As a young couple, we wanted our first dog together to have the best life it could and to really connect with the right dog for us. After having an unfortunate almost-adoption experience at a local shelter, we knew a rescue was the right option. And Janet at Angel’s Heart was the perfect resource. She had so much information about the health, behavior, and personality of her dogs. We were a little nervous at first about the application process just because it was much more in-depth than the shelters we had looked at, but it clearly has its purpose in the adoption because it was so smooth!
Our Zephyr, originally Gemma, is an older-labelled dog with a pup’s heart. Although the vets keep telling us her age number, she doesn’t seem to have a clue. She jumps at everything, runs miles every day around the backyard, and hates it when we make her turn around on hikes! A strong alpha female, she was confident the moment she came home and settled into her place in our life immediately with a daily training regimen. When we first brought her home, she was overly protective of us around other dogs, but with professional behavior training and appropriate correction she is steadily learning to be calm and easy around well-socialized dogs.
We took our first family vacation to Santa Barbara, CA about two months after her adoption. She got to play at the beach, chase seagulls, and lick the sand out of her paws. Zephyr doesn’t look like she’s ever been happier! And I know our home finally feels complete with such a sweetheart at its center!
**Adam and Alexandria**
I didn’t realize I be searching for another dog so soon after having to put down my nearly 15 year old beagle mix that I had since she was 7 1/2 weeks old, but 2 months later I was. And after much searching on Petfinder.com and Adoptapet.com I came across Caper at Angel’s Heart Rescue. He was the size, age and cuteness I had been looking for. Janet let me know that he had possibly been abused and explained that Caper was still quite hesitant to be approached by people. But when all was said and done, after meeting him, he and I were in my car headed off on the hour drive to our home.
Scared does not begin to describe how he reacted when we first got home, but gradually, he relaxed. Within a few days he knew that I was his person and was showing lots of love. But that brought on some serious separation anxiety when I left for work. Without going into lots of detail, it was not easy or pleasant for either of us! Knowing this poor dog had been through a lot, I did not want to give up on him. He deserved a chance to have a happy life.
Today, it has been just one month but what a different dog I have! He is a dog with spunk and personality! He loves to run laps in his backyard (he’s like a speeding blonde bullet), or just hang out in the sun while I’m gardening. He will snuggle in my lap or next to me on the couch; he is such a love! I can trust him in the house when I leave (I have a doggie door). He’s not thrilled when I leave, but there is no barking and all is fine when I get home. He is able to meet strangers, sniff and let them pet him without bolting. I just can’t believe the progress he has made!
I know many people want to have loving, grateful pets as soon as they bring them home form a shelter or rescue. But that just isn’t how it works most of the time. Time and patience is required for these animals to adjust. If you give them a chance, chances are you will be rewarded with a pooch that might just surpass your expectations! That’s definitely what happened for me with my sweet Caper.
Kerrie – Caper’s mom
We decided to get a companion dog for our Pitbull/Rhodesian mix named Ginger.
We looked at websites for the L.A. area dog rescues and came across “Angel’s Heart Dog Rescue”. I really like the way Janet gives complete descriptions of the various adoptable dogs and think this really helps in the “matchmaking process”.
I explained to Janet the kind of dog we were looking for: on the smaller side, dog friendly, good with kids, etc. She recommended a few, however I wasn’t sure if any of them would be a good fit for us (I have to say, most of the dogs are so much friendlier in person – so don’t let the serious pictures deter you!) Finally, I took her advice on one named Allister and decided to do a “meet and greet” with him and Ginger. I’m so glad we did! He has been great!
The first couple of days were a little stressful for him and he was really scared of our dog (she’s three times his size, but not aggressive in the least). However, by the third day Ginger and Allister were napping together, and kissing each other on the lips. It’s only been a few weeks now and they are best buddies. They clean each other, play, nap together, and are inseparable. It’s been really fun to see. He also gets along great with the humans in our house and is always looking for someone to sit on the couch with him and cuddle. We feel really lucky to have him.
