Annabelle Acres

07/23/2024

Two years ago, I received an email from an ambitious young family that owns a farm, a feed store, and breeds Labrador Retrievers. I had never heard of them before, and surprisingly, they were only an hour away. They are so small that they are not required (sell 25 or more dogs/year) to have a Wisconsin state license. Over the phone, the owners told me they have a young and energetic Chocolate Lab named Rocky. We rarely have young, retired males because they can be helpful in a breeding program for ten years or more. I hesitated about Rocky but drove an hour to check him out.

I arrived at their homestead, drove down their long gravel driveway, and was greeted by this beautiful Chocolate Lab with a tennis ball in his mouth. As I exited my red JEEP, this dog sat down and stared at me. My initial thought is, “This can’t be Rocky.” I knelt, let him smell my hand, and looked at his dog tag. It said “Rocky” – Oh my Goodness. Before the owners came out of their kennels, I threw the tennis ball to Rocky like we were dear old friends. Within an hour, Rocky, his tennis ball, and I were heading back to Annabelle Acres.

The adopter of Alaska once told me, “The perfect dog is when the dog’s personality and physical appearance match.” Rocky loved being outside—digging holes, chasing tennis balls, carrying sticks, pulling branches out of the woods, and playing with his new four-legged friends. Most of all, he loved one-on-one attention from a human. I knew I had to find an active, outdoorsy adopter who lived on a large property, had low external stimulus, a strong personality, and possibly a sibling for Rocky.

At the time, Annabelle Acres had several people in our adoption line waiting to be matched with one of our full-breed labs. Due to fit, I only showed Rocky to a couple of adopters. Rocky and I said “no” to everyone who saw him. Until a person named Laura and her dog, Foxie, donated $100 to get into our adoption line. Laurie and Foxie are active on their 40 acres of woods and water. Laurie felt Foxie needed a high-activity sibling to run with outside and cuddle with inside. They drove to Annabelle Acres, and it was love at first sight. Laura and Foxie took Rocky for a week-long sleepover that lasted for a lifetime. It was a match made in heaven, a testament to the power of love and the perfect fit. Rocky found his perfect family.

Update – I contacted Laura to get recent pictures of Rocky and Foxie. Sadly, Laura told me that Foxie died last fall of Lymphoma. Rocky never left Roxie’s side at the end. Rocky misses his sister every day. Laura and Rocky are jumping back into our adoption line very soon. God bless both of them.

All the best, Tony, Jackie, Ben, and Caroline Wedeward - Caretakers and Founders of Annabelle Acres. We are a family dedicated to our mission, and we are grateful for your support in helping us make a difference in the lives of Labrador Retrievers.

Annabelle Acres, a 6-acre haven for Labrador Retrievers in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, is a family-owned 501(c)(3) non-profit adoption organization and a licensed Wisconsin Dog Facility. We specialize in helping adult Labrador Retrievers transition from Breeder to Companion Dogs, focusing on their physical, mental, and social health before finding them a loving family. Our unique approach and the special qualities of our dogs make us stand out. Whether through adoption, donation of a retiring full-breed Lab, or financial contribution, your support is crucial to our mission. Please visit our website at annabelleacres.org to learn more and consider donating financially. Your support is always needed and greatly appreciated. You are an integral part of our mission, and we couldn't do it without you.

06/21/2024

Since our inception in January 2019, we have found adopters for over 130 Labrador Retrievers. In each of these adoptions, the common thread is the transformative power of LOVE, which has the potential to change not only the dog’s life but also the adopter’s life forever.

Please meet Star—a beautiful full-breed Yellow Labrador Retriever with a stunning Fox Red color coat. Five-year-old Star was donated by one of my favorite breeders in Wisconsin. I remember thinking, “Star is a very pretty, mature, and loving lab.” The breeder told me, “Star is a sweet girl. She is very gentle and loves other dogs and people. She is a very nice dog.” Star’s stay at Annabelle Acres was filled with joy and routine. She had no issues at Wellness Check, and her Spay surgery was a success. Reflecting on Star's journey, I see that it was a heartwarming experience to see her transition into a loving home.

After waiting patiently in line for several weeks, a very pleasant adopter named Pat met us at Annabelle Acres for her “Meet and Greet.” After several questions, we concluded Pat could offer one of our dogs a low-medium-activity household, basic skills training, a busy but calm life, and, most importantly, lots of love. Pat lives comfortably by herself, has many friends, and has a nice life balance at work. Pat's commitment to love and care for one of our Labrador Retrievers is truly inspiring. Pat said, “I will take this dog everywhere I go.”

Pat’s “Meet and Greet” lasted over four hours. That day, Pat met eight Labrador Retrievers. All the labs Pat met were great, but Star matched Pat’s attributes the best. I remember seeing Pat and Star after their 15-minute alone time, and I knew they were destined to fall in LOVE. Pat told me before she left, “This is the best day I have had in a long time.” I think Annabelle Acres exceeded her expectations.

