Tag: Valentine’s Day

Sometimes the stories closest to the heart are the hardest to put in words but these old guys have a lot of love to share! Riggs, Biscuit and Simon use the last of the “conversation hearts” to send their love!

When a guy is so adorable it is sometimes hard to see that he has special needs too but thankfully for Riggs, he has the amazing Jill Jones to care for him. A true Australian labradoodle from Canada, a breeder had special plans for him but fate intervened and he ended up just where he was needed most, in Jill’s heart and home. With great love comes great responsibility and thank goodness Jill has both which is why she makes a wonderful friend and a fantastic dog owner!

It is rumored that our pets leave us when they know they will be okay. Fortunately, Biscuit pre-recorded this message for Olivia so I trust it was because he thought we were doing a fine job of growing up and he saw she is a strong and beautiful girl. Simon who came to us 13 years ago might think the same but is sticking around for a while longer because he thinks we need a man around the house and someone to act out the counter-point of all our positivity!

Splotch and Stripe are new to posing for pictures so they are trying out a few different looks for the most genuine way to communicate their message of love. They belong to two boys, one rat each because how else do you get to have a rat race? Splotch and Stripe love being in this family of smart, energetic, athletic and funny people and are excited to say so!

Love isn’t just for Valentine’s Day! The amazing thing about pets is that they love us through everything and every day of the year!  Casey, Mojo, Darby and Jake (clockwise from top right) share their messages of love for their humans and tell their stories!

 

When you are the fifth child in a Firish (Finnish-Irish) household of smart, athletic, competitive and funny people, you need to forge your own role to standout. Casey adores her awesome people for letting her have her own style — a retriever that doesn’t retrieve, a taste for the good life, and the ability to gently tolerate all kinds of kid play. Her self-appointed role is to watch out for the baby she grew up with because those coming of age trials keep you close forever (like your best friend from college)!

Mojo is a campaign dog — as in the kids campaigned for a long time to get a dog. However it happened, he is grateful to belong to the nicest family of athletic, smart and adventurous people. With his Valentine message, he reveals his real talent – using his special brand of mojo to charm everyone he meets!!

Darby is a second dog rescue from Loreta, Mexico for the fabulous and sweet Bass family nine months after her sister Martha. At this rate, the dog population of Loreta must be plummeting! Darby understands what a great deal she has so she sticks close in case anyone needs some love, squirrels start to invade the territory or her sister gets a little too uppity!

The secret of a great relationship? Greenlake walks in the morning, cross-country skiing in the Methow valley and evenings on the deck with some bark and whine. No wonder Jake loves the fabulous, adventurous and amazing Joanie because she gives him all of that and they both have golden heart big enough to share with golden boy Jasper and hilarious cat Moby!

Some “conversation heart” sweetness before bed on a Valentine’s Day! Love how Lucky, Martha, Oliver and Kalmar (clockwise from upper right) show us how to communicate their hearts and tell their stories!

Martha is grinning because she truly couldn’t be luckier than to be rescued from the streets of Loreto Mexico and delivered to the House of Love and Cuteness also known as the Bass family. Two years in that haven have attuned her ears to the sweet sound of snuggling, her legs for the delight of long strolls, and her attitude to make sure she’s top dog of the household.

Lucky was a Tom cat taking his chances getting a ride when he was picked up at a truck stop in 2012. Fortunately, Lucky is well, lucky and found the most fun family who reformed his trash can ways and now he’s about 17 pounds and a big baby.

Oliver has gone from a motley zoo to the private rescue haven run otherwise known as the home of the fabulous Nadine and her family! He and his sisters were rescued by Motley Zoo in Redmond when they had ringworm and PAWS wouldn’t take them. From there he was taken in as the Nadine’s latest addition to her motley zoo of love. Her friend from elementary school who lives nearby adopted his sisters so they are all living the good life now!

When you are an 8 month old puppy from Chew-Inhale-This (otherwise known as Chehalis), it seems natural to put everything in the mouth. Books, homework, the books needed for homework, what’s a dog to chew? Thank goodness he belongs to the delightful, funny, positive Kosted family who see this all as a lesson not to hold material things too tightly! He is all love and has a sweet, playful spirit, just like his family!!

Can you feel the love tonight? Leeloo, Juniper, Zola, Lucy and Dakota (clockwise from top right corner) express their true feelings for their amazing owners!

The fourth beautiful and strong Akita for this family, Leeloo is smart and loyal, just like her people. She lives up to her name which means strong, happy and graceful and she also has the ears for listening which is what makes her such an effective communicator!

