We (Buttons, Ellie, and I) went to my sister’s & brother-in-law’s house last Sunday for dinner and to celebrate Ellie’s 1^st  birthday with her boy cousins Bert, and Ernie Butch.  Guess who forgot the camera.  My nephew, Mat, and his girlfriend, Tessa, were also there.  I’ll have to put her back in her “party” dress and take pictures to send.  Yes, we have dresses.  I was going to do that outside earlier this week but it’s been soooooooo hot, other than taking the girls out to go potty, I’ve been staying inside.  It’s cooled off some today, so I’ll try and remember to do it this evening. 

When we first got to my sister’s house, I was pleasantly surprised that Ellie wasn’t a bit afraid of boys.  She apparently remembered her previous visit the week before when she met Bert and Ernie Butch, and how much fun they had, so she wasn’t scared.  Yeah!

Ellie also met my nephew for the first time Sunday, and she kept flirting with him.  It was really cute.  She loves her Uncle Richy too.  She kind of ignored us girls when Rich and Mat were in the room.

Ellie has been doing great.  Her and Buttons are like two peas in a pod.  Ellie likes when Buttons chases her.  Ellie breaks my heart when I leave for work.  Before I leave, I take them out for a quick walk incase someone has to potty.  Then I put her and Buttons in their kennel and give them their treats.  Ellie cries and I feel so bad.  Most of the time I go back and give them another ½ of a Pup-Peroni stick.  She still cries, but I don’t feel as guilty because I gave them an extra treat.

As soon as I get home, we hit the trail for the first of our evening walks.  She walks on her leash with her little head held so high, and such a look of confidence all over her little face.  Of course, everyone in the neighborhood thinks she is an absolute doll.  We usually do a couple of more 20-30 min. walks in the evening before we all go to bed.

I’m in the process of getting my front yard fenced in.  The girls will have a blast out there.  Ellie loves to play fetch.  Additionally, she has made one end of the couch totally hers.  She all her favorite toys and chew bones buried under her blanks, and has a fit when Buttons tries to go down to that end of the couch.  She doesn’t growl at her, but glares at her and lets out the big “yap.”  Like I’m warning you.  She also steals Buttons’ chew bones and hides them with her stash too.  Thank God Buttons isn’t aggressive. 

When the alarm goes off in the morning, Ellie’s tongue wakes up and it’s kisses galore whether I want them or not.  If I cover my face, she gives me “wet willies” in my ears.  She is relentless.

Well, I had better get back to work for now.  I’ll try to remember to get the pictures taken tonight.

    

 

 

Bellamy is a little ball of energy.  She loves to chew on EVERYTHING!  She is learning which items belong to her (and can be chewed on) and which items belong to mommy and cannot be chewed on (furniture, shoes, etc).  She somehow removed her collar last night and chewed it in half!  She’s a little Houdini.

Bellamy loves Dodger, but sadly Dodger is a little scared of Bellamy.  He is slowly warming up to her but still runs away and hides when she firsts comes in the room.  She loves chasing him and trying to wrestle with him.

Anyway, I just wanted to send a quick update so you could see how the little baby is growing up.  I was also curious to see if you had any old pictures of her to send?  I would love her original pictures that made me fall in love with her.

 

 
(Mindy (Black and Tan) with Older Fur Brother Tristan)

 

  

      

Julie has been renamed Sofie Nevaeh (pronounced Na-vay-ah, which is Heaven spelled backwards because she is heavenly). When we seen a picture of Sofie it was love at first sight just like it was with her brother Kenny, who we also adopted from AADR. Sofie looks so much like Kenny, we call them the twins.

Sofie is an amazing little girl who has adapted to our family quickly. When she came to us almost a month ago she still exhibited typical puppy mill traits. Even though she still has some issues everyday is a milestone for her. Sofie is learning how to play with other dogs and with people. She is initiating the play herself and the other day started pulling many of her toys out of her toy box to play with them. People she doesn’t know well she will allow to hold her and she will also walk up to strangers to say hello. This is a huge step for our little girl. She goes to doggie daycare 3 times a week with her best friend, her brother Kenny. She loves all of her fur siblings but Kenny and her have formed an amazing bond and can be found snuggling when they are sleepy. When Sofie first came to us she had to be with Kenny at all times but now she is finding independence and does not need him as her security blanket. Sofie has become our spoiled little princess. She has a full wardrobe of clothes, a stroller, a papoose so we can carry her close to us, a big princess bed shaped like a slipper, many toys and a family that loves her immensely. She loves to sleep in between us at night or in the crook of one of our arms. Sofie gives everyone in the family kisses every day, her little tail seems to wag most of the time and the corners of her mouth turn up into a smile. We cannot wait until Christmas because we are sure that her stocking will be overflowing with gifts from Santa because she has been such a good girl.

We want to thank AADR for rescuing Sofie and giving her a second chance at life. Also a special thank you to Sofie’s foster mother, she is a true angel, she taught Sofie that it was okay to trust a person and without that I don’t think Sofie would have been able to bond and adjust so quickly with us. Princess Sofie is forever grateful for all that the rescue has done for her and I know she will never forget it, I know we won’t.

Rusty Has Traveled the Country Looking For His Furever Family!
He is Finally Home!! 

We had a great summer and are enjoying fall in NYC.  Rusty is doing very well!!  We love him so much!  He has been very busy!!  He loves to ride in his red travel bag and go everywhere with us.  We have been going to regular dachshund meet-ups in the park and he has met a lot of friends.  His best friend is my friend's dog Cairo (a year old boxer mix).  She is 3 times bigger but Rusty is the boss.  They love to play and chase each other (Rusty always ends up under her legs).  My sister came for a visit in August and we all went on a row boat ride in Central Park.  In September we took the train to the beach in Long Island for the day and Rusty loved it!!  But I think that his favorite past time is to sleep on the pillows on our bed (he is sleeping there now)!  We always find him there when we come home from work and he just looks so cute!!  Rusty dressed up for halloween as a honey bee...he was not crazy about the costume but we thought he looked really cute.  (Sascha told everyone he was a killer bee so he would sound tougher)!
 
