Fay Fabrey [update]

     Where is beautiful Fay? Can you find her in the photo?

click here for Fay's original Happy Tail

Ellie Fleischer [update]

Micheal submitted these cute photos of Ellie.  She looks like a very happy pup.

click here to view Ellie's original posting

 Leo

Jacob had a bit of a rough start, the day we adopted him I had the shelter conduct an FIV test since I have another cat from the shelter. He came back positive. Not understanding a lot about the disease, I initially thought I could not adopt him. It broke my heart to know I had to leave him at the shelter and that he would have a rough time being adopted since he was FIV+. I educated myself on the disease and knew that I had to help this little guy. I went through with the adoption and had the vet conduct a Western Blot test to double check that he was in fact FIV+. He was still positive, but I kept him at my home. Although some FIV+ cats and FIV- cats can live in harmony together, I just wasn't comfortable with putting my cat, Charlie, and Jacob together because my schedule is very hectic and I wouldn't be around to stop any fights if they occurred. I vigorously contacted people I knew that wanted a cat (I couldn't take him to another shelter or cat sanctuary because I wanted to be able to see him). My boyfriend's parents fell in love with him and adopted him. Now my family and I can see him and get updates all the time. He immediately bonded with their 12 year old son, Jacob, who holds him like a baby for hours and sleeps with him every night. His name was changed to Leo so that he wouldn't be mixed up with the human Jacob. He bosses their dog around and has become the king of the house. He gets along with everyone who comes in and has truly been a great addition to their household. I hope everyone looking to adopt a single cat (or someone who has other cats that they can monitor) will educate themselves on FIV and realize it's not a death sentence and the cats live normal lives. Jacob is a great cat and a wonderful companion.  

Charro F.

 The following isn't a typical Happy Tail, but we wanted to share. 

In August, the amazing Miss June F. sent Pat Ludwig  a letter addressing the recent Chihuahua rescue and included two photos of her sweet 'baby' Charro. Below is an excerpt from the letter:

Dear Pat,

  Thank you for your 8/9 letter.  I'm so glad those darlings have such good TLC and health care and so many people adopting them.  I would so love to adopt one, but at age 88 and handicapped, I can't take care of another dog.

  Just as you were saving the pups, I was having Charro, my twelve year old, severely arthritic, diabetic, blind and hearing loss baby, sent to doggie heaven.  She was no longer a happy Chihuahua.  My tears are accompanying this writing, but even though I miss her, she is no longer suffering and I will survive.  Hey! I've been free of breast cancer for two years (no chemo. or radiation).

  The pictures show her in happier days-she hasn't been able to jump on the couch for a long time....   Love, June

Benjamin Rothert

Cary Rothert adopted Benjamin on June 12, 2009.  They are very happy living in Dearborn together.  Cary tells us that Benjamin's favorite toys are his squeeky ball and stuffed flip-flop.

Benjamin has been a huge change in my life.  He has brought me so much happiness.  I am so lucky that I found him.  He's the best thing ever.  We are a perfect match. Thank you.

Jake Collier

  [Jake enjoys] playing with toys, sitting in the sun on the window sill and teasing our 13 year old collie shepherd mix dog Max.

Rhia Patel

On January 8, 2009 Sneha Patel's life became much richer and happier, because she took into her heart a sweet kitty girl named Darleen in the shelter, but is now called Rhia.  A beautiful name for a beautiful kitty.  Sneha tells us that she and Rhia will be moving soon to Dallas, Texas.  Rhia spent her first days as an adopted kitty in East Lansing with an other adopted shelter kitty Charlie.  Sneha says that Rhia enjoys..."any type of string or yarn, laser pointer!".

She is enjoyed her new home in East Lansing since January 8, 2009 with Charlie (who was “Amigo” also from the shelter at Petsmart). She loves to sleep by on the pillow by your head at night and be rubbed under her chin and on her forehead. Rhia is a very independent and more timid then some cats but is very kind, friendly, loves everyone and is a girl who knows what she likes. She can hear a laser toy being picked up off a table and will be in a room before Charlie even has a chance to get up to chase it. She’s had her ups and downs in life but now she will join me to my new home near Dallas, TX. Though she will miss her friend Charlie, he will just be a few hours away. ☺

         Good luck to Sneha and Rhia in Texas!

