We adopted Flash in May of 2007 and we love him so much! In the beginning, he was a bit skittish around men and loud noises. Now, he is much more comfortable with his home and is a wonderful dog with a sweet, easy-going temperament.

I sometimes wonder why anyone would have ever given Flash up in the past...but, I'm so glad he's with us today. Thank you LDCR for taking care of Flash and helping us find him. Here is a picture of Flash on the deck and also one taken around Christmas 2007.

Hi LDCR! We adopted Abby (aka Hillary) back in 2006 and have adored her ever since! She has been such a great addition to our family and we love her to death! Our other dogs love her as much as we do and the three of them are inseparable. Thank you again for everything!

Greetings

Thanks so much

Dear LDCRF,

after much soul searching we decided in July of 2007 to adopt a dog into our home. We were not quite sure if it was the right thing, if a dog would fit into our lifestyle, since we are both working professionals, but we worked out a plan and we decided that it could be done. We found the LDCRF and looked up dogs we were interested in on the website, and went to our first adoption event. There was a line for the dog we had picked as our first choice, and a couple with a young girl seemed to really want her, so we decided to step back and to come back the following week, since our second choice wasn't there on that weekend. We went back on the following Friday and met Bella (her name then was Allie). She seemed to like us, which to us was a good sign (yes, we know that some dogs like everyone). Bella is a lab mix, when we got her she was just a little over a year old. We were told that she had been brought back a few times because she was having potty problems; apparently she had a bladder infection, which now had been treated with antibiotics.

So we filled out a lot of paperwork and were allowed to adopt her. We did our shopping, for a crate, a nice soft cushion for the crate, food dishes, food, a leash, and a collar, everything we could think of. Then we took her home. She was a very scared girl, she was too afraid even to cross the parking lot. We had to carry her to the car and lift her into the back, she would not jump in. This is actually something that took some training, she was afraid of strip malls for a while until she learned to trust us.

She settled in fast, but soon she started urinating in the house. We could not imagine why she would do such a thing, she is a very well behaved and easy to train dog. Then we found blood in her urine and took her to the vet. For about a month we treated her for urinary tract infection, but it would not get better. Finally, we had the vet take x-rays and learned that she had a bladder stone that was over 1" in size. We had her scheduled for surgery and after that we never had a problem with Bella urinating in our house again. :-)

Bella is a wonderful dog. She was already crate trained, and at first we kept her in the crate while we were at work and had someone walk her at lunch time. Now we leave her the run of the house, and at night she sleeps with us. We only use the crate twice a month when the cleaning service comes. She is very easy to train; we went to some basic obedience classes to learn how to train her and everything she has learned she retained almost immediately. We are taking her to the Leesburg Canine Country Club 2-3 times a week, where she gets to retrieve tennis balls, her favorite thing in the world to do. She can totally ignore other dogs when she just has a ball to chase; it is really funny to watch how focused and intense she gets. We are feeding her a raw diet, and she absolutely loves it. She has a beautiful shiny coat, and when we think about the fact that a beautiful, loving dog like her was rescued by LDCRF from a kill shelter, we just want to cry.

Please, if you think about getting a dog, get a rescue. It is the most rewarding experience you can have. There are so many lost animals out there that need there forever home. Bella found hers, and I hope you will be able to give another wonderful pup his or her forever home.

Hi Lost Dog. I would love to give an update on Lola (formerly known as Wiggles). We adopted her about a month ago and we couldn't love her more if we tried. About five days after we adopted her, I took her to the vet for a routine check-up and the vet found a small mammary tumor. These tumors are common in dogs that are not spayed or are spayed later in life. It's unfortunate that Lola's original owners didn't spay her when she was a puppy. But luckily, Lost Dog was responsible and had Lola spayed before we adopted her, so I am hoping to avoid future tumors such as these.

Lola had surgery to remove the tumor and had it biopsied. Fortunately, the tumor was benign and Lola has recovered well from her surgery (other than the inconvenience of her having to wear one of those cone collars for a while).