Rusty has changed so much since we adopted him in March!!  He is so trusting now and friendly.  He no longer has problems meeting new people and never growls!  He still loves to go on long walks and he has made many friends on our block.  His favorite is Larry (the flower shop owner) across the street.  Every day on our lunch walk Rusty goes into Larry's store and says hello.  It is so sweet. 
 
We just feel so lucky that we found Rusty!!   Thank you for taking such good care of him and seeing his potential.  We are thinking of adopting another rescued dachshund in the future (I think Rusty would enjoy the company)!!  We could not be happier!!
 

 

   

I just wanted to let you know that everything is still going great with Tommyand Eva!  He's actually laying across my stomach while I am typing.  Eva just adores him, and she jumps into bed with him every night.  We bought them their own beds and for the first two weeks the both slept in their own beds, but now Eva tries to crawl into whichever bed Tommy gets into first!  Her walking has greatly improved and she is doing much better.  We have been putting both dogs into the basement during the day with a big carpet, tons of toys, and beds, blankets etc.  It is like a big dog playroom down there.  We have had several days without accidents, and today Eva even went on one of the peepee pads!  Big progress!  We hope to "graduate" the dogs to the upstairs soon!  I just wanted to send you some pics, as I am sure you miss Thomas!

Holly

  

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Milo Has a New Home For the Holidays! 

  

  

  

 

  

Lily Has All Her Dreams Come True!

 

 

Lily is doing much better.  My neighbor works from home and is very helpful monitoring her whinning.  She says she is doing much better.  I have her on these herbal calming tablets from Petco and I think they help.  I know it just takes time to adjust but she is getting there!

 

She has had a few accidents in the house - this morning most recently - but this is prone to happen.  I have been giving her training treats when she pees and poops outside to reinforce this.  At least it is on my hardwood floor and not my bed like she did twice in the past.

 

I think we are almost there.  I love her SO MUCH!  She is the best thing.  I took her to a small dog play group last night at a doggie day care in my neighborhood and she had fun.  She likes to bark and wag her tail to get dogs to play with her.  The other owners get such a kick out of her.  She loves people and she goes up to all the dogs to say hello.  I am so thankful and lucky I got Lily.

 

Below are two photos of Lily in her Halloween costume.  We went to a party on Sunday at the park by me.  We entered the costume contest but didn't win.  That's okay she was so good in her costume.

 

 

 

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Oscar & Hank - Just Beginning Their Wonderful New Life! 

 

 

 

I am so in love with these dogs, it is out of control :) I grew up with dogs and knew/hoped any issues would eventually work themselves out, but I can honestly say these are the easiest dogs I have ever taken care of. They have adjusted very well. We've been to meet the new vet, and everything has checked out fine.

 

I attached a few pictures. Hank (formerly Spencer) is such a little bruiser :) All play and all dog. Oscar is a little more reserved and happiest when he is curled up on the couch in his blue blanket. They love to be outside, so trips to the park are a must and squirrels are viewed as a personal offense :) Lots of bones and lots of love, and these boys have quickly reserved a big space in my heart! And I know it's wrong on so many levels, but their Halloween costumes are hilarious.

  

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Bella - Dumped at a Shelter at 12 Weeks Old - Now Safe and Loved 

  

   

 

Bella is just the most loving little girl! She showers us with kisses CONTANTLY! She and Squirt have a blast together playing and snuggling all day. We celebrated both of their birthdays this August, Bella turning 1 and Squirt turned 4. They got new toys and a special birthday dog treat which they didn't hesitate to woof down!

 

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Nathan's Having A Blast With His New Family!

 

   

We renamed Cookie!! His new name is Nathan and he is awesome .  He got a great personality, always happy, always friendly, and very loving. He goes everywhere with my girlfriend and I.  Nathan is definitely a nature dog.  He loves being outside with us, running around (he's fast!!), and going to the parks with us. We've really had no problems with training him.  He sits, goes outside for the most part, rolls over, plays fetch... everything. Like I said he's awesome!

 

  

Dexter Never Has To be Scared Again! He is Home!

 

 

 

  

Dexter coming to be with me was a serious of events both wonderful and not so wonderful. I already had 2 wonderful senior dachshunds--Oliver and Zee, and we were pretty set in our ways and thought we did not have room for another dog. One cold December morning last year, as I drove through the park next to our house on the way to work, a small reddish dog cut in front of my car. It was very cold, and she was very small. After about 30 minutes of alternatively chasing her and coaxing her I had her in my car. She was obviously part dachshund, and I contacted the rescue people (as I said, I did not think we had room for another dog). Needless to say, by the time the rescue people found a foster home for her, she was mine.

I lost my Zee doggie on 3/4/09. We think he was about 16 years old. I had rescued him about 7 years prior. With Zee gone, Molly (my young girl I found in the park) began to focus all her considerable play energies on my one old guy, Oliver. Poor old guy could not even go for a drink of water without being pounced on and knocked off his feet. Clearly Molly needed a playmate. 

I got on the All American Dachshund site. I was hoping for a black and tan male (like my Zee) about 2 or so years old. I found Dexter. He was so beautiful. I could not wait for transport to be arranged to bring him to me in Nashville, so I drove to his foster mommy's house in Memphis to get him. I have never had a mini before, he was soooo small! But he "grr-ed" at me to make sure I knew he was small in body only!

As soon as he got home, he and Molly hit it off! They ran out the doggie door and ran through the yard shoulder to shoulder right away--and that is how it has been ever since. On occasion, Oliver will join in briefly, but usually he chooses to steer clear and lay in the comfort of his own bed.

Dexter has been with us for 6 months now. He has almost completely stopped "grr-ing" at people when they come over. He is an affectionate little guy who wants to please his people. He and Molly sleep snuggled together in their bed on the floor next to mine. They run the yard, policing the perimeter, and generally have a great time. He is definitely part of our family.

Thank you so much to the Rescue and to his foster mom, Betty. He is one special little guy.

 

  

Myles is Safe & Loved FURever!

  

 

We adopted Myles, formerly known as Bakari on July 18th.  My husband and I met Diane in Crossville to pick him up.  He instantly bonded with my husband.  He is one of the most wanting to please dogs I have ever met.  As his profile stated, he tries to obey on the first command.  He has adjusted very well to his new home in Knoxville, TN.  We had to change his name though, it was hard to call him Bakari and we just didnt think it fit his personality so with him being such the loving dog that he is we felt that Myles fit him better and also with him being two or three years old he probably has some "miles" on him.   

