Labradors & Friends Dog Rescue

Tag: Happy Tails

  • Happy Tails: Bronco Found His People (And His Office Chair!)

    Happy Tails: Bronco Found His People (And His Office Chair!)

    From running out of time at the shelter to living his very best Labrador life.

    Some happy endings remind us exactly why we do what we do. Bronco’s is one of them.

    Not long ago, this handsome three-year-old chocolate Lab mix was sitting in a shelter. He had arrived as a stray, developed kennel cough, and was running out of time.

    Shelter volunteers knew he deserved a second chance and reached out to Labradors and Friends.

    One look at that big, blocky head and those soulful brown eyes, and how could we say no?

    A Second Chance, Thanks to a Foster

    Bronco’s next chapter began with his foster mom, Robyn, who welcomed him into her home and gave him the love, stability, and care he needed.

    And Bronco quickly showed everyone what a character he was!

    Sweet, easygoing, affectionate, and full of personality, Bronco loved people and seemed to take everything in stride.

    He also had one very important Labrador characteristic: an unwavering devotion to food.

    Leaves? Possibly edible.

    Sticks? Worth investigating.

    Random sidewalk treasures? Absolutely deserving of a taste test.

    Robyn worked on teaching Bronco that not everything he encountered belonged in his mouth. Apparently, his career as a neighborhood vacuum cleaner was going to require some retraining!

    But underneath that goofy personality was a wonderful dog waiting for his forever family.

    Then Along Came Hana and Her Fiancé

    A few months ago, Hana and her fiancé decided they were ready to welcome their first dog together.

    Neither had adopted a rescue dog before, but both knew they wanted to give a dog a second chance.

    Then they discovered Bronco.

    They fell in love with his picture, submitted an application, and soon connected with our adoption coordinator, Christie.

    Christie introduced them to Robyn, who arranged for them to meet Bronco and patiently answered all their questions.

    It didn’t take long for them to realize they’d found their dog.

    They adopted Bronco that very same week!

    And as his new family shared:

    “It was immediately clear how much love and care Bronco had received while in her home.”

    Those words mean so much because fostering is where so many happy endings begin.

    Almost Three Months Later…

    Bronco isn’t just settling into his new life. He’s thriving!

    His family regularly spends time with two other dogs and several children under five, and Bronco has handled it all beautifully.

    He’s gentle and sweet with the children, gets along wonderfully with his canine companions, and has become an inseparable part of the family.

    He’s enjoyed trips to the beach, made new friends, and, judging by the photographic evidence, may have claimed the office chair as his personal throne.

    And the best part?

    His family says they simply cannot imagine life without him.

    “We’re almost three months in now, and we can’t imagine our life without Bronco.”

    The Happy Ending We Always Hope For

    Bronco’s family also shared something that means the world to our volunteers:

    “We can’t say enough good things about Labs and Friends, Christie, and Robyn. The entire experience was wonderful, and it brought us our newest best friend!”

    From the shelter volunteers who advocated for him, to Robyn who opened her home, to Christie who helped bring everyone together, Bronco’s journey was made possible by people who believed he deserved more.

    And now?

    He’s exactly where he belongs.

    With a family who adores him, children to love, dogs to play with, and an office chair that may never be available to humans again.

    Thank you to Hana and her fiancé for choosing rescue, sharing these beautiful updates, and giving Bronco the life he deserves.

    This is why we rescue. This is why we foster. And this is why every yes matters.

  • Rainbow Bridge: Ben — We Were the Lucky Ones

    Rainbow Bridge: Ben — We Were the Lucky Ones

    In 2019, two frightened dogs named Ben and Jerry found their way to Labradors and Friends. They were scared and unsure of the world around them, but with time, patience, and love, they began to come out of their shells.

    For Ben, that journey eventually led to a forever family who would love him beyond measure.

    We recently learned that our sweet Ben has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. And while our hearts are heavy, the memories his family shared remind us just how beautiful his life became.

    Ben was a handsome boy with a big personality and some wonderfully endearing habits.

    His family remembers how excited he would get on Christmas morning.

    Ben, a black and white rescue dog, lying beside his personalized red plaid Christmas stocking.
    Christmas mornings were always special for Ben, who greeted each day with excitement and a little spin!

    “In the morning he would be so excited for breakfast, he would spin haha it was always Christmas morning for him ❤️”

    Ben also loved chasing squirrels. His family never let him catch one, but that certainly didn’t stop him from trying!

    And then there was the famous “Benny tax.”

    “He loved greeting people at the door, no matter family or repairman. They always had to pay the Benny tax of multiple tummy rubs.”

    We can just picture him welcoming every visitor, making sure nobody entered his home without giving him the attention he deserved.

