Apr 29, 2017
Adopted by Carina and Dave – November 2014 – Snohomish, Washington, USA
I had been watching VAFA postings provided by Farah Ravon for some time when I saw Nader’s picture and the urgent need for him to have a temporary foster home when he arrived in the Seattle area. We already had 2 senior dogs and had recently moved from a 2 bedroom condominium to our dream home on five acres.
I could not imagine being the reason for Nader to not have a temporary home that would allow him to come to the United States. He had quite the journey traveling via Germany and landing in Vancouver, Canada. From Vancouver he was driven across the border to Seattle where he spent the night with his companion Nazli. Dave brought Nader from PAWS in Lynnwood to our home the next day. Nader was very tired and sad…until he saw Rover and Bailey and realized he still had a pack to belong to.
We were very worried the first night that Nader showed his teeth, guarding his food when the other dogs came near. This was the only time that Nader showed any aggression and who can blame him after all he went through.We had a terrible time getting him used to being in a kennel at night. I never heard such feral noises coming from an animal. We tried everything – leaving him downstairs alone, in our room with the kennel covered, uncovered, and facing the other dogs. Eventually we could not bear it and put the kennel outside and left Nader in our room with our other two dogs.Nader loves our dogs more than he loves us. Rover only likes Nader when he does not have to share him with us.
I have caught them playing outside or laying under a tree together. Bailey has been a bit of a surrogate mother to Nader and he looks to her for companionship first. Nader has started to love Dave and I more and can often be seen laying next to Dave in our bed…taking over my pillow. Despite him being so long he still believes he should be Dave’s lap dog.Even though Nader has free reign of our property, he spends one day a week at a local Doggy Day care so that he can socialize with other dogs and burn off some of his never ending energy. He knows when it’s time to go and you have never seen a happier dog.We’ve had lots of laughs with Nader.
Despite having food available for him all the time, he prefers to pull bread or other goodies off our kitchen countertop. His most recent acquisition was a wrapped package of apple, cinnamon rolls that friends had given us for Christmas. We do our best to keep things out of his reach – but were quite surprised to catch him standing completely on our kitchen island. The funniest thing that Nader does is burp. He will look straight at us with a serious stare and let out the loudest burp you could ever hear.Thank you for blessing us with Nader. When you have an amazing dog come into your life – it seems like it has always been there. He makes us laugh and smile every day and we are ever so grateful that you entrusted his well being to us. We utterly love him.
Apr 29, 2017
Adopted by Leone and Jack Samilson – July 2014 – Blairstown, NJ
As you know Tara joined our family in July of 2015. Originally scheduled to be a foster, Jack and I took one look at her soulful eyes and fell in love. When she joined us we had two German Shorthair Pointers, Chica age 14 and Scarlett age 6. Sadly Chica crossed the rainbow bridge in September.
Tara is bonded with with her new sister Scarlett, as well as all her cousins both in NJ (Max, Molly, Tux and Delilah) and in Florida (Ruby and the black dog brigade).Since she has joined the pack she has traveled from NJ to Washington DC in one trip. Down the east coast to the florida keys and then along the gulf coast of the US. She has now returned to the Keys, survived her first set of winter visitors and is waiting for all the others who will be along soon. She and Scarlett go CRAZY when we ask if they want to go for a ride in the car and then jump in and go to sleep. I guess its a dog thing.Even with her heavy coat she seems to really enjoy our long walks and doesn’t seem at all sad to be missing the cold and snow in NJ. (she told me so this morning!). She is continuing to work on NOT barking, and NOT jumping. And loves to be loved. Although she sometimes has a tough time with new dogs and people in her own yard and house, she loves to meet and play with everybody in all the dog parks we visit.
leone
Apr 29, 2017
Adopted by McCormick Family – Sept 5, 2015 – Delta, BC, Canada
Sibby is doing very well and has fit into our family exceptionally. We did keep her name as it suits her and she responds to it (most of the time – unless distracted by the falling rain drops that she seems to love!)We discovered that she loves the water! She often showers with my daughter, even if just to sit at the end of the tub catching drops.