 

Myles has really enjoyed laying in the sun out on our covered back porch.  I think his most favorite thing to do is go for walks.  I tell him all the time that I am going to change his name to Forest Gump because he would walk as far as you would walk him.  He has definately warmed up to us and we now feel that he knows this is his forever home.  We just love him so much and really appreciate everything the Dachshund Rescue has done for him and helping to get him to us.

 

Thank you so much for all you do for the Doxies!

 

 

  

  

Danny Is Happy And Loved

  

   

  

 

Danny is an absolute love.  He's a real cuddle.  He loves tummy rubs and kisses.  We are so fortunate to have adopted him.  He is settling in very well and characteristic of dachshunds is a regular riot.  He is a little guy and loves to drag things around that are bigger than he is.  His training is going very well and he gets very excited when he masters things.  He is a real road warrior - he loves to take long walks, chase squirrels and run with reckless abandon.  He brings us tremendous joy and we love him to bits and pieces.  Here are some photos of him.

 

We think All American Dachshund Rescue is a phenomenal organization and are so very thankful to Joanne Voltaire for bringing Danny into our lives.

 

Best regards

 

Adriana and Julie

 

  

 

  

Ernie is Discovering How Life for a Puppy Should Be! 

  

I just wanted to give you an update on Ernie.  He is doing great!!!  He is well adjusted to his new forever home and loving all his new experiences.  He is very well taken care of and loved.  Ernie has a great dispostion too....he has been so well behaved!  I don't have any questions thus far but I will definitely let you know if anything comes up.  Ernie goes for his first vet visit in Philadelphia tomorrow. 

 

Thank you so much for your concern and time with all of the dachshunds! 

 

I am very grateful to be providing Ernie with his loving forever home.  :)

 

Attached is a recent picture of Ernie at the house.

 

Thanks again,

 

Allison

 

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Tango & Tucker Are Brothers for Life In Their New Family

 

   

  

Tucker is doing great.  He is the second Dachshund that my girlfriend and I adopted from your organization.  Tucker has adjusted very well with Tango, our first adoption, and they do everything together.   Thank you and your organization for all the hard work you put into finding these great dogs a home.

 

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No More Transports For Scooter...He has a Furever Family!

  

     

 

Scooter is fitting in just fine.  He has taken to us as if we were his first and only parents.  Bozie, his older brother, a dachsund/cocker spaniel mix, and scooter had a few rough days the first week, but all is fine between them now.  .

 

We went to Pismo Beach the middle of August.  Kay and I go there frequently since the RV park is right on the beach and its a dog friendly beach.  We love to walk the beach and walk two to three miles daily when their.  It was the first road trip we made with Scooter.  We started getting him used to riding in the truck with us a right after we got him since we like to travel with the fifth wheel in tow.  At first he was terrified in the truck.  He cried almost constantly.  I'm guessing that had to do with associating vehicle travel with going to a new location.  After a few weeks of short trips and always coming home he calmed down and after the vacation trip he's totally at home in the truck and the fifth wheel.  He likes the truck so much now that when I come home from shift in the morning he jumps in the truck.  Traditionally when I come home from shift Kay would open the door and Bozie would run out to greet me.  Now Scooter and Bozie both run out for some affection, but Scooter always jumps into the cab of the truck prior to us going in.

 

Many of the pictures I'm sending are of us on vacation in Pismo.  Others are just some shot in the house and around the pool in the evening.  You'll notice one common denominator in many of the pictures, the yellow football.  Scooter loves that toy.  Its a tennis ball shaped like a football.  He'll play fetch with that ball for hours.  Often times in the day we have to stop the game and take him inside for some water and to cool down, since we still have been getting alot of 110 degree days.  Scooter eventually tears the fuzz off the ball and puts a hole in it so we've stocked up.  The store had a dozen of these in the bin, now all of them are at home for future use.

 

 

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Brooklyn - Happy and Loving Life!

  

    

 Brooklyn is doing well --- he enjoys being with the pack and is slowly learning to trust us.  We took him to a vet ophthalmologist who gave us some great news -- Brooklyn does not have PRA; he does have some congenital abnormalities that led him to be born blind in one eye.  The other eye, while it does have abnormalities, such as only a partially developed pupil and iris, has good vision and the vet expects it to stay that way, fortunately.  He has such a sweet disposition and the other dogs love him -- and everybody he meets love him, but he is still very shy with people.

We love him and can't help cuddling him and giving him lots of belly rubs; I just start brushing his teeth today, because the vet is worried about plaque build up and he wasn't too keen on that -- hopefully, with time, it won't bother him so much -- but he's a real love and we're very happy to have him become a part of our family.

  

 

  

A True Happily Ever After.... 

 

   

 

Our first doxie was Molly, approximately 12-yrs old when we got her through the Knoxville Dachshund rescue folks in 2004.  Six months later she was diagnosed with Cushing's disease and given a year to live.  We loved her and took care of her, and she lived for three more years.  She died peacefully in our arms, and we still feel grief to this day.
    Susan and I are convinced that Molly was our angel, sent to us to make us understand what rescuing such wonderful creatures means.  We have this saying as our screen saver on our computer:  "Loving Molly forever.  Loving Joey and Eby because Molly made it so."  The Christmas picture is Molly's first with us.

    We got Eby (your Ebony) and Joey (your Echo) nearly two years ago...we picked up Eby in Alcoa, TN to send back to you, but by the next morning, when we met your 18-wheeler angel delivering Joey to us, we couldn't give Eby to him, as we were supposed to do.  So, both Eby and Joey came home with us that morning. Eby was terrified of nearly everything.  And Joey was skinny and frightened.  It took two weeks for Eby to wag her tail and much longer until she gave us kisses.  Joey adapted quickly, because all he wanted was a lots of love, which was easy for us, and he returned it 10-fold, showering kisses on us all the time.

