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Treble & Poppy - 11/19/22

Name/Age: Treble - 3 y/o & Poppy - 3 y/o

Family Members: Bailey & Ryan

How long have Treble & Poppy been in the family? Treble has been in the family 1.5 years & Poppy about a year.

Professions: Bailey – Forensic Accountant

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Treble: Trebs, Trebbie, Trebster

Poppy: Pops, Pop Pop

5 of the best words/phrases that best describe Treble & Poppy?

Treble:

Funny
Shy
Cuddly
Loyal
Handsome

Poppy:

Curious
Pretty
Greedy
Cuddly
Friendly

What makes Treble & Poppy unique? Treble sleeps on his back with his legs in the air. Poppy rarely barks or howls.

Rescue Story: We rescued Treble from Dekalb County Animal Shelter. We went there to just have a look at the dogs and when we met him in a private room he was extremely shy towards us but eventually warmed up. When he was put back in his cage he continued to look for us and we fell in love with him so we knew we had to adopt him. His history before the shelter is unknown as he was picked up as a stray. Some of the volunteers at the shelter suggested he was feral but can’t be certain. It was very unique to have a really shy dog but it has been an adventure to see him come out of his shell and be a normal, happy dog.

We adopted Poppy from Fulton County Animal Shelter. When we first met Poppy, we did a meet and great with her foster parents and agreed to do a trial run with their Foster-to-Adopt option. The first night she made herself at home and I think we knew day 1 we were going to keep her. Poppy and Treble are inseparable now.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Taking Treble on our first beach trip and watching him enjoy the breeze. Taking Poppy to the dog park for the first time and watching her and Treble get the zoomies together.

What is life like since you rescued Treble & Poppy? My life now revolves around my dogs and I always look for dog events in the area and take them with me to as many places they can go too. Its changed for the better and I now spend more time outside and do more fun things outside of my job.

Social Media: Instagram @Treble_and_poppy

Photographers Note: I always love a full circle story. I actually met Poppy back in August of 2020 when she was being fostered. Her foster siblings Gracie & Prince’s stories were being featured and as I always do when volunteers have bully breed fosters; I snap a couple photos & share them on our social channels to help them get adopted. Seeing her now with her forever family, there is just a sense of comfort and calmness about her. I am so happy that she found such a wonderful family and one that included her BFF & brother Treble.

Treble is in fact a very shy boy, he really didn’t know what to think of the camera, the process or me. He is super sweet but wasn’t thrilled until…..we took them to the dog park. This dog park is huge and as soon as Treble entered his entire demeanor changed. He was 100% happy and joy. Ears up, tail up, racing around just having a blast; such a transformation. I am usually not a fan of doing our shoots in a dog park for many reason (lots of distractions being #1) but this is one time I am thrilled we did it there. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to capture the true Treble.

Yogurt - 11/5/22

Name/Age: Yogurt - 6.5 y/o (Birthday Estimate:2/4/2016

Family Members: Me (Jamie), my boyfriend (Josh), our cat (Millie - 13), and our other pup (Titan - 8)

She also has two doggy best friends in the family - Pepper (my parents dog, she’s 7) and Bogey (my brother’s dog, he’s 4 years)

How long has Yogurt been in the family? 6 years! I adopted her when she was about 7 months old

Profession: Jamie works for a company called Calendly, as a Customer Support Team Lead. Josh is currently working at a brewery.

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Yogi, Spoon, Moon/Moonie/Moonpie, Goose Girl, Yog, Gurt / Gurtie, Yonee, Yoobi, and basically anything that correlates with what she’s doing.

5 words/phrases that best describe Yogurt?

Lazy
Goofy
Soft (extremely soft)
Book-smart but not street-smart
Anxious (or ‘quirky’ if that sounds better ha)

What makes Yogurt unique? Yogi is so soft, but her most unique trait is probably her eyes. It’s always the first thing people comment on (honestly get lots of “what’s wrong with her eyes” ha). They’re just cute little chameleon eyes that sometimes are a bit wonky :D

Rescue Story: I had a sheltie growing up that I lost to cancer the day after Christmas in 2014 and I truly thought I wouldn’t be able to really give my heart out to another dog.

I worked at the Atlanta Humane Society at this time and about a year after I lost Toby (my sheltie), I decided it was time to start thinking about adopting a new pup. I saw so many dogs and got close to adopting quite a few, but could never actually pull the trigger.

One day a woman and her daughter came in to look at a couple specific dogs and one was not on the adoption floor. They showed me her picture and I went to the back to bring her out (I hadn’t seen her yet since I worked in the adoptions area at the time) and the second I saw her I knew she was mine.

I brought her out to the mom and daughter and lowkey convinced them she was not the dog for them. She was an outdoor dog who was really shy, and they wanted a dog who would integrate easily into their family, so it wasn’t too tough to convince them luckily.

On the way to put her back in her kennel, I grabbed one of our “I’m being Adopted!” signed, put it on her kennel door, and the rest is history :)

She ended up at the shelter because she lived outside at a women’s house and the woman passed away. This woman’s kids brought Yogurt (at the time, Chloe) in and under the “Reason for surrendering” they just wrote “Unwanted.”

What is your favorite pastime as a family? I love adventuring with Yogurt! She loves being outside, loves to swim (well she likes to swim out at the most 10ft from where she can stand and then swim back ha) We love camping, hiking, kayaking, and just anything outdoors where she can sniff and be a dog.

What is life like since you rescued Yogurt? Life has been so full, and I’m honestly so thankful Yogi has been by my side for the last 6 years. I’m not sure how I would’ve made it without her.

She’s been with me through multiple moves (including moving from Georgia to Colorado and back), heartbreak, and everything in between. Yogi has truly been my rock in so many ways.

She is actually a pretty anxious dog, and doesn’t get along with other dogs. She isn’t always the most snuggly either, but whenever I’m in a negative headspace, she is there for me. She always cheers me up too :) the amount of times I’ve been laying on the floor crying and she’ll bring me a toy or bone and just drop it on my face - always makes me laugh haha

I got to watch her become a dog too. When I first adopted her, she was so nervous about being inside and was very skeptical. She wouldn’t always take treats, she would run away as if we were trying to trick her into something. She also wouldn’t eat out of a bowl or inside, I would either have to hand feed her or just dump the food on the ground outside and then she would eat.

I watched her make some best doggie friends (she has 2 that she LOVES), watched her learn what comfort inside is, and how to trust people. She still gets skeptical at times, but that has just taught me more patience.

Having a reactive dog has also been a challenge, but I always do what I can to be an advocate for her when needed.

Social Media: TikTok: yogurtsometimes (https://www.tiktok.com/@yogurtsometimes) & IG: yogurtsometimes(https://www.instagram.com/yogurtsometimes/)

Photographers Note: You know why I love this story, besides her fantastic name of course? Is because every single person will look at her picture and say, she is not a pit bull; when in fact this snow white soft fluffy girl is over 50% bully breeds. (see DNA below). Jamie was concerned when she volunteered that I might think she was pulling a fast one, so she sent me her DNA results as proof. Yogurt is another example, of why visual identification of breeds just doesn’t work and yet is used to enforce laws that hold no truth or merit. I digress, lets go back to focusing on this beautiful girl. Even though she was pretty over the whole photo taking process pretty quickly, she still stuck it out for me; all while Titan was busy chasing squirrels and having all the fun! Knowing this girl went from “unwanted” to a loving home with adventures and a few special dog friends is that happy ending that we wish for all rescue pups. Oh and I can also attest that she is EXTREMELY soft!!

Justice - 10/23/22

Name/Age: Justice - 2 y/o

Family Members: Carla & his (human) Grandmother, Helen.

How long has Justice been in the family? Since March 2022

Profession: His mama – Information Systems Application Analyst; His grandmother - Retired

Location: Lawrenceville, GA.

Nicknames: Jus, Jay, Bubba

5 words/phrases that best describe Justice:?

