I started looking at shelter dogs as soon as I got my own place in Jackson (beginning of winter 2016).  A friend who had met Sky at the AAC, suggested she might be my speed, so I went in a couple days later and took her for a night.  I adopted her the next day.  There was something about the soul-penetrating blue and brown eyeballs, totally nonchalant attitude towards a -10 degree night, and the emotional connection I felt as soon as I met her.

We like all the same things (snow, activities, chips, etc.) and could not be a more perfect dog/human pairing – I feel very lucky.  She is my sled dog in the summer – pulling me around Jackson on anything with wheels – and my ski partner in the winter.  Sky is now a sponsored RexSpecs athlete because she is so pretty and fit.  She is also a perfect role model and play buddy for many foster dogs that come stay in our little apartment.

My life would be so boring without Sky Dog, and I am eternally grateful that the Animal Adoption Center exists, and that it has the best staff any place could possibly have.

Ella Ella Ella! My mostly confident, mostly hound type dogs story began on some dock somewhere in Mexico, where she was picked up with her sissy and brought into a rescue.  Starved, mangy and terrified are the adjectives the rescuers have described their 4 month old pup.  She cowered in her kennel for a week and screamed every time she was touched.  After some months of  wonderful caring and meals, she would travel to the AAC with her sissy by way of Jackson volunteers that had been helping at a spay/neuter clinic on Isla Mujeres.  I met Ella after she’d been in the AAC program for a couple weeks. At this point she’d been fostered by Heather, professional foster, and a long time supporter of AAC, Dr. Emmy.  I like to foster the harder to place dogs, I have them longer, get more attached and agonize over the day they find their forever homes!  Ella had several inquiries over several months, but nothing that was the right fit. At first, she retreated to a large crate when she was nervous, and damn near everything made her nervous.  She quickly adapted to her new life though.  Walks at the feed grounds with her foster brothers in the evening, days spent with The AAC  gals and the dogs , regular meals, treats, she was a sight to behold.

Why I Foster Failed. Ella gave new meaning to long term foster! She quit slinking to the kennel, she met people at the door like a welcome wagon lady, she got over her fear of the cats,  her tail was up more than tucked between her legs.  Now, I needed another dog like I needed a hole in my head— but she was already here. Then, one day, Ella was the featured pet available for adoption.  Dr. Emmy was very sick this day, and had asked me months previous to this if I would please adopt this dog that she adored.  I  called  Jenny and Faith May, also friends of Dr. Emmy and my landlord,  for permission to bring Ella home for good. I had reached the point with Ella that she belonged with me and my GSD Sam, and the rest of the pack.  I wasn’t going to put myself or her through any more anxiety ridden moments over where her home was.  It was with me.  Dr. Emmy knew before she passed that Ella was home for good.

The only thing she loathes is the dog park!  I often forget that crowds are not her thing.  Her happy place, is  still, with her girlfriends at AAC and their dogs.  I’ve been going through chemo this year, and she often stays with Amanda and Josie.  It is my pride and joy to see her so happy. Ella is so very sensitive to every emotion with myself or the animals.  She is so very interesting , and we just love her so very much.

It was my, Jenna (AAC Adoption Counselor), first week at work when a big, black dog got transferred from Star Valley. He hops out of the car and as I saw him through the window Though “Oh sh**.” He peered into my soul with those droopy, irresistible eyes looking for comfort during a scary time in his life and it was game over. Gunther was my dream dog. All of my friends and family called me crazy, poking fun that I didn’t even last a week at my new job before caving gin and adopting an animal.

Prior to the AAC, Gunther sat in the Star Valley shelter for a few months after him, his baby mama and all of their puppies were surrendered after their owners who were breeding them got a divorce. All of them got adopted almost immediately while Gunther sat in the kennel awaiting his forever family. Baby G fit in immediately at our household and myself and fiancé, George. It didn’t take long to decide that he was our dog and we became attached at the hip. We immediately upgraded to a King size bed because G was obviously never sleeping on the floor. Gunther is a 100 lb dog stuck in a 10 lb body, he welcomes foster dogs into his home whenever is needed and he puts a smile on everyone’s face who meets him. He is our pride and joy and we couldn’t have imagined a more perfect first dog. I often ask myself “what I did before I had Gunther?”

