D

Community Newsletter December 2015

Nurses Help BARK Dogs

Dog Day Afternoon for Southern States

Mark Your Calendars

Helping the Community: Adoption News

Adoption Spotlight: Rocky 2 and Walker

Training Tips from Bill Howard

Clinic Corner

Volunteer Corner: We Need You!

Notes from the Farm

Happy Tails...Waggin’ Good News!

Ways to Donate to BARK

Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9s www.barkva.org

804-449-BARK

Nurses Help BARK Dogs The nurses of Richmond AORN (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses) are so happy to help BARK. We take care of human patients all day in the operating room, but we want to show our love and compassion to animals as well. We have volunteered several times at your shelter walking the dogs and cleaning their kennels.

We decided to do a pet food drive this fall. This time of year a lot of people are collecting canned goods for the local food banks and we thought we’d help the dogs instead. We donated dry dog food, canned dog & cat food, Milk Bones, dog treats, linens and even some extra OR supplies (elastic wraps, basins, dressing sponges, paper towels, and drapes). The operating room generates a lot of waste and we’re trying to find ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. We thought our extra OR supplies might be helpful at BARK or other veterinary clinics.

We have had so much fun at BARK and we look forward to helping out more in the future.

Jessica Ooms Richmond AORN Marketing Chair

(Return to Top)

“Dog Day Afternoon” Offers Stress Relief for Southern States Employees

Everybody needs a break now and then, so this fall, Southern States sponsored a “Dog Day Afternoon” stress relief event at its corporate office. On a beautiful fall Friday, six BARK dogs spent the afternoon hanging out in Southern States’ picnic area, where employees could come out and meet them. Pups and peeps both seemed to enjoy the chance to get acquainted, stretch their legs and make new friends.

“I enjoyed that we had time to get outside on a beautiful day,” said one employee. “The afternoon also spread awareness for BARK and the amazing dogs that they have up for adoption. It was also a good opportunity to bond with co-workers and meet new people.” Another said, “It was nice seeing the dogs and petting a friendly face. I am sure it lowered my blood pressure!”

Besides the special Dog Day event, Southern States has partnered with BARK by providing regular volunteer teams and having an annual collection drive for dog food and treats.

Mark Your Calendars Saturday, January 16th - Join us for another great training and dog handling session (level two) with Bill Howard of Top Dog Canine Behavioral Training. We’ll meet from 9:00 am to 10:30 am at the Jessica Beath Clinic (12300 Farrington Rd, Ashland). This is a great informational session and open to all current and potential volunteers!

Sunday, April 17th - We can’t wait until the next great event with Strangeway’s Brewing - BARK and Beer Fest. Join us from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm for great food, local craft beer, and dog-centric vendors and all to benefit the BARK dogs!

(Return to Top)

(Return to Top)

Helping the Community: Adoption News

Most BARK dogs are rescued from local public shelters. These shelters are open admission facilities, meaning that they are required by law to accept all unwanted dogs, such as those picked up as strays or surrendered by owners. When public shelters run out of room to house the dogs, they sometimes euthanize as a means of population control.

BARK and other rescue groups offer lifesaving alternatives by transferring at risk dogs to their facilities, where they are housed until adoptive homes are found. In addition to finding forever homes, BARK vaccinates, spays/neuters each dog and provides appropriate veterinary care.

We are proud to report that 30 dogs found loving homes in November including Speckles from our Oldies but Goodies program! If you’d like to keep up with the dogs adopted each week, please become a fan of BARK on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barkva.

Adoption Spotlight: Rocky 2 and Walker

Dogs featured in the Adoption Spotlight were selected as personal favorites by BARK volunteers. We hope you enjoy reading their comments about these wonderful dogs. If you want to know more about a dog, click here for Petfinder bios.

If you are interested in meeting a dog featured in the adoption spotlight, please submit an application online at http://www.barkva.org/AdoptionApplication.aspx, send an email to adopt@barkva.org or call 804-449-BARK (2275).

“Rocky 2 is such a sweet boy,” says his volunteer friend. “He’s very mellow and just wants to be loved. He’s great on a leash and perfect for something that just wants a companion and not a dog that can exercise. Rocky loves toys and to just lay and chew. My wish is that this senior boy can be in a home for Christmas!”

(Return to Top)

This older boy is a real sweetheart - great with other dogs, calm, and friendly with everyone he meets! Rocky 2 is a tri-colored hound/Lab mix. He is around 8 years young and weighs about 61 pounds. He loves going for walks, exploring the trails at BARK. He is calm and quiet and is definitely a volunteer favorite. He will be a wonderful companion! View Rocky 2’s classified ad here.

