It's a new year... bring some joy to your life!

ADOPT!!!
😊

It will change your life, change the life of a dog/cat that needs you, plus open up another space in a shelter/rescue for another homeless pet.... win/win/win!!!  

If I could bottle the laughs/joy/love/happiness that our three rescue dogs bring us every day I swear people would pay a lot of money for just one bottle.  I can't imagine not having these three girls in our lives; and as this is our first time to have three! at once, I never realized how much fun having multiple dogs can be!
But, since I can't bottle up the laughs/joy/love/happiness I can at least share with you some much deserving sweet dogs and cats from the City of Lytle Texas Animal Care and Control (a kill shelter btw) that need you.  The shelter transports dogs and cats to both the east and west coasts!
Be sure to watch the videos which really show the personality of the individual dog/cat!  Also, please share with anyone you know who might be in need of some laughs/joy/love and happiness in their life!!

Click on the dog/cat's name to read more information about them and to watch a video (most have videos.)

If you would like more information or have any questions, or would like to fill out an application for adoption on any of these precious babies, please contact Alice at:  alicesavesdogs@gmail.com

Alice also has a YouTube channel HERE where you will find more videos!  Many of the dogs have multiple videos, so take a look and subscribe, I do!

(If you'd like to read the story of how "I" "adopted" this shelter :):) HERE

Meet their dogs and cats:


Dutchess!
A 1-1/2 year old, 30 lb. sweet, sweet girl!  You must watch this sweet girl's video.

Grady
A sweet, shy lovebug.  He is 1 year old and weighs only 20 lbs!

Elvis
3 years old and 45 lbs!  Sweet shepherd mix.  Look at that face!!





Callista- ADOPTED!!!! by Elizabeth in NH!!!!!!!
This precious little 1 year old girl is a Shar Pei mix and weighs only 30lbs!  She is an amazing and very special girl.  The shelter staff says she is a gem!

Beau
3 year old Bernese Mountain Dog mix.  Beautiful and gentle.

Callie
6-7 months old, 20 lbs.  Playful and smart puppy!

Gavin 
10 years old, 7 lbs. with lots of love to give.  He is a very special, "good" boy!

Mona
3-1/2 years old, 50 lb. she is friendly and sweet girl who gets along great with all dogs!

Juan
3 years old, 15 pound and sweet, did I mention sweet?! Must watch his video!

Jacque
4 months old and gorgeous!!  He gets along well with other cats and dogs!  Look at the video to see his gorgeous coat!





Dak
Affectionate, low-key... and ahh-dorable dachshund mix born to a stray dog.

Lilly 
1 year old, 50 lbs Staffordshire/Lab mix is a happy, fun energetic girl who is good with other dogs!  She will want an active family!

Jewel
Gorgeous 4 month old (Jacques' sister) She is good with other cats and dogs!

Ryan
This cute little girl is an Australian Shepherd mix will be about 50 lbs when she is full grown

Stevie
A female terrier mix.  She will probably be around15-20 lbs when full grown.  She has a high-energy level as most terriers do and will need an active home to be a happy girl!

Trevor
A dachshund with maybe beagle mix that is sweet and affectionate!

Tiger 
This precious angel was dumped weighing only 1.5 ounces :(  He is now well, cuddly and very affectionate thanks to the loving care of Rachel, at the shelter!

Panda
Precious 1-1/2 year old, 30 lb. male Shepherd mix is sweet, smart and a cuddle muffin!!

Please spread the word:  Opt to Adopt!!!
xxojoan

my mission statement, if you will

First, I thank each of you who donated to the Denham Springs, Louisiana Animal Shelter  (the shelter where we adopted Louise) after the recent horrible flooding that I wrote about in my last post HERE

You are amazing and generous!

I adore this photo of our morning ritual- girls waiting to be given the "okay" to eat after Dan/I thank them for being such good girls and tell them how much we love them!

Photo by Linda of Lime In The Coconut.  

Fun stories about LindaLime that resonate with this entire post at the bottom!

