Homeward Bound Success Stories

Success Story--Vegas and Bradie

2008-12-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

First of all I wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone at Homeward Bound as
well as their generous fosters, I know how much work you all do to find
all these wonderful animals good homes & I am so happy that my family was
able to reap the benefits!! We've had Vegas & Bradie (formerly Scarlet &
Brindle) for just over 6 months now -- they were just a year old when they
came up to NH with Krista in May, '08.

Vegas (named because we took a gamble on adopting her...and won!!) is a
furry, red bundle of energetic fun & love! She loves to play and has
adjusted very well to both of our homes in MA & NH, where she has the run
of the houses & yards. She is well behaved & passed puppy school with
flying colors -- not to mention, as the class clown & drama queen! She
keeps the cats in the house busy -- sometimes whether they like it or not
-- but they'll let her know who's boss if they have to (then she listens,
haha)! Each day I come home it's to a big cheerful greeting, followed by
either our nice long walk or some play-time at the dog park.

Bradie is the mature, refined, elegant sister of the 2; she is gentle,
graceful and loves to cuddle! She lives with her "mom" at UNH. The
sisters happily get to play together & see each other frequently.

Thank you again for bringing them into our lives, all our best to your
future endeavors & all our encouragement to anyone out there considering
adopting from Homeward bound...GO FOR IT!!

Hammer

2008-11-20T04:05:00.000-08:00

I just want to let you know how appreciative we are for all the hard work
you do for the shelter! Without you we would not have Hammer
(a.k.a.Henry). We have had so much fun with him. He is a great dog and
we love him so much! He fit in with our family right from the start. We
have had him for almost a year and we can't imagine life without him!

Thank you!!!

Kate Meehan and Hammer

Success Story---Miller

2008-10-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

I was just browsing your site and wanted to share with you our Homeward Bound success story.

We adopted Miller from the Sept. 07 Trip to NH. He was accompanied by his three brothers and sisters and was the smallest in the litter at only 6 lbs. I could not imagine this last year without Miller in our lives. Now all grown up at 95lbs! He is so smart we think he's border line genius :) He has a few little quirks like how he won't walk through doorways unless the door is open all the way and he hates the car!! But it makes him unique.He is quite the watch dog but couldn't hurt a fly. He loves to swim and go on walks, prefers sticks over balls, and loves his sister Bailey, they are only 5 months apart and the best of friends. The experience I had with homeward bound was incredible all of your hard work and determination is admired. I can't thank you enough!

Love Tarryn, Sean, Miller, and Bailey

Indiana Jones

2008-10-06T06:48:00.001-07:00

Yesterday about this time "Indiana Jones" was delivered to the Cabin at
14 weeks old from "Heartbandits" in Suffern, New York. He is a Pointer
/ Labrador Retriever (mix) with the sweetest personality possible.
Thank you for fostering "Indi". May God bless you for taking in animals
needing love. Be assured it will be a GREAT life for him living with
us. A neighbor came by and she said that Indi won the LOTTERY when he
got us for parents! It just warms my heart with joy.
Indi's mom,
Jeanette

Duke

2008-10-06T06:44:00.001-07:00

In 2 months Duke will be in our family for a full year. He is the most
affectionate dog that I have ever had. He has never had an accident in
the house, and he is finally getting used to having his belly rubbed. I
just wanted to say thank you once again for matching me up the perfect
guy. Have a very wonderful fall.

Thank you once again from the Bank's Family

SUCCESS STORY----SOX

2008-04-21T19:30:00.000-07:00

Recently Sox graduated from puppy kindergarten! He had a great time
learning with other puppies at PetSmart. He got along well with all of
them and wrestled with every dog big and small. We've never seen him
happier! We wonder what it will take to get him to stick his tongue out
and wag his tail like that at home.

To view pictures and more detailed updates about Sox, please check out our family blog. Again, we are so thankful for the care
you gave Sox before he arrived with us; we couldn't be happier with our
new addition.

May your work and that of Homeward Bound continue for many years to come.
Thank you!

