By: Eiko’s Mom, Anna Ferguson

Eiko Ferguson Robas is a German Shepherd with beautiful red/black/sable coloring. His parents, Anna Ferguson and Joe Robas of Hot Springs, NC, adopted him from Windy Hill Kennels near Nashville, Tennessee. Since coming into their lives at 8 weeks at 12.7lbs, he’s grown to 52.3 pounds at 5 months and growing every day. His mom swears she can see him grow while he is sleeping!

Eiko loves to chase butterflies and play in the river (see his first YouTube video here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un2rEsCVzCQ), and he especially loves hiking at Max Patch. In his spare time he sleeps and looks cute! He loves Dr. Plankenhorn and Dr. Wootten, and the whole team at AHNA!

Eiko’s future plans include Therapy Dog Training, so that he can work with Mom while she does Therapeutic Yoga. His tricks already include sit, down, roll over, staying and “seeking” – finding a hidden treat somewhere in the woods that he calls his backyard. He recently took his first elevator ride and took it in stride! Eiko loves to play with other dogs and has a sunny, bright, inquisitive personality that is a continual source of joy to his family.

Make sure you don’t miss Eiko’s video! Click here to watch: Eiko plays in the river

Thank you to Eiko’s mom for writing this article and for sending this great video!

My dog Mac was rescued when he was only 3-4 weeks old and was so covered with ticks and fleas that he almost bled to death. He was a determined little guy and with great medical care and love from people who adored him, he made it. He was diagnosed with severe allergies of unknown origin when he was about two and has coped with the itching, allergy testing, assortment of medications and shots ever since. He has torn his cornea twice, yet he just keeps on being wonderful.

Last Thanksgiving, Dr. Duncan diagnosed an inoperable tumor in his right front leg and amputation was the only option. “Miracle Mac”, as all the wonderful AHNA staff now call him, got through the surgery with flying colors and has adapted remarkably well to getting around on three legs. At 14, his sight and hearing are limited and his mobility is awkward, but on his birthday trip to the beach, (complete with new speedo just for the occasion!), he was a show stopper everywhere we went.  Everyone wanted to pet him, find out about the missing limb and talk about how gentle and sweet he was.

Mac, in his 'speedo', on his birthday.

He is truly a miracle and the center of our world.  More thanks than I can possibly express to all of you there at AHNA for your state of the art medical care given in a remarkably loving, compassionate way.  You are the best!!!

By Mac’s owner, Debbie McDowell

Update: We are saddened to say that Mac has now passed on. Mac will be greatly missed by all.

By Gypsy’s owner, Ms. DeLong

Gypsy and her owner, Ms. DeLong

I adopted Gypsy, a very sweet miniature poodle mix, from Asheville Humane Society on Christmas Eve. She has brought much joy to my life.  She sits in my lap, snuggles with me in bed, and makes me take long, brisk walks around the neighborhood, even in bad weather, which doesn’t seem to bother her.

One evening when I got home from work, I took Gypsy out for a walk.  We were returning home when Gypsy started pulling on the leash towards my next door neighbor’s house. She barked and seemed very interested in something I couldn’t see or hear. I thought it might just be a cat or other animal, so I kept walking. It was very cold and I just wanted to get inside and get warm. She kept trying to go back to my neighbor’s house even when we had reached my front walk. So I had second thoughts and decided to go back and check it out.  My neighbor is an elderly woman who lives alone. When I got up close to her house, I could hear her calling for help from inside her garage. I ran back to my house, left Gypsy inside and grabbed my cell phone to call 911.

The fire department and ambulance responded quickly. They had to break through a window to get into the house. They found my neighbor lying on the floor of her garage. She had hit her head and wasn’t able to get up. She had been lying on that concrete floor in the cold and dark for six hours! I hate to think what would have happened if she had spent the night lying on that cold floor. Because of Gypsy, she was rescued and taken to the hospital, and now is recovering from her ordeal.

Gypsy has given me so much, and now she is even helping my neighbors. She is truly a blessing.