Following are some of the beauties who participated in Spot's Cover Model Search at the 2016 NW Pet Fair. They are all rescues, and their families have generously shared their wonderful stories here. Watch for more Cover Models in coming issues. Our 2016 Cover Model winner appears on the cover of the October/November 2016 issue.

Titus and Willow

In October 2008 we went to visit the dogs at West Columbia Gorge Humane Society. Titus (a sweet, large Border Collie-Lab mix) stole both our hearts and he became our first baby. Titus is happy, healthy, and is now a big brother to our two children, and most recently to Willow, our 2nd rescue dog! We met Willow this spring and fell in love all over again! Our fears of having two dogs has vanished, and we will always have at least two furry friends in our lives. We thought we were doing these dogs a huge favor by rescuing them, but truly, Titus and Willow have rescued us. We are forever grateful to the people doing rescue work in our community, and know that our lives are better because of our two furry family members.

Susan & Steve Fronckowiak

(Picture is of Titus and our son Alex in the summer of 2009 & other picture is of Willow after we adopted her in the spring of 2016)

Bo Diddley

We met Bo Diddley at an Oregon Dog Rescue adoption event at PetSmart. He was so cute, but he also appeared scared and lonely. We were told he had been brought from Riverside, CA by car. I loved him at first sight, but my husband wasn’t sure about him. We brought him home and he liked our house, but was shy and frightened of everything and everyone. Afraid of walks in the neighborhood, Bo would look back at the house over and over as we walked toward the park behind it. It was as though he wanted to be sure he would be able to find his way back if we took him away for good. But after a few months he loved going on walks, knowing he would always go home. We also have a fairly big backyard where he plays. Shortly bringing him home, it was clear Bo loved this big area he could run around in every day. He loves racing around a big tree, excitement in his eyes. Oh, and my husband has become Bo's best buddy! They play during the day and snuggle at night. When my husband comes home from work, Bo runs to greet him at the door tail wagging. Our life wouldn't be the same without Bo Diddley.

Susan Diane Rudi

MacGee the Westie

All day when I was at the Pet Fair, people wanted to pet him and take his picture. He soaked it up. He is such a happy dog, and my third Westie.

MacGee was rescued from the Columbia County Humane Society. He immediately looked at my daughter and I and said "take me home." We did.

Marilyn Guillory and of course MacGee.

Jester

A little over a year ago, while searching for a larger apartment, my husband suggested we get a dog once we were settled. I couldn't quite believe him at the time. I wanted a dog so badly but thought it would be years before he agreed to it. Finding an apartment that allowed larger dogs was complicated, but I knew it wouldn't be nearly as difficult as finding a single dog I wanted to adopt over all the others. There are so many dogs, and I am easily overwhelmed by choices. I decided to narrow my options and look only into dogs not easily homed. In my search I came across Deaf Dogs of Oregon (DDO) and realized that a deaf dog would be perfect for me. I knew that I wanted to train my dog anyway, and was not concerned about training with hand signals. When I emailed DDO the only dog they had at the time was Jester. He was a Deaf and Blind Catahoula Leopard brought up from Oklahoma a few months earlier.

I was concerned at first at not being able to use sign language for commands, but the DDO trainer assured me I could teach him many things with touch signals. It's now been a year since we got him, and I figure that Jester understands close to 20 different touch signals we use regularly. Jester is only about 2.5 years old, and he’s the most enthusiastic dog I've been with. He is not fazed by bumping into things or finding himself in a new area. When we're at the dog park I have to regularly explain his disabilities to people and they hardly believe it because Jester runs around with so much confidence. The best thing about working with him is how excited he is to learn new commands. I try to bring Jester to every DDO event to demonstrate his tricks and show people how capable he is. I thought that finding my first dog was going to be a long stressful process, but it turned out to be the easiest and best decision I have made as a young adult.

I have included a picture of jester when we first got him but we also have an album for him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesterthedeafdog/

Emily Foreman

Sassy

We got Sassy, our chocolate Pomeranian, when she was 10 weeks old. At that young age she had been left alone 10-16 or more hours every day and was punished for piddling on the kitchen floor. She was put in a kennel at night as a punishment for barking and whining during the day when home alone.

Sassy has extreme separation anxiety, and until just recently, was deathly afraid to go in our kitchen — but she conquered that fear by herself! She is three now and is happy, and of course goes everywhere we do. She loves camping at the beach (she rides on my atv with me) and swimming in our pool, and she has a nice big yard of which she's “the Boss.”

