 2008. After seeing her online, we met her at the Fair Lakes PetsMart & took her home that very evening. She had a respiratory illness & giardia. She was a skinny 30 lbs. Her illnesses were quickly treated & over the next several months she gained 10 lbs. She is energetic, playful & a total joy to have in our home. She is very inquisitive & keeps us laughing at her antics everyday. Her DNA test identified her as part whippet which is so accurate. She runs like the wind & jumps like a deer. The first time I saw her sail over some shrubs in the backyard I thought, uh oh, she's going to jump the fence soon. But she never grew taller so no fence jumping for her...whew!

She's very affectionate & loves to cuddle & just be near her people all the time. She lives for her walks. Rain, shine, snow, sleet...it doesn't matter, we walk! She loves the dog park and various doggie social events we have attended. She's Miss Congeniality in all these situations-so funny. She loves to run & romp & play. We are still working on a few issues-barking, jumping & leash pulling. All are improving.

She has enriched our lives beyond measure. Many thanks to everyone at LDCRF who helped make Kaci the princess of our home.

Our three Lost Dogs- now three found dogs - are doing great. We adopted Mace and Ria, the two chihuahuas, from the Lost Dog Ranch in Sumerduck in the fall of 2006, soon after they were surrendered by an elderly and sick couple who could not take care of them. They were malnourished, sick, and scared, but are doing great now. In the spring of 2009 we adopted Hank, the blue tick beagle, who originally came from West Virginia and was fostered by a great foster-dad (Chris) for over a year and then a local foster-mom (Jen) for a few months before we found him at an event. He was healthy when we got him, but startled at everything. He is so much more worldly and better now, and loves to go on walks and on vacations with us where he sees new and sometimes scary things. Every one that sees him falls in love with him. He has an endearing way of looking at you with love that melts everyone. They are all wonderful dogs, and each sleeps in bed with their person - twin 17 year old girls for the chi's and a 15 year old boy for the beagle. Recently they helped us foster Rocky the Tiny, who was adopted last weekend. Hank was the big brother that Rocky needed to show him the ropes. Mace volunteers with her person as a therapy dog at a nursing home with Fairfax Pets on Wheels. Ria, the smallest is our watch dog. He lays in bed and barks if anyone comes to the door.

You'll be pleased to know that Daisy Mae (renamed Sarah) has investigated every nook and cranny of our home, to her satisfaction. She is lovely and loving--and her plumed tail announces her presence. She already sleeps with our ShihTzu, Katy, and now is the proud owner of Russ & Rita. In short, she is well adjusted and a very happy cat!

We adopted Stiles (renamed Stanley) a few weeks ago, and what a wonderful addition to our home he has been. If we knew how fun it would be to have two dogs, we would have done it long ago! Stanley is calm and friendly with everyone and has had a very positive effect on our dog Lexi, also a rescued shelter dog. We followed the instructions from rescue volunteers on how to introduce the two, and they hit it off right away. Lexi finally has a playmate and sleeps well after their vigorous play sessions. They love walking together and Stanley helps Lexi feel more calm and secure. Thank you for all you do on behalf of lost dogs.

Hi,

We just wanted to take a moment to update everyone on Bonkers. We love our new kitty and really appreciate the support and dedication of the Lost Dog team and Bonker’s foster mom. Bonkers has definitely taken to his new home and seems to be most content!

He has a full schedule of eating, playing and sleeping and has made himself king of the castle! We have a photo of him after a hard day at play. We look forward to many more updates and wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I adopted Loretta Lynn, a Walker Hound, at the end of May this year. There wasn't much background info on her except that she was found in the woods in southern Virginia in February. She was so cute, I couldn't resist her and had to bring her home. The first thing she did when I took her home was hop up on the couch and fall asleep on my little brother. My little Loretta was so scared when she first came home. Loud noises, sudden movements, everything seemed to scare her. Slowly though, she got better and better, and now she is as happy as she can be. She is playing with other dogs all the time now and doesn't run away when a she hears a loud noise, except thunder and fireworks. Since coming to me, she has become my best friend, I can't imagine not having her. Her favorite things to do now are taking naps with me, playing with her stuffed duck, and destroying cardboard boxes. She is the sweetest thing, and I'm very happy I was able to give her a wonderful forever home.

Bear (Cubby)is a seven month old puppy that was introduced to me on October 31st. Bear was a owner turn in. Bear has brought my family closer together as everyday goes by.

He is the most well behaved puppy i have ever met, he loves to play at the dog park, and is greatly mannered around the house. Bear get along great with our cat, but it did take a warm up period. Bear immediately realized once he came to my place in Norfolk that it was home. He has his own bed, and is becoming very well crate trained. We go on long walks every day at least 2 times a day. Bear is getting used to water.