She is feeling great and has settled in very well with us. She is happiest when she is snuggling on the couch with us and she is very well behaved. She also loves going on walks and chasing squirrels, although she doesn't get far on her leash. She absolutely loves people and just wants to come up and say hi to anyone she sees while she is on her walks. We are looking forward to taking her to a dog park soon now that she has recovered from her surgery.

Thanks for everything Lost Dog. We are really enjoying having Lola in our lives. She makes us smile on a daily basis:)

My husband and I recently adopted Toby, a Jack Russell Terrior mix. Toby is doing great, although still getting over a little "separation anxiety." He's a master at getting his belly rubbed, "forcing" us to play ball with him, and sleeps in bed with us every night! After several weeks, he had his first swimming adventure in the Potomac River - the first couple of weeks, he just barked at the water (see photos)! But now he's a pro, as long as the water isn't too cold!

We are very impressed with your organization, and highly recommend it to anyone. Please know that Toby has a wonderful home - we are head over heals in love with him! Thank you for all that you do!

Here is Bear--formerly known as Oso, adopted about a 1-1/2 ago-- and Billy--formerly known as William--adopted this past December. As you can see, life is good for them--and us. We adore them.They are wonderful dogs.

Both are Lost Dog Rescue success stories.

We encourage anyone who is thinking of getting a dog to adopt!!!!!

Hi, just wanted to update you on "Precious" I adopted her last year on March 10th. She was 12 years old at the time you had taken her from the Fredricksburg Shelter. Her owner had passed away and the family didn't want. Well I can't imagine why. She is the greatest little Poodle. She and my other poodle get along so well they sleep together in a lovely big crate on a very comfy pillow with lots of toys. She gets along well with my cats and is very interested in one particular one.She loves too eat Science Diet Senior diet, another favorite of hers is her bowl of milk. She delights to go on walks. She loves to sit with me when I'm sitting watching T.V. She attends the "Beauty Shop" regularly, her coat has become so silky. I'm so glad I found her.Thanks for rescuing her.

I just wanted to say thank you for all of your's (and Katie's) help in finding Bonnie. She truly is the perfect match for our family. She was shy for oh..about 5 minutes! Now she has pretty much taken over the house. She LOVES the kids. The louder they are, they more she wants to be with them. I think she must have been around children before. She loves to be loved on and just can not get enough of the pets and hugs. She is such a doll and we all just love her! We all thank you so much.

My husband decided, by golly, he wanted a pet and agreed that our lifestyle is not well suited to a dog. So we went on a quest for A cat; although my “cat people” friends generally recommended two for various reasons. We went to one cat adoption event; however, whereas my husband was ready to walk out with one active lad, I was looking for some telltale “sign” that it was also right for me. I went on-line and Petfinder.com yielded a photo and bio of a very handsome tiger/tabby lad named Bob. The bio indicated he was at the Leesburg Petsmart Cat Adoption Center. So I called and asked if Bob was still there. The young woman said yes and although he’s quite nice, if she could take someone home it would be Pepe who she said was a hoot. So I looked up Pepe on-line and indeed, with his half circle black beard in his mostly white face, he looked like he’d have personality.

So the very next day we went to the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation adoption event at the Leesburg Petsmart armed with a completed application and the printed bios of Bob, Pepe, and another tiger/tabby. As it turned out, Bob and Pepe had met that week and were sharing a two-story “cell” in the adoption center. So instead of being introduced to one in the neighboring “meet and greet” closet, we were invited to play with both of them. Before I knew it, I was completing more paperwork and writing a check while my husband shopped from a list of things we’d need to get started, including a carrier. A young woman assembled the carrier for me and when she opened the “cell” door, Bob and Pepe jumped out and snuggled together in the carrier. This was my sign although you know darn well they were simply accustomed to going in and out of them from being in the rescue system for a bit; however …

Within short order our house became their home, resembling a kitty day care with toys strewn about and nap spots established. I felt the beginnings of a power shift in our household as Bob and Pepe became increasingly confident and happy to lay claim to the whole place and us.

Thank you, Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation!

