March 13, 2012
Member Story: Minding Maddy
This guest blog is written by Vicki Wisehart, proud pet parent of Maddy, a puppy mill rescue
In November 2008, I drove four hours to adopt a beautiful Shih Tzu from a rescue group that had saved 25 dogs from a terrible fate at a puppy mill.
I returned home with Madison about 6:00 P.M. She didn’t want to have too much to do with me, so I just placed a blanket in her doggy bed and let her be.
The next morning, as I was having my morning coffee, Maddy jumped on the couch and gave me a lick. I have since discovered that Maddy will have absolutely nothing to do with other people! I have had her for over two years now, and she still won’t go to my husband. I don’t know if Maddy was abused or if her fear is solely from a lack of socialization.
I have had a few dogs in my life and have never had a dog who shows this much appreciation. I cherish my baby. If I didn’t already have two dogs, I would rescue another puppy mill pup. It’s a pleasure to have Maddy at my side at all times!
For more information about how you can help fight puppy mills, please visit www.nopetstorepuppies.com.
November 29, 2011
Member Story: When Pepper Smiles
This guest blog is written by Kimberly Runkel a supporter of the ASPCA and proud pet parent of Pepper. Read on as she discusses rescuing her beloved companion.
Last August, I received the best birthday gift I could have ever asked for: my cat Pepper. It began like every other evening. Heading home from work, I was stopped at a busy intersection, when, all of a sudden, I noticed the people in the vehicle ahead of me tossed something underneath their car before speeding off. At first, I thought it was just a piece of trash, until I saw it move—it turned out to be a newborn kitten. I couldn’t believe it. I drove the baby to my veterinarian’s office. The little guy had a bad infection in his neck, but the vet said he should pull through. Did he ever—Pepper was up and about in no time!
Today we live in Washington State along with another rescued cat named Penny. They couldn’t be happier or healthier. Pepper loves to play fetch, which he learned from Penny, they like to fight over raspberry yogurt, and, every single night, they sleep curled up next to me. But the most amazing thing about Pepper is his smile. When Pepper smiles, the whole room lights up. His tongue sticks out, and the purring comes on strong.
I have rescued dozens of animals over the years, but because of Pepper, I have enrolled in a wildlife program in college and volunteer at my local shelter. It can be overwhelming to think about the number of abandoned and abused animals, but I feel that volunteering really does make a difference. You get the chance to show shelter animals the love they so desperately deserve. And I have Pepper’s smile to thank.
For more heartwarming tales of rescue, visit our Your Stories section. To become an official ASPCA member, visit our Becoming a Member section.
November 10, 2011
ASPCA Member Story: Bringing Sophie Home
This guest blog is written by Howell Schisler, proud pet parent of Sophie, a puppy mill rescue.
We recently adopted a 10-year-old Cavalier Spaniel who was rescued from a puppy mill. Sophie’s story is not unique. A local Cavalier rescue organization secured her at a puppy mill auction in Missouri. All of the dogs’ condition was disgraceful; they were highly stressed, ill and filthy.
Sophie spent a few weeks at an animal hospital. They had to pull out almost a third of her teeth, which had rotted, and she was shaved because of the dirt and refuse matted in her fur. The vet presumed that she had been forced to have litters nonstop since her first heat.
Our plan was to provide her with a foster home. This was our first attempt at fostering, and we really did not know what to expect. She arrived on a Saturday afternoon, and it was love at first sight. We were expecting a scared, shy dog, but she was different. Sophie couldn’t be held enough.
Sophie has been with us a month now, and we have formally adopted her. She is the sweetest girl; she follows us around, longing to be held and get attention. She greets anyone she meets with her tail wagging. While she remains clueless when it comes to playing, enjoying dog toys or interacting with other dogs, we hope those things will come with time. Considering what she has been through, we think she’s doing just fine.
