Phoebe (aka Serena)
 

Hey Liz,

Sorry it has taken so long to get back to ya. Phoebe (Serena) is doing great. She seems to be so happy. She gets along with everybody so well, even other dogs. It takes her a while to get used to large men though, but eventually (like within 2 minutes)she is already laying on their lap. She loves to play, her favorite toy is the rope. Another thing that she loves to do is race. We run down the hall really fast, and she doesn't like to get beat. She goes so fast sometimes she bounces off the couch or into a wall, but it doesnt matter to her as long as she wins. The snow last week, as rare as it was, turned Phoebe into a crazy dog, she absolutely loved it. She'd start bouncing around in it. And lastly, I'd like to say that she does not like to sleep in late. After I take her out at 7:00 or so and feed her, I try to go back asleep. But, if I stay in bed past 10 on the dot, she will have none of that. It's time to get up and play!!!! She is so great, Liz. Thank you so much

Nick

Fiona
 

Hi Liz

All is well here; it's just been really really busy... taking care of Speckles and Fiona, still fixing up my house, and it's been a busy few months at work. Fun, fun, fun! The girls are doing very well. They get along great and are learning the rules around here. You wouldn't even recognize Fiona. She's a different dog - happy and playful. She is still shy around strangers and skittish with certain sights, sounds and smells related to heat. But mostly she's a happy go lucky gal! Speckles is keeping me on my toes and is lots of fun. She's a very smart dog, learns quickly and has that stubborn streak that is typical of a Dalmatian!

They are both absolute joys!

I hope that all is well up your way... that you and all of the spotted little ones are healthy and happy. I've attached a photo of Speckles and Fiona from Wag-A-Lot, where they've gone during my past 2 business trips.

That's really it for the quick update.

Take care!

Pam, Speckles & Fiona

Tessa (II)
ADOPTED!

Liz..... 

Hello from all of us.   Busy busy busy.....sorry for the delay in replying. 

Everyone is doing just fine. 

We have renamed Cira.......she is now.....   Tessa and is doing really well. 

In French custom...dogs are named by the year of their birth.  Since we figured she is going on two years old....2002 = the "T" year.  In France, dogs are named such (the year of the dog)... to easily identify the age of each dog.  This system is set up to go through the alphabet, skipping the letters k, q, w, x, y and z and beginning over with “A” every twenty years. 

Tessa remains a quiet pup, but happy, loving and so well behaved.   Her personality comes alive , when we’re in the backyard…as she runs and comes back, offering her paw for more pets.   It seems as if she's always been a member of our family.  We’re on walks twice a day and she is probably her happiest when we’re out and about.   She and the cats are on friendly terms, especially when she tries to engage in play with them when we’re outside.    We’re hopeful that as time goes on her personality will flourish even more.  We recently went to Don’s work and met Dottie and Margaret for the afternoon.  The girls got along famously. 

We do owe you a picture and our story, which I will get to you …I promise. 

Until then…please know that Tessa is happy, healthy and is happy to be home.

All The Best –

 Lisa, Don, Tessa, Sadie and Georgia

Dot
Dottie is here! I know some of you know the story... so I'll make it short.

I decided it was time to get a dog. David had been asking for years, but I wasn't ready. I wanted to get a rescue Dalmatian, so I started working with someone at the local "Adopt a Spot" rescue organization. She did the first home visit, which I FAILED.. they are HARD! Had to fix parts of the fence and get rid of baby toys that were small enough to choke a dog...

During all this, I was surfing the web and found "Southern Hope" - a wonderful woman named Liz who saves lots of dogs - most Dalmatians, but she doesn't stop there. Scrolling down the list of dogs that need a home... I found Dottie. She isn't the prettiest... didn't have a story "better" than the other dogs... but something about her just captured me. In my heart, she was mine. I was so fortunate to begin a wonderful friendship with Liz over the internet and phone... what an amazing woman. OK, this is getting long... sorry. Bottom line... Dottie was in Georgia. I am in Virginia. NO PROBLEM said Liz! With her help and the local Adopt a Spot help, volunteers came forward and did a caravan this past Saturday... from GA to VA. At 11:45 Saturday night, I got the call... come pick up Dottie. It was kind of funny... late at night in a deserted parking lot... But as soon as I saw her I knew she was for us.

She was thrown over the fence of the pound, cut up, puncture wounds, scratches, the works. Horrible flea allergy.... her fur looked awful... a woman saw her and brought her home and took care of her until she talked to Liz, who brought her in to her home with her other dogs. She nursed her back to health... and honored me with saying, "Yes, you can be her forever home."

