My husband and I adopted Jillybean in late October of 2009. We couldn't have wished for a more lovable girl!  Jilly loves to cuddle on the couch, un-stuff stuffed animals, car rides, and keeping her "brother" JD in line!  Everyone Jillybean meets comments on her sweet dispostion and cute little face (which she uses to her advantage to get out of trouble...).  Jillybean really enjoyed our obedience classes, and she almost has me trained!  She loooves her cookies, and is now taking longer walks to compensate for all those training treats.

 

Jillybean fit into our menagery of 3 cats and a guinea pig right away - she even cuddles with the cats if she thinks no one is watching.  When we adopted our second dog from another rescue group, Jilly helped make him feel welcome by covering him in doggy kisses the moment he walked through the door!  Her calm energy and easy-going personality were just what he needed.

 

We can't imagine our lives without Jillybean - she is all we had hoped for and much, much more.  Thank you so much to all the volunteers at TAGS who fostered her, took care of her when she was sick, and helped her find her way to her forever home!

Michelle Anderson

Benson came to us as a foster a couple of months after we lost our beloved boys Scooby and Sparky who passed within weeks of each other.  We couldn’t replace our ‘boys’ but we missed the pitter patter of tiny paws and decided that fostering would fill our need to share our home with a four-legged friend while providing a little one with a safe, warm and loving environment while he was awaiting his forever home.
Benny was a challenge from the start.  The first night he was resource guarding a rather large rawhide.  He didn’t realize that nobody here was going to take it away from him.  He was chewing so vigorously though that he cut his gums and we had to get the rawhide away from him to allow his gums to heal.  A bowl of food eventually convinced him to give it up.  Benny likes to get behind the couch to watch the world through the picture window – knocking lamps and other items along the way.  We moved those things to allow him better access.  Later on he scratched at the front door when we were away, his separation anxiety getting the better of him.  Eventually he learned that we were coming back and he stopped scratching the door.  He is a fence fighter too, always listening in the backyard for the sound of the dogs that live behind us.  If he hears them he tears to the back fence to do battle.  He gets so excited that he chews the fence sometimes.  We’re hopeful that, over time, he will realize that each time he fence fights he goes back in that house and that if he doesn’t fence fight he gets to stay outside - this might be a longer term project for us.  His beagle nose leads him to food and he has encouraged us to put all our food much higher than we would have thought necessary.  He reminds us when we forget, like the time he got up on the dining room table and plucked a bag of bagels out of Cathy’s bag and proceeded to eat 5 of the 6 bagels!  When I came home there was a bagel in a plastic bag on the rug in the livingroom and pieces of bagels scattered around the floor and one stuffed beagle lying contentedly on the couch.  Benny didn’t need dinner that night!

Benny loves other dogs and strains very much on the leash to go and see them.  He howls his greetings and is so exuberant he sometimes startles the other dogs we meet.  He came to us a wee bit on the portly side but he is now quite trim.  He loves his walks and he holds his tail high as he wanders the trails, nose to the ground, ‘reading’ his pee-mail and enjoying the outdoors.

Benny is very affectionate with the two of us, often nuzzling his muzzle under our chins or resting his head on my lap as we watch TV together.  He has a need to be touching both of us so he often stretches out on the couch so that his head rests against one of us while his feet are touching the other.   He gets up with me in the morning  to have his brekkie but then zooms back to bed to be a cuddle monkey with Cathy, he loves to sleep in!

I took Benny to obedience class to help make him more adoptable.  Benny already knew sit and he instantly raises his paw when he sits.  He learned ‘stay’ and ‘down’ (I’m actually most impressed with his down).  Very vocal and exuberant in class he could be distracted at times.  He really excelled at ‘come’ and a beagle’s love of food is truly a great motivator.  I was quite proud of him when he took ‘top dog’ honours at obedience class (and more than a little surprised too).

It took Benny about five months to truly settle into our home.  In that time we had ups and downs and we became strongly bonded.  Benny had been in the program quite a long time and had endured multiple moves and disappointments.  We didn’t want to see him have to start all over again.  In the end Benny had already found his forever home - it had just taken us six months to realize it too.  So we signed the paperwork and Benny is officially in his forever home (he doesn’t seem to have noticed any change at all!).  We are thrilled and looking forward to a long, healthy and happy life together with Benny!!

We adopted Tia in April 2008 and from the first day she came into our home she grabbed our hearts and immediately became our beloved little girl. She is the sweetest little pup who makes us laugh and who loves to cuddle with John, sleep under the covers, loves her treats and toys and can do several tricks. She can't wait to go for her walk but also likes sleeping in!,

 

We have many nicknames for her but our favourites are Teapot and Teabag. She recently was selected as one of the favourite entries in the Whitby newspaper dog photo contest and is definitely one of my favourite subjects to photograph.

 

She is one spoiled little monkey (another nickname) and we cannot imagine our lives without her.

