Vana visiting the kennel to board when she was 5 years old

I have had two of Cindy’s wonderful German Shepherds and are so thankful that way back when we decided to purchase a puppy we were lucky enough to be told about the beautiful dogs at Von Fenwald Kennels. Our 2nd wonderful dog Vana has just celebrated her 13th Birthday on January 1st.

When we visited her kennel in Illinois, I was so impressed with the quality of care each dog received. You could tell by just looking at the facilities that Cindy didn’t just want to sell the best for the sake of making a sale, she wanted her dogs to be the best and in that sense the care she gives each dog is amazing. The kennels are spotless and the dogs are always clean and well taken care of but there’s something more to be said – the dogs are happy, healthy and very much loved.

Cindy is the kind of person every dog breeder should be – kind, knowledgeable, caring and most importantly loving. She truly loves every dog she raises and sells and I have found over these many years that I can rely on her to help me whenever I have a question about anything concerning my dog. Cindy encourages all of her customers to keep her informed about each dog and from personal experience I know that she doesn’t mind answering a question in the middle of the night when I need some advice or help.

Over the years the dogs we have gotten from Von Fenwald have kept our family safe and secure. They have prevented several burglary attempts. Have alerted us to the gas being left on with the stove. And have been constant and loyal companions to my grandmother who was 102 years old and my mother and father.

The dogs have been healthy and intelligent. Vana just celebrated her 13th birthday and you'd never know it. She acts like she's 6 or 7 years old. As you know I only feed her REAL PEOPLE FOOD and I'm sure that has to do with. She still gets her NuVet Vitamins & Joint Supplements as well.

I was very sad when Cindy moved from Illinois to Texas because I could always count on her to take care of my dog whenever a need for boarding arose. Cindy’s place was my dog’s home away from home. In my case, I didn’t just board my dog during vacation times. There were many family illnesses and emergencies that prevented me from giving my dog the home care she required or called me away from Illinois to Pennsylvania for weeks at a time and I knew I could rely on Cindy to board my dog for however long necessary, knowing that Vana would receive the best care and treatment. I have boarded my dog at least 40 times, for periods ranging from just a few days to as long as one or two months, and I never had to worry about my dog and the care she was receiving. In those emergency situations, Cindy always made room for Vana and when I picked her up I was greeted by a happy, clean, healthy dog. Vana always enjoyed going to visit "Auntie Cindy" and would get very excited as we approached her area.

While I cannot visit Cindy’s kennel in Texas, I must say that I’m still in contact with Cindy on a regular basis. Over the years she has become a very dear friend. I let her know how my dog is, what’s going on in her life and mine, and I know Cindy is interested in both of us. Would I buy another German Shepherd from Cindy and Von Fenwald Kennels? Absolutely! I'll never go anywhere else. If I lived in Texas, would I board my dog at Cindy’s kennel? Of course, because I know she would receive excellent care and lots of love.

Karen S. Arlington Heights, IL

I think of you often, and hope things are going well for you in this trying economy.
Mort my husband is declining rapidly, but Maggie and Olex keep him company while I am away at
work. Maggie is doing very well, and can be found with her head in Morts lap most nights.
She loves him dearly.

The dogs can not wait for spring, nor can I . They run and play ball each day and meet with all the neighbors. They are a little house bound, and bored this winter, I can not walk with them during the worst weather because they go too fast and end up falling.
.
They are loved by everyone, even the nurse that has been stopping in each day for Mort
Maggie still kisses everyone she meets.

I hope Austin has stayed out of all that snow Texas has been getting, we are expected to get 12" Tuesday and Wednesday. My daughter and family are coming up from Ky this weekend, for her birthday. I hope they can.

I still hope to come visit someday, but everything is very hard with Mort. I need help to
go anywhere with him and can't leave him with anyone.

Have a Happy Valentines Day 2010 !!!!!!

Roberta of VA writes Feb. 2010 :

Hi Cindy,

We wanted to give you an update. Dina is full of energy at age 5 and 1/2. We're getting loads of snow
here, and she likes to "help" with the shoveling by snapping at every shovelful as it flies through the air. She also loves to work, and carries the smaller pieces of firewood from the woodshed to the house. And her skill with tennis balls is something we've never seen before: she uses her snout, tongue, or paw to roll it along to floor right to our feet. She also likes to drop it repeatedly and catch it on the bounce, like someone dribbling a basketball.

She's the most sweet natured dog we've ever known and everyone loves her. This summer, some jerk abandoned a couple of small puppies out here, maybe six weeks old. We took them in for awhile, and Dina just wanted to mother them. She's Great!

Barbara writes on Feb. 11, 2010

Hi Cindy,

You have some awesome looking puppies right now. Here is a picture of me and Rolf taken around November 09.

Hope you are doing well. I want to get another puppy and will ONLY DO SO FROM YOU! Don't know when though. Rolf is the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barbara H. in Florida