Nine year old girls Bailey and Dakota were litter mates who lived together in the same loving home before unfortunate circumstances found them being surrendered to us by their lifelong owner. A foster home that could take two dogs could not be found, so each girl was placed in her own loving foster home with at least one other canine companion. We were always hopeful that they could be reunited. After losing their home, yet another trial awaited the sisters - our vet found that each had a rapidly growing and infected cyst that required surgery.

Fortunately for Bailey and Dakota, Christmas was just around the corner, and a nice lady named Terri was looking for a mature Lab to keep her retired father company in his home in the mountains. When Terri heard Dakota and Bailey's story, she told her dad and they drove together to Denver to meet both girls. We thought they would go home and talk it over, but upon meeting Bailey and Dakota, Don told us he wanted to adopt both of them and let them stay together.
 
The original owners of the girls wrote to us to say, "It is so comforting to know where they are, and together--wow!! Thank you for your love and commitment, and for easing our pain. You have made an unbearably tough decision, bearable."

The silent victims of tough economic times are the dogs that are given up when their families find they cannot afford to provide for their medical care or when they have to move to accommodations that will not allow them to bring their larger furry family members. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are able to bring comfort to families who have fallen on hard times by rescuing their Labs, taking care of medical needs that have been unattended and rehoming them with loving families. Click here to help us take care of a Lab whose family had to leave him or her behind.
 

Bailey with Don and Dakota with Terri at their adoption.

Thanks to Phillip and Anne for fostering Bailey, and to Shannon and Matt for fostering Dakota, and to both foster families for their extraordinary dedication to the needs of these two labs. Shannon shared this report of the girls' reunion at the showing:

"The reunion was great!  At first they saw each other outside and it took a bit of sniffing till tails were wagging! They came inside and Dakota's tail just never stopped wagging! She kept going up to Bailey and sniffing her and she'd kiss her snout. Really warms the heart when you know they'll be together again."

Amy and Steve arrived at the foster home to meet Chipper, a young energetic, one year old guy, and fell for him immediately. They really loved his gentle goofiness, but they couldn't help noticing shy Zana in the corner, a lovely six year old Lab who was also being fostered in the home.

Zana came over to say hi a few minutes later and walked nicely with them on their walk with Chipper. While Chipper commanded most of the attention, Zana slowly made her way into Steve's arms for a cuddle, and he was a goner. She then leaned over into Amy and there was no turning back. Amy and Steve decided a double dip of chocolate in the family was just what they needed and the decision was made to adopt them both! Energetic Chipper and cuddly, calming Zana have found their home amongst some great people.

Lindsay calls herself "the Girl Friday" at Alameda East Vet Clinic; however, she has officially headed up the medical records department for almost five years.  Lindsay grew up around animals in a Kansas farm town. She says her favorites are cats (Labbies cover your ears!) because as a child she found them easier to hold and carry around.

One of Lindsay's favorite parts about being at the clinic is interacting with the animals- "They just steal my heart"!  As far as her real job, she says she's a "little compulsive and well organized", traits that serve her, the clinic, and Safe Harbor well.

 

Lindsay, the music/baseball/books and Colorado-lover, has fans who say she's an essential member of the Safe Harbor medical team, responsive, patient, and compassionate with that all-important sense of humor. Lindsay in turn says, "They look out for me and Dr. Steen - they have our backs!"

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

All current SHLR adoption facilitators and fosters, and anyone who is thinking about becoming a foster, is invited to attend our FREE Dog Handler Training Seminar.

 

Sunday February 13th at 3pm

OR

Sunday March 20th at 1pm

 

VCA Mountainview Animal Hospital

5790 E. County Line Place

Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 

 

Presented by Kari Bastyr, MS, CDBC from Wag & Train

 

Come learn about dog language and behavior as it relates to foster dogs: Introducing dogs to other dogs and cats, what to do if a foster dog growls at you, instructions on potty and crate training, information on dominance (it's not what you think it is!), feeding, basic training, chewing, pulling, separation anxiety, aggression, and leash-reactivity.

Fosters RSVP to labhikergals@yahoo.com. All others RSVP to
safeharborlabs@gmail.com. Indicate which date you will attend. This is for people only - no dogs. There will be lots of FREE stuff from Kong and Petmate to take home with you.

Kari is also teaching "The Myth of Dominance and Leadership" on February 13th at 1pm. This class is open to the public and costs $25. Register at www.wagandtrain.com.