Yes, just in time for Christmas, little one-eyed Irene has been adopted. I took the photo of Irene with Alayne last week, a few moments before she left in a TLC Pet Transport van for her new home in Washington, D.C. Ironically, the same TLC Pet Transport driver who brought her out to us from Kentucky, Doug, was the same one who drove Irene to her new family.
Lois H., a longtime friend and supporter of the sanctuary, had asked a few weeks ago if she could adopt Irene. Of course, we were delighted at the prospect! At that point it was just an issue of arranging transportation to D.C. and scheduling the trip with TLC. Lois emailed the morning Irene showed up in our nation's captial to say, "Our Christmas angel arrived a while ago, in the good hands of Doug! Irene is just adorable, came in with tail wagging full speed and has been having a grand time checking out her new surroundings. So far, she thinks this will be an OK place to be! We are thrilled to have her here at last!"
We hadn't said anything yet on the blog because we wanted to have a photo showing Irene with her new family when we posted the news, and on Sunday night Lois sent this wonderful photo of Irene with Lois' grandchildren, Lela and Finn, and her husband Ed:
In a subsequent email, Lois wrote, "She stays very close to me, wherever I go in the house, and loses no opportunity to give kisses - I don't think there is a doggie kiss left in the whole state of NH as Irene brought them all with her!"
And in another note this morning, Lois emailed to say, "Irene is a pure delight, in every way! She has now made friends with the dog next door and the two of them race back and forth along the fence with tails wagging and friendly little nips and paws under the fence."
Speaking of kisses, here she is kissing Alayne last week while we were taking photos:
Followed by:
Hard to believe that just barely two months ago, Irene was going to be euthanized -- and now here she is, loved and adored by a new family all her own.
Lois, thank you for adopting this little girl!
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$1,000 Weekly Winner Again -- Thank You!
Because of all of your votes, we were the weekly winner for week 3 again in the Shelter Challenge -- and that brought in another $1,000 gift for the animals here! Thank you so much!
The new Shelter Challenge started October 3rd and ends at midnight on December 18th. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
And remember, you can vote every day, so consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Please note: Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up. [Yes, we are still listed as Rolling Dog Ranch for the purposes of the contest, not Rolling Dog Farm.]
Please help us win more money for the animals here by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too. Thank you!
Just like all other hurricanes, this little Hurricane Irene blew into and out of your lives but still left a lasting impression. A wonderful turn of events for all of you...except maybe the boys that were playing hard to get, now they know to play that game too well ;) Congratulations to all.
Posted by: Anne in FL | December 15, 2011 at 09:33 AM
Irene is definitely a success story. I'm so glad that she has a new forever home with such a loving family. Way to go, Irene!
Warm hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | December 14, 2011 at 06:49 PM
We all knew that rolling Dog Farm wouldn't be Irene's forever home when we saw here. She was way too photogenic not to have someone want to bring her home. I'm so glad she now has a wonderful new home with humans who adore her and a doggie next door to run with. And that is a nice new cut Alayne. Steve didn't mention in his blog that you had gotten your hair cut. What's next? His beard?? Ho ho ho!!
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | December 14, 2011 at 03:03 PM
So happy! I think adoption is the BEST way to have a dog and God bless this family for doing so with Irene.
Alayne - love your hair cut! It's very flattering. :-)
Posted by: Lisa K. from CA | December 14, 2011 at 01:33 PM
Hi great news for Irene Alayne love your new hair cut.
Posted by: Ginette | December 14, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Love ALL of these beautiful pictures! Thank you RDR for getting this little angel situated in the lap of love. And thank you Lois,and family, for being Irene's special place.Enjoy!!
Posted by: Angela | December 14, 2011 at 11:43 AM
Pure holiday magic, with a lot of wonderful helpers making it happen.
So WONDERFUL!!! Much love to you all. I'd think Doug of TLC must feel pretty special, too.
ps: I think puppy kisses are the fountain of youth, so of course, no one would be more beautiful than Alayne! :).
Posted by: Margaret | December 14, 2011 at 11:29 AM
What wonderful news! Irene will not have to hold back her love, kisses and enthusiasm...she has a whole family to share it with.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Posted by: Chloe | December 14, 2011 at 10:43 AM
I so wanted Irene for myself but I do such a lousy job of taking pictures that I figured I'd be denied! She has obviously found a family as delighted to have her as she is to have them. I am thrilled for everybody!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | December 14, 2011 at 09:42 AM
Santa Claus came early this year with his gift of a family all her own for Irene. What a wonderful time of year to be adopted. I'm sure there will be plenty of toys under the tree with Irene's name on them.
Posted by: Kathy Hertzel | December 14, 2011 at 08:48 AM
Merry Christmas Irene... see Santa is real! Blessings to you and your new forever home family. Alayne and Steve your are Angels sent from Heaven many warm wishes this Holiday Season!
Posted by: Sandra | December 14, 2011 at 08:44 AM
What heart-warming news to wake up to this morning...a most 'special gift' for that lucky family!!!
Posted by: Valerie | December 14, 2011 at 08:13 AM
Stoney and Barron now live in Washington, D.C.??
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | December 14, 2011 at 01:10 AM
I'm so glad to read such happy news! I'm not surprised that a sweetheart like Irene would be adopted so soon. Thank you for rescuing this wonderful girl from death row and giving her the opportunity to find a loving home.
Thank you to Lois and her family for bringing Irene into their home. She sure is surrounded by a lot of love!
Posted by: Ann | December 14, 2011 at 12:39 AM
I just knew Irene would be a short-timer at RDF. It's lovely to see how happy Irene and her new family are. Here's wishing them all the best. Now, on another subject, how does Alayne stay so good looking year after year? Does she have a fountain of youth and beauty hidden on the farm? [Don't worry, Steve, you're pretty cute yourself!]
Posted by: Moon Rani | December 14, 2011 at 12:28 AM
Just another testament to the great work you all do! Thank you!
Posted by: Michele | December 13, 2011 at 10:52 PM
This is the kind of post we all love to read. How wonderful that Irene gets a nice home for Christmas and Lois and her family gets this sweet girl. She will add much joy to their lives. Merry Christmas!!
Posted by: Betsy | December 13, 2011 at 10:25 PM
Thanks for such a happy post! It made my day. Keep up the great work and happy holidays to all of you.
Posted by: coasterkim | December 13, 2011 at 08:34 PM
This is wonderful!! So happy to have a RDR addition in Washington DC. Lois H. should email me if she'd like to have a meet up with Baron and Stoney!!
Posted by: Wendy | December 13, 2011 at 08:25 PM
THANK you for giving her a second chance and now there will be an opening for another.....to think she would have been killed.....RDF to the rescue. Thank you Lois and family for her new FOREVER home.
BTW, love Alayne's new haircut!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | December 13, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Good night, Irene! Enjoy your new home and fill it with your love and kisses. I hope her hew family will continue to share photos with the blog. Happy tears and heart while reading this post.
Posted by: Mary H. | December 13, 2011 at 07:41 PM
Yay Irene! I knew this little pistol would have a short stay at the ranch! Loved to hear shes already making friends with the neighbor dog! So glad Rolling Dog is here to give dogs like Irene a second chance at a great life! Love you guys! :)
Posted by: Kate & Luke | December 13, 2011 at 07:35 PM
I'm just thrilled that Irene has been adopted by such a loving family.
Posted by: Ashley | December 13, 2011 at 07:00 PM
Woo-hoo for Irene but what about all the hearts she is breaking at RDF as those boys who played "hard to get" realize she is no longer there to adore them??
Posted by: Marla from KC | December 13, 2011 at 06:55 PM