So….as it turns out, our Animatch dog Maggie isn’t a Spaniel mix, as everyone who’s met her thinks! According to DNA My Dog, Maggie is a Basset Hound mix. We double checked with them and they said they found no Spaniel DNA in her at all. There you go….

Hi everyone. The yellow brat beside me is a young’un whom I’ve just met, and he goes by the name of Mellow. He’s a little devil (and doesn’t at all match his name!) and thought he could get away with bossing me around as I brought back the ball in my very first swim of the season! How rude! Then again, he’s young and will learn. What a great, great day, on the Gatineau River. I can’t wait for Catherine to bring me back to this wonderful playground where I’ve shown her that water sports are my thing! Hope you’ve had a great summer, Animatch friends.

ADOPTING BELLA WAS INSTINT LOVE,SHE IS A LITTLE GIRLIE AND IS LOVED AND ADORED.EVEN HER NEW BROTHER BOSCO LOVES HER SO MUCH HE DOESNT WANT HER TO LEAVE HIS SIDE.SHE FIT IN RIGHT AWAY TRIES TO BEHAVE HERSELF AT ALL TIMES BUT SLIPS A LITTLE ONCE IN A WHILE.SHE LOVES HER NEW BIG BACK YARD AND CAN RUN LIKE THE WIND WITH BOSCO TRYING TO KEEP UP TO HER.NOW BOSCO WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GET INTO SHAPE LOL.

We are on vacation - this time my people parents brought me on a Ferry, we are headed for Bagotville. I was very nervous at first. Dad took care of it by taking me in his arms - sweet talk and being held closely always works with me lol. My sister Belle was also on this trip we are very close and do everything together. Since I last wrote ( mom is doing the writting but I am watching ) I experienced so many new things - love car rides - love the beach - adore being at the camp ground. You should see me walk on a leash now. Mom shows me pictures of all the adoptees and I just wish that they all find forever homes like I did. I got a clean bill of health from our Vet; my groomer keeps telling me I look great with the pounds I now have on me. Thank You so much for helping me find Mom and Dad.

Hello Animatch, It has been quite some time that we have been meaning to write you. We adopted Roscoe (original name) in October 2008. He arrived to Animatch, with no history, after he was left at a vet in Chateauguay. He is our third retriever and we absolutely adore him. We did a DNA test and he is actually 80% Retriever and 20% German Shephard!

He adjusted in a matter of days and has impressed us to no degree. We take him everywhere with us, both on land and water. We brought him on our sailboat last summer and it was as if he had been a sailor all his life. We are off on a 6 day sailing trip with him next week….I have attached a picture and hope you remember him.

A wonderful dog who is very much loved. He is the perfect match! Thank you again.

Katya & Francois

Please come and help Animatch celebrate the 3rd Annual Beaconsfield Pet Fair & Animal Adoption Day, on Saturday, September 11th, at Centennial Hall, 288 Beaconsfield Blvd., from 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be many activities such as the parade of adoptees, blessing of the pets, pet trick contests with prizes to be won, etc. Also several rescues will be present – Animatch included – who will gladly provide you with information on adopting a dog (or a cat). Join us for a day of fun.

In celebration of Beaconsfield’s 100 Year Anniversary, there will be a parade of 100 adoptees to be held at 11:30 a.m. Please let us know if you are interested in participating with your adopted dog.

Hello to all the kind Animatch Folks & Followers - just for pleasure I’m attaching a You Tube link to see Miss Jezebbelle’s first trip to the beach (Kiawah Island, S.C.). We adopted her, formerly Belle, in June 2007 when she was six years old and she adjusted to our family immediately.

This is her…owning the beach:

I found the most beautiful boy at Animatch. Known as Moby his name is now Toby he is gentle and is just wonderful with my older schnoodle. I couldn’t be happier and I only hope that he is happy too. Any other animatch doggies in Ottawa - please send me your e-mail addresses.

Dear Joanne,

Buckley Worsnip here. My dad is teaching me how to use the keyboard here. He says I’m a natural.

Just a quick note on my days here with my humans Bob and Kathy. (That’s my daddy and mummy!)
I go for a lot of walks with my dad. He says I’m a babe magnet. (what ever that means) But we sure talk to lots of ladies (2 legged and 4 legged) on our walks and they all think I’m gorgeous. It’s a burden being so good looking, but someone has to be.

I went swimming on Sunday with my cousins (Buckley sr. and Sophie). They are older than me and like to keep me in line when I get a little over playful.
Their human my Uncle Ian, says I’m a amazing swimmer and run faster than a speeding bullet.

Things I would love to chase in this order, ducks, seagulls, any bird , squirrels, and some cats. My dad can’t let me off the leash yet till I’ve had lots of training.
Dad and Mum say It’s amazing the love I give them (unconditional). What can I say, I’m a real charmer.

got to go, Love Buckley.

P.S. My dad also taught me checkers. He said I’m not that smart, since I’ve only won 2 games out of 20 with him.

P.S. Give my love to my God Mother Helen. If it was not for her and the rest of the team, I wouldn’t be around today. You guys have made my Daddy (and Mummy) very happy. (but they still call me a goof-ball at times!) and I’ll get a new picture out soon of me. When you’re as handsome as me, you need to keep posing for pictures. My fans wouldn’t want it any other way.

Roxy is in a loving home she is sweet as can be, she is adapting very well and everybody loves her! even the cat!

peace

Okay so, I will be turning 15 months soon, and my family decided to take me on my very first ever VACATION!!! We went to a cottage in the Laurentians, and let me tell you I had quite the week of FIRSTS. It was my very first ever swim in a lake, and I have to admit it was quite interesting…There’s this thing called the DOGGIE PADDLE, and apparently, us doggies just know what to do, automatically, and I guess I did okay…‘cause I’m still around to tell my story!...I also saw my very first CAMP FIRE, and my humans roasted marshmallows and weiners, and lucky me, I got a bite of each one. I also came face to face with some ducks, chased some hopping creature into the bushes, and snapped at every flying insect that passed my way. My most memorable FIRST however was not so pleasant, under the deck of the cottage loomed a WASP NEST,(says my family), and I got to experience my very first, (and second) STINGSl. All in all, the place was great and I even met some other doggies running off-leash, (there was one, in particular, that came to leave a “present” every morning on our lawn, and he was mommy’s favorite!)...My family says that I did great on my first vacation, and that they are very proud of me, and that they are looking forward to taking me on our next “adventure”!

It has been 10 days since we adopted Murphy, a wonderful 6 year old lab mix from Animatch. From the moment we brought him home he behaves like he’s always been here. He has such a wonderful personality, is very calm and confident. He is a constant companion to Tom, as he cannot stand to be more than 5 feet from him when we’re in the house….he’s been up to the lake and even had a peddle boat ride!
He’s even taken up jogging!

We are so happy to have a well trained and well behaved dog, thank you Animatch for such a wonderful experience!

Greetings Animatch Family,

I wanted to provide an update on Kismet, whom I adopted from Animatch last Christmas. Please know our girl continues to do great. She is enjoying her summer here in Toronto very much and is patiently laying next to me as I write this. I love my constant companion. Words cannot describe the bond I have with this beauty!