Bob and Pepe’s Food and Strokes Provider

Dear Lost Dog,

On December 20th, 2007, I was sitting with my LDRF volunteer in front of the PetSmart in Falls Church. He was really nice and gave me lots of treats. Then, these two really nice ladies, Jane and Helen, came to the store, hoping to buy a catnip mouse for a friend's new kitten. They caught my eye. I, in turn, caught theirs. We talked a bit. I walked around with them. Barbara asked them to foster me, because I'd been returned twice. I think they were nervous, but I tried to make them relax by licking their hands.

Well, guess what? I live PERMANENTLY with Helen and Jane AND their other dogs. We play ALL the time. I have my own crate, but I'm so well behaved, they don't even close the crate door anymore. I have lots of toys. And, the best part is, Jane has an office in the house. So, I help out by announcing the Fed Ex man, the postal carrier, and dinner time. I sleep under her desk and play with the CD burner. I'm a big help and hope to be on the payroll soon.

Spring Break, I went on my first vacation with my whole family to the Outer Banks where I learned to swim! And I ran on the beach. I have also successfully completed obedience training, and I have to say, I aced the course.

My name was Batman when I came to LDRF, but I am now Black Jack. It really suits me much better.

Your faithful friend,

Black Jack

Lost Dog:

I just wanted to give a quick update on Buck. I adopted him in February 2006 and it's been a full year now and he is a new man (uh, I mean, dog)! He is so happy to be a dog. He is happy to get up in the morning and he's happy to eat and he's happy when the laundry comes out of the dryer and its warm, because he wants to roll in it. He has two new best friends, Eli (a 13 lb. long-haired Chihuahua) and Simon (a rescued Beagle mix) that come over to play with him (they are our neighbors). He has begun to really attach to a very good friend of mine and he even whimpers when she leaves. Buck has never had a problem with other dogs...it's people he questions. He has become much more affectionate and asks for attention now. He still gets along great with his sister, KC. He is very healthy and at his most recent vet check-up he weighed in at 52 pounds...about a 10 pound weight gain since I adopted him.

Again, thank you for the work you do in saving animals and bringing them to people who love them.

We adopted Kogo nearly three years ago in July of 2005. We are living in Indiana, finishing up graduate school, and Kogo (and his feline brother Laszlo) has been with us every step of the way. Kogo's profile said that he "needed to be in a home where he would get a lot of interaction everyday," but now it is us who can't get enough of him! He continues to learn and grow with us always. It has been an amazing three years and we wanted to thank you again for all that you do for "lost" pets and the people who "find" them again.

Hi! I wanted to give you an update on Johnnie. After my initial apprehension about bringing an adult cat into a house with other adult cats, I am really happy he is part of our lives. Here is the introduction story. While volunteering with LDCRF at Leesburg I saw Johnnie and fell in love. He is a beautiful Maine Coon cat mix and incredibly sweet. When I discovered he had been at the store for awhile and could not go to the ranch, I was heart sick. He is such a bundle of love and playfulness, but was becoming depressed. His house mate had been adopted and he was in a strange place - alone, surrounded by other cats.

Having adopted two female kittens (Squibble & Missy Vogue, now 2 years old), also from LDCRF, and having previously tried to introduce adult cats to each other with horrifying results, I was really hesitant to "adopt" Johnnie. However, I could not stand the idea of him spending more time in his current situation. So that same week I offered to foster Johnnie....OK, so I am a foster failure and Johnnie now has a forever home. After a traumatic trip home - Johnnie does not like crates and screamed the entire trip (not just cried -but SCREAMED) - I wondered what I had gotten myself into, the adventure began.....I had purchased an additional litter pan, additional litter, a cat blanket, additional food and a kitty cushion. Johnnie, crate and the additional "stuff" entered the house unannounced.

Squibbles, who usually meets me at the door, came running and immediately put on the breaks. Even Missy Vogue, who is very reserved, came to investigate. Johnnie is now very quiet and the girls are hissy and puffy. While I am preparing a room for Johnnie to have some privacy, and to allow for an adjustment period, I leave everyone alone to investigate, puff and hiss. Once the room is ready, Johnnie and crate are brought into the room. The crate is opened and Johnnie is free at last. After a few minutes of investigation and reassuring him this is an OK situation, I make my exit to pay attention to the "girls" and help them calm. Now the fun starts! Johnnie would have nothing to do with being left alone and was out the door before I could shut it.... the girls are now going to have to meet and greet him and I am not looking forward to the evening. Everyone will get along or not!

