Fan Mail

Elizabeth, Mikkola & Josie
Elizabeth and Mikki moved to Los Angeles recently from Montreal. After struggling to find a rental that would allow pets for their collection of cats and their beloved Sheltie, "Laddie", they had the terrible misfortune of losing Laddie during a night of extremely loud fireworks-related explosions at Dodger Stadium (not far from their house). Laddie got spooked and ran away, and has been missing since mid-June. In their quest to locate him, they spotted this sweet female Sheltie on one of their numerous trips to the North Central shelter. Even though they are grief-stricken over Laddie's disappearance, they felt compelled to rescue this sweet little dog on her very last day. Elizabeth and Mikki look forward to introducing Laddie to his new little sister upon his return.

At the Lotus Festival ~ July 2001

Adriana & Blue
Adriana thought she was simply accompanying a friend to North Central to offer moral support while her friend looked at a Dobie.
When she spotted this adorable Staffordshire-mix puppy, there was an instant connection - as soon as she asked to hold him, it was all over! Adriana adopted Blue, and now they are inseparable! Adriana says being mommy to a puppy is a real challenge but is extremely rewarding as well.

The happy family!



John & Roxy at obedience class

John, Phuong & Roxy
We adopted Roxy from the North Central Pound in March 2001, and our lives have been better for it ever since. :)
John and I went to about 9 shelters and rescues before we found Roxy. We had met many other dogs we had fallen in love with before, but none seemed to fit our personalities as much as Roxy did. It was a Saturday afternoon, and John and I had already been to at least 5 shelters all over Los Angeles that day. We had gone to the North Central Animal Shelter two weeks before, so I didn't really want to go back there again - especially after such a long day. We had decided on some possibilities for adoption, but the dogs were either already adopted, or they required a waiting period to see if an owner would come by to claim them (which was not really a bad thing to know at all).
When we walked into the North Central Shelter, I was so heartbroken to see how many new dogs had arrived and how some that we had met two weeks before were now no longer there. We walked past the many different dogs until I came upon a group of little dogs in the female dog section of the shelter. There were many dogs jumping up and down trying to get my attention. They were all so cute that I just wanted to take all of them home with me. There, in the middle of the group, was a tiny mixed terrier that was so patient when all the other dogs jumped over her to come meet me. She was patiently sitting there, and I though to myself what a nice, tolerant dog she was. I just knew she would be good with the kids John and I planned to have one day. I finally coaxed Roxy over to me so that we could meet. I rubbed her cheeks, she closed her eyes, and she just seemed so happy for the human contact. When the other dogs pushed her out of the way again to try and regain my attention, she was nice enough to let them. I decided then and there that such a sweet dog was the one for me. I called John over and convinced him that we just had to adopt her. We read her biographical information and found out she was to be held at the shelter until the following Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, John and I rearranged our schedules so that we could come by and adopt our little Roxy. We were there the minute the shelter opened, and we immediately went to look for her. We couldn't find her at first because they had moved her into another cage. I thought she was gone, and John and I were saddened that we may have lost her. When there in a second cage we saw her sitting in a corner by herself. Roxy immediately approached us when she saw us, and I would like to think that she knew we were coming back for her.
At first, Roxy was unsure and timid around us and her new home. She was also sick with kennel cough and had to be dewormed. But, now it is not she who lives with us but we who live with her. She is small enough that we can give her the full run of the apartment. And, it is nice to have her sleep at the foot of our bed and lick us to wake-up in the morning. She is tolerant enough to let me give her one of my many bear hugs everyday, and I love the fact that she likes to sit next to us on the futon as she eats one of her rawhide bones or plays with her sqeaky toy. People tell us how cute Roxy is. Some even say she's spoiled. But, the best compliment I ever heard is how happy she looked to them. I hope she is happy, because I know how much joy she has bought to me and John.
~ Phuong and John

Dolphee
Hi! I adopted dog #A386207 after viewing it on your website, and i can tell you, it's a match made in heaven. He is obedient, intelligent, a big lovable boy who has blended right in with my other dog and cats, and is so grateful to be out of a cage, where he spent the last 33 days... It felt so good to rescue him, I can't begin to tell you. I have a little female Bull Terrier/Cocker mix at home and they are great together. I like animals in pairs so they don't get lonely during the day. This boy is just delightful! He's the smartest dog we have ever had, as playful as they come, a wonderful watchdog, and so grateful for his new home that he literally springs up in the air with joy when we play - at 11 months, he's still got a lot of puppy in him! I am so grateful for his coming home with us. He's made me very happy! Thank you!!!!!
~ Louise Smith

Darcy, Mark & Lacey
Mark and I would like to thank you so much for helping us find our new addition. Last Saturday, we visited the North Central Shelter, and you introduced us to this very special dog. It was our good fortune that 2 ladies were returning her, because she displayed too much "puppy" behavior. They thought she was 4 years old, but I think in reality she is much younger. The North Central Shelter was our 4th stop of the day, and we were so happy to find her. We have decided to name her "Lacey", because the North Central Shelter is on Lacy St. She is a great Golden Retriever, and we love her dearly.
Thanks again.
Darcie and Mark Feijo

Bandit & Cassie
"Bandit is an excellent dog. Very tame around our four year-old. He's still getting accustomed to his new surroundings, but is fitting in really well, and only barks when he needs to. Last night I let him loose for the first time without the leash at a local dog park and he absolutely loved it. He ran and ran and jumped all over me and we played for about a good hour in the grass in the middle of the night. Cool dog."

