24 Feb Happy Tail for Dennis & Papa Bear!
In a little over a year, my husband, Andrew, and I have adopted two perfect dogs from 4 Luv of Dog, and we couldn’t be more thankful to them for giving us the opportunity to love and have them in our homes. We adopted Dennis in late December of 2013 and Papa Bear in December of 2014. Unfortunately, both have since passed on, but we are so grateful for the time we were able to spend with them. This isn’t just a happy tail for Dennis and Papa Bear, but a happy tale for Andrew and I and a letter of thanks for all that you do. I can’t begin to imagine how hard it must be to rescue dogs every single day — the heartbreak you all encounter at taking in abused and neglected dogs, at giving them to new families after you’ve surely fallen in love with them, and sometimes, the thanklessness of the job you all do. But you volunteer your time and energy and love anyway, and my husband and I are so glad you all do. 
When we first began talking about getting a dog, we weren’t both on board with adopting — Andrew took a little convincing. When I found Dennis on your site, I was won over. It was love. He had a quirky name, huge funny ears, and only three legs. Andrew was still a little leery, but finally gave in to my begging and offered to meet him. After our meeting, Andrew was in love. We couldn’t wait to get him into our home. Dennis was our first dog together, and what a great dog he was. Though not much of a snuggler, the fifteen to twenty minutes he’d cuddle with us in the morning before dropping a toy to start our daily fetch let us know how much he loved us, and he knew we loved him by the absurd amount of fetch we played with him. Hours of fetch. Every. Single. Day. Looking back now, I can’t believe we weren’t only considering adoption — because of the love and care he was shown while with 4 Luv of Dog, I think he knew he was safe and would forever be loved. After he passed, Andrew and I knew that adoption would be the only choice for bringing new furry family members into our home and hearts.
We adopted Papa Bear in mid-December of 2014. He was so lovable and always down to snuggle. He would curl right up into you, and we’d gladly get down on the floor to make it easier for him. He also had some quirky habits — like stealing one shoe and hiding it in his bed. He’d never chew it, but just wanted to keep it close to him (or maybe keep us from leaving the house). He was the perfect amount of playful for our other dog, Gus, and even when he was supposed to be resting, they’d lay on the floor facing each other and playfully paw and poke one another — like two kids who knew they were supposed to be kept separate and quiet, but just couldn’t resist the temptation. Unfortunately, his health problems were too much to bear, so he had to be put down three short weeks after we got him. It’s crazy how quickly he worked his way into our hearts, and we were devastated to see him go. We really treasured the time we had with him. 
Dennis and Papa Bear were perfect for us. They gave us so much love, and in return, we did all that we could to show them we loved them. They made our home a place so full of life and love and joy. They saved us, and despite the loss and heartbreak, we’re looking forward to adopting again.
Holly and Andrew