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Wet Nose Blog
Home › Dog tales › From shelter dog to neighborhood sweetheart

From shelter dog to neighborhood sweetheart

October 3, 2013Dog tales, Pet training & health

Erika and Gweni anniversary

Erika has been serving in the Navy for more than a decade, but still finds time to be a hero to a beautiful black Border Collie mix named Gwenivere. Just days from their one-year honorable adoption anniversary, Erika tells us how Gweni has changed both of their lives for the better. Thanks to our adoption partner Virginia Beach SPCA for helping us make this match!

Hi!  As I approach my one year anniversary with my sweet Gweni, I realized that I can’t remember if I ever sent the picture I owed you!  I’ve got a million pics of her, but about two of both of us! Erika and Gweni anniversary

She is doing great!  We’ve done full rounds of obedience training, passed our Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, and are just the sweetest dog!

She’s become the neighborhood sweetheart.  I’m not even sure the neighbors remember my name, as all I get as we pass by are, “Hi Gweni!” and a following of kids who’ll drop everything to come love on her.  She loves playing with her doggie football in the back yard and watching the neighborhood kids play out front.

After being bitten by that dog about two weeks after I got her last October, all the obedience training and socialization training has finally paid off, and in the last two weeks she’s finally gotten to be in the active dog group at daycare, as opposed to the constantly supervised group.  In fact, she’s now so dog happy that I’m starting to see if I can find her a perfect doggy friend so they can keep company when I’m out. Unfortunately, she was so sore from playing on Tuesday that we’re headed back to the vet tonight to see if we have some arthritis going on, or if we’re hurt.  I suspect arthritis.  There was debate whether she was four or six at adoption, and I’m pretty sure she was 6 and is now 7.

We also had another small setback with a mast cell tumor on our front right leg/upper pad that put us in a cone of shame again for most of August, but she’s had it removed (yikes, vet bills!) and is now back to her happy self.  Praying the tumors leave us alone now, as this was her second in a year.

Thank you so much for all your help, she is just a fantastic companion and exactly what I needed in my life, and I like to think I was perfect for her. ~ Erika, United States Navy

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One Comment

  1. Susan says:
    October 3, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    Wow Erika, You just roll with the punches as they say. There’s a problem, you do what needs to be done to fix it. Gweni is lucky to have you take such good care of her and this post shows how much you’ve helped her to thrive. You are awesome!

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Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 years of service to our nation. And in 2012 he was one of our early adopters - literally and figuratively - when he rescued then 2 year-old Ellie.

Ellie is now 13 and the pint-sized pup is still living large with Clark and his family, who recently gave us this heartfelt shoutout:

"Wanted to thank you for the many years of support your team has provided! It has helped out immensely over the years! Thank you all for what you have done and for what you continue to do."

Sounds like a mission accomplished to us!

Thanks to our partners @ranchocoastal - one of our earliest shelter partners - for this enduring match, and for continuing to waive adoption fees for veterans in our program.

#gotchadayanniversary #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterdog #adoptashelterpet #militaryfamily #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #usmarinecorps #petsforvets
Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just th Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just threw a lifeline to Kali, a stunning Cane Corso mix. This big, beautiful girl was in the care of our partners @norfolkanimals which gives veterans we serve 50% off adoption fees.

Click to the next photo to see their freedom ride pic!

#canecorsoofinstagram #canecorso #bigdogs #bigdogsofinstagram #bigdogstrong #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #weratedogs #navyveteran #navy #usn #usnavy #norfolkva
CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in t CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, including the addition of an older cat who joined her after the loss of a beloved pet.

Click the link in our bio to read their tale!

Thanks @sdhumanesociety for helping us make this purr-fect story possible and for waiving adoption fees for veterans in our program. ❤️

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You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad gives up his armchair for you. ❤️

Congratulations to nearly 9 year-old Holly Belle who's already made herself at home. She met Chuck through our partners @fredspca - which waives adoption fees for veterans we serve...oorah!

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Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world a sweet New Year, especially the men and women of the U.S. military who serve in all corners of the world in defense of our freedoms, including the freedom to practice (or not) the faith of our choosing.

L'shana tovah!

#lshanatova #lshanahtovah #roshhashana #roshhashanah #happynewyear #jewishnewyear #freedom #freedomofreligion #sweetnewyear
Meet two of our recent cat-tastic heroes: * Tim i Meet two of our recent cat-tastic heroes:

* Tim is active duty Army and just became cat dad to Iceburg - one cool cat (sorry, we couldn't resist)! Thanks to @jeffcospca for this purr-fect match and for giving veterans we serve $100 adoption fees.

* Andre is an Army National Guardsman with a heart for older pets. He met 11 year-old Camo (great name!) through our partners @nfsaws in Connecticut, which offers our veterans 50% off adoption fees.

#cats_of_instagram #adoptasheltercat #adoptashelterpet #adoptdontshop #nalacat #whitecat #calicocat #seniorpetsofig #adoptaseniorcat #armylife #army #army #armynationalguard #petsforvets #realmenlovecats
It's adoptapalooza "J" edition! * Jonasia is an A It's adoptapalooza "J" edition!

* Jonasia is an Army veteran who visited our partners @bmorehumane and added 3 year-old Josey to her family. This gorgeous hound and her adorable human sister are both so pretty in pink...twinning!

* James is an Iraq war veteran who needed the comfort of a 4-legged battle buddy. Three year-old Nami fit the bill after being in the care of our partners @lollypopfarm!

* Jacob is active duty Army and met Charlemagne at @jeffcospca where this stunning Shepherd-Retriever mix just fetched a new home!

Thanks to all of our shelter partners mentioned in this post - and across the country - who help us place animals in need with our nation's heroes.

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Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing as his guiding philosophy. Eventually that attitude led the Marine Corps veteran to save a shelter dog who would forever change his perspective on adoption.

Click the link in our bio to read this truly inspirational tale!

#usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #marinecorpsveteran #iraqwar #combatveteran #militaryfamily #cutedogsofinstagram #weratedogs #adoptdontshop #petsforvets #muttsrule
22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue 22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue to honor the lives of thousands of souls lost that day and in the years that followed, including two as yet unnamed victims identified within the last few days.

May they all rest in heavenly repose with the knowledge that we will never waiver, we will always stand on the side of freedom, and we will never, ever forget.

#september11 #neverforget #neverforgotten #nineeleven #911 #worldtradecenter #marines #army #coastguard #navy #airforce #fdny #nypd #rip #waronterror #freedom #freedomisntfree #shanksville #pentagon
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