Thanks for asking about Bolt – he is the most amazing dog ever!  Of course I would hope that everyone thinks that about their dog.

He is truly “my dog” – I’m his favorite.  In comparison to most other dogs his behavior is not “typical”, though I would say he has made so much progress over the last year and a half-he's almost becoming "typical".  Again, not knowing what type of environment he came from, who knew what to expect.  He still doesn’t bark, and he’s not territorial or protective of us or the house.  When someone rings the doorbell, he kind of looks at us as if to say, “are you gonna get that?  It might be dangerous.”  I really think he looks to me to protect him.  He is still not real keen on men, but is cautiously receptive to unfamiliar females.  And like many dogs, he is very afraid of thunder; he also doesn’t like when we use the surround sound on the TV (he’ll run and hide).  He pretty much goes where I go throughout the house, all day, every day.  The only time he doesn’t follow me is after we’ve gone for our last walk of the evening and he sees that I have my PJs on.  It’s only then that he really KNOWS I won’t be going anywhere, and he finally curls up on a chair in the living room.  Every single night he sleeps in his bed on the floor right next to my bed – all night long, every night.  We go for multiple daily walks – about 3 miles per day total, sometimes 5 or 6 miles daily total on the weekends (especially when it’s nice).  He gets SO excited when we ask if he wants to go for a walk – he literally jumps up off the ground and claws at the floor as if to say, “C’mon – hurry up!”  And more about the progress he’s made – when we first were going for walks, he’d shy away from all other dogs or people that may have been outside; he’d try to hide behind me.  Now he actually is happy to see and smell other dogs and people.  He’s funny in that he behaves very differently whether it’s just me around, as compared to if others are around too.  Believe it or not, I have gotten to the point where I can let him out without his leash and not have to worry too much about him “bolting”!  BUT I can’t totally trust him, so I try to let him out (and I’m always out with him) only if I will be home for a while in case he runs away, I need to be there when he gets back (he definitely knows where his home is). And he usually only runs off for about 30 or 45 minutes, and stays pretty much in the neighborhood.  I love to see him race back and forth across the yard too. I never worry about him attacking anyone (though he has caught a squirrel and a few mice!). He is a gentle soul and doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body.  I don’t allow anyone to let him out without his leash except for me.  Even though he doesn’t really listen to me when I say, “Come!”, he definitely won’t even think about listening to anyone else.  If he runs off and I’m not there to let him back in, he will NOT let anyone else let him in the house.  He will stay in our yard and hang out all along the perimeter of the property, but will not go in the house, no way, no how.  Only for me.  And even then, he sometimes will refuse to come in for me.  He just looks at me as if to say, “nope, I’m not ready yet.”  Then he turns his back and hangs around the yard.  He also is not a very cuddly dog – he’s never given me a big wet doggy kiss, and he doesn’t like to sit next to anyone and be petted, he’s definitely not a lap dog – unless it’s thundering.  He also doesn’t care to play much.  He has some toys / balls, but he might chew on a toy for maybe 5 minutes or less, then he’s done.  Even if we try to play with him, he’s done after 5 minutes.  He has no interest in “playing ball” – he can’t catch a ball, he’s not interested in chasing after it or bringing it back.  One thing he DEFINITELY likes to do is bury rawhide bones.  He loves it.  We’ll give him one and he’ll chew on it for a few minutes, then he runs off and buries it in the yard somewhere.  Sometimes he’ll leave it buried for 5 minutes and pick it back up and move it somewhere else; or he may leave it buried for days.  It’s always fun to see him find a bone he buried – he’s so happy.  Eventually, he will eat the rawhide bone.  He gets about one per week, and I bet there are at least 3 or 4 buried around the yard at any one time.  But we have just learned to love him for what he is, and he is a great companion, someone to talk to who is happy to see me when I walk in the door.  We can’t imagine anyone else having him because he’s kind of “special” and not really what most people are looking for in a dog.  We, however, would not trade him for the world.  He has truly become a part of our family – and we spoil him!

I am curious as to what Debbie Grissom might have said – I always mean to bring Bolt to see her when she comes to her brother’s house, which is across the street from my house. 

I also had someone tell me that they thought Bolt was an American Dingo, aka Carolina Dog.  So I checked that breed on the internet and he sure as heck has a lot of the physical and behavioral characteristics of the Dingo.  And I get so many compliments on what a handsome guy he is.  Do you remember anything about where he came from, who brought him in, etc? 

I attached a few pictures of Bolt the wonderdog!  I've been told that he picked me, and I think it's true.

Hello Pat! Thank you for checking in on Casper. We changed his name to Sidney and he is doing really well. We couldn't have asked for a better cat! He is so playful and affectionate and he is really is getting along well with his new "brother" and "sister"! I attached some pictures that I hope you can view- a few of Sidney and one with his brother and sister. Thank you for checking in!

