Harley’s Story
Posted by admin on 12 Apr 2010 at 09:00 pm | Tagged as: Contest, Harley's Story, New Lives Book, Previous Inspiring Stories, Rescued Animals
I’m Harley, a 3-1/2 year old Weimaraner. I was surrendered to Heartland Animal Shelter in Northbrook Illinois along with 4 of my siblings by a breeder that couldn’t find us a home. My shelter name was “Wild Thing”, which should give you a clue about me. I was a bouncy, playful guy that was given lots of love and attention in my days at the shelter.
One day at the shelter, volunteers Jim & Debbie came in to spend time in the kennels walking dogs. Jim immediately fell for me and my siblings the minute he saw us. They inquired about us with hesitation, since Weimeraners are known for their high-energy and they already had 2 other dogs at home, Heidi a German Shephard, and Harvard a Lab/boxer mix. Debbie brought Heidi and Harvard in for a meet and greet to be sure everyone would accept me as a new member of the family. Happily accepted by all, I now spend my days playing with my new big sister and little brother, chasing squirrels and burning my energy at Playful Paws Doggy Daycare.
Since Jim and Debbie were volunteers at Heartland and always did whatever they could to help the animals at the shelter, they decided to try to find a way to help even more. With a name like “Harley”, what do you think Jim and Debbie’s favorite hobby was? Riding Harleys of course. Jim had an idea that he and Debbie could combine their two favorite hobbies – riding Harley’s and helping animals to start a fundraiser to help Heartland Animal Shelter. Motorcycle riders spent much of their time riding for charities Because it gives them a place to ride and join a group of friends while supporting a charity. Most riders are animal lovers with a heart of gold under all that leather, and love to share their passion with other riders. In September 2007, Hogs for Dogs and Kitties Too! Was born, with me, Harley as the spokesdog to help all my furry friends at Heartland.
Posters and flyers were sent out everywhere with a caricature of me on a motorcycle. I also became the icon of Hogs for Dogs and Kitties Too on posters and patches. The event was exhilarating and exciting with our first turn out of 80 motorcycles and over 100 participants, raising over $3000. We enlisted the help of sponsors and raffle prize donations through friends and local businesses. The parade of motorcycles and vehicles rode 60 miles through the northwest suburbs and the after party was held at Side-Outs Bar & Grill in Island Lake, with food, refreshments, live band, and raffles.
Each year, the Hogs for Dogs and Kitties Too ride is held the 3rd Sunday of September and it grows and grows. As Debbie and Jim prepare for the fourth annual ride, they continue to attract riders from all over the Chicago-land area raising awareness of our small community shelter and increasing the pool of potential adopters who have learned about Heartland. The ride continues to be a big success raising funds to support our not-for-profit shelter, which houses over 40 dogs and 100 cats at any one time. This helps all my furry friends have a safe haven to live until they find their forever homes, where they can live happily ever after like I do now with Jim, Debbie, Heidi and Harvard.
Wonderful story about one of my favorite dogs. Harley is such a great spokes-dog for Hogs for Dogs, one of the coolest fund raising events.
Thanks for a awesome post and interesting comments. I found this post while searching for some music events. Thanks for sharing this post.
Harley is an awesome mascot for the annual Hogs for Dogs and Kitty ride. Jim and Debbie work tirelessly to make this annual event a great success. Thanks to both of them for what they do. Please check out the Heartland Animal Shelter website in Northbrook to see what other amazing animal rescue stories are just waiting to be written!
Adopt an animal and save a life.
Cathy
Volunteer at Heartland
Mom of 2 Heartland alumni cats- Tiger and Bailey
A great ride for a great cause! Keep up the good work Jim and Debbie and we look forward to Hogs for Dogs (and kitties too) 2010.
Bob and Eileen Parkinson
Harley Owners and proud “staff” to two Heartland Cats.
Harley, Debbie and Jim have done a great job of helping Heartland Animal Shelter with the Hogs for Dogs ride. It is a great ride to look forward to every Spetember! Way to go!
Harley is a great spokesdoggie and looks really cool on the posters also. Great story and the event is alot of fun and very well run. Keep up the great work for a wonderful cause.
Jim and Deb are very generous with their time and love to support the Heartland Animal Shelter. They put forth endless effort to raise awareness and funds. Great work for a great cause!
