Pets & Animals
Pets and Their People 2021: Fun Stories
If you have the privilege of knowing a true-blue pet lover, you may grow a little weary from hearing about how sweet, special, smart and sassy that person’s perfect prince or princess is. And if you happen to have a pet and can’t think of anyone in your life that talks your ear off about their precious friend, then chances are you are the guilty party. But why wouldn’t you?
As the writer of this piece, I definitely call myself out. Play some Where’s Waldo in the Pet Gallery and see if you can find me and my fur-son Snoopy posing for the camera at my May wedding.
Pets add color and love to our lives when often the world seems gray and cold. So bragging about these wonderful companions is natural and well-deserved.
That’s what our annual Pets and Their People Giveaway is all about. Congrats to our three lucky winners who received all kinds of goodies from our great local sponsors.
■ The grand prize of a $150 gift card for Pet Suites of America, a $150 gift card for Pet Wants plus a $125 VISA gift card went to Hollie McCoy, @hollie.mccoy.
■ The second prize of a $100 gift card for Peach Paws Animal Hospital, a $25 gift card for Lazy Dog Restaurant plus a $100 VISA gift card went to Dawn Gartin, @dawngartin.
■ The third prize of a $100 gift card for Pet Suites, a $25 gift card for Lazy Dog Restaurant plus a $75 VISA gift card went to Danna Gemer.
A new Teddi bear
Quinn is 6 years old and has wanted a dog ever since she could talk. She loves dogs! My husband and I both travel for work so we didn’t want to get a dog for a while. Quinn is an only child and kept asking for a dog, so we finally told her we would get her one by the end of this year.
Quinn was on the swim team this summer with the Spalding Corner Sharks. The county meet was held at Georgia Tech in July. We told Quinn if she won first place in the backstroke, we would go ahead and get her a dog. Well, she won first place in the county meet!
She was so excited that she won and was getting her very own dog. Mom started looking a different breeders and decided on the cutest mini goldendoodle in Ohio, then flew there to pick up the most adorable little girl puppy that looks just like a stuffed Teddy bear. She did so good on her first Delta flight.
Quinn and the puppy both fell in love during their first meeting. We decided to name her Teddi! They have been inseparable ever since.
— Hollie McCoy, Grand Prize Giveaway winner
The foster “failure”
I have been involved with dog rescue for many years and have fostered lots of dogs. Bexley was another foster and although they are all amazing, she was special! She’s laid back, friendly, sweet and just all around a great dog. She fits perfectly with our family. I just couldn’t imagine giving her up! So she became our failed foster.
Bexley’s favorite activity is to sun bath on the deck. Her other favorite activity is to get belly rubs. Bexley is generally really good but she’s a hunter, so she brought us a few “gifts.” I know it’s her instinct but it’s so gross!
Some of Bexley’s best traits are that she loves other dogs and since I’m a pet sitter and I foster dogs, that’s really important. She’s a lover and a snuggler! If we sit on the couch she has to sit half on the couch and half on a person. My husband calls her “Bexleaner” because she leans on us on the couch. Her best trait is that she’s so laid back, which is perfect for our family. She goes everywhere with us, from road trips to soccer games, because she is so easy going. What can I say? She’s perfect.
— Danna Gemer, Third Prize Giveaway winner
Totally tortoise
Penelope (@pthesulcatatortoise) is a creature of love! She was a Valentine’s gift that my husband and I made each other. We both love turtles and tortoises, and when we saw on Facebook that Penelope was in need of a new home, we quickly decided to jump in.
Fun fact: Penelope hatched one day after our 6-year wedding anniversary in July 2017.
Nestled into a little plastic container, on top of a heating pad and surrounded by St. Augustine grass and dried flowers, Penelope made the long journey from Texas to Georgia in a FedEx Reptile Shipping box, right into our Peachtree Corners home. And, as we’re talking about a turtle who doesn’t value speed over everything else, she arrived a day late, on February 15.
Can you believe she only weighed 124 grams then? Now, at the “toddler” age of four years — and after many meals consisting of grass, weeds, hay, dandelion leaves, prickly pear cactus and hibiscus flowers — she reached 45 pounds. And like all Sulcata tortoises, she will grow her whole, and hopefully long, life, which can last 100 years or more!
She likes taking walks in our neighborhood where she has become a true celebrity! People walking or even driving by stop to take pictures of her and ask questions. Penelope makes people smile. Many people of all ages have said she “made their day.”
— Daniela Britton
The happy Odd Couple about town
Cocoa is our 8-year-old Teacup Poodle. Cocoa was born on my birthday, and she has been part of our family since she was seven weeks old. My wife calls Cocoa my ‘second wife’ in the way she constantly stays in my presence from the time I enter our home until I go out again. I recently retired, so Cocoa is in bliss because of me being home most of the day now.