Here is rootin' tootin' Charlie in his cowboy hat.  Thank you Emily for sending this in.

Click here to find Charlie's other postings.

 Franchesca (Frankie) Gamble

     Dennis and Minnie Gamble of Brownstown adopted one of the Chihuahua rescue dogs on September 12, 2009.  They named her Franchesca.  In the Happy Tail they tell us that Frankie, her nickname, likes "chewing, riding in the car and playing with her new brother Calvin who has taken over the job of teaching her all the fun things to do and how to use the litter box so they don't have to go outside when it's cold or rainy!!"  They said,  "she was so timid and shy but every day we see an improvement and she has learned to love being petted and held". 

Here is Franchesca's story from Dennis and Minnie:

We want to tell you all what a wonderful job you do every day. Originally we came to the shelter right after the story broke about the Chihuahuas and brought large bags of kibble and a cash donation because the story touched our hearts. It seemed like such a small gesture, but we had to do something. We are animal lovers and particularly Chihuahua lovers for many years. At the time we asked how to go about adopting. We were given instructions, which we followed, but we never expected to get a call because we were told there were several hundred people who had applied in front of us. However to our delight, we did get a call from you.
     We adopted a beautiful little long haired, sable colored female Chihuahua from you September 12 and she is our love!! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It was a Saturday and still, the staff there made it happen. When we walked into the room I knew she was “THE ONE” however; we were told she was waiting to go to another home. Then one of your staff, a wonderful young lady, decided to do some investigating because there seemed to be a mix up or something, I’m not sure what. When she came back and said we could adopt her I was so happy! Of course, I would have loved to take any of them (ALL OF THEM ACTUALLY!!) but it just seemed like a connection when I saw her.
     Then we were told we would have to wait until Monday to take her home, but we wanted to take her home right away, so again, this wonderful young lady took the initiative to contact the manager at home and made it happen, since we had brought our other babies to the shelter with us so they could interact and make sure all was good. I wish I had the name of the young lady that made this all happen, but there was so much going on and I was so excited at the time I never thought of getting her name until after we had left. For that I sincerely apologize. You will probably recognize this story and know who you are. Saying thank you just doesn’t seem like enough. I just want you all to know how wonderful you are for what you did for these babies and more specifically, for my husband and I. Here is our story:
     Just before our adoption of her (we named her Franchesca) we lost one of our precious angels ( a Chihuahua) to kidney failure at 13 years old and within a week, his little brother died of a heart attack at age 12. The doctor seems to think the stress of loosing his brother was just too much for him.
     It was so devastating. I still cry at the mention of them because they were our babies since their birth. The adoption of Franchesca can never take their place, but has given us a new love to focus our attentions on, and we certainly do. Our other boy, Calvin, ( a Chihuahua/dachshund mix we adopted several years ago in Arizona ) just adores her as well.
    Since coming to us ” Franchesca has learned so much from Calvin. Her shyness has pretty much melted away. Calvin has taught her to use the litter box so they don’t have to go out on cold and rainy days. He has helped her learn that car rides are FUN, people food is GREAT (we cook for them daily) and sleeping in bed with mom and dad and an electric blanket is WONDERFUL!!!! He watches over her and she follows him everywhere!! Her days are filled with playing with her new brother Calvin with toys and chewy things, going for walks and car rides, snuggling in her own pink blankie, and lots and lots of love.
     I work from home so I am here with them daily and the two of them “help” me while sitting with me while I do my computer work. My husband and I actually purchased a motor home a few years ago so we could travel easier with our babies and they could be more comfortable. We are close to retirement so they will get to do a lot of traveling very soon. Meanwhile, she is loving car rides.
     I am forwarding a few photos for you to see. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We have discussed the possibility of adopting another. I don’t know if you still have any available, but we are discussing it now.
     God Bless every one of you. There is a special place in heaven for people like you who take care of children and animals!! Thank you again for everything you did to help us through a terrible time and fill our hearts with “puppy love” again.
Sincerely and Gratefully,
Dennis & Minnie Gamble
Brownstown

P.S. We recently purchased some of the Chihuahua and kitty Christmas Cards from your web site and absolutely love them!!
   

 Uno Counts

     Uno's name was Dragon when Janai Counts adopted the kitten from the shelter on August 4, 2009.  Janai tells us that Uno likes to play with string in their Detroit home. 

My pet is nice and cute.