Nicco was adopted back in June and has been having a great time with his forever family. We received this photograph of Nicco playing in the snow that fell last week in NJ. He looks happy and healthy!

Posted on December 14th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Nicco | No Comments »

Nikko has been coming out of shell and can be a super sweet and loving dog. He’s warmed up and relaxed in his foster home. His foster mom has nothing but great things to say about him and loves that he will walk over with a toy in his mouth to her asking to play tug of war.

He still pulls when he walks on a leash but his foster mom is working with him on this and thinks it is because he gets very excited to explore and sniff things in the outside world. Nikko has been described as a teenager and sometimes tests the waters to see what he might be able to get away with but overall he’s a good dog and very cute.

Nikko knows some commands and is learning more and more everyday. He does need to work on his manners when meeting someone new or seeing other dogs. He sometimes barks and tries to lunge at other dogs and has a tendency to jump on other people.

Keep checking back to read more about Nikko.

Posted on December 6th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Nikko | 2 Comments »

Kit aka Clay is having fun with his foster dad, Rain. Kit and Zucca are now being fostered together and it’s helped Kit learn some good behaviors like going into his crate without a fuss. He also has a friend to play with and seems very happy.

Kit’s gained some weight and his fur is getting softer and improving. However, a few weeks ago he had to go to the vet because he was shaking and became ill. We found out he has an infection called Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever which is transmitted by ticks. Kit was showing some of the symptoms such as lack of appetite, fever, and stomach issues. He’s now on antibiotics for about 30 days to help clear this up. Otherwise, he’s doing well and Rain loves him very much. He described Kit’s personality as curious, fun, and fantastic.

Kit used to have anxiety issues if his foster dad left the house for a few hours but with Zucca around that’s no longer an issue. His foster dad has noticed though that Kit doesn’t listen to commands as often as he used to and he wonders if maybe Kit is too distracted with Zucca around. Rain is working to constantly reinforce the commands and on leash walking. Kit pulls on the leash still so that’s a work in progress. Overall, Kit is doing well and has a very caring foster dad.

Keep checking back to see how Kit is doing!

Posted on November 25th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Clay | 1 Comment »

Ashitaka is doing very well with foster mom, Molly. He’s still aloof, cautious, and gentle but as the days progress he’s trusting her more and more. Sometimes he still gets very nervous but he’s learning to trust a little more each day. She’s still working and reinforcing basic obedience. From what we have been told most of Ashitaka’s slow but steady progress is due to trust issues. The more he trusts the better he responds overall.

She is building trust with him more and more everyday and watching him slowly come out of his shell. Ashitaka is a good boy but very very nervous and shy in new places and situations. He also tries to steal food off the tables and Molly is working with him to not do that. When Ashitaka finds his forever home, we hope they are patient, calm, and work with him everyday to help him become the great dog he is.

He also loves cheese!

Keep checking back on Ashitaka’s progress.

Posted on November 16th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Toshi | No Comments »

Clay is called Kit and he’s been doing great. Recently, he met Zucca and spent about a week with her. His foster dad, Rain, told us that Zucca brought a lot of joy to the house. Kit loved having a buddy around the house and seemed to learn things from her. Zucca always walked into her crate with no problem, whereas Kit tended to throw a small tantrum. When he saw Zucca do it, he followed suit and went right into his crate. They played together a lot and he also has some other friends that came over to play. Kit really seems to love having friends.

He sometimes still jumps on people when he’s super excited to see them but he’s getting better. He also sits when asked most of the time. Asking him to lie down is still a process, but Rain is a good foster dad and is consistent with training and rewards.

Overall Kit is doing great and we’re so happy he had fun with Zucca! Keep checking back.

Posted on October 30th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Clay | 2 Comments »

Nikko has been doing well at his foster home. He still does not get along with dogs but is fine with cats. He likes kids and adults and doesn’t show any aggression to anyone. he loves to be petted and rubbed. Everytime his foster mom walks in the house he has a huge smile. Nikko likes to sleep on the bed with her and cuddles with her on the couch when they watch tv.

Nikko also doesn’t have any problems being left alone in the house, he’s house broken and doesn’t destroy anything. The only thing he chews on is paper if he finds some low enough for him to grab. Otherwise he can be trusted alone.

