05/29/2026
We had a Saint adopt Bluey recently, and now we've had Angels adopt!
We are thrilled to announce that Simba has been adopted!
Simba came to us on April 4th. For his first three days, he stayed in his crate, wouldn't eat, and was clearly unhappy. He was resource guarding his crate, so we removed it and gave him a bed instead. While he remained protective of his bed at first, a few treats helped me win him over. Before long, he had moved his bed to a spot where he could keep an eye on me from my chair.
He was still somewhat standoffish, but if I picked up a leash, he was ready to go. About a week later, he completely melted my heart when he dragged his bed into the living room. From that point on, we became best buds.
Unfortunately, the night Roo suffered his grand mal seizure, the house became very chaotic. The other dogs were upset, I was upset, and when a neighbor unexpectedly walked into the house, Simba bit her. In full disclosure, we knew Simba had a bite history when he arrived. There had been an incident in his previous home two years earlier during a chaotic situation, and he had bitten his owner.
Knowing it would be challenging to find a quiet home with adopters willing to give him the time and space he needed to decompress and settle in at his own pace, we expected Simba to be with us for quite some time. He was already bonding with me, which would have made saying goodbye even harder.
Simba received 10 applications and completed 4 home visits, but none were the right match.
Then, on the way to his fourth home visit, we received a call asking if he was still available. I explained that he was on his way to meet a family, but since we had a long drive ahead of us, I shared Simba's story. I encouraged them to submit an application so we could have it on file. When I asked where they lived, it turned out we would be driving right through their town!
As fate would have it, Simba's fourth home visit wasn't a match. Since we were already on the road and they had completed an application, I called to see if we could stop by on our way home.
By the time I left their house, I was convinced it was meant to be. Simba walked in confidently, explored the home, jumped on the bed, accepted treats, and when we walked around the yard before leaving, he kept lying down. He clearly didn't want to leave.
Of course, we still had to finish processing the application, so he couldn't stay that day. But two days later, Simba was home.
For so many reasons, I will be forever grateful to the Robitaille family. As experienced Dachshund owners, they understood Simba's needs and fell in love with him for exactly who he is. Simba settled in quickly, and it became obvious that this adoption was meant to be.
I share this story not only to thank the Robitaille family for opening their hearts and home to Simba, but also to encourage adopters to trust the rescue representatives, foster moms, and foster dads who know these dogs best. If we don't feel a particular match is right, please don't be discouraged. The right dog will find its way to you.
These dogs live in our homes. We fall in love with them. We learn their quirks, their fears, and their needs. We do our very best to make the right match for both the dog and the adopter. It doesn't always work out perfectly, but we do our due diligence because we want every adoption to succeed.
If you're ready to adopt, submit applications with your local rescues and get on their waiting lists. I can't speak for every rescue, but when we welcome a new dog into our program, one of the first places we look is our list of approved adopters. 😉
Congratulations, Simba and the Robitaille family! We wish you a lifetime of love, happiness, and adventures together. ❤️
~~~Arleen