Hello,

We adopted Vinnie two weeks ago (October 31st) at PetSmart in Fairfax and picked him up in Leesburg - the following day.

Vinnie is a very gentile dog. He loves people and our grandkids are now saying "Vin is our best friend". We lost our Yellow Lab in September and it was a heartbreaker, however Vinnie is helping fill the gap in our lives. We love dogs and he is our third Lab mix.

He's very energetic and we're working on some skills - jumping/going on furniture etc and taking him weekly to a class. However, overall, he's a beautiful dog with a loving heart and he's now part of the family.

The picture of my grandaughter says it all - it looks like Vinnie wears her out which is quite an accomplishment.

Max and Sally (as we are calling her, since my mom, my aunt, and Dan's sister are all Allies, and it would be just too confusing) settled in almost immediately--and now they've completely taken over our condo--of course! The first night they were here, Dan and I had gone to bed, and next thing we knew, Sally had jumped into bed and cured up beside me. Then Max jumped up and cured up between my legs. So, with Dan on my other side, I couldn't move at all! Ha ha!

My mom has been texting me and asking about her new "grandkitties," and Max very obligingly purred into the phone for her!

We've taken some pictures, but I can't seem to find the cable to get them from my camera to my computer, so I'll send some to you later.

Thanks so much for helping us with this adoption--we're simply delighted with these kitties!

We are so happy with our hound/beagle dog named Hope. Hope was part of a litter that was found out in the wilds when she was five weeks old. We brought her to her new home when she was about 8 weeks old. My son had been asking for a dog since he was 8 years old. We told him he had to wait until he was 10. Well, he was 10 but we had a new baby with lots of problems so we put him off again. Finally, when he was 11, we told him he could get a puppy at Christmas. He prayed and prayed for just the right dog. I believe Hope is that dog.

When we brought Hope home, everyone participated in trying to think up a name for her. With five kids, there were many offerings. My son decided to keep her name as Hope. Very fitting considering how long he waited. She is a very mild-mannered dog and tolerates lots and lots of attention from the kids. But her favorite thing to do is run along the back fence and chase squirrels that she never quite seems to catch.

My son joined the 4H Puppy Pals group in July. After a couple of months of training, he took Hope to the VA State Fair to compete in agility (see photo). Hope really likes doing agility and seems built for it. Even though Hope was only 10 months old, she placed second in Gambler's On-leash Agility! We love our dog and are so happy that you took the time to rescue her and find her a home. Thank you LDCRF!!

Here's an update on Jasmine, who was introduced to us as "Chick" in October 2008. We took a long time to make the decision to get a dog and, while we wanted to get a rescue animal, were concerned about finding one that would be good with our two small children. We couldn't have gotten luckier!

When we first met "Chick" she skipped over to my husband, sat on his feet, slid down his legs, and presented her belly! She knew he would be the tough sell, and she melted his heart. We took her home that day.

Our daughter renamed her "Jasmine" and helped to show her the ropes. It took Jasmine a couple of months to realize that this was her "forever home" but once she did she totally came out of her shell! There has never, ever been a sweeter dog. She is gentle and patient with the kids, and obedient and trustworthy with us. Even better, she is a great watchdog for the house, and is especially protective of our 6 year old daughter (must be the shepherd instinct in her). When the kids go to school, she fetches a toy or clothing item from their rooms and snuggles with them in her crate. She loves going on long walks, visits to her grandparents' farm, playing with her neighbor dog friends, and chasing tennis balls. As you can see from the photo, she is quite comfortable in her new household! We are so happy to have found Jasmine, and grateful to Lost Dog Rescue for saving her from an uncertain, but probably unpleasant future at the Preston County, WV animal shelter. BTW, she was advertised as a Shepherd-Lab mix; we DNA tested her and that's exactly what she is... with a little bit of Boxer mixed in!

We adopted Maverick (Tex), an Aussie mix, last February. He has fit in so well with our family. When we first got him, he was very shy and slept most of the time. When we were at PetSmart, a man who had adopted a dog a few weeks earlier told us exactly what to expect, so we were okay with it. After a few days, he adapted very well to our home! He only slept in his crate for about a week, until he found that human beds are much more comfortable. We took him to a puppy class where he won the prize for completing all of the new tricks the fastest! He is extremely smart, sometimes he even outsmarts us. His newest trick is high-fiving!