   They are now happy and healthy and play fight and chase each other around the house and into the fenced yard all the time.  Eby loves to play fight with "Daddy" in our bed when we wake up in the morning, while "Mommy" and Joey watch.  Joey only play fights with Eby...and spends a lot of time in Daddy's recliner, often with Daddy.  Joey, you see, is a lover, not a fighter. The yard picture shows our healthy and happy dynamic duo.

    We are all one big happy family, because of you, and Eby, and Joey. We understand how Jamie feels about Sir Edward, because of our Molly and what she means to us.  A donation to the Sir Edward Project is forthcoming.

 

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Molly is Loved in North Carolina

 

 

This pretty girl has had a lot of change this past year including moving from NV to NC! Molly is such a good girl and is so loyal to her person. Her previous family loved her very much but wanted the best for her so she came to stay with All American Dachshund Rescue. When she came to her foster home, she was confused and anxious. Now she couldn't be happier with her forever family and has a new fur sister named Baylee who is teaching her the ropes! Thank you to the Plunkett family for taking such good care of Molly and for adopting her into their family!

 

 

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Klaus and Hank Couldn't Be Happier!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hank was picked up by animal control a little over a year ago in GA. They found him along the side of the road lost and alone (and he was just a puppy!). Klaus was given up by a family who didn't want him anymore just a few months ago. He was scared and confused. Now they couldn't be happier with their new forever family in Greenville, SC. Thank you to the Healy family for taking these doxies in and showing them all the love and happiness that life has to offer!

  

 

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Bonnie is with her Furever Family! 

 

 

 

 

Bonnie is doing great!  I took her to my vet clinic last Saturday and she got a clean bill of health there.  She weighed in at 12'08" and was declared free of those pesty earmites.
 
She is finding her place in the 'pack' here.  My other 2 doxies and she are not best friends but they respect each other's presence in the big bed at night.  I've attached a pic of all 3, left to right is Heidi, Pixie and Bonnie.  This was taken the day we got home from California.
 
Bonnie is very loving and demands to be held whenever someone is home, whether that is me, my hubby or our daughter.  That is exactly what I wanted!  She loves to go for a ride and has been on some local adventures already, again, just what I wanted!
 
We took her and Heidi to PepperPlace a couple of Saturdays ago and rode them around in our baby buggy.  They were both adored by folks at the market and Bonnie allowed petting by strangers. 
 
She is quite the little tiger when someone comes to the house and ran one of the maids up on a chair, typical doxie guarding the home! 
 
She is a treasure and a wonderful addition to our family.  She eases the pain of Freud's loss, I can't imagine not having her.
 
You'll have to excuse me now, Bonnie wants to be held.  Thank you for being a rescue angel for pups like Bonnie and hoomommies like me!
debbie  

  

 

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Braunee Will Be Forever Loved! 

 

  

 

He couldn't be a more perfect fit for our family, and we are all so in love with him and his wonderful personality. We have 2 other dachshunds and a husky (who thinks she is a dachshund) and they are all one one big loving bunch! Braunee loves riding in the car, taking walks, going camping and sleeping in my lap...he is just so lovable!! He has discovered sleeping in the "big bed" and burrowing to the bottom is his favorite thing. He has been introduced to the pool in the backyard and loves to float around with momma or poppa then relax on the cool step. We couldn't have asked for a better pup and so truly happy that he is a part of our family!!! He is actually sitting on my lap as I type this email :)
 
Thanks for checking in and for being a caring part of a wonderful rescue organization!!

 

 

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Only Happiness From Now On For Kenny! 

 

 

  

 

 

 It has been a little over a month since Kenny has come home to us. He is such an amazing little guy and has brought so much joy and love to our family. Even though Kenny has special needs (he is deaf and blind) it is very hard to tell, he gets around the house and yard well. Within 24 hours he knew the layout.
 
Kenny is a very busy boy. He goes to doggie daycare which he loves, he has made so many friends and the workers adore him. We think Kenny has become a mascot for our children's weekly lacrosse games, so many people know him and he barks when people are cheering on the game. He loves to go visit all four of his grandparents and loves going for walks on a leash. When Kenny is home he is usually playing with his brothers and sister, playing with his numerous toys, chewing bones, running around his backyard, laying in his window seat or his favorite past time...swimming in the pool with his family. As soon as his goggles and life jacket go on Kenny is like a torpedo in the water. He is so spoiled. He has his own wardrobe, complete with a bathrobe, coats for every season, many shirts, sweat shorts and swim trunks, a stroller for when he gets tired (which isn't often) and he gets a tremendous amount of love. Everyone who meets Kenny adores him, he seems to warm the hearts of everyone he meets. Kenny may have a chance to get to be seen by a veterinarian ophthalmologist from Cornell University. Our vet is trying to get him seen this fall. We want to have his vision checked and see if anything can be done to help Kenny's vision.
 
Kenny has blessed our family, we look at him every day with the brightest smiles. He is a perfect addition to our family.
 
Our family wants to thank the All american Dachshund Rescue for their thorough adoption process for these sweet dogs and for blessing our family with Kenny.

  

 

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Charlie Couldn't Be Happier!

  

 

 

We adopted Charlie in early March 2009.  Charlie was turned over to the AADR 10 pounds overweight!  While Charlie was in foster care (mainly with Diane) he went from a whopping 24 pounds to roughly 16-17 pounds.  Diane did the majority of the work, we were on the clean up crew.  With a balanced diet of kibble, fresh carrots, green beans and low calorie treats we are happy to report he weighs approximately 15 pounds.   Charlie is able to run, play and go for long walks with fellow dachshund ''Becks''. We want to thank the AADR team for his care and turning an overweight, low energy dog into a playful fun loving pet.  Charlie turned 8 on 7/13 and is living the good life.

Our thanks for those who brought Charlie into our lives.

 

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The Jackson Family

 

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Julianna-no more puppymills for her!! 

