Happy Tails: Priceless Poodle

After losing her Golden Retriever in 2006, Marianne Mitchell decided she wanted her next furry friend to be a Poodle. She contacted a breeder but was no longer interested in a bred Poodle puppy after realizing how much it would cost. Instead Marianne began checking Larimer Humane Society’s website regularly to see which dogs were available for adoption.

In late June of 2006 Marianne noticed a Standard Poodle on the adoption list and rushed to Larimer Humane Society to adopt Mystique, or Misty for short.

“Adopting Misty from a shelter was a good idea on so many levels,” Marianne said. “She had perfect manners, was people friendly, had all her shots and was spayed and micro-chipped. A Poodle puppy from the breeder would have cost ten times more and would have needed training.”

Misty’s smarts and loveable personality even landed her a job as a Pet Partner through the Delta Society in Marianne’s current hometown of Tucson, Arizona. Misty was trained to become a therapy dog, and now she and Marianne help children learn to read through the Read to a Dog program in Tucson. “She gets so excited when it’s time to head for a school or library to meet the kids,” Marianne said of Misty.

When she isn’t at work, Misty enjoys chasing lizards in the backyard and being groomed by Marianne. Misty is a friendly hostess, too, and will offer her favorite Teddy bear to visitors. She loves eating snow peas from the garden and Marianne’s homemade biscuits.

Marianne would like to thank Misty’s previous owner, who had to give Misty up due to health problems, for loving and caring for such a great dog. Every year on the day Misty was adopted, Marianne celebrates by offering a donation to the Larimer Humane Society.

“Misty is complete joy,” Marianne said. “She makes us laugh, gives us comfort and inspires us every day.” Misty even has her own blog, themystique-misty.blogspot.com, so kids from the Read to a Dog program can see what she’s up to.

Happy Tails: Making a House a Home

Lauren Seidl and her boyfriend Ryan Haunfelder went to Larimer Humane Society in September of 2011 in search of a companion to help make their family complete. The couple had moved to Colorado from Wisconsin just a month before, and they wanted a feline friend to help them feel more at home.

After having already visited with two kittens and feeling unsure, Ryan suggested looking at one of the three kittens in the lobby. When Lauren went to choose her last kitten to visit with for the day, the only one left sleeping in the cage was a deep gray tabby named Tic-Tac.

“As soon as we had her in the room I knew she was the kitten for us,” Lauren said. “She started purring when I picked her up and I immediately felt a connection.”

Now Tic-Tac goes by the name of Miles, and she’s the center of Lauren and Ryan’s make-shift family. Miles always has to be in the middle of all the action, even if that means perching on Lauren or Ryan’s shoulders to see what’s happening.

When she isn’t cuddling or sleeping, Miles loves to play. Her favorite game, surprisingly, is fetch. She lets Lauren or Ryan know she wants to play by bringing one of them her toy mouse and anxiously waiting for it to be tossed. “I’ve never had a cat that played fetch,” Lauren said. “She’ll retrieve anything from a paper ball to a twisty tie. It’s hilarious to watch her prance up to me with a toy in her mouth.”

Lauren and Ryan are thankful to have found such an affectionate and playful kitten. “Our lives wouldn’t be the same without Miles,” Lauren said. “She really turned our house into a home.”

Happy Tail: Action, Adventure and a Whole lot of Love

Bryony Fuller and Jon Wardell went to Larimer Humane Society in April of 2010 in search of a pet that could keep up with their active lifestyle. They found an athletic-looking litter of Cattle Dog-Labrador mix puppies and knew that was the breed for them. Rather than picking the strongest pup of the litter, Bryony and Jon chose the sweet-heart of the bunch, Vlad, who now goes by MacGyver.

“MacGyver was playful, smart and very sweet,” Bryony said, “All he wanted to do was play and cuddle, and when we looked at him we just knew he was our dog.”

Over a year later, MacGyver is still a happy-go-lucky dog who loves to snuggle. “Even though he is 55 pounds, he will find a way to curl up in your lap if you let him,” Bryony said. This loving dog even helps with the dishes; he enjoys licking them clean as they’re loaded into the dishwasher. MacGyver knows his manners, too, and will thank Bryony and Jon for feeding him by giving them a loving nudge or lick after he eats.

When he’s not out hiking or chasing rabbits, MacGyver enjoys showing off his tricks. His favorite is “stick ‘em up,” in which he stands on his hind legs and holds his front paws high above his head.

Bryony and Jon are incredibly happy to have made MacGyver part of their lives. “MacGyver is our ‘K-9 unit,’” Bryony said. “He is a true part of our family, and his kind heart and eagerness to please makes everyone happier just to be around him. He is also our running buddy, hunting partner and campsite scout.”

Happy Tail: One Cuddly Companion

When Elizabeth McMullin visited the Larimer Humane Society in early October 2011, she didn’t expect to leave with a soft-hearted Pit Bull named Raspberry. Despite the dog’s calm demeanor, Liz wanted to continue looking for the perfect companion before setting up a visitation. But her boyfriend, Lucas Pickering, insisted they give the dog a chance. Liz and Lucas instantly fell in love with Raspberry’s relaxed yet playful personality, and the rest is history.

Today Raspberry goes by the name of Leila, and she is still just as sweet as when Liz and Lucas first met her. When it’s bed time, Leila likes to sleep on the bed with her head nuzzled into the crook of Liz’s neck. She also enjoys chewing on whatever she can find, which Liz finds amusing at times.

Leila’s favorite game is tug of war, but she also likes to pretend she’s a cat. While Leila doesn’t quite have the dexterity of her feline friends, she still loves to test her skills by walking on top of everything.

Liz is glad she took a chance on Leila and brought her into her home. “Leila has connected my boyfriend and I in a way we didn’t have before,” she said. “We love to take care of her; she brings us absolute joy.”

Happy Tail: Sounds like a Perfect Match

Last year Jennifer Ernst visited Larimer Humane Society in hopes of adopting a pet that could bring music into her home. She left with two Ringneck Doves, knowing that she would enjoy their personalities and variety of songs.

Today Jennifer and her family are still enjoying the sounds of the doves, especially the laughing sounds they make when they’re active. The member of Jennifer’s family who enjoys the lively noises most is their kitten, Stubby, who was born without eyes.

“Stubby is attracted to the sound and activity of the doves and will sit by their cage, just listening,” Jennifer said. Rather than fearing the curious kitten, the doves seem to enjoy Stubby’s attention. Whenever Stubby sticks her arm into the cage, Jennifer said the doves playfully peck at her paw.

While she never meant to breed the doves, Jennifer’s musical pets began to lay eggs shortly after they were adopted. So far the doves have hatched six baby birds, five of which Jennifer helped find new homes. The latest addition to the dove family has yet to leave the nest.

“Birds give me so much pleasure throughout the day with their songs and activities,” Jennifer said. “The doves have such a peaceful song and laughter that when I am having a rough day I can get peace from their sounds.”