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Max was relinquished when his family started having children and could no longer give him the attention he needed. He is a beautiful brindle shepherd/malinois blend. A gentleman serving in the military just returned from a tour in Afghanistan and spotted Max on the website. He came in and Max instantly liked him. Max is very cautious around most men so this was very special. The gentleman had one problem. He had not yet found a place to live since his return. He asked us to please wait until he found a suitable place. Within three days of filing out the application, he found a perfect home and Max was adopted.

Max’s new dad is familiar with this breed as they serve along side the military in Afghanistan. There is a mutual respect between these two. Max has been to dog beach and loves the water. We knew this would be the case as Max and Merry wore themselves out playing in the small pool in the back yard. He has also visited a dog park and loves running and playing with the other dogs.

Fortunately for Max, he was with us for a very short time. Thanks to all who took such good care of him. His bio and picture resulted in the perfect new home for Max.

Pepper came into the ACF as a stray with Pickle. He appears to have some beagle in him and one of the characteristics of the breed is that barking can be a problem — Pepper is a chatterbox! His new home had to be with someone who would not leave him alone for long periods because Pepper can bark for hours on end.

An employee of our public works department saw Merry, another dog for adoption, on a walk. She filled out an application, but both she and her partner work eight hours a day. When we spoke of our concern — Merry is very active — she said her mother lives two blocks away and has a small dog named Katie and a large fenced-in yard.

We set up a meet and greet with Merry and Katie. Yikes!  It did not go well at all. Merry nearly ran Katie into the ground. That was a disappointment.  We took a chance that Pepper might do well with Katie. Well, Katie thought Pepper was wonderful as they sniffed and played. The humans liked Pepper, too.

We did two home visits that afternoon, and since they were in Escondido, we took Pepper with us and didn’t bring him back. Pepper lives with two older cats and he already snoozes on the couch with one of them. During the day he goes to Grandma’s for day care and to play with Katie. He will rarely be alone and may even forget how to bark! Pepper hit the jackpot!

Thanks to the staff who nearly had to resort to ear plugs, and the walkers who loved walking Pepper.

Half Pint, the perfect gentleman, was relinquished because his owner could no longer care for him. Within ten days of his arrival, an application was submitted and he was in his new home. This had to be one of our easiest adoptions ever.

Several years ago, when we were in the basement of the police station, a great couple adopted Doc. Everyone who knew Doc just loved him. During the years that this couple had Doc, the husband passed away. Then Doc passed away last month.The lady came into the ACF, saw Half Pint and felt that maybe he could help fill the empty place in her heart and home. It looks like it might be working. The next day Half Pint, now Beau, and his new Mom took a trip to the library to introduce Beau to her friends. He was a hit. He gets lots of walks and gets to sleep in bed with Mom. He seems to have settled in perfectly. As they say, “Who rescued who?”

Half Pint was such an easy dog to care for, to walk, to write about and to photograph. Thanks to all for making his short stay at the ACF a happy one.

Pickle and his buddy Pepper came in as strays. Pickle is a seven month old white bundle of fluff with a perpetual smile. A couple who had come to Coronado for lunch saw the two being walked and really liked Pickle. A persistent dog walker convinced them to bring their nine year old lab, Otis, in for a meet and greet. Otis and Pickle got along well, but the family was concerned that because Pickle has such short little legs, he would not be able to navigate their terraced yard. The persistent dog walker asked them to give Pickle a chance.

We delivered him to the family at the same time we did the home visit. Pickle had no problem with the steep stairs and terraced landscaping. Pickle, now Buster, races up and down the terraces like a mountain goat. In less than 30 seconds he learned to go through the doggie door; he simply followed Otis. When we called them back, the two of them squeezed through the small opening together. We left Buster in his new home,  and he never looked back.

Buster’s family loves boating and camping. The lucky dog already has his very own life jacket. He sleeps in his own bed next to Otis by the fireplace. We are so happy for this little guy!