I hate to think that Allister could have been euthanized and I am so grateful that Angel’s Heart Rescue gives these dogs (who would otherwise be euthanized) a chance to find a loving home.
The Dayday family
Our 2 1/2 year old Boxer, Stella, was in need of a friend. After searching online, we came across Stanley (formerly Jeremy), a wee bit of a guy but, after seeing his video and his playfulness and holding his own with another large dog, we knew it could be a good match. We drove over an hour to have them meet and it was pretty much love at first sight. After a few moments of getting to know each other, we knew and Janet knew that these two were meant to be together. And that love only continues to foster. They slept together the first day!!! They take turns cleaning each other (are they cats??), as well as chasing each other playing keep away with a ball. They love to be with each other all through the day. Whatever fears we had with bringing such a little guy into our world has been replaced with much love and joy. Stella couldn’t be happier and we know Stanley is enjoying his new home. Thanks to Angel’s Heart these two have found each other as well as our family.
The Biales Family
June 11, 2012
In 2011, after losing our pit-lab mix to cancer the previous year, we were finally ready to get a companion for our 12-year-old chow mix. Since we always rescue dogs, we first went to our local shelter. In Orange County, shelter dogs get adopted quickly (at least it seemed so while I was looking) and people were waiting in line hours before the shelter opened to adopt a dog the first day it became available. So we decided to go further afield and started looking online. That’s when I found Angel’s Heart Dog Rescue.
We wanted another pit mix, but wanted a mellow, calm dog that would not bother our older dog too much. Ralph (endearingly called Ralphie by us) fit the bill perfectly, and I fell in love with him at first sight. He was rescued by Janet on his last day at her local shelter, and we are so very happy to have him.
After some time passed, and many trials and tribulations (Ralphie lost an eye to melanoma, and tore both his CCL’s, requiring double surgeries) our older dog got older and could no longer go on walks and hikes with us. So we decided to get another dog to keep Ralphie company on our walks (yes, we got a dog for our dog). Since I was so impressed with Janet, her knowledge of dogs, and her insight into dog personalities, I went right back to Angel’s Heart.
I wanted a smaller dog, so we made arrangements to look at a dog Janet had on her website. When we got there, we knew right off the bat that the dog was not right for us. But Janet had just brought home a new dog from the shelter that was not even on her website yet. It was not a dog I would have picked, being a scruffy terrier mix, but Ralphie seemed to like him and Janet urged us to take him home for a trial run. And Janet was SO right! He fit in perfectly, and he is just the smartest dog that we have ever had.
So thank you Janet for our wonderful dogs, and all the help and resources you gave us while Ralphie was going through his surgeries. If you want a great dog, go to Janet of the Angel’s Heart Dog Rescue. She knows what she’s doing!!!
Kathi and Bill Campbell
I spotted Zoey online and it was love at first sight. She had a broken leg and Janet rescued her. Zoey fit into the family perfectly. After a year, we decided to get her a playmate. We of course, went back to Angel’s Heart and found Zeke. “Zeke and Zoey,” a perfect match. It was just that, “a perfect match.” The 2 love each other, they are the best of friends. They play, snuggle together and even like to eat from the same bowl. They are both loved and spoiled rotten. We are so grateful to Janet for providing us with two of the most perfect pets we could ever hope for. Lisa and Troy
Posted 06-01-2012) We recently adopted, “Linus” from Angel’s Heart Dog Rescue, on 3/4/2012. Linus is a scruffy little guy, a Chihuahua and Wired Haired Terrier mix, who makes us laugh every day and whom we adore!!!
Our Rat Terrier, Caper, at 9 years old, was alone for the first time in her life. By alone I mean her companion, Cody, a McNab Border Collie had passed away at 16 years of age. Over the next year she became depressed and very needy of the family’s attention. And although we tried to keep her busy and happy, we could not fill the void in her life that Cody’s death left. She loved us, but needed one of her own kind to play tug of war, chase squirrels, dig, and all of the other fun activities that dogs like to do!