Her funny moment is how when we leave the house, she perches on top of the couch back until we return. Over the years when we travel, Cocoa has had the pleasure of being boarded with her parents Nemo and Blondie at our cousin’s home, who gifted Cocoa to us.
I must be the laughing joke of our Wyntree subdivision as I, a 250 lb. musclebound former running back, eagerly walk our 4-pound Teacup Poodle daily. What a sight!
— Allen Lawrence
Brewing up love
We ran across an article in a magazine about the Leonberger and fell in love with the breed. Brewski is our fifth Leo; we have a fourth, Killian, as well, but he has hip issues, so we are not able to bring him places.
Our Leos are so laid back and calm. Brewski is a big hit at a lot of the local breweries that have popped up and allow dogs to join their owners. He is an instant conversation starter because of his size, but he is also very sweet and loves to meet other dogs. Throughout the year we will bring him up to the Town Center on a cool evening, the kids love come by and pet him, and we also enjoy answering the multitude of questions that come with having a dog of his size! He is truly a Gentle Giant.
— Connie Kane
Going to microbreweries is Brewski’s favorite activity — a German dog that loves breweries, shocking! There are usually lots of people and lots of dogs to keep him entertained. He has visited Cultivation, Anderby, Kettlerock, StillFire, Six Bridges, Truck and Tap, Social Fox and Tucker Brewery.
— Michael Kane
Lawson the Lizard King
Lawson is a reptile enthusiast. He has always loved catching creatures since he could walk and talk. Recently, he added two new pets to his reptile collection. Kiwi is a Sulcata tortoise and a lifelong friend since she can live up to a 100+ years. Stuart, his crested gecko, is his latest addition that he purchased at Repticon.
Lawson’s favorite thing to do is go herping (searching for reptiles and amphibians) with his best friend, Tristan. They even have started their own YouTube page, Global Reptiles! We can’t wait to see what pet reptile he adds to his growing collection!
— Heather Parton
Who rescued who?
Our two rescue dogs, Spencer and Daisy, are so loved by our family! Spencer is originally from Tennessee, and we adopted him after he was brought to Massachusetts through the Operation Roger program (truckers bringing rescue dogs to the Northeast). He has now lived in Massachusetts, Georgia, New Hampshire and then back to Georgia!
Daisy was surrendered when she was 5 years old because she was “too loving”. My wife brought her home first as a foster and she never left…we figured how bad could a loving dog be? Well, Daisy is definitely “too loving,” but she completed our family of five. Although they avoid water at all costs, Spencer and Daisy love to go on walks, car rides and explore Simpsonwood with us!
— Kevin Hilson
An ever-growing pack
We have always been big advocates for rescue animals and always seem to gravitate towards the pup with the hardest life, starting with the adoption of our dog Hudson in 2008. When we decided it was time for a second dog, we chose to adopt a puppy since Hudson didn’t seem to like most other adult dogs.
In November 2018, we went into Lifeline Animal Project’s Dekalb Shelter (@lifelineanimalproject) to meet our new puppy, Hank. While we were spending time with him in the shelter’s family visitation room, I could see across the hall into a run of kennels.
A huge, handsome block-headed Pitbull was in the kennel next to the window — sitting quietly, staring at us. He was so stoic and regal. I commented on how gorgeous he was, but we quickly reminded ourselves that Hudson would not be accepting of another adult male dog.
We continued our visit, this big guy watching us the whole time. For months after that, the image of the beautiful black Pitbull at the shelter crossed my mind more than a few times.
Several months later, in March 2019, we brought Hank and Hudson to the Rescue Dog Games at Piedmont Park. My friend who runs Little Donkey Supply had a tent set up. While we were checking out her tent, a foster mom with Lifeline was walking her new foster dog, the same handsome black dog I still remembered from the shelter months prior! I knew it was him the moment I saw him.
We absolutely never intended to have more than two dogs, but we all marveled at the situation and agreed it was a sign. Since all the dogs seemed to get along very well at the park, we made arrangements for the new guy to come to our house and spend time with Hudson and Hank in their environment.
Two weeks later we had adopted our third rescue dog: Henry. We learned that he had spent nearly a year in the shelter before Miss Margery took him in as a foster. He suffered significant trauma before he found his way to the shelter as evidenced by significant scarring on his neck and face and a partially missing left ear.
We had to give him extra special love and grace as he adjusted to living in a home with a family. He’s definitely been a handful at times, but we know, without a doubt, he was meant to find us and become part of our family.