Here’s a note from Walker’s foster mom: “I'm fostering Walker and he is a real sweetheart. He finally has settled in after 4 months with us. He had to overcome some obstacles; his past, a cat, a rabbit, a feral cat we care for, and two kittens, he is doing very well with them all, except his past. He still dreams and cries. When I brought him home from BARK he put claim to our futon. It is now his bed. Walker is very territorial of his toy and his person-Me-so I know we are safe.

Walker suffers from heart disease and is allowed to have some fun and exercise, but not too much. He's not to get overly excited, as well. He still coughs but he is on medication. Walker is a real joy and my shadow. Literally, he doesn't let me out of his sight when I'm home. When I do come home from anywhere he cries with joy and bark/growls to let me know he doesn't like it when I leave. He's so ding dang cute. I mean look at those eyes and face. He's happy and loves his home “

Walker is a senior boxer mix. He is reverse brindle colored with some greyish black in his coat. It gives him a distinguished look. He is 12 years old and weighs around 58 pounds. We have no idea why his owner surrendered him to a rural county animal shelter. He has the cutest underbite ! He was a bit nervous when he first arrived at BARK (understandably so as he lost his home). He is adjusting well and learning how to walk on a leash. He is getting used to our volunteers, and he is enjoying the attention we are giving him. We

Rocky 2

recommend a home with all adults or teenage and up, as he needs a quiet home. This fine gentleman is looking for a lovely place to retire, and he hopes you will set up a date, to see if he can be the love of your life! View Walker’s classified ad here.

Training Tips from Bill Howard of Top Dog Canine Behavioral Training

Hi, Bill with Top Dog Training here. Just wanted to talk a little bit about excitement with dogs.

It's very common for people to think that an excited dog is a happy dog. That's just not true. One of the biggest things we can do at the kennel is to help the dogs to relax and be calm. The easiest way we can do this is to just be patient and take a little bit more time before we do things such as taking them out of the kennel or putting them back in the kennel or on walks where we can stop and let them come back to us to teach them the proper way to walk on a leash. Many of these dogs can’t be calm and relaxed in most situations and we can help them to relax and become comfortable.

It only takes a few extra seconds to help these guys fit into their new homes.

(Return to Top)

Walker

(Return to Top)

Clinic Corner

There is some very exciting news from the Jessica Beath Clinic! The clinic has been transitioning from a spay/neuter clinic to a full service veterinary clinic. We are now offering soft tissue and orthopedic surgery as well as preventative care and medical management of diseases. We are thrilled to be offering quality veterinary care at affordable prices for BARK dogs as well as animals from the general public.

These changes come with new faces at the clinic. Our new team members are made up of veterinary assistants Ashley, Rhiannon and Shannon, receptionist Audrey, clinic manager Barbara and veterinarians Drs. Dyer and Reger. We also have a clinic kitty named Jessie - she thinks she runs the show and spends most of her day napping.

A full service clinic requires more equipment - we are thrilled to have a new x-ray machine and exam room! The exam room allows us to spend more time with patients and their owner in a private environment.

One of our goals is to offer affordable veterinary care to the public. Preventative medicine is one of the most cost effective ways to ensure our patients are kept as healthy as possible. This includes vaccines, heartworm prevention, dental care, etc. For example - the average cost of monthly heartworm prevention is around $60-$100 a year and treatment can cost $1000 to $2000. Preventing the disease is much cheaper and safer for our patients. Another important health factor that can be overlooked due to cost is dental care. Periodontal disease in pets can lead to pain, infections, cardiac disease and other health problems. The clinic is now offering affordable dental care which includes full ultrasonic scaling and polishing.

Check out our Clinic Corner each month for interesting veterinary topics! We may share fun cases, advice for owners or information about common diseases.

Please stop by to see all the new changes and meet our wonderful team!

(Return to Top)

Volunteer Corner

Volunteer Wish List

This month we especially need: • Donations of bottled water for the volunteers at the kennels! • Donations of canned dog food and vienna sausages! We are in really short supply! • Nylabones, Kuranda beds, and Kong toys! • Evening feeders at the Ashland farm and volunteers for cleaning kennels (call Linda Lane at 804-883-7740).

Special Projects

Who would like to get some exercise on the farm and help spruce things up at the same time? We have a few projects planned and money budgeted - now all we need is some volunteer labor on the weekends to knock them out. How about coming out to help rebuild a couple outside pens and make them tall and escape proof? They are in rough shape and now is the time to get it done! We are hoping to rebuild one each month from now until the end of the year. Most work will be done on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. To get your name on the list for this and other farm projects, please contact Bob Adams at robertcadams@verizon.net.

