The black Labrador retriever now known as Arkansas (aka Arkie) was found by a couple traveling across the country through Arkansas, which is how she got her name. She was dehydrated, and lying in the middle of the road.The couple nursed her back to health.

She was fostered for quite some time by Namrata and her cousin, Sunita, along with Oklahoma (aka Oakie, found in Oklahoma around the same time). Then she moved in with Laura and her daughter, Jasmine, when Sunita had some health problems. Now Arkie has a family! Oakie was adopted previously.)

Thank you to Laura, Jasmine, Namrata, and Sunita for fostering Arkie. Thank you also to Namrata & Sunita for driving Arkie to California so she could go to her new family.

Namrata writes: "Arkie is finally home. After traveling across the country, Arkie found her forever home on the west coast with a family in San Diego. The family saw her pictures and heard her description and instantly fell in love. As you can see from the pictures, Arkie knew she was home the second we pulled up.

"Her sister, Denali, who is another rescued black Lab mix of the same age, greeted her with loving paws and then they were off… in the yard, around the living room, up the hill, and then the same thing all over again, until they finally stopped for some R&R with their tongues hitting the ground. The family was overjoyed to welcome the new addition, and they have already been introducing Arkie to the many Labs on their street.

"Watching the initial meeting was definitely worth the drive! Arkie was the perfect travel companion, hotel guest, playing buddy, etc and they are certainly lucky to have such a beautiful, loving dog. She was instantly part of the family and is already going on offleash hikes with them."