2023-03-27T10:00:00+13:00

Maddy and River

March 27, 2023March 24, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Maddy and River ~

Just under two years ago, Maddy welcomed River, a Golden Retriever pup, into her life. Since then, they have formed a very special bond and have helped each other to flourish.

Having always been an animal lover, Maddy had wanted a dog of her own for quite some time. Then, one day, she came across a breeder who had a recent litter of Golden Retriever pups. Maddy arranged a visit with them and, as soon as she arrived, the pup named River climbed into her lap and snuggled into her. In that moment, she fell in love and, a few weeks later, he was on his way to his new forever home with her.

Before adopting River, Maddy had struggled with her mental health and found some days to be very challenging. However, River provided his human with a routine (usually with food and snuggles as some of the first things of the day!), companionship, joy and endless laughter. No matter what, River can always make Maddy’s day, whether through having mini dance parties together, snuggling up after a long day or simply enjoying each other’s company.

Something that Maddy and River enjoy, other than spending time with each other, is going out and about. From puppy class training sessions and going to Maddy’s work together, meeting friends in the community, to going on hiking trips. When they get the opportunity to go hiking in the forest, they love having this time with one another, to enjoy nature and just be.

Not only has River impacted Maddy, but also those around them. He radiates positivity wherever he goes and everyone who meets him instantly loves him. Friends and family, including Maddy’s niece and nephew, have been able to gain confidence being around dogs because of River, too.

The impact that Maddy and River have had on one another has been immeasurable. Every day is made better, simply because they have each other.

Laura, Kirin and Harlow

March 24, 2023March 24, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Laura, Kirin and Harlow ~

Over a year ago, Harlow found her forever home with Laura and Kirin. Since then, they have become a family and have greatly changed each other’s lives for the better.

For as long as they can remember, Laura and Kirin have always loved animals. When they decided one day to attend a Chained Dogs Rehabilitation and Rehoming NZ meet-and-greet, they fell in love with a small pup named Harlow.

When Harlow came out of her foster family’s car, Laura and Kirin loved her sweet little legs and long body. Initially, Harlow wasn’t very interested in them, preferring to stay close to her foster family. Yet, Laura and Kirin felt there was something there, they adopted her shortly after, providing her with her forever home.

Almost immediately, Harlow happily adjusted to her new home. So much so that, to Laura and Kirin, it felt like she had always been there! However, she was very anxious and timid around strangers. It took a lot of time, patience and compassion to help her learn to trust. After a while, she learned to trust her humans, and gradually became more social and confident. Being able to see Harlow flourish and enjoy each and every day fills Laura and Kirin’s hearts. Seeing how much she has healed has meant so much and has inspired them to become strong advocates for adopting animals from rescues and shelters.

Since finding her forever home, Harlow has been introduced to her most favourite place – the beach! Early in the mornings, Laura and Kirin take their canine companion out for a walk along the beach. Harlow adores doing zoomies across the sand and just the freedom she gets while in her happy place.

The impact that Harlow has had on Laura and Kirin has been huge. She has brought endless joy and unconditional love into every day since they adopted her. Not only that, but her humans have helped her to flourish and be the lovely doggo she is today.

Riona

March 22, 2023March 19, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Riona ~

Just under a year ago, Riona’s life changed. It has been a harrowing journey since then, but the love she has given and received has helped her through it and gotten her to where she is today.

In 2022, Riona was brought into the Tails of Hope Dog Rescue. She was severely injured and, after finding the police report, discovered she had sustained 4th-degree burns that covered 60% of her body. Heartbreakingly, this wasn’t an accident. It was a horrible event, for everyone involved, but Riona received 24/7 care from Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, Bluff City Veterinary Specialists, and vet technician, Mallory.

Due to the severity of Riona’s burns, she was almost fully bandaged, required many painkillers, had skin grafts and had to undergo six surgeries. Despite the cruelty she had previously endured and the pain she was in, Riona had nothing but love to show those around her. As well as this, she and Mallory had an instant connection and, as soon as they met, Riona wouldn’t stop showering her with puppy kisses.

Thanks to the incredible care she received, Riona is now living her best life. In addition, the person who hurt her has been found and will be prevented from hurting any other animals. People from all over the world showed their support for Riona through donations, messages of love and ensuring that she was receiving the best care and support.

Each day, Riona continues to show everyone she meets, both in person and online, that all animals deserve love and kindness. Since meeting Riona, Mallory and those around her have been able to see her grow into a bright, happy dog. Riona loves to run around and play, but her most favourite thing is to simply snuggle up and watch a movie with her humans.

