| Teddy Spaghetti |
| Teddy Spaghetti entered our lives on August 13, 2003. He was found wandering the median of a busy road in Pennsylvania. We believe he was dumped because he has epilepsy. Teddy was transported through many wonderful hands in DRNA and when my husband and I finally picked him up late at night we knew he was a very special loving little boy. All he wants to do in life is kiss everyone and follow his Momma around as her fearless protector. With the help of Phenobarbital, his seizures are under control. Teddy is constantly being told what sexy bow legs he has. All the ladies love Teddy! He's a wonderful brother to his West Highland Terrier sister, Furio. He's wild about all his toys and he is so spoiled by his parents, friends, and grandparents. Teddy loves car rides, sleeping in our bed, vacations to the beach, and Halloween because he gets to dress up. Words can not describe the joy he has brought to our lives, he's our perfect little angel. A pet psychic even talked to Teddy who said he came from an abusive situation and he feared we would leave him like his last owners. Well Teddy doesn't have a thing to worry about, because he now has 2 parents who give him the world! |
| Kate Anderson Powhatan, VA |
| contributed January 2005 |
| Teddy and Andy |
 Hi! We're Andy and Teddy, two lucky guys rescued by DRNA and now happily ensconced in our "forever" home, and we've got big news to share. First of all though, a little about us! We won't dwell on our sad beginnings - we'll just say we are two very lucky wiener dogs - really, really lucky! Teddy is very outgoing and amiable - so much the family calls him "Happy Teddy" a lot, cause he's just a really happy guy - so happy that he spins in circles, leaps in the air and races around just for the sheer joy of it, much to his family's amusement. All the world is Teddy's playground - especially the cat toys (much better than dog toys for some reason!), the occassional rabbit in the back yard (great to chase!), and most of all the people who play with him and take him for walks and give him treats. Andy is the older but littler guy, who used to be really scared of everything because he had a truly awful first five years of life before DRNA rescued him. Andy is figuring out that life is really not too scary after all, at least not anymore - in fact, it's becoming pretty darned interesting, and there are lots of really good things for a dog nowadays - like squeaky toys (very interesting - must study these more!), treats (oh yes!), cuddling with people on the couch (mom said dogs aren't allowed on the couch, but hey - we changed that rule!), and perhaps the sweetest pleasure in life - stealing Teddy's chew toys when he's not looking. It's not all fun and games though - we do important stuff too, like keeping dad more active by talking him for walks, making our family happy, putting on entertainment shows, helping people watch tv (we especially like Animal Planet), and most of all, helping mom not be sad that her old dachsie went to doggie heaven. (That last one is probably the most important!)
Anyways, we're settled in pretty good here in our forever home. Teddy has the teenager trained to jump up and down when he does (with patience, you too can teach your human to do tricks!), and Andy is very proud to have earned his title as the "fuzzy little angel". (It's nice to find out you're really, really special!) We feel sorry for all the other dachsies that are still looking for homes or waiting to be rescued and hope there are other nice people out there who will help them out. Mom says we're going to help one more special guy find a home - and so we're getting a new brother this weekend! His name's Peanut, and unlike us, he used to have a good home once, before some bad luck. Thanks to DRNA and his foster family, Peanut's okay now though, and is coming to help us be "half a six-pack of wiener dogs". Teddy thinks that's great - someone his size to play with. Andy figures it's someone else to cuddle up with and steal chew toys from. (More dogs must equal more chew toys to steal, right? And the one with the biggest stash of chew toys at the end of the day, wins!) Thanks DRNA, and our foster families, for helping us find our forever home! |
| Two very happy dachshunds, Teddy (I'm the really cute brown one with 1 chew toy) & Andy (I'm the little angelic one with 8 chew toys) |
| contributed October 2004 |
| Trigger |
| My husband and I decided we wanted to add a dog to our home of two cats. My husband grew up with a doxie so we agreed that this would be the breed for us. There was absolutely no question in our minds as to whether to adopt or purchase from a breeder, we would have never considered going to a breeder as we had adopted both of our purebred cats from rescues. We found DRNA on the internet and looked diligently for a younger doxie that had lived with cats and needed a home. There were a few ups and downs as the first doxie we were going to adopt was quite ill due to a previous owner not taking care of her, she actually passed away. We then found Tigger who was under a year old and was residing in a foster home in Ohio, I drove 4 hours to Pennsylvania from New Jersey to pick him up and he is just a love. He is very friendly, chases the cats a bit, but we are working on that and just loves everyone he sees! He loves to sleep in the big bed and absolutely hates his crate! Tigger likes to ride with my husband on his motorcycle as you can see! We are just so happy to have had the opportunity to work with such professional people and are very grateful to have been chosen to adopt our little guy!
