The foster blog is moving!

We've decided to move the foster dogs back home to the Pet Haven Dog Blog http://pethavendogs.blogspot.com/.

Kelly, our blog writer extraordinaire, will continue to feature the wonderful dogs that are looking for foster homes this summer...dogs like Harold and Koda!

If you have any questions, please send us a note at pethavendogs@yahoo.com.

Spend some chill time with Chessie

Chessie is a 2 year old shepherd mix (approx 52 lbs), who came to us from Red Lake. Like most of our Red Lake dogs, Chessie is unbelievably sweet and gentle. She loves to cuddle and get all the love she can...not to mention her love of belly rubs!

Chessie is currently staying at Bloomington Vet because she is Heartworm positive. We're looking for a home without another dog for her to spend her recovery. She loves attention, and has been very good around the people and dogs at the clinic! She's also possibly the easiest dog to watch as she likes to go verrry slooowly. As Ann S said, "she's the type of dog you could walk while carrying a cup of coffee."

Chessie would much rather recover in the comfort of a home than stay at the clinic. If you're interested in fostering Chessie, please contact Celayne at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org.

Good things come in 3s...

And in our case, it's a third dog named Max.

Max (the Lab) is a great dog and has grown up around children. He is very gentle and is great with babies and toddlers. Max has been around cats since he has been a puppy, and gets along with them very well. Max enjoys going for walks and playing at the dog park. He is good on a leash, and he gets along with other dogs very well.

One of the things that his family really likes about max is that he does not bark very much. He does not bark at other dogs when he goes on walks. The only time he barks is when he hears someone at the front door. Max can be left alone all day in the house. He does not chew anything or make a mess when he is left alone in the house. Max is also trained to stay off of furniture.

We have THREE dogs named Max that need foster homes. Even if you can’t foster one of these special dogs, please feel free to pass this info along to your friends and family!Max (the lab) is a seven year old black Labrador retriever coming to Pet Haven due to a family divorce.
And of course if you are interested in fostering Max, please contact Celayne at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org.

Cindy Lou will be a cinch to foster!

Cindy Lou is an 11 year old senior black lab beauty who is in urgent need of a foster home!

Cindy has lived in a home her entire life, however her family has now lost their own home to foreclosure. She is very friendly, and gets along with cats and other dogs. Cindy LOVES to play fetch with her softball; it's like her security blanket. She even carries it around outside.

Cindy is always wagging her tail, even when she drinks her water. She loves to have her rear-end scratched, and then she will plop down on the floor, grunt and smile at you.

Cindy is getting a lump removed from her back at the clinic tomorrow, so we are hoping to place her in a foster home by the weekend. She may be a senior, but she's loyal to the bone and will reward whomever can take her with plenty of love and affection.

If you're interested in fostering Cindy, please contact Celayne at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org

Harold - a special senior coming our way

Harold is a 6-8 year old Labbie who was abandoned in Iowa and is coming to us on Friday. He’s a slightly smaller lab, only about 55-60lbs, very friendly, and good with dogs and people. We’re not totally sure about the cats, but he hasn’t had any issues with the cat at his current shelter.

Harold has lots of love to give, and we’d love to put him straight into a foster home!

If you’re interested in fostering Harold, please contact Celayne at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org

Straight from the country and into your heart..

Meet Max the Shepherd, not to be confused with Max the hound!

Max the Shepherd is one of our special Red Lake dogs who arrived in the "cities" about two weeks ago. He is currently staying at BVH, but we would love to find this gentle boy a foster home!

Max is about 2 years old, and was a surrender to Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. I've met him a few times, and he's very mellow. He's also probably the best walker I've met! He prances when he walks, and not only does he not pull, if I'm not going fast enough, he stops and waits. Max is also a cuddler and will lean up against you for some love.

It would be great if we could find Max a foster home by the weekend. If you're interested in
fostering him, please contact Celayne at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org

Max the Hound

I had the chance to meet this sweet boy over lunch yesterday. Max came to us from the Sioux City IA animal control. He's one of the lucky ones who had a couple folks really advocating for him and persistently worked to find him a place at a rescue. He arrived this past Saturday and after getting checked out at the vet I picked him up yesterday to transport him to one of Pet Haven's new doggie daycare partners, Now Boarding.