When they go out for walks and exercise, Nikko gets very hyped up and wants to zoom around and play. In the house he’s very mellow and barks sometimes when he’s looking out the window and something catches his eye. He listens very well in the house, but outside if you call him to come to you, he tends to be so transfixed on other things that he doesn’t listen very well. His foster mom is working with him to understand that he needs to listen all the time.

Nikko is making good progress! Please keep checking back to read more about Nikko.

Posted on October 11th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Nikko | 3 Comments »

Ashitaka has been slowly progressing. He’s still cautious around new people and situations and can still be growly and possessive with toys around other dogs. He’s friendly to other dogs when there’s not an item that’s worth anything around. When Ashitaka finds his forever home, we hope they keep working with him to improve his manners and teach him to not be so possessive over objects.

Ashitaka is not aggressive towards people, and loves children. He can become defensive if a dog comes over to him with too much hyper energy and gets in his face. He has been known to growl and may try to fight.

He’s learning his basic commands but still doesn’t always Come when he’s asked to. He tries to steal food from the table and counters… but his foster mom is working on breaking him of this habit. He’s not shy in new situations but can be overly cautious and somewhat aloof. He’s still not entirely sure of what this world has in store for him.

He’s waiting for his forever home to help him feel safe, secure, and become a happy, healthy dog.

Posted on October 7th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Toshi | No Comments »

Nikko is almost a year old, neutered male, and has tri-color markings. He’s still a puppy in spirit and because of that exhibits a lot of silly puppy behaviors and needs to learn manners. He pulls on a leash and is easily distracted by squirrels, movement of any kind, and only seems to pay great attention to you if you have a treat. This is all very puppy-ish and very “I want to explore the world!” sort of behavior.

Nikko would need a home where a good routine was established and rules and boundaries were created to help him become a good canine citizen. He does know how to sit on command and loves people and attention and thinks those squeaky toys are the best thing ever.

From what we’ve seen Nikko is good with small children and good with cats, as long as the cat is confident enough to hold his/her own ground. Otherwise, Nikko’s prey and play drive may torment another pet in the house. Nikko needs a lot of exercise to help work off the pent up energy that a puppy tends to have. Shibas are athletic and agile and need a good routine to stay in shape and burn off energy.

Please keep checking back to learn more about Nikko.

Posted on October 3rd, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Nikko | 1 Comment »

Jack has lost a few pounds since his last update and his foster dad, Walter, has been working with him on his leash training. We did find out that Jack has a bit of arthritis in his left hind leg which could contribute to the fact that Jack isn’t always game for a long walk.

However, Jack has become more affectionate and has become accustomed to a good schedule. When it’s time for bed, Jack goes into his crate and lays down. He’s also not as reactionary when he sees another dog on the street. He will still snap at some of them, but does not pull towards other dogs anymore.

Walter is working with Jack everyday to help him get better with learning basic commands such as sit, come, and to stop begging for people food. Jack also sometimes bumps into Walter when they are walking and almost gets a little underfoot. Overall, Jack is making good progress and his exercise is limited but it’s helping him become a healthier and happier dog.

Keep checking back for updates on Jack

Posted on October 2nd, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Jack | No Comments »

Jerry’s foster mom, Skye, gave us an update on how he’s doing. His coat is starting to fill in as the weather becomes cooler and he’s looking good. However, we did find out that Jerry has a neurological problem.

It’s called cerebral ataxia and it creates a funny walk for him. He may have this from being exposed to distemper when he was a puppy but he doesn’t have the illness. He will have this issue for life and he’s dealing with it very well. During walks, he has a hard time “heeling” and slowing his pace if he starts to speed up. Skye has told us she’s going to see if a harness helps with his leash training.

He’s getting better with his daily exercises and training. He’s still a puppy and can be found sometimes chewing on things he shouldn’t be chewing on. Jerry sometimes nips too when he’s in a play mood. Jerry plays with other dogs but is still a little shy. He’s not aggressive with toys or food and has been learning to socialize with other dogs. He’s learning manners and doesn’t jump on people as much anymore.

Jerry likes to talk! He talks in his crate, howls and woofs in his sleep, and howls when he needs to go outside. His foster mom is taking great care of him and we can’t wait to get some pics to post on the site.

