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.
Annabelle Acres is a 501c3 non-profit Labrador Retriever adoption organization. We focus on physical, mental, and social health for our retired breeder Labs.