Doggie Stories

We need your DOGGIE story too! Since BARK has so many dogs, it is difficult for volunteers to get to know each of them in the limited time they share at the farm or at an adoption stand. In an effort to better showcase some of the wonderful dogs currently awaiting their forever homes, we are asking volunteers to share their stories of working with spending time with the BARK dogs. Please “vote” for your favorite dog and explain what makes “your” dog deserving of his or her very own forever home. Does he walk well on a leash? Does he know how to sit or shake? Does he love the water? How does he act with volunteers and other dogs? Can she fetch? Is he a good kisser? The “winning” dogs, along with the volunteer descriptions, will be featured in the adoption spotlight portion of upcoming BARK newsletters. These stories will help readers get to know the dogs and hopefully generate adoption interest. Plus, they’re a lot of fun to read! Remember, your personal experiences could make a difference in the life of a very deserving BARK dog. Submit your “votes” to robin@barkva.org.

FARM DOGGIES NEED MORE CARETAKERS and FRIENDS!!!

What better time than now - while we are all considering how we can improve ourselves, our lives and out little part of the world - to make a resolution to help the less fortunate! I have a terrific suggestion. Why not start volunteering at BARK! You will make a difference in the lives of many homeless dogs! BARK dogs are safe under our care, no matter how long it takes to find them a forever home, and they are always welcomed back should the need arise. Once a BARK dog always a BARK dog. Rescue dogs are grateful for everything they receive and will spend the remainder of their lives showing their appreciation.

Did you know that on any given day in the STATE OF VIRGINIA ALONE there are approximately 6,900 dogs in animal pounds? This does not include those dogs at rescue groups like ours. Here are a few more statistics about dogs that will knock your socks off:

Did you know that in Virginia during 2013 -

35,935 dogs were surrendered by their owner

52,164 strays were caught and taken to the pound

23,648 were reclaimed by their owner

45,322 were adopted

1009 died in the pound, all alone

22,049 were euthanized for whatever reason?

So, the more volunteers we have, the more dogs we can rescue. But it takes a lot of work and we need help. Come alone, bring a friend or make it a family endeavor. You will have fun, learn about caring for and working with dogs and just enjoy their great personalities in a pretty rural setting. There are lots of activities that are very helpful: cleaning, walking, feeding, helping with medicines, grooming, even laundry! WE ALSO REALLY NEED DONATIONS AND FOSTER FAMILIES!!! Foster dogs get adopted much more quickly. Many dogs are calmer and better socialized when they can stay in a home instead of the shelter. There are loads of ways to help!

We appreciate all the help we can get and so do the dogs! Thanks for thinking about this and please pass it on to others. You can contact me, Linda Lane at: billlindaphoto@mindspring.com or call me at 804-883-7740 to set-up a time to try volunteering, consider fostering or arrange to drop off donated supplies.

Please come out and help. For those interested in volunteering on Saturdays and/or Sundays, ORIENTATIONS: Arranged on an as needed basis but every Saturday at 11:00 a.m., orientations are conducted by Richard or Claire. Bring your application/waiver and make sure you have completed the required reading. Volunteer Groups The good news is that we have so many new and wonderful groups volunteering. The not so good news is that sometimes too many show up at the same time. So, all groups must be scheduled before they can visit the farm (experienced or not) to walk and/or help take care of the kennels. We are limiting the number of visiting groups on any one day for the safety of all. Please contact Carol Murray at murrsan@verizon.net to arrange a date.

Current Schedule for Kennel and Dog Care Our flexible work schedule has proven a success by allowing volunteers, once they are trained, to clean any time during the day they chose to help. Every New Volunteer will receive an “Informational Package” by e-mail and every volunteer must have an orientation, provide their paper work to a crew lead at the farm (not only on line), and read the required material. Orientations are scheduled on a one by one basis. Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult. If 16 or older, the young person must have written permission to volunteer and be a very responsible young adult. For any questions or to schedule an Orientation contact Linda Lane at billlindaphoto@mindspring.com or (804)883-7740.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Volunteers are there at various times between 8:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. (Fridays from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm) We have morning, late afternoon and evening crews on these days. BUT we do not have volunteers there throughout the day.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: A couple of Volunteers start around noon. Others come after work.

Saturdays and Sundays: Volunteers start coming anywhere from 10:30 a.m. (or earlier).

Remember, the dogs depend on us. We are all they have until a forever home is found for them. Won’t you consider giving them a little part of your week – just a couple of hours or so? The dogs would love you for it and so would we! Hope to hear from you.

New Kennel Guidelines For safety reasons, we need to request the following:

1. No one under the age of 16 may walk on the LONG trail without the presence of a parent and without explicit permission from a crew lead. Any exception to this can only be made through the crew lead.

2. Children under the age of 16 may not be left along at the shelter to walk dogs at any time. A parent must be with them, helping them get in and out of kennels and making sure they know how to handle the dogs. Very experienced volunteers are the exception. Again, this is at the discretion of the crew lead. It is not wise to have youngsters running in and out of kennels or up and down the aisles for obvious reasons. It just gets too chaotic and causes the dogs to become too rambunctious and excitable not to mention noisy. Please make sure you read the attached guidelines for walking if you have not already and read them to your children.