Goofball
Personal Space Invader
Lovable
Intelligent
Athletic

What makes Justice unique? He’s been doing some training in different dog sports and I’ve noticed he will not back down when learning something new that he might find a little scary or unsure of at first. He keeps going and seems determined to overcome it and learn it. Just one of the things I love about him.

Rescue Story: My previous bully breed girl, Piper (April 1, 2017 SALA Volunteer), passed away the end of February 2022. Of course, I was devastated. She was such an amazing girl and I miss her so very much. I wasn’t sure if I should adopt another dog so soon, but I knew I was much better with a dog and Piper would want me to give another rescue a loving home. In September 2021, Bartow County Animal Control seized Justice (fka Marco) from his previous owner(s) due to “unsuitable accommodations” and those owners were cited. He was in the shelter for about one month before Furever Match Animal Rescue pulled him and fostered him until I adopted him in March 2022.

I changed his name from Marco to Justice when I adopted him because I was hoping he would be a sport dog. In the dog sport world, when your turn is coming up, they call the dog’s name, not the handler’s. So, if he did end up being a sport dog, I didn’t want to have to hear “Marco! … Polo!” every time his name was called. <hahaha> I chose Justice, because that’s what he deserves, and I will give that to him by making sure he lives his best life!!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? About one month after adopting Justice, I found out he was heartworm positive during his first wellness visit with his vet. Because of that, we weren’t able to do a lot because I immediately put him on exercise restriction. Since we were limited in what we could do together, I started trick training. I’ve been having a blast doing this with him - seeing how smart he is and how eager he is to do them. I’m like a parent who sees her baby walk for the first time whenever Justice consistently does a trick.

What is life like since you rescued Justice? Well, as I stated, he was diagnosed with heartworms soon after adopting him. That was a new experience for me. We chose the fast kill method and followed the American Heartworm Society’s protocol. It broke my heart each time he had to go in for an injection and it was just another reminder of how he was mistreated prior to being picked up by animal control. It’s been great watching his personality come through, though. He wanted nothing to do with toys, but he absolutely loves them now. It’s been fun training him, too - he barely knew a sit when I adopted him. As for me, he’s teaching me patience and has forced me to approach training in a different manner because almost everything he seems to do is in beast mode, which, at times, can be challenging.

Social Media: Instagram @bigfanof_justice

Photographers Note: I am always pleased when I get a repeat volunteer. Although I would much prefer it be when a family is adding another dog versus losing one of their beloved family members. 5 years ago I met Carla and Piper, with Grandma Helen and am happy Carla decided to honor her by rescuing another dog. It would seem Justice has that same drive and desire to please as his predecessor Piper and I am sure he will do great things in the sporting world.. So many people think you need to have raised a dog from a puppy to be successful in many of these activities and Carla continues to prove those people wrong. I wouldn’t want you to think this silly boy is all business, cause he is not and definitely knows how to enjoy his new life with his family. You can see for him, everything is an adventure and he has never met a stranger. I just loved spending time with this handsome boy!

Otto - 7/31/22

Name/Age: Otto - 3.5 y/o

Family Members: Amogha

How long has Otto been in the family? a little over 2 years

Profession: Program Manager

Location: Atlanta, GA

Nicknames: Goober, Bubba, Sweetie Pie, Gundu & Shona

5 words/phrases that best describe Otto?

Goofball
Affectionate
Velcro
Dognado
Lapdog

What makes Otto unique? He’s an equal opportunity lapdog, and will lick you to death whether you like it or not.

Rescue Story: I was looking to either foster or adopt and came across his profile on an Instagram account showcasing adoptable dogs. I had a meet and greet with him and took him home the next day.

I later found out that he had been previously adopted by a family and surrendered. Before I adopted him (at about a 1.5 years old), he had spent most of his short life at the shelter.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? He loves to play tug and fetch. I have videos of my dad running around the house enticing my pup with a tug toy.

What is life like since you rescued Otto? Since I have adopted him, I have learned that he actually isn’t as rambunctious as he came across initially. That was his insecurity masquerading as confidence. Since I’ve adopted him, we’ve both leaned on each other for comfort and security. He’s my baby and it makes me happy to see him thrive. He has the full run of the house, LOTS of toys, and tons of hikes for his sniffs.

Social Media: Instagram: @ottothepittie

Photographers Note: Otto is a fantastic poser, future modeling work in his future for sure. I met up with Otto and his mom at a park with a ton of green grass which just popped with his beautiful reddish brown coat. I did my usual tricks to get the pups to look at me and maybe even a head tilt. Well it was my second trick where everything changed for Otto. When the yellow duck came out of my bag, he was a goner. He was obsessed with the duck. At one point he got away from his mom and sprinted towards me. I thought for sure he was going to take out my legs but no, he cut to the right and went for my bag, where I just put the duck away. I beat him to it, thankfully because that duck has been with me for 7 years…I wasn’t about to say goodbye that day. As we said our goodbyes and his mom asked where she could find a duck like this (because clearly he was not going to get over this obsession), Otto kept looking over his shoulder at me. As much as I would love to think it was because he and I had built this lovely bond in such a short time, I knew better….he was looking for one thing. THE DUCK!

Marley - 7/30/22

Name/Age: Marley, 5 1/2 y/o

Family Members: Mary &Greg, Daughters: Emma (21) Claire (17)

How long has Marley been with the family? 3 years

Professions: Mary teaches Science (Biology and AP Biology and sometimes Physics at Chamblee High School), Greg does bioinformatics at Emory. Emma is a rising senior at UGA majoring in biological engineering and interning this summer at Qgenda in Buckhead. Claire is a rising freshman at Georgia Tech majoring in biochemistry.

Location: Decatur, GA.

Nicknames: Marley, Mar, Marney, Biffy, Biffy-boo, Pibby, Puppy

5 words/phrases that best describe Marley?

Sweet
Loving
Goofy
Dramatic
Friendly (to people! She’s pretty terrified of other dogs).

What makes Marley unique? Marley came to us as the perfect dog (and we have managed to undo all of that). She walks on a leash great, always has. She was house trained, and is great with people. She used to never bark, she barks more now, I think we did that to her. She does not like it when we use tools/or other objects. For example, tape measurers. We can’t use one in her presence or she will bark at us non stop. I had a scooter for a broken ankle, she barked at it whenever it was in use. Hammers, rolling pins, you name it. It’s very odd.

Rescue Story: We had two dogs when our girls were little, both rescues. They were great, awesome dogs that both lived very long lives and left a huge hole in our family when they died about 2 years apart. We were dogless for a while – it was pretty traumatic when the first two died. Claire and I started volunteering at Lifeline walking dogs for a while and then we started dog sitting for friends and I think that finally kind of wore my husband down (he was the hold out). So in December of 2018 we decided the family Christmas present would be a rescue dog. January of 2019, Claire and I went to Lifeline (Chamblee location) and asked one of the volunteers to point us to a dog. We wanted a dog that was not too high energy, didn’t want a puppy and he brought us Marley; a dog that he really liked and had been walking for a few weeks. Claire and I fell in love, and sent pictures to Greg and Emma. We decided to adopt her then. Greg and Emma came back the next day to meet her just to make sure and that was that!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We like to go for walks. Often just in the neighborhood but sometimes we go elsewhere. She gets carsick so that’s hard. We like to go to the pet food store. She likes to play fetch… sometimes. We all like to snuggle with her. She is usually curled up with someone in the house!

What is life like since you rescued Marley? Marley has it pretty good. During covid everyone was home all the time so she loved that. The girls and I have been back in school for a while, but Greg just recently went back to going into work so I think she probably misses having us around all the time. She spends her days sleeping, a couple of hours of walks/ball/snuggling and more sleeping. Not bad. For us, it’s kind of completed the family again. She fit right in and was literally the best dog from day 1. She is a little quirky (see the story about the tape measurer) but is super loving and happy. There is nothing like coming home to dog that is so happy to see you that her whole body is wiggling, or that gets the zoomies because she is so happy you are home.