Then came along Pepper, aka Pep-dog, aka Peppie, aka Pepperoni, aka Baby Smush Face. Virginia and myself went to Lucky’s Place of Star Valley to pull some more dogs for the AAC. We met who we wanted and had room for one more. One of the volunteers mentioned a dog named Midnight. We had walked right by her without inquiring and I still can’t believe how we had missed her originally. We met her and immediately knew she was the one for us. At this point George and I were fostering dogs that we thought would be a good fit. It wasn’t until I brought Midnight/Kit Kat to an adoption drive and she was THE most tolerant dog I had ever met. Which says a lot comparing to Gunther. She patiently laid on the floor and let another puppy sleep on top of her the entire time. We had to foster her. After a week in we began taking name suggestions and it was game over. Pepper was her name for her fiery personality and brindle accents. She has no sense of urgency and can tree a squirrel for an entire day. Despite her being half the size of Gunther, she makes sure to protect him from anything that comes his way. We could not have asked for a better second dog to the family.

Gunther and Pepper were both witnesses at our wedding and people joke that it was actually their own wedding. I will forever be grateful for the joy the Animal Adoption Center has brought into our lives.

“There’s no way we’re fostering him, he almost took my face off!”

Amy had been stalking the AAC site for months.  The Furry Friday emails were literally the only reason she checked her account.  Numerous times per day I’d receive text messages with screen shots of dogs and the standard question, “what do you think about this guy?”

We’d been talking about getting a dog for a while and were at the point we were seriously looking.  Amy had always had dogs growing up.  For her, it was time to restore that energy to the house.  I hadn’t grown up with dogs, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but was excited for this new chapter.

There he was!  I’d received many images of different dogs over the past few months, but the way Amy reacted to the photos of Nacho made me think this might be the guy.  We decided to swing by the AAC to meet him.  He was nervous to say the least.

Carrie and the girls at the AAC told us he’d come from Idaho Falls and had had quite a rough few weeks.  He was scared and hesitant around us.  Rightfully so after having been adopted and returned to the AAC not once, but twice.  I was warming up to the little guy and that’s when it happened… he lunged at Amy’s face and almost got her.  We brushed it off, but left with mixed emotions about the fiery little Nacho.

Soon after leaving, the AAC called and asked if we’d foster him for the weekend.  After some serious deliberation (hence the “…almost took my face off” quote) we mustered up the courage to spend three nights in the same house with all 8 pounds of this spirited little chiweenie.

After an exciting initial three days we were in love and made the commitment to be his forever home.  First things first… new name.  Nacho quickly became Ramone the Punk-Rock Chiweenie and we began truly getting to know each other better.

Times were a little challenging at first.  It took Ramone a few weeks to get comfortable with his new humans and really settle in.  He was quite defensive and a little aggressive, but with some patience, a little love, and LOTS of treats he has transformed into the sweetest little guy with a huge personality.  We are actually amazed at how social and friendly he has become.

Ramone loves camping and treats and naps and laps and treats and bike rides and skateboarding and treats and hikes and road trips and high fives and is even starting to dig paddle boarding.   He’s an equal opportunity lover who visits the lap of everyone who enters our home. He’s fast as hell and probably doesn’t realize that his happy bark sounds a lot like his angry bark. Just don’t try to pick him up if you’re not already one of his homies. That doesn’t really fly with Ramone, but can you blame him?  I don’t like strangers picking me up either.

Ramone has been an absolutely amazing addition to our family and, as with all of us, is a beautiful work in progress.  We are so grateful to the AAC for helping us find him and for all the work they put into connecting these incredible animals with their forever homes.

-Jeff Moran with Amy Glenn & Ramone the Punk-Rock Chiweenie