I Love My Shar-Pei Because...

What Shar-Pei Owners Say About Their Dogs!

 I have never met another dog like my Amelia. She definitely is an independent woman like her namesake, Amelia Earheart. I always joke that I named her Amelia, because I could make a meal out of ya, amelia, get it. She really does put up with a lot. We find her absolutely adorable and she has more costumes than she would like. Her mug is just a "work of art". Kids and adults always get a smile on their face when they meet her.
I never knew a dog could have such personality. She came to us with her likes, dislikes and personality. I was blown away by how many opinions she has. She never hesitates to tell me what to do. Needless to say she is spoiled and it is fun to spoil her. She has a handmade couch that I made her, with her name embroidered on it. She absolutely loves it.
If she was just a little more easy going, I would love to do animal therapy with her. My husband even loves her and he didn't want a dog or like dogs. I joke that they are so much alike, both antisocial, though she does like people, but on her terms. I know that we sometimes butt heads because we are so much alike, It's all about us (he he).
As you can tell we love her and I encourage you to get a shar pei with Operation Scarlet. I definitely would have gotten a shar pei with them if I would have known that they existed before I got Amelia. Who knows maybe she'll someday get a shar pei friend? The benefits from rescuing is you skip the puppy years and get an adult with such a great personality and you are helping great dogs. 

Colleen Breaux And Amelia Rose

From Ann and Chase

I check your web site regularly, and I want you to know I'm very glad that you are doing the rescue work that needs to be done. Lots of love and support from me and my beautiful chocolate 8 month old wrinkle dog. I've known tons of dogs in my life, but Chase is amazing in his intelligence, fidelity and devotion. He makes me laugh every day and I thank God he's in my life.
I never used to like getting up in the mornings, but I can't help but smile now every morning. When I wake up, I peek over the blankets and see his big pink belly and four brown paws sticking up in the air, and he looks at me with twinkling eyes, all the while wagging his curly tail. Now I ask you, who could resist that?
Ann, St. Paul, Minnesota

Crickett has really become a real family dog over the past year. She has become very attached to myself and my Parents. She is still very bouncy and she still hops like a Crickett. It is impossible to sleep in past 6:30 or 7:00 am. She likes to pull the covers off of who ever is in bed if she thinks it is time to get up. She has turned out to be a very sweet dog and I wouldn't give her up for anything.
Robert Chronister

Words can never express my love for Bailey, my soon-to-be three year old male Shar-Pei. I purchased Bailey from a breeder in New York when he was 10 weeks old and the moment I first held him I cried with joy. Bailey is not a show dog, his bite is off but that didn't stop me from wanting to do special things with him. I started him in obedience training immediately we also participated in an Agility class and had a ball together! Along with the weekly training I practice what we learned with Bailey in our basement each evening, after each practice session I put him in a sit-stay, then tell him what a good boy he is and send him upstairs for his tennis ball. He flies up the steps for his ball and then back down with it for a long play time. I never train Bailey without ending the session with lots of love, praise and play.

When Bailey was two years old he took his Canine Good Citizen Test and his Therapy Dog International Test and passed with flying colors! I am proud to say that we are now actively visiting nursing homes in the Mechanicsburg, PA area where the residents adore Bailey as much as he does them. I am currently working on earning Bailey's Companion Dog Title and we will begin formal obedience training again this fall. Bailey goes every where with me, I take him to the different Pet stores once a week, we go for walks around the malls and people stop to greet him, he goes inside the malls in our area each year for a visit with Santa, we have professional photos taken each year to send as Christmas cards, and sometimes I just take him out for a drive with no place in mind to go. I thank God every day for blessing me with Bailey, he is my life.
Pam Wert

