We are showcasing here just a few of the many dogs that the SPCA of Northern Virginia has adopted out over the years.

If you have adopted an animal from us and would like to have your pet included, we would love to hear from you. Please email the webmaster at Webmaster@SPCANoVA.org with a photo of the pet (.jpg or .gif), it's name (plus name it had before you got it - if appropriate), when you adopted your pet and a description of how it's doing now.

You can also mail your pictures to:
SPCA of Northern Virginia
Attn: Mary Portelly
P.O. Box 100220
Arlington, VA 22210

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Joey/Joepa
Makini Aziza adopted Joepa (formally Joey) in March 2011. She sent us this update: He has been an absolute joy! He is everything you could want in a small or big dog. He'll trot along for a 3 mile run on the mall, stopping only to let people pet him. He'll curl up with you for a Lifetime movie and bury his head in his Snuggie when he has had enough. He'll nudge your hand to encourage you to continue exercising a.k.a. you fetching his toys, and my favorite if you sleep in too long he'll only go potty on the bathroom rug! Although he is not a fan of the dog clothes he loves his winter coat and sock monkey hat!

Scout
We received this update from Barb Goffman who first met Scout in the fall of 2006:
By the time I adopted Scout, he had moved around quite a bit. He was found abandoned as a puppy and then taken in by the SPCA. He lived with Lisa Reid for a while until he was adopted. Then after five years, that family returned him to the SPCA (something about rambunctious children and a water gun). Anyway, I think it all was fate because the moment I saw Scout's picture on the SPCA website, I was in love. The last five years have seen some downs (Scout had cancer twice, a splenectomy, and a torn ACL), but also many highs (he beat cancer twice, didn't need his spleen - and the tumor on it was benign - and he can still run like the wind, even though his back legs look a little funny). He's the love of my life and even puts up with wearing Halloween costumes, a hat on Christmas, and a crown on his birthday. He deserves the crown, because despite all he's been through, he's the sweetest dog you could meet. Thank you to the SPCA for saving him and giving me the chance to love him. He says woof!

Marley
Jenna Sloan and her husband adopted Marley (a Redbone Coonhound) in October 2009. Jenna says it was the best decision they made and gave us this update:
He's doing great! We just had a baby and he's been a very good dog and has followed our training. Thanks again for the work you do. You brought marley into our lives and we can never thank you enough!

Click here for Marley's bio from before he was adopted.

UPDATE Christmas 2011 - Jenna sent this photo of Marley trying to get into the Christmas spirit:

Phoebe
Nicole Stewart and her family adopted Phoebe in the May of 2011. Just before Halloween, she posted these photos on our FaceBook page wishing us "Happy Halloween from Phoebe!". She also gave us this update:
Phoebe is doing great. We moved to Raleigh, NC, and she has a big fenced-yard to explore, and she is loving every minute of it. She is always full of energy, and she makes us laugh every day!

Click here for Phoebe's bio from before she was adopted.

Bach
Mary Demasi and her family took home Bach in the summer of 2011. They were so delighted with their new family member that Mary sent us this photo of "their little man" ...

Click here for Bach's bio from before he was adopted.

Daisy
Back in October 2010, Ashley Thomas was looking for a dog to adopt so she went (with her mom, Maryanne) to Fairfax County Animal Shelter. While there, they saw Daisy ... a sweet beagle who was not available for adoption at that time. They patiently watched the Animal Shelter's website but never saw Daisy show up. One day, while Ashley was surfing around other websites, she spotted Daisy on the SPCA of Northern Virginia's website! We often take dogs from the shelter if they are having a hard time getting them placed there. Ashley and her mom came to the next adoption day at Weber's and "sealed the deal"! Daisy went home with Ashley in March 2011 and Ashley is delighted with her and (of course) Daisy now wears a beautiful new collar with daisies on it!
This photo was taken when Asley and her mom bought Daisy to the 2011 Dog Wash - we love seeing alumni there!

Click here for Daisy's bio from before she was adopted.

Bear
Bear was taken home by Greg & Katie Chesterton ... here they are picking him up. Just before they finalized the adoption they sent us this note and photo of Bear: Katie, Bear and I are looking forward to seeing you this weekend at Webers! Bear has been adjusting well to his new home. We're very happy to have him!

Click here for Bear's bio from before he was adopted.

Tinker
Tinker was taken home by Dan Heath and his family in February 2011. She made herself feel right at home and Dan sent us the photo on the left the very same night. They went on to finalise the adoption very soon after!

Click here for Tinker's bio from before she was adopted.