Shelly Polczynski 

Hi , I am just writing to tell the happy ending of Chessie Rae (Chester) and Nala Rose. Both of the girls were shy when we adopted them. Nala did not even want out of her cage she was so shy. Now Chessie is very out-going and loving!! Nala is slowly coming out of her shell and learning to trust again. Since we adopted Chessie before Nala it took some time for the two of them to become friends. Now they are buddies they play & sleep together and groom each other! Since we did not know when the girls birthdays were we decided that we would use the date they came to the shelter and celebrated it with cake and new toys for the girls. The girls can now go outside in their new screen room that we just finished building. At first they were not sure if they wanted out there, but now they love it. They enjoy watching the birds and butterflies outside. Our girls have the run of the house and we treat them like queens. Both Chessie Rae & Nala Rose are very good girls and continue to bloom! They have found their furever home.

We wanted to let you know how much we appreciate and back your organization. We adopted a wonderfully, perfect, beautiful dog to our family.  He has been the dog, or family member that we could of only hoped for in our dreams.  Although we never knew untill we met him this past May at your Berea Animal Rescure Shelter (ARF).  You see, our boys, have always begged for a pet dog.   We, a family that has a boat, with weekends away from home, needed a dog that is the size to travel, because we would never think of leaving them alone during the weekends.  Cooper Julio Young ended up being perfect.  Perfect in size, along with being the most affectionate, loving, beautiful puppy/dog that our family could ever think of having.  We feel so fortunate that the time and opportunity was right.  See if you remember, Julio (then as he was called) was an hour away from being gassed in the Carolton Co. area.  Your wonderfull organization had the people, with the effort and the availability, to rescue our new family member from certain death.  I can't imagine our family without him now. 

     He is great, and he is coming into his own, still seeming a puppy although with the eyes that seem to see and appreciate everything.  He is such a joy, and loves to go out to the boat.  Our marina seems to have more dogs than boats.  He loves walking around and sniffing all the smells, and visiting all his dog friends.  He is widely known and loved throughout.  You can't take him for a walk without 1 out of 2 people stopping to pet, scratch and admire Cooper.

      He loves boat rides on the lake, taking walks, his best friends Tyler and Travis who have waited years to have a dog, and can't be happier with our choice.  Although it never seemed like a choice, there were little hold ups.. (not because of the right steps being made by your organization) but it seemed more like destiny that we were there at the right time, the right place.  I have told more people than not that we received the dog through ARF, and I implore that people thinking of looking for a pet to take the challenge  and stop to look and see the animals.. that are looking for a good home, comanionship, attention and secure loving family.

      Coop has found just that, plus a new buddy called Oreo, our cat who are best of friends from almost the minute they met.  He is such a easy going, adaptable, wonderfully loving dog who now has a family he can call his own.  Thanks to you and your organization.  You look out for the pet and also the right placement to a family who will be greatfull the rest of our lives for the opportunity to have a dog like Cooper, or maybe a cat (whose name has yet to be determined).

     Your Organiztion will be one that in the future we will support, give recommendations, and word of mouth to others looking to save a pet and make them their own.  For their lives will be enriched as much as ours is with Cooper.

      My niece's girl scout  group even took proceeds from their cookie drive to donate to your organiztion.  I will also challenge other groups to donate to such a wonderful organization that has people donating their time  and caring to such a worthy cause.  Make a pet a part of your family..you won't regret it, it's made our family a full circle.    Thank you again for all your efforts, there isn't enough praise to give you for all your accomplishments in finding the right families for the perfect pet.

     Thank you, thank you, ..thank you for everything you do for these animals, and those of us who respect you and encourage others to do.. take the calling of seeing these animals in a well healed and loving environment.    

       Good luck in the future for rescuing these  animals, and finding the perspective families to adopt these wonderful pets.   Your endevores are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Lisa, Peter, Tyler, Travis, Oreo and Cooper Young 

Hi, I want to drop you and the group a line. Sammy is doing so good! He is eating and drinking and acting silly, just like he was at the shelter. He is such a big part of my life now. I have never been a cat owner, but I don't know what took so long! I'm on the 3rd floor of an apartment building. The little old man on the ground floor feeds stray cats. Sammy loves to perch on a windowsill and just talk and talk and talk to those kitties! I also have nice wide balcony doors and I have a bird feeder on my balcony. He just sits in front of those doors for hours watching the birds. He is such a sweetie! My vet tech said his temperament is like a dog and it's true! He comes when I call him! He likes to cuddle in bed with me, always needing to touch my face, especially during storms. I'm attaching pics. Some of them are like "Where's Waldo?" He loves to hide. There is a pic of my TV stand. He is in the left side shelf with his head just poking out a little. He is such a joy in my life and I hope I'm a good mom for him. He seems to be happy!! Thanks again, Renee Foschke