More about Phoebe

Since Tara's last visit, Phoebe has moved back into the main dog building, where she can spend time with more of her dog friends. She also maintains a steadfast friendship with BG, the big corgi. BG was featured in our February 18 update.

Phoebe and Tara at HFL
Above, Phoebe greets Tara with characteristic enthusiasm.

Tara's thoughts about volunteering at HFL

Once I found HFL I knew I wanted to get involved to assure that it was there for Phoebe, the other animals, and future animals in need, so I decided to support HFL in whatever way I could. I began volunteering and becoming a cheerleader for the great work that HFL does; I even got my boyfriend involved. We volunteer during the holidays at the Mall of America and every month at Women of Nations with the Peace Creatures program. It's so rewarding to see the kids there have the chance to forget their troubles for a while and learn about and play with an animal.

Recently I have also become involved with the Renaissance Project at Boys Totem Town in St. Paul. As a youth worker, I think that programs such as the Renaissance Project are highly valuable. They provide troubled youth an opportunity for success and accomplishment, perhaps for the first time in their lives.

Editor's note: To learn more about Peace Creatures and the Renaissance Program for which Tara volunteers, see Animals Give Back.

For more information about volunteering, see our Volunteer page.

More about Anook

Anook received help through our Emergency Medical Fund, which helps animals whose health and medical problems cannot be resolved by shelters and rescues.

When Anook arrived at Home for Life®, he was a true canine train wreck! Not only was he suffering from the double entropia, but he also tested positive for Lyme's disease and heartworm. He had to undergo several weeks of dangerous treatment for both diseases before we could
even attempt to do surgery on his eyes. Without clearing up the heartworm, anesthesia would stress his heart too much.

Anook, eyes closed
Above, when Anook first arrived at HFL, he could barely open his eyes.

Anook's matted coat was also clipped, and he received several medicated baths to clear up a long-standing skin infection that had developed under the tangled, dirty fur.

Finally, after completing two rounds of heartworm treatments, Anook underwent surgery in late December of 2006 to correct the entropia that had tormented him for so many years.

For more about the Emergency Medical Fund, read our recent mailer (PDF). The mailer also tells the story of Stormy, a cat featured in our March 12 update.

Previous Animal Updates: April 30, 2007

Something is always happening in the lives of Home for Life® residents: achievements, visits from sponsors and supporters, and milestones. This page highlights just a few of the many events that residents experience throughout the year.

Phoebe and friends

Editor's note: this update comes to us from Tara Steele, Phoebe's benefactor and original human companion.

I cannot express the gratitude I have to Lisa [Laverdiere, HFL Executive Director] and Home for Life. Back in the fall of 2004, I was presented with the difficult dilemma of finding a new home for my dog Phoebe. My then husband no longer wanted a dog in our lives and I reluctantly began my search for a new home for Phoebe.

Phoebe is an American Eskimo–Border Collie mix, who had a very protective nature towards her owners and home and a fear of men. I was told by shelter after shelter that she was considered unadoptable due to her temperament and I was not willing to have her put to sleep. I knew she was a good dog who needed a way to channel her energy and intelligence. She had a brief stay with a foster family but was soon returned because she did not get along with the woman's boyfriend. I then began a nationwide search for a true no-kill shelter and found Home for Life.

I was so happy to learn that my dog could find a new home, where she would be well taken care of, be socialized to other dogs, where I could go visit, and most importantly, a place where she could live.

It took me more than six months before I went to visit Phoebe. With my boyfriend's urging and support, we made our first trip out to the sanctuary. I remember she was so happy to see me; she immediately jumped into my arms. On that first visit she spent most of her time in my arms or on my lap licking my face.

I was so happy to learn of her good behavior and friendliness towards the staff, once she got to know them. I was also very impressed with the care which was receiving from the staff and the upkeep of the sanctuary. I knew I had made the right decision. Phoebe was at a home where she could thrive and be a happy dog.

Phoebe running in the fields
Tara took this snapshot during her game of fetch with Phoebe in April.

I love going out to visit and play ball with her in the field, although she seems to prefer sitting on my lap and licking me. The hardest part is saying goodbye and hearing her cry as I walk away. The tears on the drive back home are less frequent, and I'm always reassured by the fact that she’s doing so well at HFL.

My last visit out to see Phoebe was on her birthday, April 1st, an April Fools dog. When I arrived I had learned that she and BG had moved back into a town home and now had a new roommate, a black Chow Chow. I was happy to hear that she had found another dog whom she could live with and that they were all getting along well. We went out into the field and I let her off her leash and she began to run with delight. Armed with a pocket full of treats, I picked up a tennis ball and we began an hour long game of fetch. Each time she would bring back the ball she would get praise and treats, then anxiously wait for the next throw and to run after the ball. She loved playing fetch and running out in the field. And I loved seeing her so happy.

The story of Anook

Anook and Janelle in the deep snow 
At Home for Life®, Anook not only survives the winter—he thrives!

Anook is a small, elderly Chow Chow from a reservation in northern Minnesota near the town of Bemidji. For years Anook lived with a painful condition known as entropia—the upper and lower eyelids of both eyes had rolled inward towards the eyeball so that the hair on his eyelids rubbed and irritated his eyes.

After years of enduring the painful condition, Anook was almost totally blind. In spite of this constant misery, Anook remained affectionate and loyal. But one day his owners simply picked up and moved, abandoning the faithful dog. Blind, Anook was left to fend for himself. True to his steadfast and courageous nature, Anook remained at his old home, outside on the porch, waiting
for his owners who never came back. It was early fall. After several days, neighbors realized that Anook was not being looked after. They began to leave water and food daily for him. If not for their kindness during this time, Anook would surely have starved to death, as he was unable to find food on his own.

As the days turned to weeks, the neighbors realized Anook's family wasn't coming back and they would have to find him shelter. He could never survive the harsh northern Minnesota winter that was fast approaching. They took him to the Beltrami County Humane Society in Bemidji. Although his prospects for adoption were slim to none, at least he would not die of exposure, dehydration or starvation.

At the shelter, the staff assessed Anook’s condition. His thick fur was covered with burrs and was matted to the skin. His eyes were painful and oozing. He was obviously a senior dog. His breed was also against him—Chows have a reputation of being protective and aloof. Although this characterization did not fit Anook, it was
unlikely adopters would give him the chance to prove himself. More than likely, adopters would reject Anook outright simply because of his age and health issues. He needed expensive medical treatment just to reach the point where he could live comfortably.

Despite his long hardship and neglect, Anook had a friendly nature and took everything in stride. His ability to hope for better days ahead touched the shelter staff and made them want to do whatever they could for him.

The shelter staff knew Anook would never be adopted but they could not bear to put him down without trying to find another alternative. Their small shelter was full to the brim and they did not have long to find him help. Through contacts in the rescue community they heard about Home for Life®, and their director called one of our volunteers to ask for help.

When we heard about all that Anook had been through we knew we had to help him. Late last fall, HFL volunteers put together a transport team and made a round trip of several hundred miles to bring Anook home to the sanctuary.

After a dramatic series of medical treatments (see More about Anook in right column), Anook is now free of pain and forever safe at Home For Life®. He has plenty of food, a warm townhouse, and many dog and people friends, whose love and affection he will enjoy for the rest of his life.