Max is a lover and definitely a hound :) He definitely wanted to take me for a walk guided by all the lovely scents that i'm sure he wishes I could enjoy just as much as he does!

As much as we love and appreciate our doggie daycare partners we would love to get Max into a foster home. That will then allow us to bring another dog in to our foster program! If you would be open to fostering Max email us at volunteer@pethavenmn.org.

Koda is searching for a home!

Koda is a 4 ½ year old, male, Lab/Dalmation mix who’s looking for a foster home. Koda is a former Pet Haven dog who returned to us because his owner didn’t have enough time to spend with him. Koda is dog-friendly when out on walks, and is doing very well learning how to not pull on his leash.

If you're interested in fostering Koda, please email Celayne at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org.

Everyone needs a little Enya

Enya, the dog, that is!

Enya is an 8 year old, 27lb, female sheltie mix who needs a foster a home. Enya is being surrendered by her owners because their two-year old daughter is allergic. Because Enya is coming directly from a family and home life, we need to find her a foster home rather than boarding.

Enya is a very sweet, beautiful girl who is housebroken and would be great for a first time foster! One note, she doesn't get along with cats...or rather, she likes to chase them but they don't necessarily like it.

If you're interested in fostering Enya, please email Celayne at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org.

Colby would like to come home and play!

Colby (formerly Chili Pepper) came to us a few weeks ago, and while he loves playing with Missy, who’s also boarding at Pampered Pooch, he really needs a foster home!

Colby grew up in the shelter, but has the sweetest demeanor. He’s a smaller black lab, about a year old. He is a very laid, especially for an adolescent boy! He walks very well on the leash, and a slight fear of small doorways, but is getting over that.

Colby gets along well with cats, as well as other dogs. He's a little bit of a follower and really needs someone who will love him and help him gain his confidence. A good leader with a gentle touch would be helpful for this boy.

Heather, a trainer at PP, hung out w/ both Colby and Missy yesterday and had this to say:

I took Colby and Missy out to Petsmart today for a nice little walkand to see how they did around distractions and how they walk onleash. They did absolutely fabulous at the store, in fact its funny how theybehaved 10 times better than all the other dogs in the store withtheir actual owners!! Dogs barked and snarled at them and they juststood and looked at them like "what are you doing?" They could havecared less! Both walked awesome on gentle leaders and by the time weleft, they were both walking behind me.

It’s pretty cute how well these two get along. If someone could handle it, they would do great getting adopted into the same home, and they could wear each other out!

If you are looking to foster a truly nice dog, you can’t go wrong with Colby! And of course if you’re interested in fostering two absolutely wonderful dogs, Missy would love to go home you as well!

Want more info on Colby or Missy? Contact Celayne at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org

Max is on his way to MN!

Meet Max!

Max is a 3 yr old male Collie/Hound mix (approx 60lbs) we’d like to bring in from an Iowa shelter.

Sources say that Max is quiet in the kennel (quite a feat!), both dog and kid friendly, and an all-around sweet boy. And really, who can resist this face?

If you are interested in fostering Max, please contact Celayne at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org

Savannah needs a foster!

This poor girl has been with us now for a couple months. She was recently being well cared for by one of our doggie daycare partners but an extended amount of time in a doggie daycare environment is just too much for any dog. She had been losing weight and is now being boarded at our partner vet clinic. I learned the other day that she has stress colitis. Please help us find a foster home for this sweet girl. 

Check out her bio to learn more about her. Please help us get the word out about her and help us find her a foster home, or even better, an adoptive home. We need to get her into a home where she can get some individual love and attention. 

Missy would like to go home with you

Missy, our peppy black lab, would like to get out of boarding and go home with you.

She's about two years old now and has been with us for a few months. She had some separation anxiety in her last foster home, so we had to board her as no one wanted to clean up major destruction.

