Steve and I had decided we were finally ready to adopt a dog after years of having exotics as pets. Our schedules had at last become dog friendly. I was able to come home at lunch on the days we were both gone for a period over five hours, and two out of every three weeks our schedules overlapped even less. It was time for Merlynne, a yellow-crowned amazon parrot; Sage and Hazel, rescue rabbits from HRS; and Rover, a chinese coin turtle to have a canine sibling.

We initially started looking at multiple breed rescues in our area. After surfing the web and visiting a few adoption days, we decided to talk to my sister who volunteers for Lab Rescue. We attempted to introduce a couple of likely candidates to the other animals with limited success. The rabbits were very intimidated by the large dogs even though they have their own room in the house. We decided to look at smaller dogs.

My father suggested seeing if there was a miniature schnauzer rescue group in the area. Our family had had a miniature schnauzer named "Pooh" while I was growing up. She was a runt from a breeder and a true sweetheart. We had her for thirteen years. Upon searching the web we discovered a new rescue group called Schnauzer Rescue of the Mid-Atlantic. I began living on the website, waiting for the first dog to appear. We sent in our application and continued to check the website multiple times a day.

Taz, the first rescue for SRM, was adopted quickly. I fell in love with a tiny little girl that appeared on the website with the amusing name, Teeny Turner. She reminded me a little of my "Pooh" due to her petite size. Steve and I asked to be considered as her new family.

Donna, with SRM, wrote back to let us know there were some possible health issues with Teeny. She had been horribly neglected. She had infections of the ears, eyes, skin and urinary tract. She had raw feet. She had a bladder full of stones. She was underweight. Donna immediately started trying to get her to gain weight by cooking her special meals. The vet put her on antibiotics and she was spayed and had her bladder stones removed. During her surgery, there was concern that she was quite jaundiced on the inside. Some of her lab results were suspicious, too. Perhaps her liver was involved.

Steve and I discussed the possibilities and decided we still wanted to make Teeny a part of our family. We asked Donna to please keep us in the running as her adopters. To our great surprise and pleasure, we were chosen by the folks at SRM to take Teeny home.

My sister and I drove up to get Teeny one weekend. We came home with Teeny, her toys, her sweater, her special food, her antibiotics, and some cooked chicken, all from her foster mom, Donna and other members of SRM. That Monday, I took Teeny to our vet to have her checked out. We ended up having to keep Teeny on antibiotics for eight more weeks to rid her of the remnants of her various infections. Our vet told us to put Teeny on a high quality food once we were finished with the special food she came to us with. We were asked to bring her in to check her urine every few weeks.

To our and our vet’s amazement, one of Teeny’s early urine checks did not show any of the two types of crystals that formed her earlier bladder stones. We all kept our fingers crossed and waited for the next test. It showed a few crystals but was not a sterile sample. The next sterile sample showed no crystals. We now only have to check Teeny’s urine two to three times a year. Our vet says to keep doing whatever we are doing. She is still baffled by Teeny’s turnaround considering her early lab values.

Teeny is doing wonderfully! Her coat shines. Her teeth sparkle. She weighs the proper weight at fifteen pounds. She is ornery as ever. And we love our healthy girl dearly.

Sometimes rescuing a dog can be a subtle thing – a gentle touch, a soothing tone, or an approving voice – "good boy!" But sometimes the needs of a rescue dog strike you like a blow to the stomach. Such was the feeling that a fellow rescuer and I experienced when we first laid eyes on a dog with the unusual name of "Accord."

Accord was a former show dog whose owner had Alzheimer's disease. But as the owner's disease progressed, Accord's health was failing too. When we first saw Accord, our hearts sank – he was in terrible condition. His skin was scaly and his hair was coming out in clumps. He had severe dental disease and was drooling. He appeared bloated and grossly overweight. He could barely walk and had trouble even standing up. The first time I picked up Accord, he gripped his paws tightly around my neck, as if to say, "Please don't let me go." At that moment, I promised him I would not let him down.  On the way home, I was so afraid for his health that I brought him right to the vet’s office.

While we waited for test results, Accord became a part of our family. He could barely walk, but he was one of the bravest dogs I've ever met. When my two young schnauzers would run after toys, Accord would do his Frankenstein-like walk - tripping over the edge of rug, stumbling over shoes in the way - but he would still try to get the toy and bring it back. He loved a purple cat toy we called the "Purple People Eater." At night, he would lay on a sheet on the floor next to the bed (he was too weak to be up on the bed - we were afraid he'd roll off!), and he'd leave a trail of skin and hair behind. In the morning, we'd pick him up and put him on the bed with our two schnauzer kids. He'd stagger up to our faces and give us the sweetest little kisses - his breath was so bad it took all of our being not to gag! We loved our "Cordy." He was a brave hearted dog.