My Destiny...Emerson
From our Winter 2010 Newletter. Author: Joan Hughes
It was around Thanksgiving and I started thinking of all I have to be thankful for this year. You see, I had been a stray for I don’t remember how long and I resembled a dirty mop when somebody picked me up and took me to an animal hospital.
Mary Portelly, an SPCA NoVA volunteer, was working there and liked me, but didn’t expect to see me again. I was examined and given shots and two days later was sent to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. Surely my owners would look for me there.
A whole week went by and nobody came for me. I felt so sad and abandoned. How long could they keep me there until…well, you know what can happen. Then who should show up again but Mary. She had come to pick up three dogs that would go to the SPCA NoVA for adoption. She visited with me for a while and when she found that I had no name she suggested “Emerson.” The shelter staff said “why not?” But Mary left without me.
However, after a shelter temperament test determined that I was a very adoptable young fellow, I went to a family with young children. Big mistake. The kids and I had some disagreements and I was returned to the shelter. That’s when the shelter staff asked SPCA NoVA to take me and see if they could find me a forever home.
Enter Katie. She came to our adoption day in July and we fell in love. I understand a lot of people wanted me, but destiny brought Katie. I have a wonderful life, playing with my toys, sleeping in her room, and going for walks. Her roommates love me, too. Katie says everybody loves me because I’m such a great little dog and so smart and I get along with people and dogs. I have dog cousins and when we visit them I like to walk under my Great Dane cousin, pretending she’s a bridge and weaving through her legs as though through an obstacle course.
Katie’s mom loves me and keeps me when Katie has to be away. She and I were walking one day when we came upon a gaggle of geese in an open area. Those birds are a nuisance--so noisy, and so messy! She unleashed me and I made like a border collie, racing after them until they took flight. Two of them landed in a small pool of water and I splashed right in after them. They took off, too, and you know what? No geese have ever gone back there. Take that, border collies!
There are so many dogs who will never have a good home. Those of us who do are grateful and so are those who take us in. Just ask Katie.

Click here for Emerson's bio from before he was adopted.

Ellie
Nick and Renee adopted Ellie in October of 2010. She has since become the household's resident princess and they wouldn't have it any other way. As you can see from the pictures, Ellie has been quite busy taking frequent hiking trips (pictured right: Skyline Drive), exploring her de facto alma mater (Go Hoyas!) and ruling over the couch. When she's not running around the apartment with one of her many toys, Ellie spends her time sitting in her favorite spot (by the window, in the sun) or being her gluttonous self (she has occasionally benefitted from her uncanny ability to jump from the floor to the top of the dining room table). In short, Nick and Renee couldn't be happier with adorable Ellie and would like to give a gigantic "thank you" to the SPCA for taking her in, caring for her and allowing us to give her a home.

Click here for Ellie's bio from before she was adopted.

Angel/Lulu and Bandit/Bill
This mother and son pair started off being fostered by Patty and Dave Szurek and pretty soon Patty did some "matchmaking" .... a friend of hers named Missy fell in love with Angel and Patty & Dave realised that Bandit fitted perfectly in their pack and they didn't want to be without him ... so both pups got new homes and new names (Lulu and Bill respectively) in July 2010. The two dogs still get to see each other when Angel comes to stay with Patty & Dave when Missy goes away.

Click here for Angel's bio from before she was adopted and here for Bandit's.

Ally
Sara & her husband adopted Ally in November 2010 and she became a loving sister to their dog Mollie. Sara works at Dogtopia and takes Ally & Mollie to work with her! Apparently, Ally is one of the most popular wrestlers in the room!


Update March 2011 - Sara sent this update:
just to let you know Ally's doing great! She loves coming to work at Dogtopia with me to wrestle with her buddies, and comes home totally worn out and naps. She is getting better on the leash and is working on her obedience training, and she is always cuddling and wrestling with her 10 year old boxer sister, Molly. We're so happy to have her.

Click here for Ally's bio from before she was adopted.

Grimm/Quigly & Sir/Bruno & Houdini/Rugby
James & Claudia Crawford adopted Grimm (adorable Silky Terrier) in September 2010 and renamed him Quigly! They soon decided that he needed a companion so adopted another dog from the Humane Society of Fairfax County. They brought them both to an adoption day so we volunteers could meet the new family!

Update June 2011 - They time their shopping trips to Weber's with our dog adoption days and one day, they met "Sir" - a young yorkie that had just come into our system. They decided that he would make a perfect addition to their family and Sir (now named Bruno) quickly agreed!

Update September 2011 The 3 dogs get on great and make a very handsome trio!

Click here for Grimm's bio from before he was adopted.

Update November 2011 Our Dog Chairperson (Barbara) ran across a Silky Terrier at Fairfax County Animal Shelter needing a new home and straightaway, thought of the Crawfords! Her instincts were spot on and the Crawfords fell in love with "Houdini" (left) as soon as they met. He didn't even make it to our website! He is now a very happy member of the Crawford pack and has a new name ... Rugby.

