In this article, we usually feature dogs who have had devastating physical injuries requiring expensive surgery and months of rehabilitation in one of our medical foster homes. This month, our featured dog had emotional injuries, requiring more than four months of care and behavior training.

Anya came to Safe Harbor after being rescued by a Good Samaritan. She had been purchased as a plaything for a child who treated her very badly, leaving her traumatized. She became very wary, untrusting of people and new situations.

After a stay in one of our best foster homes, it became clear that she needed the help of a professional trainer to reverse the damage and help her fully realize that life can be good.

Ted Terroux initially evaluated Anya's issues. She then moved to in-residence training with Rick McMurray from Sally Terroux Dog Training. Rick worked with her for many weeks to help her overcome her fears and gain confidence. Under Rick's patient guidance, Anya made slow but steady progress, and finally was ready to go to her forever home.

Many thanks to Rick (in the center of the photo below) for his excellent work with Anya, and also to Anya's new family Bob and Razzia (also in photo below), for providing a patient and loving home where Anya feels safe as she continues to adjust to new situations.

After her first week in her new home, we hear that "she is a perfect dog in every way - obedient, loyal and a great companion and watch dog. She will sit quietly next to me by the fire in the early evening. We take her for walks, and in the afternoon we continue with training her to heel, sit and stay, and then we have a play catch session in our big empty carpeted basement room."

Hi there, my name is Bear and I'm the incredibly handsome, smiley, three-year-old, shiny black-haired guy in the photo. The good-looking chocolate colored guy is my new brother, Tucker (he's really cool, and I hear he also came from SHLR). And those two happy looking people are my wonderful new forever parents, Cress and Susannah! 

They are Safe Harbor volunteers and brought me home for a foster trial run to see how well I fit into their family. Well, I quickly figured out that this was the home that I had always dreamed of, so I was careful to be a very good boy and make myself useful. I was very friendly to all the people and dogs I met, and I followed my parents everywhere so they wouldn't get lonely, and would know how much I loved them.

I also did a lot of things to help out around the house - like bringing my food bowl over to Susannah when she was sitting at her desk and dropping it right in front of her so she wouldn't have to get up and look all over the house for it. When she didn't react, I had to stare at her for a while to help her realize that she wanted to get up and feed me.

I know that people like surprises, so I buried my rawhide all over the house and then left it behind the cushions of the living room couch. Boy were they excited when they found it! I think that's when they knew they had to have me around forever. And so, after only three days I officially became a member of my very own forever family, and I am now one happy Bear!

Nancy Lynch has THE set-up for transporting Labs from Nebraska - four crates with soft bedding, toys, chews, treats and water fill up the back of her vehicle. She's part of a relay team that covers several states. Nancy has the reputation of being well organized and savvy at interpreting Lab behaviors.

Nancy and her husband, Pete, live in the foothills outside the city - both retired early. She is an RN; Pete was an airline pilot. She's a Lab Lover; he's a Golden lover. At last count they live with one Lab and two Goldens.

Nancy has transported for three years and enjoys the long, solitary trips to Nebraska as well as talking to her passengers during her return. One memorable transport was Sara, pregnant and abandoned out in the cold. Nancy delivered Sara to us and the pups were born the next day. "That was the best feeling," Nancy recalled.

Pictured above are: Nancy, Pete, their two rescued Goldens Tucker and Georgia, and their rescued Yellow Lab Sammy.

If you are interested in fostering or volunteering, visit our
Volunteer web page.

I was very excited about the turnout for our first annual Shindig. There were about 75 people in attendance and the crowd seemed very enthusiastic.

It was great to be able to educate people a little bit about SHLR's mission and entertain them at the same time. We had several inquiries about fostering afterward. We plan make it an annual event and a number of musicians have indicated an interest in participating next time. 

Kit Simon, the owner of the Olde
Town Pickin' Parlor where the event took place and who adopted Toby, a Safe Harbor Lab (who was in attendance), generously provided stage, seating and sound system as well as lending his own unique and masterful guitar and vocal sounds.

We are grateful to Willie Hammond, Brad Murphey, Rich Zimmerman, Marlo Mortensen and Blaine McIntire, and Jim Penta for donating their time and talent as well. Willie's CD was available for purchase and a portion of the proceeds from the sales were donated to Safe Harbor.

Thank you all for a great event!