Accord was diagnosed with a severe thyroid deficiency and was given medication to correct it. The results were almost miraculous! Each day, Accord gained strength and muscle tone. His skin cleared up and a beautiful coat started to grow in. One of the unexpected side effects of his new hormone medication was that Accord started having "amorous affection" for just about everything in sight - our 2 year old female schnauzer, a stuffed toy, us - basically anything that brought him joy! Soon he was well enough for another visit to the vet for neutering and a dental. He lost most of his teeth, but he felt so much better. As foster parents, we knew it was time for Accord to go his permanent home. Our hearts ached - how would we ever find a home special enough for this special boy?

Enter the Orsini family. Parents Joe and Donna and daughter Missy had just lost their beloved mini Winston to a sudden onset of severe kidney disease. Winston was only 6 when he died, and his family (including his 2 yr. old schnauzer sibling Pepper) was devastated. One night, while Joe was surfing the internet, he came across Accord and the other schnauzers listed on Petfinders. He knew right away that adopting a rescue schnauzer would be a wonderful way to honor Winston’s memory. Joe didn’t know how to choose one dog over another – all of their stories were heartbreaking! After talking to Joe, we knew the Orsini's were the loving family that Accord needed. They decided to adopt Accord, sight unseen, and make him a part of their family.

The Orsini's were immediately taken with Accord. "No matter what "Cordy" is doing," confided Joe, "he carries himself with an aura of aristocracy. At times, it almost looks comical as Pepper acts like the lovable tramp- the prince and the tramp!" Above all, the Orsini’s are the key to this rescue success story. The love and compassion that the Orsini’s have shown by making a needy dog like Accord a part of their family is what rescue is all about. What would they change about Accord? "Not a thing!" Joe insists, but then adds, "Well, I would like to take away all of his bad experiences. Otherwise, he’s perfect!"  Thank you to Joe, Donna, Missy and Steve for making Accord's last few years the happiest of his life.

Editor's note: Accord was rescued by New Jersey Schnauzer Rescue Network, Inc.

Sydney’s Story Submitted By Christy M., Virginia Beach, VA

I was doing my usual rounds through the local shelter when I spotted a little gray mass huddled in the back of a dingy cage. It resembled a big ball of dust that had been gathering in a corner for years. I anxiously approached the cage. Looking at the dog’s information card, I read that the little gray bundle was a female schnauzer! My heart started racing. I scurried over to the shelter volunteer. “Please, please put my name on this little girl,” I exclaimed. I led the shelter volunteer to the schnauzer’s cage, where he took the information card out and wrote my name on it. With all this “action” going on around her, the little schnauzer stirred. She stood up on her skinny legs and stretccchhheed. She turned around and looked at me. But she really couldn’t see me with the milky glaze hindering her eyesight. “Would you like to pet her,” the volunteer asked. I nodded. The volunteer opened the cage door. The little gray doggie stood there, frozen. She looked like a koala bear with her wiry salt and pepper fur, fluffy white eyebrows, and short white beard. I extended my hand into the cage so she could sniff me. After she did, I softly pet her head. She didn’t seem to mind, so I kept petting her. I could feel her ribs, and her back seemed slightly curved. Her hair was long and matted; I couldn’t see if she even had a tail. She started leaning towards my hand, desperate for a human’s touch. I slowly and cautiously picked her up and put her in my arms. She remained calm and quiet. When the other dogs in the pound barked, she would slightly shiver, as if she was afraid they’d come get her. I kept petting her, telling her I was going to get her out of there. I don’t think I’d met a sweeter, calmer dog in my life. “Be here on her release day at 4pm sharp if you want to adopt her,” said the volunteer. “I definitely will be,” I replied. I kissed the tiny schnauzer on her head. The volunteer put her back in the cage. I had gray hairs all over my black clothes. The schnauzer had left her mark on me. Later that week I adopted her. Since I thought she resembled a koala bear, I wanted to name her something Australian. So I named her Sydney, after the Australian city (and one of the characters from my favorite TV show). Later in the week, I also took her for a much-needed grooming. When the vet brought her out, I almost cried. Sydney was so beautiful! She finally looked like a miniature schnauzer! She went from a shivering dustball to a poised and beautiful girl! Nowadays Sydney and my other schnauzer Shakey play all the time. No matter how old she is, how well she can or cannot see, Sydney will live out the rest of her days in a loving home. Every dog should have that privilege. ©2003

Jordan's Story Submitted by Bobbie and Kevin, York, PA