Dixie/Coco
Merete Monahan adopted Dixie (Chihuahua-mix) in April 2010, renamed her Coco and helped her write this update:
I have been meaning to write to you and let you know I love my new home. I love my parents as well. When they come home I kiss them and roll over for a belly rub and I can't wait to be held! They did fence in their yard for me, but I like to stay inside much better. I have lots and lots of toys that I like to play with. My parents take me on fun walks through the neighborhood and the park. I get along well with my Mom's Mothers dogs. Well, I tolerate them. I have nipped at a few people, but I am getting better about that, especially when I get to know visitors. I spent most of my summer at my beach house, which is fenced in. I am pretty good about having a bath, but I don't like going in the pool. I absolutely love going on walks on the beach with Mom and Dad, I like to chase the seagulls, although I haven't caught one yet! Every night I get some treats! I have several doggie beds but I prefer to sleep between Mom and Dad. This is much better than hanging out in a motel parking lot! So thanks to the SPCA for my new home and kisses from Coco! PS. I have gained a few pounds, you no longer see my spine, good eating at the beach.

Click here for Dixie's bio from before she was adopted.

Sophie
Anna Neubert and Camron Porterfield adopted Sophie (a sweet little Spitz-mix) in September 2009 and gave us this update:
I just wanted to drop everyone at the SPCA a message of how thankful my husband and I are for our adorable pet! She is a huge delight and the most loving dog I have ever met!
We've just moved into a townhouse in Chantilly and are finally able to provide Sophie with a backyard (albeit small!) to run around and chase birds! We are just so happy :) The pictures are on a car adventure and at Eleanor Lawrence Park.

Click here for Sophie's bio from before she was adopted.

Benson/Voltaire and Lady/Colette
Alex and Rachael adopted Benson in July 2010 and renamed him Voltaire. They sent us this writeup and photo before his adoption was finaliazed! We (SPCA volunteers) were quite concerned about Benson since he's a fearful dog who hadn't been socialised much so were VERY happy that this was such a good match:
We just wanted to tell you that Voltaire / Benson is doing amazingly great. We are very happy and pleased with him... and we think it's the same for him. We can't imagine our life without him. He's such a joy. He's found safe spots all around the flat but always close to us. He loves his walks and he loves being petted. He even tried to sleep in our bed with us last night, but then was content to sleep in his bed in the living room (or the couch when we are not looking which is ok, as we put a nice blanket covering it so we can cuddle with him there). He eats well, and he loves his walks, although he is very afraid of the harness so we went and bought a firmer collar, and now we walk him with it and he is fine. He is amazingly well house broken, we are soooooooooooo pleased by that. He is very social, but you need to give him space. He still has panic issues, e.g. we had to carry him at the pet shop because he was scared of noises, but beyond that, he is very independent and happy once he overcomes the fear. He does well with people, he does not back up when people try to pet him as long as we are with him, reassuring him. We bought a squeaky toy in the shape of a bone and he's in love with it and when we want him to come from one place to another, he responds very well.
The photo on the right was taken on the day that Benson's adoption was finalised.

Update August 2010 A few days after Voltaire's adoption was finalized, he got spooked while out walking and got loose from his owners. He was on the lam for 17 days before some very resourceful SPCA volunteers managaged to capture him. Alex and Rachael worked tirelessly on the search and were overjoyed to get him back.

Update October 2010 Alex times his visits to Weber's to get Voltaire's food with days that we are going to be there for Adoption Days ... this photo was taken on one of those visits. Voltaire was very happy to see people and the volunteers were overjoyed to see him!






Update May 2011 On one of his frequent visits to Weber's, Alex met Lady (a min pin who entered our system at the same time as Benson). Alex & Rachel decided that Voltaire may like having company and they were quite right! He loves having a canine companion and Alex and Rachel are delighted with their new family member! Here is Alex with the two pups:

Click here for Benson's bio from before he was adopted and here for Lady's.