A great dog that lives with a great couple!! I think they were all lucky to find each other!! Harley is the highlight of one of the BEST fundraising events of the year for Heartland- i never miss it!! Great job Harley (and Deb and Jim : )!!
Love,
Melissa
I’ve known Jim and Debbie for several years now, and their love for animals is easily apparent. They spend LOTS of time and their own money to help the Heartland Animal Shelter in it’s mission. Their efforts with the Hogs for Dogs motorcycle ride has made it into one of the premier fundraising events. I make sure that I am able to join them each year. And Harley is SO good in his role as the mascot.
What a heart-warming story and I know he now has a great home with Jim and Debbie. I hope I can meet him someday! What a great project and fundraiser to be a part of… my heart goes out to you!
I started riding with our Harley Chapter this past summer as a new rider.On one of my first group rides it was dark on the way home and I had no idea where we were.Jim and Debbie
took a different route part of the way home so I could follow them and get that much closer to my house.We rode together since then on the Heart of a Marine Foundation Heroes Ride, raising money and equipment for wounded veterans.They also did the Toys For Tots ride in December, and several other charity fundraisers.It’s easy to understand why Harley looks like such a contented dog. I really enjoyed reading his story.God Bless Jim,Debbie,Heidi,Harvard and Harley. Let’s Ride !!!
Thank you Harley and Jim and Debbie for your inspiring story! Heartland Shelter animals are very greatful for your dedication and love! Hogs for Dogs is a fabulous event! Keep up the great work!
I was finally able to attend last years HOGs for Dogs and Kitty’s too Poker Run and it was great. This story only projects half of what Jim and Debbie do. It takes a lot of effort to pull something like this off and with that effort you know there has to be a lot of love for the cause. I loved this story and read it to my little guy and Maverick want’s to give you both a big kiss for helping his kind.
We’ve had dogs for years and find that many times our dogs treat us better than our kids! Dogs depend on us for a good home and their care, and Jim & Debbie work very hard, giving their time and money so these wonderful dogs find good homes. I’m looking forward to the Hogs for Dogs ride this year and thank Jim & Debbie for the great work they are doing.
Great story about Harley and the love and devotion of Jim and Debbie to their dogs and Heartland animal shelter. I know for fact the story doesn’t begin to tell the time Jim and Debbie donate to the shelter. I have supported the shelter in donations and volunteer help. I have perticipated in the Hogs 4 Dogs for 2 years. looking for to 2010 Ride to raise more money for heartland.
Great heart-warming story. Riding Harleys and having two rescue dogs myself I can relate. Jim and Debbie keep up the great work I know all the animals thank you.
What a nice story. I too had the privilege to participate on last’s years Hogs for Dogs and I look forward to participating this year again. No only this is a great cause but it is fun and rewarding to meet the dogs and cats at the shelter and give them a little bit of our love. Debbie and Jim thank you for such a great work.
What a great story. We live in Las Vegas with our four adopted dogs and five adopted cats. We are also Harley riders, and have been on many charity runs over the years. Jim and Debbie, keep up the great work. We hope to send some riders your way in September.
He is a great dog and full of life. Jim and Deb Know how to pick them. hope to one day attend Hogs for Dogs And Kitty’s to
Aside from being a great ride, Hogs for Dogs and Kitties allowed many of the ride’s participants to walk through the Heartland facilities and see first hand what all the fuss is about. It was good to see how all our contributions were providing such necessary and appreciated care to the animals. Hopefully this ride with continue to grow each year and generate even more interest in what Heartland’s all about.
Awesome story. I love a good story with a happy ending. Harley is a lucky dog to have such great parents and siblings. And, he makes a great spokesdoggy for the Hogs for Dogs and Kitties Too charity event. There are plenty of other animals waiting for their happy ending. Please visit Heartlandanimalshelter.net if you’re considering a furry friend.
What a great idea!!!
What a great way to raise money for a worthy cause. Jim and Debbie should be so proud of their work – changing lives.
What a great story. Thank you.
Harley is adorable pooch (though I doubt that he knows he is a pooch).. lives with his adoptive brother Harvard and adoptive sister Heidi in a wonderful loving home… he was lucky to have chosen Deb and Jim for his parents…. many pooches and kitties are still waiting to pick their parents and Deb an Jim work really hard to make their temporary residence at the shelter a nice and loving place…. but nothing beats having your own family, occasional squirrel chase, pretending to be a lap dog, etc… spread the word!!!!