I would love to tell you about our Wrinkles. She was adopted by our daughter, Lindsay - I think in 1995. It seems like she has always been a part of our family. It is hard to remember when we actually brought her home. Lindsay has moved out to attend college and work in Delaware. She would love to have Wrinkles with her, but I just can't part with her. Actually, Lindsay's landlord would not permit it. Besides, Wrinkles lives on 2 acres of woods and has a large 3 bedroom ranch house at her disposal. We all love her very much, and she has added much to our home. We had Cleo previously who died at age 5 of liver disease. Lindsay's heart was broken, and we were directed to Operation Scarlet - thank goodness. Florence D. Hobdell , proud adopter of Wrinkles from West Grove, PA

Bernie joined us on Saturday, January 20^th, 2001. He is approximately 2 years old and 45 Lbs. He needs to gain about 10 Lbs.) His previous owner surrendered him (supposedly due to an allergy) on December 13^th (Scott's birthday) at a shelter in Brooklyn, NY. Operation Scarlet, Inc., a nationally recognized Chinese Shar-Pei rescue group out of Lancaster, PA saved him from his death sentence. We visited the rescue home which consisted of founder Dawn Hertzog, many volunteers, and approximately 10-12 rescue dogs all desperately in need of homes.

Being how all of the dogs were so beautiful and kind, it was a very tough decision. When visiting with Bernie (right), I knew he was the one when he collapsed like a big ham on my lap. We were then able to adopt him (temporarily until Feb. 10^th when we officially sign his papers). Bernie is considered to be a purebred chocolate dilute Chinese Shar-Pei. He is very gentle and extremely sweet. He will drop any toy just to have his ears rubbed and while doing so, he purrs like a cat. Aside from a few scuffles over bones between him and Harley, he is a very affectionate fellow who is appreciative of the love and the second chance we've given him. After being bounced around, he finally has found his "Forever" home.
The Birkner family

We adopted Syrah through the OS Georgia satellite group last September. He was surrendered by his previous owner who was dying of cancer. He is a beautiful and wonderful dog, and we just love him. He went into kidney failure due to a urinary tract infection in December and we thought we would lose him and were heartbroken. But, we are so happy that he has fully recovered after a stay at the vet and lots of antibiotics and tlc. He is a true survivor! Thanks for a great addition to our family!
Kelly Kucic

Dear Rescue Team, I enjoy your site very much, and check it every now and then.  I do rescue work with all kinds of dogs and cats, but Shar Pei are my favorite.  I have a foster Shar Pei, and own a wonderful Shar Pei/Dalmatian mix that I adore.  However, I wanted to tell you about my newest rescue, who is now a part of my family. Since before the holidays, I was working with other rescue groups to save a Dalmatian at a local pound.  While making plans to pick him up this past Saturday, my contact at the pound told me about a Shar Pei that was also up for adoption, and due to be put down in less than 5 days.  I couldn't believe it because Shar Pei are very uncommon in my area.  Of course, I was going to rescue her, too.When my husband picked up "Peaches,"  I was delighted but did not know what to expect.  It was obvious that Peaches had been neglected.  She was very thin, and her fur was falling out.  However, after hours of brushing, a beautiful coat emerged.  Her appetite was good, and in a few days, she put on weight.  Our vet also gave her a clean bill of health.  Most important, however, is that Peaches instantly fit into our little "family."  She is very passive and loving, and gets along wonderfully with our cats and other dogs.  She is such a wonderful, intelligent little dog, I can't believe that no one loved her. I just wanted to tell you about another Shar Pei that has been saved from certain death.  Though her past is probably one of great sadness, her future will be filled with tons of hugs, kisses, and love!  Keep up the good work in saving these awesome animals!
Jennifer Manfrin of Ohio
                            

          Picture taken at time of rescue                                      Picture take two months later

Kirby is a great dog.  He's the highlight of our day.  His favorite past time is napping.  When my husband and I are away, the kids say they should give him prozac.  All he does is stay in bed.  He lives for his walks (he gets at least three a day) and always gets an ice cube on his return. -Donna McMenamin, Pennsylvania