    When his family shared the news of his passing, they wrote:

    “He will forever be in our hearts.”

    And when we thanked them for giving Ben such a wonderful home, their response said everything:

    “We were the lucky ones.”

    Ben, a fluffy black and white dog, relaxing on an outdoor patio table with a chew treat in his mouth.
    Enjoying the good life. Ben knew the comforts of being a very loved family dog.

    Those five words capture what rescue is really about. We may give these dogs a second chance, but the love they give in return is immeasurable.

    Ben came into rescue as a frightened dog alongside his sibling Jerry. He left this world as a deeply loved member of a family, with years of memories, Christmas mornings, squirrel-chasing adventures, and countless tummy rubs behind him.

    To Ben’s family, thank you for giving him a life filled with love and belonging, and for sharing these precious memories with us.

    Run free, sweet Ben. May there be endless squirrels to chase, Christmas mornings to celebrate, and all the tummy rubs your heart desires.

    You were loved. You mattered. And you will never be forgotten. 🌈

  • Weekly Tail Wag #013 – A Village That Said YES

    Weekly Tail Wag #013 – A Village That Said YES

    Sometimes it takes a village to save a life. This week, that village came together for five little puppies who desperately needed a second chance. ❤️🐾

    But that’s only one of the stories we’re sharing in this week’s Weekly Tail Wag.

    🐾 Five Little Lives. One Big Second Chance.

    Three boys, two girls, and an incredible team of lifesavers!

    When five puppies needed help at the Carson shelter, Molly and Old Blue Inc. stepped in to cover their veterinary care, and our extraordinary foster, Teri, opened her home once again.

    All five puppies tested negative for parvo, received veterinary care, and are now safe, happy, and enjoying puppy life.

    Read Their Rescue Story →

    ❤️ The People Who Make Rescue Possible

    This week, we’re celebrating Cathy, whose journey from volunteer dog walker to dedicated foster and event volunteer reminds us that one small YES can change countless lives.

    Read Cathy’s Volunteer Story →

    🐾 Happy Tails & Forever Love

    Phoebe is thriving in her forever home, enjoying walks, cuddles, and life with her canine companion, Mondo.

    We also remember Dottie, a remarkable little dog rescued with two broken front legs, who went on to enjoy nearly 15 years of love with her family.

    Read Dottie’s Tribute →

    🖤 Still Waiting: Meet Venus

    Venus watched her puppies find forever homes while she was left behind.

    This sweet, intelligent girl is friendly with dogs, cats, and people, and she’s still waiting for someone to see how special she is.

    Venus needs a patient, safety-conscious family who understands her escape-artist talents and will keep her secure.

    Could you be the person who finally says YES to Venus?

    Meet Venus →

    🎃 Ways to Make a Difference

    There’s plenty happening at Labradors and Friends!

    Join us for Halloween fun and meet adoptable dogs at Negociant Winery on October 25.

    You can also support our rescue through our See’s Candies fundraiser, Paint Your Pet on a Clock, and other upcoming activities.

    Whether you adopt, foster, volunteer, donate, or simply share a dog’s story, you are part of the village that makes rescue possible.

    Every YES changes a life. ❤️🐾

    Friends don’t let friends go homeless.

  • Weekly Tail Wag #011 — One Yes Can Change Everything

    Weekly Tail Wag #011 — One Yes Can Change Everything

    Sometimes rescue begins with something incredibly simple: someone saying yes.

    Yes, I’ll foster him.
    Yes, we’ll make room for them.
    Yes, I’ll keep sharing her story.
    Yes, I’ll bring him home.

    Here’s what happened this week. 💗🐾

    Bentley, a 10-year-old rescue dog, relaxing and cuddling with his foster family in a four-photo collage

    This week at Labradors + Friends, those yeses showed up everywhere—from a 10-year-old dog who needed somewhere to go, to two tiny puppies who made it safely into rescue, to a long-awaited Happy Tail and a volunteer whose commitment to LAF didn’t end when she moved out of state.

    And one very special Rainbow Bridge story reminded us just how much life can fit between that first yes and a final goodbye.

    Plus, we’re celebrating an incredible Pulls for Pups fundraiser, sharing new ways to join us at upcoming events, and asking for more foster homes so we can keep saying yes when the next dog needs us.

  • Rainbow Bridge: Ladybug Apple — A Lifetime of Love

    Rainbow Bridge: Ladybug Apple — A Lifetime of Love

    There are some dogs whose stories stay with you long after they leave rescue.

    Apple was one of them.

    Apple, a black rescue dog with one blue eye and one brown eye, relaxing in the grass shortly after being rescued by Labradors and Friends.