Justin - Who Rescued Whom? By Edith von Stuemer - featured in our Summer 2010 newsletter.
One of the most serious cases of abuse we have investigated lately is that of Justin, an American Bulldog, who endured months of daily beatings by his sadistic owner. When he hid under a table, shaking in fear, he was punched in the ribs or squirted in the face with ammonia. A witness finally came forward and contacted us.
Upon confronting the owner we were told he had given the dog to his son because of problems in his apartment building. We found this to be untrue. After doing more research we came upon some disturbing information and were able to gain custody of the two-year-old dog. He was originally adopted from a rescue group in our area, whose director was convicted of cruelty to animals and received a jail sentence.
We immediately took Justin to one of our veterinarians, who determined he had a fractured bone on the top of his head, gashes on the side of his face, lesions on his back and welts all over his body from beatings.
In spite of all this, he responded amazingly well to gentle hands and kind voices. Soon we were able to take him to our adoption days, waiting to find the perfect home. Then, one day, Bob came along looking for the perfect dog. It was a match! Bob is slightly disabled due to an accident. He cannot drive, but walks well and was looking for a dog to accompany him as a service dog.
Justin took to him right away and eagerly responded to his new training. He now wears a “Service Dog” coat when working and goes everywhere with Bob — grocery stores, shopping malls, the bus, and fancy restaurants. If you should ever see the two, stop and say hello, but Justin may not be petted while wearing his official coat.
If Bob takes a fall, Justin knows to stand beside him and tighten his back muscles so that Bob can use him to pull himself up and get back on his feet.
Justin adores his new kind guardian, and Bob is so happy to have found his perfect dog. We wish them many happy, healthy years together.
Click here for Justin's bio from before he was adopted.

Maggie/Astrid
Chelle Folts Winslow and her family adopted Maggie in April 2010. She posted a photo of her to our Facebook page with this comment:
Astrid (a.k.a. Maggie) is doing great. It's like she's always lived here!

Click here for Maggie's bio from before she was adopted.

Jackson/Glasgow
Naomi Friedman and her family adopted Jackson in November 2008. She posted a photo of him with his new brother to our Facebook page with this comment:
Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since Glasgow (formerly Jackson) was picked up at Weber's and came home! He might be a trouble-maker, but he and Bagel have so much fun together...

Carter/Kona - It’s A Wonderful Life!! By Edith von Stuemer - featured in our Summer 2010 newsletter.
That’s what this Italian Mastiff says to his new owner every day. The complaint we received was not about this dog but about two Pitbulls chained to igloos on the property. When we arrived we saw no dogs. The owner said he rotates his dogs, sometimes they are inside, sometimes outside. We requested to see them – they looked good.
Since we always check out the property, we walked around and saw two pens in the back. One was empty, but loud barks came from the other one. Upon asking what was in there we were told “He’s a friend’s dog who is boarding here until the owner moves to a new place.”
As we walked towards the pen the frantic barking became louder. Inside was a very large black dog with a huge head and tiny body, tethered to a heavy iron chain. His hip bones and spine were protruding and we could see every rib. The dog’s feet fell through openings of a heavy wooden Pallet which covered the ground, causing open wounds.
We requested the pallet be removed so the dog could walk comfortably and that he be released from the chain. We also requested that food and water be put in the two large empty bowls sitting on the ground.
When offered the dry food he didn’t eat it – he INHALED it. Then he drank water for two minutes. It was obvious he had not been given food or water for some time.
We made contact with the owner of the dog by phone and requested veterinary care within 48 hours. He did not comply so we returned and took the dog, whose name was Carter, into custody.
Our veterinarian reported the cause of his emaciated condition to be starvation. He was approximately 50 lbs. underweight.
Today Kona (his new name) is happy with a new owner in a new home where he is cherished and loved, and has gained a great amount of weight.
He was taken to see the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin where many people stopped to admire this magnificent dog. The photo to the right shows him with his proud new owner taking a break from the festivities at the 2010 Reston Pet Fiesta.

Click here for Carter's bio from before he was adopted.

Adam & Darcy
Marylynn Hayden and her fiance Jon O'Mara adopted Adam (one of the VonTrapps- chihuahua/beagle mix from our Fall/Winter 2008 newsletter "rescue stories") and Darcy (a stray border collie) together in Feb. 2009. This is what Marylynn wrote us:
We adopted the two of them together, as we wanted to adopt two dogs that could be companions with each other. Adam had such a lack of social skills and was afraid of people; we were hoping with Darcy's trusting/friendly disposition, Adam could learn from her, and they would be playmates. Adam has progressed beyond our expectations. He used to be "dog-focused," not wanting to have anything to do with people. In fact we had to keep the leash on him at all times for the first two months, so that we could "catch" him to take him out for bathroom breaks, and encourage him to go on walks. Since adopting him, he has had many huge milestones. He enjoys being with people, especially Jon. He has really bonded with Jon, taking naps with him on the couch, snuggling up to him. He has to be close to me at the dog park, and actually smiles there. He listens when you ask him to "go for a walk" or "go for a ride." Adam's tail was between his legs for the first three months we had him. Now he frequently wags his tail when you take him on walks, and ask him if he's hungry. Darcy has been great as well! She is very obedient, will play fetch, and loves attention from anyone. Not a good guard dog, but I am hoping to have her take the "Good Canine Citizen" test this year, so she can be a therapy dog and we can volunteer together. She loves to herd anything that moves, and runs laps at the dog park trying to control every situation. Darcy will lick Adam's face and clean his ears. They frequently lay on the couch together, and they play tug of war with their toys. The two of them were so deserving of a great home, and we feel lucky to be able to provide that for them. They have both been a blessing!
Click here for Adam's bio and here for Darcy's bio from before they was adopted.