I recently received a newsletter after moving away to Florida. I had mistakenly taken my Shar-Pei to a vet I didn't know much about, and during an X-Ray session his back was fractured and eventually had to be put down. Three days later I was thumbing through the paper and ran across an ad that read: "Free to Good Home, 3 Year Old Male Shar-Pei". While still grieving over the loss of my "Bear", I just had to call. Out of the 25 phone calls the family received on their ad, we are the proud owners of our beautiful member of our family "Jordan". He was a mess when we got him; poor diet, shots needed, ear mites. good bath! Now he looks great! It's true about Shar-Pei's...once you own just one you will love them forever. I just wanted to share this with you and I did finally find a Shar-Pei friendly vet in Plantation, FL that I found on a Shar-Pei web site. I just love getting the newsletters. Thank you to whomever sent it to me. --Wendy Martin, Florida

Butterball is a constant source of joy in our lives. He is our baby (we don't have kids) We almost lost him 5 months ago,  part of his small intestine collapsed & died, he lost weight, he couldn't eat or pass food. The operation & vet cost my sweet husband thousands but,  Butterball pulled through!! It just broke our hearts to leave him overnight for 3-4 days we were grief stricken because we had never been separated overnight from him. It was grueling! We visited him every day on those 4 days Sometimes my husband Bobby & I would go separately so Butter would think he was getting more visits. But, he came home after healing from surgery & we put some weight back on him. We adopted Butter when he was 1 year old. My Father breeds Boxers & I had owned an English Bulldog previously. We wanted a breed to call our own. My husband wasn't a dog person at the time. Let me tell you my two boys (Bobby & Butter) are inseparable. They snore together, sleep, eat, take walks, play together. At 1st I was jealous because Butter was supposed to be my dog because I was the dog person. But, when I saw how beautiful & strong the bond/connection between them became, all I could think about was how we hit the dog lottery with this wonderful creature. I don't mind 3rd banana anymore. I tell my husband in teasing that our male Shar-pei Butterball wears the pants in this house. He even tells us when to go to bed!! He will bark & nuzzle us to let us know its bed time, time for us all to curl up. I need a bigger bed or a smaller me! LOL! You have a beautiful website. Sometimes we browse through it & Bobby will read aloud some stories to me or look at pictures of the dogs together. What a kind & generous woman you are. All of those dogs hit the lottery when they found YOU! xooxxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxxoo

Much love, respect &devotion, your new friends,                                                    
Kimmy, Bobby & Butterball xoxoxoxoxoxoxo -Mr & Mrs Robert Garven, Clermont, Florida

Bandit is doing just great. He is getting up in years now buy still as active as ever. He loves to go for walk (or in my case a drag) with his brother Chance, a Boxer I rescued from the pound about 3 years ago. Having Chance around really made Ban like a puppy again. He is very much the Boss and Chance is a great listener. I guess his favorite thing to do is to spend the afternoon in the sun on our front porch. We have a deck with a gate on it so he'll stay out there all day. His hocks have gotten pretty bad over the past year and I try my best to keep the swelling down, he loves to have me massage them. He is my best friend and our protector, my husband works nights and I am never afraid to be here alone as long as Ban is around. We were truly blessed when we found him and Operation Scarlet. Hope all is well and congratulations on the success of Operation Scarlet.
Thank you!
Penny Aukamp, Willow Street, PA

Precious & Mocha's Story- My husband and I were looking to adopt a dog and we thought we would choose a dog from a rescue instead of purchasing a puppy. We were at a pet store and Operation Scarlet had a table with information about the breed and the rescue. They also had a rescue dog there who was absolutely adorable. We decided at that point that we would submit an application to the rescue. We were called to set up an appointment for an interview. We were very impressed with the thoroughness of the interview and the amount of information that was covered. The people involved with the rescue not only want to find homes for the dogs but they also want to find the right homes for the dogs. We were approved to adopt a shar-pei. What a difficult decision trying to decide which animal you would like to adopt.

We ended up adopting the most beautiful red fawn brushcoat female named Precious. She was rescued from a breeder in Georgia and flown to the Rescue. When she arrived here she had numerous medical conditions that were all taken care of by the rescue before we adopted her. She moved right into our home like she had always lived there. She claimed one of our recliners and that has become her chair. It is positioned so that she can see the backyard and the driveway. She is a wonderful addition to the family and to say that she is spoiled is an understatement.