Pat and I chat about every six months, and the LOVE between Pat and Star touches our hearts. Star has become an unofficial therapy dog at the office where Pat works. I have heard the office setting has become much more of a team environment since Star became an employee. Pat said, “Every employee LOVES Star. Sometimes even our suppliers and customers ask about her. She is an incredible dog to many people.”

Last week, Pat told me Star has a Mast Cell Tumor on top of her right front leg. Mast Cell Tumors can be benign or malignant. It is hard to tell if the tumor is isolated or has spread to a nearby muscle. Surgery is planned for Star in early July.

A famous quote for our beautiful girl, Star: “I have always maintained (and always will) that the most beautiful word is ‘benign’ and the ugliest word is ‘malignant.'” – Erma Bombeck.

Please pray for Star and Pat over the next several weeks. The POWER of LOVE and the POWER of PRAYER will help Star and Pat get through this bump in the road. Thank you for taking the time to read Star’s story. God bless Star and Pat. We love you both very much.

All the best, Tony, Jackie, Ben, and Caroline Wedeward - Caretakers and Founders of Annabelle Acres

Annabelle Acres, a 6-acre haven for Labrador Retrievers in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, is a family-owned 501(c)(3) non-profit adoption organization and a licensed Wisconsin Dog Facility. We strive to help adult Labrador Retrievers transition from Breeder to Companion Dogs before finding them a loving family. Whether through adoption, donation of a retiring full-breed Lab, or financial contribution, your support is crucial to our mission. Please visit our website at annabelleacres.org to learn more and consider donating financially. I want you to know that your support is always needed and greatly appreciated.

07/24/2023

Annabelle Acres received a call from a desperate young lady telling us a long, sad story about her dog, Trigger. Her story went like this: "My boyfriend left me, I had to move into an apartment from a house in the country, and my landlord said I can't keep my dog; he is a great dog and very healthy." After a few discussions, I knew her story was less than truthful, but I was intrigued by this black Lab named Trigger. On a cold sunny day, Jackie and I met Trigger for the first time.

Trigger slowly got out of his owner's car and limped around for a minute, and I knew immediately he probably had a torn CCL ligament in his back leg. I told his owner, "Trigger is in pain." She said, "Oh, he is fine; he is just stiffed from the hour drive." Of course, I knew she was lying, but I only cared about this beautiful, stoic black Lab in severe pain. Trigger went for a short walk with me; I knelt, looked him in the eyes, and told him, "Trigger, you are staying here. We will take care of you." Trigger never left my side, and his previous owner quickly drove away.

This situation is called an "Owner Surrender." Most Owner Surrenders are terrible manufactured situations where the owner wants to pass the problem dog onto somebody else. However, there is a small percentage of cases where the owners are going to senior living facilities, medical situations, and even an owner's death, and the Lab may be somewhat older – Annabelle Acres will only assist in these situations.

Trigger won our hearts very quickly with his charm and playfulness. He strutted around Annabelle Acres like a champion Sire standing tall with his head held high. Trigger's mojo was back. Unfortunately, not only did Trigger have a complete tear in his CCL and meniscus, but his other back leg was previously operated on, and tendinitis was already forming. Poor Trigger was in a lot of pain and needed a good Orthopedic Surgeon for significant repairs. After a three-hour operation, six long months of rehab, several trips to our Vet, and lots of TLC at Annabelle Acres, Trigger slowly began walking and running on his new leg. After clearance from his Vet, we started finding a perfect adopter for our buddy.

Up steps, our good friends Jeff and Mary donated money to Annabelle Acres over the years, but they have yet to get in our adoption line. At the time, nobody in our adoption line was a good fit for Trigger, so I called Jeff and Mary to tell them about Trigger. Jeff and Mary made the two-hour trip the next night and met Trigger for the first and last time.

For about two hours, they huddled together, went for long walks, sat under our willow tree, and even played ball together. I watched them from inside the house, and I knew Trigger was leaving Annabelle Acres that night for his new home.

It was a sad goodbye for Jackie and me. Trigger was with us for about a year, and we fell in love with him. Looking into his eyes, we cried and hugged Trigger, knowing he loved us too. Eventually, Jeff called Trigger, and this now graceful black Lab ran towards their truck and jumped right in. As they pulled away, Trigger looked out the back window at Jackie and me until he could no longer see us. We just knew he was trying to tell us, "Thank You."

Trigger’s medical bills added up to roughly $8,500. If you asked us if we would do it again, our quick response was, "Yes, I believe we would." Our reward is not financial - we lose money on just about every dog that stays with us. Our reward is strictly emotional. We can't tell you how many wonderful and generous people we have met in the last five years. We thank someone daily for their help in keeping our non-profit organization alive. We currently have fourteen Labrador Retrievers on site, ten future adopters in our waiting line, and roughly six retired Moms waiting to come to Annabelle Acres.