 

Thank you to TAGS and their foster parent program for bringing Tia to us.

Susan and John Mckay

We have always had Spaniels, usually two at a time. When our last dog passed away we were recommended to TAGS. Don checked them out and liked the fact that they interviewed us to see if we were good for the dog, unlike other organizations which simply take your money and give you the dog.
Daisy, the curly Cocker Spaniel in the picture, came to stay with us last September and became Don’s sidekick. We went to all the lessons provided by the adoption agreement and I had fun watching Don and Daisy playing all the games. By the spring we were ready for a friend for Daisy. Myrtle, the straight-haired Spaniel came to us at the end of April this year and the staff at TAGS once again gave us time to decide if Daisy wanted Myrtle to stay forever. They are both loving and friendly dogs so they do not argue or squabble but share everything, even food. They look out for each other and are like two peas in a pod. Daisy has never liked staying out in the backyard for long because of her experience as a pup but now the two of them sit on the back step watching the birds. We are so pleased that we adopted them thanks to TAGS.
Pauline and Don Langridge

My husband Mike and i have had the privilege of adopting 3 of our dogs from TAGS and all the dogs have been awesome, such a gift to our family. First there was Toby, a senior gentleman who was a shepherd husky cross. He was about 12 years old when we adopted him. We had him for about 18 months before he passed, we were honoured to show him love and affection and a lovely life for that last year and a half. Many people can't understand why we would adopt such a senior dog but our believe is that every dog should be loved and cared for until their end so although our hearts ached when he left us we at least knew we did right but that old boy. He was worth every tear we shed. We have no regrets only wonderful memories of how he used to love to just stand outside while there was a heavy downfall of snow and just absorb all that winter had to offer, we started calling him northern at that point and his hearing was going so he didn't mind he just answered to our whistles anyway. We have a lovely picture of him with his ashes and his collar around the urn. think of him often with pride on how he lived with horrible arthritis and in the end cancer. What a brave boy.

 

Then we adopted Sasha a Rottweiler cross. She was much younger and we've done a lot of training with her and we have such a strong bond. She's been an important part of our lives now for 8 years. She does agility and some tracking oh yes and she loves her beer although it's not good for her she will steal the cans and puncture them if left to her own devices. We should have named her hoover because she's such a food hound. Shes an absolute pleasure to have around the house and everyone who first meets her is usually a bit nervous just because she's a rotti but if only they knew what an awesome breed the Rottweiler is when raised in the right environment. Give her 10 minutes with any scared human and they're putty in her hands. She rings the back doorbell when she wants in which many people think is amazing, we taught her that trick. She loves her time to run and play and gets along with other dogs and is good with children although bowls them over with her size but she's just a gentle giant. Wouldn't want to think of our lives without her.

 

Okay now we come to our work in progress our third gem from TAGS. His name is Fletcher and we've had him 5 and a half years. He's a Jack Russell Terrier but we say Jack Russell Terror but of course that's not true we're just poking fun. He's an amazing dog and so resilient. He's quite the comedian, loves to sing(Bark) and dance. Loves to play ball and he's even done some racing which he is awesome at and a couple of weeks ago he did an earth-dog training session and was okay but of course Fletcher being such a love thought that rat was for kissing, not a killer at heart. He is filled with a love of life and everything that that entails. I'm writing about our dogs to help you all understand the utter joy that a rescue dog can bring into your life. I'm not saying that there is never a challenge or two but the joys, pleasure and fun hugely out way the odd challenge of getting that rescue dog used to his new environment. If you approach it with love and understanding you can always look back on your decision and know you did the right thing for that dog. You gave that dog a second chance in life and they won't forget it. My husband and I will always rescue and someday perhaps we'll have enough property to open up a sanctuary for old or sickly dogs because these are the ones that no one seems to want to have in their lives and what a shame because they truly are the most needy but rescuing any dog that's found itself on hard times is so worth it.

Mike and Darlene Flynn Ajax Ontario

In the fall of 2008 a cocker spaniel was rescued by TAGS from the Whitby pound. She was placed in foster care and named Scarlett. Our family looked after her while her foster mom was on vacation and I also trnsported her several times to Petsmart. During these times Scarlett became quite attached to me and I must confess the feeling was mutual. One Sunday, several families came into Petsmart who were interested in Scarlett and I started to get a little worried. You see, I was thinking that this girl would fit in quite nicely into our family with Casey our golden and Finnegan our bichon. On the way home to her foster mom that day, I detoured to our house and told hubby that she would soon be adopted and he said "well, I guess we'd better hurry up and put in an application hadn't we?" She is now a loving part of our family and I truly believe that she "chose" me to be her forever mom.
Sue Montgomery