Photographers Note: I have been doing this for awhile and always try my best to chose the best photos that illustrate the pups personality, the best lighting, the most in focus, etc. Sometimes I see a photo that may not be the best in composition but it tells the best story. Like the one I chose for Marley up above, where she is running with her two human sisters. I just loved the motion, the facial expressions on all three and how much fun everyone looked like they were having. True it may not win any photography awards but it sure does show the love between these three. As you will see below, Marley actually has the definition of the pittie smile. If that term was in the dictionary she would definitely be the picture beside it! Such a sweet happy girl, who seemed to have a great time zooming around and posing when asked!

Titan - 7/24/22

Name/Age: Titan - around a year old

Family Members: Dianne, Gregory & Jairus (Son)

How long has Titan been in the family? Since April 2022

Professions: Dianne - Realtor, Gregory - Salesman & Jairus - Student & Assembler

Location: Acworth, GA

Nicknames: Ty

5 words/phrases that best describe Titan?

Curious
Loyal
Happy
Smart
Attentive

What makes Titan unique? Titan loves to look you in the eyes to get your attention then draws your hand to his back so he can be cuddled.

Rescue Story: I felt it in my heart that I had to get another dog after my Yorkie Holly passed away November 2021. My older son’s girlfriend Meara mentioned to me that I should get a rescue dog. I never gave much thought about adopting a pit bull until I met her pit bull Finn (Finn was a volunteer in June of 21’, http://www.shineliteatl.com/sala-1/2021/7/25/finn-61921) and realized my fear of these type of dogs were behind me.

I went with Meara to LifeLine Animal Project in Atlanta Georgia. My eyes immediately locked on Titan the very first time I met him. Titan was the only dog in his room who was not barking. I wonder if the no barking meant he was an introvert or simply suffering from Demodex (an infestation of tiny mites that live on the hair cells of dogs) that caused him to loose about 80% of his hair follicles.

I came home that day without a rescue dog because I knew my husband did not want a bigger dog than we were used too. I went back the second day with my younger son Jairus to Lifeline and picked up Titan and announced to my husband Greg that we have a new family member and we should consider adopting him once we foster him and he gets all his hair back. Titan was on a series of anti-inflammatories and antihistamines to heal his intensive itching. I knew Greg would see the love we could give Titan. I was

so right! We nursed Titan back to excellent health.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Titan calmly tugging at his toys with us.

What is life like since you rescued Titan? Titan fulfills our family in so many ways. Titan loves hiking, watching television, and playing with friends and families.

Social Media: Instagram @iamtitanthefostered

Photographers Note: I should start off that I may be a little biased in my comments about Titan because he looks an awful lot like my pup Clementine; so I may have a type! LOL I can also safely say that he is in fact not an introvert. This boy is just happy x1000. He was very excited to meet a new friend and there was a lot of kisses and getting in my lap to be as close to me as possible. Once we moved to his massive yard, I could have easily spent hours there just photographing his adorableness. Honestly, once he got the hang of the whole process I really think he was starting to pose. Let’s also talk about a transformation. Honestly this boy is handsome with a capital H. So many people would have just passed him by because of how he looked and would have never guessed this good looking boy was under that scary looking skin condition. As I have said many times, just goes to show what a loving home can do. Also I love that our past volunteer Finn had a role in changing Dianne’s mind about these amazing dogs. It only takes one to change perceptions!

Murphy - 7/3/22

Name/Age: Murphy, Age 8 (approximately, vet thinks he could be a year or two older.)

Family Members: Joy (human), Serena & Dorian, 2-year-old sibling tuxedo cats adopted from Cobb County Animal Services in January.

How long has Murphy been with the family? It will be 1 year in August.

Profession: Journalist

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Nicknames: Mr. Murphy Lawz

5 words/phrases that best describe Murphy?

Shy
Sweet
Gentle
Sensitive
Patient

What makes Murphy unique? His love of stuffed toys, which he's very gentle with and doesn't destroy. He picks a different one each day to carry around and brings one to bed each night.

Rescue Story: Murphy's been through a lot and has the scars to prove it. He was brought into the LifeLine shelter program in late 2020 after being found as a stray on the streets of DeKalb County. He has an eye injury (unknown cause) and broke a tooth on the dog catcher pole.

He was terrified when he came into the shelter, and would hide in the corner of his run. The staff worked with him over the months to the point where they could coax him outside, but he was still painfully shy. You can see him trembling in this video taken at the shelter. They also discovered his love of stuffed toys during this time, which offered him some comfort. Once he was diagnosed with heartworms, the staff made it a priority to get him into a foster home for the treatment phase.

In the two foster homes he was in, Murphy began to blossom and show a bit of his personality. His love of stuffed toys never wavered. After seeing him featured on one of LifeLine's Facebook live adoption events in the summer of 2021, I was moved by his story and how much his foster mom adored him. Even though I always thought of myself as a small dog person, I filled out an application and went to meet him. I adopted him in August 2021 and we quickly bonded. He's the easiest dog I've ever had.

He had a sweet relationship with my senior cat, Rosalie. She died at the end of 2021, and I wish they'd had more time together. But now Murphy is "grandpa" to a couple of young cats who keep him on his toes!

Murphy settling in to his new forever home!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Playing with his stuffed toys, which he sometimes like to bring on our very slow walks around the neighborhood. (I carry the toys while he sniffs everything!)

What is life like since you rescued Murphy? He definitely has forced me to slow down, be patient and be more content in the present. He's also a great sleeper and that has helped improve my mental health status.

I like to think that Murphy feels safe and loved in his forever home after a rough period fending for himself on the streets and then being in a chaotic animal shelter environment and going through grueling heartworm treatment.

I'm sharing his story so that others might be inspired to give a big shy dog a chance. I did a DNA test on him and he came back as a pit bull/Chow Chow/Lab mix with a handful of other breeds mixed in, including Akita and German shepherd. With that mix he might sound like a "scary dog" but he's really a gentle couch potato.

Social Media: Link to his blog: https://www.murphyslawz.com/

Instagram: @mrmurphylawz

Photographers Note: As mentioned Murphy is a very shy boy. So we took our time getting to know each other before jumping in to photo taking. I sat on the floor talking with Joy and let him take his time; which involved him carrying a huge stuffed spider and peaking around the corner at me. Got some treats out to entice him a bit and funny enough when the cats showed interest and came close, he seem to figure out she wasn’t so bad. He started taking treats from my hand and then I knew I was in. We moved to the back yard and again at first he wasn’t so sure about the whole thing. I thought for sure he would be scared of the camera but he pretty much ignored it, just really didn’t want to be doing any of it. After some time, he relaxed (more treats of course) and even started to pose a bit. When the smile came out, I just left my finger on the shutter and kept taking photo after photo. There is this amazing feeling you get when you have to earn a smile from a shy dog. If people take the time with these dogs and let them lead the way, they will be payed back 1000x over. I can see that in the way Murphy looks at his Mom, just pure love & trust there (illustrated in the photo above).The cherry on the sundae, when we were done he followed me to the door to say goodbye. Then I walked to the car with the biggest smile on my face!

Darla - 3/27/22

Name/Age: Darla - 4 y/o

Family Members: Felicia & Keith, Brooke - 12 y/o deaf pit, Cabby - 6 yr old foster cat (at time of publishing a new cat will have been added)

How long has Darla been in the family? Since Fall 2019

Professions: Felicia- Vet receptionist/assistant Keith: IT

Location: Savannah, GA.

Nicknames: Peck

5 words/phrases that best describe Darla?

Smart
Goofy
Zoomie Queen
Loyal
Hilarious

What makes Darla unique? She gives everyone bathes, dogs, humans, cats. She will bark at things she wants but can’t get. She knows several hand signals. She carries her food dish to what ever room she’s in.