We were adopted from Heartland and love that Harley has inspired Deb & Jim to raise money to help more animals. Will you let Cats come on the Hogs for Dogs in the future?
Max would probably have a great time…I prefer home (Ellie).
Deb and Jim,
For all you do for the fur kids…some people claim they never have time…yet you two always find the time and what a great cause!!!
this is a very blessed and amazing work that ALL of you are doing!!
Daniel Enz
Awesome and heartwarming story…I will be watching for information on your next Hogs for Dogs and hope to join you to help raise funds for Heartland, which is a great no-kill shelter that finds homes for so many cats and dogs. This shelter like so many others is suffering in this economy. Your fundraiser certainly helps once a year, but helping to save lives with medical and food, and house so many kittens, cats, puppies and dogs takes a tremendous amount of funds, as well as volunteer and foster support. Heartland is absolutely one of the best run animal shelters in Illinois with hands-down volunteer and veterinary care support. Keep up the great work, so many animals depend on you!
Great story and great cause. Good Job Harley and Family! Keep on Riding!
What a lovely and inspiring story! An awesome dog with an awesome couple! The HOGS for dogs events are lots of fun!
This was a very inspiring story. Thank you.
Great story, Great dog, Great people. Gina.
What a wonderful story for such a great cause! Kudos!!
This story reminds me of Bruce, a dog given to my family by a friend. Some one had left Bruce in my friends garage
when it was a pup. Bruce loved to wonder and travaled many time but always came home.
One time he did not come home and we could not find him as before. Years later, I saw Bruce. He had found another family and he was one of three free spirits who
found a home.
I never talked to the new parents because Bruce was happy.
We will always remember Bruce
We need more Jim, Debbie, and Harley’s to make all shelter’s no kill! Thanks for all you do!
A heart warming story.
Wow! Very Cool !!! ((( Hugs ))) 2 Awesome People Like You!!! Thanx
Great story! Keep up the good work.
I’m a Lhaso Apso but I am sure that I really look just like Harley!. I am beautiful and big, and you can see my soul if you look into my eyes.
My daddy, Tony, tells me that Debbie and Jim always do stuff to help dogs like me and Harley (Beautiful) and kitties, too. I sorta like kitties, if they just mind their own business……Daddy says that people ride on those really noisy machines, and they go around and then they get money for dogs like Harley, and kitties, and other animals that don’t have a home to live in. I think that Harley’s mommy and Daddy do lots of nice things for
animals and thats why all the animals and people really ,really like them. I never met Debbie and Jim, but I know I would love them and they would love me, cuz I look just like Harley. My daddy is going to ride on his noisy machine again, to get some more money for those animals. I hope everyone can help support Harley’s mom and daddy in their endless efforts to help the animals.
Thank you Debbie and Jim, from all dogs and kitties
everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great Job! Great dog!
Love this story! What an inspiration!
Great story! Harley and Debbie are amazing!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. And thanks for all the great work on behalf of homeless animals.
Joanne
Kudos to Jim and Debbie for taking initiative.
well, dogs would ride if they could, but the run would take a long time….what with stopping at every fireplug and all…Good story about Harley, and Jim and Debbie
Great story! Wish we had room to add to our two rescues.
Thanks to Jim and Debbie for taking the time to volunteer and care for the animals. I did the ride last year and enjoyed it a lot. I plan on being there this year to support the cause.
Debbie & Jim,
I’m truly touched by our inspiring story and thank you so much for sharing. We are blessed to have such help and dedication for the homeless animals in need. Thank you for expressing your love for our fury friends and making a difference in their lives.
Sincerely,
All the Animals at HEARTLAND ANIMAL SHELTER
“Love of animals is a universal impulse, a common ground on which all of us may meet. By loving and understanding animals, perhaps we humans shall come to understand each other.”
– Louis J. Camuti
This is a great story…I loved it…I have a kitty and I appreciate your love for the animal kindom. All the best to you…
What a great story. I wish I could meet Harley and his sister & brother. What a team. Knowing Debbie she will do a wonderful job on the fund raiser. We wish we could be there to participate.