Kismet has travelled with me on two road trips recently to North Bay, Ontario and west to Goderich, Ontario to visit friends and family. Both trips were about 3 hours travel time each way and Kismet is very calm in the car and such a great house guest. Even my very fastidious Mother was impressed with Kismet.

Like all Bouviers, Kismet L-O-V-E-S water and I indulge my girl as much as I can. Kismet had the opportunity to swim in Lake Talon and Lake Huron while we were away and I have provided links to some clips on You Tube of Kismet enjoying bathing in the fresh water lakes we are blessed with in Canada.

Have a great summer!
Patrick Madden.

Kismet in Lake Talon, just outside of North Bay, Ontario.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLrP0H6cvCI

Kismet in Lake Huron, Goderich, Ontario.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1QNxspiDTM&feature=channel

I adopted Rufus (previously Rebel) one year ago. He is 85 lbs of happy. He is a good natured dog, smart and goofy, affectionate and loves to be cuddled, a little wary of strangers but gets along great with everyone regardless of species and wags his with his whole body. Thank you for the smiles.

Hello Helen and all the Animatch team! It’s been 3 months since we brought Maggie (formerly Jilly) home and she’s been a great addition to the family -although I’m not sure the cats would agree. Maggie REALLLLLY wants to play with them but they’re not so sure about her. We’ve started obedience school and she’s proving to be a quick learner. We’ve also met all our neighbours who have dogs and a bunch of other friendly dog owners in Terra Cotta so we feel much more a part of the community all thanks to Maggie! Here’s a pic of Maggie enjoying a bone on the lawn.
Thanks for all your great work!
Susanne & Leo

Matlock is very happy with us, he already knows how to sit and he doesn’t poop or pee in the house anymore. We are very happy with Matlock and we are having lots of fun with him and he loves long walks,I always say to him “Your a good boy,yeah you a happy dog” we love our little Matlock.I hope all of the dogs and cats will turn out like Matlock and other dogs and cats.Sorrry that we don’t have a picture of Matlock yet we will post one soon.

Alexander Forlini

Hello from Ontario!
I have been so busy since my people picked me up June 26, my favourite activity is taking my people for walks…sometimes I grab the leash and I think I’m walking myself!! I do always walk nicely once out the door. As for daily work I have to make sure everyone has VERY warm feet and sometimes I insist that payment (in the form of petting) is made for such a luxurious service. I have started my obedience training at Carolark , and my instructor is quite impressed with my ability…although i’m not sure why he is soooo surprised and has to keep saying “oh wow you’re actually a smart Berner…” There are a number of squirrels, deer, chipmunks, and groundhogs around my new home and I just want to go meet them all!!! My people are not too keen about this and so we are working out a new pastime for me instead. Thanks again Animatch for all you did for me and allowing me to pick the family I have!!

Chelsea (formerly Kelli)

Hello everyone!! Rosie’s mom here….. she is doing wonderful! its been a little over a month and she just puts a smile on everyones face. she is the sweetest thing ever and loves playing with her sister Niobe and 2 cat brothers Pumba and Timone. she loves sleeping in the bed with us and constantly tosses herself on her back for a big belly rub! Thank you Animatch for every thing! xoxox

Hi, this is Coco… that’s the name my mommy gave me, though you guys knew me as Tino.

It’s been two months since I moved into my new home. The cats didn’t exactly give me a warm welcome but they haven’t tried to kill me either. I don’t care if they ignore me because my mommy gives me all the affection I need and then some! My days as a stray are a distant memory. Mommy’s pretty strict and doesn’t let me get away with whimpering which was a big adjustment, but then she takes me almost everywhere which is nice; people often mistake me for a plush toy because I’m so quiet and well-behaved; I eat holistic food which makes my breath smell better and mommy lets me lick her face now; I’ve been learning new tricks; there are several day beds and couches for my many naps… my only complaint is I’m not allowed on mommy’s bed, but she reaches out and pets me at night which makes my dreams even sweeter.

Mommy finally figured out why I yelp sometimes; I was trying to tell everybody that my back hurt and to be extra careful when handling me. One day I started screaming every time mommy touched me and the vet said I may have a condition called Intervertebral Disk Disease, which small dogs get sometimes. It’s nothing to worry about for now; I took some anti-inlamatories and I’m better. I was scared that mommy might have second thoughts about me because of my health problem but she promised to take good care of me no matter what, which reassured me a lot.

So that’s a happy rescue story for you! Speaking of which, mommy often tells people that I was found as a stray and was adopted from Animatch and that I’ve brought loads of joy into her life because as it turns out, she needing rescuing too. I guess that’s what you call a win-win situation!

Hi Helen & everyone at Animatch! It’s July 21st & I am 5 years old today. Last month it was Rosie’s birthday—she is my sister & today it’s my turn to celebrate. Mom got me all dressed up to take a picture & she thinks I look so cute. I had a few special treats—-not too many as I have to watch my weight. You see us Labs tend to put on pounds if we aren’t careful.
A special thank-you to Joanne P. for suggesting to Mom that I would be a good match for their family. I love them as much as they love me—maybe more!!

Candy XX

Hi Animatch ! Kobe here ( was Mamouth). Just wanted to say a quick hello and let you guys know how I’m doing! Well I am doing great! It’s been quite the year at my new home! A lot of firsts I must say ! I was adopted one week before halloween and that’s when I had my Halloween and my new family wanted to dress me up as a pumpkin oh how fun ! I also had my first winter and saw my first snow flake! WOW I love winter it’s so much fun and it’s a blast to play in the snow with my family! I had my first christmas and got some new gifts and celebrated my first new year! In the month of may I turned 1 years old on May 14! I have had the best time ever in my new home! I love my Papa he takes me for walks 3 times a day and I also miss him when he goes away for business to places I don’t even know how to pronounce. My mummy is the best too she gives me treats and gives me amazing food! My other family members are great too they play with me and they recently thought me how to jump up on the big couch where I look out the window! I have many favorite toys and I love my rugby ball! That’s all for now and I promise an update is soon to come!
Love,
Kobe xox

Hi all, Toby here - named Rowdy by Animatch team. I was 10 months old when I was adopted by Kim and living in Ottawa. Love it here. Had a beautiful feline brother named Taz but now I am the only boy here. I love my mommah and love my Auntie Doogie as she has a pool!

Thank you for finding me my forever home! Is Awesome!

Love,
Rowdy

Here is an updated pic up my beautiful little Daisy. She loves to roll around in the grass, swim in her little pool and play with her ball. She is still that same little bundle of energy as she was 3 years ago !!! I thank God every day that she is in my life. Always ready for a hug and kiss from me when I come home. All the stresses of the day just disappear as soon as i walk in the door and get “attacked” by my girl with big wet sloppy kisses !!!

Keep up the great work Animatch…and thank you for my precious gift !!!