Zola is a 20 year old Russian tortoise that was adopted 1 year ago. What did she do for the 19 previous years? Zola is quite secretive about that but given her heritage it may be that she was talking with the Russian ambassador. We may never know…

Juniper brings street smarts to her family of wise, warm, and creative people. A 12^th generation street dog from Taiwan, she came to the US before the whole Visa travel ban thingie happened. She believes that her message of love for all will prevail over this political climate so she doesn’t get deported because she has the best life!

These golden girls know when to sit, who to entertain and how to pose but they’d like the sign not to get in the way. Lucy is 11 and with the perspective that age brings is all for retiring at the beach place in the islands. Dakota is almost one and with her youthful energy gives hugs to all. Young and old, they both agree, they have the best life with the most dedicated and loving owners!!

There is a lot of love in the air this Valentine’s Day!! Here are some more “conversation hearts” that our pets are sharing! Thanks for the love Charlie, Nyla, O’Malley and Kayla (clockwise from top right)!!

After an unfortunate incident when he ate a box of Cheez-Its and a few crayons  and then left colorful vomit in some noticeable locations, Charlie had to be re-homed. Fortunately in his forever home, Charlie is appreciated for his colorful character and pays the love forward as a therapy dog.

The most wonderful transformations come from the most challenging circumstances. Nyla was sick, withdrawn, losing her hair, angry and had worms when she rescued from a bad puppy mill in California. Fortunately for Nyla, her new family knew how to patiently coax her true inner and outer beauty so she now shines like a princess!

Taking care of children is one of the most important jobs a pet can do and O’Malley was given as a kitten to a 2 yr old little girl and that was 21 years ago. O’Malley took her role as a first cat seriously and has raised a smart, thoughtful, loving and amazing young woman. Love works!

Kayla has shed her desert roots and is living it up as a California pool girl where sometimes she sheds directly into the pool. She has soaked up her owners’ optimism and knows that positivity comes from chewing on the right things and fortunately, that is a lot of stuff in Kayla’s world.

 

Do pet owners talk to their pets? Of course!! Do the pets talk back? Definitely! Especially when they get to choose “conversation hearts” for their owners! Ruby, Coho and Chinook, Micki and Malu (clockwise from top right) show us how and tell us their stories! Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Ruby didn’t find her forever home on the first try but was able to move in when she was five months old. Her previous owners thought that raising a puppy was too much work so now Ruby appreciates even more the generosity and care given to her by the amazing Patty Day and takes extra time to greet everyone and make them feel important too.

Coho and Chinook are brothers that were adopted from MEOW Cat Rescue in Kirkland after they were abandoned at birth by their mother. Fortunately, they were adopted by a new mom and dad that are loyal, patient and kind. They consequently conspire to hold their new mom down as much as possible!

To know Micki is to know the world. Micki is a Shiba Inu that came from the North Pole when Santa brought her to Taiwan to meet her family. When they packed to come home to the US, she became one of the few (the only?) Japanese breed dog immigrants from a disputed Chinese territory with an American family. She is funny, smart and urbane, just like her people. But she sticks close just in case more travel is in the works.

Malu has a funny hobby – standing stock still in a lake until the tiny minnows nibble at her! This is a fabulous indulgence for a girl who was rescued off the streets of the Midwest underweight and showing signs of abuse. When she was adopted by the patient, kind and loving dog whisperer Dee, it still took her about 3 months to wag her tail. Now everything comes up sunshine and roses for her because she gets to go to work every day with her human, charm all the people she meets, roll in the snow and of course, go to the lake!

Celebrating the love of our most faithful and constant companions this week – our pets! What “conversation heart” would your pet pick? Buddy, Sam, Kelty and Phoebe (clockwise from top right) share their selections.

Now that Buddy’s girls have grown up and moved away and his dog pals Sid and Biscuit have passed away, Buddy is even more committed to his plan of sticking close by his owners’ sides.  Fortunately they are warm, loving and completely dedicated to him so that he still feels secure. He carries his own leash for walks because the tie that binds is stronger than any rope!

Sam is a one woman kind of guy. In a culture where everyone is praised for getting along with everyone else, he just wants to go back to a simple life where he can be loved for the feisty introvert he is. How fortunate he was to be adopted by the tender-hearted, understanding and accomodating Nadine Weller and her family.

In a smart, athletic, funny and accomplished family, it is hard to stand out, especially if you follow in the footsteps of two beautiful and loyal labs. Kelty has figured out her own strategy of being first – listen to every word, look people straight in the eye and following the feet wherever they go.

When Phoebe was 5, her first family moved into housing that didn’t allow cats which left her in the awkward position of looking for love in mid-life. She found the most compassionate and loyal of pet owners, someone who can bring out the best in anyone and Phoebe is free to express her true self — social, athletic, funny and enthusiastic in reflection of that light.