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Noah entered our family almost three years ago and I thought it was time for another update, as I haven't updated HALO in about two years.  Noah just turned six years old and has completely embraced what it is to be a puppy.  Racing full speed everywhere, playing all day long, trying to find any way to get into mischief, and becoming excited about every single daily activity.

Seeing him so playful, excited, and joyful fills my heart completely.

He has realized that all of his needs are important, and does not hesitate to let me know what those are.  J He lets me know when he wants a cookie, when he wants me to put him in one of his sweaters or shirts (yes, he LOVES wearing clothes), when he wants to go on a walk or wants me to play with him, and there is never a time when he doesn't want to cuddle or be close to me. 

We share a very wonderful and strong connection, and Noah is deeply bonded to myself (his mother) and his fur brother, Ollie.

I believe he now understands what it is to be a part of a family and how adored he is by not only Ollie and I, but from his human and fur aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins. 

The world is no longer a terrifying place for him and he is able to enjoy so many wonderful things. 

Noah loves to come to work with me; he socializes and greets all of my coworkers and clients.  He sleeps in bed cuddled close to Ollie and I at night.  He loves visiting our family up north and going on adventures in the woods.  He loves taking rides on our boat (although he can't stand wearing his life vest).  Most recently a couple weeks ago we took Noah to Mackinac Island for the first time.  He was very curious about the horses, and loved the new sights and sounds.  He even enjoyed strangers that wanted to pet him.

His healing journey has never been stagnant.  His recent growth has brought him to a place where he has become interested in others beside myself and Ollie, and beginning to consider that perhaps the world he now lives in is safe and loving.  He has mastered how to play with toys by himself and is beginning to realize how much fun it is to play with his brother Ollie or myself.

I am a psychologist and specialize in abuse and trauma.  When I become discouraged with a client that is resistant to growth, healing or change, Noah inspires and reminds me that if one chooses, joy, peace and happiness are always possible despite experiencing immense pain and suffering.

He loves car rides, traveling, adventures and new places (as long as Ollie and I are with him!) and is very curious about everything new that he experiences.

Noah and I are deeply connected and I love him so much.

He is such an incredibly profound soul.  I look at his face and into soulful eyes, and I see god.  I honor him for how bravely he walks through life even though for many years it was nothing but abuse, neglect and pain. I honor him each day for his wonderfully gentle spirit, for the fears he has faced and for the forgiveness he has shown mankind for failing him for so many years. I look at my sweet angel and see such an incredible creature, so full of strength and love.  We are all capable of great healing, and Noah is proof of that.

He could not be more loved or precious to his family. 

As always, thank you so incredibly much for your work and for all that you have rescued.  You gave my Noah the chance to have the life he has always deserved.

We adopted Noah in October 2005.  He had spent his entire life confined as a breeder in a puppy mill and suffered through unbearable conditions and cruel abuse and neglect.  When my boyfriend Brian and I met him he was so tiny, so skinny.  The first second I held him I fell in love with him, and I think he fell in love with me too, because he licked my chin.  After the adoption papers were signed Brian and I spent many minutes in the yard trying to corral him so we could pick up and take him home.  Noah finally seemed to surrender and his belly dropped to the ground, his eyes closed and he began shaking, as if bracing himself for some kind of terrifying experience.  Brian and I looked at each other with tears in our eyes as we realized how broken his spirit had become and the wonderful and overwhelming job we had ahead of us. 

The first week Noah did a lot of pacing and circling, but always seemed interested in what we were doing, following us around the house.  We spent hours each day sitting on the floor talking to Noah.  After a couple of days he came over to me and awkwardly climbed into my lap and allowed me to pet and scratch behind his ears.  I cried a lot the first couple of months we had him, watching a soul that had been so wounded from abuse, but I cried mostly out of joy from each sign of healing, each sign that he began to understand safety and comfort and happiness.

About a month after we adopted him I came downstairs one morning and Noah saw me and for the first time it seemed as if he knew that it was going to be a good day and I saw joy in his eyes and he began wagging his tail.

He bonded immediately to Ollie, our first dog.  Ollie taught him about all his favorite things, and Noah learned how to bark at the mailman, how to chase squirrels, how to have fun at the dog park, and how to play with toys.  After being an only dog for so long and having all the toys and attention to himself, Noah taught Ollie how to share.  J

When Noah first began to play, he looked like a puppy that was just learning how to run, his back end catching up with his front a little too fast. 

We have had Noah for just over a year.  He has had many new adventures, celebrating holidays with a family who loves him, putting his feet in the water in Lake Michigan (and realizing that sand is not good to eat!) camping, and hiking through the woods.

Noah has taught us so much about the resiliency of the spirit and the incredible capability of the soul to heal. Noah cannot be hurried and nothing can be done quickly with him, he has his own pace and that has taught us to slow down, to be more patient.  I notice Brian, who is 6’2 and at times clumsy, have softened footsteps, a gentle voice and a new found sensitivity to each move he makes as to not to scare Noah.  He seems to have less trust in men and Brian has had to work twice as hard to build a trusting relationship with him.

Noah may always have physical signs of the abuse he endured, a dislocated shoulder that healed improperly making him a bit bowlegged, damaged eyesight, and poor motor skills.  But there have been remarkable improvements in his emotional wounds.  Any time I am sitting down he is on my lap waiting to be pet or scratched.  Even now, as I write this he is next to me, wanting me to pet him and trying to inch himself between the keyboard and myself.  He is always smiling, in that wonderful way only dogs can.  Instead of darting from place to place with his tail down, he now prances with a confident posture. Every thing has become exciting to him, jumping up on the bed, waking up, going outside, coming inside, eating, walking into the next room, or going up and down the stairs.   He is still untrusting around people he does not know, and startles easily if he hears a loud noise or if someone moves too quickly.  We are sure that as more time passes these things will become less frightening for him. All of Noah’s days are filled with love, safety and lots and lots of attention. We are so grateful to HALO for rescuing our Noah and for trusting us to give him the kind of home he deserves.