After losing our 16 year old dog to cancer in January our house was very quiet, and it soon became evident that we needed another dog around. I had heard good things from friends about Animatch so I started to look there. We were matched with Buster-an 8 year old miniature poodel mix, and we took him home.He’s had a few adjustment issues, but Sherri and the folks at Animatch have been so helpful. They were always willing to spend time to make the transition work.They know their dogs, and with their help we triumphed over the hard spots and welcomed Buster into our lives. He’s a great little dog and it didn’t take us long to fall in love with him.
A huge thank you Animatch for all your care of our four footed creatures when they fall on hard times and lose their familes. Thanks from Buster’s new family.
Wendy

Hi,
I know this took a while but I wanted to let you know that Peanut is doing great!
He is by far the most special cat I have ever had. He talks to us all the time. He follows me everywhere and loves to sleep under the covers in the winter.
I am forever grateful to Animatch

Love
Karen S.

À tous mes compagnons canins chez Animatch,

Dixie vous raconte …..

Qu’est-ce que je peux bien vous raconter depuis mon adoption, voilà déjà 3 ans….. Je vais commencer par vous dire que mes maîtres sont absolument charmants, intelligents et tellement drôles ! C’est pas pour me venter mais je l’ai est très bien dressés mes maîtres. Ils marchent très bien en laisse maintenant (avec beaucoup de patience!) Les cours d’obéissance ont aussi été très utiles….. Ils ont raffolés des cours d’agilité aussi – disons qu’ils sont heureux et ils sont désormais très en forme hi hi !!. Ha oui, j’oubliais, ma sœur Jazz (ma complice) et moi partons faire des balades à vélo et vous devriez voir comment on fait pédaler nos maîtres ! – ils ont à peine à tenir leur souffle et c’est très drôle Hi Hi !!!
Comme vous le savez, j’ai maintenant une sœur canine pour jouer, et partager mes mauvais coups. À deux, nous avons su maitriser la situation et nos maîtres nous écoutent au doigt et à l’œil. !! Woofff, ça na pas été facile mais ça en valait la peine car aujourd’hui, ils sont dociles, bien éduqués obéissants et très équilibrés !!!
Souvenez-vous, il faut de la patience, de la persévérance et surtout, beaucoup d’amour et de biscuits pour bien dresser les humains car après quoi, ils vous le rendront en centuple !!!!!
Je voulais juste vous passer un message mes amis canins et vous dire qu’après tout, ça vaut vraiment la peine d’adopter un humain ……. Maintenant que nos maîtres sont calmes et soumis, nous les aimeront, les soigneront et les garderons près de nous pour TOUJOURS car des compagnons comme eux, C’EST POUR LA VIE ! Alors, soyez patients mes amis, ça vaut la peine d’attendre !

Bonnes chances et bonne route à vous tous …

Votre amie pour toujours Dixie xxxx

Hello to all my friends at Animatch -
Well, next week it’ll be two years that my mom adopted me, and it’s been the two best years of my life, and I think hers too. Everyone is amazed at how smart I am for such a little guy. My mom has made so many friends just because of me. Even when she just wants to take a 10 minute walk, we end up getting home 30 minutes later, because she always gets stopped by strangers who want to know all about me. And then she becomes the Animatch spokesman and often gives potential dog owners the “speech” about shelters vs petshops. My mom gets upset every July 1 when she reads that people give up their dogs because they have to move. Many years ago when my mom moved from a house to an apartment, whenever she called an apartment building that had vacancies, her first question was “does your building allow dogs”, and she called until she found one.
So warm doggy kisses to all the volunteers and to all the doggies at Animatch still waiting for a furever home. Be patient, your day will come.

Love from Tigger (living proof that good things come in small packages, all 5 lbs of me)

Homeless dogs

For more information please visit Animatch.ca or call 450-452-0321

Moka

3 years years old Male Miniature Pinscher
T-Bone

1 year years old Male Chihuahua x Miniature Pinscher
Kota

4 years years old Male Terrier-X
Ace

7 years years old Male Miniature Poodle
Punkin

4 mos years old Female Lab-X
Bacardi

10 years old Male Shih Tzu
Bamboo

4 mos. years old Male One-of-a-kind
Cooky

9 years old Female Chihuahua-X
Splash

1 years old Female Shih Tzu x Boston Terrier
Nicole

8 years old Female Miniature Pinscher-X
Dolly

1.5 years old Female Puggle
Anouk

8 years old Female Labrador Retriever-X
Magui

1 years old Female Shih Tzu
Nikita

1.5 years old Female Boxer x Lab
Sidonie

3 months years old Female Basset Hound
Rusty

2 years old Male Cocker Spaniel-X
Gazelle

1 years old Female Unusual Hybrid
Ewok

2 years old Male Lhasa Apso x Terrier
Stretch

1 years old Male Standard Dachshund
Dante

5 mos years old Male Lab x Bernese
Bugzy

1.5 years old Male Pug

Look everyone, I have a new brother who’s just like me. I love to flirt with him and give him kisses. Aren’t I adorable. I have settled quite well in my new home and am enrolled in obedience classes. My new mom says that if I do well in them, then we are going to try to do some competition obedience. I’ll have to show her how smart I am. Love and kisses to all the Animatch volunteers and my previous family.

Here I am playing with my brother. Yes, even though you see teeth, we are playing. Mom took me to Finnegan’s today and to Sandy Beach in Hudson. I’m having fun.

Love Kloe xoxoxo

Hi all. Just wanted to say hi and send you a smile. Catherine says I’m completely crazy but adorable. We play a game where I sneak over to the garden, or her plants, and start to eat the dirt. When she sees this, she tries not to smile (but smiles anyway!) and comes over to chase me away. It’s so much fun! She and Dave are very pleased at how helpful I am around the house. I make the lawn mowing chore go quicker by eating the grass. My tummy is fine - the grass just tastes so good! They think I’m helping with the chores, but don’t realize that the faster the lawn is mowed, the sooner I get to present them with a ball to throw for me! Humans are so gullible! Have a great day!

Taiga has settled in with us so nicely. She is a wonderful addition to our family. My two sons love her and Molly, our Golden puppy is so excited to have a big sister to run and wrestle with. We could not have asked for a more perfect match and we look forward to many years of love and fun with Taiga. Thank you Animatch!

Hi Everyone at Animatch! Today June 30th I am celebrating my 6th birthday!!! My Mom put some goofy things on me but I didn’t mind cause I love her so much. She gave me some extra treats today & I will share some hotdogs with my sister Candy & my brother Marley later. Time here has gone by so fast for there is so much to do. The other night I let out 1 of my howls to scare off a cayote, & guess what it worked!! Gotta protect my territory!!! It will be 1 year at the end of August that they brought me to my FOREVER home. I am a very lucky doggie!! Thanks Mom & Dad for loving me so very much. Rosie XX

Hi Everyone,

I turned 1 year old today and my mommy’s spoiled me rotten. They gave me a tug-a-war toy, a delicious cup cake with a candle, treats, many gifts as well as balloons for decorations and a cool birthday hat (see picture). I’m truly grateful to Helen Lacroix & Animatch for giving me such a wonderful home!

As you can see from the picture I got a new haircut and a new look for the hot summer months.

Woof Woof,

Truffle

This year the students from Ms. Roberta’s Grade 2 class at Terry Fox Elementary School were involved in an animal awareness unit. This unit was chosen as it allowed the children to better understand the needs and issues that animals face in our ever changing world.