 

 

 

Julianna is wonderful.  She is the sweetest little dog.  We are so glad she has become a part of our family and I love her dearly.  She only wants to please and be loved.  With me, a person would never be able to tell she ever lived in a puppy mill.  She acts like a normal, sweet trusting little dog.  With other folks, she is still skittish but is becoming more and more trusting.  For some reason she is still skittish with my husband -- we think it might be because he is very tall.  He has never been able to pet her, but she does get excited when he comes home.  She spends her days with him, lounging on the sofa in his office watching him -- but never has she let him pet her.  Last weekend, when he was taking a nap on the sofa, she jumped up on the sofa and took a nap along with him while resting against his leg.  I guess he doesn't look so tall when he is lying down :).  Also, just a few days ago, she took a few pieces of popcorn from his fingers--another break through.  I know it hurts my husband's feelings, but he is very patient and I know eventually she will trust him completely.  She has come a long way since this past February when she came to our home when she was timid and stoic.  She gets along great with other dogs and seems to want to be protective of my other three dachshunds.  If one of them whimpers (as when having to take a bath) or barks when he needs help climbing the stairs ( one of my dogs is 15 and becoming elderly), Julianna always runs to check on her sibling.  She occasionally acts like a puppy and will enjoying playing with a toy or wrestling with a stick in the backyard.  It makes me happy to see her act like a happy little dog.  I try not to think about her life at the puppy mill -- it makes me nauseated to think how she must have lived.  We are so very happy to have her as part of our family.  I have attached a photo made of her a few weeks ago.  You can see she is very pretty.  We have worked on improving her coat through her diet and I think she is looking healthier and healthier every day. 

 

Thanks for asking about Julianna.  I appreciate all of the wonderful things you folks do to help the dachshunds.  Your group was so wonderful to me and Julianna when we going through the adoption process.  Thank you so much for everything.

 

Sincerely, 

 

Kay Hilty

 

 

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Sophie is home!! 

 

 

 

 

" I want to first acknowledge how professional and efficient each and every staff member of AADR was to us when we initially began the adoption process 4 months ago.  Whether is was providing individual updates on all of the doxies we were considering or scheduling the home visit, and travel plans for Sophie when our dreams finally becamse a reality.  Also, the to the previous foster mom of Sophie,  Also, To the gracious couple who volunteered to drive Sophie all the way from Western New York to Boston, MA.  I am forever in your debt and will never forget the compassion and concern you showed for Sophie even though you were probably going through a trying time yourselves. May god look over you and bless your family. As for a little angel, Sophie, she simply seems to good to be true.  It is utterly absurd to think that her initial owners would be so selfish and cowardly that the easiest solution to their problem was to kick this little angel to the curb.  She has been nothing but lady, exhibiting her love whether it's through tiny kisses on the face when we wake up in bed next her everyday or when she is cuddling in her day bed with her new brother Cenzo.  The two of them have become absolutely inseperable and spend each hour of everyday together snuggled in bed, going for walks, and playing with their toys.  Sophie certainly loves here belly rubs and is a very good girl at the groomers and doctors offices.  Sophie seems to have fit the void in our lives that we were searching for when we first began our search for another lovable doxie to grow old with as well as suitable companion for our other 7yr. doxie, Cenzo, who has since matured a great deal having a new older sister to look up to and learn a great deal from all that she has been though herself.  We are all looking forward to traveling together as a family to Myrtle beach, S.C. next week for summer vacation and looking forward to putting our feet and paws in the sand!  Lastly, To everyone at AADR may god bless you all for the work you do everyday, you are an inspiration to us all. "
 
Sincerley,
 
Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. DiMaria
Boston, MA                   
 

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Today is Shortie's (now Lucy) one year gotcha day. 

 

Happy Gotcha Day, my sweet, sweet Lucy.   It was one year ago today that I took that long awaited drive to meet you and bring you to your forever home. I had not even seen a picture of you, but I knew that you were meant to be mine when I first read your story.

Some notes from the AADR member who first knew Shortie (now Lucy)-
"She was owned and loved for her whole life by her human daddy. Then, recently, dad had a stroke and became unable to take care of himself. He kept her for as long as he could, but when he had to go into assisted living, he had to make a very tough decision. It was decided that he would surrender her to AADR. The next day, here he came leaning on his walker with little Shortie in his other arm. Tears running down his face, he kept giving her kisses and kept saying "I just want her to be loved. She's always been loved...she don't know no different." It took me a minute to understand what he was saying because his voice was slurred due to the stroke."

How could one not fall in love with the dachsie behind that story??? I did, and so did others. When I applied for your adoption, they told me you were already adopted. Although disappointed, I knew AADR would find you a good home.  Then.....several days later, I received an email saying that your adoption fell through and they wanted to know if  I was still interested adopting you. Well, the rest is history, and now we're celebrating your first Gotcha Day.

Lucy, you are such a sweet little girl. You are ALWAYS so happy and so content. Even though you have no teeth and are a bit older than your fur-siblings, you don't let that stop you. You are always ready to play, eat, go to bed, take a nap, whatever, it doesn't matter to you. You are such an easy-going little sweetheart.  I am so honored to be your HooMom and your former daddy can rest assured knowing that you are loved very, very much.

 

Thank you, Diane, for all you do for these sweet babies. 

 

Sandra

Brentwood, TN 

 

 

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We wanted to update you on Brutus and Bella, formerly known as Charlie and Carolina (Brutus has the black nose and Bella has the pink nose).  As you know, I hadn’t wanted to get another dog after we lost our Amos, while my husband wanted to get 2 dogs.  We came to a compromise and agreed to get one.  As soon as I saw Bella’s picture on you website, I was in love, as she is a doppelganger for Amos.  The minute we saw that she had a brother, my resolve to get only one dog disappeared.  I couldn’t possibly take Bella and leave Brutus behind, so Brutus had not only a new home, but a place in our hearts right next to his sister.

 

 

 

I have included two pictures here.  One is the picture from the AADR site when they were babies, it was one of the first pictures we saw of them.  The other was taken about a week ago, and you can see how much they have grown.  Its fun to look back at their ”œbaby” pictures, they almost don’t look like the same dogs.  But no matter how big they get, you can see some things never change, they still cuddle with each other when they sleep.

 

 

 

They just turned 7 months old on 5/5/2007, and they are doing great! They are pretty ornery, and there are days we think we should have named them Bonnie and Clyde instead, but puppies will be puppies.  Bella is definitely the leader of the pack, where she goes, he follows, even if it gets him into trouble.  She is the ”œadventurous” one, and will do anything and approach anyone.  He is gentler, and loves to give kisses.  Most of the time we have to stop him giving kisses because he gets so carried away you almost can’t breathe.

