(Formerly known as COOKIE)

I adopted a little puppy originally named Cookie and now known as Sydney from you back in May of this year. I just wanted to let you know she is now 6 months and still growing and getting huge and is doing really well.

Here is a picture of her with her older brother Kelso (she's in the FRONT!!!) and you can see they get along really well!  I can't remember not having her and just wanted to say thanks!

- Carolyn

(Formerly known as ANDY)

Almost six months ago now, we adopted Kobe (then known as Andy) from your program. I thought you might like an update on how he's doing.

Words cannot describe how much Kobe has added to our lives. He has become such an integral part of this family, it's like he's our own child. He has truly become the king of the house. He has discovered his favorite places to sit or lay so he can stare out the front bay window and supervise the neighborhood. I swear he can tell time because he goes to the window and waits for his "daddy" to pull into the driveway at exactly 3:45 every afternoon.

We took him to basic obedience class and he graduated with flying colors. He even received his own little diploma which proudly hangs on the refrigerator with a headline from the sports page that says "Kobe is MVP". We are currently working on getting him off the leash, at least a little so he can run and play with his doggy friends. He has greatly improved on his socialization with other dogs. When we first brought him home, he would whine and hide behind us whenever another dog was in sight, but now he just barks and wags his tail like he wants to play. And once he meets up with them he find. In fact, he seems disinterested! He has a little doggy friend named Buddy that he loves to chase around and play with.

He does seem to have a severe dislike of loud noises. He absolutely hates motorcycles and skateboards. He even tried to attack one once. But we're working on getting him acclimated to them since we have lots of kids in the neighborhood that like to ride them up and down the street.

He has gained a proportionate amount of weight. He now weighs around 73lbs. and his vet says that he has excellent muscle tone and fitness. His urinary infection has cleared up nicely, but we have noticed the hot weather and his subsequent increased water intake, that his bladder may not be able to hold as much water and he sometimes will leak a few drops of urine. Possibly the result of mistreatment, malnutrition, or infection, but we're working on getting it cleared up.

Other than that, Kobe is thriving here with us. Like I said, he's a Godsend. I don't know how we lived without him. We adore him, and he adores us. We truly think of him as a gift from God because we noticed that he was rescued on October 19, 2001, which is our wedding anniversary! It must be fate.

Many thanks to his foster mom. He was obviously loved and cared for with great knowledge and discipline while he was with her and her family since he has adjusted so well and so completely here. Kudos to your organization for doing what you do. God bless you all.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Chris, Casey, and Kobe

(Formerly known as FORD)

We wanted to drop a note to let you know that Jack (formerly Ford) is doing great. He loves chasing tennis balls and frisbees and going for walks. We can't imagine life without him! (Although, we do miss the drool/fuzz free furniture and clothes!!) Jack is becoming quite a little gentleman and is learning lots of cool tricks.

Thanks to everyone at L.E.A.R.N., especially Penny and LeAnne, for all your help and advice.

Carrie, Chris, and Jack (and Maggie, Baby, and Moxy too!)

(Formerly known as AUSTIN)

On behalf of my husband, Adam, and our wonderful lab Maverick, I am writing to thank you for the amazing work that you do and to make a donation as well. Adam and I were adamant visitors of your website as we waited patiently for the right time to adopt our first dog. We sat down together each Sunday night to see the labs waiting for homes and waited anxiously to move into a home so we could adopt one. Last August I received an e-mail from the volunteer list-serve regarding an available lab that there was no foster home available for. Since we were moving into our house just a few days later I decided to go see this little guy myself. Little did I know that "Austin" would steal my heart! This poor little guy lived a crate-bound life in a dingy cellar between 15-20 hours a day. Without hesitation I took him home that very day and neither our lives or his have been the same since. The road has been tough since this labby had lived such a secluded life, but every ounce of work has paid off tenfold. To give "Austin" a fresh start, we changed his name to Maverick - a name my husband, the pilot, looked up! This amazing creature has taught me about new beginnings, enjoying life's small pleasures, and most of all love! Maverick turns 2 years old on June 29th, and I would like to thank all of you for bringing him into our lives by making a donation to L.E.A.R.N. each year on his birthday, I wish it were more this year, but I am a student for another six months. I truly believe in fate and I know that without a doubt Maverick found his way into our lives because we needed him as much as he needed us!

Very truly yours,

Megan, Adam, and Maverick

(Formerly known as TESS)

We just wanted to let you know how Rooshka (Tess) is doing. She is a real sweetheart. Our vet says she is healthy and looks really good. She likes going for walks and being outside with us. She loves to play fetch and obedience is going really well too. Rooshka made it perfectly understood the first night that her crate belonged in Dad and Mom's room, so that's where she sleeps.

Housebreaking went really well. She lets us know when she needs to go out.

Rooshka is one fantastic puppy. We just love her and the greetings she gives us when we walk in the door tells us she loves us too.

I am finally writing you with my life's update. The holidays are here and I'm happy with my new family! I have a human brother and sister who play with me, and a sister lab Brittany who loves me too.