The staff at the boarding facility worked with Missy, helping her to become accustomed to being in a crate and when she left them last week were proud to report that they saw no signs of anxious behavior. So -- are you willing to take a chance on this lovely girl? We will provide the services of a trainer from The Canine Coach to ease her transition from boarding to your home, just in case.

If you are interested in fostering Missy, please contact me at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org

Riley - A hound who deserves a home!

Riley is a 2-3 year old Springer/Hound mix who desperately needs a foster home!

Riley came to Pet Haven about a year ago. An animal control had found the young dog roaming the streets of New Brighton. Despite his happy personality and striking coloring, no one claimed him as their own.

Riley was adopted out to a wonderful family, but was returned to us early this year because he has separation anxiety. Separation anxiety manifests when a dog is anxious or frightened when left alone. It is a tough thing for us humans to get a handle on and every dog with separation anxiety symptoms behaves a little differently. Some dogs destroy their kennel or a room they are left in; some will injure themselves by trying to chew through a wire crate or flinging themselves at walls and windows.

Currently enjoying his stay at All Seasons Canine Country Club, the staff loves him and have been taking very good care of him, but what Riley needs to get over his separation anxiety is to live in a home that understands him and is willing to work a little to help him transition into the happy, fun-loving guy that he is.

Riley is taking a medication that is helping to lessen his anxieties, but we haven't had a chance to see how well it is working, because at his country club, there are always several other dogs around, even at night. Riley has his own room, but he knows that the other dogs are there -- his hound's sense of smell keeps him aware of who is around him.

When he’s around people, he’s calm and is a little lover. He LOVES car rides, and will greet you happily when he sees you. He knows how to sit, and a few other tricks.
He's great with kids -- he enjoys their playful energy, so like his own.

Riley truly aims to please. He would do best with a family with at least one other dogs and where he will never be left alone for long.

If you are willing to work with a very deserving boy, please contact us at pethavendogs@yahoo.com. We promise this sweet boy will steal your heart in a matter of minutes!

Thanks to Jen for writing this blog post after transporting sweet Riley to our adoption event last Saturday.

Savannah is still waiting ...

I had the chance to see sweet Savannah at our dog adoption event yesterday. I had been looking forward to seeing her again. Yes, I confess I have a very soft spot for the overlooked black dogs (having 3 big black dogs at home already ... all my feeble attempts to foster with Pet Haven only to realize I can't let them go and I adopt them). If I could, Savannah would be another dog that would fall prey to my black dog -- black hole, as my home is affectionately referred to by fellow volunteers :)

All of our dogs are special, but yes, there are some that tug at my heart a little harder... Savannah is one of them. She came to us from rural Iowa -- one of the lucky ones saved from euthanasia.


There are simply too many dogs, and especially big black dogs... a phenomenon known as Black Dog Syndrome.

Savannah is a smaller "big black dog" :) Full grown she's a svelte 57 pounds. She is an absolute lover and would've let me hang out on the floor with her and rub her belly for the entire adoption event ... [darn those other dogs!]

Savannah is currently being boarded at one of our doggie daycare partners. She would really love to be in a foster home (or even better, an adoptive home!), with or without dogs, cats or kids. She is great with everyone ... I also sense she would do great having you all to herself. She would also love to train for the upcoming 5K-9 with Pet Haven's team The Fast and The Furballs on 5/31. Won't you give this sweet girl a chance to come hang out in your home, and you could train for the 5K run/walk together?

Savannah needs you. If you aren't able to foster her will you help us spread the word? Will you help us find Savannah a home to hang out with till she finally lands in her forever home. Now don't get me wrong, she says they are treating her very well at the doggie daycare -- a home is always better :)

For Savannah, since she has jumped a fence (I don't believe it was a very tall fence) we will need for you to either have a 6 ft fence or no fence at all ... as that would mean you will always be walking her on leash which is perfectly fine by Savannah! :)

For more info on Savannah you can read her bio. Or you email us at pethavendogs@yahoo.com.