 

 

 

They are very popular with all the neighbors.  Our one set of neighbors has a 1 year old who loves to play with them.  The second she gets in their back yard she starts calling out ”œPuppies! Puppies!” and they are more than happy to fulfill her desire to pet them and give her kisses.  Another neighbor brings treats out every time he sees them in the yard.  And another calls Bella his girlfriend, which is fitting because she always wants to sit on his lap when he is here.  Unfortunately, their feline brothers aren’t as enamored with them as the neighbor’s daughter.  The cats take an attitude of ”œif you leave me alone, I’ll leave you alone.”  Poor Bella would like nothing more than for her kitty cat brothers to play with her though, which usually ends with her getting a good swat.  We thought they would get along, the cats never minded Amos.  But then again, Amos was 19, slept most of the day, and had no illusions about the cats being a chew toy.  Speaking of toys, no matter how many we buy them, their favorite by far is the fuzzy blue rooster their foster mom sent with them. 

 

I could go on for pages telling you about how wonderful they are, and how much joy they bring to us, but I will restrain myself.  Just suffice to say we are very grateful to have them and all your organization does to rescue these beautiful dogs. Enjoy the pictures.

 

Thanks Again,

 

Angela Kidder

 

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Hi Diane & Amy,

 

I hope all is well with you guys. 

 

Today is Nashʼs 1^st birthday, and I just wanted to send you guys his party picture.  We had a doggie cake and party hats, and Nash got a new stuffed animal and a ball. 

 

Heʼs doing great!  He had to be crated at night for a while because he was sneaking out of bed to potty.  But now that he knows the routine he gets to sleep in the bed. 

 

He fits right into our family! 

 

Thanks, 

 

Shannon Erwin

 

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Hi Diane.  Hope you weren't worried about us.  We are all fine, me, Mom and Wigley. 

 

Wigley is now 3 years old as of February 25th.  He is a lovely young man who is very energetic, kind, compassionate and very affectionate.  He still loves people but does not like dogs.  His favorite toy is a sock tied in knots.  He plays football with it.

 

Wigley's health is excellent and his weight is good.  He has the most beautiful teeth I have ever seen in a dog, daschund or not. 

 

I often think of Wigley's two siblings and wonder how they are doing.

 

I've attached a photo taken at Christmas of Mom and Wigley.  Hope you enjoy it.

 

Please tell me how things are going for you. 

 

Thanks for saving them one by one.

 

Love, Maggie 

 

 

 

 

 

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It's me, Emma (but I think you knew me as Haven)!  I thought you would
like to see a current picture.  (I'm the one without my mouth open, but
don't worry, my sister is quite harmless and really wouldn't eat me all
up!)  It was 2 months ago yesterday that I went to my new home!  I sure
have learned a lot in these 2 months!  I play with toys (now that I know
what they are) and have my favorite ones that I carry around and take
with me to nap with on the couch.  I also just LOVE treats!  Boy oh boy,
they sure are good!

At first I was very scared but then I saw I had a Doxie sister and
everyone just loved me and cuddled me and were so nice to me!  Moms says
I learned very quickly how to be a pet and be loved.  And, wow, getting
petted all the time sure is nice too!

Mom takes me and my sister to our "beauty shop" appointment every month.
We get oatmeal baths, our ears cleaned (and then they smell all minty),
and our nails done.  It sure is fun, but then we're quite tired so we
come home and take naps on our human brother's nice, big bed!

I have learned how to walk on a leash so now I get to go for walks with
my sister and that sure is fun.  Plus now I walk with my tail up and
wagging.

We also go for lots of car rides.  We sit in our car seat and it's up
high so we can look out the windows and see everything.  I never knew
there was such a big world out there!

My sister has taught me how to bark when someone comes to the door.  At
first I was all screechy sounding, but now I'm pretty good at it and
might even scare someone!

One of my favorite times is at night when we got to bed and I cuddle up
with Mom under the soft comforter.  She gets us up early during the week
but then I get to eat so it's not too bad.  I've gained a pound or so,
so now I'm not all boney.

Oh yeah, and this week I started school.  We will go for 8 weeks until I
graduate.  Now I have to do homework.  The only good thing I can say
about homework is that I get even more treats!

We were hoping we could make it to the picnic tomorrow, but since it is
such a long ride from Chicago, and there's other stuff going on, we hope
to be able to make it next year cause I'd like to see everyone.

So don't worry about me cause I'm doing just fine and I hope all the
other Doxies find homes as good as mine.

Love,

Emma

 

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Sunny's Story

There once was a dog named Scooby, his owners decided they didn't want him and moved away.  They left poor Scooby all alone in the yard, no food, no water, his life was very hard.  He was scared and alone and didn't know what to do.

A hero named Diane heard of his plight and said, "Oh No, that isn't right!"  She rescued dear Scooby, she took him that night.  She fed him and bathed him and held onto him tight.  For the first time in awhile he knew he would be alright.  He even got to sleep in her big bed at night!

Diane truly loved Scooby and lots of other dogs too, she knew what she had to do.  She searched the land far and wide to find him the perfect forever home where he would never have to hide.  She brought him to us in Florida, even though it was a very long ride.

We loved him from the very first minute, we bought him a kennel but he never stays in it.  We changed his name to Sonny and we would never leave him for any amount of money.  He is the perfect dog, very funny.  Sometimes we call him Sonny bunny.

 

He doesn't care what we call him, he knows who he is.  He knows we love him, just like we love our kids.  He has a special place in his heart for the hero named Diane who gave him a new start. 

Our funny bunny Sonny is happy at last.  He only gets irritated, when we make him take a bath.  The sad dog Scooby is part of his past, but no worries this family will be his last. 


Thanks to Sunny's mom for sharing the story she wrote for her children.  What a wonderful gift we give our children when we show them compassion for little creatures.

 

 

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Precious



Thought you would like a update on Precious.  She is our  number 
one squirrel chaser, has learned to get along with  our cat K-D, and 
is best friends with our other dachshund, Sadie.  She has done well 
with house training, and is quite the opposite personality wise of 
Sadie, who is quite vocal when company comes to the door.  We are so 
lucky to have found her, and she is a treasured member of our 
family.  Thank you for your work with rescuing these wonderful dogs. 
The Harris'

 

 

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Darwin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Diane,

Wanted to send you a few pictures and update you on how well Darwin is doing.