The final project for this unit required students to build a replica of an animal hospital and an animal adoption agency using clay. On June 9th students presented their displays to the entire student body of Terry Fox and explained the role of these organizations within our communities.

In teaching our students about the importance of advocacy and social responsibility we requested that all students who visited this exhibition make a contribution of one dime or more. We are proud to announce that this project was a resounding success!! Together Terry Fox Elementary raised $614.86!!!

All money collected was donated to Animatch!!!! From this experience our students learned that small acts of kindness can change the world in a big way. Together we can make a difference.

Visit the Terry Fox Elementary Animal Hospital in pictures

We adopted Stella almost a month ago and already can’t imagine life without her. She’s full of energy and has so much love to give. And who wouldn’t love a dog who helps make the bed?

Thank you Helen and friends of Animatch

Gavin is doing wonderfully. He is learning hand signals with great success. When he plays fetch, he always brings his toy right back to your hand. He still makes a few playing noises when he doesn’t want to bring his toy back. Gavin makes this interesting sound since we got him, as though he is still playing with his brothers. He is very good with our cats, and he has learned to play nicely and sleep beside them. Our Boston Terrrier and Gavin have a lot of fun spending time together. He has brought us such an amount of joy.

Hi wonderful Animatch folks! We know it’s only been a few days, but we just wanted to let you know that Mr. Bo Jangles (Bo for short), aka Nino, is fitting in very well with his new family. He plays a ton for a 7-year-old pug, loves going for walks and also sits quietly and snuggles with us. He’s got this habit of standing up on his hind legs with his front paws around my neck, craning his neck up and then placing his chin gently on my cheek. It’s the cutest thing ever - like he’s giving me a big puggy hug. We’re thrilled with our little guy, and we think he’s thrilled too. Don’t let that sleepy expression fool you: he’s as smart as a whip and we love him all the more for it!

This is a very nice Dog Tag for your Rescued Dog! It’S available from Etsy.com and handmade but artist UrbanPuppy. Check out her profile, she’s got some other really nice dog tags…

Dear Animatch,

As you can see from my picture I have grown up quite a bit since I left you last fall. During my last visit at the vet a few weeks ago, Dr Ellis told me that I was in good shape, with a strong heart and that I weighed 50 lbs. Everyday, I go for walks in Vankleek Hill to keep my waist line and when I arrive home I get a treat. I am very spoiled and loved and thank you for giving me such a great home. Last week I went to the Animatch walk-a-thon and met my sister, Trixie whom I had not seen since last September. We had a good time playing together and catching up on each other’s stories.

You do a great job Animatch and please continue rescuing my four-legged friends and finding them good homes.

Woof Woof,
Truffle

Mac (aka Mac-Attack, Big Mac, Macster) turned a year old!
Although we have only had Mac for the last 3 months of his first year, we can’t remember what life was like without him. He brings so much joy and excitement to our family. Mac is a constant source of energy and love. He is also the biggest goofball and isn’t afraid to show it! He loves running around the yard and going for long walks (who needs a gym membership when you have a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy!) but he also loves curling up on the couch for some cuddles. Mac has mastered loose leash walking and we are now working on the command “come” in hopes that maybe one day he can go off-leash at the park.

We could not have asked for a better human companion and friend for our 2 labs. He is loyal, eager to please and a big teddy bear We love him to bits!

We are so thankful that Animatch exists. Helen and her team of volunteers are constantly thinking of new ways to better the lives of dogs. We, humans, are simply lucky to be receive the love and affection they share with us. We adopted Benji from Animatch when he was approximately 10 months, and now he is five years old. He makes every day better! He is very funny and expressive. He loves cuddling while we watch TV, and he is always excited when we get home. You could see how excited he was at the Animatch walk-a-thon to see all of his fur buddies, and he enjoyed the walk, too. He was very smiley, and anyone who says dogs don`t smile, has not seen this dog, clearly! We are looking forward to the summer, as we will be taking him to the eastern townships where he can play outdoors, swim in the lake, and re-connect with his duck friends. Thanks again to Animatch! You are all doing a phenomenal job with your adoptions, your fundraising and your website. Love, Benji`s Humans

I just found a really interesting book and video group on YouTube about Dog Safety Tips and Videos.

I lost one of my dog about 3 years ago. A 9 yo german shepherd mix… We were at the park with my other 2 dogs and he was running around as always. And then suddenly he felt on his side with just one little scream. His heart stopped right there. In 30 seconds I saw him go away in front of me. I was right there kneeing next to him telling him to breath… Not knowing what to do. I wish I had knew how to do a CPR maneuver on my own dog.

These emergency situation can happen anytime. I think this is a must read book for the safety of your dogs.

About this book:

“We know their favorite spots to scratch. We know which funny noises make them cock their heads. We know what treats they love the best. But do we know how to keep our dogs safe? The truth is, we often don’t consider what hazards lurk in our home and garden until an incident occurs. Each year, thousands of dogs are seriously hurt and even killed by a host of easily preventable accidents. The Safe Dog Handbook teaches readers about the myriad ways to ensure a safe home and outdoor experience for their dogs. Full of practical information, this book is an essential guide for any dog owner.”

You can buy the book on Amazon.ca

Here is a CPR Video from the Author Melanie Monteiro

We adopted Bella over two months ago, as each day goes by she brings such joy into our lives. She is now nine months old and still a very active and intelligent puppy. She loves to walk and recently enjoys running off lease with other young pups at the local park.

She recently graduated from dog school learning to sit, stand and do recalls on command. On an average day, Bella enjoys two to three walks and the full range of our backyard. She enjoys the company of our 5 year old tabby cat Tigger and they often play together. But that cannot compare to how much joy she brings to my two boys who play catch with her in the backyard.

Bella came into our family at just the right time and we love her dearly. We highly recommend adoption through Animatch.

Un petit message pour vous donner des nouvelles de Bingo le Jack Russell adopté en septembre 2009!
Bingo se porte à merveilles entouré de ses 2 freres chats qu’il adore!
Bingo est toujours aussi actif et profite de l’auberge zen pour animaux et de la garderie pour dépenser son énergie! Il adore découvrir la province avec nous et est toujours partant pour une course à pied, de la raquette ou du roller!
C’est un amour de petit chien tres affectueux qui a plein d’amour à donner!!!
Il a suivi avec brio les cours d’obéissance que je lui ai donné et va bientôt débuter l’agilité!
Un grand merci à Animatch de m’avoir fait rencontrer ce petit gars plein d’énergie et d’amour! Nous formons le match parfait

It has been over 2 months now that Hunter joined our family and he continues to be a joy. Never have I seen a more loveable dog. He is a very clingy dog and constantly has to be with someone and at times I have had to put him outside and close the door just so I can get my cleaning done. He makes me feel so guilty because he will just sit and stare in the door until I let him back in Right now he is shedding and I have never seen so much hair come off of a dog but we are dealing with it. I am hoping that now that he has a warm home and regular food his coat won’t get as thick in the winter. He is very playful but has his limits, which I think it is because his leg hurts him if he runs too much. He just loves attention and gives so many kisses. He knows to give his paw for a treat and has never had one accident in the house since we brought him home. I can’t imagine how a family could abandon such a lovable dog. We just love him and he in turn loves us.

