Archives: Success Stories

Once upon a time on a quiet Amish farm, lived a yellow Labrador named Freda. She spent most of her life in a kennel within a barn, bringing numerous litters of puppies into the world. The farmer saw her merely as a means to an end, unaware of her weight, favorite toy, or the softness of her fur. Bored and isolated, Freda gnawed on the metal bars of her kennel, wearing down all her top teeth to the same height, leaving her with just one true canine tooth on her bottom jaw.

One summer day, a volunteer from Brookline Lab Rescue arrived to offer Freda a new life. At 8.5 years old, Freda’s journey to her new home marked the beginning of a transformation. Her breeding days officially ended in August 2022 when she was spayed. In September, Freda was adopted by her foster family, including Crinkles, another former breeder mama, and Trixie, a black Labrador who had been adopted from farm life in December 2009. The three dogs quickly formed a bond, finding solace and companionship in one another.

Despite her calm demeanor, Freda carried the scars of her past. She was fearful of men and sudden movements. Yet, with each passing day, she began to heal. Her new family showered her with love and patience, giving her the space and time she needed to feel safe. As the months turned into years, Freda blossomed. Her eyes, once clouded with uncertainty, now sparkled with contentment. She learned to trust again, finding joy in simple pleasures—long walks with her fur siblings, basking in the sun, and snuggling close to her new family.

Two years have passed since Freda’s rescue. July 12th marked this special anniversary, a testament to her resilience and the power of love and kindness. Freda’s story is one of transformation and hope, a reminder that even the most broken souls can find healing and happiness.

In her new home, Freda is not just a dog; she is a beloved family member. Her journey from a life of confinement to one of freedom and love is a heartwarming tale of second chances and the enduring spirit of a yellow Labrador who, against all odds, found her way home.

Pearl is one of the lucky ones. As a two-year old farm dog, she was unable to have puppies. This saved her from living even more years confined and isolated as a breeder dog. In the years before her rescue, Pearl’s life consisted of an outside pen and a crate that was kept inside a barn.

When rescued by Brookline, Pearl had severe and painful ear infections. One side of her head was scarred from incessantly digging at her ear. She also had a hematoma in her right ear, which caused it to be narrower and more disfigured on the inside. Farm girls rarely, if ever, get medical care. Her rescue ride was a day that would forever change her life. But rescuing breeder dogs can only be realized when a foster home is willing to take them in. Lesley and Jason graciously opened their home to Pearl.

In foster care, the goal of Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue is to provide farm dogs with kindness and care. All veterinary costs are covered while being fostered. Once ready for adoption, it’s time to find them the perfect forever home. An important step in the Farm-to-Family process as adoptions open up space in our foster homes so that more dogs can be rescued. To date, Lesley and Jason have fostered a total of 16 dogs; 8 of those were farm dogs.

As we successfully expand our network of foster homes, we also recognize that more dogs being fostered will mean additional medical costs. Our Farm-to-Family Campaign is raising funds to directly support the care of these amazing dogs.

Having never lived inside a warm home, breeder dogs appreciate what it means to be rescued. At first, our farm girls can be timid and a bit anxious. After a life of isolation, everything is new to them. While it can take time for them to warm up to you and their new surroundings, when they finally do, it is well worth the wait.

At the time of her final adoption, Pearl was less anxious but still somewhat timid of new people and places. To ease Pearl’s transition, Lesley and Jason drove 4 hours on Thanksgiving Day to take Pearl to her forever home. Pearl’s new family turned out to be the perfect match for her! They were extremely patient and willing to give her all the time she needed to settle in.

After about a year, Lesley and Jason received a note from Pearl’s new family saying that Pearl finally climbed the stairs! This was an important milestone for Pearl. For a year the family refused to leave her downstairs by herself and took turns sleeping on the couch by her side. In a recent text, her adoptive mom celebrated Pearl’s successful journey from the farm to their family, “The difference between her now and then is like night and day. We’re so grateful you all let us adopt her.”

Those who foster and adopt farm girls know their history and, as such, are extremely patient with them. Given time, love and a safe space, these dogs will eventually settle in and learn to trust. In the end, the investment of time is well worth the love you will receive in return. This is the story of Pearl.