Hogs For Dogs has grown to become one of the most important fundraising events for our shelter. We owe a big debt of gratitude to Jim & Debbie for starting it and making it bigger and better each year. And to all the bikers who have participated in this event over the years: YOU ROCK!
All the years I have known Debbie and Jim I thought they were poopie heads but apparently I was wrong. I wholeheartedly support their cause. They are truly great humanitarians and I applaud the work they do for the Heartland Animal Shelter. I will also continue to support their cause.
I absolutely loved this story-it’s very inspiring. Keep up the great work.
Debbie & Jim, you are such a blessing to these animals. I love what you do. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.
Great story. Many thanks to Debbie & Jim for running the event year after year in support of the animals at Heartland.
What a great Story. You are right, most riders are animal lovers. Our dog that was rescued from the shelter and we understand the importance of your cause. Who knows, we may ride down from Minnesota to join in on the party. See Ya soon.
What a great story! Harley is one handsome and charismatic mascot for this great cause!
My friends do the “ride” every year and have a great time and it’s for a good cause……hmmmmmmmmmmmm….maybe they will let an old fat woman ride a mo’cycle and come along this year!
Very inspiring. We need more people and places like that to help
Nice story. I too have a rescue black lab. My neighbor lost their house to foreclosure and they asked me if I would take their dog. I had a golden for 13 years and had just put him down the year before and swore I would not go through that painful experience again, but I am now owned by another wonderful dog.
Pets are very important to so many people. Our cat is a member of our family. This is a wonderful story about Harley and I hope that all of his friends from the shelter can find a home as good as yours.
What an inspiring story. Hogs for Dogs does so much for the animals at Heartland!! There is nothing like the unconditional love of a pet!!
This is a great ride year after year, and the people who run that shelter are truly angels from God for those animals.
What a nice story about your rescue dog – sounds like a wonderful event.
Sounds like a fun event to me – great cause, helping all the animals.
We love Harley at Playful Paws. Jim and Debbie are fantastic and care so much for Heartland Animal Shelter. Their fundraisers are always successful and they add so much “heart” to Heartland. Harley has come to Playful Paws doggy daycare since he was adopted by them, and they go to great lenghts to see adopted dogs have the best life possible. We love you, Harley, Jim and Debbie!!
Hi, We were so inspired, we went over to Heartland Animal Shelter and adopted the newest member of our family. A dalmation labrador retriever mix. She’s 10 mos. old and just great. The people there are great. We couldn’t be happier.
.
This is an excellent event!!!!!
awesome, what a truly wonderful group of caring, loving,
people & precious animals – a total inspiration. My
prayers for more special people to do what they need to
do to help, so someday there will be fewer dogs & cats
who require saving, they should all have forever homes
with loving people. Bravo!
Heartland Animal Shelter,G-d bless you ((*-*))
This is a great event for such a wonderful cause. Jim and Deb are such wonderful good hearted people and give so much love to these beautiful animals.
I loved hearing how Jim and Debbie opened up their home to Harley, and how “Wild Thing” inspired them to start their motorcycle fund raising event. These are great people and make you realize that each of us can do more than we’re doing to help homeless animals. I am glad Jim and
Debbie’s annual fundraiser has been so successful. I contribute to Heartland and think it’s a great animal shelter.
Beautiful! Thanks for the great work, love, and compassion…
Way to go. Without a dog, many men might not have a best friend.
Heartwarming story and worthwhile cause. Great work Deb & Jim!
Many thanks for posting Harley’s story, and telling us about the work you do. What a great event!
Deb & Jim – Keep up the good work, you’re doing wonderful things!
What a Great Story! It’s people like you that make a difference in this world! Way To Go!
That’s a wonderful story, about not just a wonderful dog but about great people who do good things.
Harley, Heidi, & Harvard -
Who will be next.
Keep up the good work!
What a heartwarming story. Jim & Debbie do so much for
the Heartland Shelter. I know where I’m going when the
time comes for a new pet. Hope to make the Hogs For Dogs
Poker Run this year.
I’ve ridden the Hogs for Dogs ride the past 2 years. Great people! Great ride! Great cause! I so admire Jim and Debbie and their dedication to helping animals find forever homes. They’re good friends, too! And great riding partners!
That’s a great story!
Great story. Good luck with the fundraiser this fall.
