Updates from Adoptive
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Life with Tigger
(adopted at the age of 3 years - May  2009) / updated Jan
2011

He is beloved by all, especially his trainer and his dog
walker. People are always offering to Tigger-sit as he is  
very good dog. He has become a great dog both on and off
leash.  He is delightful to be around and is a wonderful
friend and companion. He is absolutely incredible with
people, and is the lousiest guard dog of all time. He smiles
too, which is absolutely endearing and hilarious.

He is a real talker and in recent months has started
communicating via different ‘dialects’ of dog groan. He has
his purr-groan, his rollover groan, his lie down groan, and so
on and so forth. His best groans are in the morning when his
sleepy eyes are being rubbed awake.

He is very smart, learns quickly and loves to please. He is
the proud owner of a new car now, one specified to his coat
colour with a heated seat in the front for those cold winter
travel days. And when I am in the store, he likes to sit in the
driver’s seat and wait, just in case we need to make a quick
getaway.

Tigger is very, very happy and is very grateful to Lab
Rescue for finding him the perfect match.

Loving owner L.M.
Toby -  Adopted Feb 2011 at age 11

Toby was surrendered to us for family allergy issues. Lab Rescue has placed her with a
wonderful family that is full of love ad time to devote to this amazing princess.

The family truly adores her and have said "I have to tell you she is the MOST polite, sweet,
angelic dog I have ever had.  She loves go for a walk and to play with her toys.  "

Lab Rescue has placed her on meds to help with her sore joints and this girl is almost
prancing now on her walks.
Lots of love to this wonderful gal.  Proud new family J & M . B
Petrie Adopted Feb 2011 at age 11

Petrie was surrendered to Lab Rescue due to divorce. It is hard for most
of us to understand how one could just let go of a lab that they have
owned since they were a puppy.   Lab Rescue does not examine the
reason but only looks forward to find the solution and that is to find
amazing loving home that are rescue savvy and have incredibly open
hearts.

Petrie's new family adores her and have said "Petrie is beautiful, and is
doing well. She is happy and settled and enjoying all the attention! It is
like she has lived here all along!"

Lots of love to this wonderful gal.

Proud new family A. F
PETRIE
TOBY
LEXIE
Lexie Adopted Feb 2011 at age 5.7 years

Lexie was surrendered to Lab Rescue due
to life circumstances.

Lexie is having an incredible time with her
new family and learning to love the
outdoors and her new mode of winter play
transportation! They have said she is so
wonderful that is doesn't seem possible
that she has only been with them such a
short time. She is a wonderful girl that is
adjusting well to her new home.

Thank you to her family for sharing such
wonderful pictures.

Proud new family R & M.   C
Adopter Letter March 20, 2011
Max has come along way since we brought him home that
cold winter day in February.  Over the past few weeks he
has come out of his shell and he truly is a delight.  He gets
along great with our cat Riley and we have recently got him
a dog walker to break up his day.  He has began to
socialize well with other dogs and we have taken him to the
Dog park recently.  He got along with most dogs and loved
to be leash free running for an extended period of time.   
He is very well behaved in the house and is usually pretty
relaxed.  It is probably because he gets out all of his energy
on our walks.  He loves to have his belly rubbed and he
loves our futon in the office.   I just wanted to say thanks to
you and everyone at Lab Rescue for doing what you do
each and every day.  If it wasn't for you guys I would have
never been introduced to Max.  He has become a big part
of our lives and I can't thank you guys enough.  Thanks
again Nick and Amanda
MAX
Adopted April 2011 at age 3.8 years.