3. Groups that come to help walk dogs need to make sure that there are enough adults to supervise the young people at all times. Please stay with them and help them get the dogs in and out of kennels, leash them properly, follow the walking precautions/rules and stay safe – dog and child.

4. If you groom the dogs, PLEASE put all grooming tools back where they belong. After grooming, clean all the dog hair off the brushes and combs, return them to their storage bins and sweep up all dog hairs.

5. Please clean up after yourself. We are all volunteers and must help one another.

6. No one under the age of 12 may volunteer at the farm/shelter or adoption stands.

Kennel Volunteer Programs: Thanks to a core of volunteers, we are constantly improving the Quality of Life for our dogs. Here are our volunteer needs:

✦ Walking and Exercising Program ✦ Kennel/Shelter Care and Maintenance ✦ Volunteer Follow Up ✦ Special Projects/Facilities ✦ Feeding ✦ Transport ✦ Groups and Community Service ✦ Medical Care ✦ Intake

If interested, please complete a volunteer inquiry form on our website: www.barkva.org. Please note that the majority of our volunteers work full-time jobs in addition to the time they dedicate to BARK. Please allow up to 2 weeks to receive a response to a volunteer application submitted online.

Welcome to newcomers! (Return to Top)

Notes From the Farm

Hi there friends!

I can barely contain my excitement - it’s my favorite time of year! The holidays are wonderful for so many reasons. I get to see more of my volunteer friends because they’re off of work or home from school. Lots of folks want to add a new pet to their family during the holidays so that means a bunch of my friends (and hopefully me too) will find their very own forever home for the holiday! The weather is cooler, so we can enjoy more time outside and not be so hot (I’ll take a little cold over hot any day of the week). We also get a ton of donations from really nice folks who keep us in mind during the holiday season. They send treats, toys, food, and other goodies that we can always use. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

So, if you have some free time and want to come volunteer out at the kennels or adoption stands, please do! Even an hour a week is a huge help. We definitely need more help on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday - but can use help any time!

We also have some exciting news from the kennels. My good pal Peggy Fore has been hired on as a part-time kennel coordinator! Peggy is going to work to help ensure that all of our needs are tended to at the kennels, help us get to and from vet appointments, and serve as a primary point of contact for our crew leads. Welcome Peggy!

Until next time…

Larry

(Return to Top)

Happy Tails…Waggin’ Good News

Thank you for all your help and for making sure Sabrina made it in the van to PetSmart this weekend! We absolutely love her and she seems so happy in her new home. Some of the volunteers said you all like hearing updates about the dogs and seeing photos so I have attached some photos to this email. Unfortunately, I didn't get those volunteers' email addresses or contact information so I was hoping you could forward this along to them and/or send me their info and I can email them as well. We gave her a bath when she came home Saturday and her fur looks great. She also loves her new dog bed, snuggling on the couch, and walking around the city with us. We have also ordered her a special Christmas collar that should come in the mail this week. Thank you again for all your help and for taking care of her so she could now join our family!

All the best, Chantal and Harrison

Sabrina

Benny (formerly Nash) has been amazing, and I wouldn't trade him for the world! We have had a blast since I adopted him back in July. He plays with my next door neighbor's black lab every single night so he gets a ton of exercise and is very happy. Best, Taylor

I am sorry it took so long to sit down and type out an email to you guys, we have been pretty busy the last few weeks. Kaiden is doing well, he is a little anxious around a baby full time but we are working on making him more comfortable. He has been to two training sessions with Tim at Happy paws and Tim said Kaiden is doing well, were working on the training he has to help Kaiden around other dogs. After the first of the year he will go to reactive dog class and test his skills in class. All and all I think he is happy to be back home.

Thanks again to BARK for everything. It helps knowing that people still care about him and that we have somewhere to turn if ever needed. I really appreciate it. Sincerely, The Johnstons and Kaide Bear (no photo included)

Benny

Nemo is doing great! He has enjoyed being able to run around the backyard since getting his staples removed. He seems to be eating regularly now too with is a big weight off my shoulders haha.