OK, so the first night was not fun and the next few days were stressful....However, it was not as bad as I anticipated and all is well now! Johnnie is so laid back that he let the girls go through their hissy puffy stage unphased. Johnnie has won over the girls and all is well with the world. Even Missy Vogue is best buds and she doesn't like much of anything except dinner. Johnnie now walks around "burping", carrying toys and is the first in your lap any time you sit down. I think Squibbles and Missy Vogue are really happy he is here as well. They play together and will sleep on the same piece of furniture (usually the bed) and play together. Life is good! The 7 - 9 pound depressed cat I picked up that evening is now a happy 15 pound fluffy cat who loves life and attention. Squibble and Missy Vogue are happy too.....:) Thank you Lost Dog and Cat Rescue....keep up the great work!

Hi Lost Dog,

We thought we'd write to let you know that Maddux (formerly known as Marley) celebrated his 1st birthday last week! We adopted him in May 2007 and he has grown from 15 lbs to about 65 lbs now, and we think he is still growing! He is a calm, loveable and happy dog who gets along with every human and dog he meets. His favorite activities include playing in the backyard with his soccer ball and trips to the dog park. We love Maddux so much and can't imagine life without him. Thank you, Lost Dog, for everything you do and for such a special addition to our family.

Originally, I didn’t want to keep Roxy. I took her on as a foster just until she could be adopted. She was very frightened at having been left with LDCRF, and it took her awhile to get past that. I think she was an only cat and suddenly found herself thrust into a home with 2 other cats, and she didn’t understand the concept of “guest.” She and my resident male cat (Sundance) had constant spats that left Sundance slinking around the house for fear of being ambushed. But then, slowly, gradually, she calmed down and even started to be friendly. She loves to be cuddled, and she likes to be around me, to the point of accompanying me to the door to greet visitors like a proper hostess (or bodyguard?).

Well, who could resist? When it looked like she might be adopted, I realized that I would really miss that cute little trot she has, and the sweet meows, and the cuddling—I was definitely hooked. I am now officially her feeder, door opener, and litter box cleaner—and cuddler.

Holly (formerly known as Reba) is a wonderful addition and blessing to our family! We adopted her Thanksgiving weekend 2007 and within a few short weeks we felt as though she had always been part of our family. She has such a loving disposition and is very affectionate. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that not only was she house trained (very few accidents those initial days) but also crate and leash trained. She and our son are often playing on the floor amidst giggles, licks, and frantic tail wags! At bedtime Holly races my son to the bedroom and jumps on the bed for story-time and then falls into a wild dream of squirrel chasing (paws running, and 'barking' in her sleep - this sends our son into hysterics!!)

During our daily walks when she sees people out and about she automatically thinks they want to give her some affection and she is often quite right! When our friends come to visit Holly politely introduces herself and then insists on a little bit of attention. Of course one look at her and no one can deny that face!

Recently a friend remarked how sad the circumstances must have been that Holly needed to be rescued AND how fortunate that LDCRF did come to her rescue and we adopted her! She has brought great joy, smiles and happiness to our entire family. Thank you so very much for all you did for Holly and us and for all that you do for the many other dogs and cats you rescue each day!!

A couple years we adopted a female golden retriever/jack russell terrier mix from you. Zoe has turned out to be a wonderful part of our family, but we felt she needed a friend. A couple weeks ago we adopted Deuce, a male black lab/bassett/terrier mix. Even though we have only had Deuce such a short period of time, they have become the best of buds.

A year ago , we lost our cat of 17 years and felt that we wanted another pet. We had the good fortune to find Lodger/AKA Tiger ( now ) through the excellent and efficient services of " The lost dogs and cats rescue league ". We cannot thank you enough ! Tiger is a great joy in our life and we look forward to many years of his companionship.