She's the most important member of our family to all of us!

The Booth Family

Oliver

Oliver was rescued from the street after my daughters spotted him running loose. No one claimed him, and we instantly fell in love. He was matted, filthy and scared. With grooming he looked like a brand new dog. We taught him how to play and he fell in love with us. Later it seemed he was having eyesight issues, and this was confirmed. He had cataracts and both retinas were detached. Our little guy must have endured some trauma in his past. His eye became red and swollen, and the vet recommended removal for Oliver's comfort. We agreed; the eye was removed, and Oliver never complained. Although he is blind, he is the happiest pup around. He loves car rides and walks. His favorite place is the beach where he can run on the smooth sand with no worries of bumping into things. He navigates throughout his home, inside and outside, with ease. (We haven't moved the furniture in 5 years!) Oliver has blessed our lives in so many ways. He truly is a member of our family.

Jennifer Buckhalter and family

Bear

In April 2012 I saw a craigslist post from Tacoma, WA picturing an overweight Corgi. I wanted to share this with our Corgi group but needed details. Speaking with the owner I learned they were rehoming “Bear” due to a medical condition, but that no one wanted to come get him and he had to be out by noon the following day. Concerned for his wellbeing, and what might happen, I told them I would come get him.

I had not intended to keep Bear but to foster him because I already had two Corgis, Rambo and Sassy, who I’d raised from puppies. When I arrived I found an overweight, dirty dog with no collar, leash or paperwork. Just food dishes and a bed, which looked like they’d been pulled from the trash, or had long been outside. Bear however was a sweetheart. He came up and sniffed me, then jumped up to greet me, smiling and wagging. The person gave me his shoe-string leash and Bear started immediately down the driveway to leave. He jumped in my car and heart that night. The drive home was long, and Bear looked at me and rested his head on my hand the whole way, melting my heart. He stayed near me from that point on, and would cry/howl (the whole first year) when I had to leave for a few days. When I thought I had found someone to adopt him, Bear would stick to my side and not go anywhere near them. So, since it seemed he wanted to be with me, and was scared/timid around everyone else, he became a permanent part of our Corgi Pac. Bear is now the center of the Pac, an outgoing love bug who loves all and protects all. I could not have asked for a better addition to our family.

Jennifer Robinson

Editor’s Note: Jennifer Robinson is Organizer of the Corgi meetup group in Portland and of Corgi Day at the Beach. The group routinely shares Corgis who need loving homes.

Orbit

My name is Orbit and I reside in Vancouver, WA. I am a 2.5-year-old, 45-lb extremely high-energy double-Merle female Aussie, born deaf and blind. But this does not keep me from having fun and going for outings with my peeps! I am very familiar with my house and backyard and move around perfectly within them. I also go for long walks with Mama every day, knowing asphalt means to walk straight ahead and grass means I can cut loose and run fast in orbits (my FAVORITE thing!!) while the sod beneath my feet goes flying, cracking Mama up! We communicate by touch signals and lots of hugs and kisses. Oh, I need to mention that I also live with four felines who often taunt me by slowly walking close to me, then jumping to a high place when I catch their scent. I humor them by giving chase but my feathery tail wags all the while.

While I love my forever home, the real credit for my rescue goes to Double J Dog Ranch and owners Duane and Cristine Justus who, along with volunteers, take in, love and care for other K-9s like myself at their beyond beautiful nonprofit sanctuary next to Hauser Lake in Idaho. They sponsor fun events to spread love and awareness about us very special dogs. Please see their website to learn more about them and see where I lived before I was adopted and moved to Vancouver. At DJDR, they believe that "Special needs pets are perfect in every way that matters." (No truer words...)

I give Spot Magazine a Paws Up and thank them for offering me the opportunity to tell my happy story. I recently met them at the 2016 NW Pet Fair, where I was greeted with warm, open arms and so much love.🐾 (I delighted them by turning endless orbits)

With love and appreciation,

Orbit Frost

Cali

had a kitty from a co-worker’s cat’s litter. I wanted to get a second one so went to Willamette Humane in Salem. I saw a kitty I liked but wasn’t sure about. I looked at many other kittens but kept thinking of the pretty little Calico. After a month I decided to see if the she was still there, with little hope she would be. I was shocked that she was. The lady helping me said most people who looked at Kelly (what they’d named her) were put off by her loud, almost annoying meowing. I took a chance that once home and no longer locked up she would be fine, which turned out to be the case. I named her Cali and she has been with me going on 16 years.

Joan Moorhea

Who Rescued Who?