This was the day of Molly’s rescue ride. Rescue rides are celebrated times for both the dogs that are saved and the Brookline volunteers who save them. On this day, many lives are forever changed. For the farm dog that is rescued, it is a new beginning: a journey of kindness, care and a loving home awaits. For the Brookline volunteer, their life, too, is forever made better from this journey. In talking with those who pull dogs from the farm, they can recall the joy they felt with each dog they saved.

For 8 years of her life, Molly was a breeder dog and kept outside on a farm. At the end of this rescue ride, Molly was placed in a warm home with a caring foster family. She saw a vet, got her required vaccinations, and received treatment and medication to relieve a painful ear infection. Later, after being spayed, she remained in foster care to heal. She went to local parks, enjoyed car rides, and loved meeting new people.

In foster care, each Brookline dog is assigned a blog where potential adopters can learn about a dog’s history and read its progress. Melissa and Don followed Molly’s online blog. When she became available for adoption, they were thrilled to be chosen as Molly’s forever home. They fell in love with her and knew she was going to be perfect for them. Melissa and Don were both retired, and Molly joined them to enjoy her own retirement from the farm.

It didn’t take long for Molly to settle in at her forever home. She welcomed the warm beds and the comfy blankets. The excitement of regular, healthy meals even brought on an adorable dance each time she was fed. When introduced to family and friends, Molly loved everyone, including a furry neighbor named Daisy who became her BFF. Even the Fed X driver loved Molly. He would bring treats when delivering packages and she would sit by the front door waiting to greet him.

As is often the case with farm dogs, Molly never barked, never went on furniture, and never played with toys. At first, Molly was even hesitant to go outdoors for fear of never being allowed back inside. For the first few months in their home, Melissa and Don walked outside and stayed with her until Molly was sure she could safely come and go.

Soon after adopting Molly, Don had some serious health issues. He is doing better, now, but Melissa believes that it was Molly that helped heal Don. The timing of Molly’s adoption gave them a wonderful purpose and brought them great comfort and joy.

After four wonderful years with Melissa and Don, on December 28th Molly crossed the Rainbow Bridge. In a recent e-mail to Brookline, Melissa wrote about Molly and this loss. “It hasn’t been that long ago and it’s still hard for me to talk about her. Molly was one of the lucky labs rescued from the farm, but we were the lucky ones to have had her to love. Her time with us was short but it’s comforting to know that we were able to spoil her with love. Thank God for the Brookline volunteers that rescue these labs from the farm.”

There is a saying that reminds us that we don’t rescue a dog but that the dog rescues us. After 8 years in isolation, Molly just wanted to be with her people. Melissa and Don took her everywhere, but Molly’s favorite thing of all was coming back home: home to a safe, warm place with beds and blankets, and where she finally knew what it was like to love and be loved. It was a short life off the farm, but it was one lived to the fullest, and one that brought so much joy to those who knew her.

On that celebrated day of Molly’s rescue ride, Molly’s journey to a new life had just begun. What she didn’t know at the time was just how many lives she would touch, and how very much she would be missed. Godspeed dear Molly!

Brookline rescues breeder dogs of all ages. The sooner their rescue ride, the more time they will have in a loving home. Your commitment of as little as $10.00 a month will allow Brookline to rescue dogs, like Molly, from the harsh conditions of breeder farms, provide them with kindness and care, and adopt them into warm, loving homes.

Cuddles had a rough start to life. She lived in Lancaster on a farm and had puppies for 6 1/2 years. When she could no longer have puppies, the farmer decided he didn’t want her anymore. Fortunately, Brookline rescued her. On the farm, she most likely lived outside in a cage resulting in a lack of hind end strength. She had untreated sores on her legs from licking due to boredom. Once rescued, she was given the medical care she needed and fostered by a great family who taught her what it was like to live inside a home.

Cuddles was then adopted by us and lived the life she was so deserving of. She was the kindest, gentlest, most loving dog ever! She simply wanted to be with her people and chill and cuddle living up to her name. Because she was so gentle, we felt she would make a great therapy dog. We were right. Cuddles passed her certification test on the first try! She visited nursing homes and an elementary school and local library to help kids get comfortable reading. She loved going on these visits and brought smiles to so many people.

Cuddles looked forward to her walks and loved going to the beach. Unlike your typical lab, however, she didn’t like to swim. She would go in the water but would rather be a lifeguard and watch the comings and goings of the people and other dogs!