Winnie & Tigger
We got the following update from the Fleegal family in June 2010:
We adopted two of the most wonderful dogs from you guys a few years ago - Winnie (to read about her, click here) & Tigger. We moved from Springfield VA to Loveland Colorado in July 2009. We've been here almost a year now and it has flown by! Winnie and Tigger are doing great and they love it out here! Winnie has trimmed down because she runs after Tigger all the time. We have lots of room for them to run and every single house on our street has a dog! They've made lots of friends. Behind us there are houses with very large properties and they have horses, alpaca, goats, more dogs, praire dogs, and buffalo!!
I wanted to share with you our exciting news! Last weekend we adopted a little 11 week old puppy, part Akita and part Border Collie, runt of the litter, cute as a bug, and we named her Piglet. She has a curly tail, pink on her nose, and is very tiny. So now we have Winnie, Tigger and Piglet!!! We adopted her from Poudre Puppy Rescue.
We always tell people how wonderful Winnie and Tigger are, how lucky we were to find them through you, and what a great organization you have.
~Brett, Mo, Zack & Nick Fleegal, and Winnie, Tigger & Piglet

Mollie/Tiller
John Reilley & his family adopted Mollie in August of 2009 & renamed her Tiller. John sent us this photo and update:
Before we adopted her, Mollie had been a stray on her own for more than a year, and showed little interest in people. Now she is a very affectionate dog. She loves to cuddle up next to us on the sofa, sleeps on her dog pillow right next to our bed at night, and is petted often. She has a sweet disposition and is great with the neighbors’ children, who know her by name and come out to pet her when she’s on a walk. She gets along wonderfully with the other beagle we rescued around the same time. The two dogs usually sleep piled on top of each other or curled up touching each other, and share their kennel and toys with no problems. Tiller has plenty of chew toys, goes on walks several times every day, and gets a lot of attention from her people. We love her dearly, and are grateful to the SPCA for saving her. This photo shows Tiller and our other beagle (Bailiff) sleeping together in their favorite spot by the window (Tiller in front).
You can read about Mollie's rescue on our Humane Investigation page under Mystery Solved.

Click here for Mollie's bio from before she was adopted.

Duffy
The Lovasz Family( John, Stephanie, James, Bitsy, Christina) adopted Duffy in June of 2008. John sent us these photos and update:
We were looking for a hypo-allergenic dog to fit into our family and the day we met Duffy we knew he would fit right in. He has become a member of our family and loves each one of us. He was a little skittish when we first brought him into our home due to his abuse from his prior home but once he got to known each one of us he let his guard down. He loves to take car trips and when we are not looking to steal our tissues. We couldn’t imagine life without the Duffster because each day we come home looking forward to seeing our white puffy dog with the big smile on his face.

Della
Jennifer Elliot and her family adopted Della on March 1st 2006. Jennifer sent us these photos and update:
We saw Della on Petline9 which airs Thursday at noon on WUSA. She was quite a challenge when we first got her but we persevered and she is doing great. Her favorite activity besides eating is chasing squirrels in her backyard. As you can see she also loves the snow.

Duane/Jack
Bobbi and Cleve adopted Duane in December 2009 ... just in time for a huge snowstorm. Poor Duane/Jack wasn't tall enough to get through the snow so Cleve shoveled a path to his favorite tree. The people that fostered Duane (before he was adopted) submitted this photo to http://www.funnydogsite.com/ and it got selected!

Click here for Duane's bio from before he was adopted.

Caesar
Caesar came to us a result of a Humane Investigation in 2006 (you can read about it by clicking here). He was adopted by Alma and Dade, who also have Maddox (a lab/dobie mix). They often get comments from people about Caesars magnificent tail (most rotties have their tails docked but Caesar managed to evade this) ... Dade says he's an "English Rottweiler"!

Buddy/Edgar
Chris & Susan Collins adopted a wonderful dog named Destiny (who they renamed Nellie) many years ago. They gave her a truly wonderful life and were devastated by her passing. In March 2009, they came back to us and decided to adopt Buddy - a beautiful, young German Shepherd. They renamed him Edgar.
In August 2009, they came to our Dog Wash fundraiser for Edgar to get lots of cuddles, along with his nail trim, ear cleaning & bath!

