After nearly twelve years, the last dog we took in was number 309. Going through our photo albums, looking at all the adoption day photos brings back many, many wonderful memories. Caring for a large number of dogs day & night plus working full time outside jobs takes it toll after a while. Sheer exhaustion was instrumental in our decision to end the rescue and move on to a more relaxing pace and a few vacations.

We want to thank all of you who adopted dogs from us, sometimes even a second or third lucky Rottweiler went to the same home. Most of the dogs who rode in the cars and trucks with their new families looked straight ahead to their new life with their new families. They gave us a "good bye" and "thanks for everything" lick at the door and never looked back.

I was asked many times over the years, "How can you stand to let them go?" How could I not? Here they had to share our attention with a varying number of dogs. At their new home they had a whole family all to themselves or maybe one or two to share with. The joy and enthusiasm with which they left with their new family made all the hard work worth it.

We also want to thank all of our volunteers who helped us in one capacity or another and sometimes several. Also, many thanks to those that generously donated money, food, toys, bedding etc. The Rottweiler Hope Rescue could not have existed without all of you. Sue and I and 309 grateful dogs thank all of you very much.

We heard many stories over the years of the accomplishments of these rescued dogs. Some people are very surprised that dogs who start out being neglected, abused or unloved go on to be wonderful obedience and therapy dogs. Those of us who see such dramatic transformations in such short times after arriving at the rescue are not surprised at all.

I have trained in the sport of Schutzhund for quite a few years and took an approximately one year old male and trained him for nearly five years to a Schutzund 3 title. The judges at his trials could not believe that he was a rescue dog who was picked up off the side of a freeway in Detroit. Most dogs in this sport come from breeders who breed mainly for the sport and many are imported from Europe with a very high price tag. When someone would tell me about their dog and how much they paid, I enjoyed very much telling them I got mine off the side of the road. Their reaction was as they say "priceless".

There are wonderful, loving, talented dogs still being abandoned, neglected and abused that would love to find a family like the ones ours found. We sincerely hope that some younger people who love Rottweilers as much as we do, will decide to open their homes and heart and put their lives on hold awhile and carry on with the wonderfully rewarding, but usually exhausting job of rescue.

Again, thank you all for your love of Rottweilers and the work you have done and will continue to do for this wonderful breed.

Good bye, good luck and God speed to you all.

Sincerely,
Jan Haynes, President
Sue Hinkley, Vice President
Rottweiler Hope Rescue
The Safe Haven Inc.
Mason, MI