Diesel now Jack resides with his new buddy Jessie and is super content and a
delighted member of their loving family. He is super in the car and great with the
young child in the house. He loves water and the beach and has settled in like his
has been part of the family for a very long time.
Thanks again for introducing us to this super-special guy into our lives. L.P.
ADOPTED at age 3 years in March
2011 - by Mary & Jason

Note from family:

Just thought I would touch base with you again to let you
know how we are progressing with Shadow.  Let me tell
you, this dog is AWESOME!! He is doing so well and really
seems to be making himself at home here.  He loves
playing with the kids, and they just get a real kick out of
him.  He is amazing with his commands and his house
manners are really good.  
He has really bonded with Jason already, but is still very
affectionate with the kids and I too.  Overall, we think he is
fabulous and we're pretty sure that he thinks we're okay
too :-)  
He is such a GOOD boy and is a wonderful addition to our
family.  I know I have said it before, but thank you so much
for matching us up with such an awesome lab.   Mary
SHADOW
BARILKO was adopted as 1.4 Years Chocolate
Male in March 2011
Barilko is an owner surrender due to the financial /
medical requirements of surgery. Barilko was having a
super time romping around the bedroom until he smashed
his knee on the bed frame and was in excruciating pain.
The result was this boy needed a
luxating patella
surgery
and a few months of patience and rehab which is
so hard to keep a one year old dog from high energy
excitement..  

Barilko had surgery on March 1, 2011 - without
this much needed surgery he would have been a
lame dog for the rest of his life in chronic pain.
Lab rescue is so pleased to have been able to
save this boy and we thank all those for their
support though sponsorship donations; the vet
hospital that gracious performed the surgery with
tremendous skill; the foster family that cared for
him the first two critical weeks of recovery and his
new family for having the willingness and rescue
faith to adopt this boy and continue on his road to
recovery. Another month and this boy will be back
to full romping around.
BARILKO (BEAR)
JACK 4 Years  (1/2/2007) Was adopted by a super family in
April 2011 and is currently the apple of their eye! He truly is one special
loved boy.

Back ground: April 12, 2011 WHY THE SAD FACE?   Jack came to us with a groin pull diagnosis from
his surrendering vet. It was a pull he had been coping with for well over 6 months and not managing as
well as he should. A fantastic family adopted him and we worked together with them at the rescue to
make sure Jack's pull was recovering at the proper pace. When we felt that it wasn't Jack visited our
super vet for further investigation .. then we got the bad news .... Jack DID NOT have a groin pull that
simply requires rest he had a TORN LIGAMENT in his back hind leg that was causing him intense pain.
As team leader I have just watched my own dog go through this issue and know how important it is to
deal with medically sooner then later. A TORN LIGAMENT NEVER HEALS ON A LARGE DOG EVEN
WITH REST - IT must be addressed.
Jack had his surgery - a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy on April 6th and has recovered nicely.  
We have adopted out hundreds of labs to loving new family's and we would like to mention them all but that is just not
possible. Many come into our care in super health, and great spirits but just need homes that can spend more time
with them while others need a bit more whether it be medically or in training or both.
As time permits we continue to add stories to Lab Tails area of the web as an important way to convey the readers
the critical work this rescue does saving as many labs as possible from a wide range of situations.

For those who have adopted one of our wonderful labs - it is with thanks for opening up your heart and home and
being part of the solution.
                    Laura - Team Leader
Notes on Surgery:
One of the important functions of the cruciate ligament is to prevent forward and backward sliding of the femur on the tibia bone, also known as drawer motion.  Rupture of this ligament
leads to debilitating lameness.  The TPLO surgery is the best technique for this issue. A more rapid recovery, better range of motion, develop less arthritis, return to athletic fun.
The cranial cruciate ligament is located inside the joint.  The most important functions of the ligament is prevent forward and backward sliding of the femur on the tibia bone.  Cranial
cruciate ligament rupture is the most common orthapedic condition.  Frequently cruciate ligament rupture is a gradual process and not simply a single traumatic incident.  
Clinical signs of early cruciate disease includes stiffness or very mild lameness. As the disease advances the ligament progressively tears - the lameness then becomes more
pronounced.  Complete tears result in a nonweight bearing on the limb but as time goes on the dog may start to use the limb. The lameness seldom resolves itself without surgery in a
large dog.   Rupture of the cranial cruciate in both knees is common. One in three dogs will develop a cruciate rupture in the opposite stifle. For tplo the tibia is cut and rotated. The plate
is used to hold the tibia in place, but once the bone heals at it new angle , the hardware really serves no purpose.  Many dogs have them taken out routinely.
JET
Jet was adopted June 2010 at 5 years of age by Joan.
(Dec 2011)
Joan was kind enough to update us recently that Jet - who is blind is just the most happy,
easy going lab ever! He doesn't let his disability slow him down at all and the neighbours
tease he is "faking his blindness".

