Dear L.E.A.R.N.,

We received our newest issue of The Retriever Newsletter and were we surprised to see our Lady on the second page! We adopted Lady in the beginning of 2008 when she was one years old. She’s come a long way in the past 2 years. So our family thought we would give an update on how she’s doing.

When we visited Lady for the first time, we were warned that she was very shy of men. However, she responded positively to my husband right away. Her foster mom said he was the first man she was comfortable with this quickly. From that point she knew we were meant to be her forever family. As the article said, Lady was a sick pregnant girl when she was rescued, we knew she would need a lot of love and time before she felt safe. The first few weeks she had to be kept quiet as she finished healing from heart worm. But once she was healthy to be active again the true puppy came out of her. Although there where lots of challenges with her (almost 6 months before I could leave the room without her following behind) it was so rewarding to watch her become the silly, playful girl she is today.

She is almost 3 years old now and she loves to play at the dog park with her sister Sadie, a 6 year old yellow lab. Sadie loves to fetch a ball and Lady loves to chase her. Our family will joke about how Sadie is training Lady. All kidding aside it’s probably true. If Sadie is interested in it, Lady will be right behind her! They love to wrestle and play tug o war with each other. When we see the sassy face they make at each other, we know it’s game on!

Lady is a joy to be around and we want to say thank you to her foster parents for seeing her potential and L.E.A.R.N. for taking her in. We are so glad she is part of our family! We have attached a few pictures – enjoy!

Sincerely,

Joni and Michael Chmiel

Sorry it took me so long to write, but I have been so busy with my new family.  It is Ryno, formly known as Shadow and I am loving my new  home.   I was adopted by my forever family on St. Patricks Day 2009, so the luck of the Irish was really with me on that day. My new family is great! I love playing chase and wrestling with my older labby sister Reese.  We get along really well and when we are not rough housing together, you can usually find the two of use sleeping on the opposite ends of the couch or curled up under our parent’s bed. Not only do I have a labby sister, but I have a new human baby brother too.  I love laying on the floor with him when he is playing and I try to give him kisses all the time.  My baby brother laughs when I kiss him and loves to try and pet me too. 

My new mom and dad took me to training classes where I learned so many fun things.  My teacher said I was one of the smartest dogs she has ever seen and she could tell that all I want to do is make everyone happy. I even learned how to give high fives and to roll over! And all you have to do is tell me what a good boy I am and I will  just smile and wag my tail as fast as I can.

I really enjoy going for walks, playing with all the neighborhood dogs and chasing the frogs that live in the pond behind my house.  A few times I have even chased the frogs into the water and swam around for a while after them.  Another one of my favorite things to do is to go to the dog park where I can play with tons of dogs.  I love to run around and meet all of the new dogs, it is such a blast. 

I have to run, I hear a bag of treats being opened,

Hugs and Labbie Kisses,

Ryno Mattingly

Thanks for a wonderful dog L.E.A.R.N.  We really love Ryno, he is such a love. 

Warmest Regards,

Michelle and Kevin Mattingly

Hello my name is Oliver, formerly known as Alfie. I was adopted by the Koch family in July 2008 and they decided I needed a new name. Why Oliver? My human sister named me after a singer in one of her favorite bands. I must like it since I am answering to it. However, I think I heard them talking about renaming me again to “Lizard tongue”. Apparently I like to lick and my tongue moves so fast it reminds them of a lizard. Whatever they are?

I think I am about 9 months old now and I have the run of the house. And when I say “run of the house” I really mean run!! I do get crated if the family needs to go away for longer periods of time. I still like to chew on few things (rugs, chair legs, pillows) and chase the house cats. There fun to play with!!!

My family plays with me every day and gives me the appropriate discipline and loving as needed. Mom is especially nice and is easy to “get out of the doghouse” with when I have been bad. I am practically housebroken but do have an occasional slip. I just can’t master turning the doorknob by myself. May be it’s some of my family’s fault for not paying attention when I am giving them the signal. However I am doing great.