He has been an joy to our home since day number 1.  Darwin has integrated into our household with no difficulties at all.  I can't believe that there was ever life without him.  He is loving and gives lots of kisses.  He has enjoyed getting to know the neighbors and is a favorite among all who know him.  There are 2 dachshunds who live down the street and we say they have a little play group.  They seem to recognize one another as being related and just love sniffing and playing together. He is more than a little spoiled as any time someone goes to the store they come back with another toy. He loves rawhide chews and has taken to hiding them all over the house.  We have discovered a couple hidden in between the couch cushions stored away for a future snack. Darwin is a smart little boy and never forgets any one or any thing, especially if a treat is involved. We feel so happy and blessed with our sweet baby and look forward to many years of companionship and love.

Thank you so much for bringing Darwin into our lives.

Tish Thomson

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Lucy
(AKA Shortie)

Some notes from the AADR member who first knew Shortie -
She was owned and loved for her whole life by her human daddy.  Then, recently, dad had a stroke and became unable to take care of himself.  He kept her for as long as he could, but when he had to go into assisted living, he had to make a very tough decision.  It was decided that he would surrender her to AADR.  The next day, here he came leaning on his walker with little Shortie in his other arm.  Tears running down his face, he kept giving her kisses and kept saying "I just want her to be loved.  She's always been loved...she don't know no different."  It took me a minute to understand what he was saying because his voice was slurred due to the stroke.

Now from her new family -
After all she has been thru, she deserves a photo on the website. 

 

 

 

 

Shortie is doing great in our family.  She fits in with the rest of us perfectly and is such a happy little girl.  We renamed her Lucy, but she still gets called Shortie as she is truly short.

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Tryston (AKA Trace)

I keep forgetting to contact you to get Tryston’s (AKA Trace) microchip registration information.  Can you believe it has been over a year since he has come home??  In some ways it has been a blink of an eye and in others it seems like I have had him forever.  I had no idea how incredible this little dog would be in my life, but he literally saved me after loosing my beloved Max and than during the rest of the year my 2 senior babies went over the bridge to be with their brother.  Loosing all three in 12 months sent me into a downward spiral of depression and all the time, by my side, with his patient, gentle ways and his silly little antics was Tryston, never wavering in his devotion. 

 

 

 

How can I thank you enough for my precious baby??
 

 

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Macy AKA LuLu Belle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wanted to give you an update an Lu Lu Belle… first of all, her name is now Macy.  I hope you like her new name.  She seems to be happy with it.She is a perfect angel!  The drive back to Atlanta was great… she didn't cry at all.  Then the flight home was great too.  She's so friendly with strangers.

 

It's taken Bailey a couple days to get used to a new puppy in the house, but now she seems ok with it.  I think they are going to be best friends in no time!I brought Macy to our vets office yesterday, just to introduce her to them & to drop off her records.  I've scheduled her appt for her next set of shots next week.I'll keep in touch with you.

Thank you again… we're madly in love with Macy!!

 

Melissa

 

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Dodger & Moochie

Bebe (Dimples)
Diane,  Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know that Bebe(formerly Dimples) has become a little princess.  It took her a little while but she has really come out.  She and Rags love each other, today Rags had to go to the vet and stay the day and she was absolutely lost.  We are so grateful that she came into our life.  I enjoy getting updates and mail.
Have a blessed week,
Eleanor Bradley

Diane —

Love the updated website! Looks great. We’ve been directing as many people there as possible.

We haven’t seen Moochie (Maggie) on the success pages yet, and we want to show her off as another AADR success. Here’s another shot of her with little (big) brother Dodger. She has made him a different dog, particularly in terms of his anxiety. He’s much more relaxed in general, and even is getting used to having me around. He loves her so much, it’s adorable. After her surgery she had to rest her knee for a while, and he refused to go on extended walks without her. She’s back in action now, so they’re both happy as can be.

Take care, and keep up the great work.

- Alex

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Macie, Maggie and Tucker

 

 

Hi Diane

You probably don't remember us, but we adopted Maggie and Macie (aka:

Cagney and Lacy) back in 2005 around Christmas time.  We have been so busy

since then, but I wanted to give you an update.

Last year in June of 2006, we moved to Arizona.  I took a job transfer to

our division in Chandler which is a suburb of Phoenix.  We love it out

here.  The company moved all our furniture and personal belongings, and Dan

and I packed up all our "important" stuff in a van and travelled across the

country - with 4 dogs!  It was quite an experience, but little Maggie and

Macie LOVE to travel.  The van had a console between the two front seats

that was perfect to have a thick blanket on making the height even with our

laps.  For four days, they moved from lap to lap and basically slept and

snuggled the whole route.  Since then we have also travelled to visit

family in Nebraska.  We boarded our big dachshund, Tucker, as well as our

Sheltie (Sassy). Neither of them travel well at all unfortunately.  But we

took Maggie and Macie and again they were just perfect for the ride.  They

love all people and had a great time with my daughter's dogs in Nebraska.

One of her dogs is a great Dane, and it looked so funny to see them sniff

noses.  Because they are dachshunds, the size of the great Dane didn't faze

them one bit!

We love them very much.  We don't know what we would do without them.  I am

sending pictures of them as an attachment.  As you can see, they have quite

a lot of fur now and they weigh 10 lbs each.  We are now watching their

weight; we don't want them to get too heavy.  We are having a few health

issues with Macie.  She started to have an occasional seizure (very mild)

not too long after we got her.  The vet said to just keep an eye on her.

Over time, they became more frequent, and the vet out here has put her on

medication for epilepsy.  This has been working pretty well, but she still

has seizures occasionally.  I am taking her to the vet this Friday to talk

about further testing for liver function, etc.