Initially I was going to do a quick, short post to let you know I have added a feature

  "adoptable dog of the week" 

to the top of my sidebar, in hopes that you will notice, read it and maybe share with your friends on Facebook each week as I highlight a different dog needing a good home.  But, as I started to write my short post I realized that often things mean more if you understand the back story. And for me,  the back story was much bigger than a quick post.  That this whole journey on my blog- the sharing of our home, of my design and interiors and my love of antiques, the sharing of my love of dogs, and my passion for rescuing dogs-  is a joy and my mission.  With that comes a story...

When we decided to sell our Dallas house and move to New England it was a HUGE life decision as you can imagine.  I have never "journaled" per se  (though I tend to see this blog as a form of a journal),  but do understand the importance of putting all the emotions of a situation down on paper.   The decision to move here was exciting, terrifying, scary, nerve-wracking, thrilling-  all with anticipation of a new life,  and I realized I needed to write those emotions down before I popped!  

(if you would like to read how we got her click HERE and HERE)

A paragraph from my random writings from that time read:

want to help.  dogs maybe;  people

 finding dogs.

want to bring joy- thru design/antiques 

I need to find my life's work. 

What brings me joy, and how to 

share that.

  I wrote this in 2007 before the word "blog" was even in mainstream vocabulary, and a good year and a half before I figured out what one was.  I didn't give a thought as to how I would accomplish any of those things I listed, but they were just on my heart, so I wrote them down.   

It wasn't until several people wrote to tell me that because of our adopting Amelia HERE and HERE, and then Louise and Magnolia HERE that they had decided to adopt/expand their family, and one person (Tery) even wrote to tell me she was going to adopt instead of "buy" her next dog (and I am thrilled to say she has since adopted "Sullivan";)  that I vaguely recalled this paragraph I wrote years ago and went to find it in my "house book."  I sobbed.  Because of a random decision in October of 2008 to start this blog to chronicle the renovation of the farmhouse (the blog started as private), and then the request by Brooke Giannetti at Velvet &Linen to share my blog on her blog HERE and Joni Webb of Cote de Texas who added me to her blog roll several months later, I received exposure and in some way or form that is how you found your way here (thank you to my friends Brooke and Joni! xxo)

Because of the above events I have been able to meet you and share my loves and passions on this blog, and for that I am forever thankful and grateful.  

My love of home, my love of dogs and my love of rescuing dogs are my greatest passions.  For me,  dogs (pets) make a house a home.  

I thank you for allowing me to share all my passions and loves with you.  

I have received some negative comments and emails about my posts on dog rescue- people saying that they signed up to see pictures of a house, not of dogs.  My response was/is....  

 I'm sorry you are disappointed.  I write a "lifestyle" blog, so therefore I write about all things I am deeply passionate about that make up my love of a house- decorating, design, gardening, cooking, entertaining and dogs; and that includes using "my voice" to promote dog adoption.  The beauty of writing a personal blog is that I get to choose what I want to write about, and I will continue to write about all of the above, just as you are free to choose to not read if the content isn't to your liking.  Isn't it great that we all have choices!

You might recall that one of my readers, Amy (check out her new blog Home Glow Designs) adopted Nanny after seeing her on my blog HERE  Then over the past weekend Alice,  the dog-angel volunteer for Lytle, Texas Animal Control wrote to tell me that one of my readers in Houston was going to foster one of the dogs, Missy, that came in with a horrible injury to her foot and this woman is going get Missy a prosthesis!  I do not know who this person is, but she is an angel.  It was after hearing that (and the memory of every one who had left a comment saying they were going to adopt because of our girls) I wanted to do more!  And I thought to add the "adoptable dog of the week" feature at the top of my sidebar!  I am but one person, but with your help we can be a "force" to find shelter dogs homes!

It breaks my heart the number of dogs (and cats) that are euthanized in our country everyday (approximately 3,288 dogs each and every day)  and also the number of stray dogs and cats (there are 9,000 stray dogs in south Dallas alone.  You read that correctly... 9,000 source)  I wholeheartedly believe, as with most things, that education is the key.  It saddens,  infuriates and frustrates me that the wonderful nation that we are, we can not get a grip on this problem.  The only change that I can personally make is trying to make it better for one dog at a time.  So, that is what I want to do, with your help- spread the message of the importance of having all pets spayed/neutered; to please opt to adopt and highlighting dogs that are in desperate need of a good home.

All- one dog at a time!