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| Thanks, DRNA!! Beth & Alan Tecchio |
| contributed November 2005 |
| Toby "Big Tobes" |
| On Thanksgiving of 2006, I was home at my parent's house and my daschund Dollie was playing with their dog and having so much fun. I started to think that she needed a buddy. I had heard about rescue from a friend at work who's grandmother was involved so I decided to research on the internet. I found DRNA! I fell in love with all the available daschunds on the website of course! I decided that I would make a donation, and order a few items from the doxie store. One item I ordered was the DRNA 2007calendar, when I received the calendar I read the stories and was moved by the stories. I decided I had to adopt, so I filled out the application and began emailing Jill Blasdel the President of DRNA which just happened to be in Greensburg, Indiana not to far from where I live in Indianapolis. On a cold snowy day in February I had contacted Jill about two dogs she had in her home. I took my doxie Dollie down to Greensburg to meet them. I fell in love immediately with the little red tweenie Toby (they called Skylar). He was very timid and they reported highly afraid of men. It had taken him a long time to get used to riding in cars, and generally tolerate others. He was a breeder surrender. I decided to take him home and see if we could make it work. I am a social worker and I have to be patient with young children everyday so I thought as much as I love dogs I could do this. I must say I had a job cut out for me! Toby was very shy, and scared of everything. When my fiance would come around him he would cower with his tail between his legs and pee and poop all over himself. When I took him around other people he would bark, and shake. He would not leave my side to the point that he even got in the shower with me everyday because he did not want me out of sight. I began to expose him to different people and environments as much as possible, and along with Dollie's(the other dog) help and guidance Toby is now a completely different dog!!! He is so loving and sweet! He enjoys daily walks, going to the dog park to meet new friends, and he has even attended a couple of parties!!! He now loves my fiance and curls up around his neck to sleep and cuddle. He is such a Happy little guy! He loves to play and he is such a fast runner!! He warms my heart everyday!!! |
| Amanda Indianapolis, Indiana |
| contributed August 2007 |
| Toby |
 Toby came to the DRNA through the Humane Society who had picked him up as a stray. He was a little bag of bones and his teeth were so bad, the vet had to pull over two dozen of them. His foster mom Kim Washburn took great care of him, and soon he was ready for adoption.
We have two rescue dachshunds and decided we wanted to add another member to our family since one of our doxies is getting a little older. When I started searching the DRNA website, there was just something about Toby! I couldn't get those sweet eyes out of my head. Kim agreed to let us come to Indiana to meet him. We fell in love with him, and Kim felt we were the right match for Toby. We took him home that day. Today, Toby's a wonderful addition to our family. He and our other red dachshund are buddies as you can see from the photo (Toby is on the left). He has a favorite toy – it's a stuffed chicken – and every night before he goes to bed, he has to give it a few squeaks. He's extremely cuddly. His favorite position is in your arms with his head on your shoulder. He also loves belly rubs. Toby just loves meeting other dogs when we take him for walks, and if someone stops us on the street to see him, they'll usually get kisses on their hands or face. He can be a little shy when someone new comes over – at first he'll greet the person, but then he'll want mom or dad to hold him. We appreciate all the work that the DRNA is doing to create forever homes for these wonderful dogs. We also appreciate Kim Washburn – she is just a wonderful, giving and kind person. We thank her for taking such good care of Toby. |
| Jenny and Rob B. |
| contributed December 2005 |
| Toby-Boby |
  
Dear DRNA,
It's been nearly a full year since Toby came home and I am now taking a few minutes to send in our story and thank you. In late February of 2007 I brought home my first dog and first dachshund, Phoebe (shown kissing Toby). I didn't know anything about dogs or breeders or rescue then, I'd owned cats for years up to that point. Phoebe came from a private breeder in the country who said she was part of a litter from a 'neighbor'. Today when I look back, I don't know if that story is true or not, but I'm glad that I picked her up from the chilly stacked cage she shared with her littermates and brought her home, because she changed my life. Nearly two years later, in the summer of 2008, I started getting the puppy itch! I wanted another dachshund to love and share my life with. I was a little more educated this time about puppy mills and breeders and wanted to adopt a rescue to make up for Phoebe and to give her a playmate and companion her own size. I spent months looking for another long haired dachshund of similiar size (big tweenie!) and decent temperment. The pictures and stories on your site pulled at my heart and I wanted to adopt them all! Finally, after searching a long time and filling out my application, I was contacted by Pam, one of your volunteers and foster mom's in North Carolina. Out of her bunch, she thought she might have a special boy for me - Tobias. After a few emails, we were both sure he would fit into our home well, and arrangements were made to transfer him. He made a long journey over the course of a few days, and again, only with the help of volunteer's, as he went from NC to VA to NJ and finally to Philadelphia where I drove to pick him up the next morning. I was estactic when I met him! When Toby arrived home, it took me a while to get used to how different his personality was from my other dog and to get used to his quirks (he has a fondess for hot chicken wing sauce). Let me tell you, he is as smart as they come and as devious (or ingeneous) as you can imagine when he wants to be, but also more sweet and loving and devoted than I could have ever imagined when I decided to take him. His happy tail wags, reserved kisses, and excited dinner romps more than make up for his occasional garbage scavenges. He brings a smile to my face everyday when he shows me how happy he is to see me. It's been a joy to watch him relax and become a part of our pack. He's become more affectionate and attached and has learned to play with Phoebe and even some other big dogs. Although it's occasionally a challenge to work with his stubborness, he is super snuggly, totally mellow, very devoted, and rarely grouchy (unlike Phoebe!) He's become my Toby-Boby and my little old man. He loves to go for rides with me and is always in the room where ever I go; he even waits for me outside the shower most days. At the end of the day, when he's tired and needs a lift, I am happy to give him a little boost into a chair or up the stairs. I am so glad that I adopted him from DRNA and so happy to have been able to give him a home. I hope to someday be able to foster with DRNA so that I can help more dachshunds. |
| Carrie & Phoebe & Toby (the weeners) |
| contributed September 2009 |
| Tracey |
| Just wanted to share my happy tail! I adopted Tracey almost 3 months ago and we have been inseparable ever since. She is the most loving and sweet dachshund I've ever had and has brought so much joy to my life. I bring her to work every day and every weekend we go to the Farmer's Market together. She successfully completed Basic Obedience training (I'm framing her diploma this weekend!) and just trying to figure out what activities we can line up for the summer months to come. She's an angel and it's hard to imagine anyone would have abandoned her.