Julian
Julian never got used to coming to adoption days and didn't show well because he was always stressed out and nervous so he was the perfect candidate for a foster home. Gloria was that foster mom and the change in Julian was remarkable! He became a very calm, confident, lovable dog ... so much so that Gloria decided to adopt him! She finalized the deal in July 2009.

Click here for Julian's bio from before he was adopted.

Winter
 We'd had Winter (a very friendly, energetic Husky/Shepherd mix) for over a year when, in June 2009, Christine and her 10 year old daughter came looking for a companion that Christine could take running with her. They picked Winter and made a great choice! Christine says Winter is affectionate, well behaved, no accidents in the house, gets along with people and dogs, rides well in the car, doesn't get on furniture, is good on the leash, etc. etc. Her parents are crazy about her, too. She and her daughter, Danielle, are just thrilled with their new "Rocket Dog"!

Click here for Winter's bio from before she was adopted.

Isabella
 Isabella (the little, incredibly cute, beagle mix) was adopted in Spring 2007. This is what her new daddy (Ralph LaMonda) wrote to us about her: 
Isabella ("Izzy"),  is thriving and enjoying being spoiled. She loves her "big brother", Wilson (shelter adoptee) who chases her around the back yard and lets her steal all his toys. Izzy is the pipsqueak in the photo.

Snowball
We have a wonderful photographer named Jim Poor who comes to adoption days to take photos of our dogs for the website. In September 2008, he met Snowball (an American Eskimo) when Snowball had his photo shoot. Jim instantly took a liking to Snowball (he has a soft spot for American Eskimos) but Jim and his wife, Tammy, were not looking for another dog at the time. The adoption days passed and Jim kept his eye on Snowball and kept thinking "one day ... maybe ...". At the end of the last adoption day before Christmas 2008, Jim and Tammy decided the time had come and took little Snowball home with them. Snowball is very happy living in the "Poor House" and Jim and Tammy are kept entertained by his antics.

Update January 2009 - Jim has been taking portrait photographs of his latest favorite subject. Here are two that he sent us:

Jim is taking Snowball to a basic obedience class now and plans to complete the entire gamut through Competition Obedience, CGC, Canine Freestyle and perhaps a few others. According to Jim "Most of all though, he's content to be a lap warmer inside and a speed demon outside"

Click here for Snowball's bio from before he was adopted.

Oreo
In September 2008, Bev and Brian decided to adopt cute little Oreo. Here's is what Bev wrote to us about her:
Just an update after a month of OREO! What a funny little dog. She's doing fine, but I don't know if I will survive. Just kidding. What a sweet, sweet dog. Now if she would only sleep later than 4:00 am I would be happy. Poor little thing must never have lived in a normal household where people actually DO stuff. She is afraid of EVERYTHING, including Brian. We laugh all the time. Actually, she is so much better than when she first came. Our one younger male dog growled every time she walked by at first, and now they are playing and wrestling all the time. O is getting used to all the normal things around the house, like Brian carrying the laundry basket, the hair dryer, shaking dog hair from blankets, etc., etc. She is a little lap dog and boy does she love to run. She makes circles around the yard just for the love of running. And boy is she fast. She leaves the other in the dust, but they run after just the same. The little old man (15) tries to keep up and it's a hoot. She figured out about the couch without any trouble, and she sounds like a heard of elephants coming down the stairs.
She is getting used to the weekday routine and the house training is coming well. Just a few accidents. She loves slippers and underwear from the laundry basket, and adores chew bones. She will run after a toy, but hasn't figured out yet how to bring it back. I am getting as much exercise as she is. Every day gets a little better and she is less afraid of the comings and goings. We love her to death.
At any rate, she is fitting in more each week and I am finally getting a little more sleep. I'm exhausted and she is ready to play. She will keep all young. Just thought I would let you know what is happening. Tell Tony that there is an occasional snarling match, but I keep right on top of them. Meal time works really well. I make them all stay out of each other's dishes and they get it. Both O and Mosby eat as though it was their last meal, so nothing goes to waste.
We are having a great time, and so are the dogs. Thanks for everything you did for her and please pass the word that she is doing well.