As for Jeff, Mary, and Trigger, everyone is doing great, and Trigger still runs around like a deer. Jeff and Mary paid twice the required adoption fee, and they have sent several donations to us since Trigger adopted them. Life is Good.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. We appreciate your kindness and continued financial donations. annabelleacres.org.

Tony, Jackie, Ben, and Caroline Wedeward - Founders and Caretakers of Annabelle Acres

Annabelle Acres is a 6-acre setting for Labrador Retrievers in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. We are a family-owned 501(c)(3) non-profit adoption organization and a licensed Wisconsin Dog Facility. We help adult Labrador Retrievers transition from Breeder to Companion Dogs before matching them with a loving family. If you are interested in adopting a Labrador Retriever, a breeder interested in donating a retiring full-breed Lab, or donating to help support our family mission, please visit our website at annabelleacres.org. Donations are always accepted and very much needed. Thanks for your support.

02/20/2023

This beautiful girl does not need any filters. Mary Kate officially retires from breeding today. Good luck on your surgery today. Mary Kate gets released from her Vet later this afternoon. She will live quietly in our house for two weeks while finishing up her medication and maintaining a clean surgical area. Good luck, Mary Kate. ❤️❤️❤️

11/03/2022

Welcome to November in Wisconsin – a great month with family Thanksgiving, Deer Hunting, and an Annabelle Acres Adoption Story.

Rarely does an AKC yellow "all Fox Red Coat" Labrador Retriever come to Annabelle Acres. Say hello to Tinder. Does this beautiful Fox Red Lab look familiar to you?

After talking Labs with Mark, Chrissy, and Holly Nowak for months, they finally got in our adoption line and visited Annabelle Acres last fall on a Sunday night. Because of the long drive, a Sunday night Green Bay Packer game, and six a dog "Meet and Greet" at Annabelle Acres, the Nowak's decided to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn close to Annabelle Acres. That was the plan, except the Hilton Garden Inn changed to The Annabelle Acres Basement Garden Inn once they met Tinder.

Annabelle Acres had several terrific Labs up for adoption, so a consensus with three family members at this "Meet and Greet" would be a challenge. Well, not with Tinder in the house. When Tinder walked downstairs and turned the corner, I heard in unison, "OMG – she is beautiful." The Nowaks spent an hour downstairs with Tinder and two hours outside walking around our six-acre property. I knew the Nowaks were not leaving Annabelle Acres without Tinder. So, that is the end of the story – well, not really.

It was five o clock and getting dark, and the hotel does not allow dogs. It was too late to drive home, and the Packer game starts in two hours. So, I say: "why don't the three of you stay here tonight? I can set up beds next to the TV, and everyone, including Tinder, can sleep downstairs. I can order pizzas and open the bar. Who likes Old Fashions?"

It was a memorable night as Tinder slept next to Chrissy all night, and the four left for home early the following day. The Nowak's changed Tinder's name during the six-hour drive home.

Please meet Ruby. Yes, that is right – Ruby is the famous mascot of the Wisconsin Lab Lovers (WLL) on Facebook. For the past several years, the Nowak family have been wonderful supporters of Annabelle Acres.

Annabelle Acres is a 6-acre setting for Labrador Retrievers in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. We are a family-owned 501(c)(3) non-profit adoption organization. We help adult Labrador Retrievers transition from Breeder to Companion Dogs before matching them with a loving family. If you are interested in adopting a Labrador Retriever, a breeder interested in donating a retiring full-breed Lab, or donating to help support our family mission, please visit our website at annabelleacres.org. Donations are always accepted and very much needed. Thanks for your support.

Tony, Jackie, Ben, and Caroline Wedeward - Caretakers and Founders of Annabelle Acres

10/12/2022

The saddest and most gratifying adoption we had was our family chocolate Labrador Retriever, Lucy. After Annabelle died unexpectedly of cancer at seven years old, we bought Harper and, a year later, Lucy. Both are from Winter Valley Labs in Hatley, Wisconsin, with who we still have a great relationship today. We visited in 2017 to decide between two chocolate puppies. One chocolate wanted to get out of our arms, but Lucy always looked us in the eyes. She was coming home to us.

Lucy was and still is "one in a million." Lucy is an all-chocolate petite lab that is the friendliest dog you will ever meet - bar none. She loved playing in our dog park with all the new dogs. Her greatest love was working with Howie digging holes to "catch" the elusive chipmunk. They were worth the price of admission. One would cover the entry hole, and the other would stand over the exit hole coming out of the ground. Lucy's favorite pastime was not listening to me and wandering around the neighbor's properties. She always came home late at night and stood by the back door asking forgiveness. Lucy always appreciates her lenient rules with many kisses.