When I look at her back I see little bumps all over... you can see them in one of the pictures attached... Liz says that is from the abuse... she looked horrible. She also has a scar on her forehead that you can see. Every time I look at her "scars of life" as Liz put it, I just love her more.

The kids are in love with her, I'm in love with her, and I'm sure John will do the same (today is his first day with her...). She is even BETTER than "a good dog." She is so loving, SO TRUSTING... she just wants to be loved. And that she is. So here are some pictures.... I know Dottie is really happy with us... you should have seen her literally prancing in the yard yesterday!!!

Katherine

Click Here to read a more recent update on Dottie!

Phantom

Liz - I just wanted to take a moment to tell you "THANK YOU"!! Phantom came into our home only a week ago and he has already become a very important part of our family. The kids have renamed him Domino (aka Domino Dots) and he has already learned his new name. He is the most gentle and calm dog I have ever met, yet he is still playful. I have been working with him on "sit" and he is coming along great. He is wonderful in the house and a joy to have around. He follows me around all day. Thank you again for saving our wonderful baby and keeping him safe until we found our way to him. I hope you enjoy the pictures I have enclosed of Domino and the kids (Blake & Katie).

Miss Molly (Bianca)

ADOPTED!

Hey Cathy,

I changed Bianca's name to Miss Molly and she is doing great.  It took a few days for Bently (my male lab) to warm up to her, but now they are non stop kissing machines. Molly is very sweet and charming and well socialized with other dogs, I'm so glad to have her. She has taken to sleeping at my bedside every night and I think is going to be very loyal and protective.

Thanks for all the great work you do in the foster program. Hope all is well
with you. 

Joel 

Tessa

Hi Liz,

Well, Tessa is settling into her new surroundings nicely. She slept through the night on Thursday after her long day. On Friday and Saturday she did a lot of sleeping and resting. I think she was taking advantage of the quiet surroundings to get rested and get her energy up.  Sunday was a better day as she seemed to perk up a bit. She certainly has a big appetite and has been getting plenty of good food, which she quickly makes disappear.  She has been great with the Kitty and she doesn't bother him at all - just a little kiss here and there, which kitty doesn't seem to mind too much. Tessa enjoys exploring the yard and her new hobby is chasing after the chipmunks - she gives them a big woof to let them know who's in charge.  Today she met Toka, the beagle next door. I was surprised that Tessa was a little ornery during their first encounter through the fence, but she seemed to calm down a bit after a few minutes. Hopefully they will get along - Toka is very sweet and was a good friend of Lu.

I think Tessa will continue to adjust and feel more comfortable during the coming week.  We'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks much.

Steph and Jim

Mia

Happy endings from Mia:  Hi, my name is Mia and this is my story--I was in foster care with a really great foster-mom for about six months. (Thank goodness she rescued me from the shelter!) Then one day, this lady came to see me and my foster brothers and sisters.  She was looking for a new doggie companion for her Keeshond, as she was very lonely living by herself.  So this lady looked over a couple of my brothers and sisters and I, but we seemed to really hit it off. I used my big beautiful eyes and gentle ways to melt her heart—that’s what she tells me. When she left, I was very sad.  Then to my surprise, she came back a week later JUST FOR ME! 

I have been living with my new mom for over a month and really like it here.  I have a new doggie friend named Keisha and we keep each other company during the day. We’re not playing together too much yet but we are friends, she has been showing me how to play fetch and she even shares her toys with me! I get petted all the time, have my own toys too and my mom even gives me lots of treats—probably more than I should have but I’m not going to tell her that!  My mom tells me I have been wonderful since I came to live with her. She lets me sleep on the couch--although she wasn’t happy about it at first--but she has given in because I am so gentle up there, I just nap.  My mom treats me like a queen but I think I deserve it! I don’t really remember my past life before I went to live with my foster-mom, Liz, but I know it wasn’t a very pleasant one.

I took my first road trip to St. Louis on Labor Day and while it was a long 8-hour drive, I just basked in the wind as I hung my head out the window—my mom was laughing at me because my lips were flapping in the wind but I couldn’t help it, I was just happy to have the wind in my face.  I even shared my backseat with Keisha and we slept almost all the way home, I was pooped from a long weekend, plus, its hard work hanging out the window!

I have been very happy at my new home and I hope that all my foster brothers and sisters get a home as great as mine.  My mom says if she had the room, she would bring home some of them but we don’t have a backyard yet, next year she promised to buy me one, but for now, we take long walks which I like.  I have met lots of new doggie friends on my walks.  I even had a Siberian Huskey stop for a quick wrestling match in the grass for a few minutes--that was really fun!