Riona has definitely been through a lot in her life. However, despite the cruelty she has been shown, she has always had endless love to give to those around her. Now, she is ready for the next chapter in her life – finding her forever home. Currently, she is being fostered by Mallory, but she would absolutely love to find her new family. If you or someone you know can provide her with all the love and care she deserves, get in contact now!

Tailer, Sako and Maggie

March 17, 2023March 19, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Tailer, Sako and Maggie ~

Some time ago, Tailer adopted Sako. Not long after did she adopt Maggie. Since then, they have changed each other’s lives for the better and have helped one another hugely.

As a teenager, Tailer struggled with her mental health. It continued with her to adulthood and made her day-to-day life a challenge. Then, not long after giving birth to her daughter, she was diagnosed with post-partum depression and anxiety (PPD and PPA respectively). Shortly after, she felt it would be beneficial to adopt a canine companion, that’s where Sako comes in! Tailer contacted a breeder in Nelson, New Zealand, and decided to adopt a puppy from them.

It wasn’t long before Tailer and the pup named Sako first met at the airport. Instantly, Tailer knew the puppy was gentle, patient and very loving. She loved snuggles and just sitting with her new human. Then and there, Tailer and Sako were on their way home.

Shortly after, Tailer adopted Maggie. Once again, they met at the airport and it was love at first sight. Contrary to the first meeting with Sako, Maggie was full of beans and very boisterous. Tailer loved that this pup was so small but her personality filled up every space she was in.

Having Sako and Maggie through her struggles with PPD and PPA helped Tailer hugely. Both dogs provided their human with a distraction and a bit of hope during that difficult time. No matter what, they could always bring some joy into Tailer’s day. Sako and Maggie don’t judge, they just want to show their human love and kindness. This has taught Tailer to take things step by step, to slow down and to be more present.

Not only have Sako and Maggie impacted Tailer’s life, but also those around them. They bring so much happiness to everyone they meet and Tailer’s friends and family adore both pups. They often say how lucky she is to have them as companions and that they’re able to brighten some many people’s days.

Tailer, Sako and Maggie’s happy place has always been the beach. This is time for Tailer to block out the world of social media and all the busyness of daily life. Sako and Maggie enjoy being able to run and just be free as they run across the sand and through the waves. Tailer could easily watch both her companions play all day, every day at the beach.

The impact that Sako and Maggie have had on Tailer has been huge. They have brought so much love and joy into her life. Every day since adopting them has been made better, simply by being together.

Judy and Ricochet

March 13, 2023March 19, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Judy and Ricochet ~

In 2008, Ricochet took her first breath in Judy’s hands. Since then, they have formed an incredible bond and have made a difference in the lives of millions.

Fifteen years ago, Judy was helping to deliver a litter of ten Golden Retriever pups from a dog named Josie. She had planned to keep a female puppy, but most of them were boys. Right before As Josie gave birth to the ninth pup of the litter, Judy looked at Josie and said, “Make the next one a girl with a tuft of white fur on her chest.” The ninth puppy turned out to be just that! Judy knew it was meant to be and named her Ricochet.

Initially, Ricochet was meant to be a mobility service dog for a person with a disability. She was great but when she was 16 weeks old, she didn’t want to train anymore. She also had a high prey chase drive which would be dangerous for a handler with a physical disability.

At 15 months old, Ricochet was released from the service dog role. One day at the

beach, Ricochet made an independent decision to jump onto the board of a 14-year-old

boy with a spinal cord injury. He was an adaptive surfer and Ricochet kept him from falling off the board. She became the first-ever canine-assisted surf therapy dog that same day in 2009.

Ricochet is also a certified therapy dog. She helps many people. From soldiers struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to children with disabilities, Ricochet is an extremely intuitive dog and makes deep soul-to-soul connections with the individuals she works with.

Every time Ricochet helps someone or is asked to be part of an event or something else, Judy learns just how powerful a healer she is. Knowing that her canine companion is changing and saving the lives of many people from all walks of life teaches her more about the healing power of all dogs. As well as helping others, Ricochet is quite a talented surfer and enjoys surfing with children with disabilities as well as adaptive surfers and is a sponsor and supporter of the USA Para Surfing Team, a triple amputee veteran and AmpSurf.

Through the amazing work she does, Ricochet has had many media appearances, including the Oprah Winfrey Network, People Magazine, The Today Show and many, many more. Recently, she has even had a starring role in an IMAX film titled ‘Superpower Dogs’ which is now playing in cinemas and has published a book called ‘Ricochet: Riding a Wave of Hope with the Dog Who Inspires Millions’. On top of all this, she has also received many awards, from the ‘American Humane Society Hero Dog’ award, to the ‘American Red Cross Hero’ award and many others!

