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In 2011, we adopted a scruffy, happy dog named Tenchi from A Forever Home.  He was 5 years old at the time and had apparently had a disagreement with his family’s toddler.  We’re so glad his former family allowed him to be re-homed.  We had no toddlers – just 4 kids who loved this dog.  We had no desire to have a puppy.  Tenchi was smart, well trained and a perfect match for our family.  He loved treats and walks and chasing bunnies and retrieving dirty socks.  Several years ago, while watching the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, we spotted a dog that looked just like him.  We decided that he must be mostly Portuguese Podengo.

Unfortunately, his big heart gave out. He still wanted to be 5 years old but at 13, congestive heart failure was causing him too much distress.  We helped him cross the bridge to the land of endless bunnies and dirty socks.  It was the hardest thing we’ve ever had to do.

Thank you A Forever Home for giving us this wonderful dog.  He was loved and will be missed.

The Meyer Family

Hello, first of all I would like to say thank you to A Forever Home for allowing me to foster then adopt my sweet girl Charlotte. She was one of many dogs rescued 10 years ago from a puppy mill in Missouri. She had lived her first five years in deplorable conditions without love and kindness until a kind women rescued about 100 dogs and A Forever Home agreed to bring them to Virginia for a chance to live a normal life. She was my first rescue/foster dog and I can honestly say she was the most broken soul I had ever seen. The first three days she would only let me hold her and cringed at any movement. She was underweight with horrible teeth and skin. I ended up adopting her and can honestly say it as the best decision I ever made. Over the 10 years since then, she lived a wonderful life filled with love and kindness. Although she had baggage that stayed with her she learned to be loved and give love in return. Everyone that met her over the years were so impressed with her ability to look at the bright side of things. She taught patience and understanding to my family but most importantly she brought so much joy to our lives. The last several years were hard for her. She had a horrible heart, IBD, Chiari Malformation, and at the end liver cancer and seizures. Through all that she fought each battle with courage and determination and all her doctors were amazed that a tiny 11 pound girl had so much strength and made it through so many hurdles. At the end I had promised her and myself that she would never suffer as she did in her first five years and made the heartbreaking decision to let her go with arms wrapped around her and love in my heart. I miss her more than words can express but I am so glad I was chosen to be her mom for 10 years.

Judi M

We are sad to report that we received a very sad message from one of our adopters. Their dog Nala, one of Angel’s 12 puppies, passed away, leaving only one surviving sibling, Tinkerbell.

Angel was a Husky who lived her whole life on a chain until she broke loose and ended up at a shelter, very ill, thin, and pregnant. At AFH, we nursed her back to health before she gave birth to 12 beautiful puppies. Sadly, they soon began to pass away. We eventually learned that they had contracted Parvo II in utero which damaged their hearts. The few that survived past 8 weeks of age were expected to pass away before they ever got to a year of age. Despite this horrible prognosis, a number kind, brave families chose to adopt them anyway.

Nala’s family was one of those who decided to take their pup home despite the likely outcome. They did all they could for her–she regularly saw a cardiologist and had been taking heart medicine. Sweet Nala passed away at only 2 1/2 years old. Even though she beat the odds, her story is so heartbreaking. We are so grateful to Nala’s family and the others who chose to love their pups anyway, knowing sadness would just be around the corner.