I was so sad to hear of her passing. We are cousins and had many fine times together growing up. I visted her for a few hours back in the late 1980's/early 1990's or so and had a great time talking.

A loving memorial to Arlene Loveland ---
Since childhood, I’ve been an animal lover and I’ve had dogs all my life. In 2004 I had an idea that I was going to just try to save a few dogs --- from a very high-kill shelter here in Delaware. While I wasn’t aware of it yet I was beginning on a journey, a lifelong journey to create Lost and Found Dog Rescue (LNF) where I fostered the dogs in my home until they were adopted.

In 2006 Arlene applied to adopt one of my rescued dogs Hazel. About 6 months later they adopted another of my rescued dogs Loni. It was heartbreaking but Loni became sick and Arlene and Ed fought very hard to save her by taking her to top Vet’s but she couldn’t be saved. In time they thought that Hazel needed a girlfriend so they came to adopt another of my dogs Sheila. Several years went by and at one point I had too many dogs in my home, a foster home had moved, so I asked Arlene to foster a little girl named Puff who had a horrific case of mange. It didn’t take long before Arlene realized she was already in love with Puff and could not give her up.

I always love going to their home because of the way the outside and inside were always decorated for each holiday. I loved seeing how much the girls were loved. Everything was about Hazel, Sheila, and Puff who are the luckiest dogs to have had a Mommy and Daddy like Arlene and Ed.
To show their gratitude the three of them allowed her to dress them up for each major holiday. I can barely get one dog to stay for a photo yet the girls complied to their Mommy. Also, they each had birthday parties with tons of toys.

We stayed in touch over the years we became friends. They went on 2 cruises a year so I babysat their three girls while they were away. They knew that I would take care of them as well as my own dogs so they didn’t have to feel guilty or worry.

I was doing OK getting lots of great dogs out of the kill shelters and getting them adopted to homes as wonderful as Arlene and Ed’s. Then the bottom fell out in 2008 when “The Great Recession” hit all of us. I had a houseful of dogs and no one could afford to adopt them. Actually, we were receiving countless calls from people who needed to give up their dogs because so many people were losing their jobs and their homes. During that time, one of the dogs got very sick and for the first time, I simply could afford to pay for her Vet bills. Arlene and Ed donated the money to my Vet to take care of her and because of them, she lived.

From about 2008 to the present - they helped me countless times with very sick or badly injured dogs and helped pay my Vet bills. They have also been providing funds so I could buy dog food. So that’s how Arlene and Ed saved my rescue from closing. Since they helped me as needed, I was able to continue rescuing and I’ve saved at least 300 pups and dogs. 300 dogs and adoptive families have Arlene and Ed to thank for their lives. As of today, I’ve rescued 550 and just sent home my 535th dog.

Now let me tell you what it was like to personally have a friend like Arlene. She became like the sister I never had. I’m 68 years old, so I’ve met a lot of people along the way --- but NO ONE like Arlene. Once I had mentioned that there was a Partylite candle scent that I adored but they stopped making it. Unbeknownst to me, Arlene started looking for Bella Luna on eBay. Since it was rare I know the vendors were making her pay a King’s Ransom to buy those candles for me. For years she would continue to find them and to this day I still have Bella Luna candles that Arlene found and bought for me.

Another time I happened to mention that I loved Yellow Roses. Well, as considerate and beyond generous that Arlene is -- she started sending two – not one – two dozen Yellow Roses for my birthday for at least the last 7 years.

She and Ed always brought back fabulous one a kind treasures from their cruises for me. Arlene spoiled me as no one else had ever done, including my husband, and sent carloads of presents for Christmas. I used to say and still believe she was like my “Fairy God Mother.”

We tried to meet once a month or so for breakfast or lunch and when we did meet Arlene and Ed had spent a fortune on providing treats & toys for all the rescued dogs who live in my home which averages about 10 at a time. There were so many bags it filled up the back of my van.

A few years back I had the worse flu I had ever had in my life. I could barely get out of bed for days. So, Arlene sent Ed over to deliver homemade soup and crackers. Again, in my whole life, no one had ever been so thoughtful -- again including my husband.

I could go on and on listing all the considerate and extremely generous things that Arlene did for me but I think you get the idea. I’ve always considered myself the luckiest person alive to have dear friends like Arlene and Ed.

This was written thru tears. My heart is broken that she suffered as she did and now that she’s gone, there will be an empty hole in my heart. I will miss her for the rest of my life. Arlene was truly one of kind and I’ve never known anyone like her!
Marleen Oetzel, Foster Mom/Founder
Lost and Found Dog Rescue

Thank you for supporting Marleen, and LnF Dogs. Your kindness brought my 3 LnF kids to me. I am certain you will missed by many.

Thanks so much for the many years of support to the LnF Rescue.

Ed, though you don’t know me I’d like to express my heartfelt condolences on Arlene’s passing. And also thank you and your beloved wife for loving and supporting fellow rescuer Marleen. The lives you’ve saved over the years are immeasurable.

Thank you Arlene, for your generosity in helping the dogs and cats of Eastern Kentucky. May you rest in peace. You will forever be missed.

So very, very sorry for your loss! We would not have blessed with our girl Dazzel had it not been for you family! Thank you so much!

I know we have never met but I wanted to say how sorry we are for your loss. Because of you and your wife’s generosity to LNF Dog Rescue, Marleen was able to rescue and provide the medical for a beautiful Coonhound we later adopted named Sadie. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.