Virginia

Ollie Ollie is a handsome 2 year old, neutered brindle male. He is up to date on all of his shots and is HW negative. Ollie has been owned by a loving owner his whole life, that is being relocated to a place that she cannot take him. He has lived his whole life with another dog (girl). He gets along well with all dogs (male, female, big, and small), adult humans, and children. Ollie would do well in a home with other dogs and children 5 and over. He has a wonderful temperament and likes to give big, sloppy kisses. Ollie walks well on leash with a buckle collar (no pulling) and is obedience trained. He is very calm and gentle. Ollie has some sort of medical issue with his rear end. The owner had his hips x-rayed and the vet said his hips are not dysplastic. We are investigating this further, and make sure he doesn’t have a torn cruciate (knee), which is very repairable. He gets along fine and runs/plays. He also has an elbow hygroma in one elbow, but it is not bothering him, and should not be of concern. Ollie will make a wonderful companion for a nice family. Adopted 01/19/04.

In the words of his adopter in February 2004, "Oliver is doing great. He has really adjusted well and although his hind end still has a funny movement about it he is moving around very well. He is back on the Metacam and is doing good. We will need to know where you get that from so we can get some extra on hand. Can you also send us his vet records? The vet we want to take him to for acupuncture would like to see them prior to starting the treatments. Oliver's favorite pasttime is playing with his toys. We have bought him quite a few new ones to include a large furry ball about 10 inches in diameter. He will "romp" around the house to play with that. Also when ever we empty a milk carton he comes running to get it. I guess it must have been a puppy toy. Rather enjoyable to see him kick this milk carton like a soccer ball and he waits patiently for you to kick it to him. He continues to be a joy and is really progressing into a wonderful family member. Now seems to be defending the house more. Kelly will come downstairs and he hears a noise he is not familiar with and gives us one of his deep barks. Will even do this every night about 7:15 when the ice machine in the refrigerator empties. Still jumps me every time. When Kevin and I sit down in the family room to read he is right next to our side and will 'talk' to us until we pay attention to him. As you can see we have adjusted to him wonderfully and I think the same goes for him. We cannot thank you enough for allowing him to come into our lives. We'll talk to you soon. Take care." [Signature omitted] "P.S. I am sending you this picture we took of Oliver shortly after he came to us. Hope you enjoy." [Second picture above]

Virginia

Magno Magno is a 5 yr. old neutered fawn male Mastiff. He is current on all of his vaccinations, HW medication, and is HW negative. Magno has been loved and well cared for his whole life by a wonderful family. His family is moving out of the country and came to MCOA Rescue to help find Magno a perfect forever home. Magno currently lives with a teenage boy and two adults. He is used to sleeping in the bed with the son. He lives with a female Akita. We are looking for a very special home for Magno – one with a female dog for him to pal around with. He would do well in a home with older children. Additionally, Magno needs a home that isn’t chaotic. He is a very quiet, sweet, gentle soul, with a touch of shyness. He warms up quickly to strangers with cookies. Like many Mastiffs, Magno is a bit of a homebody and prefers to stay at home. He is afraid of strange buildings (ie. the vet office). He currently sees a mobile vet that comes right to his house for his checkups. Magno will make a very special addition to a very special family. Adopted 2/21/04

A note from Magno’s previous owner. Hi, Kristen -- Yesterday was such an emotional day, but the visit to Bob's went more smoothly than we had imagined it would go. Magno didn't shy away from the house, as we thought he might, and when he saw Bob waiting for us on the stoop, he ambled right up to him as though he were in the business of making Sunday visits to friends all of his life. (It helped, of course, that Bob had a treat for him.) We stayed for a while to help the big boy ease into his new home, which naturally required a lot of sniffing and exploring and roaming and usurping of the late Bette's basket of chew toys, toys that he, for the first time in his life, does not have to share with a bossy, older Kuma. It is very clear that Magno will be spoiled, but happily, gloriously so, and that he will make a great companion for Bob. Our son, Brekk, was despondent all weekend, but when he met Bob, and walked around the house with Magno, and got to imagining the big boy's life in Annandale, I think he started to understand that it was a good match, that his boy would be loved, and would be happy there. I have never had to give up a dog before, and I find myself taken somewhat by surprise by the enormity of my feelings. I woke up this morning a little sad, and did not understand what I was feeling until I went downstairs and saw that the big boy was gone; it was only when I started to write this email to you that I realized just how much I miss that smelly, messy, ever-drooling, slobber-slinging, food thief. I am heartbroken. Anyway... I know that we'll be fine, as will Magno, and that he and Bob will be a joy to each other. Thank you so much for the work that you do, for finding Bob, for finding a good home for our big boy. What you do is invaluable; we will always be grateful to you. Take care, Kristen; I hope we keep in touch. Warmly,