We had Thanksgiving at my parents' house and he was a big hit! The rest of the family has completely fallen for him (especially my dad who calls him "a big ol' puppy dog"). Attached are some more pix - him relaxing on the sofa, playing in the leaves, having an intense discussion w my aunt (lol), and the two of us posing with the apple pie he stepped on in the car (luckily still edible hahah)! Cotter

Nemo

I've been meaning to make a video of there antics in the backyard, but have not. Red is much stronger than we he first arrived. He and Foxy chase each other, play pretty rough to the point we sometimes put an end to it. Foxy is still a finicky eater, he are trying to get some weight on her at 55 lbs. Red's weight is stable at 90 lbs. Red follows us around, he's in the office right now with me, but Foxy is aloof, either going to the guest bedroom and staying on the bed, or to her dog bed. They are working out fine, and we are very glad to have brought them into our home. Thank you for the follow-up. Stephan

Hank is absolutely wonderful. He is very good with her other dog who is much older. She feels Hank has given her older dog back her youthfulness. Hank is very playful with everyone (human and animals) and is simply a joy. Angeline (no photo included)

Foxy & Red

Amber is now Emma and doing wonderful in her new home. Her owner describes her as a sweet, precious and wonderful dog. She also says she has put on a little weight since being adopted and is very healthy, active and happy!

Tolsen (who is now Waylon) :) is doing great!! He is such a good dog and has settled in to his new home wonderfully! He gets a long walk every day and loves to lay and run around his big yard. He has a clean bill of health from the vet and loves to be with his people. Thank you! Heather

Emma

Waylon

He's doing great! We LOVE our new boy! His new name is Rex (previously Seth) and he is so smart and loves learning new tricks. He knows sit, stay, down, roll over, paw, bang (dead dog) and will hold a treat on top of nose, pop it in the air and catch it! He is happiest snuggling on his humans, going on long walks and playing in the yard. It's been just over 2 months now and we've all fallen in love with our sweet mush. He's settled into our routine without a hitch really. He's only had one accident in the house and has met lots of new people (both big and little). His oldest sister is 15 with a social schedule to match and his older brother is 9 and constantly on the move. Rex takes it all in stride. Becky

Rex

Lola and Monroe are amazing. They have adjusted to our family nicely. They are so spoiled and now sleep in our bed. My kids enjoy them very much and feel very safe and secure with them. Thank you so much for giving us a chance to be their forever home Emma

We are loving Duke (formerly Ziggy)! Please thank everyone at BARK for us! I will send you a couple more pics now and a couple more later. Thanks again for helping us find him! Maurice

Lola & Monroe

Duke

We are in love with Sadie. She is so good with the kids. She adjusted to crate training very well and now sleeps through the night and is on a schedule.

We are working on her puppy manners when it comes to play nipping and jumping on people. She love s to go on walks. Thank you for letting us adopt her. She has a great personality for our family. Lara

Wayland (we call him Catfish) is awesome! We couldn't have found a more perfect fit for our family. He is so loving and polite and everyone is absolutely in love with him. The whole neighborhood adores him. We are so thankful to the volunteers who worked so hard to find us the perfect match. We look forward to our many adventures with him. Thank you for bringing him into our lives, Jessie

Sadie

Catfish

We decided to change Tommy’s name to Gilman. (Our older son plays lacrosse and "a gilman" is the name of a long clear by the defense, in lacrosse.) Gilman quickly found his way into our family, into our hearts, and onto our beds! We felt so fortunate to have met him by chance at the adoption event on Halloween and were the lucky family who got to take him home that day! Gil loves our boys...his favorite part of the day is when our fifth grader gets home from school and plays ball with him in the back yard! His second favorite is any meal time when he gets to lay next to our two year old's chair...any food that falls to the floor doesn't stay there very long, Gil is an excellent vacuum cleaner. Gilman is such a sweet and easy dog. And we love him so much. Our experience with BARK was fantastic. In fact, we hope to be adding another BARK dog to our family in the very near future! (Jenny, Pam's foster!!)

Gilman

Baxter (a.k.a. Monty) is doing great! He has adjusted beautifully and he and his brother Enzo are great pals. He has finally started to eat his food more slowly and seems to be less food insecure. He has such a sweet temperament and is very smart. He's learn some basic commands as well as how to walk on the leash. He was housebroken from day one (thank you!) but does at times urinate a little bit when he gets overly excited, particularly when meeting new people. I'm guessing he'll grow out of that eventually. We took our first read trip to Yorktown for the holidays and he did great in the car! He is still a snuggle bunny and I love him to pieces. And yes, he is spoiled. Here are some pics, feel free to share!