Great story. Love the Harely HOGS for DOGS ideas. Maybe we can help with the fundraiser this fall!
Hogs for Dogs is a great ride very year. Heartland Animal shelter is a wonderful reason to ride. Glad they do better every year! How do they always get good weather?
Jim and Debbie did a wonderful thing for Heartland. Many volunteers there help train the dogs to make it easier for a dog to be adopted and stay adopted. We adopted our dog from Heartland almost six years ago and every year we try to go to the Heartland Walk. Our formerly very shy dog greats all the volunteers who helped take care of her before she come to her permanent home.
well my daughter meet harley .wich she fell in love with him.we only get to see deb,jim,and the dogs every few years.but mikaela still talks about him.
Wow! This is the kind of response we love to see!!!
Great story, great event…thank you from all the shelter animals at Heartland and Elsewhere (meow, bow-wow).
It is so nice to know for all of us who spend their lives on the sideline, that there are great people and groups who take such an active part in rescuing such deserving dogies, and cats. Keep up the good work.
Keep up the GREAT work!
Jim and Debbie do a superior job raising money and awareness for Heartland Animal Shelter. Their Hogs for Dogs and Kitties too fund raiser is a ton of fun, there are so many riders (and non riders) that come and hang out for a day to help raise funds for a good cause. Thanks Debbie and Jim for your efforts to help the shelter animals.
From All the Animals at Heartland Animal Shelter thank you for thinking about us by sharing your story!!!
That’s a great story!!! I have seen the motorcycle’s on the road, and always was curious why they all gathered at Heartland. I konw have my anwser, and may participate next year. Thanks!
Great story!! Thank you so much for all of your efforts and finding forever homes for more than just your lucky dog Harley!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Awesome story! Looking forward to getting involved with Hogs for Dogs this fall!
Great story!! Jimmy and Deb are personal friends of mine and my husband. We participate in the Hogs for Dogs ride yearly! Its a great charity!!
Harley is a great story and loves being the spokes dog for Heartland Animal Shelter’s Hogs for Dogs
You have such a great story, Harley! I’m so glad Jim and Debbie found you!!! Hogs for Dogs and Kitties Too is such a cool idea – I hope it will be another successful fundraiser for Heartland
Jim and Debbie show such dedication and initiative setting up Hogs for Dogs! Harley’s story was so heart warming and I’m so happy she’s inspired an event that does so much good! Harley is one lucky pup to have such a great, caring home!
I’m a volunteer at Heartland in Northbrook, Illinois, socializing cats.
It is a joy when one of the cats, who may have been a stray, becomes
brave enough to jump on my lap and allow me to pet it. Some of my
cats have already been adopted and left for their forever homes.
This makes me feel so good.
Love the story about Lottie Dots. I think we should all do what we
can to help lost and homeless animals.
I’m a volunteer at Heartland in Northbrook, Illinois, socializing cats.
It is a joy when one of the cats, who may have been a stray, becomes
brave enough to jump on my lap and allows me to pet it. Some of my
cats have already been adopted and left for their forever homes.
This makes me feel so good.
It just goes to show that even people who ruin the environment by riding too-loud Harley-Davidson motorcycles can still do a wonderful thing. Now they can work on getting quieter bikes.
This is a wonderful adoption story about keepers who adopt. I also have two Heartland alumni dogs–Caramel and Logan which we met while we were helping. I have so enjoyed all the animals along with all the Friday night volunteers that I work with.
Now that’s the kind of story I love! Two great people who not only provide a “forever” home for their dogs, but also go one giant step further to help animals with an annual fundraising event. How lucky Heartland is to have Debbie and Jim – such caring and devoted volunteers.
What a lucky dog! and great story.
A great idea. Thank you for all you do to help the poor babies at the shelter.
what a great success story….
What an inspiration Looking forward to getting involved with Dogs for Hogs.
Harley’s story is inspirational. I wish every animal had that same story!
What a wonderful story….Heartland is doing great things!
Harley is one lucky dog, I have a friend who has a Harley and I’ll be encouraging him and his friends to support the charity ride in September!
This is such a great story! I absolutely loved it!
Thank you Harley for helping Heartland rescue pets like us! What a wonderful story! Thank you to every one who participates!
Working and supporting the animals at Heartland is the best volunteer job! The animals in their own way let us know that to help, care and find good homes for them is so much appreciated. This is a great story!
