Nellie

Nellie and her sister both found their way to Safe Harbor after being rescued from an inhumane breeding operation by a Good Samaritan. They arrived in terrible shape — so terrified of all people, of being touched, of any and everything, except each other. Both dogs were placed with wonderful, caring, foster families who went above and beyond to provide these girls with nurturing homes where they could eventually begin to relax. The families worked very hard,communicating daily about progress and setbacks, which included many ups and downs.

During the six weeks Nellie spent with her foster family and their two dogs, she made great strides in just learning how to be a dog. She learned that having someone pet her could actually feel good, and that she could run on her four legs, (she only spun around in a small

circle when she first arrived). Nellie learned how to drink water from a bowl, get in a car, go up and down stairs, go through a dog door, that leashes were there to help her walk, and most importantly, that she was safe and no one would hurt her. As her foster family celebrated each and every milestone with her, Nellie's confidence began to grow, and she was ready to find a very special forever home.

Nellie's new forever life began when she was adopted Steve and Rene, and their black Lab, Toby, (an SHLR alum). Nellie's new parents, who are both retired and are very patient people, were realistic about the challenges of adopting a dog like Nellie and knew that she was going to need a lot of adjustment time; but true to the spirit of Safe Harbor, they realized that while she may not the the "perfect" dog, they are indeed her perfect family, and that this is the most important thing of all! Steve and Rene are devoted to Nellie, and are working hard to continue to build her confidence, both in humans, and in herself; and Toby is helping to teach his new canine sister how to be a dog and play.

Thank you, Steve and Rene, for giving Nellie's story the happy ending she deserves by bringing this special girl into your hearts and home!

Lilly

Kristin and her family arrived with high hopes when they came to meet our little one-year-old yellow Lab, Lilly. They were looking for a mellow, but active, pal for their dog, Chloe, who came along to check out this potential newcomer. While the kids loved Lilly immediately, Chloe took a little longer to warm up; but she eventually decided that Lilly would be a worthy canine sister, and gave her the paws up.

Lilly has a lifetime of fun ahead in her new home, with plenty of land to roam on, and a wonderful, large, forever family, which also includes some cats and horses!

After Chloe had settled into the family routine, her new mom reported: "lilly is a bundle of energy and happiness at the same time. she is extremely kid friendly and so sweet and gentle with ali, ella and joe. for such a youngster she is not destructive at all and is trustworthy in the home with our other dog chloe. she has already learned how to play ball and retrieve and responds to "leave it" command to drop the ball and get ready for another toss. she also, to our amazement, walks on the treadmill with me like she has done it a million times! we have added this into her routine about an hour before bedtime to get that energy out before sleepy time. we bought the treadmill several years ago and have not used it much. we figure it was meant for lilly! she very much enjoys her daily outside walks down our country road too. we love lilly and feel she is a good girl and a nice addition to the family."."

Lexi

Stephanie and Alan brought their grandson, Matthew, along for a meet and greet with 1 1/2-year-old Lexi, and all agreed that this lovely black lady Lab should go home with them. Lexi is very shy at times, but she is sure to thrive in this active household where she will be doted on by her dog-loving family, and have the company of both canine and feline siblings, as well as frequent play dates with extended family members.

Stephanie reports: "Lexi has already brought us joy. She is wonderful dog and integrated into our family easily. She goes on daily walks, visits the dog park and plays with my daughter's boxer Gracie. Lexi was cautious at first, but has come out of her shell and knows the routine. She gets up with husband, but it isn't long before her front legs are on the bed, with a wet tongue and happy moans. We have found out she is definitely a kitchen robber -- she loved the bunny cookies and bread she pulled off the counter. Now we know to close off the kitchen when we leave. She is adjusting to our cats and 13 year old Australian Shepherd. We love her very much and it is so fun to have her. We are glad Lexi is in her "forever" home. We are looking forward to many wonderful years. Thanks for doing what you do."

Dewey

Laura and Chuck waited a while after the loss of their Lab, Willie, and then decided that they and their dog, Waylon, needed a new pal. When they saw four-year-old Dewey's face on our website they felt "an instant connection", and put in an application to adopt him. After an initial disappointment when it appeared that Dewey was no longer available, Laura checked the website from time to time, and couldn't believe it when Dewey's photo reappeared. She immediately called us and learned that Dewey was now available and that they were next on the list to adopt him — and the rest is history.

