Our "girls" are part of the TOUCH volunteer program for Support Dogs, Inc. (www.supportdogs.org). Sammie is 7, and Shelby is 6. They visit the Rehab patients at St. Luke's Hospital where they adore all the attention they receive. The TOUCH program is 12 weeks of training where the dogs and handlers learn how to greet patients in wheelchairs, in hospital beds and patients using walkers. They are also taught to leave food or other items that are on the floor to avoid a potentially harmful situation. The joy and comfort their visits bring to the patients and their families is rewarding beyond words. My boyfriend handles Shelby, and I handle Sammie (Samantha) on visits although we are both certified on both dogs and went through the training together with each of them at different times. Sammie will have been doing her special job for 2 yrs in May, and Shelby's one year anniversary was in November.

These are wonderful dogs with great personalities. They were both adopted as rescues you know. Sammie came from your organization, and Shelby was acquired when I went on a routine shopping trip to Petco one Saturday afternoon where they were holding adoptions from local shelters.


Let me explain the photo, the one in the lake was taken at the State Park in Lake of the Ozarks where we have a weekend condo last summer. Both girls love to swim!

In February, we went to the APA to look at the dogs - just to look. We met and walked and petted many wonderful dogs that day. One of the gentlemen working at the shelter kept bringing us back to June, a lovely but painfully shy Shepherd mix. She had been at the shelter for only 5 months, but clearly wasn't doing well there. We liked her and decided to adopt her that day. We didn't know much about her, but she clearly had led a traumatic life. We spent a long time coaxing her into the car. She was terrified and carsick on the way to Petsmart and back. When we got home with her, we started to realize how deprived her life had been. She was afraid of everything - overhead lights, cats, drawers, ceiling fans, baths, any noises, and us. She spent the first month hiding in a corner of the kitchen and shaking. Visits to the vet were an ordeal for everyone since she was carsick and very frightened. We still adored her, and spent a lot of time just sitting in the room with her and talking to her. After the first month, she made rapid progress. While the corner of the kitchen remained her favorite spot, she started to tentatively explore the apartment. She was afraid of tennis balls, so we had to teach her how to play with one. She started enjoying her walks and learned how to sit and walk on a leash. She found that she liked a little Sonic ice cream on a hot night. Slowly, she gained confidence, which increased as we exposed her to new situations. When we bought a house, we only looked at properties with fenced yards so she would have room to run. She didn't know what to do in a yard at first, but she figured it out. We decided that another dog might be good for her, so we adopted Stuart. They were instant friends, and he seemed to teach her a lot about being a dog - she started running and playing a lot and really enjoys his company. June easily completed her first training class a year and a half after we adopted her. Today, she's like a different dog than the one we adopted. She's the leader of our dogs (she also has two sisters now), watches the house for us, and always has time to play with her tennis ball or us. She's a wonderful girl and we're very proud of all that she's accomplished. I'm so glad the gentleman at the APA steered us toward her. She's a perfect fit."

About a year and a half ago, I happened to stop in at the O'Fallon Petsmart. It was one of your Sunday adoptions. As I was browsing the cages, I spotted a beautiful gray and white cat cowering in the corner of her cage. I asked if I could hold her and they said no since this was her first time out. When I went home, I couldn't get her out of my mind. Her name is Lucy. You see, at home I had the love of my life, his name was Gizmo. He was eighteen years old and in failing health. I decided that I just could not allow myself to get another pet. As the next days passed, I kept thinking about Lucy. I made many trips to your shelter to see her. I even put a deposit down on her. The day I decided not to get her, I drove to your place to tell you in person. When I got there, Lucy was waiting at the door for me. When I saw her, I knew she was sent there for me. I took her home that day. a month later I lost Gizmo and I grieved. Lucy allowed me to grieve for Gizmo. As I got better, Lucy became an angel. She is the best thing in the world and has been perfect in every way. Thank you so much for taking her in when she was brought there. So, when the time was right I could bring her to her forever home. She is so very loved. "

Do you have any adoption stories you would like to share? Would you like to sponsor one of our animals? Please contact us today to see how you can help!

E-mail: critters@gcapa.org