She lived with her sister Onyx who was also a Brookline rescue. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to both Cuddles and Onyx over the last few years but their memories are still in our hearts.

Brookline always says that the farm dogs are the best dogs. I agree. Cuddles is why I became a Brookline volunteer and why we adopted two other Brookline rescues, Mya and Maggie, who also bring us much joy.

Thank you, Brookline, for rescuing Cuddles and giving her a second chance at life. The farm dogs so deserve this!

We are the fortunate family that was selected to be the forever home for Maverick. Formerly known as Lincoln, Maverick was one of the Super Seven as we like to refer to them. Sadly, he and his sweet siblings spent the first few months of their young lives in a small outdoor pen on a farm where they had to compete for the necessities of food and water. Their living conditions were cramped, unsanitary and isolating.

Ultimately, the farmer was unable to sell these puppies and Brookline stepped in and rescued them all. After much-needed baths and veterinarian check-ups, the puppies went their separate ways to their Brookline foster homes.

Brookline fosters are dedicated volunteers that help acclimate dogs to a loving home. Many of the dogs come from farms as described above, some from crowded shelters and others are surrendered by owners due to various hardships. During the foster period, medical needs are covered. When the dogs transition to their forever homes, the adoptive families can rest assured that the dogs have been given the medical care they needed.

Having been approved to adopt, as we were waiting to be matched with a dog, the volunteer that worked with us encouraged us to attend a few Brookline events. We met many foster families, and we were so touched by the time and effort these families invest in the training and care of the dogs.

Maverick is smart, playful, affectionate and funny. Every morning the kids are delighted to see his wagging tail and receive his wet kisses. He loves to play fetch and he is getting more confident in the water. Now, as Maverick is about to approach his first birthday, he wants to bark a very “yappy birthday” to his six siblings. He hopes to one day play with them again.

There are so many ways to help dogs like Maverick. You could adopt a former farm dog, volunteer with Brookline, open your home through fostering, or make a monetary donation to help with costly veterinarian expenses. We are so grateful that our volunteer and Maverick’s foster family entrusted our family to adopt him last fall. Please consider getting involved. Thank you to everyone at Brookline who played a role in his rescue.

Not all farm dogs are girls. Buddy, a chocolate Lab, and Duke, a yellow Lab, are a bonded pair of 10-year-old boys left behind on an abandoned farm when their owner died, and the property went into foreclosure. For more than two months, Buddy and Duke were outside and alone. Through the kindness of a neighbor, they were fed and survived.

Buddy and Duke were not only hungry for food, but they craved human interaction – whimpering and whining whenever the neighbor would leave. Fortunately, Brookline was contacted and these farm boys were rescued.

Close to a dozen Brookline volunteers mobilized to arrange safe transport, veterinary care and housing for these two sweet dogs. We often say that to rescue takes a village. This is just one example of how Brookline pulls together to save farm dogs and find them a safe place to spend their remaining years.

Most often, dogs that are rescued by Brookline are placed directly with an approved foster. However, at the time of their rescue, Brookline didn’t know enough about Buddy and Duke to match them directly to a foster home. As a result, their journey from Farm to Family took a slight detour.

The boys made a stopover at the Bedminster Canine Kamp (BCK) in Pipersville, where they remained under the care of Brookline, and the wonderful team at BCK.

Recently matched and adopted into a loving home, Buddy and Duke will now live out the rest of their lives, together, enjoying cool pup cups, warm dog beds, and all the human contact they deserve. Good luck boys!

Seems like Katrina has been in my home and heart forever. We are such a good fit. But it’s been just two months that this beauty has been my best friend and constant companion. Being matched with Katrina came about after our Brookline home visit volunteer, Nancy, had worked tirelessly, even while on vacation, to make this happen. We are both so grateful.

It was on May 22nd when two Brookline volunteers, Valerie and Mark, who live near me, kindly drove to the introduction near Morgantown. Katrina and Barbara, her wonderful Foster Mom, were waiting there to greet us. “Love at first sight” is a phrase overused, but this was truly a prime example of it.

Barbara did such a great job of preparing this beautiful former breeder dog to live off the farm and in a loving home. In foster care, Katrina had been free from the farm for just 24 hours when Barbara reported that she was doing great. Barbara said it best when she said, “Katrina is finally free to be a dog!” Although at first a little scared, she quickly adapted to the good life. Initially, Katrina was afraid of Barbara’s husband but that got better with time. Breeder dogs can often be a bit shy around men. Foster Mom, Barbara, also treated Katrina to a spa day where she spent 2.5 hours getting pampered.