— Heather Reich
Zac attack and the bus brigade
Back in January of 2012 a sweet neighbor named Jo Ann Warner called me to say there was a beautiful Lab at Dekalb Animal Control in need of adoption. We had lost our chocolate Lab, Taz, a few months earlier. He was also a rescue and the best dog; we were devastated when he died.
Jo Ann convinced me to go at least meet Zac, so we headed over to animal control. When they brought Zac out, he was carrying a tennis ball, and to this day that is his favorite toy. He always has one in his mouth or nearby.
Zac had been picked up by the dog catcher and appeared to have been on the run for a while. He was missing a toe and had bullets from a BB gun in his chest. He was young, our vet guessed him to be around a year old, and a rare breed of Lab — technically a white Lab, not yellow. He was about 85 pounds at the time, but quickly grew to about 105 once he had a safe home and regular meals.
Zac loves walks, dropping his tennis ball in our pool, trips to our beach house “Z’s by the Sea” in Hilton Head, and the couch we got for him in our bedroom. He is devoted to his family, our two other rescue dogs, and to anyone who will pet him.
Zac rarely gets into trouble, but when he was younger, he did tend to eat things he shouldn’t, most notably underwear. He once pooped out a pair of my daughter’s panties while we were standing at the bus stop. It definitely wasn’t his finest moment…but highly entertaining to all the kids and parents standing there waiting on the school bus!
— Cindy Zetzsche
Visit the full Pets and their People Giveaway 2021 Gallery!
Furkids, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and placing homeless and abandoned animals, is no stranger to success.
Since its founding in 2002, the organization has rescued over 65,000 animals, opened the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter in the Southeast for rescued cats (along with Sadie’s Place, a no-kill shelter for rescued dogs), and operates a string of popular thrift stores that give back to the community and help fund their work.
But 2024 saw their success reach new heights with a thriving nine-acre property in Cumming (30 minutes north of Peachtree Corners), multiple architectural awards and more — something they’re celebrating with an end-of-year Holiday Open House.
End of year events
The Holiday Open House will take place at their new headquarters in Cumming on December 6 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Guests are invited to come out and mingle with the animals, enjoy hors d’euvres, beer and wine, tour the grounds and learn more about the organization’s plans for 2025.
On Sunday, December 8, they’re hosting a fun Santa Paws event for families to bring their four-legged friends to have their photos made with Santa Claus. Space is limited, so reservations should be made online to reserve a spot. The $25 photo fee gives guests a hi-res download of their photo as well as access to tour the campus, goodies and more.
They are also closing out the year with the last of their 2024 Vaccination and Microchip Clinics on December 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Free pet vaccines will be available for the first 150 clients that day. While there, families can also enjoy “catio tours, puppy playdates and other fun activities.”
The new facilities
Furkids purchased their nine-acre property in 2018 with a vision to turn it into a new headquarters and adoption center for the organization. But it’s become much more than that.
Originally home to the Wakoola Water Gardens, the property had fallen into disrepair, but came with an onsite two-story building and an incredible landscape and botanical garden already in place.
“I had 90 days to raise $1 million,” said Samantha Shelton, founder and CEO of Furkids. “It was a miracle. [Now] the property is an incredible oasis that we’ve restored, and we moved our headquarters there at the end of 2019.”
Shelton said that she has been raising money over the last six years to build a new event center and cat shelter. Today, both of those projects are completed and open, situated in the wooded, garden landscape of their Cumming campus.
Shiloh Gardens and Giaquinto Event Center
The Shiloh Gardens and Giaquinto Event Center opened in January 2023, as a welcoming venue for weddings, corporate events and private parties. They are currently booked through 2025. And 100% of the revenue earned from rentals is poured back into Furkids to help save and care for the animals they rescue.
The garden’s main entrance is a rustic breezeway of greenery and lights that opens onto a covered patio featuring a cascading fountain, koi pond, lights and seating areas. The garden lawn (ideal for an outdoor wedding) is an open greenspace set against a backdrop of pines and other trees. And the Giaquinto Event Center is a strikingly designed building that can be arranged to seat 280+ people for dinner or accommodate a classroom-style meeting.
An award-winning cat shelter
Furkids opened the Fort & Michele Felker Cat Shelter in December 2023, and it has since won three architectural awards — the Honor Award from the 2024 AIA Georgia Design & Honor Awards; an Honorable Mention at the 2022 American Architecture Awards from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design; and recognition from The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Designed with the wellbeing of its animals and caretakers in mind, the 7,554-square-foot shelter features 12 free-roam rooms where cats can enjoy natural sunlight and access to an outdoor “catio” patio space, creating an enriching environment. There is also a cozy cat cafe where guests can enjoy a drink while meeting the adoptable cats — or just have a nice, quiet place to work.