We adopted Leroy our Plott Hound in the spring of 2008.  His face and unique colors drew us to visit and finally adopt him. His big brother Bear, our Bernese mountain dog has welcomed him into our home and continues to show him the ropes. Leroy is a bundle of energy and a source of constant smiles and memories.  He loves to run at the Harmony dog park and at his Great Uncle Mike's farm and Grandma and Grandpa's farm. He loves to help cook meals and BBQ especially. Leroy is full of love and gets lots of love in return.
Jeff and Sandy Doucette

We began fostering Tiki (aka Tequila) in April of 2008 and quickly determined that she had already found her forever family…us! We adopted her in March 2008. Tiki gets along great with her cat-sisters Sugar and Pepper. She loves playing fetch, going for runs and spending endless hours dock-diving and swimming at our cottage. Thank you TAGS for helping us to find Tiki and making her transition into our family a happy one! Michelle and Jay Di Febo

In December of 2005, we adopted Bo, a 10 year old shepherd mix, from TAGS.  He came to us as an emergency foster when his foster mom had a medical emergency.  He fit in so well, we decided to adopt him.  We have two other dogs, Baxter and Buddy, and Bo was a welcome addition to the "B" boys.  Even though Bo was in his golden years, at times he was like a puppy.  Like when we came home to find Bo had gotten into a 10lb bag of flour and had it all over himself and the rest of the house.  Or the time we came home to find all the pots and pans and plastic bowls removed from the cupboards and spread all over the floor.   

As a volunteer, I have heard many people say they won't adopt an older dog because they won't have them for very long.  Well, we discovered how short a time that can be, when Bo passed away in July from cancer.  Would we adopt a senior dog again?  You betcha!  As heart wrenching as it was when he died, the time that he was with us was so rewarding and so full of love.   It is truly heart breaking to see senior dogs sitting in shelters.  If only people knew what joy these dogs can bring to their lives.  Even if that time is short, it is so worth it.
 
Even though we only had him for a few years, we wouldn't have missed the love, laughter, and  yes even the tears.  If you have ever thought about a senior dog, give it a whirl, I doubt you'll be disappointed. 

I adopted Jessie form TAGS a year ago in February 2007. It took a long time for me to decide to adopt a dog and I wish it hadn't because Jessie has been the most wonderful dog I have ever had. She came to TAGS underweight, dirty, stinky & scared, but the volunteers that rescued her from the pound could see the potential in her eyes. I thank God they did what they did every day.
 
This is my first dog as an adult, as I have always had dogs growing up in my family. The TAGS team were SO supportive to Jessie and I in helping us find our way to each other and also in strengthening our bond through the behaviour classes. Within the 8 weeks, I could see her confidence blossom and I still do to this very day.
 
This team really IS committed to finding the dogs an appropriate and caring home and making sure that after the placement that they stay out of animal shelters.
 
I have been telling and will continue to tell friends & family to adopt a dog through TAGS. Jessie is proof that rescue dogs can make the best pets. The volunteers at TAGS are wonderful people who really do care about these animals.
 
Joan 

We adopted Karma last winter. Initially my wife was wary since she is nervous of dogs. Karma is young but is very well behaved and it didn't take long to win over Susan. Our two boys play ball with her in the backyard and it is cute watching her playing with a soccer ball. However the squirrels aren't very happy!! Karma is a member of our family and we couldn't live without her.

Thank you Russ and Deanna for introducing us to Karma.

Todd

We adopted Nellie from TAGS 5 months ago in September 2007. We knew we wanted another dog and when it came time for the anual cornroast, we ahd figured out which dog we wanted.

We went through the adoption process very quickly and new that Nellie was here to stay. We went through the 8 week training class with a little turbulence but we pulled through with all our stickers.

Our whole family has their own special bond with Nellie and so do the neighbourhood dogs we meet on various walks. TAGS has really done a great job in helping us extend our family.

Breagh, Natalie, Tom, and Dustin 

Ever since Petey (aka “Logan”) has entered my life, he has brightened it only the way a sweet soul could. He has been the most wonderful companion and I feel extremely blessed. Not only do I feel good rescuing this lovable little doggie, but he’s made me incredibly happy. Actually, he tends to put a smile on the face of everyone he meets.
I want to thank TAGS for existing! Without people like you, second chances wouldn’t exist and I wouldn’t have the light of my life – Petey.
With sincere thanks,
Rebecca

I adopted Ty 1 year ago in March of 2007.  I knew from the moment I saw him that he was supposed to come home with me.  He makes me laugh everyday, and the exuberance he greets me with on a daily basis is the very definition of unconditional love.  I have to admit that I never saw myself as a small dog person, but somehow this little scruffy dog with the big ears and springs in his feet has converted me. What he lacks in stature he more than makes up for in personality.  He is smart, playful, lovable, and wilful.  I waited a long time to get a dog of my own and I am so glad I did because Ty is just the right fit.  Adopting Ty through TAGS was absolutely the right decision.
Andrée