I think I have a really good home now and I know that I will be here forever.  My mom is very sweet to me and all I have to do in return is just love her, I think it’s a fair trade.  Every doggie deserves a loving forever home. Thank you to my foster-mom, Liz, for rescuing me from the shelter and bringing me into her heart and home.  She really loved me while I lived with her and I am very grateful that she could see that I am just a beautiful girl who wants to be loved.

Thank you for Miss Mia—I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have found “Miss” Mia.  I searched long and hard for a companion for my Keeshond and I am so very thankful to have found her.  I am a huge animal lover and have had dogs all my life.  We moved to Atlanta a little over a year ago and my Keeshond had always had a doggie friend living with her until we moved.  I got so spoiled having Keisha because she is the perfect dog and I never thought I could get lucky twice in a lifetime, until Mia. Since Mia has come to live with us, she has just made everything better.  She is such a happy dog, always wagging her tail (I think she wags it even when she’s sleeping!)  And I know that Keisha is much happier now not living by herself during the day while I work.

Before I got Miss Mia, I was not very familiar with Dalmatians.  Everyone warned me of them saying they were very hyper and sometimes aggressive, but this is such not the case with Mia.  I haven’t met a more calm and relaxed dog.  Her big brown eyes just melted my heart and her gentleness in everything she does makes her a true Princess!  Plus she gets millions of compliments everywhere she goes because she is SO beautiful. (That’s why I crowned her “MISS MIA”)

Since I brought her home, she has really opened up.  She loves the walks we go on and jumps (literally) at the chance to go for one.  And when we return from our walks, she goes straight to the pantry where she KNOWS her treats are (she learned that real fast!) and then we have our playtime.  Mia and Keisha are still taking their time at playing with each other but Mia and I get on the ground and she uses me as the toy! She would rather have the interaction with people than the toy anyway!  This is when she lights up the most.  She absolutely loves attention and will do anything just to get a pet.  Usually though all she has to do is look at me.  She is such a good girl and so incredibly gentle.  I really can’t imagine life without her!  She has truly made Keisha and I very happy!  If I had the room, I would take a million Mia’s home with me.  Thanks to Liz and Southern Hope Dalmatian Rescue for saving this princess!

Forever Mom - Jennifer

P.D.  (formerly Igloo)

January 10, 2004 

"Looney" Rooney

ADOPTED!

I have been on a quest for several months trying to replace a shepherd of about 17years that we lost last year. We saw many dogs and decided that adopting a rescue dog was the best thing to do for everyone concerned.  And now after doing it, I can say it is the only option.  

I saw Rooney and really felt something special about him but hoped that this dog would be able to replace just a little what my wife lost with the shepherd.  After getting Rooney home, it was love a first sight for not only my wife but Rooney. They played and walked and both smiled.  After a couple of months, Rooney has become such a part of the family, plays with all the animals, and is the only pet we have ever allowed to sit with us on the couch or in the bed. Yes he is truly a lover. But one of the neatest things about Rooney is that he gets so excited when Leigh (my wife) comes home and he sticks by her like glue. He has become an extremely loyal and faithful pal for her and has a lot of the same likeness' as her shepherd.

Tim and Leigh O'Brien

 Look at me NOW!

Dominick

ADOPTED!

Hi!   My name is Dominick and this is a picture of me and my new Forever Mom. Boy, were we ever lucky to find each other! Some people say we are a match made in heaven, all I know is that I am so happy to be surrounded by a loving family. I am a very snuggly, lovey doggy and my new “mom” is the same way! She lets me sit on the couch in her lap, which is amazing considering that I am a big boy at 75 pounds. She also lets me climb into bed at bedtime, as long as I am a good boy, and I am!

My new “mom” found me through Southern Hope Dalmatian Rescue. Thank goodness for what they call the internet! I have been the best boy, just hoping someone would come along and adopt me and finally the day came. We met at PetSmart and have been best friends from the minute we met. Now I have a big yard to run around in and a warm place to sleep at night. I love my new home! I even have my very own favorite toy as you can see. Life has never been better.  

From Melissa, the new “mom”: 

Adopting my Dominick has been the most wonderful experience. Finding such a fantastic dog and knowing that he will never be alone again is very rewarding. Being from a rescue org., I have been able to keep in touch with his Foster Mom Elizabeth and she gives me advice about keeping him healthy and happy. Dominick is precious and has been the best addition to my family that I could ever ask for!