Getting in and out of the car was, at first, a challenge but Katrina quickly got the hang of it. Farm dogs can also be somewhat hesitant when it comes to doorways, but she trusted Barbara and learned that there was nothing to fear. She was also introduced to toys and, to this day, Katrina loves carrying things in her mouth. She is so gentle when she does.

When I first saw Katrina in person, I realized that the photos on the Brookline Foster Blog simply didn’t do her justice. As a six-year-old, with a velvety silver coat, Katrina truly is a beauty, no doubt. But it wasn’t just her looks, it was her calm, affectionate temperament that shone through, making it both love at first sight and a match made in heaven. In fact, Katrina’s personality is so mellow that she is now training as a therapy dog and will bring much joy to our local nursing home residents. Thank you to everyone at Brookline for rescuing Katrina from the farm and bringing us together.

Yesterday, Foster Andrea received the best Mother’s Day gift.  I finalized her adoption with Oakley, now Aspen.  Many thanks to the volunteers who played a part in getting her off the farm and into a loving home!

Andrea had the following to say:
Fostering a dog is a beautiful journey filled with hope, love, and a promise of a bright future. When we welcomed this sweet 11 week old, friendly pup into our home with the intention of providing temporary care, little did we know that our lives were about to change in ways we never imagined.

From the moment the tiny bundle of fur trotted into our lives, her wagging tail and gentle demeanor stole our hearts. It didn’t take long for her to win over not only our affection but also that of our resident dog, Hudson, and everyone who crossed her path. Aspen was the epitome of a perfect foster dog—cute, friendly, and well-behaved.

As days turned into weeks, we found ourselves falling deeper in love with her. Every day brought new adventures and moments of pure joy. She seamlessly integrated into our family, forming an inseparable bond with our resident dog and bringing a sense of completeness to our home that we hadn’t realized was missing.

After matching our first foster with her forever family, the thought of saying goodbye to Aspen, of letting go of this precious soul who had brought so much light into our lives, filled us with a profound sense of sadness. We wrestled with conflicting emotions and the undeniable love we felt for her.

In the end, we made a decision that some may view as a failure—we decided to keep her. Despite our initial intentions of just fostering, we couldn’t bear the thought of parting ways with her. Aspen had become an integral part of our family, and the thought of letting her go felt unthinkable.

And so, our journey took an unexpected turn. What started as a temporary fostering arrangement blossomed into a lifelong commitment. Our “failure” as foster dog parents became our greatest blessing—a decision fueled by love, compassion, and the undeniable bond we shared with her.

While our journey may not have followed our original path, we wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, sometimes the greatest successes come from what others perceive as failures. #fosterfail #proudfailures #lablove

We adopted 9-year-old Bo in April and two months later we can say that he is the perfect dog for us. He is feeling stronger and goes for a good gallop at least once a day. He is faster than you would think! I must admit that those gallops are usually downhill to greet someone, and then he ambles slowly back up the hill–but he at least is starting to run a bit! His personality is coming out more each day as well–he is sweet, loving, gentle, wants to please, has an unbelievable memory, and is a bit stubborn (aren’t we all?). He is also not fond of groundhogs and deer on his property (which he also chases). He loves everyone, goes to the office with me every day, and has attended large family gatherings where everyone is charmed by him.

We are still working on his ear infection. He had one type of infection in both ears and a second type of infection in his left ear. Two of the infections have been knocked out and we are working on healing his last infection.

He and our cat Edison are buddies now; Bo tries to play with him, but Edison is not quite there yet. I think Bo’s persistence and charm will win out.

We are so thankful to have Bo as part of our family!

In September 2016 we were devastated to lose our almost 14-year-old yellow lab, Elle, who we had since she was a puppy. After a week of deep sadness, we searched the internet for “Rescues for Labrador Retrievers in Pa.” Brookline Lab Rescue popped up and within five minutes we found Ruby — a beautiful six or seven-year-old yellow girl. We read about her life as a “farm girl” and the hardships she endured.