I have an 8 year-old canine step-sister Kasie (black lab mix) and three Cat step-sisters (Meggie, Ella and Lilly). As I mentioned before I like to chase the cats on occasion and for that I get in trouble (but hey it’s fun for me).

Although I like to play with, irritate and annoy my sister Kasie she is a good sport when it comes to being patient with me. She is not that energetic as me but it is nice to have her here and nice that she is mentoring me (barking at me). She does a lot of that at times! One great think that we do together is Mom and/or Dad takes us to the local park and lets us run free. We have a great time chasing the ball and each other and playfully fighting. This is great exercise for me and Kasie.

I have grown so much since I left my foster home and am taller than my sister Kasie. My Dad says I must be part hound by the way that I bark. I have learned quite a bit and I imagine I will continue to be curious for sometime.

I continue to be a curious dog and still trying to understand what all of this white stuff is outside. It’s fluffy, wet and cold but it’s fun to play in.

I sure like it here and want to thank my former foster mom, Robin, and L.E.A.R.N for all they have done for me and placing me in a good home.

Just a quick update on what the beautiful Georgia Peach has been up to since her adoption in October. We had wanted a lab for quite some time but were a little reluctant to do the “puppy thing” again. When we saw Georgia’s serious little face at Canine Classic, we knew we had to have her. Georgia is nothing short of a miracle dog. She is smart (too smart?), sweet, well-mannered, and the cutest little thing we’ve ever seen. Even Bella, the Princess Pug, has whole-heartedly welcomed Georgia into her kingdom. When we told our friends and family we had adopted a lab, everyone said how lucky she was to be adopted by people who are known to spoil their dogs. In reality, we are the lucky ones as Georgia is the most loving dog we could have hoped for. Thank you, thank you, thank you L.E.A.R.N. for taking such good care of our Georgie-Porgie. She really is a “peach.”

We have included a few pictures of Georgia and her sister, Bella. They are quite the pair.

Thinking of adopting a lab from L.E.A.R.N? Just Do It!!!

~Sheryl and Greg Lindmark

Hi LEARN,

Here are pictures of our sweet Sam who joined our family in March of 2008. Just a note to say she is doing great, has settled in to the routine of our family, and we can’t imagine life without her. Here’s Sam with her sister Bear.

~The Heistads, Andy and Kerry

Hi. It’s me Ollie, you used to know me as Farve. I’m living with my two moms and my sister Rudy, and brother Auggie…and our other sister Tasha, who is a C.A.T. (which stands for Chase And Terrify) I thought you might want to see some pictures of me in my finer moments.

Here I am with my big brother Auggie and little sister Rudy. Auggie likes having a brother like me, but he doesn’t play with me as much as Rudy does. She chases me around the house, but when she is tired she lays right next to me, and sometimes on top of me. She’s not heavy though, and I think she really likes having me as a brother ‘cuz she licks me a lot.

Here I am in our pool after we went to the dog park this summer. Boy, did that feel good to cool off. I always get the pool to myself!

Here I am with my “boy”, he sleeps in my bed with me at night, and I carry him around all day. My brother gave him to me when I came here to live…okay, I took my “boy” without asking, but Auggie doesn’t seem to mind too much.

My mommy says “a tired dog is a good dog”. I’m pretty sure that is why we go for walks and runs every day. My favorite thing is to chase the ball. Rudy and I race to catch it first. I usually win because I’m bigger, but sometimes she gets it first. She’s very tricky.

I also go to school a couple times a week. They call it Doggie Day Care, but I am pretty sure it is like school. I have fun at recess.

I just wanted to say hi and tell everyone that I am happy. I am finally learning to wag my tail, give kisses and ask for hugs. Thank you LEARN for helping me find my forever home.

