We currently own two rescue dogs: Daphne (Border Collie and Labrador Retriever mix) and Emma (Border Collie and Labrador Retriever mix) and we are fostering one rescue dog: Damen (German Shepherd mix). 

Daphne is one of two dogs born to an “accident” litter seven years ago to family friends. She makes for a great therapy dog.  She is very smart. Daphne's nickname is Twickie. The nickname goes back to her "puppyhood," and it stands for twitchy.

Emma is eleven; her original owners moved to Wisconsin and did not want her anymore given her age. They thought she wouldn’t adjust to the move; however she adjusted to us just fine.  If you are a Trekkie, she might remind you a little of Klingon because she has a pointy-head.  We nicknamed Emma “Froo.” Froo comes from the term Frou-Frou, which means frilly, fancy or feminine.  Emma loves to wear clothes, scarves, and jewelry.

Damen was thrown away in a dumpster in Chicago on Damen Avenue; hence the name.  A nice lady in Chicago rescued her. Her owner then moved to a non-dog friendly residence and we are fostering Damen until such time as her owner is able to become Damen’s owner again.  We have nicknamed her “Sharky”, because she sometimes acts like a shark.  She loves food and has quick reflexes.

Over the past nine years, we have actually owned or fostered five dogs.  The three I mentioned above plus Daniel and D’Artagnon.

Daniel (Collie mix) was rescued from the local animal shelter in Aurora, IL.  Daniel weighed around 80 pounds, was black as night, and had been feral (running wild).  When we first obtained him we combed two large garbage bags of fur out of him.  We actually discovered the animal shelter had mislabeled him as the wrong type of breed of dog because of all the extra fur.

D’Artagnon is a Basenji mix dog.  Another family in Aurora now owns him. D’Artagnon is a very hyperactive dog.  He needed a family that was more active than our family is.  He is a loveable dog with a tremendous amount of energy and stamina. When we rescued D’Artagnon from the animal shelter in Aurora, we did not properly research what type of dog he was.