I was so excited about finding this site and the leonberger info I was a bad doggy mom and didn't take the time to introduce my canine family to you all.
Here are my girls. Sophie, my english setter, is around 3 years old. We found her a little over a year ago while my husband was out hunting. Sophie had been shot with a shotgun and left in a ditch. My husband took her to a nearby country vet and thought that she would be humanely put to sleep. After a month, however, the vet called and said she was recovering nicely and if we would take the time to drive the hour to his clinic she was all ours--free of charge. Of course we made the trip there in 45 minutes. When we brought her home she was afraid of everything and just knew that we were going to beat or kick her if we got too close. Sophie and I enrolled in obedience classes right away and she became a completely different dog. Within four months we were certified as a therapy team and now spend time in local schools. Sophie was made for this work.
Ada, a black lab, followed a few months later. She had been abandoned as a 6 week puppy along with her brothers and sister, and the woman who had found them was taking them to animal control the next day (which has a 3 day limit) instead of driving the extra 20 minutes to the humane society. After making several phone calls and arrangements, Ada came home with us and the rest of the puppies found homes the same day. We have had our big beautiful girl for one year and two days. She's a little down and out right now from infection complications that have lasted nearly three months following her spay. But everything is finally looking good and I know she'll be bounding around the house and yard soon.
Remy is my little leonberger puppy. She's nearly 11 weeks and growing every day. She was rescued from a puppy mill in Oklahoma. She was the only puppy to survive after being rescued at 5 weeks. She weighed only 3 pounds and wasn't expected to make it either. Remy, however, thought differently. Her mother was put to sleep shortly after the rescue. She was supposedly nearly 6 years old, full leo sized physically, but only weighed 75 pounds. The poor girl couldn't even hold weight on her back legs, from what we were told. And even with all the effort her rescuers put into her she was ready for the rainbow bridge. I know she is in a much better place with her other puppies and it's my mission to give Remy the life they all should have had.
In addition to these four-legged family members I have two cats (who are mad at me for bringing another dog into their house) a cornsnake, a chilean rose tarantula and many, many hermit crabs.
I also have two beautiful little girls aged 5 and 8 years...but for this one instance they take back seat to the dogs!
I have already received so much encouragement and support on this site, that I thank you. It's wonderful to be welcomed so warmly into your family!