Fortunately, Ruby was rescued from the farm and placed with a Brookline foster mom named Maggie. At first, Ruby didn’t know what toys were, how to play with the other dogs in the house or even that she should go potty in the grass. She couldn’t climb stairs and loud noises terrified her. With the love she received in foster care, Ruby made an amazing transformation and when she was ready for a forever home, we were thrilled to be matched with her. She became the most wonderful dog we ever had.

From day one, Ruby was a girl of rituals and routines. She insisted on sleeping in the front bedroom with our son. Even when we moved, she claimed the front bedroom of the new house as Ruby’s Room. On walks, Ruby would often decide to simply take a break by lying down on the grass or along the road. We gave up trying to coax her along, so we would all just take a break with her. In the evenings, Ruby would pop out of her front bedroom and come into the family room for TV time. It was her routine – another ritual – and the funniest thing. Before she would lay down to watch TV, she would stop and look at each of us as if to say…”Well here I am!” We looked forward to it every night.

Sadly, last October we had to say goodbye to Ruby. We were crushed, but it was time. The night before she passed, she came out to watch TV with us one last time. Ruby was between 13 and 14 years old when she died. Happily for her, Ruby’s years as a breeder dog had faded into a distant memory. Her years with us, however, will never be forgotten. We miss you, girl.
Families who foster and adopt farm dogs know what special dogs they can become. These stories, told by the families themselves, speak of the transformation breeder dogs go through when they are rescued and placed in loving homes. Please support our Farm-to-Family Campaign so that more dogs, like Ruby, can live the life every Labrador Retriever should live.

Cassie (AKA Prinkle) had been a breeder mom on a farm when she came to us in late January as a foster. The farmer said that she was 7 or 8 years old. At the time, she had broken and infected teeth, a wound on her side, double ear infections, and she was grossly overweight. She had never been vaccinated for anything, including rabies.

At our home, she didn’t want to spend time outdoors and was afraid of any object that looked like a stick or a pole, even a toy Chuck-it stick. Despite it all, she was sweet and gentle, and we immediately fell in love with her, especially our two resident Labs. We became a foster-fail and adopted her.

Until coming to us, Cassie had never lived in a house. The first couple of weeks were hard for her. Stairs were scary, but she figured them out after much encouragement from our other dogs. She was not difficult to housebreak; there were a few accidents but she caught on quickly.

She was very good for her ear treatments, which had to be done daily for six weeks, until the infections were finally gone. Surgeries were in her future – first to clean up her bad teeth and, after that, to be spayed.

In just a few months with us, Cassie has transformed from a shy, fearful and insecure girl into a loving, confident family member. We even took all the dogs to Vermont and she loved hiking in the snow! She has lost nearly 25 pounds, (about 10 more to lose) and is now eager to run and play outside. Fetching tennis balls has become her favorite game – though she still tends to eye the Chuck-It stick with caution.

Cassie is extremely intelligent! But, best of all, she has learned to trust. She is eager for affection and she actively seeks pets and snuggles. Such a wonderful change from the scared farm dog we first met to what is now a happy, loving, active, and very welcomed member of our family. We look forward to many wonderful years with Cassie.

We adopted Beau from Brookline in Nov. 2022 and Keira in Jan. 2024. Keira is the little sister Beau never knew he wanted. Someone to play with and someone to have sleepovers with….C&S

Pepper was rescued by Brookline after spending 7 years on a farm. The day she was rescued she was covered in cow stink, and physically and emotionally drained. Brookline placed her in a caring foster home. She was examined by a vet, vaccinated and eventually spayed.

While in foster care, Pepper learned what it was like to be a real dog. Some of her favorite activities were playing fetch, running free with the resident dogs, napping in the sun with her foster fur sister, and taking long walks in the Wissahickon. Pepper was recently adopted into a loving family and she is thriving. Pepper is one of the lucky ones.

Meg and John Place followed Pepper’s online blog and applied to adopt her. Meg summed up Pepper’s transition to her new life saying, “She loves long walks, the comforts of a warm bed, and she adores our grandkids. Puppy mill moms just need time and patience, and they need to know they are safe.”

Over the course of our Farm-to-Family Campaign, Brookline will be sharing many more success stories of our farm girl rescues. But there are so many dogs that still need our help. Your monthly donation of just $10.00 will help us rescue, foster and adopt even more dogs into loving, forever homes.

Thank you.