Not only does Dewey have a new home with Laura and Chuck, this energetic four-year-old boy now has lots of land to run and play on, complete with new four-legged friends in all shapes and sizes. Most importantly, after a rough start in life Dewey will now always have a home where he knows he is loved and very much wanted.

Dewey's new parents tell us:

"Dewey is a “happy boy.” Waylon (our six year old yellow lab) welcomed him with “open paws” and their the best of buds now. When we first brought Dewey home, he was a ball of energy and immediately went exploring — didn’t take long for him to discover the “indoor” toy box and check out everything in it. Next, we all went outside where he has a little under two acres to roam around and roam he did; he loves to run and wrestle and play tug of war with Waylon, but he’s also content to just lay down and chew on a bone by himself or watch the world go by. Buddy, our horse, seems to think he’s a-o.k.; the rabbits – not so much!!

Dewey has a wonderful personality and is just so lovable and affectionate – and loves for you to make over him and we do; he has calmed down considerably and is settling in nicely, now if I can only get him to put his toys away at the end of the day.

While we still miss our beloved “Willie”, we look forward to the next chapter with Dewey. Thanks so much for helping us complete our family again."

Klyde (formerly Clyde)

Sandi and Randy adopted a super-sweet, handsome black Lab named Goose from Safe Harbor two years ago, and now another super-sweet, handsome black Lab, four-year-old Klyde, has joined the family. Lucky Klyde's new forever home is in the mountains, where he'll get to frolic the days away with his canine siblings and enjoy many outdoor activities, including frequent runs and hikes, and trips to the nearby dog park.

The new kid on the mountain is getting rave reviews from his new family: "Klyde can be summed up in one word… perfect! He has settled in nicely with his new brother Goose and sister Daizy. Klyde’s tail has not stopped wagging since he got home and he is never found without a toy in his mouth. He doesn't understand why he has to run on leash with his Mom because he is so good off leash. Klyde looks up to Goose (a former Safe Harbor Alum) who has kindly shown Klyde the ropes at home and up the ski mountain on our early morning hikes. Klyde still thinks he is a small puppy as he tries to climb into anyone’s lap whether it is watching TV, napping by the fire, or driving in the car. He has stolen our hearts and we can’t imagine life without him!"

Randy and Sandi are pictured with,(from left to right), Klyde, Daizy, and Goose.

Chase (formerly Payton)

Diana and Troy have added puppy Peyton to their family. Now known as Chase, this three-month-old little black beauty is impressing everyone he mets with his sweet, friendly demeanor and great puppy manners.

The new puppy parents tell us that "Chase (formerly Peyton) is doing great! What a wonderful puppy! He is so smart and wants to be a good puppy. He loves just hanging out with the family, but he also loves running around the huge backyard fetching his favorite ball he found on a walk or collecting sticks from the cottonwood. He has already made some other doggy friends at the dog park. We have gotten so many compliments when people come into the house. He says hello so nicely and rarely jumps. We couldn't believe he slept through the night the first night at our house. He has done that every night since too. He is so cute and sweet that everytime we have been to the pet food store, the owner has given him a free toy. He definately has become one of the family. We are lucky to have him and we love him so much already."

Mozy

Greg and Tina have adopted delightful, one-year-old Mozy, and are very excited to have a Lab in their lives again. Mozy is an adorable, active Lab who will enjoy having his new parents' attention all to himself as the only dog in the family. Since he's just a big puppy, young Mozy still has a lot to learn, but he's sure to flourish under the patient and loving tutelage of his terrific new forever family.

Mozy's new parents report: "Mozy is settling in nicely and we are happy to have him here. He is very good at entertaining himself. He has a basket of toys and he will go and get everyone from chew bones to ropes and balls. They fly out of his mouth and he romps around to get them. His most favorite thing is going to the doggie park. He can't wait to get inside and meet and greet. He is very social! We are trying to train him on the leash but he has a mind of his own. He attention span is short. He would rather play than learn. He understands what he is supposed to do - it will take some time. We are lucky to have him home!"

