All shelter/rescued dogs are special, but the Island Dogs...well they're...
extra special...at least in our eyes!
At Island Dog we strive to find the best match possible for our poochies, but we don't take the fun out of adopting! We do things "island style" and our style has matched over 1,000 dogs with amazing owners!
Read some of our testimonials and find out why our dogs our sooo fabulous!!!
If you own an ISland Dog and would like to share your story, please send to Info@Islanddog.org! Please send a photo!
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I feel like I owe the world to Island Dog. I've been blessed with wonderful dogs my whole life and have a 15 year old Miniature Pincher that I found on the street in the rain with just 3 legs. Never did I think that I could find another dog that I could fall in love with so quickly.
The 20 months before "finding" Sam were difficult for my family. My Mother was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and we were all running ragged. The last thing we needed was a 3rd dog in the house, right? But Meryl, a Long NY representative that I knew from attending Island Dog events had sent out an email about 2 dogs. Sammy was the 2nd dog in the email, and I fell in love with her face from the moment I opened the email. I showed it to my Mother, whom I live with and she told me it was just not that right time with all we had going on. I would stare at the email for hours wondering if someone had adopted her. I would show her picture to my Mother throughout the day, to remind her of Sammy's sweet face. About a month later, we were in Orlando on our first vacation since the cancer diagnosis and again, Meryl sent the email, except this time, Choco had been adopted and poor little Sammy was still looking for a family. I knew at that moment I HAD to have her as my little girl. I emailed Meryl right away and told her I would take Sammy as I trial when I arrived home the following week. I needed to see how my 2 other male dogs got along with her since they were now geriatric at 13 and 15 respectively and liked things, "their way".
2.5 months later, Sammy is living quite the carefree life here in her new Brooklyn home. While it is far from her days on the PR beach, she does like to lay in the dirt in the backyard, and in the morning, she takes the sun for about 10 minutes before venturing out into the yard to relieve herself. She has also gained 6 pounds because she loves to eat everyone's food! She answers to so many names, like Princess, Princess Sam, Chicken Ear (inside joke), Sam, Sammy Girl and Samantha Ella. She also has a new best friend in Sota, who is basically a 75 pound version of her. When I look into her eyes, I could swear she has a human soul. She is the sweetest, most loveable dog I have ever seen. I call her "Mamma Girl" because she tries to police TJ and Sota, regardless of her place among the pack! Basically she has taken on the role of sister, Mother and cutie pie that makes us all smile when she licks our toes (her personal favorite). We love Sammy Girl!!!
Her Mother, Jaime Fiorello
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Here is the story of our Island Dog, Izzy!
During our anniversary trip to PR in October, 2008, I saw her at the kiosks on Luquillo beach, hanging out by a food court. I had seen quite a few dogs during our trip and wished I could take them all home, but Izzy chose ME that day. She was skin and bones and had sores and a bent front leg from an old break, but her tail never stopped wagging, and she locked eyes with me. We had 3 more days left to our vacation and all I thought about was her, I named her Izzy in my head, and how I might go back and wrap her up in my beach towel and run off with her.
I had no idea how to bring a dog back with me, so once we were home, I e-mailed Island Dog and Save A Sato, even checked flights BACK to PR to go get her myself, and after (3) weeks, I got a response, and Izzy was
scooped off that beach, taken to a vet, and after a week with Sandy Soroka(Island Dog Volunteer) being fed and given lots of attention, flew by herself to O'Hare on Nov. 5, 2008. We had surgery done on that leg, and although it is full of metal and screws, she runs around to her heart?s content. Izzy is now a solid 57 lbs and is loved by all. This our first time having (2) dogs at one time; Izzy has a Schnauzer sister, Sugar, who is almost 12 now. It was an adjustment bringing home a 7 month old puppy who had never been in a house, had never used stairs, and had an big appetite for our socks, and murdered most of Sugar's soft toys. Now at 2 years old (I picked her birthday to be Feb. 14), she is a treasure, and bringing her home was one of the best decisions I've ever made. She still eats our socks though!
Karla & Tom LeBiedz
Grayslake, IL
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My Island dog Sammy
I had been searching for a young dog to join my family for 3 years. The shelters were full of pit bulls and so I turned to specialized rescue groups. After many frustrating applications where the dog I had requested was already adopted, I gave up. Just last year I went out on Petfinder to take another chance to find a young dog to join my family. That is when I found Sammy, AKA Cookie at Island dog. Her laughing face and huge upright ears melted my heart. I applied that day and Katie was quick to respond. She checked my references and before the week was out I had an appointment to meet both her and Sammy. I brought my older dog, then 16, to meet Sammy and they hit it off right away. Sammy joined our family 3 weeks later. Island dog had provided her with a healthy start and made the adoption process easy. They personally saw to it I had everything I needed to transition her to her new home.
Sammy's puppy exuberance keeps a smile on my face, but she is just as quick to snuggle in for a nice long movie on the couch with her favorite fuzzy blanket, just as long as she can touch some part of you in the process. Her quick and intelligent mind helped to make her training a breeze. She can sit and say please on command, will not take a treat from my knee until she is released to do so, and helps keep her bother cats in line when they start doing things that Mom says not to do. She had been a great friend for my sweet dog, Chiogi, and helped put a spring in her step on the frequent walks we all took. Sammy watches everything that comes her way. She likes to snuggle and she loves to romp. The only thing she won't let you do is take her picture..... just the sight of the camera will send her skipping to another room.
Sammy is a bright, beautiful girl. Her smile is infectious, her ears are outrageous..... and I couldn't imagine my life without her.
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| I agreed to foster a dog from Island Dog through my local rescue group. Not knowing what to expect I was a bit concerned about how she would fit in with my other animals, many of them foster cats. I can now say that I am a foster failure and the proud parent of my Serena (full name Serena Madonna). Serena's story was much like so many other dogs from Dead Dog Beach--she had a litter of five pups--two of which died. When she was rescued from the beach to be spayed it was decided that she could possibly be adopted and I was shown her photo online--How could I say no? Not only has she fit in wonderfully with my other foster animals but she has become the love of my life--I couldn't have asked for a more intelligent and gentle dog.
Several months after Serena was safe in my home we became aware of the dangers Serena's pups faced from cruel people. Two of her pups were taken in by my rescue group and have since found good homes.
My hope is that Island Dog continues to find homes for the dogs of Puerto Rico--I am so happy I found Serena.
Mary Sepede
Friends of Wayne Animals
Wayne, New Jersey
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| Freddie at Dead Dog Beach |
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| Hi Everyone:
My name is Jean and I am an Island Dog Mom. My little guy, Freddie makes me laugh every day. I am so happy that he adopted me. Every day I come to work with a new Freddie story like last night it was time for our walk and Fred couldn't decide if he wanted to eat his treat or go for a walk, both are his favorite things. So he did what he thought best. He jumped up on the couch and grabbed his treat and flung it out the front door. I guess he thought he would push it along while he walked. He threw it and I brought it back in and this went back and forth three times before he decided he would rather go for a walk. My neighbors must think I am crazy, seeing this go on but oh well.
And then there are the those times that will be frozen in my favorite memories file I keep in my heart like when we are laying on the couch and he comes over and taps me twice with his paw which is his way of saying pull back the covers, I want to get under, or like the other night I woke up and Fred was sound asleep laying on my chest.
I adopted Fred after my beloved little friend Be-Be died and thought I couldn't possibly ever love another dog the way I loved him but you know I don't because you can't substitute relationships, even with pets but I believe GOD gives us exactly what we need and I needed Fred and at times he let me think that he needs me too.
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| Freddie now! |
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