Not a day goes by that Ricochet doesn’t impact someone’s life. If anyone is feeling anxious or experiences a trigger, she always senses this and will ensure it’s communicated to Judy so the individual can be helped on a soul level. Sadly, she has some health problems at the moment, but she still enjoys helping and supporting others. Millions of people have been touched by Ricochet’s healing loving nature, both in person and online.

As well as all this, Ricochet is part of the non-profit, ‘Puppy Prodigies’ that Judy founded. Through this, Judy and those who support her organisation train puppies to be assistance dogs, emotional support dogs, therapy dogs and pet dogs just like Ricochet. Ricochet has also raised over $1 million dollars for human and animal causes. She had a video go viral with over 6.6 million views on YouTube called “From Service Dog to SURFice dog” She has had a huge impact on Judy’s life and brings endless learning opportunities each and every day.

The impact that Ricochet has had on those who have met her has been immeasurable. She has changed and saved many lives by balancing boards, and balancing lives!

Georgia and Freja

March 10, 2023March 2, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Georgia and Freja ~

In 2022, Georgia adopted Freja, a German Shepherd pup. Since then, they have formed such a special bond and have impacted each other’s lives hugely.

Having always been an animal lover, Georgia was looking to welcome a furry friend into her life. Then, she came across Freja. Unfortunately, when she adopted her, Freja wasn’t toilet-trained, didn’t know what toys were, hadn’t been crate trained and hadn’t set a paw on grass before. Seeing this was really difficult for Georgia, but as a result, she knew she had to give this pup the home she deserved.

Since welcoming Freja into her home, Georgia has showered her canine companion with love and, in turn, has helped Freja to flourish. She now enjoys playing with toys and in the grass, going for walks, being around people, and so much more. Seeing her furry friend flourish means the world to Georgia. It has taken a lot of patience, work and compassion, yet, while they still have some way to go, she is so proud of the progress they have already made together.

While Georgia has definitely helped Freja to bloom, Freja has also helped her human. She has become a source of unconditional love and endless joy and laughter. Despite her difficult start in life, Freja has so much love to give and enjoys making those around her smile.

Something that Georgia and Freja enjoy is spending time together. From their daily training sessions, in which Freja always gets a sparkle in her eye in anticipation of learning a new trick or doing a puzzle, going on mindful walks on the weekends, or just snuggling up together to watch a movie. All these moments are treasured by them both.

The bond that Georgia and Freja share is truly special. They have helped one another to flourish. Every day since they found each other has been filled with love and knowing that she has been able to help Freja to feel loved means so much to Georgia.

Chelsea, Theresa and Remus

March 6, 2023March 2, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Chelsea, Theresa and Remus ~

Over five years ago, Chelsea and Theresa welcomed Remus, a timid but sweet Corgi pup, into their lives. Since then, they have become a close family and bring love and joy into every day.

In 2017, Chelsea and their wife, Theresa, were living in Macau, a special administrative region of China. One day, while out and about, they came across a Corgi who was being kept in a cage so small he couldn’t even turn around and was scared of everyone and everything. When they were on their way to Shanghai for a trip, Chelsea named the pup ‘Remus’ and, in doing so, knew that they couldn’t not adopt him.

For the first year, Remus, or Remy, was terrified when meeting anyone new. He would shake and wet himself out of fear. However, with the love and care of his new humans, he gradually became less afraid and was able to trust those around him more.

Having Remus has had a huge impact on his new family, especially Chelsea. Chelsea has had struggles with anxiety, however, when they met Remus, who also had anxiety, they felt a special bond in that they could understand one another. If either of them felt like being active, they would be active together, and if either of them were having a difficult day, they would be right there for each other. On days that have been especially hard for Chelsea, having a canine companion has encouraged them to get out of bed, go outside, give a warm snuggle, or just find a bit of calm during their day.

Since learning to trust the world around him, Remus has absolutely flourished. He now enjoys meeting new friends – humans and dogs alike – and going on adventures. Chelsea and Theresa spent a whole year touring New Zealand in a van and during this time, they found that Remus loved this way of living. As well as this, he adores the water and going for a swim at the nearest beach. This is definitely his happy place.

Not only has Remus had an impact on Chelsea and Theresa, but also many others. He is a very active – and beloved – participant of the LGBTQIA+ community. His humans run a NZ-based queer book business named the ‘Alphabet Book Club’ which was launched in 2021, shortly after they returned to NZ from Macau. Here, Chelsea and Theresa, as well as Theresa’s sister, sell all kinds of books – from children’s to adult, fiction to non-fiction – by from LGBTQIA+ authors and/or with representation. On top of this, they have their own podcast, Facebook group and monthly book boxes to connect with more people who may be looking for their next great read! Remus plays a very important role in this. He has given himself the title ‘chief of security’ by sniffing all parcels sent out and barking at the courier, but works hard and often needs a nap while on the job.