Rescue Story: I wasn’t looking for a new dog. I was scrolling on the Deaf Dogs Rock FB page when I saw her face. It stated she was on limited time due to her behavior. Was rated no cats, and several other labels. So much of it reminded me of Brooke, my OG deaf dog’s FB post. I had that same gut feeling of “mine” when I read it. I messaged Scooby-Doo’s Rescue mission in NJ and said if someone could get her to GA I’d take her. She ended up hitching a ride with the puppy transporter from FL and life’s not been the same since.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Cuddling, sunbathing, jogging, playing tug, chase.

What is life like since you rescued Darla? It was trying at first, she did have more behavior issues than originally disclosed. But now she’s the extrovert in a house of introverts making us laugh every day at her antics.

Photographers Note: Darla is just such a pretty girl, with the best pittie smile. So many people would have seen that she was deaf and just passed her over, thinking it’s too much work. I love that Felicia & Keith have not only adopted one deaf pup but two. Really deaf dogs are not any different then hearing dogs; they get the zoomies, they look away when they don’t want to “listen” to what you are telling them (my dog does this all the time), they cuddle, and they give/receive all the love. So you need to teach yourself and them a different way to communicate then you might a hearing dog….all dogs need training! Give a deaf dog a chance!

Jazmine - 3/27/22

Name: Jazmine

Family Members: Kristina, Rachel (wife) Eli(terrier mix),Herman(Australia Cattle Dog mix),Kenzie(cat), Cooper(cat), Betty Lou(cat),Naomi(cat)

How long has Jazmine been in the family? Almost 2 years

Professions: Kristina - Account Sales Manager Rachel - Vet Tech

Location: Savannah, GA.

Nicknames: Jazzy Fresh, Fresh Bo-Besh, Fresh to Death

5 words/phrases that best describe Jazmine?

Sweet Baby Angel
Doll Face
Snuggle Bug
Scaredy Cat
Mother Hen

What makes Jazmine unique? Number 1 roller on any outside surface

Rescue Story: Jazmine was found with a single puppy, animal control was convinced she was aggressive and the rescue (One Love Rescue) took a chance on her. Her puppy was adopted and she had no interest for 7 months. I saw her video and fell in love. She was scared of most things in general and didn't show us any interest when we met her but we wanted to take a chance on her. She has become the kindest soul you would ever know and she makes our life complete.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? She loves to run around and roll in the sand at the beach.

What is life like since you rescued Jazmine? Our life feels so complete now that she's a member of our family. She opens up more every day and is so loving and sweet. Something about her makes the cats want to lay with her and cuddle her.

Photographers Note: At first Jazmine wasn’t so sure of the camera, I mean who can blame her? That big scary lens pointed at you and it makes a clicking sound. What is that thing?? However once we moved over to a nice little grassy area, the true Jazmine came out. She raced around and then would dive into these epic rolls in the grass. Just as happy as could be! Then she would jump up again and do it all over again ….over and over. She seem to forget the camera and was happy to come right up to me, even with it in my hand. The funny part was her brother Eli saw all the attention she was getting with this rolling thing and decided to try it out for himself, not something he had done before! LOL (see below).

I love that Kristina & Rachel took a chance on this girl. Many people go to meet a dog at a rescue or shelter and hope for this immediate connection. Sometimes these babies are so traumatized it takes them a bit to decompress before they can trust and build that bond with their family. Patience always wins out and I am so happy Jazmine is in such a loving home!

Mr. Biggs - 3/27/22

Name/Age: Mr. Biggs - maybe 7-ish??

Family Members: Eve, Pat, Frank (dog 8 years), Mr. Cheeto (cat, unknown age), Stinky (cat, unknown age)

How long has Mr. Biggs been in the family? 2 years – foster for 18 months, adopted for the last 6

Profession: Pat – Realtor, Eve – journalist/grad student

Location: Savannah, GA // Washington D.C.

Nicknames: Biggums, Bigglet, Boogly

5 words/phrases that best describe Mr. Biggs:

Goofy
Special
Silly
A Mess (LOL)

What makes Biggs unique? He can sleep anywhere with his tongue out.

Rescue Story: I was a foster parent with Renegade Paws Rescue and I was really stuck on Bullet (now Biggs’s) story. He had been shot and the rescue had issued multiple pleas for a foster parent. I had other foster dogs – and a full house – but I just felt like I had to help him.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Snuggles! We drink our morning coffee together on the couch while snuggled up together!

What is life like since you rescued Mr. Biggs? I’m in grad school now so there are lots of study snuggles. We wear our matching sweatshirts to do homework at coffee shops and we treat ourselves to lots of puppuccino’s. Biggs is a city boy now. We take walks around our DC neighborhood multiple times a day and he ONLY poops on sidewalks now. Grass is not for him.

Photographers Note: Two words to describe Biggs, Handsome lug! What a big good looking boy and such a sweet boy too. When he showed up with his Mom in his matching sweatshirt, I may have audible gasped at the cuteness. To think someone shot this poor boy….yet another example of the resilience of dogs. Every reason not to trust human beings and Biggs just goes through life with a big pibble smile happy to be out and about with his Mom. I just hope more people will look beyond a dogs past and see them in the present because the pups sure don’t want to spend time back there; they just want to move ahead and live in the now.

Jack & Franky - 3/26/22

Name/Age: Jack - 3-ish y/o & Franky - approx. 2 y/o

Family Members: Justin & MJ

How long have Jack & Franky been in the family? Jack came to us when he was too young to be without his Mom. Franky came for a meet-and-greet on Saturday February the 5th, 2022 and we adopted him on February the 7th.

Professions: Justin runs a local food-service business and MJ manages Behavioral Health for Memorial Hospital.

Location: Savannah, GA.

Nicknames: Jack: Jacky boy - Jack Jack - Baby boy Jack

Franky: Frank the Tank

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Jack & Franky?

Jack:

Sensitive
Calming
Loverboy
Pretty Boy
Attuned with People

Franky:

Loving
Cuddly
Strong
Playful
Sweet Boy

What makes Jack & Franky unique? Jack calms scared dogs. He is very funny; he knows when someone is upset and will just sit by them. He will gently ease up on the couch to sit with someone.

Franky is extremely cuddly and loving. He bonded with his big brother instantly and they play all day. He is also very strong and will bring you his food feeder when he wants it. He can also climb very high despite being so short.

Rescue Story: We were out with friends and heard that someone was trying to "get rid" of a dog. We reached out to that person and they explained that there was a litter of puppies and no one would take care of this dog. We stopped what we were doing and got him and took him home to join our family. He was so small and fragile. He slept on our head for weeks.

Mary Jo's co-worker was fostering Frank and we were thinking about adding to our family, but was cautious because it had to be a perfect fit for Jack. Sarah had Frank outside at a restaurant and we were passing by. The moment I met Frank, he jumped into my lap and it was over. He came for a meet-and-greet a few days later and has never left. As soon as he met Jack, and they started playing, I knew it would be a perfect fit for our family.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love to take our pups out in public, and to our friends' home out on the boat.. We are vendors at a local farmer's market, and we love to see them out and about, greeting customers and getting treats. We also care for an elderly couple and love watching Frank love on them, and bring them joy.

What is life like since you rescued Jack & Franky? Life with Jack is wonderful. He is a part of our family, and we can't imagine life without him. For Franky, he has a permanent family, and you can tell he knows as his personality has shined. He loves his brother, the yard and cuddling in bed. For us, our family of four is complete and its wonderful for Jack to have a little brother. We love how we all fit together.

Photographers Note: When I first meet volunteers I usually don’t have a ton of time to assess their personalities but in this case it didn’t take long. Jack is a very handsome boy with that beautiful red brindle coat and he was so excited to be out and about in this new place with the new smells. Then you have Franky, who is this adorable low rider and just loped along with the group with a big pibble smile on his face, very chill. Both are just as sweet as could be and got a lot of attention. Jack is quite the poser and gave me all kinds of angles to work with. I love that these two bonded so quickly and it was clear as they were always looking out for each other as we explored the park. Such a wonderful family!