I wanted to thank Lois and Harvey Armstrong for fostering her and being so great throughout the adoption. I feel extremely luck to have found Tracey and look forward to many years together. I've attached a couple of photos of her! Thanks again to everyone at DNRA! |
| Sue Marcus |
| contributed July 2007 |
| Tucker |
| Hello, Friends at DRNA!
I want to thank you so much for saving Tucker and helping to bring him into our lives. Tucker is an absolute dreamboat. We love him so much. We had applied for another dog, who was already taken, so Lori, the NE Ohio coordinator, suggested we take a look at Tucker. Well, Tucker has a cauliflower ear, but otherwise is a beautiful dog. He is so charming and everyone who meets him thinks he's a winner. Hates getting his picture taken, though. In fact, we think he was a winner, he walks great on the leash, and has good structure. And he obeys, well, when he wants too. We've had him for about a month now, and Tucker has made himself at home. He loves to eat, and is fairly skinny, and the vet said he could gain a few pounds, so we are letting him eat a little more. He is friendly and happy, his tail wags all the time. His coat is improving and getting very shiny, and we're working on his dental problems, which were pretty serious. The best part of having Tucker is how quickly he adapted to us. He fell in love with Linda right away, and is warming up to Ernie. He has fun playing with Linda, and has taken over the couch and figuered he can sleep in the big bed at night. The weather here in Toledo is finally warming up a bit, so going outside is more fun and Tucker will enjoy exploring the back yard which adjoins a city park. All in all, it's a great match. We think Tucker is a lucky dog, the vet says so, and we think we are lucky too. When we take him out we get such great compliments and we know Tucker gets right proud. |
| Thanks for all you do to save these wonderful dogs, Linda and Ernie |
| contributed May 2007 |
| Tucker O'Brien |
  Hey y'all.My name is Tucker and I'm a southern-bred gentleman from South Carolina who relocated to Maryland and then to Arlington, Virginia, where I currently reside with my mom and dad. I was surrendered to a shelter in Pickens, South Carolina, and placed with DRNA in Spartanburg with my foster mom Jane. Then I got transferred up to the north, where I lived with my foster mom Kelly in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Man, I love living in the Washington, D.C. area. There are so many restaurants and parks and stores where I can just go in and hang out. I went to Barnes & Noble the other day and almost bought a dachshund book. My favorite store is the pet store Spot. There are so many good smells in there. And I also like going to the vet. Yes, I do! I am so well-behaved there. I also went on an airplane a few weeks ago! It was awesome, especially since mom and dad gave me my Kong stuffed with peanut butter. My favorite things to do, in this order are: (1) eating (anything, but I still maintain a healthy weight and have even lost a pound or two since being adopted); (2) snuggling with my mom and dad; (3) licking; and (4) taking long walks. I don't really like other dogs because I think I'm bigger and tougher than they are, but I'm an only dog, so that's good. I just want to thank DRNA and Jane, Kelly, and Kristel for making my adoption possible. My mom and dad love me so much and think that I am the best addition to the family. |
| Love, Tucker O'Brien Arlington, VA |
| contributed October 2009 |
| Twisty |
 Hi there, I wanted to write a quick note to tell you what a wonderful addition Twisty - a 12 year old daschund I adopted last summer - has been in my family's life. I always knew that I wanted to adopt a senior dog; there is something particularly heart-warming about giving a home to a dog who has lost his or her own late in life and to whom most people would not give a chance. Twisty is a prime example of a senior weiner who has LOTS of spunk - she's a puppy with a gray face. She's incredibly playful (she even plays fetch!) and she gives hugs (she puts her paws around your neck and kisses or nuzzles in - she can make even the coldest heart melt). Twisty is an only dog in my house, but she visits my parents and their 15 year old daschund Snoopy frequently - often for overnight "vacations". She breathes new life into him; the two of play in the yard like puppies then cuddle up together at nap time. We call them the newlyweds. I can't thank DRNA and the adoption team that cared for Twisty before I found her enough. She's been an absolute joy and I'm so happy that she's part of our family. Thank you for all the wonderful work you do. |
| Sincerely, Sara Watt Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| contributed July 2009 |