Here is a picture of Yogy and his new best friend Daisy.
He is a wonderful addition to our family.

Greetings Animatch Friends,

Please know that Kismet is doing great and enjoying the spring weather here in Etobicoke so much. Warmer weather means increased squirrel activity and our girl is on patrol constantly in the hope of catching her elusive prey. Kismet constantly keeps her eye on me as well as I putter around the garden. I love her company and presence. She has wonderful energy.

We have not had too much rain here, which thankfully means decreased levels of mud and fauna in the house. It also means that the paths along Mimico Creek are dry which allows Kismet easy access along sandy paths down to the cool water to wade in when out for our walk. Kismet is doing great with our ongoing training when out walking and my strength and stamina continues to increase with the aid of our girl.

Enjoy the blessing of Spring and your Animatch family member!

Patrick Madden.

I know it’s been over a year now but I wanted to let you know how wonderful Dixie (Sasha) is getting along. She’s still full of energy and gives Dudley a run for his money (he lost 4 pounds since she arrived). She’s smart, funny, spunky and loves to cuddle. Now I have the two of them fighting over my lap AND I LOVE IT!!!

I thought I’d send a couple shots of Max. He fits right in. Wonderful dog.
Thanks.

Hi friends at Animatch,

Just a quick note to say that after 6 months together we are doing great! Zoey is an amazing companion and pretty close to a perfect dog although Isaac the cat still is not completely convinced that she just wants to play. I’m pretty sure she is happy too, she goes for lots of walks and runs through the woods and has several comfy sleeping spots all over the house. In the photo she is waiting with her buddy Cooper for dinner to be served.

Thanks again for all the great work you do!
Greg, Zoey and Isaac

shiloh is a great joy to have. He is very lovable, very playful and very much a hound .he loves to sleep and sit in the sun .

Now that the warm weather has arrived, it’s a good time to brush up on leash manners! Animatch volunteer Miranda Wimbush shares her best tips. Tools required: Nylon flat leash and lots of tasty treats!

1) Start indoors where there is less distraction. With your dog on leash at your side put the treat in front of the dogs’ nose and take a step. If he walks with your say “YES” and reward. From here you can start to take a couple of steps before saying “YES” and rewarding. Always say “YES” when the dog is parallel to your leg and then reward. This way the dog will start to realize that this is the behaviour you want.

2) Head outdoors and try Step 1, but with more distractions. Progress to a couple of steps before rewarding. Eventually you will be able to walk for longer distances without rewarding, but lots of rewards are essential in the beginning to keep the dogs’ attention on you

3) Once your dog is starting to follow you, start to become unpredictable. While showing him the treat take sharp turns, go fast, go slow, run in zig-zags. The point is to keep the dog guessing where you are going next. This will teach him to follow you

4) If the dog ignores the treat and charges out ahead of you simply stop dead in your tracks and wait until there is slack on the leash. Only walk when there is slack in the leash! If you give in and walk the direction he wants to pull you in the training process will be much slower

5) Add a word to the behaviour so the dog does it predictably. This also allows you to release the dog from the behaviour if you want to let him go sniff or visit with another dog. Use a word such as “HEEL” or “SIDE”, but, be careful to only add the word when the dog truly understands the behaviour. Simply say the word while the dog is heeling and reward when he does it correctly.

Vous êtes cordialement invité à l’exposition et vente d’art présenter par Dianne Brazeau et May Landerman qui aurai lieu au Centre culturel de Pierrefonds du 16 au 18 avril. Les heures de l’exposition seront:

Vernissage
16 avril 19:00- 21:00
17 avril 10:00 - 17:00
18 avril 10:00- 15:00

Une pourcentage des ventes bénéficiera Animatch.ca

Well it’s been about a month now that i’ve been in my new home! I love it here! I have so many toys, i get to go for long walks in the woods everyday and i have 2 cats to chase! It took a little bit of effort to make Willow love me, but who can resist this face?? She’ll even play with me now! Thank-you Helen, for taking care of me until my forever Mom came to get me!

Note from Jake’s mom..Jake is the greatest dog…He is so happy, loving and full of joy. I Love him to pieces!!!

I’ve been with my new parents for almost two months now and I am very very happy. They keep me busy all the time! I walk a lot with my mommy, I play with other dogs in the dog park and I learn to be a well behaved boy. I already have my basic obedience diploma! My mommy told me that I am an amazing puppy. She says I am calm, docile and very intelligent. She thinks I am an athlete too! Right now, I am taking advanced obedience class, and when I’m a little older, I will start agility.
Oh! And I have too little friends at home : Billy and Chopin. They look like little dogs, but they have longer mustaches and they can jump on anything, even if it is very high! I would loooove to play with them, but they don’t let me. Fortunately, when I am very calm and sleepy, they come close to me and we sleep all together close to my mommy’s home office.
Everybody I meet say I am “very sweet”. At first, it used to get me very excited and jumpy. But now, when they say that I simply sit in front of them and they think I am even sweeter! Sometimes, I get a treat!
Thanks to everyone at Animatch for finding me a new family. I really don’t know where I would be now without you!
Oslo (aka Ceasar)

Hi and bonjour!
Here’s the latest picture of our Buddy. A friend took this picture yesterday, 5 April 2010. He’s become the meet-and-greeter of all dogs in the dog park. The only way that I would lose him is if someone else has better treats than me in their pockets. That’s when I have to sometimes put him on leash and take him away from the most attractive pocket of yummy smells. I’m trying to make sure he stays slim and trim. Because he is a ‘been-there-done-that’ type of gentleman, he’s confident enough now that he just goes where the scent takes him. I am well trained in that, at these times, I sometimes actually have to back-track and remind him that I am the one he came with and that I truly appreciate and expect that he will come with me. He is big, but nobody is ever afraid of him because he is so calm and goes up to them, hoping for a treat, but settling for a pat. I love this dog!!!!

Animatch volunteers were lucky to see two of Extra’s (now Lucy) puppies when they came for boarding in March. They must have recognized each other because they were inseparable during their visit. Here is a photo of Otto (on the left) and Boca (on the right).

The video below is a beautiful slow motion advertising (1000fps) shot of dogs jumping for dog treats flying through the air. It’s actually an advertisement for Pedigree, as you’ll see at the end. It’s interesting seeing all the little details our eyes can’t ordinarily pick up…

(Via PetaPixel.com)

Hi! We adopted Maverick in June of last year. He has been a wonderful addition to our family. The kids just love him, he loves everyone. You all do a wonderful job of taking care of these animals. A big thankyou from all of us and Maverick too!

Here is a photo of Helen’s own dog, Kahlua.

This is Pea-Sue our minpin she is going to be 4 yrs this October, doing great. Lots of work at first, but she has been the center of our lives, great friend! Our newest baby Sampson, abit of a ruff start with the food change but we now have him back on track. We are going to celebrate his 1st birthday on the 24th of Arpil…will send more pic’s!