Heartland and their animals are the best!
Can’t wait to participate in Hogs for Dogs this year! Harley is such a wonderful source of inspiration!
What a wonderful dog and wonderful people this is what makes volunteering all about.
Such a touching story! GO Harley!
I love to hear stories about happy endings. I wish I could win the lottery and by a farm for animals in the shelters. Thank you for all your hard work.
Meredith
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. Thank you to Harley, his mom and dad, Heartland, and all the people that give their time and resources to help the wonderful pets. Heartland is a great Shelter!
It is always a pleasure when Harley comes to daycare he is a fun and playful dog! He has found a wonderful forever loving home and family to be a part of. Heartland Animal Shelter is always having events to help find Harley’s friends loving homes and Harley’s story just shows us how important it is to help find these loving animals a forever home!
Cute dog, great cause, amazing people!
Love it!
Its been a pleasure getting to know Harley over the past few years. I never even knew he was a rescue until today. Its great to know hes trying to help out other dogs in need.
What a wonderful story. It is such a good feeling to know that there are people out there who care so much about our animals. Thank you all volunteers.
Paula
Great Story!
Hogs for Dogs is such a cool event and it’s wonderful to read the story of the dog who inspired it. I don’t remember Harley (Wild Thing) – puppies come and go so quickly – but he’s a lucky dog. Great story!
Great place!
Wonderful place and story!
Harley’s story is great!!!! Keep up the good works!!!Heartland is a wonderful shelter with wonderful people working and volunteering to help the dogs and cats find families to give them a permanent home!!!!!!!!!!!
A very touching story! As a volunteer at heartland, I get no greater satisfaction! It’s a wonderful place with a wonderful cause!
I have a lot of admiration and respect for people like Jim and Debbie. Because of all their efforts so many great dogs and cats lifes were saved. And so many lucky families were able to experience pure and unconditional love only animals can give us.
Debbie, Jim-
We need many more like you!!!!
Bob
What a great story. All the animals at Heartland deserve to have the loving outcome of Harley’s story. Hopefully, with people like this, they will!
Heartland is such a great place, full of wonderful people doing everything they can to care for and help the dogs and cats find a safe and happy home. Thanks for everything you have done to help support their mission! Hogs for Dogs and Kitties is a great idea!
Great story! Thanks for helping all the homeless animals!
Harley’s story is a terrific one! It really shows how a big difference can be made! thank you for your love, dedication, and inspiration! : )
This is such a heartwarming happy ending for such a great pooch! Thank you to Jim and Debbie for all that you do to help out the pets at Heartland waiting to find their forever homes just like Harley!
I became a volunteer at Heartland just to have the opportunity to work with and help animals just like Harley. BTW, the people at Heartland aren’t half bad either!!! ;-}
The charity ride was a great idea!! Heartland animal shelter is a safe haven for many animals to utilize when times are tough. Hopefully more organizations and individuals will become inspired as much as I have from working with such great animals and very thoughtful volunteers. Thanks for sharing your story debbie and jim!
Dani
All of us at Heartland appreciate and rely on the great efforts of volunteers like Harley’s owners. Please support us in any way you can so more great animals like Harley find their forever homes!
Nice story. Is there a book to follow?
Great story and great events to help a good cause!!!
Way to go Harley and family…keep on riding. Keep up the great work Heartland!
Great story about Harley. Glad he found a home…and purpose in life!
Great story! Keep up the great work you do. Thanks for your time and dedication in helping those helpless animals that just need a little love!
Wow! Great cause. Debbie and Jim are very dedicated.
Good Luck!
Very heartwarming…thanks for sharing!
Hate Harley Hogs. Love Harley the dog.
Truly an awsome story. Heartland is really a remarkable place and the fact that my good friends John and Janette Andrews voluteer their speak volumes to me. Keep up the good work.
What a wonderfuk story and being a volunteer at Heartland Harley deserved a great home with Jim and Debbie.
What a wonderful story Harley is a great dog!
Debbie
Heartland volunteer
What a wonderful story, Harley is a great dog!
