Category: Happy Tails

Happy Tails For Rocco

When did you adopt your pet from AARF?: March 1st, 2025
Pet’s AARF Name: Rocco
Pet’s New Name (if you changed it): Rocky
How is your adopted pet doing? Rocky is doing so fabulous! Though timid at first, he has blossomed into his Australian Shepherd personality. We spend hours on hours running and playing with toys. He has even learned to clean up his toys by putting them back in his basket before picking out a new one. Smart! He is also a fan of the dog park and spending time running with his dog cousins. While he is rough and tumble, he also enjoys the finer things in life. He enjoys lounging in bed, lying down to eat his dinner (all sprawled out), and taking long, leisurely walks around the neighborhood. He has grown very protective of his Mom! He follows me everywhere I go, like my little shadow. If Mom and Dad hug, Rocky wiggles himself into the middle. He joins us on our weekend trips –Rocky is seeing the world! We are such a happy family of 3. Thank you AARF and Ariel!

Happy Tails For Jewel and Babette

When did you adopt your pet from AARF?: 3/5/25
Pet’s AARF Name: Jewel and Babette
Pet’s New Name (if you changed it): Jewel and Jasper
How is your adopted pet doing? We’re one month in and absolutely “treasuring” Jewel and Jasper. Jewel is an adorable 7 mo old shorthair kitten who keeps us on our toes! She is fearless and an absolute cuddle-bug. Babette, whom we’ve renames Jasper, is a very beautiful and shy 2 yo longhair. She has been slowly opening up, becoming more playful and talkative, letting us know what needs to be done! Lol. Jewel and Jasper are so “precious” and we are ao grateful to be their guardians and forever home.

Happy Tails For Mooshie

When did you adopt your pet from AARF?: 4/6/24
Pet’s AARF Name: Mooshie
Pet’s New Name (if you changed it): Ally
How is your adopted pet doing? We were looking to adopt a smaller, older girl who was good w/cats when I saw a video of 6 yr old Mooshie walking up to a cat and not caring. We adopted her a year ago today. I knew she was overweight but the video did not do her justice. I thought we had just adopted a pig! She weighed over 50 lbs! Her first mom (who had passed away) had only fed her people food. Thankfully her foster mom got her started on dog food. First thing we did was change her name to Ally and put her on a diet. We slowly scaled back her food and her treats became green beans and carrots. We also go for a walk or 2 a day. I’m happy to say she is down to her ideal weight of 25 lbs! While she always played, jumped and ran, I think she surprises herself on how much easier it is to do now. We now have our smaller, older girl who likes to chase cats! All is good, gives the cats some exercise too!

Happy Tails For Macaroni

When did you adopt your pet from AARF?: March 11, 2023
Pet’s AARF Name: Macaroni
Pet’s New Name (if you changed it): Mac
How is your adopted pet doing? It’s taken me two years to sit down and write a success story note. He’s a Border Collie, after all, and was 7 months old when he came, so we’ve been very busy! He came off the massive truck from Tennessee to Vermont 4 days before an epic snowstorm that buried us in 40” of snow. The plow couldn’t get to the house, and there was no power for days. Good thing he likes snow! What an initiation. Now, his first thing every morning is to have a snow bath, making snow angels and relishing the romp.

The two cats who lived here were not happy about being lunged at, so that was our first challenge. Finch and Molly taught him it was okay to be gentle with them. Now Ravi and Gita, arrived as kittens a couple months ago (and who lived with a Lab who allowed them to jump all over him), are learning to give Mac his personal space.

I do massage out of my home, so the first few massages were interesting. One woman had her arms hanging off the table and Mac decided to taste the massage oil on her arm. I was mortified. Thank goodness my client was amenable. Especially when I got in between Mac and the woman’s arm, and Mac decided then to resort to the other arm. Another time a client said “I’m not a salad”. She hasn’t been back. I’d rather have Mac than a client who’d rather not have a dog around. He quickly learned that chewing the leg of the couch in the massage room was not an acceptable activity while my attention was not on him. Very soon he got the protocol and he lays down quietly while the session is going on, and greets clients nicely coming and going.