Visitors are welcome to make an appointment to experience the shelter’s thoughtful design firsthand, whether they are looking to adopt or not.
“Furkids is committed to saving animals and providing inviting community spaces for our Atlanta neighbors,” said Shelton. “The architectural design excellence of our cat shelter welcomes animals and their human companions onto our campus.”
“We are delighted to have been a finalist for these prestigious awards,” she added, “and we will be replicating this standard throughout our campus, including in the construction of … two new buildings — a beautiful new dog shelter that will double our capacity and a new, state-of-the-art medical center that will help us … save more lives than ever before.”
Plans for the future
According to a recent press release, the architectural awards “underscore Furkids’ commitment to architectural and design excellence, which will be further demonstrated when Furkids completes construction of the new dog shelter and medical facility.”
The Sutherlin Dog Shelter will offer 13,000 square feet of space and accommodate up to 135 dogs — doubling the organization’s current capacity and providing a more comfortable environment for their long-term residents.
The Giaquinto Medical Center will feature state-of-the-art space and veterinary equipment, including six surgery tables (up from the three they currently have), five separate wards with space to treat more than 100 cases at a time, and the ability to better handle emergency needs that may arise.
The organization expects their animal control intake to increase by 50% in the first 6–12 months and then 100% within two years, bringing in 6,000 rescues from kill shelters each year and helping to ease the burden on local municipal animal facilities.
“We just broke ground on the Sutherlin Dog Shelter and the Giaquinto Medical Center and both buildings will be finished by the end of 2025,” Shelton shared.
“We have an incredible campus that provides all kinds of services to the community to help them with their pets and a beautiful green space featuring events like yoga, etc. We also have comedy nights and other … community events [planned] to welcome people of all ages and walks of life into Furkids,” she continued.
Frida’s Foundation
Another important highlight of the year was the merging of Frida’s Foundation, a volunteer-based nonprofit, with the Furkids organization.
Founded in 2019, Frida’s Foundation’s mission is to aid community cats and educate the public through high-volume spay/neuter programs, community outreach, collaboration and advocacy.
Since its inception, they have spayed/neutered over 3,500 cats, sent more than 2,500 cats to rescue and provided food assistance to over 4,500 cats within the community — achievements that were driven by Frida’s Foundation founder, Diviya Roney.
According to a press release announcing the merger, Frida’s Foundation’s “hard work and commitment to lifting people out of despair and giving hope to the hopeless is a mission that aligns perfectly with the core values of Furkids Animal Rescue & Shelters.”
Furkids absorbed Frida’s Foundation earlier this year, combining both organizations’ resources and expertise to enhance their shared mission of saving animals and supporting communities in need.
“It is very exciting for Furkids to acquire such a professional, well-run community cat organization,” Shelton said. “Philosophically, our two organizations are well-matched. We are looking forward to having Diviya continue the work of Frida’s Foundation at Furkids, and we welcome its dedicated volunteers and supporters … as we all work together to provide support for community cats and their caregivers in all Georgia counties.”
More details
Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters Headquarters is located at 5235 Union Hill Road, Cumming, GA 30040. For more information, please visit furkids.org.
You can read more about Furkids CEO, Samantha Shelton, in our Faces of Peachtree Corners feature in the December/January issue of Peachtree Corners Magazine.
The two-day event aims to raise funds for local dog rescue
Show off your pickleball skills, cheer on the players, meet fellow dog lovers and enjoy the beautiful facility and courts at Life Time Health & Fitness Center in Peachtree Corners at the second annual Pickle for Pups fundraising weekend.
Whether you’re a tournament-level player or a pickleball beginner, this two-day event offers fun for everyone. With exciting games, drills and open play; a Friday night party; Saturday team tournament; and an online raffle, it’s a great way to meet and mingle with other pickleball enthusiasts while supporting the work done by BarkVille Dog Rescue.
Weekend events
The festivities kick off on Friday, November 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with an evening of food, drinks, live music and pickleball. The Life Time pros will offer clinics and drills, and other courts will be available for open play. Some of the rescue’s adorable, adoptable dogs will even be onsite for the fun.
Saturday, November 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. will feature the team tournament with two divisions: 3.0/3.5 and 4.0/4.5. Matches will include one men’s line, one women’s line and two mixed lines. The top four teams in each level will advance to the medal round, and medals for the top three teams in each division will be awarded.
Participants can form their own team or ask to be placed on a team at their level.
