Paw Prints

Dasher (2000 - 2005)

Dasher was my first dog.  I found him on PetFinder.  He had been one of 29 dogs in some guy's yard outside of LA and were seized by the county who were going to put them all down.  Fortunately Pooch Heaven came in and pulled all of the dogs.  The first time they took Dasher to an adoption event, he was so afraid that he hid.  Most of his relatives were adopted, but he was one of four still at the rescue. 

The rescue had named him Dasher, and I couldn't think of a better name, so it stuck--especially since he would dart and dash, seeking hiding places.  Fortunately we were referred to Janine at J9's K9s, who is an AMAZING trainer and helped me to understand that his fear-based behavior was not directed at me.  During our brief nineteen months together, Dasher made leaps and bounds coming out of his shell and learning how to enjoy being a dog.  

Donner (1999 - 2011)

After I lost Dasher, I swore I'd never get another dog.  That didn't last six months.  I hated coming home to an empty house, so I was back on PetFinder looking for a new companion.  Enter "Pegasus" from Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue, a gregarious bear of a Siberian husky, whose personality was about as opposite Dasher's as could be.  While Dasher would hide in a corner, Donner would lay in the middle of the room.  Dasher was low-pup on the totem pole; Donner was the king. 

As an homage to Dasher, to keep him forever close, I decided to stick with the reindeer names, so Pegasus became Donner.  Donner moved from Pennsylvania to California and back again.  He LOVED to travel and would go by car, bus, boat, or plane.  Although we did try and he was fascinated by them, we were never able to find a train for him to ride.  Donner visited twenty (20) states with me in our five years together. 

Vixen (2001 - 2011)

Comet (2004 - 2020)

Blitzen (2007 - )

Aurora (1999 - 2014)

Halley (2011 - 2019)