Fan Mail

Spice
Elizabeth, a lovely, well-mannered 5 year-old Collie-mix was an obvious choice for any family with kids. Sadly, she was (as are so many great adult dogs) being overlooked at the shelter, and her days were numbered.

"...I renamed her Spice and she is at the Beverly Oaks Doggie Resort today - getting a grooming, having her teeth brushed and being walked with other little friends for the day. She is a very good girl. You do not have to worry about her - she will always have a comfortable and loving home."

Dio (left) with Ilene & Jasper

#A421898

Lily with her new sister, Jasmine

Lily (aka Bubbles)
Bubbles was my very special girl! When I first spotted her at the shelter, I gasped. Her coat was extremely matted - not all that unusual for the Chows I see at the shelter that have been kept as *outside-only* dogs - but she was so much worse than any I'd seen - with long, thick, potato-like mats hanging around her neck. It was horrible, especially because she was SO sweet and friendly. WHO could have neglected such a lovely creature to that extent? I didn't even want to imagine. The night before she became available for adoption, one of the kennel attendants, Andre stayed late and helped me cut the mats out, shave her neck and bathe her. During the long ordeal (over 2 hours!), and seemingly unfazed, this good-natured girl just laid down and enjoyed all the new-found attention. A few days later - still not adopted, she started to catch a cold, so I brought her home with me with the intention of finding her the great, forever home she deserved.
She caught the eye of a lovely couple who were looking for a companion for their sweet red female Chow, Jasmine. Finally, Bubbles (now Lily) is in a loving, caring home that treasures her for the gentle, happy girl she is. She has a long ways to go health-wise, as she recovers from years of neglect - she is still getting over the cold she caught at the shelter, not to mention worms and anemia. Thank you Sara and Fernando for opening your hearts to her!
update: 10-13-2001
"Just wanted to give you an update on Miss Lily... she's doing so well, and getting healthier and happier by the day. She's gained two pounds in the last two weeks, and has more energy each day. The respiratory infection has almost completely cleared up, and her eyes are more open. The vet says he's optimistic that the anemia is getting better due to her increased energy and weight gain, but we'll do another CBC in six months to check her counts for sure. The most exciting news is that she and Jasmine have finally had their first bouts of Chow Chow Wrestlemania this week! As you know, Jazzie has been trying to get Lily to play since Day One, but now Lily is having fun letting Jasmine attack her, and then pouncing back as they roll and growl in complete doggie bliss. It's family fun for all! :) Hope all is well, and talk to you soon."
~ Sara (with kisses from Lily, Jasmine and Cajun)

update: 12-10-2001
"...Lily and Jasmine are wonderful. As predicted, the more Lily's coat grows in, and the more (much needed) weight she gains, the more she looks like a giant, bouncing, smiling snowball. She has really continued to change and grow so much. She is both a constant source of amusement and of love and sweetness for Fernando and I. She has begun to get pretty crazy too-- bouncing and circling and running around, either when one of us comes home, or when it's time for a walk, or when she and Jasmine are playing. She is so hilarious, and fast as a bullet too... we joke that we should have named her "White Lightning". I can't tell you how happy we are to have her with us. We simply can no longer imagine our little furry family having ever been without her. It was meant to be! (Thank you again, by the way.) My mom (who also has two Chows) was visiting us over Thanksgiving, and immediately fell in love with Lily. How could anyone not?! I cannot, for the life of me, fathom how someone could have knowingly neglected this beautiful, sweet, funny girl. What are people thinking??? Anyway, she's an angel, and she and Jazzie seem like they have been sisters all their lives. Silly girls. :) I'll send you some new pictures soon...Hope all the fuzzy beasts and you are well. ~ Love, Sara"

Samantha, Jim and Sandy

What a nice surprise it was to run into these guys in Elysian Park.
I just happened to have my camera in the car, too!
Paul & Skippy
Thanks for taking pics of me and Skippy. We owe our happiness to you! We are both very happy! The past six months has been really a lot of fun. We play ball and lick the cat. Most of the time we just hang and be lazy. So, thanks again, Marsha for helping me that day in the pound to pick The Best Dog in the World - Skippy!
~ Paul Burros

Debra & Dave with Wally-Ringo & Gracie
Last year we lost our beloved dog Frankie to cancer. Broke our hearts, he was a very special friend. After he passed away, his dog buddy Gracie became very despondent and a little aggressive. We called on Marsha to help Gracie mellow out and feel more confident, and she is much better now! Marsha knew we wanted to find another friend for Gracie and one day introduced us to "Jasper," his name then, who was rescued from the North Central shelter and placed in foster care with a wonderful animal lover, Ronna. We met Jasper, a Chow/Lab mix (a chab) who looks like a wildebeest and has an "I love everybody" personality. Gracie took to him right away and they have been best buddies ever since. We renamed him Wally-Ringo, because Ringo is one of my husband's favorite drummers and Wally because, well, he just moves and looks like a "Wally". Big thanks to Marsha and everyone involved in helping Wally-Ringo find a home with us.

Susan with Eva & Lucy
The day I found Little Eva Fluffypuppy at the North Central Animal Shelter, I'd just spent over 2 hours driving out to a Golden Retriever rescue place for a very disappointing visit. On the way home, I decided to go to the Shelter to see a dog that had been on the Devildogranch website. Happily, that dog had already been adopted, so, with the help of the Shelter staff, I took a look at the other dogs ... and there was Eva. She was so frightened she wouldn't come to the front of the cage, and she wouldn't walk when put on a leash. She's only been with us about 4 months now, but you can see from the photos that she was a totally great addition to the family right from the start! She and The Lovely Lucille Labrador, my black lab who is also a rescue dog, quickly became best friends -- watching them play together is more entertaining than a movie! We are truly one happy family!! Thanks for the website -- I probably wouldn't have found Eva without it -- and thanks to the helpful staff at the Shelter, too.
~ Susan Wolf

Gidget

Gidget is up to 31 pounds and her coat is growing in nicely. She's becoming more comfortable at the groomers and likes to be with Lucky Bear. His arthritis has improved somewhat so he's better able to play with her. I play chase with her in the yard as well and she enjoys that. She and each of the cats seem to have worked out their individual relationships. She still spooks at loud noises such as a slamming door or a loud truck although she has written the gardeners off as harmless. When it comes to meeting new people she follows Lucky's lead - if he's calm she dives in for some attention.
~ Dianne M.