Success Story---Maddie May

2008-04-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

We adopted May a Boarder collie/ bulldog mix last August.
We have changed her name to Maddie May. She enjoys playing in the field and running around with our other animals. At the first snow fall she was so funny, she just dove
right off the steps and into the snow. She was stunned at the fact that
she couldn't walk on it. She is now housebroken and has not been in her
cage for a few weeks. ( we are very proud of her ) We are looking forward
to the spring when we can run and play. here are a few pictures of her.
Once again we would like to thank Krista and all of the other Homeward
Bound volunteers for our new addition to our family.

Emma

2008-01-31T19:43:00.000-08:00

My name is Heather and I am Emma's mom. Let me start by thanking you both sooo much for the very obvious love and caring you gave Emma while she was in your care. Shs is AMAZING!!!!! Due greatly in part to the first mommies she knew I am sure.
We had a long ride home to Vermont after a 4 hour car ride from Deerfield where we met. After seconds of eye contact while she was unloaded we were hooked. There was a connection so strong that I can't put it into words. I had that connection once before with my former soulmate Max (he passed away over 10 years ago)...it was amazing to feel that with another dog. Max was a shepherd mix as well.
Emma was so well behaved on the car ride home, I had taken the back seat out of my Jeep Wrangler and set her up with a small crate (that she opted not to use) and several new fluffy pink blankets and a new pillow and some new chew toys. After several attempts at sitting in the passenger seat (yes, I agree a VERY strong will) she settled in nicely for the trip. We stopped often for water and Iams large breed puppy food (thanks to Megan for the tip!)...and of course bathroom romps in the snow. She LOVES the snow!!! So happy to see that because I enjoy snowshoeing, hiking and being outside....so she will most definitely be accompanying me on many adventures. My best friend lives on Lake Champlain, and we canoe and camp alot....she has a 2 year black Lab named Elli....the two will be meeting for the first time Wednesday. I will send pictures as I take them!

Lego

2008-01-31T19:35:00.000-08:00

I wanted you guys to have an update on Herbie. We have decided to call him Lego because my fiance is Danish and it is a Danish word that means "play well." We actually got the idea from the other black puppy on the website that was named Lego. He has transitioned to the name very well and comes running when you say his name now. He is so funny and always underfoot, what a character!
Anyway, he is doing great. He has really settled in here with us and seems really happy. We go for long walks and he is doing a great job staying with us and saying hi to everyone. He hasn't had an "accident" in the house since the 2nd day we got him and loves his crate. He naps in the crate with the door open when we are home. The cold and snow have definitely been an adjustment but his coat is very thick now and he loves leaping around in all the snow we have gotten.
Lego has made a huge difference in both of our lives. We feel so lucky that we found him and have you two to thank for that. I am spreading the word about Homeward Bound around because everyone who meets him says, "I have been looking for a dog just like that! Where did you get him?" He is a terrific dog and already a part of the family. He loves all of the people and dogs we have introduced him to and the fact that he is so well socialized is amazing. We have been doing our part to keep him exposed to new experiences but it is easy to see that he got a great start with you

Ella

2008-01-31T19:19:00.000-08:00

Just thought you'd like to see how Lulu (now Ella) turned out. She's
such a smart dog, and a wonderful (if crazy) companion, and quite the
cuddlebug. Anyway, here's a shot of her I took a week or two ago in her
usual place. Enjoy :)