Dice & Lizzie - 3/26/22

Name/Age: Dice - 3 y/o & Lizzie - 5 or 6 y/o

Family Members: Jennifer & her babies which include Gator (previous SALA volunteer) & Frog also a pittie.

How long have Dice & Lizzie been in the family? Dice for 1.5 years & Lizzie for 1 year.

Profession: Nurse and Director of Renegade Paws Rescue

Location: Savannah, GA.

Nicknames: Dice: Dice Boy & Dice Dice

Lizzie: Tug Boat & Dump Truck

5 of the best words that describe Dice & Lizzie:

Dice:

Perfect Ambassador
Goofy
Extra
Drama King
Special

Lizzie:

Super Extra
Stubborn
Silly
Weird
Instigator

What makes Dice & Lizzie unique? Dice is the dude that can go anywhere and be a star, most of Savannah knows him and many have actually walked him. He also has a locally made treat named after him. He will see a stranger and know that person needs some pibble love and will lean on them like a weighted blanket.

Lizzie is one of a kind, she smiles when you talk to her and she gives lizzie kisses when she knows you well. She is one of those souls that will make any day better just by spending time with her.

Rescue Story: Dice was a part of a case in Chatham County where the owner had 17 pitties and was breeding and selling, they all lived in his yard and he got arrested and all of the dogs went to animal control and eventually to rescue. Dice went to a few different foster homes and then came to me to foster, I kept him…..

Lizzie was at animal control with another dog as a bonded pair until she started to decompensate when he left. She was so withdrawn that because the shelter knew about Dice they asked me to pull her into Renegade and foster her because she loved dogs so much that they thought she would thrive with Dice and she did.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Lizzie and Dice love to go on pack walks with the rescue and also they get to be ambassadors for the rescue at all kinds of special events.

What is life like since you rescued Dice & Lizzie? I could not imagine life with out my dogs. I also have Frog and Gator my two other pitties that I foster failed and a host of fosters that actually do leave my house.

Photographers Note: Jennifer is the whole reason Shine a Light has now made two trips to Savannah and will continue to do so. She helps me find volunteers and these folks think so much of her and Renegade that they all say yes with no hesitation. I really don’t know how she does it all, with her “real” job, the rescue and then fostering on top of that. She recently organized a transport to come get a dog up here in Atlanta that a friend of mine found and got him in a foster home quickly. She is just an absolute gem of a human and I am so happy I have gotten the opportunity to know her through helping change perceptions about the dogs we love.

Now let’s talk about these two dogs. They are just the sweetest. Now I will say trying to get Dice’s ears up for a picture may take an act of Congress cause he sure wasn’t falling for my tricks. I love how Lizzie is his little shadow, she just wants to be near him and is happiest when she is touching him. So happy they have each other and Jennifer.

Molly & Stella - 3/26/22

Name/Age: Molly - 3 y/o & Stella - 7 y/o

Family Members: Justin, Jacob - 16 y/o, Jared - 14 y/o, & Izzy (Shih-tzu) 6 y/o

How long have Molly & Stella been in the family? Molly for 2.5 years & Stella for 2 years.

Profession: College professor and retired Army veteran.

Location: Savannah, GA.

Nicknames: We just call them by their names but affectionately call them the Chongos. It is a nonsensical word but fits their goofy personalities.

5 of the best words that describe Molly & Stella?

Smart
Loving
Playful
Loyal
Talented

What makes Molly & Stella unique? Molly is one of the smartest dogs I have ever seen. She can learn very quickly. She can do the obstacles at the dog park and will jump up or down from them on command. She also loves swimming and is a bit of a water queen when she can show off to other dogs or people.

Stella is a lover. She is also one of the strongest pound for pound dogs I have ever seen. She loves to give hugs and licks to everyone. She is also very athletic, so she will prove to you that she is the star in any type of physical activity.

Rescue Story: Being a single parent, I wanted to add an additional member to our family. We already had Izzy and had a family dog pass away in October of 2019. I wasn’t entirely sure what the best way to go about finding a new dog was. I also wasn’t sure what breed to get. So, I researched. The more I researched, the more I found problems and became aware of the problems with dogs. I learned about backyard breeders, puppy mills, and dog fighting. To be honest, it kind of scared me to think that I could be contributing to a larger problem inadvertently. I then found Renegade Paws Rescue, which was a new organization, but one that seemed to be ethically sound from what I read. I didn’t have a specific breed that I had my heart set on but when I saw Molly’s photo and read her story, I thought that she was perfect for my sons and me. She was, as we found out, severely neglected and malnourished when she was surrendered to the Chatham County Animal Services. She has gained 25 lbs since I adopted her from Renegade Paws Rescue. I had never owned a Pit bull before, but I had watched shows like Cesar Milan and Tia Torres who were breed ambassadors. I trusted that the breed was largely misunderstood, and Molly proved that exact thing to us. My mother even stated after a visit to my house that her whole perspective on the breed had changed after meeting my dogs. She said everything that she had heard in the past was wrong about them.

After rescuing Molly, my sons asked if we could adopt another dog. They loved Molly so much and she fit in so well with our family that I looked for another. Stella was also with Renegade Paws Rescue but she was a little older than Molly. Like Molly, she was severely neglected and malnourished. Stella had some pretty decent scars and cropped ears. She had been in some fights it appeared in her past. This is pretty shocking to think about, because she is one of the most loving dogs I have ever met. She is my little shadow following me around the house making sure that I am ok. She also checks on the boys regularly to make sure that they are ok. You can tell that she truly appreciates her life now. I am not sure what she went through in her past life, but I am sure that it was not good. I am thankful that she came to us, because she is the absolute perfect pet.

Add Stella and you have the perfect 6 pack!

What is your favorite pastime as a family? The girls absolutely love to run, walk, and explore. I take them on daily walks and runs through our neighborhood and Renegade Paws Rescue also does Pack Walks on the weekends at Skidaway Island State Park with rescues both past and present. The girls know that when we hit the city that we are most likely heading that way. They start getting super excited that they are going to see their friends and get to walk the park with them.

What is life like since you rescued these two girls? We always lived a pretty active lifestyle, but having the girls only helped with that. They love to get out and walk or exercise. When we first got them, this was also an essential part of their training and discipline regimen. Once we were able to tire them out, the more receptive they were to commands and learning the rules of the house. They passed with flying colors and have melded into our lives perfectly. They add their own goofy charm into our lives at the perfect moments. They are waiting to greet the boys as soon as they come home every afternoon from school.

Photographers Note: These two definitely love their adventures. They were so excited to explore the park and I am pretty sure Molly would have liked to go swimming if Justin let her. Stella wasn’t overly thrilled with the process of having her photo taken but I think she was ok with the treats and attention! Unfortunately Jacob couldn’t make the outing due to another commitment but it was really sweet to see these two girls with one of their boys. When we were headed back, Jared was walking ahead with Molly and she just kept looking back at us and then up at him, making sure she was keeping track of her family & what a great family you have Molly!

Remington & Peach - 3/26/22

Name/Age: Remington - 7.5 y/o & Peach - approx. 4 y/o

Family Members: Sarah - Mom, Fig - Other Mom & Bishop - black lab mix

How long have Remington & Peach been in the family? Remington for 7 years & Peach for 6 months

Professions: Sarah - Pet store manager & Fig - Dog Groomer

Location: Guyton, GA.

Nicknames: Remington: Rem-tin, Remy, Remyboi, Fatboy, Rambo, Remy-tin-tin-tin, Blockhead, Blocky

Peach: Peachy, Peachykins, Peachy Peach

5 words that best describe Remington & Peach?

Remington:

Handsome
Needy
Cuddly
Empathetic
Eager to Please

Peach:

Sweet
Grateful
Happy
Hungry
Goofy

What makes Remington & Peach unique? Remington has 3 different problems. He has EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Deficiency,) a heart murmur, and hypothyroidism! However, he is relatively healthy and the best boy. Although Peach was abused severely, she is the sweetest and cuddliest dog you will ever meet!