Note:A special thank you to Jodi for also fostering this boy until his forever home was
found.  Jet's journey from a kill pound to his forever home took volunteers many hours to
find the right home and every second was worth it for this amazing boy!  

We are proud to be part of the solution for these wonderful labs.
SCOUT
Scout - Adopted Mar 2011 - Update Jan 2012 - Scout was adopted out
with separation anxiety issues.  Through the love, patience and guidance of Suzy and her
family Scout has flourished to be a wonderful companion for the whole family. He is best
buds to Micheal and has welcomed happily the birth of the twins! This is one busy
household but shows the level of commitment to dog ownership. Scout lives happily with
his canine bud HAPPY!
Update:
Things are great with my little guys.....the dogs are spectacular with it all! Scout and Happy are
very restfully always at my feet!
Scout LOVES to sleep right in the middle of the kitchen floor or hallway, I am sure he is making
sure he is able to see all the goings on around him!
We absolutely adore him and short of never leaving him alone, think we have figured things
out! He was a challenge though thats for sure!

He goes everywhere with us, and behaves so well that he is an easy companion! He and I do
an 8km walk everyday, sometimes there is a destination.....shopping on Bloor, the ladies in the
stores  LOVE him! He comes with me into change rooms, patiently waits while I try on
shoes....he is a saint really! This dog is the most loyal friend I have ever had....he watches my
every move even from comfy, sleepy spots and will be there in a split second if I move! He
walks everyday now with the twins!! Our whole family think he is the best dog ever (along with
Happy of course!)  Our lives have been forever changed with the addition of Scout to our
lives.....he is so connected to us I almost think there is a bit of human in there!
DIESEL (JACK)
JACK
FARLEY update Jan 2012
Adopted in 2009 at age 6 yrs

Farley was adopted in  August 2009. He quickly became a part of
our family and our lives. In the summer he cottages in Algonquin
Park enjoying jumping off the dock and retrieving a ball. We
generally tire of this long before he does. He is very good in the car
on both long and short trips as long as he can poke his head out
of the window and catch all of the smells. With 5 grown children
dropping by Farley is constantly coddled with lots of ball throwing
and walking. He enjoys his daily walks near the lake, or
snowshoeing in the bush behind our home and is my constant
companion while I sew, read or cook. He has many friends of the 4
legged variety in our neighbourhood who he also plays ball with.
We are thoroughly enjoying Farley and are so glad he is part of our
family.   Shelagh
Farley
Bess
Update from Tulah's family Bonnie & Mike -
June 2012

Hi,  Recently we  donated a bench to our dog park in memory of our
Labrador Chase, and also for the joy that our  golden Chloe and now
Tulah (Tulip) derive from their daily trips to the park

Thank you for allowing us to adopt this wonderful , sweet yellow Labrador.
 She and Chloe are best friends, and she has
certainly enriched our lives.

Thanks so much we are impressed with your professional approach and
everyone that has met Tulah has fallen in love with her.

Tulah adopted April 2012
Update June 2012:
What a delightful story - from Bess' owner dying, then being
dumped at a shelter, then  rescued by us, adopted by a
wonderful family a month ago at age 9!
Now she is living the life .... BESS THE BOATER!
Truly wonderful and inspirational.
Tulah
UPDATE June 2012

Adopted at age 8 - May 2912
Just a note and another ‘thank you’ for Koda.  
He is such a pal and goes almost
everywhere with me!  He loves just walking
around the yard with me watering the flowers,
saying hello to the neighbors, etc.  He also
loves to go for a car ride when ever he can!  
Thank you again for Koda.  He is such a
good dog.

Kelly Z
KODA