Sampson (formerly Zeus)

Michael and Kimberly, and their daughters, Amanda and Rae, were looking for a Lab who would fit in well with their active family. Along came five-year-old Zeus, who enthusiastically volunteered to be the new family Lab, and cited his experience as a first-rate walking companion, dog park aficionado, champion snuggler, and all around friendly, take-anywhere kind of guy. When he mentioned that he has always wanted to add "head cheerleader at girls' soccer games" to his resume, the family knew they had found their Lab — and Zeus found the forever home of his dreams.

Michael provided this wonderful update:

" 'Zeus' has been renamed 'Samson' and we couldn't have found a better dog for our family thanks to Safe Harbor. He has been with us 2 weeks and the adjustment period has been wonderful as we have gotten to know each other. He is the most polite and well behaved dog I have have ever been around. He loves to ride in cars, go to soccer games, play at dog parks and go on long walks and it well behaved off leash. It is obvious that a previous owner worked with Samson and we get to benefit from that investment. He loves to chase rabbits and once in a while go counter surfing but is very remorseful when confronted (busted). My two daughters continue to bond with him more each day.

We are extremely thankful for Safe Harbor and the professional care from Sherri in walking us through the adoption process without pressure. Their true desire is placing the right dog with the right family. This was a great match."

Buck

This handsome young Buck won the Lab lottery when he found his forever home with Judy and Rick. Buck is a gorgeous 1.5-year-old Lab with a sleek and shiny black coat, who always wears a smile and a wag when greeting his friends, both new and old. With daily doses of love, exercise, and training from his new parents, this lovable youngster is already well on his way to becoming his doggie best.

We received this update from Buck's new dad: "We love him. He is such a wonderful dog and he is very smart and trainable. We already have him trained to stay out of the kitchen while we are eating and he manages that great. He has obviously not been on a leash but we are working with him and he is doing better every day.

Again, he is great and we really love him and so do all the neighbor dogs!"

Rooney (formerly Petey)

Baby Petey wasted no time making himself one of the gang after he was adopted by his new family, which includes Catherine, Davis, Liam, and Sean, and two new Lab siblings.

This bright-eyed, little black bundle of 2.5 month old Lab energy, now known as Rooney, has already made himself right at home, as his new mom, Catherine, reports:

"I brought Rooney (formerly Petey) home, put him down and as all four paws hit the floor he was off and running with his new brother and sister and hasn't looked back. Rooney has a six-month old sister (another black lab) and an eleven year old yellow lab brother, both of which adore him! Lily and Rooney tear it up almost all day long and once a day old Cobi wanders over to stick his paw in the mix then turns around and wanders off content to not be a target of the wild ones! It is hard to say exactly what Rooney's favorite thing is to do or to play with as he loves it all: tug-of-war, pouncing like a cat & wrestling with his big sis, seeing who can squeak the toys the loudest, running laps around the house and hiding under chairs. Outside he is king of the deck overlooking his domain and barking at the deer and elk that are grazing below. He greatest strength is coming immediately when called.... Rooney is far more mellow than his big sister but he doesn't take anything from her!! His humans absolutely adore him and can't be more happy to have him in the family. We are even flying the oldest son home for Easter so he can enjoy some of the puppy days. We will never fully be able to tell you how grateful we are that someone was actually dumb enough to give this precious one away — he is truly a gift."

Thank you to this fabulous family for giving little Rooney the best gift of all — a happy, lively, Lab-loving forever home!

Rooney is pictured sitting on his new mom's lap on adoption day, with big sis, Lily, looking on.

Lilah

Young Lilah has found her forever home with Dan, Kathy, and their daughter Erin. Lilah is a lovely, large, confident, two-year-old chocolate Lab who will thrive with her wonderful, active forever family. In addition to daily walks and games of frisbee and fetch, Lilah will be joining the family on frequent hikes and road trips. Back home, Lilah will always have company with a new feline sibling to hang out with.

Dan tells us that Lilah is fitting right in: "Shes adjusting very well and is loved by all she comes in contact with. Thank you all for Safe Harbor and the wonderful work you do!"

Pictured are Dan, Kathy, and Erin, with Lilah.