Ivy
Ivy Ivy spent a year with our family and probably thought of us, not as her foster family, but her forever family. Two times she was adopted and two times she was returned. She just didn’t like those two places! So she came back to us and you could just see her smile and relax when she returned home. She came to us last June. She had stitches on her belly and eyelids, very underweight and had hip problems. She had gone through two surgeries before she even got to us! On a visit to the vet, it was discovered she had heartworm. Just another blow to this sweet dog. She endured the harsh treatment with a smile on her face. As sick as she was, and with strict instructions to not let her run around, she would still sneak outside and chase a squirrel or two before we could reign her in. She never complained about anything. After she got the all clear from her treatment, she started having issues with her bladder….we had a whole shelf of medications that she loved to take….as long as they were buried in peanut butter….her favorite snack! Ivy loved her walks. If she saw someone going towards the door, this gentle giant would stand and face the door just waiting for that longed for walk. She never pulled at her leash but just trotted along, as happy as could be, despite her sore hips. Her tail would just swing back and forth and you would think that she hadn’t a care in the world. Upon returning home, she would get a long drink of water and climb up on her favorite spot….the couch. We gave up trying to move her. It became her space. Even when she was sick, she would place herself between anyone she thought was a threat and our family. One time, when one of my children’s friends was dropping something off later in the evening, Ivy heard him in the kitchen and cornered him while he screamed for my daughter and until my husband and I came tearing down the stairs to see what the commotion was about. Little did this friend know that Ivy wouldn’t hurt a sole. When our grandson came for a visit, he loved climbing all over her and she never made a sound in protest. However, every once in awhile, when we had another foster dog that was annoying, Ivy always put them in their place with a quick head turn and bark. Ivy was the most loving, gentle dog, who greeted everyone with licks and tail wags. She didn’t deserve all that life dealt her but our family was so happy to have been part of her life for the year we had her and cried many tears when she became so ill that we couldn’t help her anymore. She went over the rainbow bridge with her favorite foster sister and mom holding and petting her as she regally laid her head down and quietly went to sleep for the last time. She will always be remembered and the time we had her cherished forever. We hope you are having fun chasing those squirrels up there Ivy.

Raven, formerly known as Gunner
In June of 2007, my boyfriend and I adopted a baby hound mix pup from your rescue who at the time had the name Gunner. We ended up renaming him Raven. On November 5, 2009 we lost our best friend to a congenital heart condition. It all happened so fast, and at the time we did everything we could to save him. After going through a blood transfusion and then draining fluid from around his heart, Raven went into cardiac arrest and the U of M doctors were unable to save him. We continue to miss him every day and his urn and pictures of him through out our house remind us how much he meant to us. In honor of Raven, we adopted a redbone coonhound mix and have fallen in love with him so much already. Thank you for adopting a dog to us that gave us so much joy in his short life. He impacted my entire family's life more than he will ever know. Raven was the center of our world and some days are still so difficult. Thanks for all you do in finding dogs loving homes. If not for you, we would have never met "the best dog ever".

Butch
Butch was found one morning waiting on someones doorstep when they went to put their kids on the school bus. He was just looking for some good food and a warm place to lay his head.They wanted to make sure he stayed safe so they called animal control to come get him and he was brought to the pound. He was very underweight, but he was so sweet. He loved everyone there including the clinic cats. He was very gentle and just full of life, even though he was around 8-9yrs old. We were able to find him a wonderful foster home with another dog to play with and his very own little girl to love. His foster family gave him lots of love and good food, and even a warm spot on the couch that he loved to sleep on. He had the life he always dreamed about! He loved his home and his new family with all of his heart and soul. Sadly he crossed the rainbow bridge on 2-13-2010, but was in the only place he would have wanted to be, with his family. Thanks for being such an amazing dog, Butch, we will all miss you until we meet again.

Bernie Mac
Bernie "Mac" crossed the Rainbow Bridge on October 15th 2009. Mac loved everyone and everything! He loved playing with his human sibling and going to the dog park. He was in a loving foster home that was going to be adopting him when tragedy struck Mac and his family. Mac and his foster daddy had just returned from a long walk. Mac was relaxing on the couch when he heard his human sibling playing and having fun with the neighbor kids. Of course Mac didn't want to be left out of all of the fun and games so he pushed through the front door and started to run across the street. At the very same time that Mac decided to cross the street a vehicle was in a very big hurry to get somewhere as well. The vehicle was going 15 mph above the posted speed limit and hit Mac head on. Mac didn't have a chance! Maybe if the driver was going the posted speed limit Mac would have been able to walk away with some scraps and bruises maybe even a broken bone but not death. Mac will be greatly missed by his foster family and all of MARS! When you are driving and in a hurry PLEASE think about Mac and all of the millions of other animals and people who have lost their lives because of people who are in hurry to get somewhere! It REALLY is okay to be a couple minutes late! Thank you Mac from beinging the awesome dog that you were! Until we meet again.........

Chica
Chica`s Story Chica came into rescue in 2007,for some reason that I will never understand she couldn't find the right forever home or even foster until late 08 when she got a good foster who kept her until her adoption in Feb of 09. Her adopted Dad was a soldier who shortly after adopting her was re deployed to Afghanistan. That's when she found by Christie & Dallas who were going to keep her overnight then take her to a previous foster,who decided it wasn't convenient to take her. Christie & Dallas kept her as a foster with their family which included 2 Dogs of their own & 1 other foster Dog. Chica's adopted dad called me on 7/24/09,he was on leave & wanted to see her & said "I definitely want her back" He said "I`ll never give up on my dog. I haven't heard from him since even after many attempts to contact him & his Mom. Chica developed what I believe was a brain issue that caused unpredictable behavior which we fought for several months. Chica was with her hero Christie & I when she was sent to the Rainbow Bridge Thursdsay 10/29/09. All I can say from the heart is Sorry Chica we tried. Love ya & miss Ya.