I am learning to behave an getting used to the routine. I am in obedience class, so I know sit, down, and "take it" very well. I have gotten a lot better about barking. I still am working on not jumping but my Mom is still trying hard to teach me that.

Thanks for getting me a new home. I can't wait to see what Santa brings here!!

Love,

Cocoa and my Family

I'm 5 years old and L.E.A.R.N. came to get me from a shelter. I spent two happy weeks with my foster mom and then my new humans came to get me! We've had lots of fun together so far. I taught them how to play frisbee and they taught me how to do a down-stay. I have my own house in the kitchen where I spend my days until the people get home. The best part is that both humans are runners, so I get lots of exercise and I'm not so pudgy anymore!

They tell me that we'll go camping and swimming in the summer and I dream about it at night.

Thanks L.E.A.R.N., for helping me find a new family!

-Echo and my humans Sarah and David

(Formerly known as PEANUT)

I want to thank you for rescuing me from the pound in Wisconsin and for caring about me while looking for a new home for me. I have been living with my new family for about 1 year now, and I am very happy. I have four wonderful kids to play with and an indoor pool to swim in. I LOVE swimming. Check out this picture of me from the newspaper in the pool with my frisbee!!

My new family changed my name from Peanut to Riley, they said I had begun to look like a walnut......

I want to thank you for saving me, and my new home wants to thank you as well.

- Riley, George and Janet

I just couldn't resist writing to you about how much joy my adopted lab Bella has given me, and my family. She is very loveable, sweet, and a best friend to us, and our other lab Sabrina. This may sound funny, but I always hug her and tell her she was a gift from Heaven. After a long day at work, it is such a pleasure to see a happy dog greeting you at the door. My husband and two daughters all argue about who she likes the best. (Obviously, it's me!)

If I ever get another dog, which would make three, I would go back to the lab rescue and welcome another dog into our very loving family. Thanks again for changing my life for the better with the best friend in the world.

P.S.- Bella is now 2 years old (she's 11 months in the picture). She needed very little training except when she ate my carpeting and helped tear apart my couch. That was a year ago. Now I just have to get her to stop carrying around our shoes!! If I can help in any way to convince people about your program, please let me know!

- Linda

(Formerly known as Sahara)

She immediately became best friends with our other dogs Hayden, Harley, and Hanna. She made herself at home the instant we walked in the door. It was like she knew that this was her forever home. She took to crate training very quickly and we really had only two nights without sleep! She is learning to walk on a leash and she really enjoys our walks around the neighborhood!!! After long walks, she loves to curl up on the bed with Hanna and take a little "cat nap". Speaking of our cats, she is still very intrigued by them and cannot resist chasing one on occasion. So, we're still working on that. She's getting big so quickly - she's 6 months old and 60 pounds now!!! We hope all the other puppies in the litter are as happy and healthy as Hilde.

Thank you again for making our family complete. Keep up the good work!

- Scott and Carrie

- Debbie

(now Austin)

"I thought it was time for another update (it's been a while). We just finished 12 weeks of obedience school and Austin is doing great! He comes when he's called and stays in the yard most of the time (if he doesn't he only goes a few houses down and comes right back). We only have to kennel him when we aren't home. We still can't put any type of blanket in the kennel or he shreds it to bits by the time we get home.

He is still very anxious and skittish in certain situations. I think that may take a long time to get over. I believe someone was very very mean to him. Not the case at our house. He is totally spoiled and gets tons of attention everyday.....

I can't tell you how much we love this dog.

Thanks so much for saving him and starting him on the road to a happy life!"

- Randy, Chris, Jack and Sean

(now Bella)

Here's a picture of Bella Rosa ( Rosie). Does she look abused or what? She even has control over the TV/stereo controls !! It's almost been a year, time flies. Bella is so much a part of my family I don't remember what it was like without her. Thank you again LEARN for a wonderful girl .

- Marianne

He is such a nice dog, we really love him.   We just got back from Grammas house for New Years Supper,  and yep Bud went along too.   He enjoyed his first Christmas in the house and he got two large bones.   He sure does love a party, the more people and the more hectic the more he loves it.

He was getting a walk every night, but now that its dark at 5:00 he only goes  maybe 3 times a week.  But it is starting to stay light longer a little now, so soon we will be back on track with the walks.  We try to play in the house at night, he runs back and forth down the hall and  we throw all his toys,  he likes to pounce on them.  He loves his squeeky t-bone and hamburger, and he squeeks them  over and over, but he never chews them up.  Good boy.   He also loves car rides.  He looks pretty cool sitting in the front seat of the van.  

 I know you miss him, and he was special to you.  But I can tell you for sure that he is a happy boy and he knows for sure that we love him.  Oh by the way, we gave up on trying to keep him off the couch,  we just put his own throw in the corner of the couch so he lays there when we are gone.  He only gets up there when were not home.  

We hope the new year brings you peace, health, and happiness.  And we wish every dog a good, warm, and friendly home.

- Mike , Denise, and Bud