I promise, my blog has not "gone to the dogs," and I am writing a "summer favorites" post that was a request from a reader, and have several house project posts coming up, but I wanted write this to you to explain myself.  I just never know when a post about a dog needing a home will change that dog's life or yours- either way is priceless!

Thank you for reading, thank you for helping me spread the word about adopting and thank you for being you!!!  xxo

The fun stories I mentioned at the beginning of this post...

Linda of Lime In The Coconut and I have been friends for years.  While writing this post and linking to Brooke's post from Velvet & Linen HERE I discovered through the comment section that Linda found me through Brooke, on November 19, 2008 at 5:25 p.m.  to be exact!!! :)

Well..... just two weekends ago LindaLime (as Dan and I call her;) came to the farmhouse to visit!!!!  She was on her way to see her daughter who had just finished a three-month environmental conservation internship in northern New Hampshire at Squam Lake  (a.k.a the lake where On Golden Pond was filmed.)  Finally we meet!!!!  It was sooo wonderful to meet in person. Linda and I were up til 4 am talking!!!  We ALL loved her-  I swear the girls would have left with her if they could have- they adored her!!!  To see Linda's photos from around the farmhouse and her trip to New Hamphsire HERE  !!

Another fun LindaLime story is that last summer Linda wrote to check up on me as I hadn't posted in a while.  I explained that we had just come home from a road trip to Louisiana where we adopted Magnolia and Louise HERE.  Linda asked how I found them and I told her on Petfinder, which she was not familiar with.  Within an hour she and her daughter (mentioned in the story above) were on Petfinder and found a Great Dane that they wanted to go meet!!  Days later "Finn" was adopted...

and then months later the beautiful (blind and deaf) "Pearl" was adopted by LindaLime and her family!!!

Moral of the story.....you just never know how a random sharing will change a person's life for the better!!!  

Love ya Finn & Pearl & LindaLime!!!!!

I also want to share that Linda is a Lactation Consultant and she is getting ready to leave for Greece where she is volunteering to help the refugee women and children fleeing from war and terrorism.
To read about her upcoming journey HERE.

love dogs and be well!!!

and please share the featured dog of the week!  together we can find these dogs forever homes!

xxojoan

for the love of Nanny

You might remember I mentioned in an update on the post I wrote about the city (kill) animal care & control facility in Lytle Texas HERE that one of my readers, Amy, was going to adopt sweet Nanny!   Amy just so happens to also live in New Hampshire.  She, her husband and two young sons live about an hour north of us.  They recently lost their beloved rescue dog of ten years.  Amy told her boys that their dog, Dora, had gone to heaven and was now an "angel dog."  About a month after Dora's passing Amy's youngest, Lee, asked her when Dora was going to stop being an angel dog and come back and be their real dog :( Amy was thinking of adopting again in the fall, but when she happened upon the post I did on the Animal Care & Control in Lytle which featured Nanny, and she saw this sweet face (below) and the same soulful eyes that their Dora had had, she was in love and just wanted her "home."
Nanny was originally scheduled to arrive in New England on the 14th of May with Greg from Rescue Road Trips  animal transport.  We had made plans with Amy to join her at the transport arrival point to meet and see Nanny walk off the transport and into her new life.  A few days before the 14th, I received an S.O.S. email from Alice Lang, the amazing volunteer adoption coordinator for Lytle Animal Care & Control.   She told me that Greg's transport vehicle had been involved in an accident (thankfully NO dogs were on board and his driver had to have a few stitches, but wasn't seriously hurt)  and because of the accident the transport was going to be a week behind schedule and Nanny would be arriving the next Saturday on the 21st of May.  That day was Amy's son's 7th birthday party and invitations had been sent,  the party site reserved, and the party planned so they weren't going to be available to pick up Nanny.  So, of course, I JUMPED at the chance to pick Nanny up for Amy and her family last Saturday!  As I've mentioned, it takes a village to rescue even one dog and we were very happy and honored to be a part of Nanny's village!

So, last Saturday Dan and I, along with the three girls, drove a couple of hours south to one of Rescue Road Trip's drop-off locations in Putnam, Connecticut.  We were given a 30 minute window for the transport's arrival.  Standing there waiting for the transport (with all the other people waiting on their new furry loves to arrive) and then seeing it pull into the parking lot is such an exciting moment.