    In 2015, Apple was barely a year old and sitting on death row at the Baldwin Park Shelter. She was a 46-pound black dog with one blue eye, one brown eye, and an old injury to one of them. She had been passed over, sitting in her kennel waiting for someone to notice the sweet, gentle girl inside.

    We noticed.

    Labradors and Friends said yes.

    And for me, Apple’s story has always been a little more personal.

    I was the volunteer who pulled Apple from the shelter. I spent time with her before she became a Toliver, and over the years I had the privilege of spending time with Nicole, her family, and the dog who had once needed us to give her a chance.

    So when Nicole recently told me they had lost Apple, this one hit hard.

    Because I remembered the young dog we rescued.

    And I knew just how extraordinary the life waiting for her would become.

    From Shelter Dog to Family

    Apple cuddling with one of the Toliver daughters, who grew up with her as a beloved member of the family.

    On March 17, 2015, Apple went home.

    Nicole remembers that young girl perfectly:

    “One blue eye and one brown… a love propeller that wouldn’t stop… that shiny black coat and the velvet bat ears.”

    What began as a rescue quickly became something much bigger.

    Apple became family.

    Apple sitting with the Toliver family during a family portrait, surrounded by the people who loved her for more than eleven years.

    The Toliver daughters grew up with her beside them. There were cuddles and swimming, homework sessions, dress-up and dancing. Apple joined them on family adventures and was there through the ordinary days that, looking back, become some of the ones we treasure most.

    Apple snuggled inside a tent with the Toliver daughters during one of their many family adventures together.

    Nicole’s favorite memory of Apple is beautifully simple:

    “Coming through a door and being greeted by her.”

    Anyone who has loved a dog for a lifetime understands exactly why that can be the thing you miss most.

    She Knew What It Meant to Welcome Someone In

    Apple’s rescue story didn’t end when she was adopted.

    Over the years, the Tolivers opened their home to foster puppies, too.

    Apple spending time with her family and one of the foster dogs she helped welcome into her home.

    And Apple—the dog who once sat in a shelter waiting for someone to make room for her—became part of welcoming other dogs who needed somewhere safe to land.

    Nicole remembers watching Apple with those fosters and seeing a side of her that she didn’t share with everyone.

    “Seeing her with fosters and how she loved!!! That wasn’t anything she shared with many…”

    Apple posing with her family for a holiday photo with Santa.

    There is something especially beautiful about that circle.

    Someone saved Apple.

    Apple found her family.

    And then Apple helped other dogs along their own journeys home.

    Apple posing outdoors with her mom, Nicole, and one of her doggie siblings during a family photo session.

    Quietly, Gently and Fiercely

    Nicole describes Apple as a dog who “loved quietly, gently and never let you doubt where you stand in her circle of trust.”

    She also protected fiercely.

    “She was always where she was needed and more.”

    And when Apple needed her family, they were there for her, too.

    Over the years, she faced several medical challenges, including ongoing eye care, two eye surgeries, and surgeries on both knees. None of it was easy for her.

    But her family surrounded her through every recovery—day and night.

    Nicole says Apple answered all of it “with a grateful heart.”

    That’s what family does.

    Apple smiling beside one of her favorite red balls, a happy moment from her life with the Toliver family.

    Until We Meet Again

    On September 17, more than eleven years after Apple first walked into the Tolivers’ lives, they had to say goodbye to their Ladybug.

    Nicole shared a beautiful vision of where she hopes Apple’s next journey has taken her:

    Chuckit! balls. Endless grilled salmon. Sir Matty, Mr. Bean, Monty, Sugar, Frankie, Delta Chance—and a comfy resting place in a corner with a view.

    Until they meet again. ❤️

    Apple relaxing comfortably on her bed at home, surrounded by the family life she loved.

    Nicole began her tribute with something that will resonate with anyone who has ever truly loved a dog:

    “If you say it was just a dog…”

    Apple was never just a dog.

    She was the puppy pulled from a shelter.

    She was a little girl’s best friend.

    She was a protector.

    She was a patient.

    She was a traveling companion.

    She was a foster sister.

    She was the familiar face waiting when someone walked through the door.

    She was family.

    And perhaps that’s one of the greatest gifts of rescue: we may be there at the beginning, when a dog desperately needs someone to say yes, but sometimes we’re lucky enough to watch what happens afterward.

    I pulled Apple from the shelter in 2015.

    The Tolivers gave her the life we hoped was waiting for her.

    And for the rest of her life, Apple never had to wonder whether she was loved.

    Rest easy, Ladybug Apple. 🌈🐾❤️

    With love to Nicole Toliver and family, and with gratitude to everyone who was part of Apple’s life—her veterinary team, trainers, dog sitters, fosters, volunteers, and the entire rescue family who loved her along the way.