Gracie
This article about Gracie appeared in our Fall/Winter 2008 Newsletter: A New Leash On Life
by Joan Hughes Maybe it was those beautiful blue eyes. Maybe her shiny black coat. Something elicited a lot of inquiries about Gracie from people who thought they had found the perfect dog. This sweet and friendly black Lab mix had a lot going for her, but...
Crating a four-month-old puppy for as long as 12 hours at a time does not make for a well-adjusted dog. No dog should be in a crate longer than four hours before being released to relieve him/herself and have some play time. Her owners didn't mean to be cruel, but they worked long hours and simply didn't have the time to properly train and care for such a young dog.
This was Gracie's life for almost a year when, through the intervention of a woman who has rescued many dogs, the SPCA agreed to accept Gracie for adoption.
At Lisa Reid's kennel--Lisa houses our SPCA dogs-it was discovered that Gracie had separation anxiety with a vengeance. She broke a kennel door, jumped a five-foot fence, shredded her bedding, and was an accomplished escape artist from any kind of confinement. Not an easy dog to place.
Despite these drawbacks, a young couple saw Gracie at an adoption day and fell in love with her, and her placement with them was approved. Since they both had flexible work schedules, they felt that they could work through her behavior issues. But although Gracie was sweet, friendly and obedient when at home with her family, any confinement threw her into a panic that even medication didn't prevent. Gracie came back to us three months later.
She stayed with Lisa, and medication helped, but adoption events came and went and so did many would-be adopters of this lovely but damaged dog. No matter how promising these prospects appeared to be, separation anxiety was always the deal breaker.
Gracie had been off tranquilizers since December, 2007, and was doing much better when more than a year after her return to us her luck (and ours) changed.
Enter Matthew Randall. his long-time canine companions had died and Matthew felt he was finally ready for a new buddy. Gracie was the one. She went to her new home and is living a dog's life that we wish all dogs could live. Matthew finds no need to confine her. (She's a canine Houdini, remember, and she knows how to turn door knobs, so why bother?) Apparently, when he's away she spends her time on his bed chewing toys and watching TV. We're not sure of her dexterity with the remote.
She has become quite the party animal, too. A Labor Day gathering was a blast, and she loves to swim in the pool. Now that it's covered for the winter, Gracie has discovered that the tarp makes a wonderful trampoline and bouncing on it has become her favorite sport.

The photo was taken when Matthew bought her to Weber's to our 2008 Holiday Photos fundraiser. Gracie was offleash for most of her photo shoot and modelled perfectly!

DESIGNER DOGS - BACKYARD BREEDERS GONE BAD
Throughout 2008, a number of remarkably similar looking dogs were dumped in the same general area of Virginia (just east of the Shenandoah mountains). Click here to read their story.

Jenna
This article about Jenna appeared in our Fall/Winter 2008 Newsletter: Why We "Hang In There"
by Joan Hughes "Don't give up," "stay the course," "hang in there,"--any of these phrases could apply to our determination to find the right home for even the most hard-to-place dogs.
Jenna is such a dog. Some of you may have read about her in the Fall/ Winter 2006 issue of "Paws to Consider." The sting operation in which the SPCA took possession of Jenna and 1 I other puppies, her extreme shyness, with her tail tucked beneath her, the time it took until she was adopted--all are part of the history of a dog whose earliest days are a mystery but who was damaged nearly beyond saving.
It took six months to find her a home and it was a wonderful home. A couple who had adopted another dog from us thought Jenna would be the perfect companion for him, but he didn't agree- and simply ignored her. There were other problems and Jenna came back to us.
But this past summer Jenna's luck changed. Dr. Diane Moczar, an historian and writer who adopts animalss only from rescue groups, saw Jenna's picture on our wedsite and thought she might cure the loneliness exhibited by one of her dogs who was grieving the loss of another  canine companion.
A visit to her home disclosed a dog's paradise: three wooded, fenced acres, two welcoming dogs, and a human guardian with love, patience and understanding.
Although she admitted that Jenna: was "the most difficult dog and afraid of everything," Dr. Moczar was determined to make the adoption work. She now reports that Jenna is a tail-wagger finally exhibiting the puppyhood she never had. She chases a ball, plays with her canine pals, and runs like a deer through those three acres. There are still some issues but she's "99 percent improved and a happy dog." Perseverance pays.

Reba McEntire & Buddy/Willie
Susan & Jonathan found a cute miniature pinscher running loose near the Pennsylvania Turnpike so, after trying to find her original owners, then turned her over to the SPCA to find her a new home. But Susan & Jonathan had already grown attached to Reba and realized that her new home should be with them ... and their dog Willie that they had adopted from the SPCA a few years ago and their two cats, Phyliis & Dolly Parton. Strangely enough, at the same time that they adopted Willie (who used to be named Buddy), one of our volunteers (Orion) adopted a different Willie who Orion renamed Buddy!

Oliver
On Mother's Day in 2008, a Girl Scout troop came to our adoption day with bags of dog food, blankets, towels and dog toys that they'd made themselves (our dogs say a big Thankyou!). One of the Girl Scouts (a redhead) fell in love with a very shy pup named Oliver and persuaded her family to adopt him! Oliver is still enjoying being carried around and his new nickname is "Ollipop"!