Rescue Story: I was looking for a pit bull for my ex, and I saw Remington on a local page, after going to pick him up I knew he was my soul dog. He lasted 1 night with my ex before coming and staying with me. He has been with me every since that day.

Peach was found by Guardians of Rescue, on her death bed. They tagged her as dead, and when they went to pick her up she whimpered and they felt a faint pulse. They rushed her to the emergency room. She had been starved, beaten, and left for dead. Fixing the Boro took her in, where I (Sarah) first saw her. She started out as a foster, but immediately ended up in our family.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Remington loves exploring. We have taken him on many mountain trips and to the beach. My favorite one is probably our last mountain trip in 2021 where he was able to run in fresh water mountain streams.

The first time we took Peach to Skidaway Island was so important. She was so confident and happy. She is way more confident with Sarah’s other dog, Bishop!

What has life been like since you rescued Remington & Peach? Remington saved my life, easily. I was a young college student, with what felt like no purpose in life. He changed all of that. He is what encouraged me to learn about pet nutrition, and how a healthy diet can truly benefit their daily lives. He is my best friend and my soul dog.

Peach has taught us so much patience. She was so ready to love, but unsure if she could trust us at first. She has shown us what it’s like to truly have a RESCUE dog do a 180, all because of love. She absolutely loves exploring (as long as she is with Remington or Bishop.) She gets so excited to eat that she has to run as fast as possible to her bowl. She is the perfect little southern belle, and we couldn’t imagine life without her little snorty self. She is our true house hippo.

Social Media: Instagram: @theloganwoofers

Photographers Note: First Peach, another amazing come back story and to look at her you would never guess she is the same dog from the photo above. She was so happy to see all the people and even went up to a little girl to say Hello. From everything Sarah & Fig said her comfort level at Wormsloe was a pretty significant milestone . I can’t forget to mention this girl was ready for photos, she was even wearing pink pawlish!! Then you have her big lug brother, Remington. Ears & smile for days. Seems to be trotting through life without a care in the world. They both just had the best time & again it’s always so wonderful to meet people who are so dedicated to rescue and will take these difficult cases with patience & love…I am sensing a trend with these Savannah volunteers.

Serenity, Reginald & Astro - 3/26/22

Names/Age: Serenity - approx. 5-6 y/o, Reginald - approx. 3-4 y/o & Astro - approx. 2.5 y/o

Family Members: Karin & Michael

How long have Serenity, Reginald & Astro been in the family? Serenity & Astro since August & Sept. 2020. Reginald since February 2022

Professions: Karin is in the beauty industry & Michael is a soldier in the US Army.

Location: Hinesville, GA.

Nicknames: Serenity: Girly Pooh, Missy, Princess, Little One, Jelly Bean

Reginald: Reggie Pooh, Reg, Big Boi, Mister Man

Astro: Mr. Astro, Astrology Barnabas Dog, Buddy, Baby Boy

5 words that best describe Serenity, Reggie & Astro?

Serenity: Cuddle monster, sucker for attention, ALL the kisses!

Reginald: The sweetest, biggest and goodest boy in the house. Food is his life and Mommy cuddles are his favorite.

Astro: Sorry, language…. zero f**ks given, except for when we leave, if there is a bird, a cat, or a squirrel - jumping fences and wrecking Moms nerves are his hobbies.

What makes these three unique?

Serenity: HAS to be in the middle, ALWAYS, she IS the center of attention, barks at everything without even knowing what is going on!

Reginald: Sneak-steals single shoes only to place them in middle of the living room, not chewing them. Only stealing.

Astro: Bark-howls when its breakfast time and you are too slow, mutates from ADHD into a snuggle bug after 9pm.

Rescue Story: We initially looked for one dog, saw Astro and applied for him, but another couple adopted him, so we kept looking and joined the Renegade Paws Rescue pack walks in Savannah. I already saw Serenity on their website but did not apply until I saw her at one of the pack walks. She was the cutest little girl and I fell in love. On the way home I pestered my husband to apply and please get her. He agreed and a few days later we really got to meet her and eventually adopt her 2 days later. Her previous Mom had to get out of a domestic violence situation and had to run, she couldn’t keep Serenity and asked the Renegades for help.

Astro: Two weeks after adopting Serenity we received a call, that Astro came back into foster care, he would be available again. My husband freaked out and was super happy. A week later we picked him up from the snip clinic after his neutering and fostered him for 3 weeks. We wanted to see if he and Serenity would be good together and how we would fit as parents for him since he is all over the place all of the time. Turned out we and Serenity were!

Astro was found wandering the Streets with 50 % of his back burnt, suspected chemical burn. He somehow managed to escape from wherever and from whomever that mistreated him so bad. He was still only a baby, only 10-11 months old. He needed weekly laser treatments and intense wound care and will forever have a bald spout on his back, but he is very happy.

Sweet puppy Astro heading to his forever home.

Reginald: We started fostering July 2021 for Renegade Paws Rescue. Actually because we thought about Astro getting a little better socialized. Our first foster dog left us on NYE and I was an emotional mess. So we paused fostering for 2 months, also due to my husband being away for his job for some weeks. After that I received a message asking to foster an emaciated dog, who was already at a fosters house, but didn’t get along with cats. We took him in and while on the way home I already knew I can NOT let him leave. He immediately fit in so well and was loving on me and being just so grateful and happy, so… we foster failed him end of February!

Reginald was found by a kind soul, wandering around an industry district, she contacted RPR, he was weighing 36-38 lbs, covered in dirt, wounds and skin infections. Dented skull, old fracture from trauma, blind on his right eye, healed multiple times fractured tail, ground down teeth, torn up ears. He was suspected being held as a bait dog, for training fighting dogs. If he wouldn’t have been found, he would have died within the next 24-48 hours, I am sure.

Such a difference a loving home has made for Reginald.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love every minute with them, especially family cuddle puddle on the couch. But as a memory with all three of them was for the day of Reginald’s adoption when we all reunited at the RPR office!

What is life like since you rescued your dogs? For them: they are having a ball, getting the best cuddles and the goodest treats!

For us: Chaos! Total Chaos! :-D

Social Media: Instagram: @serenity.in.the.middle @astro_the_renegade @bigboi.reginald

Photographers Note: Our first photoshoot of the Savannah weekend started off strong. These three gorgeous pups seemed to be having a ball with all the new smells and all the people to look at it. It’s never easy with three dogs and it’s even less easy when you are out in a public space but these three did great. Our hope to get the three of them in the same bowtie shot was spoiled by a squirrel but they each rallied to shine in their individual shots instead.

Each of these pups have come from such rough beginnings and in Reggie & Astro’s case that beginning will always be with them in the physical damage it left behind. Thankfully there are people like Karin & Michael that look past the physical & just see a happy family filled with love, cuddle and treats. They are the people that allow these pups to leave their past behind and only know happiness from now on.

Max - 2/13/22

Name/Age: Max - 6.5 yrs old

Family Members: Rosemary (Mom)

How long has Max been in the family? 8 months

Profession: Manufacturing/SAP Tech

Location: Suwanne, GA.

Nicknames: Maxey, MaxMax, Maximus, Moofus, MooCow

5 words/phrases that best describe Max?

Over Stimulated
Squirrel Obsessed
Fearful
Fearless
Affectionate

What makes Max unique? Max has irrational fears such as ceiling fans and humidifiers but has no problem trying to throw himself in front of a motorcycle or golf cart. He does not like anything with wheels, tires or motors. He does not like movement – he’s anti-movement.

Rescue Story: I lost my pittie, Ben, in April of 2021 from Lymphoma and that was difficult (as all the losses are) because I only had him 18 months. I knew I was going to save another pittie but thought I would wait until at least the Fall. Unfortunately, I can’t stay off social media and saw a Lifeline/CAC video of Max (Damon at the time) that got my attention. I made an inquiry to my friend, Josie, the Lifeline volunteer who had introduced me to Ben. Josie got in touch with Max’s foster mom, Deb (also a Lifeline rockstar) and we met in a park for a meet/greet. He was very over-stimulated and was going to need decompression and training. I just seem to fall in love with the needy ones and his smile is the sweetest.