I started looking online, and found Angel’s Heart Rescue! I saw Linus’s photo on the website and thought, “Look at that face, he is a young dog, with an old soul.” We filled out the adoption application, passed, and made an appointment to meet Linus. Before us, another family had come to look at him, passed on him, and yet another adopter had adopted him, but returned him two weeks later, stating that Linus did not fill the void in her life that her previous dog had left. Well, Linus certainly had been through a lot for such a little three year old, but life was about to change for him, and for us.
Linus has been in our family now for about three months, and what a joy!! He is still a young dog, but he no longer has to worry about what tomorrow will bring! We love him! And he loves us! One friend said, “Mary, Linus does not just love you, he’s IN love with you!” So, not only is he Caper’s best buddy, but he is taking care of the rest of us as well!
A couple of weeks ago when the family was over for dinner, our son Bob said, “Do you notice anything different about Caper?” We all looked at Caper who was napping quietly in one of her beds, and then we looked back at Bob! He said, “Usually she has to be sitting on mom’s lap or on somebody’s lap! Today she is just relaxed and happy to be on her own bed!” I know it was Linus who has made the difference, and whew, the pressure is off of us a bit.
History does repeat itself. When Cody’s mother, Maggie, died and Cody was unhappy and depressed, we got him a puppy, and that puppy was of course, Caper. But this time a rescue dog was a must! And oh my goodness, we are so-o-o blessed! And Janet really knows how to pick them to create that good fit for all.
Over the years, we have been fortunate enough to have some amazing, loving, intelligent, loyal and unforgettable dogs in our lives and Linus is one of those special dogs too! We are so glad that we opened up our hearts and home to a rescued dog that needed our special love and who also brought a special healing back into the life of Caper, and also to us!
Mary, Don, Caper & Linus
Don, Linus, Mary and Caper on Linus’s adoption day.
Linus and Caper playing tug-of-war
1) “It has been about five months since we adopted Dandelion the pit-mix from Angel’s Heart Dog Rescue. I’m happy to report that she has fit in perfectly and we could not imagine our home without her. She and Penelope (our yellow lab) have become inseparable buddies. They play together, lie together, simultaneously drink from the same water bowl, and cause trouble together (who ate the cell phone!?) I know it was that mouthy lab, but I bet Dandy had her turn with it too! Dandy is such a sweetheart that if you scold her for anything she will want nothing more than to come give you a couple of small licks on the leg or hand to say she’s sorry. We could not have asked for a dog with a better temperament. She is affectionate and playful and above all wanting to please.
My wife and I often reflect on the fact that at one time Dandelion was running around the streets of L.A. without a home or anyone to care for her, yet now we couldn’t imagine our own home without her. It gives us daily satisfaction that she now has a family including a happy playmate and we are grateful for Angel’s Heart for rescuing her from being euthanized. I think Penelope is grateful too. Sincerely, Matt D.- 6/24/2010”
2) “Querida (formerly known as Paige) has truly become a “loved one” in our family just as her Spanish name implies. While Querida remains a shy and nervous dog, she is sweet and loving. She is content to just snuggle up next to us on the couch or fetch balls in the backyard all day. She may always be somewhat skittish, but she has improved greatly since she has been with our family. It is rewarding to know that we have potentially saved her from being euthanized, but it is really Querida who has done more for us than we have for her. Our children love her dearly and enjoy taking her for walks, playing fetch with her in the yard, or getting down on the ground to play with her. She views us as her “pack” and we view her as a loving member of our family. Tanya G”
3) “This is Zoey, the newest member of our family. She is a bouncy, pouncy bundle of fun. She loves to play with anything and everything. We also call her, “The Joker.” She watches TV and is fascinated with airplanes. Zoey loves attention and is a giant pest and we wouldn’t have it any other way! We are very thankful to Janet and Angel Heart Dog Recue for saving Zoey and for repairing her broken leg so we could adopt her and bring her home to live with us! She was once shelter bound due to her injuries, but thanks to Angel’s Heart, she’s all healed up and now a forever member of our family. Lisa G”
4) “Having lost our loveable dog “Lady” to cancer, I thought it would be a while before I could ever think of replacing my golden retriever with another dog. After nine months, I told my husband that I needed to get another dog to wrap my arms around. So my kids and I went to work scouring every website we could find for a rescue dog to take home. After a long search and an infinite number of photos and character details, we went online to Petfinder and found “Piper” who was up for adoption at Angel’s Heart Dog Rescue. I knew I wanted a rescue dog and I knew I wanted Piper the minute I saw her scruffy little face.