The picture on the left is my Mom (Ida) and Scooter's visit to the vet to have a check-up and a groom. As you can see in the picture on the right, he was very hairy. That's me (Laura) on the right and my daughter (Summer) on the left. I am the one that spotted him on the Internet and went down to the pound to get him for my Mom. She is recently retired and I thought she could use some company. I was so excited! My Mom has never had a dog before and was not sure if she could handle it, but I am telling you she has spoiled that dog so much, he follows her everywhere and she talks to him like he is a baby. Mom is in love with her new friend, he keeps her laughing. She says he has quite a personality. By the way, he got his name because that was the first thing he did when I brought him in her house..Poop and Scoot.
Thanks for your great work!!!!

The following was passed along to me from Tracy Mynhier of Adopt-A-Chow L.A. Sammy was a lovely but terrified Chow that Tracy rescued from North Central shelter after she'd been dumped there by her owner.

Just a quick note (a short break from our doggie bliss) to let you know that Sammy is working out BEAUTIFULLY! She was completely uninterested in the cats who are already starting to accept her. She also made immediate friends with our neighbor's dog Sheila. Without even the slightest bark the two were prancing around our yard together, playing. What a perfectly wonderful addition to our home -- gentle and sweet with us, our cats, and even our bird, who has been singing all day to impress Sammy. Thank you so much!
- Darcy Rue

Stephanie & Howard with Selma
"We adopted Selma, a Shepherd-mix, who is now a major part of our family. In just two short weeks she has brought us enormous joy and laughter. Selma is wonderful, and a very happy soul. She is getting along with the cats, and they with her. A lot of progress has been made in that regard. We have left her home (in the house) for just a few hours at a time and everything is ok :) , although she is one happy dog when we come home!! Everything was fine when we took her to the vet and I have signed up for a dog obedience class which begins in September. There are so many deserving dogs that are at the shelter, and I hope that more and more people will not buy from a breeder, but save a precious, deserving life."
~ Stephanie

update - July 2002
"Hi All! We took Selma out on her first boat trip and she went in the water, reluctantly, but she went in!!"

"Duke" at the shelter...





...and on his way to freedom!


Duke & Clifford scouting the creek

Lisa & Duke
Duke had been stuck at the shelter for over a month due to some murky circumstances surrounding his ownership. He was SO depressed - I don't think I ever saw him move the whole time he was there. Finally, he became available, but was running out of time... Thankfully, Lisa spotted him (no pun intended) and adopted him! When I took him out to North Central's pasture to meet her, he was instantly transformed into an exuberant puppy - full of joy and affection. Needless to say, it was a love-match, and lucky Duke walked out the doors to freedom that day, to live with Lisa & her husband, along with two other dogs and their horses on a three-acre ranch! Here's an update:
Well, I brought our new pup home to one very happy Lab and one hesitant older Golden and a very happy, but surprised family - We were leaving on a road trip to Oregon the very next day with our two other dogs and the kids. So, timing was not the best, but I explained to the family that time was out for this nice young dog and we would just have to deal with this new addition on short notice. Since our dogs and cats are all named after the first names of jazz artists, the family decided "Count" (Count Basie) did not fit, so after much discussion, he was named Duke, after Duke Ellington. Clifford, the Lab, instantly invited our new pup into the pool, like any nice brother would do! (He believes pools are for dogs, not humans) - Duke acts like he has never seen a pool, but he loved running around with Clifford - was keenly interested in the horses! Since we were leaving to my dad's ranch the very next day, I spent the afternoon after we brought Duke home spending time with him and my Golden, Bo, so they could get to know each other - the family had decided there was no way we were leaving our newest member at home while we went to the most gorgeous place ever in Oregon! especially for dogs! Bo came around after much reassurance. So, Duke went from the pound, to his new home, to leaving to Oregon in the car with three kids, his two new brother dogs, and us all within 24 hours. Duke traveled with our son sleeping on pillows the whole way - he acted like he slept off months of worry on the way. My dogs also quickly introduced Duke to our trip ritual of plain, McDonalds cheeseburgers for the pups for lunch! He was literally grinning with delight! He has spent the last two days running at full speed around the ranch and down to the river - my Golden leads the dogs down to the river for a dip about every couple hours - they look like the three musketeers! He throws himself at our feet for his tummy to be rubbed at every chance he gets. Duke has transformed from a shy, depressed, hesitant pup into an interested, attentive, very sharp pup in just days- but always keeps a keen eye on where I am - if I am out of his sight, he runs to find me. We are absolutely delighted with him. We are fattening him up a bit and trying to heal his many bite marks and itchy skin. We weren't even looking for a third pup, but he just caught my eye on your website, as did the Rottie (who I understand will go home today with my friend Bette and her two other pups :) and the Bulldog who went home with my colleague Kim. As I'm typing this email, Duke is sleeping in the sun beaming in the window, tired from a long day having fun yesterday
with his new family.
Best Regards, Lisa (and John, Hillary Hayden, Clifford & Bo (the dogs),
Billie & Ella (the cats), Cochise, Captain & Casey (the horses) and Duke!
update: 1-11-03
Happy New Year. Just wanted to let you know that Duke is doing just great. Here is an updated picture with his brother Clifford and our newest addition, Toshi who was adopted from New Leash On Life (as a Mother's Day present to me from my other pups). This was taken in Mammoth where we spent the holidays. We live in Oregon now full time so our dogs have plenty of room to run and a beautiful creek to play in. Duke is doing just great and we wanted to thank you again for bringing him into our life. He brings joy to me every morning when I see is smiling face!
Best Regards, Lisa

Susan & Isadora
If it weren't for the kindness of new shelter volunteer Susan B., this sweet, senior Chi would be history. Susan spotted her in the dog hospital when she came for her volunteer orientation. She came back later to walk her, bathe her, bring her comfy bedding and toys. The TLC perked "Izzy" up immensely! Lucky girl is going to spend her golden years as a pampered pet ~ a true happy ending!