When it rains outside, she searches out every puddle to play in. I have never had a dog that enjoys the water so much! We always laugh when she puts on her ‘turbo boosters’ to run through the puddles:)She gets along very well with our other two dogs and even our cats. We do have to watch her with the rat as she tends to nip at him but he is in his cage most of the time anyway. She just gets very excited when he is out.She really enjoys her walks and loves to visit all the dogs at the various off leash parks we visit. Sometimes I think she is a little sad that she can’t go all the places our other two dogs go, but she does what she can.We are very grateful to have her and my daughter is doing a great job caring for her. Sibby sleeps with her every night (the other two dogs sleep in a crate together, but Sibby gets special treatment as she is my daughters). My daughter sewed her a new big fluffy pillow and made her a squeaky toy as well, so it has been great to see how she has taken on the responsibility.
McCormick Family & Sibby
Apr 29, 2017
Adopted by Parisa Salehi & Burk Finley – Oct 2014 – Washington DC
Haiku now known as Iko- came to us from Vafa as a foster. He managed his long air journey with courage. Lots of courage. When we picked him up from the airport he walked out of his crate smiling and he continues it still. It is as though he knows some folks have done right by him!
He is sweet and social. If he is afraid he only lets those he knows well in on it. He is kind and despite the scars of his past life makes long strides to adjust to life and loves large.Surf (our first dog from Vafa) decided that we need to keep him. And we said yes! Surf and Iko are our nature channel entertainment for residents and visitors none stop! Iko is a daddy’s boy in our household and hey why not!It is hard to picture life without Iko even though he has been with us for less than a year still.He lives in DC in a small home with more dog beds than dogs and people combined! Enjoys his weekend on the river with Burk or at the farm with Parisa and Surf. And goes to dog parks, bookstores and coffee shops during the week.We are thankful to have gotten to know him and feel privileged to now be his adoptive parents. He is simply delightful.
Parisa Salehi & Burk Finley
Apr 29, 2017
Adopted by Gloria DeGaston – Emeryville, CA – Feb 2015
I am so grateful to VAFA for all they did for my Surah (formerly Khaleh Rizeh ). She, in the short time I have had her, is so sweet, loving, playful (especially when she sees the leash come out) and a great companion. With her background, being on her own before entering the shelter, then being with so many other dogs and competing for attention, she could have become distant or aloof. But she didn’t! And it must be because of the wonderful people who work and volunteer at VAFA, and who are so full of love for all the dogs you save and care for.
Let me tell you about hair!! For many years I had dogs with heavy undercoats, and when I first met Surah I was so relieved to see that she only had a minimum undercoat. Boy did she fool me. This Spring I have brushed enough hair from her to make 2 or 3 more Surahs (smile) But, it’s OK, as she loves to be brushed and stands very still with a contented happy look.We have a lot of fun when we go to different dog parks. Surah loves to run, play with the other dogs and she sniffs out every spot where an odor may give her news about other dogs who have been there. She is very dedicated to this reading of news. Then she must go from person to person, nuzzling them quietly, saying “Hello” and “Pet me, pet me. I’m very sweet and love being petted.
“Here at home I live in a condominium complex, which is thoroughly secure and I can let Surah off the leash and not worry. We have a lot of plants like tall seagrass which she loves to run through and feel the plants brush her, or she runs between the hedges and the wooden fence; she pops out from time to time to check on me. And no walk would be complete without a good long roll in the grass.
She is a wonderful companion, has learned and adjusted quickly to her new home and me. I can’t thank all of you enough for taking such good care of Surah, and sending her to the United States. Khaleh Rizeh was hard to pronounce, so I was trying to come up with a new name for her. I wanted to honor her heritage and VAFA with an Iranian/Persian name and looked up a history of Persian women. There I found a princess who lived about 200 BC named Surah. It was a perfect name for this wonderful, sweet, smart princess of a dog. I promise you, she is in good hands, loved and receiving all the attention due a princess.
Thank you. VIVA VAFA!!
Apr 29, 2017
Adopted by Noam and Itai – August 2015 – Chicago, IL USA
Cowcub (formerly known as Abtin) was love at first sight. He lost his leg only a few months before we met him but walked around with a huge smile and a lot of love for whoever he met.
In a short span of time, he had not only become the neighborhood superstar that everybody knows and wants to pet, but he also became the center of our home and family.
Always sitting in a spot where he can see all family members, so he can be the first thing we see when we wake up – to make sure he gets immediate petting.He continues to surprise up with his love for new things (likes small dogs, squirrels, chasing pigeons and snow) and the fact that he completely behaves like he has six and not three legs – whenever he jumps, runs and skips. He’s a perfect addition to our home and lives.
We are grateful for all the amazing people at Vafa and Chicago Canine Rescue that brought Cowcub into our lives. You guys rock!