Louie/Baxter
This article about Louie appeared in our Summer 2008 Newsletter: Little Dog Lost -- And Found!
by Joan Hughes
Icy wind, frigid temperatures and trapped by a leash that was tangled in bushes. Not the expected conditions for a little dog who less than three days earlier had gone to a new home.
Louie had been found as a stray in Shenandoah National Park in September, 2007. He was taken to a rural Virginia shelter where he was rescued by Lisa Reid, whose kennel shelters our dogs, and was put up for adoption by the SPCA.
Dena Manzi saw his picture on our website and thought the scruffy little terrier mix "looked like a dog that needed a home." She found Louie (now Baxter) to be shy at first, but friendly, as so many once stray dogs can be. After spending a good amount of time with him at an adoption day in late November, Dena applied to adopt him.
Two weeks later Baxter went home with Dena and began to settle into his "adoption pending" routine. In fact, he found the couch quite comfortable. But it was now December, and like the mail carriers, dogs and their humans must brave wind and rain and all the other conditions that cannot keep them from their appointed rounds.
Three nights later, as Dena walked Baxter before bedtime, a gust of cold wind blew the leash from her grasp as she switched it from one hand to the other. Baxter took off running, dragging his leash and managing to stay just ahead of her. He disappeared, and a frantic Dena and friends searched for him until 2:00 a.m. without success.
The next day they went out again to search the area. There was an SPCA tag on Baxter's harness as well as an ID tag that Dena had attached. Local shelters were notified, along with Lisa Reid and SPCA personnel. Baxter was so easily spooked by wind, cars, and people that finding him could prove to be a problem. Lisa took two dogs to look for him and more than 100 flyers were posted.
As any parent can testify, teenagers will at times break the rules. Luckily for Baxter, that was the case when a girl took a forbidden short cut through the woods on her way home from school. Sounds from some bushes drew her to Baxter whose leash was tangled in them, preventing his escape. She wrapped the shivering pup in her sweater and took him home, where her grandmother called the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. The shelter, in turn, notified the SPCA that a dog fitting Baxter's description had been found, although his tags were missing, and that he could be picked up at the finder's home. Dena didn't waste any time. As an added twist to the happy ending. Baxter's rescuer turned out to be a pupil in the school where Dena teaches.
Back where he belonged, Baxter kept his tail between his legs for about two weeks but gradually recovered from his ordeal, lost some of his shyness, and became more sociable. He acts like a normal dog now, rolling in the grass, and "dancing" for treats.
Dena claims that her "little prince," as she calls him, is smart, cuddly, and lovable and the best investment she's ever made. When Dena was contacted for this story Baxter was cuddling with her on the couch. He was probably wagging his tail in agreement.

Update March 2011 - Dena sent this update:
My husband and I wanted to send some updated pictures of Baxter. The one picture shows Baxter snuggled up on the couch (what he does best), when he's not sleeping on top of my pillow our bed! The second picture shows Baxter playing with my parents rescue dog, Buddy. Baxter loves taking road trips to Niagara Falls where he and buddy play in my parents large, fenced in backyard. Since adopting Baxter, he has really opened up and become such a happy dog who aims to please. In the next year or two, we are hoping to adopt a brother or sister for Baxter.

Skylar & Fawn
In August 2007, Lidia Sabin, her husband and daughter became the proud new owners of a 6 month old, wiggly Rottie pup named Skylar. As Skylar grew in into a magnificent dog, they decided that they should adopt another dog so came back to us in May 2008 and got sweet Fawn. This is what Lidia wrote:
We believe Fawn was the piece Skylar was missing since coming with us back in 2007. Every day that passes proves we made the right decision to adopt Fawn. They romp around a lot everyday, like a whirlwind, until each is tired and they decide to flake out They play as if they have been together forever. Fawn, at roughly 20lbs, has control of our gentle giant Skylar, 100lbs.Their tussles sometimes end with Skylar on his back with Fawn mouthing his ear. That this little 'street' dog from Puerto Rico with so much history fits so well into the family is a miracle. Her loving gentle nature has spread to the whole family. We are so grateful for all the people that have been involved with the Northern Va SPCA volunteering their time, talent and energy getting Skylar and now Fawn HOME!

Friedrick/Pepe
Friedrick was one of a group of dogs abandonned from a defunct puppy mill. Their luck turned when they were found by Lisa Reid, who took them all in and socialized them ready for rehoming. On the first day that Friedrick came to an adoption day (in March 2008), a lady named Martha came looking for a companion. She sat down to read about the dogs and Friedrick jumped right up on her lap ... as if to say "Here I am!". She agreed with him ... and is now looking into taking him to visit people in nursing homes and hospitals.

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