As for Max’s history: In late April of 2021, Max was surrendered to Baldwin County Animal Control in Milledgeville, GA from a domestic violence situation. Deb and another volunteer were down there to pick up two other dogs that Lifeline had pulled and they met Max. He was on the euthanasia list but was spared when other dogs were adopted. Deb kept track of Max and when his name came up on the euthanasia list again, she asked Lifeline to pull him. Deb lined up a foster for Max but when the meet/greet with the foster’s dog didn’t go well, Deb decided she would foster as she promised Max he would not be returned to a shelter. She fostered him through the summer and through heartworm treatment. Our meet & greet was in late June and I officially adopted him July 5, 2021. Deb kept him a little longer so he could continue to recover from heartworm treatment plus I was getting ready to move.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Max’s anxiety issues are still a work in progress so, other than seeing a trainer, the only thing we really do is take lots of walks and stalk lots of squirrels.

What is life like since you rescued Max? Well, it’s cliché but true, we save each other and I will continue to save them for as long as I’m able too. Max is so damn affectionate that it’s almost annoying 😊 He sleeps under the covers, he is a black belt in Zoomies and he makes me laugh every single day. To think he survived the euthanasia list twice and found me is amazing.

Social Media: ? It’s nothing exciting as I’m more of a follower but we can be found on Instagram @rescued_dempsey_ben_max

Photographers Note: This is the third time Rosemary has volunteered with Shine A Light. First time with her dog Dempsey in Nov. 2018, next with Ben in June of 2020 and now with Max. I also happen to notice all their last photos in the story are very similar, capturing the joy of running with the wind in their ears. I love that Rosemary is always willing to help change perceptions with her pups. I of course wish I didn’t get to see her again so soon after we featured sweet Ben but I am glad she saved another gorgeous pibble in his honor.

Max had the best day the day of our shoot. He was able to race around a horse paddock and stop by the barn doors to say hello to the VERY large dogs inside ; ) and sample some of the local cuisine left by the residents! He had that enormous pittie smile on his face the whole time!

Diego - 12/19/21

Name/Age: Diego - exact age unknown maybe 2 1/2

Family Members: Timothy (dad), Michelle (mom), Yuuki (human sister) 19 yrs old, Autumn (dog sister-we call her a dagle which is a dachshund/beagle mix) 9 1/2 yrs old and Chara (cat-sister Maine Coon mix) 5 yrs old

How long has Diego been in the family? a year ago on 10/30/21

Profession: Dad-Telecommunications engineer & Mom-Accountant

Location: Marietta, GA.

Nicknames: D, Dirty Diego, Buddy, Dude & No Sir

5 words/phrases that best describe Diego?

Intelligent
Expressive
Intense
Inquisitive
Snuggler

What makes Diego unique? The look on his face as he looks into my eyes that let’s me know that he loves me.

Rescue Story: Back in October 2020, a plea was posted online by 11-Alive that Cobb County Animal Shelter had an outbreak of strep and that they did not have enough space to keep the new animals so, they were doing parking lot adoptions. My thought was to go and see if there was a senior dog that we could help. Yuuki went with me and as we are driving said we should try to get a dog that needs help. When we arrived, we were led to the side of the building where there were 5 dogs in outside fenced pens. Diego (previously named Darius) was in the last one. We asked about senior dogs, but they said all were adopted out. We saw that Diego had a blue bandage wrap and Yuuki told me to ask about him. I did. I was told that he was hit by a car. I asked age and exactly what was wrong with the leg. She stated 2-3 years. They stated they took X-rays and the wrap needed to be replaced. As I went to go to the front to adopt him, I was told that the fee was waived because I was willing to take on the responsibility for him. He played like crazy that Friday-Tuesday. I took him to our regular vet on Tuesday to get him checked out and the wrapped replaced. She immediately came and told me that there was dead skin under the bandage and since the leg was never set, he needed immediate surgery, or the leg was going to need to be amputated. After surgery and debt his leg was fixed up. It is so hard to keep a pup off his feet. Right before his surgery follow-up appointment, I had Diego on leash in the backyard and a critter ran by; he and Autumn gave chase. He broke the metal plate and his leg again. We decided this time to amputate. In all, Diego spent the 1st 5 months of his new life with us recovering and we ended up in debt for right around $5K. It took him no time at all to be proficient with 3 legs.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? Diego loves fetch, only his version involves him not retrieving the ball because he has a ball in his mouth already and he does not catch the ball because he runs as though he has 4 legs and begins to slip, slide and fall his way to the ball.

What is life like since you rescued Diego? We are newly empty nesters and his youth has breathed excitement into our daily lives. Because he spent so much time recovering in those first months, to help keep him settled, I would sit on the couch and let him sit on me and snuggle. Now, it is a nightly requirement that both of us enjoy. He has established an entire routine around our working from home and keeps me hoping all day long.

Photographers Note: To say Diego has adapted to life as a tripod is an understatement. This happy exuberant boy just loves life and does what he wants. Witnessing him play ball, his speed and agility is really impressive. I mean when you see the muscle in his back leg (see evidence below - zoom in), you can understand where that comes from and how it helps him navigate. Now yes, he may have some difficulty with sharp turns and when he greeted me, he wanted to lean against me with the side missing the leg; which caused him to tumble a bit, but this boy clearly doesn’t let anything get him down. Along with this happy & affectionate personality he is a hunk as well. Really could have photographed this boy all day. At the end of our shoot, his family very sweetly allowed me to love on him for a bit while sitting on their kitchen floor & chatting about all things Diego! What a special boy who had a rough start but is enjoying life to the fullest now.

Ella - 12/12/21

Name/Age: Ella - 2 y/o

Family Member: Camey

How long has Ella been in the family? Since August 2020

Profession: Elementary School Teacher

Location: Hoschton, GA

Nicknames: Ella-Bella, Lady B*tch, Princess Peach, Barfbag, Ella-Ella-Eh-Eh, Cinderella Anna

5 words/phrases that best describe Ella?

Friendly
Hyper
Enthusiastic
Loving
Spastic

What makes Ella unique? Ella cares more about people than anything else, like Ariel in the little mermaid she wants to be where the people are. It is to the point that she gets offended when people ignore her. For the Fourth of July, I took her to see the fireworks and she started crying because people weren’t petting her. That’s right, she was unphased by the fireworks but the fact that people weren’t petting her was ridiculous. They just kept passing and saying how cute she was. She gets so excited to meet people that she runs and jumps like crazy and literally will spit out treats because people are far better, according to her.

Rescue Story: I have always wanted a dog and started searching for a Golden Retriever, Poodle, or Goldendoodle when I quickly realized those dogs have no problem being adopted so I shifted my search to a breed less likely to be adopted. A friend went to the shelter to try and look for a dog I could adopt and saw Ella, sent me a picture, and said she has a ten day hold for some reason plus she’s heartworm positive. A worker told my friend that Ella had a microchip and the hold was because they had contacted her family. I waited the 10 days and went to the shelter myself and Ella was gone! It turns out she was getting her heartworm treatment so she couldn’t be around the excitement of the shelter and was in a different section. She was so sweet and calm when I met her, little did I know it was just the medicine. The first month I had Ella she was undergoing heartworm treatment which meant she couldn’t raise her heartrate and was essentially in her crate the whole time. As soon as we got the clear we went on a walk in the park and the rest is history.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? I have had several friends and family members say Ella is not a dog, or at least she doesn’t know she’s a dog. It’s always entertaining to just be at home with her. She’ll sit on the coach like a human and stare into the abyss like she’s contemplating the purpose of life. She’ll watch TV and drape herself dramatically across the couch when your favorite character dies. She somehow manages to jump three directions at once when you tell her it’s time to go outside, and she has the most ridiculous poses.

