What a weekend! Thanks to all of you who came out to celebrate the grand opening of our new Green Bay Adoption Center at 2065 Holmgren Way. Despite the chilly weather, so many folks came out to watch us cut the leash and officially open the new Center last Saturday. And we had a steady stream of people coming in all weekend to check out the animals. We even sent a few home - more details on them to come in a future adoption update post! We encourage you to check out the pictures we took before, during and after the leash-cutting ceremony by clicking here. We also encourage you to come visit the new Center as often as you like - and bring your friends! This facility is definitely a building block of HEA's future - designed to deliver bright futures and forever families to many more cats and dogs in need.
Though this is a time to celebrate and anticipate our future, we also want to spend a bit of time honoring our past. As many of you know, HEA got its start in Ashwaubenon, Wis. - specifically in the home of President Amanda Reitz's family. Two of the first animals taken in by HEA back in those days were Indy and Dixie - fun, amazing dogs that were adopted by in August, 2006.
We like to check in on our alumni every now and then. When we recently contacted Indy and Dixie's family, we learned that Miss Dixie recently crossed to the rainbow bridge. But the wonderful, lengthy note their mom, Jennifer Glasheen, sent made us smile. Even though we are saddened by Dixie's loss, it's so heartwarming to know what a terrific life these two have had since leaving the Sanctuary. And we thought we'd share her words (and pictures - Indy is the white dog; Dixie is the chocolate one) with all of you. Because the sentiments shared here represent what we've always been about and what we always WILL be about - finding the best homes for every animal we serve. Thanks to Jennifer and her family for loving these special gals!
Hi Amanda, I received your message this evening when we got home from our Mother's Day festivities and did try to call you back, but I decided I would email you (lord knows if I were to wait, I'd forget). Though we just adopted Indy and Dixie from the Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary just 3 years ago, you would never know they weren't always a part of our family. They bonded with our family immediately and have enjoyed a loving and happy home ever since...full of ball chasing, weekends up north, swimming in Grandma's pond on hot days, and just being together as a family. Unfortunately, on March 1 of this year, we lost Dixie rather unexpectedly and abruptly (even now, as I write, the tears are flowing). We had taken both girls in to the vet for their annual visit and a large tumor was found on Dixie's underbelly. Oddly, we were well aware and concerned over what turned out to be benign fatty tumors that were on her back and sidewall, but had never noticed this one (though it was in a spot we wouldn't normally have touched). While initially, surgery was recommended, it was going to be expensive and since Dixie had been showing no signs of sickness, we opted to take a few days to talk it over and maybe seek another opinion. Within one week, our loveable Dixer (as we liked to call her), went from perfectly healthy and normal, to obviously uncomfortable. My Dixer had always had a twinkle in her eye and wore a smile quite frequently and both Chris and I noticed that week that her smile was gone and she was quite unhappy. The tumor grew noticeably within one week and she was struggling. I spent several nights with her, comforting her and making sure she had whatever she needed. On Monday, March 1, my husband and I went with her to the vet to discuss our options again. The vet was surprised by the turn and given the size of the tumor, was no longer confident that surgery would be successful. With the heaviest of hearts, we said good-bye, far sooner than expected, to our loving companion. The weeks following Dixie's death were difficult. We all missed her terribly, but it was Indy I worried about most. I worried that I wouldn't know if she was having a hard time with missing her life long friend, but I most certainly did and we showered her with love and affection to help her through. I can't say she is her old self, but I can say she's a better version of who she was before. She seems to have taken on some of Dixie's traits...becoming a little more playful than she used to be and more needy of that closeness that Dixie was known for (in fact, right now, she's sleeping at my feet under my desk which in the past, would have been Dixie's spot). We all miss Dixie terribly. She was an awesome dog and everyone who met her, fell in love with her instantly. Both of them are great dogs actually, but as a lab, Dixie loved everybody (and everybody loved her), whereas Indy tends to stick to Mama. At Indy's age, we plan to stay a one dog family while she lives out the rest of her years. I know we will adopt again some day as our experience has been wonderful in all ways. I wish we could have had more years with Dixer, but I am glad for what we did have. I don't know how their previous owners were ever able to part with them, but if you ever hear from them, please thank them for us and assure them that they have a wonderful life with a family who loves them. I've attached a few pictures from this past year of both my girls. Thank you! Sincerely, Jennifer Glasheen