Sadie

2008-01-31T19:10:00.000-08:00

Hey Meg! I just wanted to drop a few lines about Sadie and how she is adjusting to her new home. When I picked her up she was so shy and scared and I felt so bad. I can gladly say that she is no longer that shy, scared girl. Sadie (formally Wanda) has come around so much and is getting better everyday. She instantly took to our other pup Eli and they have now become the best of friends.
She is just now figuring out that this is her new home and it's a lot nicer than the shelter (minus the awesome staff of course). In the beginning she was kind of a loner and would go off by herself and lay in the other room. Now she jumps on the couch and tackles you for a kiss. She is no longer shy with strangers. Her butt and tail shakes from side to side when she sees someone new and she sits patiently while they come meet her.
I think that she loves Eli so much that she follows his lead. She knows that if he isn't scared to meet new people she shouldn't be either. I would definitely not use the word shy when describing Sadie and that is awesome considering that she shook like a leaf the first 24 hours we had her. She is quiet compared to Eli but a bomb is quiet compared to Eli so I think she is just developing her own personality. She is the prettiest little thing and she loves to wake Mike up in the morning by kissing all over his face. She also loves to sleep at the end of the bed on top of his legs.
She comes to you when she wants to cuddle – you can't make her cuddle – that is the big difference I see in Sadie and Eli. Eli you could pick up and twirl him over your head and he would love it because it's a form of attention. Sadie likes her attention to be on her terms. You can't hold her or pick her up if she doesn't want it she will let you know. But if she is in the mood she will be all over you. We are just so used to Eli being our shadow. Sadie likes to observe rather than be the center of attention.
I wanted to thank you and everyone who runs Homeward Bound. If it wasn't for you all our family wouldn't be complete. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and that Santa is especially good to you guys because you deserve it!
Here are some pictures of Eli and Sadie resting after playing. I hope you will add them to your success page! I will make sure to keep sending pictures as she gets bigger and bigger.

Success Story---Moxie

2007-12-13T19:30:00.000-08:00

Moxie is becoming an internet celebrity--she has her own blog now.

Here is a note from her new family:

Thank you to Homeward Bound, Dr. Sutton and all the crew. I want to especially thank Amy White, Moxie's (then Roxy) foster mom. We love Moxie dearly and she is a huge part of our family. It's as if we always had her... I can't image being without her...
Moxie saw her first snow fall 2 weeks ago and she adjusted well. We got 8 inches the first snow. She wasn't thrilled at first but now, we can't keep her out of it. Here is a picture of Moxie from her first snow. We are thrilled to have her...We love her so much. Happy Holidays to all and if you are ever fortunate enough to become part of the Homeward Bound Family, welcome to a wonderful experience-

Success Story--Mac

2007-12-05T19:42:00.000-08:00

Mac was one of the American Eskimo mix puppies. We chose him out of the three, and we love him dearly. We consider him a big part of the family. He is very healthy and energetic. He is learning to potty outside, and although he does have a few accidents, he does try to make it to the door. He does enjoy playing, but because he is so small, his only advantage is his little nips, which in some cases gets him in trouble with his big brother. Mac has grown a lot since we have gotten him. He isn't too crazy about car rides but he loves to play outside. He is very good about staying in theyard, and he loves to sleep in the baby's bouncer seat when she is not in it. He is the baby's guard dog, he sleeps right near her at nap time. He does not mind baths, and he is very good in his crate. His accidents are starting to be less common. He does not make a peep until we let him outof his crate. He is still a big fur ball and we have so much fun with him. He has lots of toys and loves to eat every other dog's food. He is our little boy and he completes our family. We will be sure to continue to look at your website when we decide to add another family member to our happy home.

Success Story---Sparky

2007-10-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

Sparkie & Libby are doing great. We are enjoying our dailyvisits to the Derry doggie park where they have made many new friends.Spark must weigh about 45 pounds or so now and is about 9 1/2 months.

Success Stories--Bethany

2007-10-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

I also wanted to thank you again for Bethany. She is such a sweetheart!! She is picking up basic training really well. She now sits when told and is jumping through hoops and completing some agility obstacles at the dog park! Anyways, thanks again and best of luck with your upcoming adoptions!

Success Story--Louie

2007-10-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Louie from this weekend. We did our first hike in VT. Once we get used to the car things will be much better. He seems to be adjusting to the kittens better and he has definitely learned what no means. I am definitely the alpha dog, he knows once he has pushed to the point of making me get up, he better quit what he was doing. He sits on command now and starting fetching a tennis ball this weekend.

Success Story--Maybellene

2007-10-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

Just writing to update you on how Maybellene is doing. We have now had her for about 3 weeks and everything is going well. My other dog coco is so happy to have a play mate. They get along great! Maybellene also gets a long well with my two cats and likes to chase them sometimes. We are still working on house training but she is doing well. She is a little bloated in the pictures as she is still battling worms but she is a trooper taking medicine and makes it easy for me. She loves to play and is really a very happy cute dog. Thanks for everything and good luck with your future adoptions.

