Muriel's new name "Nyla" means "winner or victor" in the Creek Indian language. How appropriate for one that has survived so much adversity and made it to her new, loving, forever home. She is getting along great with our other Coonie "Belle" and our old girl Golden Retriever "Sophie". They act like they have known each other forever. She has adapted well to her amputation and is eating us out of house and home. She still needs to gain a few pounds but we are going to have to watch her to be sure she doesn't gain too much. She is such a sweet girl. How do these dogs go through so much and still trust and love their new families?

Nyla is enjoying being in the country and loves to "tree" looking for squirrels and other critters. She may be slowed down a little by her amputation but she is the most "handicapable" animal I have ever seen. There is nothing she won't attempt. She is going to do just fine.

Thank you to all the people that donated to her medical fund and made her recovery possible. She is going to be a great asset to our local "adopt a shelter dog" program. I am hoping she is going to be the "spokesdog" for our program.

Brian Baker

8 September 2012

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I have been meaning to give you an update on Belle. She is doing great! She has put on a few pounds, she's up to 62 pounds now. We have had to cut back on her food so we don't end up with a "round hound" instead of a coon hound. She is enjoying the freedom of being in the country. She gets to chase squirrels, rabbits and even a coon one time. I had let her out for her morning romp and she stayed gone longer than usual. I went out to call her and I could hear her barking in the woods. She wouldn't come to me so I went to her. She had a coon treed and wasn't going to leave it. I had to get a leash and drag her back to the house. She has gotten to where she ignores the deer since she figured out she can't keep up with them. I looked out the window the other day and there was a deer at our feeder and Belle was about 100 feet away and they were just staring at each other. Belle just turned and walked away and the deer went back to eating. I told you about putting her on a dogfood with no corn or wheat and on the Carnoyum supplement solving her odor problem. We only wash her once a month now. It has helped our other dog "Sophie" too. We had nicknamed her "Stinky" while my mother had her. The food and supplement are expensive but well worth it. If you know anyone else that is having a problem with that hound dog smell pass this on. It really worked for Belle. I cruise the coondog rescue website and they all tug at my heart strings. Thanks again for what you do. I wish I was in a position to do the same. I have plenty of time with Belle. We keep each other company all day every day. She has really become my dog since we spend so much time together. She really has it good. Thanks again for bringing us together. Brian Baker 30 August 2011 Belle has been with us almost a month now. What a sweet, loving animal. She is happy in her new home and getting more love than she can stand and giving it back to us ten times over. She has settled into the household routines and is perfectly housebroken and crate trained now. Belle is getting along very well with our 11 year old Golden Retriever mix, Sophie, and has learned to stay away from our miniature mule, Jethro. He doesn't like dogs very much but if they leave him alone he leaves them alone. We are just so happy having Belle in our home and she seems very happy to be here. Thank you for bringing us together. It is hard to believe a dog that had such bad treatment before you rescued her could be so loving to us. Thank you for what you do. Brian Baker 30 November 2010