Melissa Hedden, Calhoun, GA

Annie

ADOPTED!

Thought you might like to see Annie and how well she is doing.  Here she is sleeping on my niece, who is sleeping on my brother -- this was on vacation in St. Simons, GA.

Annie is such a great girl and aside from a little separation anxiety (that appears to be getting better) seems to be flourishing here. She has already put on some weight and just like Savannah, loves her greenie at night. She and Savannah are a hoot to watch. When we play Frisbee, I throw the Frisbee, Savannah runs to catch the Frisbee with Annie following her, and then Annie runs up to her, grabs the Frisbee from her mouth and brings it back to me with Savannah following. Then we start the process over. Playing tennis ball has been a bit more of a challenge. We start out fine with both girls chasing after their respective balls and as long as Annie sees Savannah bring hers back then she does too. But usually after about 3 or 4 times, Annie will manage to capture Savannah's ball and since she has discovered how to hold two of them in her mouth, it often leaves Savannah without a ball. At that point, Annie doesn't like to bring them back -- it cracks me up watching her with both of them. One will fall out and she'll scurry after it to grab it only to lose the other one.

Both girls are laying on the floor next to me right now, one on either side of the chair and I can't imagine life without them. Thanks for letting Annie adopt me, she has been a welcome addition to the family and a great playmate for Savannah.

Bonnie

Dottie

On January 15^th at 9:30 a.m., John picked up Dottie for a day-long get-acquainted outing. Before noon Dottie and John had shopped at PetSmart, Office Depot, Home Depot-and had a cup of coffee at The Avenue Borders. Obviously it was a match. The next hurdle was compatibility between Dottie and the dog we adopted in December-Webster. They very politely tolerated each other for several days before beginning to play together. It's been a regular circus act ever since. You can't have enough of a good thing-so we added puppy Kelly and the circus turned into a zoo.

 Dottie is out and about daily with John, or to Margaret's office-where she loves being the center of attention. Her Dalmatian heritage shows true, as she likes to accompany John and his horse Nathan on their rides.

None of this would have been possible without the insight of Dottie's foster mom Liz Francis, and her intense desire to find loving homes for her spotted dogs. We came very close to missing out on Dottie-and are grateful for Liz's efforts to bring us together.

Thank you for everything,

John and Margaret

Webster, Dottie, and Kelly

Sebastian

D’Artagnan (aka Dice) 

The Dog who Adopted Johnny!!!

After having only cats as pets for several years, Johnny (age 11) begged for a dog.   The answer was always “not right now” until Johnny went online…found Southern Hope Human Society’s website and wrote Mom and Dad a note(on paper that was imprinted “With God all things are Possible” ha ha)  on why he wanted to adopt a beautiful female Dalmatian and how he would take care of her.    I called immediately and after discussing our needs with a wonderfully knowledgeable, loving Rescuer, Liz…she asked me this question…”Are you willing to consider a male, because I have the perfect dog for you?!”   As the only female in our house, I was looking forward to at least having a female dog.   Dice’s foster-aunt brought him to our house for a visit….and after a few minutes with us, Johnny and Dice were out walking the neighborhood, meeting the kids, and other dogs!   They were meant for each other, but the deciding factor was when Johnny brought Dice into the house and then Johnny went back outside to play.  Dice waited at the door and cried, then he went from window to window to find his boy.   I knew then to buy a blue leash, that we were going to have another male in the house! 

We did not know much about Dalmatians, and did some research before adopting Dice.   I  am amazed at how intelligent and easily trained he is.  Johnny and D’Artagnan graduated from Basic Obedience Course.  He won the Cute Pet Trick award…Johnny has D’Art “Stop, Drop, and Roll”  he is working on taking D’Art to school for a short Fire Safety presentation.  A fireman can tell the kids, but what an impression watching a Dalmatian would make on a kindergartner!!

 D’Art  is so well-behaved (for a 1 and ½ yr old) --- and also energetic and persistent for us to play with him and his toys!   D’Artagnan lost 6 pounds the first month being with us….He rollerblades with Johnny, runs alongside Johnny on the bicycle and gets at least a mile walk with Mom every day!    He is an indoor dog, he has even brought us his collar/leash when he wants/needs to go outside! 

Wherever we go, we get compliments on what a beautiful Dalmatian he is…you should see him strut his stuff!   Having one blue eye and one brown eye is so unusual.  Our older son came home from college and said he couldn’t believe that we finally got a really “awesome, cool dog” and he loves to take him everywhere with him.   D’Art wore both boys out one day when they took him to a park to fetch…after 2 hours, the boys came home complaining that their arms were tired….D’Art just gave us that Dalmatian smile and I know he could have gone another 2 hours of playing!   