Team tournament players will receive a boxed lunch, and food will also be available for purchase at the club restaurant.
In addition to tournament play, beginners clinics and drills will be offered from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., and open play will be available for those who can’t commit to the full afternoon but still want to have some pickleball fun.
There will be nine courts available for Friday night and 12 courts for Saturday. All courts are permanent pickleball courts and indoor courts are also available, so the event will be held rain or shine.
Ticket options
The Drinks & Dinks pass includes entrance to the Friday evening party (complete with food, drink, live music and pickleball), as well as entry on Saturday for open play, clinics and drills. Cost: $50.
The Top Dog “Team Up for Rescue” tournament pass is for people playing in the team tournament and includes registration for all of the action on Saturday as well as the Friday night party and an event swag bag. Cost: $75.
Both ticket options allow you to come both days or just one day.
The raffle
Pickle for Pups is also holding a raffle featuring amazing prizes, including an all-inclusive trip for two to the Caribbean, a Zane Navratil ProXR paddle and virtual lesson, gift cards to local restaurants and more.
New prizes will be added weekly leading up to the event. Raffle tickets can be purchased online through November 16. The drawing will be held that day at 3:00 p.m.
Ten raffle entries are $25; 140 entries can be purchased for $200. Other entry packages are available for $50 and $100 as well.
The details
Event dates: November 15-16
Location: Life Time Health Club & Fitness Center at 6350 Courtside Dr. NW, Peachtree Corners, GA
For more information or to make a donation, purchase event tickets or buy raffle entries, visit go.rallyup.com/pickleforpups2024.
For more about BarkVille Dog Rescue, visit barkvilledogrescue.org.
Information about Life Time in Peachtree Corners can be found at lifetime.life/locations/ga/peachtree-corners.
The Peachtree Corners Magazine annual giveaway and celebration of pets and their people
We love our pets, fur kids, companions, darlings, and all-around special family members. We’d like you to share a picture of yourself and your pet—or pets—with us. Submit your image by uploading it through our giveaway app (to make sure you get it) or from any one of three sources: Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Grand Prize
- 3-month free Care Club Membership with a Scenthound Johns Creek Central gift basket. (Value $335)
- My Pet Vet – One free basic puppy or adult dog wellness plan (Value $597)
- $75 Amazon Gift Card
Second Prize
- My Pet Vet – 10 free nights of boarding (Value $525)
- Pet Wants $100 Digital Gift Card for use on https://petwantsjohnscreek.com/shop_home/johnscreek(Value $100)
- $50 Amazon Gift Card
Third Prize
- $100 Visa Gift Card from Waggles Puppy Boutique
- $200 Amazon Gift Card
It’s easy to enter with the app below. First, submit a picture of you and your pet(s), then enter your name and email.
Scroll Down to ENTER
Once you’ve done that, you have opened another 7 ways to gain entry points. The more entry points you have, the more possibility you have of winning! (Note: Entry points are not the number of entrants in the giveaway.)
The giveaway starts Monday, August 12, at 11:59 pm and ends on Thursday, September 12th, 11:59 PM
Please note that you must complete the entry options for your entry to be valid. You must also own the image rights for the images you submit.
Any images submitted may be used in our magazine for the Pets & Their People feature and in social media posts promoting the giveaway. Check the rest of the terms and conditions.
Pets and their People Giveaway (PTC) 2024
Final Restaurants Announced for New Politan Row Food Hall at The Forum
Fun for All Ages: The Neighborhood Christmas Train 2024 Experience
The High Museum to Showcase “Thinking Eye, Seeing Mind”
GAC Shares Joy of Christmas with Annual Can-A-Thon Support
GAC Shares Joy of Christmas with Annual Can-A-Thon Support
Final Restaurants Announced for New Politan Row Food Hall at The Forum
The High Museum to Showcase “Thinking Eye, Seeing Mind”
Fun for All Ages: The Neighborhood Christmas Train 2024 Experience
Life in Motion: The Gift of Organ Donation Fuels Active Lives for Recipients
Furkids Wraps Up Successful Year with Open House Event and More
The Dec/Jan Issue of Peachtree Corners Magazine is Out Now
Shaping Peachtree Corners: New Vision for the Central Business District [Podcast]
Light up the Corners [Video]
Capitalist Sage: Business Leadership in Your Community [Podcast]
Cliff Bramble: A Culinary Adventure through Italy
Top 10 Brunch Places in Gwinnett County
A Hunger for Hospitality
THE CORNERS EPISODE 3 – BLAXICAN PART 1
Top 10 Indoor Things To Do This Winter
The ED Hour: What it takes to Remove Barriers from Education