Savannah has asked us to find her a new foster home

Our beautiful black Savannah is looking for a new foster home. The home we placed her in was a little chaotic for this young Lab mix. Although she got along well with the other dogs, the two children (aged 4 and 7) and the resident cat, she's let me know that a place a wee bit less active would help her gather her thoughts and concentrate on what she really wants: to be someone's one and only girl. Oh, she'll live happily with another dog or even a cat, but she would like to be able to spend some serious one-on-one time with her person. Savannah's that kind of girl.

Savvy learns quickly and figured out how to escape from the fenced yard in her foster home, so I told her she could only go to a home with a TALL fence or go to live with someone who had time to take her on long walks or runs.

We've previously featured Savannah on our Pet Haven Dogs blog.

Savannah will be moving to Auntie Ruth's Animal Care and Wellness Center tomorrow for a little R & R, so if you would like to meet her with the possibility of taking her home, please let us know by email: pethavendogs@yahoo.com or me personally at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org.

Thanks to Heather J. and her family for offering Savannah a great place to get used to home life!

Oso Sweet

Seven year old Oso is truly the sweetest dog in the world, except when it comes to cats. He very much enjoys chasing them. So -- our dear Oso is looking for a new feline-free foster home.

He's a Rottweiler/Shepherd mix who gets along just fine with other dogs. His current foster mom loves him very much and if Oso wasn't getting aggressive with the resident cat, she probably would have adopted him.

Oso is a snuggler and he loves human companionship. You can read his Petfinder profile here. If you would like to provide a foster or adoptive home for this gentle dog (except, of course, towards cats!) contact us at pethavendogs@yahoo.com or me personally at dogdirector@pethavenmn.org.

Alfie needs a foster

I had the good fortune of meeting this sweet, gentle giant earlier this week shortly after she arrived on her transport from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. I admit I have a very soft spot for the dogs we bring in from Red Lake as the latest addition to our family, Ahnung, came to us from Red Lake. Like Alfie, she came with heartworm and needed to stay calm for a couple months as she went through treatment. There is something magical and mystical about many of the dogs coming to us from Red Lake reservation. As I knelt down to hug Alfie I could sense this calm, serene, wise presence about her .. there is something very, very special about this girl -- just look into her eyes and you will see what I mean.

Alfie is currently being boarded at our partner vet as she goes through heartworm treatment. She would much rather be lounging on a dog bed by your side (or on your couch if you'd let her!). She would also be happy to snuggle up next to you by your fireplace and just lay her head on your lap.

If you currently have a quiet, calm household with no dogs, or a very calm dog, we would love for you to contact us and consider fostering Alfie. Email us at pethavendogs@yahoo.com with questions or if you'd like to arrange for a visit with sweet Alfie :)

Lovable Lenny & The Schnauzer Sisters

Lenny is coming in on Saturday. We have a temporary foster home for him, but that will only be for one week.

This smaller Lab mix is about 40 pounds. He is thought to be 12 - 18 months, so may get a little bigger. Lenny is very friendly to people and gets along well with other dogs.

Interested? Write us at pethavendogs@yahoo.com

Unfortunately, we do not have pictures of the Schnauzer Sisters. They are a pair of white miniature Schnauzers, just eight months old who are an emergency intake for us. Their family has a medical situation and these little girls are home alone for many hours each day. We have a foster home ready to take one puppy, but are still looking for a second home. The girls are have not been trained to go potty outside, but are using wee wee pads successfully.

Please email us at pethavendogs@yahoo.com if you would like to foster one of these cute sisters.

Dakota and Baker will be here next week

We like to help People for Pets, an Iowa animal shelter, when they get too full. They have sent us some wonderful dogs! Here are two Labs who will be coming to us next week.

Dakota is a six year old, smiling female Yellow Lab. She's a gentle girl who was eager to check out the cat rooms when she first arrived at People for Pets. She could probably fit in any home quite easily.

Just look at that face! Wouldn't you love to have Dakota waiting to greet you at the end of your work day?

