Since the beginning of 2011, we have taken in a number of Labs with extraordinary medical needs. Most are still in our care as we wait until they are healed before placing them for adoption.

Drake came to us as a stray from a rural shelter. Our vet noted he had an unusual "cow hocked" stance and soon Drake became lethargic, non-weight bearing on one leg, and started losing weight.

He was taken to the emergency room with a temperature of 106 degrees and put in intensive care. For several days, he struggled to survive.

Diagnostic work revealed he had multiple old pelvic fractures and double hip surgery (FHO's). The bone infection was likely a result of this surgery sometime in his past. He is still recovering, but feeling much better.

The medical costs for the care of deserving Labs like Drake greatly exceed their adoption fees. Your help with these medical costs to ease their pain and suffering before they go to their forever homes is greatly appreciated. Click here to donate today.

Eleven year old Miss Oakley resides at New Dawn Assisted Living in Aurora. She moved in with her "larger-than-typical forever family" in December and has found a "big sister" in Asher Sims, the Activity Director there, who takes Oakley home with her several times a week. (Oakley told me she and Asher are inseparable.)

Oakley has a beautiful reddish-chocolate coat and warm brown eyes that sink into one's heart, and, as Asher says, "Sometimes she looks like a brown bear!" She's a tiny bit plump, but who wouldn't be with 16 people giving her "just a bite".
 
Oakley has a regal way about her, moving gracefully amongst the residents for pats and tummy rubs. Gentle Oakley is brushed regularly by a resident, and when the weather is warm she is bathed outside and loves to take walks. Can it get much better than that for our senior girl?

Oakley's original adoption story is on our Success Stories web page.

The secret to getting Luke to drop 64 pounds in 6 months is pretty basic. Less calories in, more calories expended. He immediately was put on a "meal plan" that never changed during the entire 6 months. We needed to make him feel full so he wasn't hungry all the time, but needed to keep his calorie intake low.

He was fed twice a day, 1 cup of Hills Prescription R/D, 1/3 can of R/D and 1-1/2 cups of canned green beans. At bedtime he was given exactly three Science Diet Light dog cookies. He went on at least two walks a day at his own pace. He had lots of dog friends who went with him so it gave him motivation to keep up. He went swimming twice a day in my pond while the weather stayed nice.

As he lost weight, he had much better endurance and could go on longer and farther walks. He had weekly weigh-ins at the vet and consistently lost 2-3 pounds per week.

Now that he's achieved his goal weight, his new owner has gradually switched him to a low-calorie commercial dog food and continued with the green beans.

A dog that needs to lose a great deal of weight may have joint issues. Luke was given a daily joint supplement (Dasuquin with MSM) and fish oil capsules. He also had acupuncture and massage every so often.
 
The key is that you, as your dog's caretaker, must be very disciplined and consistent. We all know how those Lab eyes can make you melt, but you have to resist the temptation to reward with food. Once you've reached his/her ideal weight, you can start increasing the amount of dry food or switching to a commercial low-fat food, but you MUST continue on the exercise program. Your dog will love you for it!

See Luke's before and after pictures here.

What does an RN/marriage and family counselor who has worked 30 years do with herself after retirement? If she's Sharon Hill, she volunteers for Safe Harbor.

Sharon, a West Virginia native, began her volunteer work transporting Labbies and reference checking; in January she became foster coordinator: placing dogs into foster homes, recruiting fosters, and communicating with fosters. One of her fans says, "Sharon starts getting a foster lined up as soon as she hears the first whimper from a dog needing placement."

Sharon and her husband, Roger, currently share a "family bed" south of Castle Rock with Labbies, Sienna (chocolate) and Aspen (yellow). Roger has wondered if beds come larger than King-sized.

"Safe Harbor is the best organization I've ever volunteered with. It is so rewarding, and I really believe the dogs know we rescued them."

Thank you, Sharon, for your organizational abilities and your warm, energetic spirit.

Click here to join Safe Harbor's team of amazing volunteers.