Thank you Tina (Dice’s foster-mom) and Liz (Dice’s foster aunt) for rescuing Dice from being gassed….we tell everyone we meet about D’Artagnan amazing life story….that ends with happiness for all of us that he is safe, protected, and loved. 

Sincerely, 
The Gallion Family….D’Artagnan and Johnny (in photo) John, Cindy, Zack

Pepper (previously Sweet Pea)

When my husband and I lost our Dalmatian of 15 years, I thought I would spend months grieving and healing before I could think about getting another dog. But the silence in the house was excruciating.  And the pain of a home without that lively energy and spirit a dog freely gives was unbearable.  So we got on the Internet and looked up every regional humane society and filled out every form and application available within two days, looking for a female Dalmatian.
Out of all the dogs we read about and looked at (on the net) and met (in shelters) we saw one Dalmatian that touched our hearts the most. Her name was Sweet Pea. We couldn¹t stop thinking and talking about her eyes. The text on the website accurately described them as "haunting".

Within a day of filling out the application, a delightful woman from Dalmatian rescue called us and told us Sweet Pea¹s story. Miraculously she was foster caring for Sweet Pea and lived only two miles from us. We didn¹t waste a minute and asked, no begged, her to bring Sweet Pea over as soon as possible to let us meet her.

It was love at first site for the three of us (my husband and I and Sweet Pea). Within a week she was living with us in her new home, awaiting the arrival of her sister to be, a rescued racing greyhound we named Sydney. We renamed Sweet Pea "Pepper" to match her quite spicy, mischievous personality and numerous black spots.  

Its been 3 months and though the Dalmatian we lost can never be replaced, Pepper and Sydney bring us such joy that our healing has been easier. The two of them get along fantastically. Not a day goes by in which we don¹t laugh at them playing and stealing toys from each other.

 Margie

Libby & Justice

After relocating from Australia a year ago, and having had left behind our two gorgeous Dals Santo and Idaho with my parents, very sad for us, not so sad for the boys who Love my parents heaps.  We'd bought a 7 acre property in Florida.  A home isn't a home without a couple of doggies, and having a little 2 year old girl we knew that Dals where a super breed to be around kids.  We started looking, after a while found a nice adult Dal, drove 3hours to meet him and we where so terribly disappointed when he grabbed hold of my arm and attacked me.  We couldn't take him home, not with the little one.  Arielle cried all the way home, she was so looking forward to having this doggie and I was so surprised as this behavior was so uncharacteristic of a Dal.  A lady heard our sad story, and offered us her Dal, a beautiful boy, she was going to fly over with him and we were so excited!  She has an illness and was worried he no longer would be cared for once she became very ill.  We had no news for a while, but still had our hopes up after having been sent photos of him, we bought his dinner bowl, food etc...then received an email from her saying she'd changed her mind. I was so upset, I was ready to give up, how unlucky was that, when there are so many Dals out there looking for homes!!!  I knew we had the Perfect home for a couple of Dals and yet it seemed so hard to find them!

Hailey Liz (previously Baby)

Thank you both (Liz and Steph), so very much for all your hard work, care, and commitment to the fantastic service you do for the Dalmatians -- and for people like me!

Stephanie, I've carried your card with me for months after I got it at one of the adoptions at Pet Smart. Just waiting, until the right time to get more "spots" back in my life. After having to say goodbye to my Domino after 11 1/2 years last November, it took time ...and I'm so glad you and Liz were there for my family this past two weeks, when it was "time.”

Dalmatians are the most wonderful breed! They are so loyal, fun, and full of adventure. I hope to always have one (or more) of these absolutely wonderful dogs a part of my family.

Hailey Liz is going to be a part of my life, and my families, beginning today -- and until either she, or I will have to say our "goodbyes" when either she or I die. I know I'll love her!

I know I've been a pest these past few weeks as I checked up with you on the progress of adding a new member to my family. Kind of like how I was when I went thru the adoption process for my son -- that took almost a year though. Have you ever read the adoption poem?

It applies more to humans... but if you can stretch a bit...

"Not flesh of my flesh, not bone of my bone, but still miraculously my own.

Never forget for a minute, she didn't grow under my heart but in it.”

Thank you both so very much for what you've given me, and all the joy -- that because of Dalmatian Rescue -- and caring people like the two of you, I'll have my newest family member, Hailey Liz.

 Wanda