{"id":823,"date":"2026-10-18T17:45:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T00:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/?p=823"},"modified":"2026-10-18T17:45:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T00:45:03","slug":"still-here-still-hoping-still-worth-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/2026\/10\/18\/still-here-still-hoping-still-worth-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Still Here. Still Hoping. Still Worth It. ❤️"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some dogs find their forever families in days. Others wait weeks, months, or even longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the passing of time doesn’t make them any less deserving of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Labradors and Friends, we have some truly incredible dogs who have been waiting for someone to see what we see in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sprinkler-loving goofball. A senior who refuses to slow down. A fetch fanatic. A shy soul waiting for someone to earn his trust. And so many more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven dogs. Seven personalities. Seven hearts still hoping.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Baby Girl, Twinkle, Marilynn, Kira, Connor, Baxter, and Venus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may have different stories, personalities, and needs, but they all have one thing in common:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They’re still waiting. And they’re absolutely worth it. ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baby Girl \u2014 The Official Welcome Committee ❤️<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Baby<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some dogs just have a way of making everyone feel special, and Baby Girl is one of them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This happy, social butterfly greets every volunteer with excitement, as though they’ve come just to see her. She loves people, adores playtime, and has a particular weakness for squeaky toys!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With her infectious enthusiasm and joyful personality, Baby Girl has so much love to share. She’s been waiting for someone to recognize what our volunteers already know \u2014 she’s a wonderful girl who deserves a family of her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could Baby Girl be the happiness missing from your home? ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Meet Baby Girl ❤️<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Twinkle \u2014 Senior? Don’t Tell Her That! ✨<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Twinkle,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Age is just a number, and Twinkle is living proof!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This spirited senior has more energy than some dogs half her age! While other dogs might prefer a leisurely stroll, Twinkle would much rather go for a run. She’s an enthusiastic explorer with incredible endurance, and sometimes you have to convince her it’s time for a break!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there’s her love of water. Give Twinkle a bowl to drink from, and don’t be surprised if she decides it’s actually a splash pool! Her silly antics never fail to make our volunteers laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twinkle is proof that growing older doesn’t mean slowing down, and she still has so many adventures ahead of her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could you be the one to share Twinkle’s next great adventure? ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Meet Twinkle ❤️<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Marilynn \u2014 Small Girl, Enormous Heart! ❤️<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Marilynn,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Marilynn may be petite, but the love she has to give is anything but small!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sweet, athletic girl has a heart as big as her personality. She absolutely adores her people and is happiest when she’s right by their side, soaking up affection and attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marilynn forms deep bonds with the people she trusts. She’s eager to learn, responds well to praise and gentle guidance, and genuinely wants to make her humans happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind those beautiful eyes is a loyal, loving companion just waiting for someone to give her the chance to shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marilynn has so much love to give. Could you be the person she’s been waiting for? ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Meet Marilynn ❤️<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kira \u2014 Fetch Champion. Ball Return Optional! 🎾<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Kira,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If enthusiasm were an Olympic sport, Kira would bring home the gold!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This beautiful girl absolutely LOVES attention, affection, and most of all, a good game of fetch. In fact, one of her favorite days is new volunteer orientation, because it means plenty of new people ready to shower her with love and throw her favorite ball!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s just one little catch. Kira doesn’t always believe in returning the ball. 😂 But she’s figured out a pretty good system \u2014 bring a second ball, and she’ll happily keep the game going until she’s completely worn out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kira’s playful spirit and love for her people make her unforgettable to the volunteers who know her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She’s been bringing joy to our volunteers for so long. Isn’t it time she had a family to share that joy with? ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Meet Kira ❤️<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Connor \u2014 A Little Patience, A Lifetime of Loyalty ❤️<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Connor,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some friendships happen instantly. Others take a little time to grow. And sometimes, those are the most rewarding friendships of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Connor, a handsome, goofy boy with an adventurous spirit and a heart worth earning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connor can be cautious around new people, and he needs someone who understands that trust isn’t always given immediately. But with patience, kindness, and the opportunity to get comfortable at his own pace, his wonderful personality begins to shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you’ve earned Connor’s trust, you’ll discover a loyal, fun-loving companion who’s ready to share life’s adventures with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He doesn’t need someone who expects perfection. He needs someone who sees his potential and is willing to build a lasting bond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connor may take a little longer to give you his heart, but once he does, it’s yours for life. ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Meet Connor ❤️<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Baxter \u2014 Professional Sprinkler Inspector! 💦<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Baxter,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some dogs chase tennis balls. Others chase squirrels. Baxter? He chases sprinklers!<\/strong> 💦<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Baxter, our fun-loving boy who has turned an ordinary backyard sprinkler into his very own amusement park!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moment Baxter spots a sprinkler, he’s off and running, charging straight toward the spray with pure joy. Lakes, baths, and garden hoses are perfectly fine, but sprinklers? Those are something special!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His enthusiasm is absolutely contagious, and watching him enjoy the simplest things in life is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baxter reminds us that happiness doesn’t always come from grand adventures. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a sunny afternoon, a little water, and the freedom to be yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baxter has mastered the art of finding joy in everyday moments. Now he just needs someone to share them with. ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Meet Baxter ❤️<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Venus \u2014 Smart, Sweet & Full of Surprises! 🖤<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Venus,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Behind those beautiful eyes is one very clever girl with a whole lot of love to give!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Venus, a sweet, intelligent, and resourceful girl who has proven she’s quite the survivor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venus is friendly with people, other dogs, and even cats! She can be a little shy at first, but give her time to feel comfortable, and her affectionate personality begins to shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She’s also an accomplished escape artist. After getting out of her foster home, Venus survived an entire week on her own before being safely recovered. That adventure taught us just how smart, determined, and resourceful she can be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of her escape history, Venus needs a family committed to keeping her safe. A secure home, careful management of doors and gates, and supervised outdoor time are essential. She should never be left unattended in a backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venus isn’t looking for just any home. She’s looking for someone who understands her needs and will give her the security, patience, and love she deserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This clever girl has spent enough time finding her own way. Now she deserves a family who will help her feel safe and loved forever. ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Meet Venus ❤️<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Their Stories Aren’t Finished Yet.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seven dogs. Seven very different personalities. Seven hearts still waiting for someone to call their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some need an active family. Some need patience and understanding. Others simply need someone who sees the wonderful companion our volunteers already know and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They’ve waited through countless adoption events, watched other dogs find their families, and continued hoping their turn will come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They don’t need everyone to choose them. They just need the right person.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And even if you can’t adopt, you can still help. Share their stories. Tell a friend. Help us reach someone who might be searching for a dog just like one of these seven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because sometimes, all it takes is one person seeing one photograph, reading one story, and deciding to give a dog a chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They’re still here. Still hoping. And every single one is worth it. ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friends won’t leave friends behind.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Meet All Our Adoptable Dogs ❤️<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Seven dogs. Seven unique personalities. Seven hearts still hoping. Meet Baby Girl, Twinkle, Marilynn, Kira, Connor, Baxter, and Venus \u2014 seven incredible rescue dogs who have been waiting for someone to see what we see in them. Could you be their number one? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":836,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,46],"tags":[75,154,153,151,56,152,156,66,79,89,155,57,81,157,150],"class_list":["post-823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rescue-news","category-ways-to-help","tag-adoptable-dogs","tag-baby-girl","tag-baxter","tag-connor","tag-dog-adoption","tag-forever-homes","tag-kira","tag-labradors-and-friends","tag-long-stay-dogs","tag-marilynn","tag-orange-county-dog-rescue","tag-rescue-dogs","tag-san-diego-dog-rescue","tag-twinkle","tag-venus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=823"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":837,"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823\/revisions\/837"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labradorsandfriends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}