As well as helping run a book business, Remus loves to show his pride whenever he can. He, Chelsea and Theresa often attend Vinegar Hill, a camping festival, and any other events they can find. Of course, Remus is always happily representing his pride by wearing his signature rainbow bandana.

The impact that Chelsea, Theresa and Remus have had on each other has been huge. Through learning to trust and be cared for, Remus has flourished and is living his best life. Having him as their canine companion has also made a world of difference for Chelsea. Each day is filled with unconditional love and endless joy and laughter, simply because they have one another.

Kayleigh and Dudley

March 3, 2023March 1, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Kayleigh and Dudley ~

Almost a year ago, Kayleigh, her husband and their cat, Pig, welcomed Dudley, a mini Dachshund, into their home. Since then, they have become a family and have improved each other’s lives.

For as long as she can remember, Kayleigh has always wanted a Dachshund. When she and her husband got married in January 2022, they decided it was a good time to look into adopting a furry friend. After some searching for a breeder who was registered and DNA tested, they met the right breeder for them and nine months later, they were told they might have a puppy!

After six weeks, Kayleigh and her husband were able to meet with the new litter. Once there, she instantly fell in love with one of the smallest puppies. He was tiny and wiggly, and as soon as he met Kayleigh, he went right over to sit in her lap to snuggle her, then went to snuggle Kayleigh’s husband. They both knew that this pup, now named Dudley, was perfect and, two weeks later, he was on his way to his forever home.

Having Dudley has improved his family’s life hugely, especially Kayleigh’s life. When she may be having a challenging mental health day, Dudley is always there for her. He encourages his human to wake up and feed him in the morning, and, no matter what, never fails to make her laugh and smile throughout the day.

Something that Kayleigh and Dudley enjoy is playing together. As Dudley is still quite young, he has seemingly endless energy and would happily play with his mini tennis ball all day, every day or do zoomies outside through the grass. At the end of the day, however, when he’s winding down, he loves snuggling up with his humans and has been known to watch a movie or two with them. As well as this, Dudley and Pig have also been known to spend time together, especially when treats are involved!

The impact that Dudley has had on his family has been huge. Kayleigh and he have formed such a special bond and each day is full of endless joy and laughter and unconditional love, simply because they have one another.

Debbie, Speedy, Zeeky, Eddie, Pop and Bunnypop

March 1, 2023February 28, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Debbie, Speedy, Zeeky, Eddie, Pop and Bunnypop ~

6 Unstoppable Dogs.

5 Different Countries, Curaçao, Mexico, India, Egypt and the US.

6 Incredible stories of survival.

1 Devoted mum on the journey of a lifetime.

Meet Debbie, a professional dog trainer in the motion picture industry. Discover how these disabled dogs changed her life forever.

This team of unstoppable dogs are setting their sites out to change lives by bringing hope, joy and inspiring everyone they meet with our ultimate goal of touring the country. This is a real life story of 6 handicapable dogs who find the one woman who heals, loves, and shows them what living a dogs best life is all about.

Jack and Podrick

February 27, 2023February 24, 2023/pawsitivetales20/Leave a comment

~ Jack and Podrick ~

Just over four years ago, Jack welcomed Dalmation pup, Podrick, into his life. Since then, they have formed a special bond.

In 2019, Jack was looking to adopt a furry friend. Then, he was told about a little puppy who was looking for his new home. He arranged a visit with the pup and, as soon as they met, it was love at first sight. That day, Jack went home with his new canine companion – Podrick.

Having Podrick, or Pod, has had a big impact on Jack. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, having a furry friend helped Jack to feel less alone during that time. When things felt tough, Pod was right there to bring a smile to his human’s face. As well as this, he encourages his human to be more active. Together, they enjoy going for walks, exploring new places, and playing fetch with any and every stick Pod finds.

Not only this, but Pod has brought so much happiness to those within their community and online, too. Not long after starting Pod’s social media account did Jack share a photo of his canine companion interacting with a mouse! When they were out for their daily walk, Podrick stopped in his tracks and got himself as close to the ground as possible to come face to face with a small fuzzy mouse. It went viral and the sweet sight of the two brought joy to many people all over the world.

The bond that Jack and Pod share is truly special. They have brought so much light and joy into each other’s lives and continue to make every day better, simply by being there for one another.

Pawsitive Tales

Sharing heartwarming tales of animals and their humans.

Tag: Dog