He had been running loose in the cove area of our town for at least three weeks. The Humane Society tried to trap him but he was too smart for them. The person who rescued him took food and water to him every night in a little park across the street from her house. She did this for three weeks, named him Henry and tried to befriend him. He was very scared because people had sprayed him with a water hose and done all sorts of things to him to get him out of their yards. At the end of three weeks she bought a lot of hot dogs. She put the hot dogs in the park, across the street, up her yard and steps and into the house. Henry ate them across the street and retreated, then he came back and ate halfway up the yard. Finally he came back and she left the front door open with the lights off. She hid behind the door. When he came into the house she shut the door and turned on the lights. He just laid down on the floor with a big sigh. Thank goodness for her for I am sure if the Humane Society had gotten him they would have put him down. From all appearances he looked like he was covered with mange. He wasn't, but he looked that bad.

She took him to the vet and got all of his shots, then she took him to a groomer and all they could do was shave him. He had a skin infection, eye infection and ear infection. She kept him for a couple of weeks and then we came into the picture. She ran an ad in the paper for three weeks, called every vet, groomer or boarder in our area and no one had ever seen the dog.

My husband and I brought him home, not knowing if he would get along with our three dogs. He was very humble and put up with all kinds of stuff with our Welsh Terriers. He and Maggie got along just great. Somewhere in his life he had been loved. He was neutered and obedience trained. He was a perfect gentleman in the house. We never used a crate with him and he never marked or chewed up anything in the house.

He had several melanomas that we had removed. They had spread through the lymph glands but treatment was not recommended. Henry lived with us for 3 1/2 years before he died. The vet estimated that he was at least 10 years old when we got him. Unfortunately he died with bloat which was a horrible experience for all of us.

This was one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done. We feel very positive that we made such a difference in his life the 3 1/2 years he was with us.

Henry was with us for at least 6 months before his tail ever wagged. He of course wanted to eat everything in sight and got up to 120 lbs. We got that under control and he looked really good at around 110lbs. It took him a long time to realize that he had his own food dish and that no one was going to eat what I put in it but him. We had him about one year and all of a sudden I realized that he had walked away from his dish and left food in it. It made me want to sit down and cry. He was a gentle giant that had had some really bad times in his later years. We loved him dearly and still miss him.

Maggie was rescued in a way because we got her from a backyard breeder. She is oversize, tall and weighs 90 lbs.

She has severe hip displaysia, had TPO surgery on one hip at 6 months and a total hip replacement at 10 months in the other hip. She is a wonderful companion who goes to work with me everyday. She is a little weak in the backend because she was towel walked from 6 months to 18 months while she recuperated from the surgeries. Her muscles atrophied during that time. She has such character, there was nothing that the vet asked her to do that she would not do. They were amazed at her stoicism and courage.

We made about 8 trips to the University of Florida Vet School with her (6hrs one way). We have learned so much from her about compassion, courage , grace and accepting your disabilities. We feel that we have received much more from her that we have expended in medical expenses.

Annie came to us at the age of 9 months as a rescue. She was purchased as a Christmas present for a 1yr and 3yr old. When she was 9 months old and 45 lbs they were ready to get rid of her.

We picked her up for rescue and decided to keep her ourselves. We had her spayed and about two weeks after that she sprained her ankle and had to spend 8 weeks confined in a crate. After that rocky start she settled right in as a member of the family.

She is a typical rambunctious dale. She loves Maggie and has learned to play a lot of games with her on the floor thus adjusting to her disabilities. We bought a huge crate when Annie had to be confined with her ankle which Maggie now uses to retreat to when she has had enough of Annie's foolishness.

She is a real companion and wants to be with you all the time. Maggie on the other hand is a little more aloof and wants her own space. We think they are a perfect match for each other.