Debbie
Heartland volunteer
This is such a heartwarming and affirmative story. My whole life has been filled with warm memories or dogs and cats we rescued from shelters as pets. My mom found our first pet, Ginger, shivering on the side of a road in rural Indiana one day when she was selling chinaware. We brought Ginger home, nursed her on milk and bologna, and Ginger went on to be our pet for more than 17 years. In adult life, we rescued several shelter animals. Our first cat, “Sneakers,” was found in a Houston shelter this way: My wife was walking down a narrow aisle bordered on both sides by cages of abandoned dogs and cats. As she walked slowly down the aisle, oogling at all the poor creatures, she felt a paw reach out between the bars of cage and snag her sweater. She chose the animal, and Sneakers lived with us for 15 years. We loved her so much. Our current pet, “Marty,” is an English pointer mix we rescued from, of all places, a Doberman rescue shelter. Marty and his brothers and sisters, were mostly white, but when discovered abandoned in a cardboard box one morning near the front door of the shelter, they looked dark brown. But the shelter soon discovered the poor things were literally enveloped in flea infestation. After Marty and his siblings were cleaned up, we adopted Marty. He is the love of our lives, and the most sensistive, fun-loving, intelligent animal we’ve ever known. It breaks our hearts to see any animal abandoned to a shelter, and if it weren’t for wonderful people like Heartland, this world would be a much worse place. God bless all of the creatures of the earth. We OWE it to them to protect, nurture and care for them all!
Good for Harley! Its nice to know that there are still some people that care enough to help those who cant help themselves.
I’ve been to Heartland with two of my very good friends who volunteer there, and I can vouch that it’s a great place! I’d love to meet Harley some day, and his mom & dad sound like great people to be able to organize such a wonderful event. Thanks for sharing his story!
Love this story!!! Love any dog named after a motorcycle!!
Leslie
Nice story, all of the animals you are helping appreciate your hard work!!!!! : )
What a great story. A lot of bikers, sometime get a bad rap.This story says it all.I myself have a rescue dog. That should be the only place anyone gets a dog or cat from.Keep up the good work.
Jim and Deb’s love for animals is readily apparent. They donate their time and money to help the Heartland Animal Shelter in it’s mission. The Hogs for Dogs motorcycle ride is one of the Shelter’s premier fundraising events. I join them each year. Harley is a great mascot.
My husband and I have participated in all of the Hogs for Dogs rides, we keep adding more and more of our riding friends. Heartland Shelter is a wonderful no-kill shelter and they do great work so we try to support in ways we can and this ride is one of them. I am looking forward to riding again this year!
Such a sweet story. It’s great to see that Harley and his siblings are in a loving home all thanks to Heartland
[...] Read the full story… [...]
Wonderful story, I’m considering driving from michigan for the september rally. I grew up with a weimreimer and after reading the story remembered the playful nature of my old friend “BO”
Way to go Harley! Very inspiring…
Thank you so much to all of you for all the wonderful comments posted about Harley’s Hogs for Dogs story. We are truly blessed to have our furry friends in our lives and really love working with all the volunteers and staff at Heartland to coordinate this event. For a small community not for profit animal shelter, we have some extraordinary caring people on our team that make the shelter run like a well-oiled machine. We also have some fantastic donors and sponsors that work with us and help so much with funding.
We cant say thank you enough to everyone involved!! Our rewards come from the licks, purrs and wags and hopes that someday, animal shelters will be needed less and less when our population realizes the importance of neutering or spaying, and over-breeding.
Books such as New Lives by Joanne Wannan are helping us spread the word about the innocent animal lives that are rescued and saved, and living life to the fullest as they should.
Support your local animal shelter….our furry friends need you!
Another success story and we will not give up until they all have a home
What a Great Story! I really want to get involved with Hogs for Dogs this fall. Heartland is such an amazing organization! All the volunteers and everyone involved is just amazing! Way to go everyone!!
Shelters are the BEST places to get Animals. What a great story and a lucky home for Harley! It is so great to get involved and help to support the local shelters in your area. I really hope that this story touches so many others like me!
What a heartwarming story!
Love the story about Harley and the Hogs
Hogs for Dogs and Kitties.
My husband just aquired a motor bike; so love the companionship fund-raiser partnership!
It’s great to know there are people who open their hearts and homes to animals who will benefit so much from their love and attention. Kudos to Jim and Debbie and congrats to Harley for finding a wonderful family.
Great story and a special place in our hearts for anyone who adopts shelter animals!