So, I contacted Janet by e-mail with all my questions about Piper’s character. Janet answered everything for us and then she asked us about our character. It was impressive to us to see how she cared so much about who the prospective owners would be and what the living conditions would be for her adoptees. Well, we passed our interview. Now, I had to convince my husband to make the 1,000 mile round trip to pick up Piper. I presented the idea and we started making the plans for the trip that day.
When we met Piper, she sort of knew she was going home with us and it was “love at first sight” for us. In training, Piper has quickly learned to sit, lay down, stay, drop it, leave it, shake and now she can give us a “high five.” She loves to go to dog park and on long walks. She is just a blur on our camcorder because she runs incredibly fast! We have had Piper with us for a little over four months and marvel at how she loves to do training. She’s a smart little girl who looks a lot like the dog in the movie, “Because of Winn Dixie”.
Piper is happy and healthy and very much loved! She is very content in our home and gets lots of attention from all of us. She has a crazy personality and likes to sing to us on occasion. We can’t say thank you enough to Janet for rescuing Piper from one day away from certain death at the shelter, bringing her to Angel’s Heart, nursing her back to health, and finding a “forever home” with us! Marian J.”
5) “When we adopted Lucy, an adorable Poodle/Schnauzer mix, we knew that she came with some emotional and behavioral issues. We didn’t realize how needy she would be, but with some patience and effort she has become the most loyal and loving dog there could be. She hates to be left alone, but fortunately she loves to travel. She has been with us on many car trips including the California coastline, Palm Springs, San Francisco and most recently she traveled 1800 miles each way to Minnesota! She makes no fuss in the car and patiently looks out the window or quietly naps. She loves to be a part of the family, which consists of me, my husband and my 90 year old mother, and is happiest when we are all together in one room. She has brought us so much love and happiness. Ruth E.”
7) “My boyfriend and I adopted 2.5 year old Daphne in February 2010 from Angels Heart Rescue as first time dog owners. I had wanted a dog for years, but had previously been renting from a landlord that didn’t allow pets. Daphne captured my affection instantly with her sweet and playful personality, cute stubby tail, and big jowly smile. She did incredibly well adjusting to her new home and family with minor adjustment issues – mainly chewing floor mats and stealing pillows. I would say that there were few to no surprises when it came to Daphne. Angels Heart did a great job describing Daphne’s personality and behavioral traits (both good and bad) and giving suggestions on how to help Daphne adjust to her new environment such as using pet gates and obedience training.
Daphne loves people. She is warm and friendly with everyone she meets and everyone that comes to our gate (definitely not a guard dog). When guests come over she loves the attention, she puts her head right on your lap so you can pet her. She loves to play at the dog park – she doesn’t chase balls but likes to chase other dogs while they are chasing balls. Daphne is a peace maker, getting in the middle if she sees dogs being aggressive. She loves squeaky toys, tug-a-war, car rides, chasing squirrels, and sitting on your lap. She is well mannered, gentle with kids, and a good listener most of the time. We are very happy with Daphne as part of the family and are so grateful that Janet rescued this wonderful and kind pet that has brought us so much joy. Jennifer V.”
Angel’s Heart Dog Rescue has many Happy Tails to share. . . please click on the link below and review some of our happy adoptions!
E-mail: adopt@angelsheartdogrescue.com
Angels Heart Dog Rescue's Blog 