Steve and Heatherle Chambers are a typical Northwest family who are very busy and outdoorsy. They had a Lab Retriever who they lost about 9 years ago, and like many people who have lost Pets, Steve decided that he never wanted another dog. Audrey, the Chambers daughter who is now 10 years old, wanted a dog from the time she could pronounce the word and could distinguish dogs from other types of Pets, but Steve was firm that the family would never get another dog.

Several years ago, the Chambers family did adopt a cat, Fanta. Fanta’s a big boy, 23 pounds of love, and he does work well with the family’s busy schedule, but both Audrey and Heatherle still wanted a dog,

On a recent family visit to the Clackamas Town Center, they played with rabbits and cats, but looked at dogs too. Apparently something touched Steve as one day not much later, much to Heatherle’s surprise, he showed her a photo of a dog he had seen on a Hannah website. The next day, the family visited Hannah again and met with a counselor for the Pet Match interview.

According to Heatherle, the Pet Match process was fantastic. The counselor really listened to their needs and wants, and found that indeed there were dogs that could adapt to their lifestyle. Because the family hikes, camps, goes for long bike rides, and run, the Chambers thought that an older, perhaps bigger dog would be perfect for them, but the counselor determined that a younger smaller dog might be better. A younger dog could accompany Heatherle on her 12-15 jogging miles every week; could keep up with the family on hikes, and would be happy to go camping with them. She told them she had the perfect match in mind who was due to arrive at the Pet Center that very day.

When Bean, a 6 month old, 7 pound shih tzu-malti-yorkie mix, walked into the Pet Center, Steve was drawn to her. As he approached her, she rolled over on her back for some love, and for Steve, that was it. Neither Steve nor Heatherle realized that they had met Bean on their earlier prior trip, but this time she did tug at their heart strings. They decided to go have lunch and think more about the idea of adopting a dog. But on the way to lunch, they peeked into the Hannah window and saw another couple playing with Bean.

During lunch, Heatherle kept watching Steve to see if he was really serious about adopting a dog, and she says he kept making “cow eyes” at her. Apparently little Bean had managed to touch Steve’s heart (a man who was never ever going to adopt another dog). That very day, after lunch, the Chambers family was back at Hannah to complete a match with little Bean. The counselors at Hannah talked Heatherle through the adoption process and setting up their home to get it ready. While Heatherle was still a little unsure about Bean – mostly because she was a full 15 pounds smaller than the dog she had pictured in her home, she says she just put her faith in the Hannah matching process.

After attending the Orientation meeting and collecting all the things Hannah provides for new Pets, Bean was on her way to her new home. Now, after a few short weeks, the Chambers and Bean are a happy family unit. As for Fanta – well Bean adores him.

Bean has already joined the family on a camping trip where she was the perfect little passenger in their RV and held her own on a hike. Heatherle hasn’t take Bean running with her yet, because like a child, she likes to stop too often to “smell the roses, and whatever else is in her path. On the upside though, Audrey now joins the family on walks, which she rarely did before. Heatherle has been getting some tips from the trainer on how to help Bean keep up on runs, and is hopeful by spring she will be able to go for at least one run a day.

As for Steve? Well Bean has stolen his heart too. He bought her a little tutu for Halloween where she was a hit with everyone who saw her. And most recently, he purchased a basket for his bike so Bean can accompany him on his rides.

Bean is doing great in her training classes. Heatherle says, “She’s pretty fantastic.” She’s been exactly what we wanted out of a dog.” And to everyone’s surprise, little Bean has changed the family lifestyle too. They now spend more time at home doing family activities, and Bean is included in everything they do.

Lacy Price and her children Marli (2) and Ashton (3) had been visiting the Hannah Clackamas Placement Center since it opened in September 2010. They loved to play with the Pets available for adoption, and Lacy and her husband Cory had been thinking about adopting a dog for a long time.

Shortly after Hannah opened, before committing to adopt a Hannah Pet, a friend offered the Price family a free Golden Lab puppy. Like all puppies, he was adorable, so they jumped at the opportunity. But rather than bring them the joy they had anticipated, this puppy turned out to be all wrong for their life style. As all Golden Labs do, he grew and grew, and as he got big, he also became a bit too big and bold for Lacy or her small children to handle. With heavy hearts, because they did love him, they began searching for a better home for him. They ultimately found a Golden Lab rescue group that was able to place him in a home better suited for such a big playful dog.

At that point, Cory told Lacy, “We are never ever getting another dog.” They already had a cat that fit their life style, especially as their children are still so young. Still, they couldn’t resist visiting Hannah on their trips to the Clackamas Town Center to play with the dogs. Their cat, though cute and sweet, is very independent and Lacy and the children still wanted the type of cuddling and affection that most dogs provide.

About a month ago, while Lacy and the children were visiting Hannah on one of their frequent trips to the mall, Lacy says she fell in love with another dog. Armed with brochures and Hannah paperwork as well as photos of the dog that had claimed her heart, Lacy asked Cory to reconsider adopting a dog.

A few days later, Lacy, Cory and kids went at Hannah to see the dog. Lacy was devastated to learn that “her” dog had been placed with another family, but another little dog caught Cory’s attention. He was cute, small, a little older so past the puppy stage that had been so difficult with their last Pet, and very different looking than any dog Cory had ever seen. In fact, as Lacy describes him, he was quite a “mop top”. That very day, the Price family met with a Hannah counselor and completed the interview and proprietary Pet Matching  Test to determine if Jo-Jo, as he was then called, would be a good match for their home and life style. It was a match made in heaven.

After attending the new member orientation, the Price family picked up their newest family member. Before they returned to pick up Jo-Jo, they had already decided that he would be renamed Mulligan because it is a golf term that means “a do-over.” As Lacy says, “So we get a do-over at having a dog and he gets a do-over at having a new family. Fits him perfectly.”

They spent the first afternoon playing with Mulligan, and as bedtime approached they were a bit apprehensive that it could be a long sleepless night. Their first puppy had cried all night long, but Mulligan was a happy surprise. He went right into his crate and went to sleep. The entire family enjoyed a quiet restful night.

Lacy says that Mulligan is the perfect Pet for the entire family. He’s calm, gentle with everyone, loves attention and loves to cuddle; he even gets along with the cat. Just a few short weeks later, Mulligan is already fully integrated into the Price household, and Lacy and Cory have even found themselves wondering if it is supposed to be so easy. “He’s a real cuddlebug. He’s a funny dog and has a great personality. We’re very happy.”