I found Charlie when he was a year old, wandering down the middle of a road, full of fleas and ticks and skinny as could be. He became terribly ill and was seen by specialists but he just kept getting worse. He was accepted into TAMU’s clinical trial that studied IBD.  He had exploratory surgery and consultations with Canine Nutritionist, Dr. Susan Lauten, Charlie is now nine years old and 84 pounds of rompin’, stompin’, tail waggin’ Yellow Lab! He’s a very happy go lucky (typical lab) boy and loves romping and playing on “his” ten fenced acres. Two highlights in his day. Well, three if you count meals. He LOVES racing the UPS truck. (from inside the fence) and he REALLY LOVES swimming in the 2 acre pond. Okay, four things… he loves scrunching over inch by inch and stealing your bed pillow at night.  He is SweetPea’s Deputy and they dilligently patrol the pond, making certain that no aliens (ducks, geese, cranes) dare invade their dogdom (kingdom).

DaisyDoodle just appeared one day in 2011. You could smell her from a distance and she had just had puppies which were never found. She was matted, filthy, had very little fur, and a large mammary tumor. She has been part of the family for 8 years now, weighs 40 pounds and is a very loved, very happy dog. She has had two surgeries and both back knees are titanium.  She’s “Wonder Dog”!  Everyone else here believes it’s their God-given right to take up as much space as possible on the bed at night. Only Daisy prefers a soft pillow by herself on the floor next to my bed. There is one and only one thing I would change about her. She is a “sheds 365 days a year” dog. It’s unbelievable. According to the fur that is vacuumed up daily, she should be bald. She also looks like a scruffy vagrant even when she’s freshly bathed and brushed. Every day is a “Bad Hair Day” for the Daisy Doodle girl. Shhhh… nobody has ever told her.

Sophie came from a rescue organization in Rock Hill, SC. Tragically there are no laws protecting dogs from neglect, cruelty and abuse here in North Carolina. Before he lost the war with Cancer in 2017 my husband volunteered at our County Animal Shelter and at North Iredell Animal Hospital.  I continue to do all I can to support Hartman’s Haven Rescue as well as driving and monitoring for the all volunteer Martha’s Mutt Movers. Martha and her volunteers transport many dogs in dire straits from the Southern states to grateful, loving families and rescues up North. Anyhow… back to Sophie! She is a certified therapy dog and has made many visits to Hospice Facilities, Hospice patients in their homes, and Assisted Living Centers. With her comical coloring and fun personality, she has brought smiles to the people that need them the most.  Sophie is now 12 years old and retired from Therapy Dog duties.