Mitch
Mitch was our first family pet. He was our first adoption from DDR and one of the most memorable dogs we’ve ever met. With his constant smirk and three-legged trot, he always brought joy to our lives. He loved to play with our other dachshund, Mikey, who we also received from DDR. Before Mikey came along Mitch would spend his days sleeping, eating, sleeping, and occasional bark at the neighbor kids. Mikey got his lazy butt moving a little bit! After our daughter was born in September he loved to cuddle with her and lick all the extra drippings of milk from her face. Mitch began refusing food (and Mitch LOVED to eat) so we took him to the vet. He was diagnosed with immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and died soon after. Coincidently my mother died about a week prior after a year long battle with ovarian cancer. Mitch absolutely loved my mom, and I can admit he got more excited to see her than he did our family. We are going to miss Mitch so very much! I miss him under the blanket as we watch TV and the excitement when we would get his bowl of food ready. He is now in heaven with my mom cuddling with her for eternity. Mitch was our first family pet. He was our first adoption from DDR and one of the most memorable dogs we’ve ever met. With his constant smirk and three-legged trot, he always brought joy to our lives. He loved to play with our other dachshund, Mikey, who we also received from DDR. Before Mikey came along Mitch would spend his days sleeping, eating, sleeping, and occasional bark at the neighbor kids. Mikey got his lazy butt moving a little bit! After our daughter was born in September he loved to cuddle with her and lick all the extra drippings of milk from her face. Mitch began refusing food (and Mitch LOVED to eat) so we took him to the vet. He was diagnosed with immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and died soon after. Coincidently my mother died about a week prior after a year long battle with ovarian cancer. Mitch absolutely loved my mom, and I can admit he got more excited to see her than he did our family. We are going to miss Mitch so very much! I miss him under the blanket as we watch TV and the excitement when we would get his bowl of food ready. He is now in heaven with my mom cuddling with her for eternity.

Harley
Harley For the love of a dog On Dec 2nd, 2012 I received a call from DDR saying that my application for Harley had been approved and that I could come and meet him. That started a 17 month journey that ended in early May 2014. Harley was my constant companion as I worked and traveled around the oil fields of western ND. He met many new people and made many friends as we provided water for rigs that I service.Harley started to get sick on the 9th of May. I took him to the vet on Saturday the 10th and he was diagnosed with diabetes. A very strong effort was made to stabilize him ,but the night of the 12th he passed away. Harley will be very much missed by the people who knew him and by those of us who loved him. Rest in Peace, Harley! Your dad forever...I will see you at The Rainbow Bridge Charles Rambel

Shania
Shania you changed our lives forever! You were the cutest little girl, even with all your teeth gone you loved your treats and loved meal time. I loved loved when you followed with your buddy Tina and your brothers and sisters to the gate all perky waiting for your food and barking at me to hurry up :) Any time I went upstairs to grab something you sat at the bottom looking up waiting for me and barking at me to come back fast. You were so spunky even when your hind legs didn't want to cooperate with you, but that never stopped you one bit. You would enjoy smelling the grass looking up at the butterflies letting Scooter play with you and chase you around the house, you were a wonderful girl so full of life and spunk. I loved seeing your tail wag when I came and sat with you or laid next to you. I loved how your tongue hung out and you would lick my hand so I would pet you letting me know :) I loved watching you and Tina cuddle together and her laying her head on you or vice versa. Your dolphin toy boy did you enjoy that you could tear it up and make it squeak so loud and boy when you wanted it you moved fast to get it! You made us smile ALOT in the short 5 months and six days we got to enjoy you because of you our lives were so much fuller. I will miss rubbing your belly and watching you roll around on the floor being silly. YOU had so much love to give to everyone. There wasn't anyone you didn't like. So Monday night the vet told us you were in pain I wanted to be selfish and take you back home but I didn't want you to suffer so I hugged you and kissed you and kept telling you how much we all loved you and that you were such an amazing little girl. I kept telling you I hope you felt the love and knew how much you were loved. I sobbed hard watching the vet do what needed to be done, but I wasn't going to leave you alone in that room I needed to be with you I didn't want you to pass away alone. I looked into your eyes one last time. Did you know that did you see me, I hope you did, the vet said you looked like you were far away but I pray you saw me right in front of you our noses touching. Even as I watched you take your last breath it just about killed me, but I know your in heaven running and have all your teeth and not in pain. Tina & Taylor miss you sooo much they said goodbye to you yesterday I don't know if you know that but they did. We will NEVER forget you Shania Witt!! We will always miss you!! Earl,Veronica, Tina & Taylor Witt

Miss Ella
Miss Ella, What a joy! What a Challenge!! We adopted Ella as we had a Doxie with a similar condition that we had to put down after 3 years. Ella, however, taught us so much more. She was in charge of the house and our other dogs. When she wanted something we knew it. We never opened the refrigerator without her letting us know she wanted her cheese. We never sat down at the table to eat without her letting us know she wanted to eat also. Ella taught us how to be gentle, more understanding, and how to be better listeners with animals and with humans alike. When we first got Ella, she bit us a couple of times, and growled at us. She in her way was telling us who was in charged. She loved to be outside on the grass to prance around. She loved to sleep on the deck in the sun. Her most favorite spot in our house was in her bed in front of the fireplace, under her pink princess blanket. Ella always let me know when the fireplace timed out. One of the games Ella taught me was one I called “The Running Game” She would come get me, growl and bark a little, then run off. She would stop and look to see if I was running after her. We would run a few laps in the house with me saying “I’m going to get you” Then when she was done it was time for me to pick her up and hold her. One other game she taught me was one we called “The Paw Game” , Ella would be on our bed and she would take her paw and bat at my hand. I then would put my hand on her paw and she would move her paw, then bat at my hand again. She loved this game also. She would always want to sleep with us if it was storming outside. She was a “Bed Hog” on those nights. Ella was a beautiful Doxie, and looked so young for her age. She pranced around the house like the Princess she was. Ella never forgot anything. She remembered her place at our daughters’ houses. I will/we will always love our little Ella and miss her so much. She became such a gentle, mild dog after we learned HER ways. She took such good care of our little blind Coco. Coco was the only dog Ella allowed to sleep with her or cuddle with her. We were honored to have Ella live a good life with us. We are grateful to DDR for all they did for Ella before she came to our home. We miss you Ella, but we know you are running with Noel, George, and Pooh. You are seeing better and have no more sinus trouble. Ella was our Princess. Our tears will soon stop, but our hearts will always hurt a little for you. Thanks for all the love you gave to us!!!! Sadly Missing You Mommy and Daddy And Coco, too

Missy
Missy came to Dakota Dachshund Rescue on March 15, 2014. She came to rescue from her family. They just didn't really have time for her and wanted her to have a better home. Missy minded all of her manners very well when she arrived at her foster home. She got along with all the dogs and loved being with us. In the few days she was here she spent her evenings either in her foster dad's lap or sitting on the floor by her foster mom. She loved attention and would sit right next to me. If I stopped petting her she would rock back and forth on her front paws talking to me about how she needed to be petted some more. Missy seemed to have times she didn't feel well and her breathing seemed to be labored at times. On March 20 she went to spend the day with Dr. Paul to see if we could make her feel better. Missy had congestive heart failure. Her heart turned out to be so enlarged it was pressing on her trachea and making breathing difficult at best. Dr. Paul tried everything to make things easier for her. In the end Missy went to the Rainbow Bridge in her foster mom's arms. We don't understand why - but Missy was a very sweet girl - she left her mark on our hearts and we will see her again someday.