Greg of Rescue Road Trips welcoming all the adopters.

Greg was being filmed for a documentary that is being produced about him.  So deserving.  He is a wonderful, nice man and his work is a gift to so many.

The adopters with their new loves.

Nanny taking her first step into New England!

Nanny rode in a crate on the drive back to the farmhouse.  She did great and is a perfect "honorary-sister" to Ella, Magnolia and Louise, don't you agree?!  Amy and family were to meet us at the house later that evening.

While Nanny was gorgeous (look at that brindle coat and her butterscotch eyes) and sweet, she was quiet and reserved and really didn't wag her tail much at all.  We attributed it to everything she had been through the last several days.  As with all of our southern dogs she had never seen a stair before and didn't know how to go up or down, but after a while of following the girls she was starting to get the hang of it.
Nanny with her honorary-sister pink bow to match the girls pink collars.

I knew from the first time I saw Nanny that she was Louise's twin- in looks and sweetness.  Although Louise's ears are down in this photo you can still see how much they look alike.  They both have the same intense butterscotch eyes.

A little "love gift" filled with treats and toys for Nanny!

We sat on the front porch waiting for Nanny's new family to arrive.  It was all so exciting!  The second the boys got out of the car Nanny started wagging her tail.  It was so obvious that she knew these were her "people!"  It was magical to see how she reacted to every member of the family.  

Amy with her precious boys Earl (the 7-year-old birthday boy) and (3-year-old) Lee meeting/kissing Nanny for the first time!  (Ella is always part of the welcoming committee;)

Love the way sweet Nanny is looking at Earl in this photo... like she can't believe her eyes that he belongs to her and she belongs to him...   forever.  Little Lee is in the background loving on Louise!

After a quick martini-powered tour;) through the farmhouse with Amy we made our way outside and when they opened the back of their SUV Nanny immediately jumped on her new bed pad and laid down.  She looked and acted like she had done that for years.  Nanny knew they were her forever family. 

Lee hugging Nanny.  That adorable smile sums it up and says it all!  Nanny is one lucky little girl now.  Thank you to Amy, Rob, Earl and Lee for adopting and loving sweet, precious Nanny!

 Check out these other precious pups at the Lytle Animal Shelter that need a home.... your home, maybe?!! 

Click on their names above the photo to find more information, and don't forget to click the video box to see their individual videos.

EMMALEE

This sweet tiny angel girl was dumped with her pillow at a cellphone store in Texas just days ago.  She is quiet, calm and loves to be held and cuddle.   Love her!!

RAISEN

Like Nanny was Louise's double, this little lab/pit mix is Magnolia's twin.  You have no idea how I am trying to figure out how I can fit her/four dogs in my car;)  I adore this little one. She is already in Vermont!  The family that adopted her had a cat and after being adopted Raisen decided she didn't like living with a cat;)  So she needs a cat-less home. Her adoption fee is only $170 since her transport has already been paid.  Watch her video of her playing to see how cute she is!  She looks so much like Magnolia that I can hardly stand it.

FRASIER

Those ears.... the cuteness... too much!

CALLISTA

Beautiful girl.  You can see in her eyes she's a smart girl.

SARAH

Love her coloring.

JORDAN

This is one sweet, sweet girl.

COLLEEN

Her previous owner turned little Colleen in because she was pregant, and then wanted to pick another dog (no, that did NOT happen).) Can you even believe that??  She just wants to be loved.  Adore her "smile!"

TYRA

Precious little Tyra.  I think she needs a tiara!  What a doll.

ADAM--  HAS BEEN ADOPTED!!!!!!!!!!

Adorable!

ALLISTER

So handsome!

JEREMY

I could carry Jeremy in my purse!  Adorable!

ELTON

That face!  This boy is a prince of a dog and is a great size- only about 5 lbs more than our girls.  Read about him!

NORMA JEAN

Gorgeous sweet girl!  Watch her video, she is so beautiful!

TESSA

Precious Tessa.  I should show her to Bunny Williams as she looks just like the rescue dogs that Bunny adopts!

DANNY

Puppy preciousness!  He needs a happy ending after his sad start... read little Danny's story.

NILES

Sweet, precious boy!

Opt to adopt!!!