Tootsie - My Soul mutt

Tootsie is a 10 year old Spaniel mix and my best friend. I call her my soul mutt. Simply put, a soul mutt is that one dog we seem to have an extra, spiritual connection to. They seem to understand us better; to know when we're happy, sad, or just need them to be near us. And they respond quickly to whatever the need is. It's as if we can communicate on some deeper level than normal.

From the moment I saw her picture on petfinder.com, I knew Tootsie was going to be my dog. I got her from a local shelter on her last day. She was scheduled for euthanasia on Friday -- I got her Thursday. The shelter manager had kept her three weeks longer than he was supposed to because she was such a good dog. He was relieved when I adopted her. She immediately got along with my two older (and sometimes crabby) dogs. Tootsie loves walking, and running, in the park, chasing her squeaky ball, and relaxing with her favorite chewy. Her favorite thing is to have her back and neck scratched. At night she sleeps at the foot of my bed.

She is a great dog and helps me with all the foster dogs that come through our house. She teaches them how to behave. Everyone says she's a wonderful, well-trained dog and I just remind them how wonderful it is to adopt a dog from a shelter. She's the best!


Rev. Claudia Barber
Dearborn Heights, MI

Help animal survivors of the earthquake in Japan

On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced a 9.0-magnitude earthquake, the largest in the country's recorded history. The earthquake caused tsunamis of up to 33 feet that washed 6 miles inland, sweeping up cars, houses, and debris in swift and deadly black waves of destruction. Broken gas lines and damaged infrastructure caused more than 80 fires, some of which burned for days.

Between the earthquake, the fires, and the tsunami, countless homes have been destroyed. At least 430,000 people are in emergency shelters or with relatives, and another 24,000 are stranded without any shelter, according to the NHK (Japan's national public broadcasting organization). Millions in the northeast are facing near-freezing temperatures without food, water, or electricity.

With people facing these overwhelming conditions, imagine what Japan's animals are facing. As they are confronted with the aftermath of almost unbelievable destruction; they too have lost homes and family. They too are likely to be cold, hungry, and confused. They need our help. Please go to the Animal Rescue Site SAVE JAPAN'S TSUNAMI DOG SURVIVORS.

Please help. GreaterGood.org will earmark all donations toward emergency assistance and recovery for animal victims of this staggering disaster.

Why a Gift That Gives More™ is a smart, effective donation.

100% of your donation will go to emergency assistance and recovery for animal survivors of the Japan earthquake, tsunami, and aftermath as a grant through GreaterGood.org.  GreaterGood Network stores do not receive any profit from donations through this Gift That Gives More™; we bring it to you in the spirit of the greater good. We even pay the credit card transaction fee, so every cent of your donation goes to charity.

Your donation is 100% tax-deductible in the U.S.A.

You will receive a receipt from GreaterGood.org for your taxes. GreaterGood.org has ultimate authority and discretion with regard to the distribution of its funds. All expenditures made are consistent with the exempt purposes of GreaterGood.org.

Check with your employer: your company may match your donation. If you need to fax in a matching donation, please use our fax number: (206) 264-8448.

Zeus the "Defective" Cocker Spaniel

Zeus is deaf and has starburst eyes, the result of two merle dogs being bred to each other. He also has a heart murmur. Zeus does not bark. I assume that this is because he has never heard a dog bark. He does, however, have a heart wrenching cry when he is scared, lonely or sad. His inability to hear means that he can't be a hunting dog and would fail as a watch dog.

He was adopted and returned to the Sherman Animal Shelter in Sherman Texas. A second person adopted him and also returned him. Each time he was returned, his chances for finding a loving home diminished just a little bit more. As a volunteer at the shelter, I get to know the dogs who don't get adopted or who get returned. Zeus kept coming back. I felt so sorry for him that after a couple of days of thought, I went back to adopt him. In less than two weeks, he has learned sit, down and stay. He has learned to sleep in his crate each night.

Zeus is making great strides in house training. This boy is so smart that one day, I know he will be a great therapy dog and I envision him working with special needs children. He will show the children and the adults that having challenges does not mean that you cannot have a happy productive life, you just have to work a little bit harder to achieve your goals.

Becky Gebhard
Sherman, TX

Sophie the Savior Dog

I found Sophie on Petfinders and knew she was my dog. She came into our lives to help us bring our older dog Bailey out of the fear aggression she was developing after being attacked by another dog.

Sophie is a kind old soul at 1½ years old and she is the best therapist I could have gotten for Bailey. She is patient and very happy. She helps Bailey gain the confidence only one dog can give another.

We've had her for the best 6 months of all our lives and love her unconditionally.

Pat Horowitz
St. Petersburg, FL

Most Faithful Of Friends

When we first met I was 6 and he was 2. We found him on the Golden Retriever Rescue of Michigan ( Franklin, MI. USA) website. His name was Brutus, we named him Mickey. He played with me for hours every day. He became my very best friend, I was his girl.

Of course as many adopted dogs Mickey had his problems. He would run away every chance he got. Eventually he started growing out of his 'bad habit'. I will never forget the first time he ran to me instead of the opposite direction, he ran to me like nothing else in the world mattered.

I truly believe that he is the most amazing animal I have ever, and maybe will ever know. At age 13 we learned that he had cancer. I was devastated, I was not ready to lose him. After much discussion we decided that we would do the surgery needed for the cancer, which was very risky at his age. By some miracle my boy came home after the surgery healthy and happy.

Mickey just celebrated his 17th birthday. I don't know how he keeps going but every day he does is an inspiration to us all.

I think our lives are best summed up like this. We found each other and we became a team, our lives could not have been as wonderful apart as it has been together. When the time comes when we must part ways, I know my spirit will ache and my body will cry but he will always be a part of me, watching me from above. And when my time comes he will be there waiting for me just as he always has, for I am his and he is mine. Very best friends.

Anna Hobig
Sterling Heights, MI

The Most Benevolent Outcome for a Forever Home

Cricket, a black lab/Pit Bull was found wondering the streets of Kissimmee, FL with some deep wounds; one of which went all the way to the bone. Her most benevolent, good Samaritan is a disabled man, named Steve, who owns a service dog.

Steve felt that her cuts were stab wounds or dog bites. He called A Forever Home Animal Rescue, to get help for the dog.

As Lori Masters put seeking a location for her shelter on a back burner, while she called around Kissimmee to find a vet who would work with her. She called for help from her her sister, Andrea Simmons, who’s own vet, offered to treat the dog for a flat fee.

Steve not only drove an hour from Kissimmee to the vet in Orlando, FL but offered the funds he had available, $40. to help pay for her care. He was her angel, for sure! said A Forever Home owner, Lori Masters.

Still unable to find a suitable location to shelter animals, Lori asked Steve if he can keep Cricket for another week. During that week, Cricket, who is only about a year or so old, went into heat. Steve called Lori again, as he was finding it difficult to care for Cricket, as well as his service dog.

Lori and her A Team of sisters literally prayed for the most benevolent outcome for finding Cricket her Forever Home. Within a couple of days, the phone rang answering the prayer. Someone who saw Cricket on Petfinder wanted her.

"We are so fortunate and happy to have her we've been outside playing with her constantly she loves playing with the frisbee and tennis ball shes starting to learn the bring it back part lol heres a few pictures of her
playing out side today."

Lisa M. Smith
Clermont, FL