My other job is elder care. I go to the home of a couple to help out with activities of daily living for a 90 year old gentleman. They have two dogs, one of whom is not very welcoming to other dogs. It was crazy for me to think I could care for a puppy and work all the time…. My solution was to take Mac to day care on the three days a week I was with my couple. I felt like a mom working to pay for child care. (I cried the first day I dropped him off). But it was a good solution for the circumstances, and gave Mac wonderful socialization and training, and we did attend specific training classes together as well. He has a few doggy friends. He’s not been around children much, so we still need some practice knowing they can be playmates too.

The first few times I approached him with a brush, he backed off like it was an instrument of mass destruction. Good thing his coat is glossy. We’re still working on that. The dremel tool I bought for his nails is getting easier too. Evidently he lived in an outside kennel before going to foster care. His foster mom (L.H.) did a great job introducing him to living inside.

He began his time here in his crate in the night times. He has graduated to snuggling in the bed (when the cats aren’t around). He is a pure love muffin – very sensitive.

Once we established some understandings, I felt able to bring him with me to my job. He has been home alone just a handful of times, for very short durations. It’s so great that he loves car rides, since I live in a remote spot. Now two years together, he has mellowed and sweetened so much. Soon the ice will melt off the brook and he will return to the warmer month activity of swimming and playing in the water. Frisbee is a year round activity (he’s amazing), and our daily walks in the woods keep us both balanced and happy.

We can’t imagine life without each other!

Thank you thank you thank you!

Happy Tails For Izzy

When did you adopt your pet from AARF?: Feb 2025
Pet’s AARF Name: Izzy
Pet’s New Name (if you changed it): Izzy
How is your adopted pet doing? We are so happy that Izzy joined our family! She is so sweet, smart and funny. She loves to play with her toys, snuggle, and race around the house. She uses the scratching post & litter box-awesome girl! Izzy has gained weight too. We love Izzy and are so glad she let us be her forever family! Thank you AARF!

Happy Tails For Frankie

When did you adopt your pet from AARF?: 1/20/25
Pet’s AARF Name: Frankie
Pet’s New Name (if you changed it): Princess Jasmine Francine aka Friankie
How is your adopted pet doing? Frankie is doing well! She’s adjusting to her fur brothers and less afraid of them as she was when she arrived. When we adopted her, she was only pee pad trained. She is now going outside and we are working on getting her fully off the pads. We make our dogs’ food and mix it with Science Diet. She really likes it except the green beans. She picks them out and puts them on the floor but her brothers clean them up for me. She’s funny and quirky and hates the Roomba vacuum cleaner. She loves my husband the most, which is great since my other two are attached to me. She sleeps on the pillow next to him at night. She loves her toys and throws them all over the place! We are in love with her. Thank you for the privilege of adopting her. We promise to take good care of her and give all the love she needs!
Thank you for all your rescue does for the fur babies!

Happy Tails For Lila

When did you adopt your pet from AARF?: 1/14/25
Pet’s AARF Name: Lila
Pet’s New Name (if you changed it): Lila Rose
How is your adopted pet doing? Lila Rose has brought me so much joy again. Losing my husband last year and my pet Sadie six weeks later I felt lost. Lila Rose is so lively at times then turn around for her cuddles. She’s crated trained beautifully for nights and pad training is about to be perfected. She’s got little cousins (pets) that come over to play with. She’s my baby girl!

Happy Tails For Cooper

When did you adopt your pet from AARF?: January 2025
Pet’s AARF Name: Cooper
Pet’s New Name (if you changed it): Harvey
How is your adopted pet doing? Harvey has been a wonderful addition to our family. Our 4 yr old pup, Bain, has been acting like a puppy again with how much they play and chase each other! Harvey gets along well with our baby too! We are so happy to have him!

Happy Tails For Dolly

When did you adopt your pet from AARF?: 12/28/24
Pet’s AARF Name: Dolly
Pet’s New Name (if you changed it): Dolly
How is your adopted pet doing? Dolly is a fabulous addition to our family. She is sweet, smart and playful. It’s been a delight watching her gain confidence and be part of her blossoming personality. Dolly’s favorite things are coffee in the mornings with her daddy, watching the birds and deer, playing fetch with her fuzzy balls, snuggles with mommy and practicing her hunting instincts. Her favorite snacks are freeze dried minnows and when mommy shares bites of delicious cheese. She has the sweetest little voice which she sings with as she greets us in the mornings. She is learning that being held and getting kisses on the cheek are something to look forward to each day. We can’t imagine our lives without Dolly. Thank you A.A.R.F. and to her fosters for giving her such a great start!