What is life like since you rescued Ella? Well we have both been on far more adventures than I ever anticipated. It’s now to the point we have an “Ella Moment of the Day” at school where I share whatever crazy or cute thing Ella did. She brings joy to almost everyone’s life she interacts with, from my students, to my family, friends, and innocent bystanders at pet friendly events.

Social Media: Instagram: @cinderellaellanna

Photographers Note: Meeting up with Camey & Ella at a beautiful park allowed me to witness Ella’s unique personality trait. As we worked to get setup on a path in the park, with every person walking/running by or every bicyclist that rode by, she would stop what she was doing; ignore all offer of treats and just look at each person so excited wagging her tail. Then when all she got was a smile, she would look back at us with this crest fallen expression. It was adorable and a little heart breaking all at once. Poor girl just wanted a little love….thankfully she is now in a home that provides her plenty of that!

Maggie - 12/5/21

Name/Age: Maggie - 3 yrs 10mths

Family Members: Jim, Kerry, James (2.5yo), Vanessa (5yo) & Ranger (10 y/o) - German Shepard

How long has Maggie been in the family? August 3 2018

Professions: International Trade Specialist and Insurance-General Adjuster

Location: Decatur, GA.

Nicknames: Mag-Mag, Waggie-Mag

5 words/phrases that best describe Maggie?

Friendly
Loving
Playful
Best Friend
Snuggle-Bug

What makes Maggie unique? Maggie wants to say hi to all people she meets and wags her tail furiously in anticipation. She is exceptionally good with kids and loves walking near playgrounds to watch them play. One of her favorite daily routines is chasing her tail and back-yard zoomies.

Rescue Story: After my daughter turned 2 years old I felt I had the time to devote to rescuing another dog. I decided to check out Lifeline at Fulton County Animal Shelter. I walked through the shelter and remember wanting to rescue all the dogs but knew I couldn’t. There were so many sweet dogs I didn’t know what to do or which one to pick. On my way out I heard a dog wagging her tail so hard against her enclosure I couldn’t help but gravitate towards her extreme friendliness. I went up to her cage and knew straight away she would fit into our family. When I brought her home, I had to carefully introduce her to my older dog and integrate her into our daily routine. After a few days she seemed to settle in just fine and since then has been a joy in our family.

Come to find out, she was rescued along with her brother running loose somewhere in Fulton county. A few months after adopting Maggie, I joined the Lifeline Adopters Facebook page and looked at recent posts to see if there was another dog that looked similar and found posts of her brother “Ares”. I got in touch with that adopter and learned that Ares and Maggie both had the same rescue story of wandering near an apartment complex and being rescued the same day in Fulton County. Since getting in touch we’ve gotten the dogs together at Piedmont Park.

What is your favorite pastime as a family? My favorite memory of Maggie so far is her enjoying my daughter’s 4th birthday. We had family over and while the kids were playing, Maggie enjoyed some cupcakes. The only reason I knew was because she had purple icing all over her nose.

My favorite pastime with Maggie is walking her throughout my neighborhood and having her as an office mate each day during the work week.

What is life like since you rescued Maggie? I never in my whole life thought I would rescue a pit bull type dog until I went into the shelter that day and met Maggie. My heart was changed when we brought her home and saw how gentle and sweet she was with my daughter and now 2.5yo son. The stereotypes in my mind have definitely changed since then and I can’t believe I was so uninformed of their gentle and loving nature. Life has changed completely since rescuing Maggie. My kids now have a best friend that loves them and is gentle with them. Unlike my shepherd/lab rescue, Maggie is completely unfazed by my kids running and screaming next to her and lets them love on her even if it’s clumsy and grabby. Maggie has never shown any inclination to bite or snarl, unlike my other rescue. I couldn’t imagine life without her and since she’s been my office mate working from home the last 2 years we are closer than ever.

Photographers Note: When I arrived there was a lot going on in the backyard, as you can imagine with two young kids & two dogs. Maggie quietly walked up to me tail wagging to say Hello. The one word besides sweet of course, that comes to mind when I met Maggie was serene. She is so quiet and gentle, you just get this wonderful sense of peace around her. She has her moments of silliness when she decided to inspect my camera lens for instance but for the most part she was happy to just be near by. She wasn’t so game for playing or chasing a ball, just hanging out worked for her & of course looking adorable.

I so love that just a few thumps of a tail is what led Kerry to look at the dog versus the “breed” and bring this sweet girl to her forever family. Well done Maggie!!

Shawnee & Shaonia - 11/27/21

Name/Age: Shawnee - 9 y/o & Shaonia - 8 y/o

Family Members: Joanne, Charles, Sabrina, - Boston Terrier (9 months), 5 chickens, 6 goats, 2 donkeys, 30 ducks and a pig.

How long have Shawnee & Shaonia been in the family? Shawnee since she was 6 weeks old & Shaonia for 7.5 years.

Professions: I coach people to train their dogs Company: S&J Canine Coaching

Location: Cohutta, GA.

Nicknames: Shawnee: BoBo Shaonia: Sha Sha

5 words that best describe Shawnee & Shaonia?

Shawnee:

Smart
Devoted
Ambition
Good Supervisor
Eager

Shaonia:

Caring
Empathetic
Loving
Enthusiastic
Energetic

What makes Shawnee & Shaonia unique? Shawnee was a Therapy Dog for 4 years. Shaonia is also a therapy dog and has been for the last 5 years.

Shaonia - Minnie Pibble Mous. One of her many therapy outfits!

Rescue Story: I was looking for a Pit bull. I came across Shawnee’s picture on Craigs list and working with some different rescues I knew most Pit Bulls would not have a great life if gotten from Craigs list. I have never had a strong dog before so we took some obedience class. That is where I heard of Therapy Dogs. Shawnee took the class & pass the Therapy Dog test. She was a Therapy Dog for 4 with Therapy Dogs International.

I rescued Shaonia when she was 6 months old from a Facebook post. They were going to euthanize her due to issues they created. I could not let that happened. It took me 3 days to get her out of the house. Finally when we made it outside, she was scared to death of everything. My other Am Staff and Boston Terrier helped her realize she was a dog and after a few hours got her to start to play. Shawnee, was already a therapy dog & I didn’t even consider Shaonia as Therapy Dog material because of her being scarred, I was prepared to have her as my shadow for the rest of her life. But I wanted her to experience the world. I started taking her everywhere with me. One day at Home Depot she was pulling on the leash to go somewhere, I said ok I’m game. She pulled me over to this gentleman. I asked him if he wouldn’t mind would he pet my dog. He said sure. And that is the day Shaonia, the Therapy Dog, was born. She has been a Certified Therapy Dog with Alliance of Therapy Dogs for over 5 years. She has almost 2000 visits and almost 2500 hours. We visit: 3 hospitals, work with 3 Hospice organizations, schools, Libraries, VA clinics, Special needs Community outreach programs, ATL Airport, Ringgold Courthouses and 911 call centers

What is your favorite pastime as a family? For Shawnee, all outdoor activities, for Shaonia SWIMMING!!!

What is life like since you rescued your dogs? Fun. Exciting. We love to camp, hike and swim. As therapy dogs we get to meet all sorts of people from different walks of life.

Social Media: Facebook: David Therapy Dogs Instagram: @davisgirlstherapydogs

Photographers Note: The Saturday after Thanksgiving I met this wonderful family at Red Top Mountain. Which is always a beautiful setting to take photos and is very dog friendly. Sweet Shawnee was a little shy and not overly thrilled with her photo being taken, then there is her sister; Shaonia who was quite happy to don her Minnie Mouse outfit and not even try to remove it. She might have wanted to go swimming in it. Since swimming is one of her favorite things that wasn’t a surprise considering the location. Thankfully everyone stayed dried & Sabrina the Boston kept everyone in line. I loved hearing all about Shaonias therapy adventures and learning about all the visits she has racked up. So happy she and Joanne are able to get out there and help those that need it most. Is there anything better then the soul healing an animal can provide?