Keep checking back to learn more about Jerry.

Posted on September 26th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Jerry | No Comments »

This past weekend in NYC, it rained a lot! The hurricane’s leftover oomph came this way and gave us a lot of wind, soupy thick humid weather on Friday, and then Sat rain… lots of rain.

We didn’t experience too much damage from fallen trees or garbage cans rolling away, and it seems Clay had a good time walking in the streets during the downpour. His foster dad told us that they went for a walk and Clay was totally fine walking in the rain. He hops over the deep puddles but if he can’t hop he will trudge right through them. Clay is also very intrigued by the water that flows down the gutters to the drains. He tries to snap at the reflections of light that dance across the top. His foster dad described it as a dog who is trying to catch a fish. All in all, Clay is adjusting very well to his new foster home and we’re very happy to hear it!

Posted on September 11th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Clay | 3 Comments »

Bailey’s having fun in his new home and has a very furry friend to hang out with. His new owners sent us this update:

Bailey seemed to be a little frustrated with all of the rules we gave him, but all in all he did really well his first night. I was a little concerned when we had him out front and the 5 neighborhood kids rushed him, but he handled it great! He didn’t mind the kids pawing at him at all!

It has been really good tonight. He and Nella are getting along great! Bailey really enjoys looking out the windows, we are not sure if he has ever had windows that go all the way to the floor. He also is pretty fascinated with the bird. He and Harley have been exchanging words. Harley will go to the bottom of the cage and nip at him and Bailey thinks that is great fun. I think Harley thinks it’s fun too!

Bailey has a full house, a bird, a fellow dog, and a cat. He hadn’t met the cat yet when we were sent the update but he had walked by it without caring that the cat was nearby.

Here’s a pic of Bailey and his friend Nella.

Posted on September 10th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Bailey | No Comments »

Jack’s foster dad let us know how the first weekend was with Jack in his home. Here’s what Walter had to say,

So far Jack is doing great and has made a lot of progress. At first he was rather aloof and when I took him out for the first time he tended to weave in and out during his walk. He also decided to stop on his own and refused to go up steps. At first I thought I had overworked him since I took him for a good 40 minute walk the second time around. But after some help from a friend we realized that he was just simply used to being the pack leader and after a little work we were able to get him to follow my lead. He should be able to walk perfectly without any problems soon and I can start helping him to lose weight.

Jack seems to be fine with dogs around his size but has shown some hostility towards bigger dogs. We aren’t sure how he is around cats or what level his prey drive may be. In the apartment, Jack’s a quiet dog and doesn’t seem to be bothered by any city noises. His foster dad reports that Jack will get up, and if the noise is nothing to be alarmed about, he lays back down.

Overall he’s very pleasant to be around and is well behaved and is housetrained. He’s been left alone for about 5 hours with no problems. His foster dad sent us some pics!

Posted on September 9th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Jack | No Comments »

Clay aka Kit is a 1 yr old male shiba who came to use from the Manhattan Animal Care and Control Shelter. He was brought in as a stray. For the past few weeks he’s been living with his foster dad and has been adjusting nicely. Clay has to learn some manners such as to not jump up on people and how to interact with dogs without wanting to jump on them as well.

He’s very affectionate and friendly and seems interested in meeting children, although so far he has not had the chance to interact with them. We don’t want him to accidentally push someone to the ground. He does like other dogs, but doesn’t seem to always like larger dogs.

His foster dad told us that Clay is often a very a quiet dog but now and then he will bark in the house. However, from what his foster dad can tell, there’s nothing to bark at. As he describes it:

Most of the time he’s quiet, but sometimes–he barks. You’d swear this dog can see ghosts–he barks and growls at random walls and corners. Also, sometimes he will be lying down and bark to himself.

Clay has proven to be well-behaved. When he’s left alone, he will stare at the front door, scratch it a few times, and after about 5 minutes, lay down and take a nap. He does not destroy anything, has not gotten into any trouble, and overall, is a great dog. He is learning some commands such as sit and is fairly good on a leash. He’s not allowed to bolt out the door or walk ahead of his foster dad. As Clay is still a young dog and has some puppy traits in him, he tends to get bored of toys quickly. His foster dad rotates the toys, rubber chews, the hard plastic toys, and sometimes a cardboard box.