They have a nice fenced in yard to play in out here.  The weather is too

hot to be outside for long, though, so they really just go out to potty

right now.  Being away from the cold weather up north seems to be helping

my Sheltie's arthritis also.  She is more like a puppy out here than she

has been in years.  During the time that we are at work, they are crated

together.  My husband and I are on different schedules, however, so they

are never crated for long periods of time.  My big dachshund, Tucker, has

his own crate which is very large.  Initially, I thought I would crate them

all together in the big crate because they like to sleep all together in a

heap when they're out of their crates.  But Tucker loves them too much.  He

likes to hold them down and clean their faces and ears, and I was afraid

they would get stuck under him.  He is a big boy - 27 lbs (Standard).

I hope you enjoy the picture.  Thanks,

Nancy and Dan

 

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Barker Walter Woodrruf Florence

 

 

 

Hi Diane and Jenny!   Hope this email finds you both having a great day!
Our house has been nothing but sheer joy since we brought our little guy
home.  As I conveyed to Jenny, we wanted to give him a name that would be
all his own as well as a perfect fit for our family, so his new name is
Wally.  His actual name is Barker Walter Woodrruf Florence.  (Barker Walter
after Ron's dad - isn't "Barker" fitting?" - Woodrruf in honor of Woody -and
rruf spelled that way since my maiden name is Furr.  Furr spelled backwards
is RRUF.)  I know, I have TOO much time on my hands.
 Little Wally has adjusted so unbelievably well.  He thoroughly enjoys his
brother and sisters.  He likes snuggling with them for a nap, or chasing
their tail.  He loves to chase Chloe and Woody's tail especially.  He has
found Frannie's "nursing spouts" and latched on a few times.  Frannie wasn't
too fond of that and thankfully Wally found out that the well was dry anyway. 
He is taking an afternoon nap with Ron right now.  He is on top of Ron's
chest and they both look completely content.  Jenny, excellent job training
this little guy.  He goes outside consistently and has already used the pee
pads that I have down for the other three at night.  We certainly don't get
bent out of shape over accidents, but it was a nice treat to have him
trained so well.  We really appreciate that!  
He cried and cried the first night at bedtime, so he and I slept on the
floor together.  (I didn't want him in the bed or even on the couch for
safety issues.)  Last night, he slept in his crate right by our bed and
cried some, but I would put my hand in the crate and talk to him and he
would always go back to sleep.  He is so cute and wonderfully perfect that
if I don't sleep for a month, that's okay.  Thank Goodness our schedule is
light right now!
He will see the vet in the morning for a check-up and to have his chip put in. 
Thank you both so much for your dedication and love for these animals.  I am
so thankful for you all!
I will keep you posted!
LA

 

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Abby's Summer Vacation

 

 

 

 

Hi Diane,

Hope you are doing well - Abby is doing GREAT - seems very settled and a very good little girl!  We feel so blessed to have her --- she has met the neighbors, found her sleeping spot in the MIDDLE of the king size mattress, and knows everyone in our family as her own!  She is nice to everyone she meets but will "greet" our family members when she sees them - she basically treats us special or at least we think so!!  My older son, Baylor, was so sweet today he said "Mommy, do you think Abby loves me extra special because she knows I am her boy?"  (Made me melt) I told him absolutely!!  Please have anyone call me if they need to talk with someone about adopting and as soon as I start working more I will try to donate some things- I have included Abby's pics over the last few weeks "just being happy" I hope you enjoy and post them if you want--  I am taking her to the vet this week as I was meant to but she is doing fine - her heat cycle is wrapping up so she is not so bothered by it--incision is fine too (used to be in medical) I have also referred our niece and her husband to your site - let me know if you need anything else and please keep in touch with us

Bless you for all you and your husband do---  
 

Polly Winecoff

 

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Wincie

 

 

Here's a new photo of my beautiful boy!  As you can see, he is doing great.  He's healthy and happy and so sweet and beautiful!

Rita Kaye Hamlet 

 

 

 

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Today Nugget, my boyfriend and I volunteered with the Animals Heal Hearts
program at Shands which is the teaching hospital at the University of
Florida. We went around and visited patients and let them pet or hold Nugget
if they wanted to. We are going to start going once a week for the next
couple months. Nugget did so great! He was a big hit and several patients
had dachshunds or had owned them in the past. Nugget was a perfect gentleman
and was not scared by any of the patients or hospital noises. It was truly
touching when Nugget was sitting in one patient's bed and he rolled over to
let the man give him a belly rub. His tail was wagging on the man's arm and
he said, "His tail is the first thing I've felt in this hospital that hasn't
hurt me." So I really feel that God's plan for us and Nugget has come full
circle- your actions helped Nugget help patients hundreds of miles away!
Keep up the good work and as always thanks so much for helping to get this
little pup into my life!
Lauren
P.S. Attached is a picture of Nugget in his "uniform" with an official
volunteer namebadge with his name on it!

 

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Camper Dogs, Vanna and Melvin

Hope that everything is going well with you.  It has been a really busy year for us.  With arrival of grandchild #3, Midge and I went to Columbus, GA to pick up #1 and #2 to take them camping.  My son is in the Army at Fort Benning and not home all that much.  We figured Mom could use a little help with three little ones in the house a get a bit of a break.  Vanna and Melvin made the trip to Georgia/Florida with us and again back to the 1,000 Islands.  Both are good travelers and great campers.  They certainly enjoyed the beach and their quiet time under the picnic table.  Vanna has had some dental issues but otherwise is doing extremely well.  Melvin is getting older (now 12) and slowing down quite a bit.  They both still love to walk and a simple wave of leashes brings them to the door.  Unfortunately, the grandchildren not only loved to feed them under the table but found the dog snack drawer.  Unknown to us, Vanna was fed almost a half can of chicken strips.  Thankfully, other than a bit of weight gain, she was none the worse after that ordeal. We missed the dachshund parade again this year.  It happened while we were in Georgia.  Another dachsie owner I know told us there were over 200 dachshunds in the parade.  I will definitely have to put that on the calendar (along with your picnic) for next year.

Best Regards,  Carl Englund

 

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Sir Otis

  They are doing extremely well together!
Just wanted to let everyone know that Sir Arthur is doing well.  We have
decided to rename him "Sir Otis" since we already had an "Oscar."  Oscar and
Arthur was just too hard for us to say!  He answers to it since we kept the"Sir" part.

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 Nugget the Volunteer