Hi all, we just wanted to take a moment to drop you another update on our girl Bella. She’s been with us for a year and a half now and life with her gets better all the time. When we look back at how skinny and scared she looked when we first got her it hardly seems like the same dog. She is strong and more confident than ever. Now that the winter is coming to a close and Bella’s enemy (the cold) is starting to subside she is happy to start spending afternoons laying in the sun on the front deck. The whole family just adores our Bella and we feel so lucky that she found us.

Just a quick note to let you know that Bones is doing great!! He plays all day with his sister Pepper and has a great time. He can play ball for hours!!! With his new haircut, he is quite handsome!!

Sampson and Pea-Sue doing great, they love to play and chase the cats around the house, it will keep them trim, along with their walks! Thanks Animatch for the great work you do at finding the right homes for the right dogs!

Hi, Animatch Pea-Sue our MinPin is doing wonderful after just about 2 years now, and we have been blessed with Sampson (Sam) our 10month old Chihuahua, our dogs are doing great and Sampson is doing great with house training, he just needed the time and patients of a loving family, i’m glad to been his forever home!

Hi Helen and Animatch
Just wanted to let you know I am doing better than ever. I got a new doggie bed which is nice and comfortable and I love my new home. My family are really treating me well. I have toys to play with outside and I have mastered the doggie door and can go in and out as I please. I still love to go for walks and love it when we all go out in the backyard and play catch. I have even started chasing Chase around in the backyard when we play. My Dad took me out in the backyard today and took some pictures of me and I thought you would like to see how happy I look. I get lots of kisses, pets and hugs from everyone here. Yesterday we had a big family get together so I could meet everyone and I got lots of attention. I’ll write again soon.

Love Hunter (Yeller)

Lucy’s (Extra’s) puppies will be one year old next week! We are lucky enough to have Sophie (Snookie), who is absolutely adorable! She loves agility and will probably be ready to start trials this year. I’m just wondering how the other puppies are doing? We would love to see pictures of and hear about Sophie’s siblings!
Nancy and Mark

Hello, we where recently refused for the adoption of Gumdrop. We have two young children and another Jack Russel. I simply wanted to send you all a picture of our family in order to encourage you to change your mind. I spoke to Cindy about my profile. my name is Philip Clement and i used to train dogs for shows at parc safari for 4 years, i then worked for 5 years in Safari pet Center where I learnt about many types of dogs. I know the breed quite well, I understand it’s needs, and we’ve been looking for another JR for a while now. we would like to find a female near the age of our dog (Ernest) he is 1 and a half. Thank You.

Hi all.
Another update from K.C…she is doing wonderfully and growing in leaps and bounds literally! She has discovered a passion for water already and loves to bound through the stream along our walking trail…can’t wait to bring her along with me when I do my laps in the lake this summer. Benny, the feline in this picture, has finally accepted K.C. as a member of the family and the two of them keep me company as I work at the computer. I can’t thank you enough for bringing her into our lives! I will bring her by one of the meet and greets so you can see just how beautiful she is.
Thank you Animatch.
SueC

Hello to my friends at Animatch,
A few days ago, I turned 10 months old. I am a very big girl and everyone at the dog park is surprised when mom and dad tell them that I am still a “puppy”. It is the opinion of the humans at the dog park that I have a very pretty face. Apparently, my eye lashes are to die for! What can I say? I am what I am! I am a very sophisticated and mature young “lady”. While I still love to steal my families socks, shoes, boots, slippers, etc., my favorite job is to sit on the back deck and GUARD my house. This is the Great Pyrenees part of me! If something is not right, (in my opinion), I will bark a DEEP, RESOUNDING bark that makes the house shake! My family does not mind because I am never unreasonable about it! I also can be quite aloof, very independant, and my kisses are given out quite selectively and only when I am in the mood. My family is getting a real kick out of me, and every day of my life I continue to impress them, more and more. Thank you Animatch for bringing us together!

Hi guys, I had to submit one last picture of Lex this week-end. I know that this will make every single one of you that know him laugh…to all of you that do not knwo him, well, this picture says it all!

Thanks again for eveything that you do. Words cannot express how I, along with so many others, feel eveytime we hear about all of the success stories.

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring—it was peace.” - Milan Kundera

Bye for now!

Racquel, Miguel and the LexMeister

Cologne, Allemagne -
Alors que la police recherchait un homme et intervenait à son domicile pour l’arrêter, le chien du malfaiteur a indiqué aux forces de l’ordre où il se trouvait : il s’est placé en face d’un placard où se cachait l’homme, en remuant la queue.
Vendredi 19 février, quelques agents de police se sont présentés au logement d’un homme d’une cinquantaine d’années afin de l’arrêter. Ce n’est pas lui, mais une de ses connaissances qui a ouvert la porte, un chien dans les bras, faisant mine de ne pas savoir où l’homme se trouvait. Mais la police explique à l’AFP : “Quand il a posé le chien au sol, celui-ci s’est dirigé en remuant la queue vers un petit placard et s’est planté devant, plein d’espoir”.Intrigués par le comportement de l’animal, les policiers ont alors ouvert le placard où ils ont trouvé leur suspect. La police n’a pas souhaité donner d’information quant aux faits reprochés à l’individu.

Hi Joanne & Helene: On March 27th, it will be a year that I am living with my people parents. I saw so many new things, experienced so many situations and Joanne I’ve met so many people. Mom shows me off all the time
I want to thank Helene for opening her heart and home to all my furfriends including me. If it wasn’t for Helene; I don’t know where I’d be - certainly not having a grand time. Mom says Spring is just around the corner and pretty soon we will be opening up the trailer. How I wish you could experience life at the camp ground. There are lots and lots of furfriends - people friends - most campers knows about my sad beginnings - how you Helene helped me out - some feel sorry for me but if I could talk I’d say: ” Don’t be sorry for me I am so happy now - I know what love is - I have people parents that will go above and beyond for me. I feel secure and happy now.
I almost forgot to share this with my furfriends… chasing butterflies is way cool but the flies that makes a buzzing sound; don’t go near them they bite !!! I found that out last year. Lovingly Camy

Bonjour, Voici des nouvelles de Lily (Nicky). Pour vous placer dans le contexte, il semblerait que les seuls contacts qu’elle ait eus pour les deux premières années et demie de sa vie étaient dans une cage avec des chiens pour une usine à chiots et des humains tout aussi peu accueillants.

Il y aura 1 an en avril qu’elle cohabite avec nous et ses progrès sont remarquables. Même si nous ne l’avons pas mesuré, nous sommes convaincus que Lily a grandi et son poids a augmenté de 8 livres.

Lily a recours à l’occasion à un entraîneur personnel qu’elle adore et qui lui permet de prendre de l’assurance jour après jour. En utilisant une méthode douce, mais d’une efficacité remarquable, Francis nous éduque et entraîne Lily. Gageons qu’il va réussir plus rapidement et mieux avec Lily! (Ha, ha)

Lily n’a pas développé de méchanceté suite à son expérience en cage, mais elle a tendance à japper et grogner pour se défendre et défendre son territoire qui est vaste. Il y a trop d’humains et d’animaux dans ce secteur, ainsi le quartier en entier est sous haute surveillance grâce à sa vigilance de tous les instants. (Gare aux voleurs!) Nous travaillons à diminuer son insécurité, ses jappements. Elle est tellement douce et adorable que le travail que nous faisons ensemble prend la forme d’un jeu. Comme tous les chiens, plus Lily va faire des marches et de l’exercice plus elle est obéissante et attentive à ce qu’elle doit faire. Nous sortons donc avec elle tous les jours, sans exception, pour un minimum de 30 minutes.