Hi Foster Mom and all of you at LEARN that cared for and about me.

I have been meaning to write, but I have been so busy, and Mom and Dad have been occupied with lots of things.

I had a wonderful summer–sometimes Mom and I would just go out to the “lake” for a couple of days at a time.

Here are a couple of pictures that will help tell my story.

Thanks to everyone for finding me, loving me, getting my emergency spay and later my eye surgery (eyes are great now, thank you) and finding me a good place to go for the rest of my life.

I have a new doctor (vet). Mom and Dad are still trying to find the right food formula so that I don’t have to burp (not very lady like) and make that other gas (even less lady like) so much.

Mom and Dad are so very supportive of LEARN. They are very thankful for Foster Mom Donna’s call. I am being a very good girl–about ready for a birthday.

Love,
Morgan

HI! I’m Ruby Sue, but you know me as Juneau (Jade). I was the LAST one of Kylie’s puppies to be adopted. I live on a farm and I have a brother Ranger (he’s the black one in the pictures) and I have a cousin Gunner that lives with us when his mom and dad are in Florida for a couple of months. I also have two cat sisters that I LOVE but I don’t go too close to them because they give me the evil eye.
I go to puppy class, and I am learning all kinds of things. My mom tells me that I am very, very smart. I only had a few accidents in the house, and I even taught myself to ring the Christmas bell that was hanging on the patio door when I want to go outside.

My mom homeschools my boy, so they are always home with me. When they leave, Ranger and I usually go with. We love to ride in the car and have our own seat in the way back.

I think my mom and dad must have been very lonely before I came, because they had to sleep alone in their big bed.

I can’t WAIT to have a family reunion this spring and see how my brothers and sisters are doing. I wonder if any of them remember who are Dad is, because I would like to know why my ears stick out. My mom says I’m a mix, but that’s OK because mom says that means intelligent, obedient, loving, sweet, adorable and perfect.

I have to go because it’s time to take our walk, but I wanted to say thank you too all the WONDERFUL volunteers at L.E.A.R.N–especially Donna who checked out my new house and Tammy because she took care of my mom and me and all my brothers and sisters.

Hello LEARN friends!!

It’s been a few months since I found my forever home and I love it!! My Mom and Dad said I was a perfect fit right from the start. I now have 2 human brothers, a human sister, and one furry brother named Owen…he’s my buddy! There are also 2 indoor squirrels in the house…my family says they’re cats but I beg to differ and chase them anyway! I have a great life now. My Mom stays home with me all day and I only go in the crate when she leaves to go somewhere (hopefully to the store for more doggie treats!).

I have a big fenced-in backyard and Owen and I have a great time playing. I usually tease him by pulling on his huge basset hound ears and when he gets mad, I run. FYI, a Labrador retriever runs A LOT faster than a basset (ha ha). I also discovered one of the greatest pleasures in life…a king-size Tempurpedic bed! I suckered my Mom and Dad into letting me sleep with them…Ahhhh…Ain’t life grand?

Thanks to all the people at LEARN for rescuing me and finding my forever home!

Woofingly yours,

Rylee (Delilah) Walters

My name is Zander but you may remember me better as Homer. I now live in Woodstock, IL and I am now six months old. I am getting to be a big boy now. I stand shoulder to shoulder with my 10 year old Lab sister (Alabama) who you met when she visited there when I was only six weeks old. When you last saw me I saw about 13 lbs but I now am a nice healthy 55 lbs.

As you can see I am learning to use the computer and have set up my own email address. When I am not writing email and sending pics to my growing fan club, I am a pretty much nonstop energy. Big sister Bama has kept me from getting in too much trouble. House training and learning commands like sit, down and stay were so easy because I just follow Bama’s example. I am learning to play fetch in the backyard and have been on the walks a couple of the warmer days. But most of the time I just play with Bama. She is very patient with me most of the time but occasional I have pushed too far with my playing.

Zander