Charlie Brown is perfect! I'm ill right now so can't write much. We love him! Dean (no photo included)

Baxter

Speckles is wonderful! He is calm and very sweet, and is a perfect fit for our family. He was a little scared at first, but quickly got comfortable and has made himself at home. He has a great time playing with toys and running around the back yard with our dog Harry, adopted from BARK last December. He also gets along well with our cat Chester. He loves getting his belly rubbed and he smiles all the time. He is getting lots of love and attention and he gives it in return. Cara

Bobbie is still doing very well, and is a great addition to the family. Here’s a picture of her and our oldest son, Owen, doing what they do a lot of. Steven

Bobbie

Speckles

I'm so happy to say that the adoption has been going wonderfully. We actually changed Sandy’s name (she is now Dolly). On her first night with me, she curled up in my bed and slept next to me with her head on the pillow, and we've been best friends ever since. She is so sweet, cheerful, gets along great with my housemates and with other dogs, was really quick to train and housebreak, and has been really enjoying taking me on long walks on the nature trail behind our house. Seems to be adjusting really well to her new life! Many thanks to you and others at BARK for facilitating the adoption, and running such a caring and important organization! Sarah

Noah is amazing. We found that he responds really really well to "Dyson," so we have been calling him that. He is the kindest, sweetest dog! He has come so far from that first day that we brought him home. He was so anxious and excited and nervous - we got him into training almost immediately and he is doing really well! He sits and stays for his food and we've even managed to get him to sit and stay before we get him into a car. We take him to Richmond Dog Lover's Obedience school and among all of the puppies in the class, Dyson is often the top performer and best student! I remember that one of the volunteers told us "he is eager to please" and while we didn't see it at first, we have since seen how sweet and attentive our sweet boy is.

Dolly

Dyson LOVES going for car rides so we try to take him as often as we can. We also dressed him up for Halloween and sat at the end of our driveway with him to greet all of the children in our neighborhood. It was a great opportunity to teach him how to say "hi" to new people. He did GREAT and the kids loved him!!! My husband and I are excited to keep working with Dyson. Every day we see a new side of him. He loves lying on our couch in the sun; he loves the head pats, the belly rubs, the ear scratches, the play time and the car rides. And we have found that he loves to cuddle. He is a little awkward with doing it, but is getting better! He is a very special pup. We will always be thankful to BARK for helping match us up to Dyson/Noah. The volunteers were amazing and we could tell they really cared about Noah/Dyson and making sure he was a good match. Now that we've had him for a little while, I can tell you that he could not be a better fit for our family!

Thanks again, Kelly and Matt (and Petey)

Dyson

First of all, we named him Buddy as soon as we picked him up. Hicks just wasn't working for us. He has adjusted well to his new home and lives like a King. He has his own room/bed and a nice back yard to play in whenever he wants. Buddy goes on two walks a day and is currently enrolled in training classes at the Pet Dude Ranch. He is very smart and loving. Buddy is going to be a welcome part of this family for many years to come. Thank you for helping us find him. I have included some pictures. Thanks for checking on us. Jeff

I’ve been thinking about BARK and especially Cyndie and Kelley (who I have emailed) who were so helpful in our adoption of LuLu. She is now quite used to her new name Annabelle E - play on words from the Edgar Allen Poe poem of that name--but not spelling. We call her Annie and she does come sometimes.

She is not just a shy dog but quite fearful of many things. I got the book "How to Help your Fearful Dog" from my vet tech who rescues animals. It has some very good ideas about helping her overcome her fears. We find her to be a brave little pup and it breaks my heart sometimes to see her afraid. She has found a place firmly in our hearts though, and here she will remain. We adore her. She sleeps on our bed and cuddles on the sofa. Our friend who is a house vet, says if she does that all will be well. She now wags her tail and runs to see who is at the door, but then scampers away. Baby steps but delightful to see.

Buddy

This picture of us was taken shortly after her arrival. We are having to learn how to photograph black dogs, even black dogs with white paw bottoms :).

She will travel with us by car in two weeks to a lovely quiet beach on Jekyll Island, GA and spend a week. We are glad that she likes car rides and eagerly jumps in.

All good thoughts go out to you and the BARK volunteers for this holiday season. Sharon

When my wife, Carrie, and I decided that we wanted to start looking for a dog to adopt, I had only one breed in mind. While in the Army, I was a Military Working Dog Handler and trained/handled Belgian Malinois dogs. I was speechless when I found "Baron" at B.A.R.K. through Petfinder.com. I immediately sent the profile picture to Carrie, who fell in love with him at first sight. We submitted our application and awaited anxiously for a response from B.A.R.K. After driving back roads through northern and central Virginia for nearly 3 hours, we finally found the B.A.R.K. farm. Carrie and I couldn't believe it when we saw Baron wagging his tail and pulling Claire down the path to meet us. He seemed so happy to meet us and we were all too happy to finally meet him. The first few days at home proved to us that he had been housebroken, knew some basic obedience (SIT, STAY) and was an exceptionally quick learner. Baron has exceeded our expectations and has been a tremendous ambassador for his Belgian Malinois breed. He loves to play tug, enjoys his Kong, has played frisbee, gone on hikes, played "hide-n-seek" with Carrie and me taking turns hiding, and LOVES to eat. We're keeping him well-nourished, absent table scraps, with training treats and daily exercise. He walks and goes on wooded park hikes every day for a minimum of 30-45 min. and plays with members of our family in the evenings. He's been set up with a Veterinarian and has had good exams, to-date.