We are so happy to have Maverick and he brings so much joy into our lives! The only bad thing is that we think he believes he is part human...but, that could be our fault, as well :)

Moe came to us in November 2008 after having been through 3 previous homes and was suffering from a bit of anxiety due to all the changes. Even though his big brother Slinky welcomed him into the house with love and affection, Moe simply needed ALL the attention and when he didn’t get it, he chewed everything in sight – the carpet, the chairs, lampshades and even Grandma’s wig! But over the months he has realized that he has is forever home and has turned into a sweet boy who loves everyone and everything. Recently, though Moe was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor on his forehead and has been through 2 surgeries – everyone was lovingly referring to him as “Frankenweiner” for Halloween, but Moe didn’t mind. His last surgery (performed by Dr. Daniel Brehm at SouthPaws – thank you Dr. Brehm!!) proved to be successful as Moe’s biopsy shows they got all the cells! And we are thrilled! Moe? Well he’s pretty much adjusted to that E-collar and thinks of it as part of his persona now! He will have the stitches removed in a couple of weeks and I know that he will be back in action immediately thereafter. I look forward to updating again with a new picture at that time. Thanks LDCRF for bringing Moe into our lives – he’s real trooper and a joy no matter life throws at him. And we feel blessed to have him in our family.

I am completely in love with Tinkerbell. When we first came to one of your rescue events back in June, I was looking at the dogs. My kids, however, wandered over to the cats for adoption and fell in love with Tink. After going home, I thought that maybe a cat would be better for our busy family, and the next day we came back to adopt Tinkerbell. With a six year old girl in the house, we wouldn't dream of changing Tinkerbell's name.

She is impossibly sweet and patient with our three year old boy, and she is my constant companion when the kids are in school. Tinkerbell enjoys stealing my potato chips, jumping on my legs when breakfast is too slow in coming, and to the delight of the neighborhood kids, she will play with anybody!

Here are a few photos of our kitty girl. She always like to be in the middle of the action, and Halloween was no exception.

Thanks,

We first met Tanner when we decided to be foster parents for Lost Dog Rescue six weeks ago. We were told that Tanner was rescued from a Georgia gas chamber and brought up through the underground railroad of dog rescue to Virginia back in 2007. They tell us that Tanner was the longest resident at Lost Dog Ranch! And let me tell you… everyone who overlooked this rough diamond really missed out! Tanner is pretty old and wobbly, doesn’t do stairs or last too long on a walk but he has endless amounts of love to give. He’s a velcro dog always at your feet and constantly wants to snuggle. You can tell he had good training back in the day as he follows commands, stays out of the kitchen and respects the house.

Tanner took a little time adjusting to us and there were some trying moments in the beginning but after about two - three weeks he was butter in our hands! We visit the dog park 1-2 times a day and the old guy gets along with almost everyone. There is just one unneutered male that he likes to try and intimidate and when he comes we just hop back in the car- which he loves by the way. Bringing Tanner back to Petsmart to officially adopt him this weekend and to meet all his old friends who took care of him at Lost Dog was a real treat. Everyone says he’s looking good! (And that makes us feel very happy) Thank you all for helping make Tanner’s transition so easy and fun (we were bad foster parents as we never took him to any adoption event for fear someone would want to adopt him and take him away from us). We are so happy to finally make it official: Tanner is ours!!

Dear LDCRF, We are so lucky to have adopted Mr. Bear, a wonderful pitbull-chow-blue heeler mix, from Lost Dog! He has brought us so much happiness. He is the most gentle and sweet dog, and constantly brings a smile to the faces of strangers! He has made many dog friends, including my parents’ golden retriever, who he always tries to herd like a cow (must be the cattle dog in him)! He has even managed to touch noses with the cat without getting swatted! We love him so much, we bring him everywhere- even if it’s 5 minutes down the road to get some coffee, Mr. Bear is in the car with his paws on the console, leading the way.

He has his mischievous moments though, like when he bit a hole in our down comforter and pulled out the feathers… or when he took off running while tied to a bench, dragging it down the street after him! But, these little escapades just make us love him more! Our little guy has personality, but more than that, there’s a certain sweetness about him that we just can’t describe. Thank you so much, Lost Dog, for bringing this wonderful little man into our lives!

I want to tell you how happy I am that I adopted Jabba, a mature cat. He is extremely loving and affectionate, well-mannered, but still playful and does not have the short attention span that kittens have (of course kittens are very cute, but not right for everybody). Cats are such good company, especially for people who live alone like me and appreciate having someone to come home to.

I'm certain that Jabba and I will have a loving relationship for many, many years.

We met our Beagle originally named "Poppy Seed," now "Edelweiss" through LDCRF when she was only about 4 weeks old. Her adoption a few weeks thereafter has made our house a home. She is extremely energetic, intense, loving and is the boss, and she lets everyone know that every which way she can. We realized that we cannot keep her entertained all day; so, soon after her adoption, we obtained a vizsla named Palinka, and ever since the two are inseparable.