Tennessee

Trouble/Kenzie May 23, 2004 Hi, Lib! Hope all is well. We just wanted to give you a long over-due update on our pride and joy, Kenzie! You remember her as Trouble, but we had to give her a new name since she has never shown us any reason why her name should be Trouble. We chose Kenzie Isabel Ferguson which she took to right away. She also took to us and her brothers (our two cats) right away. Kenzie loves doing her tricks we taught her by just showing her once! She can sit, shake w/both paws, lay down, get up, and speak! She is very smart! She also loves chasing the cats around from time to time, playing with all her dog friends, and her toys (her favorite is a stuffed frog we call froggie). Kenzie is still a little timid with males except for her daddy. But we just keep getting her out there and she gets a little better each day. Kenzie's happiest time is definitely at home with her family were she feels the most comfortable. I have attached some pictures at her 2nd birthday party in December. Her friends came over and they had doggie birthday cake from the dog bakery. Lib, we could never thank you enough for bringing Kenzie into our lives! She is the best thing that has ever happened to us, we had no idea we could love her this much. Thank you and take care! Shavon and John [Written about 1 year after adoption - ed]

Above pictures taken
August 2004

  Ohio

Dakota
Dakota is a beautiful 5 year old brindle female who once belonged to a homeless man until she was rescued by a family who, due to personal issues, needed to find a good home for her. Dakota is good with other male dogs and older children (10 and up), but unknown with very small children and cats. She cannot be placed in a home with a female dog, due to some aggression. She is protective of her humans, while in the house, and will bark at strangers at first, but usually never growls. This poor girl has moved around so much she just wants a place to call home. Dakota was adopted on 12/15/03.

In a letter to the foster mom:
Dakota came to us on 12/15/03 after her foster parents drove her six hours from their home in Ohio to our home in central PA. We already had two male mastiffs, and were hoping to rescue a third. Of course, our friends and family greeted the idea with surprise, and were generally puzzled as to why we would bring an additional "horse" into the household. Simply stated, we love the breed, and the "boys" have enriched our lives immeasurably. Besides, it only seemed fair that three mastiffs would even-out our human family (we have a 14 year old daughter). After a two-year search, we came across Dakota on the MCOA website----and she was beautiful! It became obvious that this poor girl needed a place to call home surrounded by people who loved her. We eagerly contacted her foster parents, Vanessa and Nick, and went through the application process. Dakota's foster parents kindly sent additional photos and were very honest and forthcoming about Dakota's background, temperament, and medical history. And then, we arranged the meeting.... When Vanessa and Nick arrived, we slowly introduced Dakota to Seamus and Higgins in a neighborhood park. She was a bit grumpy at first, and our boys were more interested in playing "Lets chase the new girl" and "Look Mom and Dad, we have her toys!!" When we were all reasonably confident that everyone would get along, Vanessa and Nick made the return trip to Ohio. And so, Dakota became a part of our family.... At first, she claimed the den as her own, and kept to herself. After about one month, she joined us in the living room for an hour or so each day, and she loved taking walks with the boys. Slowly and together, they began playing tug of war with pull toys. Which didn't always go well. There seemed to be a power struggle to determine who would reign as Alpha Dog, with Dakota insisting on winning the contest. She also liked to gather all the toys in the house, and hide them under her body as she slept. By the second month, we saw incredible progress. Dakota decided to sleep upstairs in the guest room at night, and sometimes shared the bed with Seamus. Tug of war became a friendly game, and she no longer felt the need to hide the toys. Three real breakthroughs: 1) Kody Bear (her nickname) began bringing the toys to the boys to encourage play, 2) she began playfully chasing the boys outside without any signs of aggression, and 3) Alpha Dog was determined: "Dad" was the clear winner, and Higgins and Dakota called it a "draw". Now we're in our seventh month, and Dakota has clearly decided we're her adopted family. She follows us around the house in typical mastiff fashion, wags her tail constantly, loves to expose her belly for rubs, and gladly shares her space and toys. She is very eager to please, gets embarrassed when scolded, and tries to apologize immediately by bowing her head, looking up forlornly, and pressing her head against our hand. In the last few months we've seen her become puppy-like as she frequently initiates play time with everyone. Currently, she loves to chase squirrels away from Dad's bird feeder. Although three mastiffs are certainly a hand full (did I mention we also have a cat?) , the decision to adopt Dakota was indeed wise as she has enriched our lives immeasurably. Her nightly snoring, at a level par with a rocket ship in space, would seem to suggest she has found the family and home that has eluded her for much of her life....Thanks to Vanessa, Nick and MCOA for making this adoption possible!