Annie

We truly can't say enough about Baron. He is protective when he needs to be, especially when a stranger comes to the door. Playful and gentle around even the smallest of children, and a much-loved member of our family. We feel like he loves his "forever home." It is our hope that we can pursue additional training for Baron to become certified as a Therapy Dog (as he has been very therapeutic for me as I am disabled and unemployed) to visit Wounded Warriors, Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Children, and others; and/or, as a tracking or search & rescue dog given his strong scent drive. He loves to smell everything everywhere we go and seems like that ability could be used to benefit others. We have received so many wonderful comments and compliments from complete strangers who meet him at parks, pet stores, and whenever we have him out. They love his personality and appearance. Thank you, to all those at B.A.R.K. who made his adoption possible! Sincerely, Vince & Carrie

Baron

Dakota’s new mom Heather reports that he is doing great! He is so sweet, she loves him. He is a very loving dog and great with her kids!

Cassie (our modification of the name Cassidy) is doing well. The diarrhea is mostly gone (still sporadic), heat is over, and socialization is good. She no longer needs to have her back at a wall, and now descends into the basement without a care. She likes to play with other dogs without any problems, and seems to like all people she meets. She has begun to chase and retrieve a flying disk, but not a ball, and compliance is not yet perfect. She is clearly a one master dog, and has bonded with my husband, who is home most days and feeds her. I'm a bit jealous, but she still gives me lots of attention too. She wants to sleep at night on our bed with her head on our pillows, and our method of discipline (water spray bottle) is only partially effective, No other problems of much consequence. She still eats in a frenzy, with the large Kong working well to slow down the second half of her ration. We don't know if this will eventually change as she becomes more secure. I've attached one picture, we'll use it on our holiday letter. Marty

Dakota

Cassie

Sasha is doing great and is adjusting well. She seems to have trained us very quickly! She has taught us that "sit" and "stay" have a very short duration. She has also taught us that she will always be there right by our sides to "help" us with any project, although her lack of opposable thumbs does mean that she can only offer us encouragement as we tie our shoelaces! She is very loving and cuddly and is trying very hard to convince us that she is a lapdog. She gives lots of kisses and loves to go on long walks. (no photo included)

Just a note to let you know that Pumpkin, now Lucy, is doing well. She had a great week, and seems to be settling in well. She does ok in our room during the day when we're gone, although we will probably work on crate training when we're off over the holidays as she is scratching up the door some and she chewed one of Cole's toys in the room. We got her some nylabones which we give when we leave and that seems to help.

She still is very nervous around new people, but we are taking it slow. We have guests coming in this week and next, and will just keep her close by until she adjusts. Cat intro is still going slow- the cat mainly stays upstairs, away from the dog, but we are visiting the cat and she doesn't seem unhappy.

Sasha

Oh- we gave Lucy a bath yesterday in our bathtub and she did great! So great to get her smelling more neutral. We used a shampoo her vet had a sample of, which worked well. Vet visit was great also, she's in good health, no concerns.

Thanks for all your support, good luck finding homes for more BARK dogs this season! Sharon, Jason and Cole (no photo included)

Maya is doing well! She has settled in and is showing more of her personality every day. She is still shy with strangers, but I'm working with a dog trainer on behavioral therapy for her fear of people. Maya loves her doggie roommates, Ruby and Joey, and playing with my friend's dog Willie. We've been hiking and running on the local trails in Charlottesville and she really seems to enjoy it. She's a sweet dog and I'm very happy that I adopted her. Pictures are attached. It was hard to choose just a few... Thanks for following up. Olivia

Maya

Frances is doing great. She settled in after a couple of days and has been happy since then. We live near the Church Hill dog park, so we go down there regularly where she tries to be friends with everyone. We are starting up training classes this week through 2SpeakDog. Daniel

Maya is doing really well. She's walking much better on the leash with the use of the harness and she's not jumping as much! She loves to play with our parent's dogs when we go to visit and is just overall very playful & full of energy. The photo of her walking is when I took her to Belle Isle. She loves to jump in the water! Best, Kelsey

Frances

Maya

Hank (formerly Petey) really is a sweet boy. He loves love, he enjoys nibbling on everyone (especially me), he is very gentle and sweet. He is excitable and playful, but he sleeps all night long. He gets along well with other dogs and loves to play.

Things are going great. Theo is an amazing companion to our entire family. He goes to work with mom or dad at least 2x a week but is such a good boy if he stays home alone. He loves the toys daddy brings home and loves to play fetch. We put up Christmas decorations decorations this past weekend and he's not a fan of the 8 ft inflatable snowman. It was too funny to watch him being territorial with frosty. Now on our evening walks he always makes sure to let Frosty know who's in charge.

