Welcome! This is where we share adoption stories, upcoming events, and updates from the rescue. We’re an all-volunteer team that’s been finding loving homes for Labradors, Lab-mixes, and their friends since 2007 — grab a cup of coffee and see what’s new.
Sometimes, everything changes with one “yes.”
This week, 12 new dogs joined the Labradors and Friends family, a forgotten senior began a beautiful new chapter, and an incredible foster stepped up to provide round-the-clock care for a very sick mama and her seven babies.
Plus, we remember a very special dog who turned one family’s “yes” into more than 14 years of love—and share some fun ways to join us in the weeks ahead.
Catch up on all the stories in this week’s LAF Weekly Tail Wag. 🐾❤️
Some Happy Tails happen after weeks of waiting. Others after months.
And every once in a while, a dog finds the person who was meant to be theirs almost immediately.
Anastasia was one of those dogs.
She came to Labradors and Friends as a senior girl facing an uncertain medical future. Two biopsies had been inconclusive; there were concerns that her condition could be serious, and what she needed most was a quiet, loving place where she could simply be comfortable and cared for.
What she found was so much more.
When Anastasia arrived at her foster home, the plan was to give her a safe place to land while we figured out what came next.
Apparently, Anastasia had other plans.
It didn’t take long for her foster to realize that this sweet senior girl wasn’t going anywhere. The very same day she arrived, her foster decided to adopt her.
Anastasia became Maggie — and just like that, the uncertainty of shelter life, medical tests, and wondering what her future might hold was replaced by something every rescue dog deserves:
A home. A family. And the certainty that she belonged.
Maggie may still have medical questions ahead of her, but now she faces whatever comes next from exactly where every dog should be — home.
She has a family who adores her, doggie friends to share her days with, a poolside spot to relax, and plenty of reasons to smile.
For a senior dog whose future once felt so uncertain, that’s a pretty wonderful prescription.
Sometimes rescue gives us more time. Sometimes it gives us better time. And sometimes, if we’re really lucky, it gives a dog exactly the person they were waiting for.
Maggie found hers. ❤️🐾
Happy Tail, sweet girl. Welcome home. 🏡❤️
Some dogs come into rescue and quickly find their forever homes. Others come to us when they need something different — a chance to simply be loved, cared for, and given every good day we can possibly give them.
Austin was one of those dogs.
Austin came to Labradors and Friends in the summer of 2014 with a massive tumor in his groin. It was cancer, but that didn’t define him — and it certainly didn’t mean his life wasn’t worth saving.
Austin underwent surgery to remove the tumor, and for a while, we hoped we had bought him the time he deserved. But the cancer returned — and this time, it came back even more aggressively.
There would be no easy road ahead for Austin.
He spent long stretches in the hospital as his medical team cared for the growth, which would sometimes open and bleed. Through all of it, Austin had people who refused to let him go through it alone.
Two foster dads gave him a home. Volunteers visited him every day while he was hospitalized, sitting with him, loving on him, and making sure he knew someone would always come back.
And, of course, there were hamburger patties. Lots of hamburger patties. ❤️
Austin may never have found a traditional forever home, but somewhere along the way, something became very clear:
He already had a family.
Once we knew Austin’s time might be limited, we decided that whatever time he had left was going to be filled with the things every dog deserves — adventure, friendship, really good food, and a whole lot of love.
And Austin knew how to enjoy a good day.
We spent a day at Fiesta Island with his doggie friends, playing in the water, swimming, and soaking up the San Diego sunshine. From there, Austin headed to South Bark, where he was treated to a bath and a blueberry facial, followed — naturally — by lunch.
Another day started with breakfast at Janet’s before we headed to Sunset Cliffs to take in the ocean and spend the day together.
We took Austin and his doggie friends to Julian to see the snow, giving this San Diego boy a chance to play in a winter wonderland. We spent peaceful days together at Lake Murray, too.
There were lots of meals along the way. Austin especially loved going out for breakfast, and we were more than happy to oblige.
And when Christmas came, we spent Christmas Eve together.
Austin even made time for pictures with Santa — because apparently his bucket list included making sure Santa knew exactly where to find him.
None of us could change what was coming. But we could change what the days leading up to it looked like.
So we filled them with water and sunshine. Snow and car rides. Doggie friends and blueberry facials. Breakfasts and lunches. Christmas Eve.
We filled them with life.
Austin made it through the holidays and into the new year, surrounded by the people who had become his family.
But eventually, the cancer asked more of him than we could ask him to give.
In January 2015, we made the decision every rescuer dreads and every dog deserves when the time comes. Austin left this world surrounded by people who loved him — the same people who had promised that he would never face any of it alone.
Austin never found a traditional forever home.
He didn’t need to.
His forever family was there all along.
It was the foster dads who opened their home to him. The volunteers who showed up at the hospital day after day. The friends who took him swimming, drove him to the snow, shared Christmas Eve with him, took him out for breakfast, and filled his final months with adventures.
Austin taught us that rescue isn’t always measured in years.
Sometimes it’s measured in one more swim. One more breakfast. One more Christmas. One more really good day.
And sometimes, saving a life simply means making sure that when it’s over, that dog leaves this world knowing, without question, that he mattered.
Austin mattered.
He still does.
Until we all meet again, miss you, smoosh face 🌈🐾
This week at Labradors and Friends…
Meet Charlotte and her seven babies, see Dolly’s incredible transformation, and discover how one foster home changed everything for Cody.
We’re also remembering a very special dog named Austin, sharing an upcoming adoption event, and celebrating the volunteers, fosters, donors, and adopters who make every rescue story possible.
Catch up on this week’s LAF Weekly Tail Wag! 🐾❤️
This week, five beautiful girls walked out of the shelter…and into hope.
Tango had waited four long months. Berry and Cherry were only puppies. Adele and Isabelle had simply waited far too long for someone to notice them.
Today, they’re safe with Labradors & Friends, and their next chapter has begun. Meet all five girls, catch up on this week’s rescue stories, and discover how your support continues to change lives.
❤️ Five new girls find hope
🩺 Blaze & Gunner are ready for foster homes
🐾 Become the best part of a dog’s week
🌈 Remembering Spencer during Rainbow Bridge Month
🏡 Meet dogs waiting for forever families
Meet five girls rescued just in time, discover how Blaze and Gunner are beating the odds, discover how one walk can change a dog’s life, remember Spencer, and catch up on this week’s rescue stories.
Every rescue begins when someone is willing to say “yes.”
Whether you adopt, foster, volunteer, donate, or simply share our dogs, you become part of every happy ending.
Thank you for being part of the Labradors & Friends family.
Thank you for helping Labradors & Friends give every dog the second chance they deserve.