Coal, now known as Fazi, is having a great time. We have a cabin in the Black Hills which is “Dog Heaven.” He doesn’t walk or run, he gallops up and down the hillsides, swims in the pond and splashes through the little creek.

In January he had surgery for hip dysplasia. He was so good at walking and running on three legs that it has taken him a long time to use all four. The vet says that swimming is the best therapy for him. That’s difficult to do in South Dakota winters. Little by little he is using the repaired leg more. We think by the end of the summer when he has fetched dozens of sticks from the Black Hills pond, he should be good as new.



He has gotten very tall and lanky. He has weighed about 40 pounds most of the time he has lived with us. He doesn’t seem to have a big appetite. One day he eats 3 or 4 cups of dog food followed by only 2 the next.

Getz Family,

South Dakota

Hi Everyone. My name is Tucker Broady Johnson. I was adopted by Jenny, Craig, Colin and Cara in April 2007. They drove a long way to adopt me (Fargo, ND to Worthington, MN). Another wonderful couple drove a long ways so that my new family could pick me up. They drove me from Spencer, IA to Worthington, MN. I have always wondered how they were doing…I never got to appropriately thank them for driving me. So if you are reading now… WOOF! Thank you!!

Let me tell you about how things are going. As you could guess, I was a little nervous about that first car ride… to meet my new family… what if I didn’t like them…what if they didn’t like me? When I met my new mom and brother and sister for the first time – it was Love at first Lick! Oh, can I just tell you, the two little people snuggled me all the way to my new home in Fargo… I was stretched out on the back seat of the car and had hands and snuggles and kisses for the whole trip! That’s when I knew I had no more worries in life.

We arrived in Fargo, at my new house and it was wonderful! I got to meet my new dad…I snuggled right up to him. They had everything I could possibly want or need. I had a new kennel, food, food dishes, toys… toys… and did I mention… I had my very own toys? Oh my favorite you ask? Hum. The tug rope… especially with my new dad on the other end… he’s good at the game of tug! Oh, sorry, back on track. So the Easter Bunny came and guess what… I got presents from the Easter Bunny… I don’t know who or what the Easter Bunny is…but I sure like it when he visits. Oh and I have a yard… that’s one of the really nice parts.

It wasn’t long… and mom had me enrolled in school. When she first took me to the Kennel Club, I was very distracted. I smelled hundreds or maybe even thousands of other dogs in their… but only saw a few… strange. Anyway, mom and I, have since graduated from 3 classes at the school. I am a star student, wouldn’t you know! I am signed up to begin Agility Training!! I love it… I think the teeter and the jumps are my favorite. I am going to have to do something about mom, though… she is way to slow….. she needs to run as fast as I do – or else we are not going to get anywhere!! Oh, but, seriously…obedience has been a lot of fun and mom is coming right along. She was a little resistant at first – but now, she is very obedient *wink* (Just don’t tell her I said that.)

As you could probably guess, I had to visit my new doctor right away when I got settled in Fargo. She’s really nice. Last time I was there for a checkup, I got on the scale… can you believe it!! I was 72 lbs! I was hardly 35 lbs when I first moved to Fargo. I have gotten so big!! I am very tall, too. My Auntie Christina and Auntie Char (my favorite instructor at the Kennel Club) tease me about being part giraffe…

So here I am, nearly 9 months old (or so I think). What a journey I have been on! I have it made, really. I get full run of the house. I even get to lay on the sofa and snuggle in whatever bed I want – with whatever human I want! Wow! They are sure a lot of fun (well, for human’s anyway).

On a side note, while I have your attention I would like to thank a few humans. Thank you petfinder.com, thank you People for Pets, and thank you Donna – without each of you, I would not be near as happy as I am today and I am very grateful (so is the rest of my family). Thank you for ensuring the happiness of pets all over the country!

Tucker Broady Johnson