They sleep together, play together, eat together, and so on and on. We cannot even let a door separate the two because they both get upset. Edelweiss likes to run most of the day chasing the vizsla, she loves eating, snuggling, and lately she has learned how to climb on top of the doghouse and overview her territory from above. Her additional to our family has brought lots of joy to us.

We adopted Ted & Sid the beginning of September......

It took Ted & Sid a week or so to decide that they found their forever home - but now they know what l ove & happiness is! They take their morning walk to make sure the neighborhood is awake. And after breakfast they go to work with Dad most days. They've decided it's their job to greet everyone who comes to the shop. When Mom comes home from work, we all go to the local dog park every evening to run & play with their new furry friends. They take up most of the bed at night, and give us a few inches on each side. No more cages for these guys. Yep - they know they've found their forever home, and we've found the new loves of our lives. Thank you for being there for these guys and all the other furry kids who so deserve their own forever pack.

October 11, 2009 Christina & I are proud to announce the newest member of our family "Big Boy"

My nickname for Legend was Big Boy So as you see from the pictures he is Heaven sent and blessed by God

I cried happy tears Saturday night knowing how right this felt and today we are thrilled! Thank you Brittany for all your help Big Boy has already snuggled and taken a nap with me

We adopted Aubrey (then called Cielo) in September, and she has been the perfect addition to our family. We were looking to adopt a cat to be a companion to our five-month-old cat Autumn, and things have worked out even better than we hoped. Aubrey has already become best friends with Autumn, and they like to curl up together and clean each other all the time. Our two-year-old cat April is taking a little longer to warm up to Aubrey, but given how sweet Aubrey is I am sure things will work out great in time.

Attached is a photo of Aubrey (left) and her best friend Autumn (right).

Dear Lost Dog and Cat:

Pam called the other day to check up on Jello, so we wanted to write a little note to say hi and thank you! I could tell you how happy Jello has made me, but it wouldn't begin to cover the subject. He's Mr. Personality, that's for sure. Jello spends his mornings chasing birds from the window sill, and then finds time for a nap on his personal seat that's attached. He's a champion napper.

Grandma bought Sir Jello a feather duster kind of a toy, and Grandmas always know best. Every day we find time for Mr. Feather Duster, and I have to remember to put it away before, or I'll find it next to me. The laser pointer is also a favorite, and good exercise chasing it back and forth across the apartment! Jello is also fond of bags, particularly a reusable Whole Foods one. Never let it be said he doesn't care about the environment.

There was a small incident with the vacuum cleaner, as you'll see in the pictures. I learned a) Jello really doesn't like the vacuum cleaner and b) Jello can open kitchen cabinets.

Anyway, you guys are awesome; we're two peas in a pod up here in the city. I'm attaching a link to Jello's web photo album. I may be biased, but I happen to think he's very photogenic. Enjoy.

All the best,

Adina and Jello (aka Cool and Fruity, Sir Jello of the Pudding Pops)

Hello,

I hope you remember “our girls” Clio and Bicardi, adopted about 7 months ago with your special help. We are so pleased with their growing up, and want to send you current pictures of our very special pets.

The two remain quite friendly to each other. Clio, although she eats like a horse, has gained only a pound or so as she matures. Bicardi, on the other hand, while eating only a few bites of dry food per day, weighed in at 14 pounds at her one-year checkup! She was also a much bigger cat anyway. Each has developed her own personality as well, Clio being the more outgoing and lively, while Birdie is more quiet and reserved.

We adopted Rufus (then called Angel) in June 2002. He is now a happy, healthy 8 years old. LDCRF bounced him from the Spotsylvania County Shelter on the day his number was up, and that was the very day we met him. His breed was a mystery, but it has become clear over the years that he is all scent hound. We call him our Hunt Country Special.

He is the perfect dog for us--a complete couch potato in the house, tons of fun outside, and ready for a road trip all the time. He loves to fetch, and we have also devised a little agility course made up of a series of evenly spaced park benches. The kids at the nearby kiddie playground get a big kick out watching him do his "hurdles." But his favorite time is our weekend walk through Eastern Market, where he can take in all the smells, sidewalk surf for bits of fruit, and sit still as a statue for every little kid who wants to meet the doggie. His calm demeanor has given hundreds of children the chance to learn the right way to meet a dog.

There were quite a few new pups in the neighborhood at the time we got Rufus, many of them purebreds. Now that they are becoming middle-aged dogs, he is the only one of the bunch who has not experienced some kind of serious breed-related health issue. There is a lot to be said for hybrid vigor!

This is a photo of my two favorite guys, Rufus and our son John, at a lake in New Hampshire. We are thankful to the wonderful volunteers of LDCRF for all they do to rescue wonderful pets and find them homes like ours.