Piper
Piper Gracie came into our lives as a little rescue puppy and we quickly nicknamed her three pounds of tough. She came to us as a small underweight girl but grew into a beautiful lady full of personality. Unfortunately she had a genetic disease that took her from us way too soon. She brought so much joy into our lives and taught us what living life to the fullest means. Even on her last day with us, gravely ill, she still had spirit and wanted to be one of the pack. We will never forget her and will cherish her memories. Rest in peace little lady. We love you! (12/21/09 - 11/1/11) Sherry

DIXIE LU
I lost my husband of over 50 years and then I lost his 16 year old poodle. So my family thought it would be a good idea to get another companion, so I headed for the computer and really had no idea what to try for but I wound up with Diane Irwin and a car full of dachshunds. Now my experience with Dixie Lu: What I heard from Diane is that Dixie Lu was mean and could not get along with anyone (man, woman or child) but she seem to know that very day that she was going to stay. After she watched everyone play and pet the other dogs she crawled into my daughters arms and put her noise on her neck and was so sweet and loving. What I heard from my daughter was “mom this is the one you want. You need her”. But when everyone was gone she showed what she could and would do. After a few times getting away when we opened the door, she did mess up a few times, but then all of a sudden Dixie Lu settled down. So with Dixie and me we got along fine after she found out that I had an answer to everything she tried to get away with. My feelings on our togetherness were: There were two souls that needed to be together and she kept hunting until she found me. She was unusually very smart. She learned to walk very slowly when I had to use my canes but then she knew she could run as fast as she wanted to when I was in my electric chair. Dixie Lu was afraid of nothing except for bad storms, and she was also good at letting everyone know that she owned me. She barked and tried to bit anyone that came to close to me, but she never once tried to bit me. If I was not paying attention to her when she needed to go out she would grab my hand with her moth but never bit down. She also knew that I got up at six am and if I didn’t, she got me up and laid down in my spot until I got the coffee on and her food ready. Then I called out Dixie do you want to go out to pee? She would be there in a minute with her tail wagging. And that was something she never did when she first came here. So with everything we accomplished together and all said and done, I will miss her to no end. If there were ever two souls that need to be together it was us. She hunted until she found me. O about her barking and trying to bit everyone I come to realize she was just protecting her loved one. (I never told strangers that though so they kept their distance.) Ruthanne Byrd “I miss you and Love you Dixie Lu” Dixie Lu died October 1st, 2011 at the Vets Office from Liver Failure.

NANA RIP
Nana (Adoption: August 2007---- Passed away: August 30, 2011) Nana has been a precious part of our family for four years. She had been found as a stray and had extremely bad dental issues. Once she was taken in by AADR, she received the veterinarian care she needed. All of her teeth had to be removed and she had extensive care for a fistula that developed as a part of her dental condition. My husband and I were looking for a companion for our schnauzer, Lacy. We fell in love with Nana’s beautiful face and the tongue hanging out of the side of her mouth just added character. She loved her cheese and cookie treats, belly rubs and her own bed beside of our bed. She and our grandson, Andrew, became best friends and they enjoyed playing and snuggling together. We loved her with all of our hearts and she will forever be missed. Erik, Denise, Andrew, Anthony, Angie, Lacy and Scoobie

DUKE
Sir Duke Fisher 02/05/2005 Adoption – 08/07/2011 The first time I ever saw Duke was in a photo. He was in some sort of playpen, standing tall with his front paws against the top railing. His face was white, still plenty of red, yet the beautiful patch of pure white fur that stretched from the top of his head, almost all the way to his nose. He just looked like a royal Duke, so majestic and so regal. You see, Duke came to live with us by way of All American Dachshund Rescue, at the time it was known as SSDR. We had just lost our Linus of 13 years, and his brother Snickers was so heartbroken and depressed, we began looking a brother for him. I contacted Diane after seeing Duke’s picture on their website. Seems no one wanted a dog as old as him, even though to this day we still don’t know his real birthday or even his original name since he was dumped in a shelter with no information. So, Diane named him Duke, and it was so appropriate because he really was a Duke. We understand he was rescued from a shelter in Kentucky, so my wife Flori began calling him “The Duke of Paducah”. He deserved the moniker and through the short, six years he lived with us, he certainly earned the title. Duke was housebroken, already trained to commands like sit and shake. Anytime you put your hand toward him, he immediately lifted his left paw to greet you. Our neighbors soon realized just what a gentlemen he really was, as he was so relaxed and laid back everyone found him so kind they began referring to him as “A True Southern Gentleman” Duke was our first rescue dachshund, and I will tell you this. They are the most appreciative little guys you will ever find. It took years before Duke would sit up and look out the window on a car ride, he just hung his head down on my wife’s knee, thinking he was only going to be taken somewhere else and dumped. After a while though, he looked forward to the rides and as always, a gentleman who stayed in his place in the car, not rolling down the windows or blowing the horn or shifting the car out of gear like all of our other doxies have done. Duke was, well… a Duke! I could go on and on but the point is, he’s gone now. Right up to the end he was a gentleman, never cried, whimpered or complained. He chose to take leave for the Rainbow Bridge by his own right, not ours. He spared us the awful decision we would have to make, just lying there, on his blanket looking like he always did, peacefully asleep. Except this time, it was different. He wouldn’t be waking up anymore to have breakfast, or go outside or get his treat. It was a different kind of sleep, the kind God gives to those He love’s the most, a chance to move on to somewhere better, somewhere where he would no longer feel the pain or suffering. A place where he could join up with his brothers and run and bark and enjoy life again. Duke was The Man! And, before another tear falls on my keyboard, I will end my story here. Thankfully, it will never be the end of Duke! We’ll see him again one day, up there bouncing around the clouds, his real forever home.

CHYBA
For the first time in her long career as a Military Working Dog, Chyba lost a battle early Saturday morning. She survived her time in the U.S. Army, serving in Germany and Iraq. However, after being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer just seven weeks ago, she has now peacefully crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. She's reunited with the other brave dogs that she worked alongside in detecting drugs, sniffing out explosives, and giving their lives to save others. If You have met Chyba, you saw what a precious spirit she had in spite of the dangers she has faced. Her eyes were gentle and kind. Like so many other soldiers, when she was not standing in harm's way, her face was kind and compassionate. This Wednesday, August 3 at 11:00 AM we'll be holding a brief memorial service at Cricket's Corner Community Dog Park at Rancho Coastal Humane Society (In San Diego County) to honor Chyba. If you are available, we would love for you to join us to pay our respects to our special veteran. If you cannot attend, please pause for a moment to remember Chyba and to offer a prayer for her and all the other Military Working Dogs who serve in silence to keep us free.