Success Story--Luke

2007-10-18T04:49:00.000-07:00

Luke was a well wanted puppy. This year we lost our 10 year old shepherd, Joshua, to cancer and our other dog Brea was lost without her buddy. Homeward Bound brought him into our lives after he made his trip up in July. He is such a mellow dog and just loves being with us...maybe because his new mommy makes Dog Treats for a living.

If you are interested in purchasing dog treats from Maydene, Luke's owner, go to mrsbeasleysdogtreats.com. Some of the sales will now benefit Homeward Bound....go get your dog some snacks!!!!!

Success Story---Molly

2007-10-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to send you a little note regarding Molly. We love her so much and are so thankful to you for bringing her into our lives. She is adjusting very well to her new home. She was amazingly completely pottytrained already (yay!) and besides needing to work on "no jumping," she has the best manners ever. She and the cats are still learning how to live together in the same space, but I have noticed amazing improvements already...for instance, they all sleep on the same bed with us at night. Molly is just wonderful with kids, other dogs, us, and her new home. She went to see her new vet, and besides a small bacterial infection of the skin of her back legs, he gave her a clean bill of health. Above are a few pics of Molly at doggy daycare. She goes there every Tuesday for some social time. That is the day that we are away from home the longest. Actually, she has won"pet of the month" and is going to be modeling on the front page of the next newsletter.

Success Story--Spritzer

2007-10-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

Spritzer was one of the dogs lucky enough to make the trip up north.Spritzer now has wonderful home with happy owners...here is what they said,We are so happy with our new puppy we picked up yesterday. She did not have any problems adjusting.I took her out on the leash a few times and she did great. She actually started whimpering by the door last night and this morning to go outside!We put her in her crate last night at 9 and got up at 3 to walk her, she did not have any accidents in the crate.We named her Spritzer because when she found her water bowl she put her foot in and splashed. I looked up the German work for splash and got Spritzer.

Success Story--Duke

2007-10-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

Duke was a dog brought in by animal control in Mississippi. While he may not have had a home at the time, he has adjusted quickly. Here is what his new owner had to say about him. Things are going well, he's such a sweetheart. He's gained some weight already, his collar had to be loosened. He is going for his first veterinary visit next Thursday and is doing well with his training.

Success Story--Gibson

2007-10-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hello, I just wanted to send you a quick email telling you how much we love our hound that came up with Krista to NH at the end of the summer. His name was originally James but has changed to Gibson and he is a wonderful addition to our family. He has the silliest personality and gets along great with all of my horses and the barn kitties at Krista's Mom's farm. I know this program is a lot of work for everyone involved but it is a wonderful thing you are doing for these animals. Thank you to all involved from both my family and Gibson! ( He is getting so big so fast. He is already 30+ lbs and only about 5 months old now.)

Success Story--Samson

2007-10-15T14:09:00.000-07:00

When we picked Samson up, we thought he was this sweet, adorable, shy puppy. He proved us wrong on the shy part!! He is one of the mostoutgoing dogs I have ever met. He loves to meet new people and other dogs. He is a wonderful addition to our family and he loves our other dog. We got a great dog from the Homeward Bound Program, and I recommend them to everyone I know that wants a dog!

Success Story--Milo

2007-10-15T14:06:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to let you know the pup, now named Milo, is doing wonderful!! He is such little doll, everyone that meets him is completely smitten :-)He weighed in Monday, the day after I brought him home, at 4.8 lbs and was,at his vet visit yesterday, 6.6 lbs!! He has a nice chubby little puppy belly!!Milo has made great friends with my Newf, Jillian, and my Mini Schnauzer, George.Jillian has turned into his momma and George is his little play buddy - they wrestle like champs together.He is a very smart little pup - healready tells me when he has to potty, can you believe it?

Success Story--Bailey

2007-10-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Bailey is doing well and enjoying life in NH. She did a lot of swimming and boating this summer.She is definately a puppy jumping and nipping, but is a love.