Julie & John
Great story and great cause – good luck on the Hogs for Dogs.
Harley you have such a wonderful family! Thanks for everything you do for Heartland! Can’t wait for the next Hogs for Dogs!
Wonderful story.
I found this story heart-warming and compelling. It’s great to know that there are shelters available in our area and across the United States that open their doors to help find these pets forever homes, but more importantly kudos to each and everyone of you who takes the time to research shelters and find forever homes for these loving pets.
The story was moving and brought tears to my eyes. We too have adopted from a shelter (Heartland Animal Shelter) and to come home every night and be greeted by those lovely brown eyes makes me all warm and fuzzy. I can relate to this story and wish more and more people would adopt from shelters. Hope to see you at Hogs for Dogs…
Love the story!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
I found this story very moving. I’ve also adopted from animal shelters! Good luck Heartland on your next ride!
Like the story. Hey-”Harley” make sure you wear a helmet on your next ride! Good Luck! -Scott
Jim and Debbie ROCK for Heartland and all of our homeless pets.Thanks for all you do!
It is always wonderful to hear heartwarming stories of shelter pets that find forever loving homes. Harley, I am glad that you found your loving home with two very special people – Jim & Debbie. I can guarantee that Jim & Debbie love you as much as I love my Heartland Alumni – Little Audrey, Fifi, Blake, and Blackjack. I am truly thankful to Heartland Animal Shelter’s volunteers, staff, and the Preiser Family for caring for so many homeless animals until they find their forever homes.
What a great story.
Great story – nice to hear something good happening to dogs and cats – I will definitely contribute to Heartland to help with all of the good work they do. Thanks for sharing.
Harley is certainly “a dog for all seasons,” as is his tale! What an inspiring story – and what a marvelous event Hogs for Dogs and Kitties, Too is for Heartland. I adopted my little Maddie-mix from this shelter nearly 4 years ago, and she’s the light of my life. They CARE, as do Jim and Debbie. Bless them all!
You have a great story, Harley, and it’s clear you ended up in a great family.
My little red Mickey-cat recently joined our family from a shelter, and he is as loved as I am sure you are.
Hope this year’s ride is the biggest and best!
What a terrific story. I’m so glad that Harley has found a home, and it’s very inspiring to hear how Jim and Debbie took that extra step to help so many more animals. Thank you.
A wonderful story and very inspirational! I love both cats and dogs and the Hearthland does a great job.
What a great idea! Harley riders are known for their free and generous spirits, so its no surprise that a ride to benefit shelter animals would come to be. Well done, Jim and Debbie. And Harley….you lucky dog, you!
Kudos to all volunteers who make stories like this happen.
This is really a great story of rescue. Thanks to Jim & Debbie for their generosity and compassion for homeless pets. Your hard work & dedication is very much appreciated.
What a great story! My friend Joan also volunteers her time and energy to Heartland Animal Shelter, and can attest to the fact that so much more needs to be done so that all the pooches and kitties can be provided with permanent homes. Thanks a million to all you wonderful volunteers.
Love Harley, what a great dog doing great things.
Great story!!!!
I’m looking forward to the sequel.
A vote for Harley!!!
This is a wonderful story. Harley is a great dog.
Great story with a happy ending!
Thanks to Debbie & Jim for making things jappen.
Great story
Wonderful story!!!!
An inspiring and heartwarming story – the animals are better because of you. GO HARLEY
Very Inspiring!!!!
Good Luck!!! You guys rock! Don’t give me.
I like the story Harley and how he was adopted. it was touching…
….not to mention how he gets along with his brother and big sister..Harvard and Heidi.
Wonderful story.
What a great story. Thanks.
Great story! Great people! Go Harley!
Touching story!!
Great sory!!!
I love this story. Very sweet.
Very sweet.
Great story and even greater dog and people!
Go Harley’s Story!!!
great dog great parents
My favorite
Touching story!
Harley has great parents.
Great Story.
Great and inspiring story!
Love the story.
Great dog, great parents!
Thank you everyone for all your wonderful comments! You guys are the best!
Just wanted to thank you guys for what you do for the shelter in which you found your boy Harley. I’m Claire’s foster mom and your biggest rival in this contest, but how great it is to know that so many people give of their hearts and their homes to help these little ones who end up in the shelters. Thanks for all you do.
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