Redgie McPig

Redgie was our first foster dog. His former owners took him to the vet to be euthanized because his back went out, but when the vet saw how healthy he was for an 11-year-old dog, he refused to put him down and talked the people into surrendering him to Dachshund Rescue & Placement. When he came into rescue in March 2004, he couldn't walk, but he was up and running around in just a few weeks.

We are so glad fate brought Redgie to us! A snorty little pig with tons of personality, Redgie is everything a senior dachshund should be: cantakerous, opinionated, affectionate and totally devoted to his human slaves.

So far, he has survived damaged discs in his back and neck, periodontal disease, arthritis, seizures, heart failure, hypothyroidism and a very dangerous form of stomach cancer. He's cost a fortune and been a royal pain, but we wouldn't trade a moment of our time with him. He's retired from his job as alpha dog, and spends most of his time napping in the sun.

We are sad to report that on July 2, 2008, our Redgie passed on to the great dachshund playground in the sky. He is sorely missed.

Moki

Moki was given to us in 2006, when he was six years old, by a former client who moved to Europe for a job with long hours that would keep him away from his boy. The last thing we needed was yet another doxie, but his daddy was insistent that ours was the best home for Moki, and he made us promise to keep him. We agreed, and it was one of the best decisions we've ever made.

Moki has proven to be a tremendous asset to our pack. Affable, kind, loyal, patient and extremely loving, Moki is our pack leader, welcoming new clients and fosters with a wagging tail and lots of kisses. He is wonderful with scared new visitors, showing them the ropes and encouraging them to play. He rules our pack with an even paw, meting out justice when needed and serving as a buffer when the doxies get cranky with one another. Everyone who visits threatens to steal him from us, but fortunately this giant standard boy is too big to fit in anyone's pocket!

Hank the Tank

We adopted Hank from Riverside Dachshund Rescue in 2003, when he was about 18 months old. He'd been a gift to someone who bred dobermans, and she didn't have any idea what to do with this spoiled, bratty little beast who tore up all his beds and was a general nuisance. Fortunately, we did!

Even though Hank has been with us the longest, he's the baby of the house and manages to get his way almost 100% of the time. He's still a brat, but he's also the delight of our lives, somehow managing to be silly and serious, fiesty and lazy, filled with energy and terminally bored. He could care less about visiting people or doxies; all he wants to do is lie in the sun and have his belly rubbed.

Every once in a while, he'll deign to get up from his bed and accept a treat or a pet from a visitor, but mostly he just sulks, waiting for everyone to leave so he can have his mommy all to himself again. He loves his daddy, too, and jumps up in the air whenever he's around.

Miss Olive

Olive was our second foster dog, and since she completed our pack, she was the last one we kept. She came to us in 2004, when she was seven years old, an owner surrender from a family who fed her nothing but table scraps and people food. As a result, she was so fat that her belly dragged on the ground when she walked. After a few months of quality dog food, she slimmed down to her svelte self and she's been trim and lean ever since.

Olive is our pack queen, protecting her family from marauding strangers with her mighty bark. She sits on all the new dogs and has no qualms about cuddling up in any available lap. She loves to snuggle with her boyfriend, Moki, who helps her keep all the unruly boys in line. Although Olive is a daddy's girl, totally devoted to him, she graciously allows her mommy to love her, too.