Baker is an energetic Chocolate Lab. He was evaluated by a police trainer who thought Baker has potential as a narcotics dog. Whether he explores this career or not, Baker is a boy who would enjoy activity. Are you interested in working with your dog in Obedience training, Agility training or maybe something else fun like Dock Jumping? I bet Baker would be the perfect dog for any of these things!

It is a little hard to see, but Baker is sniffing a kitty through the screen in the above picture. What a nice boy!

If you are interested in providing a foster home for either of these beautiful dogs, please contact us at pethavendogs@yahoo.com.

Fletcher and Tucker are ready for adoption and looking for foster homes!

Fletcher, this gorgeous Chocolate Lab, is about a year old. His friend is Tucker, who we think might be a Golden Retriever mix. Tucker is also about a year old.

Fletcher is currently having a blast at one of our boarding partners, Pampered Pooch Playground but he'd really like the opportunity to sample some home life. He's about fifty pounds, very friendly to humans and other dogs alike. He and Tucker were both picked up as strays in Iowa, so we don't have any experience to report between them and a cat.

I think they would probably adore children. They definitely need some obedience instruction, so if that is something you would be interested in doing with one of these dogs, we could send the two of you to The Canine Coach.

Tucker is at the vet for a few days as he had some problems with the incision from his neuter surgery (ouch!). He'll be fine, but he needs to have an ice pack a couple of times a day and the hospital is the best place for that.



Tucker is around forty pounds and has a wonderful, fluffy curling tail. You can't see his tail in this photo, but look at that big, happy smile!

If you would like to introduce either Tucker or Fletcher to life in a real home and maybe tackle some obedience training, contact us at pethavendogs@yahoo.com

A little stowaway from Red Lake

Punkin decided to hitch a ride from Red Lake Rosie's yesterday with Alfie and Fred, aka Little Big Man. She is a 14-16 week old puppy, probably a shepherd mix. Just look at those white feet! Hmmmm. Wonder if she is related to Ahnung (below)?

Punkin has not yet been examined by our vet, but judging by her size in the photo (being held, left) I would not be surprised if she turned out to be a fifty pound dog...or more!

Time will tell...meanwhile, if you are up for some puppy love (and a little housebreaking training) drop us an email at pethavendogs@yahoo.com

Ahnung
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Meet Tiny Tim & Tiny Tina

Tiny Tim

True to his name, Tiny Tim is a small (around 25 pounds) Black Lab mix. He is estimated to be 10-12 months old, so he probably won't get too much bigger. He is a happy boy who "participates with everyone" according to the family who is fostering him in Iowa. He has a sister, too -- her name is Tiny Tina. She is "sweet and shy".

Tiny Tina

We have not yet agreed to bring these two friendly, nice-sized dogs into our program, but will be able to if we have foster homes for them. The dogs can be separated.

Please let us know if you would like to foster one of these cuties. Our email address is pethavendogs@yahoo.com

Two Red Lake Dogs Need You!

Karen Good of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue has sent Pet Haven some wonderful dogs over the past year. Two new dogs are coming to us on Sunday. Both dogs will need foster homes after they are checked out at our clinic.

Fred, also known as Little Big Man, is a black Spaniel mix. When he arrived at Rosie's, he was starving and had severe mange. Karen has nursed this cute boy back to health. Fred is about 35 pounds, so he is a nice size. In Karen's words, "A very nice little guy".









"Alfie" (left) and "Fred, Little Big Man" (right)



Alfie is a Shepherd/Wolfhound mix. She also was starving and suffering from mange on her arrival at Rosie's, but under Karen's loving care has improved. Alfie walks well on a leash and has a "very nice personality". Unfortunately, Alfie has tested positive for heartworm, anaplasmosis and Lyme's Disease. Dogs with heartworm need to lead a quiet lifestyle for a couple of months until the worms are no longer in the dog's bloodstream, so Alfie will need a home with NO other animals and foster parents who can give her slow-paced walks.

If you have room in your life for either of these dogs -- or any of our other dogs -- please email us at pethavendogs@yahoo.com.