We had Precious approximately 1 1/2years when we decided we would again adopt another shar-pei. This is how Mocha came into our lives. She was rescued as a stray in Delaware County. She was only 12 weeks old and had been abandoned. She is a sable brushcoat. We think she is just beautiful. She is so friendly and outgoing. She especially loves children. We have been taking her to outings with the rescue and she does great. Precious loves her little sister and they have become inseparable. They love to run around and chase each other. We could not have asked for two better pets than Precious and Mocha.

We have become involved with the rescue and are now representatives for Operation Scarlet. It has become a very rewarding experience and one I would not trade for anything. If you are looking for a dog, I would highly recommend a shar-pei as they are very loyal and people oriented. They will definitely pull at your heart strings. -Michele & Bob Laucks, Lancaster, PA

My husband and I rescued Otis from our neighborhood about 2 1/2 years ago while walking our other dog, Benny.  Otis ran up to us and I recognized a Shar-Pei immediately.  This happy boy turned sideways and I realized he was starving, with all his bones protruding.  While my husband kept him occupied, I ran home for an extra leash, food and the car.  Surprisingly he was still in the vicinity! We took him to the local human society, but I have to say that by the time our car pulled into the parking lot, I knew he was meant to be with us!  We adopted him after the waiting period (I called every day) and he is such a special "kid". 

While it's sad to realize all that he has missed in his first 6 to 10 months, and the poor situation he came from, it's wonderful to see him learn to trust, love and finally learn to play! His trust and patience are amazing - I call him my big bear and we love him to pieces!
-Stephany Tisa Marchese, Rochester, New York

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When Sidney came to us a year ago, he was afraid, and sad.  His first owner had just gotten a promotion, and would be doing a lot of traveling.  So Sidney had to go.  The owner sent Sid to stay with his parents, who had never had a dog before, least of all, a Shar Pei.  In their desperation to be rid of him, they called the vet clinic, where my daughter worked, to find out how they could surrender him.  I had already been involved in Afghan Hound Rescue after the death of my own beloved Shar Pei.  So my daughter thought I would be a good foster until we could find a place for him.  Those first few days after Sid came to stay with us were hectic.  My husbands mother passed away the very next day, so Sid spent alot of time in a crate while we tended to family business and the funeral.  In the days following the funeral Sidney went in for neutering, shots, and heartworm check in preparation to go into rescue.  Somewhere in  that time, my husband fell in love with him, and he with my husband.  So it did not take much coaxing to make Sidney a permanent member of our family when we learned that there was no space available at a formal rescue. 
 
I think he understood the day my husband said to him that he would stay with us forever.  He wagged that curly tail of his, jumped into bed with us (for the first time) and snuggled down between us and the 2 Afghans in our bed. He has slept with us every day since.
 
So now, on the anniversary of his first year with us, I wanted to share a picture of him with you and the others in rescue.  He has truly been a joy to us, and has enriched our lives.  Thank you for your support and encouragement.  Our life has been blessed with this little bundle of wrinkles.
 
Carmel & Al Barninger & Sidney
Maggie Afghan and Waldo Afghan

Mickey Joe Bob and Cadia Von Jujy of Akka

You've done a great job with the webpage. I love it. I've been a "frequent flyer" to the website for about 8 or 9 months now. I visit often. As a
matter of fact its one of my "favorite places."
I have a blue male Shar-Pei...Mickey Joe Bob....and he's my "third child". He is absolutely the best dog in the world. He is so faithful and loving.  
As a matter of fact...we've added a new family member....an apricot female, Cadia Von Jujy of Akka, to our family. She is a joy to have around....Mickey has taken her under his wing and they are the best of friends. She's really silly.....with all her antics....her favorite thing to do is take the toy that Mickey is playing with and hide until he finds her.I've attached a picture of "my babies" for you to share on your website.

Keep up the great work. I love Operation Scarlet......

                                - Sheila Kosior
                                  Myakka City FL