Hank

Theo

Bandit is doing great! He is an amazing little guy who is loving and so gentle with the kids. He has been such a joy to have by our side. He's been to football games, on walks to the duck pond (he acted like he had never seen a duck!!) and he goes everywhere with us. He has made lots of friends in the neighborhood that we see on our daily walks and in the backyard! Bandit is the best:) he is just perfect! We love him!!! Thank you for helping us find him- what a gift:) Amy

This is Johnny with his new sister Belle. They are very much in love and play all the time. Johnny is a perfect little addition to our family and he's doing great here.

He is completely crate trained and house broken now, and he is learning what things are appropriate to chew on. He loves his big backyard and has been running around like crazy since he got here. His favorite thing though is going on walks with me and Belle. He's just so fun and cute. Thanks for checking in, Candice

Bandit

Johnny

Dominic is doing great. It was a little bit of an adjustment in the beginning but all of us have settled into an everyday routine.

He is a very sweet boy with a very funny personality. We just started a training class with him to work on a few things & so he can learn some basic dog manners :) He is a wonderful addition to our family & we are happy that we adopted him. Ashley

Mary Kate is now Lola, and is doing great. As you can hopefully tell by the pictures she is a big snuggle bunny. The other dog is also a BARK dog. She was Snowflake, but is now Luna. They are both complete loves. Thank you and all of the BARK volunteers for saving these beautiful dogs! Kathryn

Dominic

Lola

I have renamed Chelsea Gingersnap. We call her Ginger. She is doing very well. She loves to cuddle and learn new things every day. Marion

I am attaching a recent Christmas photo of our adopted dog, Fergie (aka Farrah) whom we adopted from BARK 2 years ago. She had her photo professionally taken this year at Fido Park Avenue Dog Boutique, and the photographer gave me permission to share it on social media. We recently moved to a bigger home, which Fergie loves as there is much more room to run around in when she gets back home from her daily walks and is excited and wants to run around. She goes with us practically everywhere we go (anywhere she's allowed), and is always a big hit in all of the stores (some of the stores now even know her by name). I tell everyone her story, where we adopted her from, and always recommend BARK to anyone contemplating or looking to adopt a dog. My husband and I feel so very blessed to have adopted her. Mary & Wally

If you have adopted a dog from BARK and have a Happy Tail or other contribution for the monthly newsletter, please forward it to robin@barkva.org.

Ginger

Fergie

(Return to Top)

!

Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9s is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductable. BARK is operated entirely by volunteers, so 100% of your

donation will go to the dogs. Your donation will help fund spay/neuter operations, medical treatments, and daily care and feeding costs for the dogs at the Ashland farm and in BARK foster homes. You can mail your donation directly to the address below or make a secure donation online at www.barkva.org. Remember, every penny makes a difference in the life of a BARK dog!

Please accept my donation in the amount of:

! $25 ! $50 ! $75

! $100 ! $125 ! Other _________

Gift given in honor of _____________________________________________ Gift given in memory of ___________________________________________ Name __________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________

Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9s Anytime is a good time to

donate to BARK!

12300 Farrington Rd. Ashland, VA 23005 info@barkva.org

804-449-BARK (2275)

Other Ways to Support In addition to direct donations, there are numerous options that allow you to help support BARK and its mission. You can donate needed pet care items, purchase BARK merchandise or use a search engine that donates to BARK. Using these websites is super easy and a portion of your purchase will go directly to BARK. Please consider using these sites when shopping for your friends and loved ones this holiday season… .

" In addition to monetary donations, is always in need of various pet care and administrative items. To view a complete inventory of “wish list” items, please visit http://www.barkva.org/donate-to-bark/.

" merchandise, such as apparel for you and your pet, housewares, and bumper stickers are now available onlineat www.cafepress.com. Check it out!

" How can you make searching and shopping for that perfect gift even more perfect? Use iGive, where with ever transaction a portion goes to benefit BARK. Raise a penny (or more) per search and generate donations from any of the 730+ stores listed with iGive, ranging up to 26%. Also, check out the new searchable coupons and deals, where you will find all available, up to the minute offers and specials. Just visit www.igive.com.

" If you shop online using Amazon, you can also raise money for BARK, simply by shopping! Use Amazon Smile (smile.amazon.com), simply select “Bandit's Adoption and Rescue of K-9s” as your charity of choice, and shop away!

" GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up! You can even set GoodSearch as your default search engine.

GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, eBay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause. So, by making your regular purchases through this site, you’re helping take care of the dogs while they’re waiting for their forever home!

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter BARK as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word! It’s a super easy way to help support the organization.

(Return to Top)