Overall it sounds like Clay is having a great time in his foster home and couldn’t have asked for a better foster dad. Keep checking back for more updates on Clay aka Kit!

Posted on September 7th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Clay | 3 Comments »

Prince’s foster mom gave us a quick update on his progress with other dogs. She said:

Prince’s really mellowed out, he likes to make himself comfortable on the loveseat with Akira and they both of them enjoy short naps throughout the day and playing in the dog park. Prince is still a bit of a mamas boy and prefers to sit by me at the park, but he has been playing with Akira and other dogs every now and then.

He’s learning how to fetch and loves to play with the ball, as long as I’m playing with him (rolling it around the ground with my feet and kicking it for him to fetch from short distances). He is great in the apartment by himself and gets a little spoiled every now and then by being allowed to sleep with Akira on her bed (and even sometimes my bed).

Prince has adjusted very well and is continuing to become a perfect gentleman in preparation for his forever home!

Posted on September 6th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Prince | 2 Comments »

Paulie’s foster mom Courtney says Paulie is doing great! Here’s some photos she sent us:
Click the photo to enlarge

Posted on September 4th, 2008 by michele m
Filed under: Paulie | 7 Comments »

Jack is a mellow, relaxed, red and white shiba who is about 10 yrs old and came to us from Bucks County SPCA. He is a bit aloof but likes to be pet and will come to you when you call him. From what we can tell, he likes to be praised and pet. He isn’t too playful but he is an older dog. He also is a bit chubby so he may tire quickly.

Jack likes chin rubs and treats. He’s a nice, easy going dog that would do well in a home with another dog and older children. He’s doing well in his foster home and has been placed on a diet. Keep checking back to learn more about Jack!

Posted on September 2nd, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Jack | 1 Comment »

Jerry is an 8 month sesame puppy who is very friendly and very much a happy playful puppy. He’s good with small kids and gets along with cats. He needs to learn some basic commands and how to walk on a leash. For the last few weeks he’s been learning how to socialize with other dogs, but he is shy and can become a little unsure how to greet and meet dogs.

Jerry is very affectionate with people and likes to play. He needs a home where he can get plenty of exercise and grow up to be a happy, healthy dog. He is used to being in the crate when he’s not supervised and only seems to cry or bark when he needs to go outside.

He was brought to us because his former owners had children and him, and it was a very hectic and busy household. They felt it was best to find Jerry a home where he could get the time and attention he needed. Overall he’s a great dog, but he’s a puppy and it’s always a shock just how much time and energy it takes to raise a puppy into becoming a wonderful canine citizen. Jerry does jump up on people and sometimes gets a little mouthy but his foster mom is teaching boundaries and manners. From what we’ve been told, Jerry is learning and is also a joy to have in the house.

Please keep checking back for more info on Jerry.

Posted on August 26th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Jerry | 1 Comment »

Ashitaka is still learning basic commands and how to walk on a leash. He’s very good with other dogs and likes stuffed animal toys. He does have a tendency to take all the stuffing out of them. Ashitaka doesn’t seem to have aggressive tendencies, he sometimes will get a little possessive about a toy around another dog but has not caused any damage.

He’s having a lot of fun with his foster mom and goes for walks and plays in the backyard with a few other dog friends. Ashitaka loves a few things: attention, pets, and cheese.

Keep checking back for more on Ashitaka.

Posted on August 20th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Toshi | 1 Comment »

Prince is doing very well, and his foster parent described him as wonderful. He is a sweet dog and warms up quickly to people. He does get nervous if someone approaches him too fast and is too forceful when he first meets them.

He also can be a bit nippy but it seems to be a reaction to how someone approaches him. If he talked to in a calm and gentle manner, he relaxes and will let you pet him. He also had a bath recently and he was great! He tried to jump out a few times but with some easy talking-to he calmed right down. He doesn’t seem to be afraid of the water.

Prince has also gotten used to go to the dog park and playing with other dogs. He’s learning how to interact positively and has learned how to be the perfect pet… now to find his forever home!

Posted on August 15th, 2008 by kathy
Filed under: Prince | No Comments »