Lily est un chiot dans un corps de trois ans qui dans la dernière année a appris à utiliser son museau, ce qu’elle ne faisait pas du tout à son arrivée avec nous. Elle a appris à jouer, vous avez bien lu, à jouer et ramener sa balle à l’intérieur de la maison lorsqu’elle en a fini. Elle se laisse maintenant faire pour ses soins corporels et apprécie les séances de brossages. Elle adore croquer des branches et de la glace, mais ignore les os. Ses balades en auto sont encore un peu ennuyeuses pour elle, mais la récompense d’une marche vaut la peine de s’y soumettre. Lily s’accommode très bien de la solitude et est d’une propreté exemplaire. Elle aime les gâteries, mais n’insiste jamais pour en avoir. Son meilleur moment de la journée est sans contredire le soir alors qu’elle peut se faire prendre et cajoler.

Line & Michel

Here are our two wonderful Animatch adoptees. Lucy on the left and Charly on the right. They have become best buddies and play endlessly in the yard chasing squirrels and mourning doves. Lucy is still skittish and I am sure will always be having lived for two years in a breeding pen but is now more than eager to meet someone on her terms. She has a favourite spot on our couch and loves to prance up to Charly and nip him in the neck to get him to play. Charly has taught her so many things and has been more active (!) since she has arrived. They will be doing some travelling with us this summer in our RV. Can’t wait. Love them to bits. Thanks Animatch.

Just thought I would drop you all a line to let you know how Hunter made out on his first weekend. He is such a sweetheart. He is getting his confidence little by little and I slowly see his personality come out. He is such a happy dog and loves to give kisses whenever he can. He loves to go for walks on his leash and his tail never stops wagging the whole time. He has mastered the doggie door and will sometimes go out on his own and lay in the sun on the deck. although he doesn’t like to be too far away from any of us.. The other morning after he did his business he actually pranced across the deck when he was going back in the house. There have been no accidents in the house at all. His back legs seem to be getting stronger and although he was a bit hesitant at first going up and down the stairs - he does them now like a pro. He is getting along with Chase although I wouldn’t say they are best buds yet, but I can see it happening once Hunter gets his confidence up. I really get a feeling that at sometime in his life someone was good to him. So his is going really well and is very comfortable now with the house and with us. We all love him and he knows it. Thanks again Animatch. I have posted a pic of him - not the best but there will be more following.

Do you consider your dog like a 4 legged king? Or a precious little princess? Well Grab your keys and drive down to Rona because we’ve got some pretty extravagant dogs houses plans and ideas to show you!

You can view a full list and more pictures by clicking here…

Hi everyone, Just wanted to send you pictures as we will be soon celebrating… drum roll… our 5th year together! Yup, it’s almost been 5 year that Lex has joined our family. He’s just too much! So funny Words can’t express the joy (and hair) he bring us. As I said in the past, in our eyes, he is the most beautiful dog…. in his eyes, he is the most awesome dog… Keep up the wonderful work you do!

Here is Vinnie at 9 months old. He barely fits in cat bed but he manages to squeeze all of himself in there. These little “catnaps” last all of maybe 10 minutes. He is one very energetic BC puppy. I adopted Vinnie in August 2009 and love him very much (even though he has no “off” switch).

I’m online almost 16 hours a day. I find all sorts of things online. Sometimes funny dog stories. Some sad. This one came and got me tight in the throat. Animal Rescue Sofia is a young Bulgarian organization that unites the efforts of a wide group of professionals and volunteers trying to solve the problems related to homeless animals in Bulgaria.

The video I’ve linked to is a video from the municipal dog pound of Seslavci (a village near Sofia). This video is really tough to watch (yes I cried) but you must watch it to understand how bad homeless dog situation is around the world and not just around our homes here in Quebec. I think it’s always good to watch these to make you realize again how important Spay and Neuter is and how we still have a LONG way to go before animals are treated with respect and dignity.

Unger, desease, cannibalism, freezing cold or burning heat – there are many ways in which a dog can meet death in Seslavci. The puppy lifespan in Seslavci is between 1 and 10 days – even if they manage to avoid being eaten by their starving inmates – Distemper and Parvovirosis are permanent dwellers at the pound grounds.

If you know of anyone who said they wanted to buy a dog (god that sounds so bad even in writing) or wants to buy from a “breeder” (cause they think thats doing the right thing!!) have them watch this one video. It might change their mind.

You can visit Animal Rescue Sofia by clicking here.

Dear Animatch,
I’ve been living with my new adoptive family for 7 months now. I have to say, at first, I was worried and it made me do all kinds of things like pee inside, chew my owner’s shoes and even have little asthma fits. But now, it’s allll good! I love taking long walks outside with my owner and I’m slowly learning how to walk without pulling the leash too hard.

I even have a canine roomate.Her name is Daisy and she’s 12. In the beginning, she wasn’t so sure she’d like me but now we’re BEST buddies. She used to sleep all the time and now she plays with me a few times a day. She told me that my presence gave her her youth back! So, in return, I take good care of her: I lick her ears and eyes clean. My owner took a picture of us both.

I want to thank you for taking such good care of me when I was at your shelter for 2 weeks this summer. My owner was really impressed with your organization and always does a good advertisement to people around her.

We adopted Mac last weekend and he has already worked his way into our hearts. He is such a good puppy! We have had a few accidents in the house but he is learning how to ask for the door! He is also learning many new tricks and how to behave around cats.
He loves to play with his new friends Riley and Mya and loves going for walks in the park.
He has definitely found his forever home and we are honored to have him as part of our family. We love him
Keep up the good work Animatch!

Hey Everyone, It’s been 3 years since I adopted Daisy from Animatch…the first thing she did when I met her was to bring me her ball. This has got to be her most favorite thing in the world…we play for hours with her ball !!
She is still as crazy and just as lovely, cuddly and comical like the first day we met. This was truly a perfect match made in heaven !!! She is my very best friend. Keep up all the great work that you are doing and I am looking forward to reading more fan mail.

Donna and Daisy
xo

Hi everyone! After almost 4 years I finally decided to be part of a picture with my dogs Leo and Yoogie. And this is how it came out. I’m so happy to have these two friends waking up next to me everyday. My dogs are the ones who remind me to keep everything in perspective, to take the time to enjoy life and who keep me in good shape with a good 1 hour walks twice a day! I will take care of these two treasures for the rest of their lives.

Thanks Animatch for saving my best friends….