Two years after Annabelle Acres started, it was evident Lucy was not getting the attention she deserved. She never complained, but it was apparent that Lucy deserved a family to love. Within a few months and with strict criteria, Dr. Lauren from Oconomowoc Animal Hospital (OAH), adopted my best friend.

Dr. Lauren, her husband Daniel, and two young children took Lucy home for a sleepover. Lucy now lives on several wooded acres and enjoys her trips to the family cabin on a lake in upstate Wisconsin.
The two most crucial non-negotiable adoption agreements for Lucy were: Local family and full accessibility. Dr. Lauren and her family are incredible in keeping Lucy close to our family. To my surprise, Dr. Lauren brings Lucy into OAH when I have appointments with other dogs. One time, Dr. Lauren took me into another room and surprised me with some quiet time with Lucy.

Lucy was an exceptional dog for my family and me. The hardest decision was to find an adopter for her. We were blessed to find Dr. Lauren and her family, who understands our situation and loves Lucy as much as we do. We see Lucy often at the clinic and on the occasional sleepover. God bless Lucy, and we will see you again soon.

Annabelle Acres is a 6-acre setting for Labrador Retrievers in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. We are a family-owned 501(c)(3) non-profit adoption organization. We help adult Labrador Retrievers transition from Breeder Dogs to Companion Dogs before finding them a loving home. If you are interested in adopting a Labrador Retriever, a breeder interested in donating a retiring full-breed Lab, or donating to help support our mission, go to our website at annabelleacres.org. Donations are always accepted and very much needed. Thanks for your support.

Owners - Tony, Jackie, Ben, and Caroline Wedeward

10/01/2022

Annabelle Acres has become one of the most popular Labrador Retriever Adoption Organizations in the United States. We are family-owned, have incredible stakeholders, and our only priority is the well-being of beautiful Labs like Winston.

Winston came to Annabelle Acres in April 2021. He was not the friendliest to the other labs at Annabelle Acres and tolerated us because we cared for him. Our rule of thumb is “it can take three to six months for a dog to realize this place is their new home – especially with breeder dogs.” Within this time frame, this handsome yet “grumpy guy” turned into one of the happiest dogs we have ever had at Annabelle Acres.

Because of his personality transition, several families passed adopting Winston during the summer months. On September 28, 2021, Winston’s life changed forever. Annabelle Acres hosted a “Meet and Greet” for Phil, his two daughters, and sons-in-law. Phil was an officer in the Vietnam War, and after meeting Phil, I knew Phil was a leader and in charge of the adoption. I conducted my usual Q/A with the adopting family to understand the best possible dog matches. However, Phil is a man of few words, so his daughters and sons-in-law did all the talking. After writing a few notes, I looked at Phil and asked him, “What behaviors are you looking for in a Lab?” I will never forget Phil’s response. He said, “When I look into the dog’s eyes, I will now.”

Over the next two hours, Phil and his family met five of the six Annabelle Acres’ labs. After spending time with the fifth, I asked everyone about their thoughts. After everyone spoke, Phil said, “I like them all. They are great, but there is one dog I have not met yet.” I knew that walking out of the house and toward the kennels, Phil had not yet met his dog. The one dog Phil had not me yet was Winston.

Winston was always reluctant to go into our house, but he had a bath that morning and was very happy. I snapped the leash on his collar, and we walked down the stairs without hesitation. Winston turned the corner, started waging his tail, and walked to the first person he saw, Phil.

Winston and Phil live together in a beautiful lake home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Annabelle Acres is a 6-acre setting for Labrador Retrievers in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. We are a family-owned 501(c)(3) non-profit adoption organization. We help adult Labrador Retrievers transition from Breeder Dogs to Companion Dogs before finding them a loving home. If you are interested in adopting a Labrador Retriever, a breeder interested in donating a retiring full-breed Lab, or donating to help support our mission, go to our website at annabelleacres.org. Donations are always accepted and very much needed. Thanks for your support.

Owners - Tony, Jackie, Ben, and Caroline Wedeward

08/03/2022

06/17/2022

"I can't take it to the beach for a walk because it bothers you on your vacation, you don't allow me to rent a house if I have a dog, nor can I put it on urban public transport.
However, I can take him to the rubble to look for you after an earthquake, in the forest after you got lost in the mountain and you had no map or GPS; under the snow, because you did a forbidden off-piste; in the water, because despite the red flag, you have bathed and wherever you need to, because finally, it is just a dog ... but he will find you.
Dedicated to all those who do not love dogs."

05/12/2022

Some heroes have four legs and paws. 🐾

05/12/2022

Sit down. Please sit down.

05/11/2022

This will put a smile on your face. 🐾🐾🐾