"Worth Every Penny" is a rescue group that my friend Hanna (Marcosa Havanese) and I started in 2004.  The name came from her Rat Terrier "Penny" and my beloved, now departed, "Penny".  Due to health issues, both of them taxed our financial resources but they were worth all we spent and more.  Hanna handles the little dogs and I get the big ones ... although I did have three of the rescue Yorkies that were part of 113 that were confiscated from a house in Aurora in 2005.  We have saved over 60 dogs and a handful of kitties.

Our rescue dogs are often with us for several weeks to several months because we believe it's our job to teach them how to be a "dog", how to trust, how to love;  and the only way to accomplish this is with patience, kindness, tons of love and TIME!  Because our rescue dogs are with us for longer periods of time, they become part of the family; thus we are extremely particular as to where they are placed.  We want it to be a perfect match for the dog as well as for the new family ... a "forever home".

If we don't have an available dog that fits your needs, please check with the following Lab rescue groups:

www.midwestlabrescue.org/labs.html

www.greatlakeslabrescue.org/

www.fortunatelabrescue.org/

Please do not buy a puppy from a pet shop or broker as nearly ALL of these puppies come from a puppy mill where adults live in cages every minute of their lives and are treated only as breeding machines.  They are not tested for any inherited defects. Neither adults or puppies are properly socialized or cared for.

Buy only from a reputable breeder who is breeding to protect the health and quality of the breed and who cares about the welfare of the dog.  Or, adopt a dog or puppy from a good, conscientious rescue group or animal shelter.