I just wanted to give you an update on Guinness (known at Lost Dog as Darma). We adopted her on April 21, 2007, and she has been a joy ever since! She's just turned 1 on February 14th (yes, she's a Valentine's Day doggie!) and is about 52 pounds now, and we love every bit of her! She loves to go on walks (you can't even say the word without her getting excited!) every morning, and enjoys playdates with her best friend Minee (our neighbor's dog) every day. She sleeps on our bed every night and promptly wakes us up at 6.30am! She has brought such joy and happiness into our lives. Thank you, Lost Dog, and keep up the good work!

Dear LDCRF,

I adopted Blue (border collie mix)- now goes by Blake- in December 2007! He started pretty shy and scared, and now he rolls over at anyone in sight for a belly rub! He has been the best dog we've ever had, He gets along so well with our three other dogs, and loves playing with our bird dog chesapeake!

He loves going to the barn with me everyday and playing with the other border collies, and seeing all the other people! Blake recently took a trip with us to Aiken, SC and got to run with all the other dogs all day, every day at the barn! He has also started agility, and LOVES to jump!! The whole family really enjoys having Blake around! Thank you so much LDCRF for al you do, and one great dog!

Hi, I adopted Rusty (chihuahua/pug) in December 2007 and he has adjusted quite nicely. He and my 8 year old pit bull mix Chalupa are just like peas and carrots! Thank you for saving Rusty from the West Virginia kill shelter. We can't imagine our lives without him!

Hi, I adopted Phoenix (pitbull mix) in FEB 2007 and have been meaning to add his story to the happy tails section of your site.

Phoenix had a rough start. I was told that he was abused as a puppy before he was rescued by lost dog rescue. After he was adopted, he was tossed between a few homes before I found him. When I came to the adoption event, I was originally there to see another dog but once I saw Phoenix I knew he was the dog for me.

Phoenix adjusted quickly to me and I to him. We were told that he wasn't any good around other dogs and to be leary of dog parks. At first, he was a little scared of other dogs. With a lot of work and love, I managed to get him accustomed to being around other dogs and their owners. We had a brief setback (he was bitten by three large dogs at the Shirlington dogpark), he regained his confidence and I'm happy to say that he now loves the company of other dogs.

Phoenix is the best thing that has happened to me. I now live in a small studio apartment in downtown DC and Phoenix loves it! He loves sniffing and looking at all the sights in my neighborhood. His favorite thing is searching for and chasing squirels. He could do it all day! Sometimes he hugs the tree and goes arooud and around until the squirrel hops to another tree. Then he follows it to the other tree and starts all over again! I make sure he gets over 2 hours of walks a day.

We also wrestle and play with his toys inside all the time. He is the most spoiled, well-behaved, cutest dog in the world. Sometimes, so many people stop us on our walks to comment on how cute he is that it takes me 10 minutes to walk the length of just one block! He loves his new home and i can't imagine my life before I got him. Thank you Lost Dog for giving me the greatest dog in the world!

We adopted Dino from you in 2003. We also moved to New Jersey, but thought you would like to see some pictures of him! He is a very happy 5 year old now and is enjoying his big back yard! His people love him very much and think he is so fun and wonderful!! Thank you for introducing us!!

Cash--the man in black (aka Chandler) followed me home Thanksgiving weekend and has brought me great joy. He is strong and robust and guards the yard against marauding varmints...I'm almost afraid he's going to leap the five-foot fence in his enthusiastic pursuit of squirrels. Next to chasing squirrels, he loves long walks and shows remarkable restraint when we encounter the tree-rats around the neighborhood. Though he often feigns aloofness, he soaks up affection and even has a jealous streak. He rarely barks but has an unusual growl that sounds like he's trying to talk...maybe someday I'll be able to interpret. He's an alpha, but he's also sweet and tolerates even the snappy mini-schnauzer next door. So, what to do with a highly energetic and patient dog? Find him a playmate, of course.