Wilson (AKA Comic) has already become a big part of our family and we are so grateful to the Animatch volunteers for working to find him his forever home. He’s very high energy, which we knew when we adopted him. We go on one hour walks every day, which is great for getting the wiggles out when he is feeling hyper. He also has our other two schnauzers to keep him busy. The 3 of them are great together.
He sleeps at night in one of my son’s beds and follows me around the house all day long. His favourite things are to cuddle on the couch until he falls into a deep sleep in your arms and to play hard with a selection of toys, especially squeaky toys. He’s a smart little boy, and has quickly learned not to beg and has not had any accidents in the house. He has met lots of doggie friends on his walks and likes to play with everyone he meets.
We are looking forward to bringing him camping in the summertime in our trailer where we can go on hikes with him, which I am sure he will love. For now, walks through the neighbourhoods of St-Lazare will have to do.
I am so glad that Sue told me about Animatch and the wonderful dogs that you have there. It was a long road for Wilson to get to our home, and we are so glad for the dedication of everyone invloved in saving him.

This weekend Animatch held his annual Bark ‘N Brunch. The numbers are not our yet but I know we have received a lot or people! It was, like every year, a lot of fun for 2 legged and 4 legged people!

This year I took some of the pictures and I can tell you there was action because, I was sweating like crazy! Thanks to the hot spots that lit my back on the stage all day. I ran around and took some nice pictures throughout the day.

Here are a few of them. I hope you enjoy. And for those who missed the event, well don’t you dare miss the 2011 Bark ‘N Brunch! How many times in your life do you have the chance to have a amazing breakfast with your pooch?

Hi everyone I know I took some time to give you some news on how I am doing, but that because I am having a ball at my new home. I have two cat friends Felix and Minou. I go out for walks alot and play ball every day. I even think I even put on a few pounds!! I can now roam free in the house. I made a new friend call Casper and we take walks together in the morning. I also met 2 other dogs freinds as well on my street. I must say that my new family just loves me to death, and I can’t wait to go swimming in the pond this summer. Well bye bye for now lots of kisses to everyone.
Penny XXX

It is so hard to believe that we have had Daisy for 6 months. She is a very big girl now but still so loving. We love taking her for long walks and she really enjoys the leash free parks where she gets to play with other dogs. We think of animatch often and will never forget how you found another perfect match for our family. Thank you

Hey Animatch ... it’s me Cannelle. (actually I have a new name “Cannella”. Close enough - I know when my new family is talking to me.)

So ... what’s new with me? Everything! I’m working at dropping those love handles, but it’s a bit hard in winter. Plus I got a new bed (I sent a photo along) which is just too cushy to be true! I’m a Bulldog don’t you know, and I love to sleep ... and eat! I’m only allowed a few treats a day ... Charlie Bears are 3 calories each, so it feels like cheating, but really it’s not! (for those of you other adoptees looking for a low-cal snack).

On a serious note I do want to thank all of you for finding me a family that loves and cherishes me ... as they should! Adopting a dog was the best decision my family has ever made. I was already house-trained, knew a million tricks and commands, and in return I have found a real forever-home.

Thanks again for all the time you spent with me in the shelter (especially to Helene for being my nursemaid) ... and we’ll see you at the doggie walkathon in Montreal in May!

Love Cannella ... Woof!

Hello all, the brothers are doing great and have become part of the family. We have all fallen in love with them and them with us. They still take care of each other a lot which is adorable to see. Especially when they use each other as pillows. Thanks again to everyone at Animatch. Have a great day.

Just wanted to let all of you know that I am enjoying my new family. They love me so much and are taking good care of me! I have a nice new hair cut and am sporting some new “clothes” to keep me warm when I go outside or for rides in the car. My new canine friend, Bailey, accepted me with open paws into the house, as well, and looks after me when we go outside. He even lets me sleep in his crate with him. So, don’t worry my friends at Animatch! I am grateful for all your love and care while I was there, but I am so happy at my forever home now!

Greetings and Happy New Year! Kismet is a Bouvier des Flandres I adopted from Animatch just before Christmas 2009 and soon to celebrate her second birthday in March.

For Kismet’s many fans please know our girl continues to enjoy her new life in Toronto and enriches our lives here at home with her youthful energy daily. Kismet is very settled in to her daily routine and is my alarm clock most mornings with gentle wet-nose nudges that it is cuddle time. Imagine! An 80lb. dog who won’t get on the bed until it’s time to get up, and then lays on her back for a cuddle session with daddy! Too cute.

The picture I have attached is of Kismet out walking in a pretty park that is close to home. We have 4 routes we walk daily and she knows them all. This park is our afternoon route and features this lovely winding path complete with a stream to venture along. Talk about picture perfect!

Having the responsibility of a dog in my life again has done wonders for my health and well being. My compliments to Kismet’s Animatch Foster Mom Lori and the many other volunteers for your work with our gorgeous girl - who at this moment is nudging my arm telling me she has finished her breakfast and is ready for her morning walk! Take care for now and please know Kismet is loved, groomed, bathed and get’s plenty of attention and exercise.

Patrick Madden
http://www.paddymadden.blogspot.com

Hi! I got Yoda from Animatch when he was a puppy in 2002. Yods (as he is referred to - or the Yodler, little guy, or Yodie) has been the most amazing companion, and I can’t even begin to picture my life without him. We have lived in Toronto for the past 6 years, and I still check the Animatch website regularly so that I can get Yods a little friend one day. I am happy to report that he just celebrated his 8th birthday on January 30th! Thanks Animatch for almost 8 wonderful years and many more to come

-Abby

Its been just 3 weeks for Farrah at her new home in Ontario and I just love being here, Had a haircut and my new family just loves me so much. Thanks Helen & the gang at animatch for giving me a second chance at life…

Surf dog Ricochet’s inspirational video highlighting her journey from birth, to service dog training, to turning disappointment into a joyful new direction, to surfing with quadriplegic surfer, Patrick Ivison, to fundraising for charitable causes. She is currently leading a fundraiser for a six year old boy named Ian who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of his parents. If you’d like to help Ricochet help Ian, please go to http://www.SurfDogRicochet.com. To follow her on Facebook… Thank you for watching, and donating to her charitable cause.

Learn more about Ricochet on her website:
http://www.surfdogricochet.com/

To all my fellow volunteers – those who cared for Toby until he came into our lives in May 2008, we thank you. Words cannot describe what this little guy means to us. He is happy, healthy, sweet, loving and of course, gorgeous. But I have to tell the story of fate, for our loyal readers out there:

2 months prior to adopting Toby, my husband & I were having supper and talking about the kind of dog we wanted as our first. We decided that we preferred a male. I’ve always loved Cocker Spaniels, ever since I was young, so I mentioned that it would be a dream if we found one (but not a necessity). We also agreed that we wanted to adopt an older dog, around 4 or 5. Then, for the fun of it we started throwing around some names and my husband mentioned that he had an uncle in Spain who had a dog named Toby and he always loved that name.
Well, fast forward 2 months, and I was on the website and under the “adoptees” was the beautiful Cocker Spaniel, aged 4, male and his name was…. Toby.
After I picked my jaw off the floor, we met him and the rest is history.

A special thank you to Auntie Helen, Auntie Joanne & Auntie Sherri for making it all possible.

Jen, Carlos & Toby
xox