On February 2nd, I brought home Maggie (aka Maggie Mae) with some trepidation since LDCRF warned me that Cash could be picky about doggie friends. No worries! They're already BFF. Maggie is more subdued, but she follows enthusiastically when Cash chases squirrels (although I don't think she understands what all the fuss is about). She's also game for a good wrestling match, giving the big guy all he can handle. She does have separation issues, but I bought her a new crate and she seems quite cozy. And she's an affectionate and a real snuggler. I was a little nervous about having two dogs, but it's great...no more work and twice the love. I especially enjoy walking them together with a homemade double leash; they're always shoulder to shoulder, like a real pack.

Thanks LDCRF for two great dogs!

Poor Patches had a rough start, suffering from ear infections (mites and yeast), an upper respiratory infection, surgery to remove a tumor, and an allergic reaction to flea/tick medicine. Thankfully, she is now healthy and doing great. She has gained weight, is extremely playful (loves playing with her fish and our dog Bandit), and is very loving and gentle with us and our son.

She loves to look out the window for hours on end. She is also the perfect lap cat. Though we only intended to foster Patches, we feel lucky to have Patches as part of our family.

Hi there, We adopted Radar from Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation on January 12. As you can see from these pictures, he has grown quite a bit. He is now a happy 20 pound puppy. He has been a great addition to our family. The boys love him. Sure, we're more busy than ever with a new puppy, but he has also brought us more joy. Thanks to LDCR for choosing us as his adoptive family. Please give our sincerest gratitude to his foster mom for taking care of him before us.

Hey everyone! It's been almost two months since we adopted Oliver (formally known as Dexter). He has made himself right at home and has gotten along really well with his big brother Teddy and absolutely loves his new mommy! (see below pic) He's a bundle of energy thats overwhelming sometimes, but at the end of the day, we wouldn't have it any other way!

Thanks so much LDCRF for all you do! You have made us so happy!

Hi there - Just wanted to pass along an update on Etta, our hound dog that we adopted from Lost Dog last year. She is as sweet as can be, and definitely has lived up to her description as a "sweet natured galumpher" who gives "goofy cuddles"! She's great with her sister and brother (two cats), although sometimes they don't appreciate the cuddles as much as we do. She's been to obedience school and knows lots of commands, and how to walk on a leash. Her favorite passtime is hanging out on the couch watching Rick Steeves, and she also really likes going to the dog park. She's very popular there, and everyone loves her ears flopping all over the place as she runs from one side of the park to the other. By all accounts, she's doing great - it's just too bad her mother dresses her funny (see picture).

Hello Lost Dog & Cat! It’s been a little over a year since my last update and I thought I’d check-in again with everyone. I’m still doing very well in my new forever home with my new mom, although the mean vet put me on a diet! No more Friskies (pout!). But I’m getting used to it and Mom says that soon, when I lose the 4 pounds the vet wants me to lose, all the girl kitty’s will be scratching on the door to be with me!

I’m better about strangers in my house (yes, it’s mine now, I took it over in a bloodless coup with Mom) as Mom had 4 friends visit over Memorial Day Weekend, and I not only did NOT hide under the bed all weekend but actually snuggled up to sleep with all the new people. Now when people come into the house I feel completely secure that no one is going to hurt me. I still don’t like loud noises though and jump every time Mom cheers for the Redskins or Nationals when she’s watching them on TV, but it’s all good.

I still enjoy the peace and quiet of my new home and will nap in all different places on different days. Mom never knows where she’ll find me when she comes home at night! I’ve also discovered just how much I like sunning myself on the back deck in the evening after Mom gets home from work! But not when it’s too hot, then I like to stay where it’s cool. I’m still on my diet and although I haven’t lost any weight, I haven’t put any on either. I keep telling Mom I’m just ‘big-boned’, LOL! Here are three new pictures of me so you can see how well I’m doing.

Dear LDRF,

I am happy to have found and adopted Coco. She is a sweetheart. She's had an unfortunate past but she is adjusting well, learning new tricks, and evening turning into a lapdog of sorts which is completely backwards for a Shiba Inu. Somedays I wonder if she thinks shes part cat with how she sleeps on the couch. We had to work together through a couple of aggression issues but she has adjusted well and is active and happy in her new home.

I am so glad that you take care of these lost dogs and I am glad Coco was given the chance to find a forever home with me. Thank You.