For more information about how you can help fight puppy mills, please visit
www.nopetstorepuppies.com
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September 28, 2011
Member Story—Saving an Abandoned Dog Tied to Car
This guest blog is written by Olivia Michaels, a supporter of the ASPCA and proud pet parent of Jack.
Two years ago, I found my dog Jack, a Fox Terrier mix. When I first saw him, he was tied to the tire of a car on a local street. It was a very hot day, and he had no water or food. He looked emaciated and was panting heavily. I approached him carefully and checked for any signs of a collar. All he had was a rope tied around his neck. I didn’t have any pets, so I decided to take him in.
Before I untied him, I used my pen and scribbled down the car’s license plate Jack and I went home, where he lapped up a whole bowl of water and begged for more—he drank three bowls. After I fed him, I started tracking down the person who abandoned him. After a few phone calls and confused conversations, I found that the owner of the car was not connected to Jack.
I never found the criminal who abandoned Jack, but I did provide the lucky Terrier with a loving home. Today, Jack loves dried dog food and has a craving for ice cubes. In a way, I'm glad the criminal gave Jack to us—he is the best thing that ever happened to our family.
Take Action
Remember, many times when a dog is running loose or seems lost, he is in fact just that—lost. For this reason, many states require that if you find a dog, you either take him to a shelter or other animal control facility to file a missing dog report.
Share Your Story
For more heartwarming tales of rescue, visit Your Stories. To become an official ASPCA member, visit our Member section.
August 25, 2011
ASPCA Happy Tails: A Dog Named Gary
Manhattanite Tamar Kamen took an unusual approach to naming the Shih Tzu she adopted in 2008. She pictured who he’d be if he were human, and decided “he’s probably this guy in his mid- to late-20s who works in IT in some company in the city. One of those guys you’d set up with anybody because he’s such a nice guy.”
In fact, when Kamen met her dog at the ASPCA, a behaviorist told her that the dog was so sweet, gentle and easygoing that she’d adopt him herself if she could. So Kamen dubbed her would-be IT geek Gary, and the name has been a big hit everywhere they go, from the Riverside Park dog run to the book club they attend together.
“People see us and remember he has a human name,” says Kamen. “They say, ‘What is it? Steve? Robert?’” But, she says, “Some of my dates have had to question me when I say that I'm staying home watching movies with Gary.”
That’s not to say Gary doesn’t play a role in Kamen’s relationships; she’s broken up with two men because they weren’t compatible with her furry pal, whom she half-jokingly refers to as the love of her life. One wouldn’t pick up Gary’s poop, and another didn’t approve of how much attention Gary gets from Kamen. Gary’s opinion of her date, she says, “makes or breaks the deal for sure.”
A former ASPCA volunteer dog walker, Kamen is a big advocate of pet adoption, and she loves that Gary’s behavior shows friends and strangers the joys of rescue dogs. “When people meet him,” Kamen says proudly, “it convinces them very quickly to give adoption a chance.”
For more stories of furry fate, visit our Happy Tails archive.
July 18, 2011
Easy Living—A Retired Greyhound Finds a New Home
Every year, thousands of young and healthy Greyhounds are euthanized because they are no longer deemed worthy racers. ASPCA staffer Lauren discusses adopting her Greyhound rescue, Lewis.
When my fiancé, Grant, and I began looking for a dog, we assumed that we would need to narrow our search to smaller breeds because of our NYC lifestyle. Having both grown up in the country, we were partial to larger breeds. On a whim, I searched for large-breed dogs that are suitable for apartment living. Much to our surprise, Greyhounds were the most recommended! It was my understanding that these dogs required extensive exercise, but as it turns out they have two speeds—45mph and sleeping.
The Search Begins
For the next three weeks, Grant and I did nothing but research everything Greyhound related! The more we learned, the more we fell in love with the breed. We eventually found a rescue group that served NYC and got in touch with a wonderful volunteer named Linda. Two weeks later, she visited our apartment with a spotted, male Greyhound who had recently retired from the industry. While this gentle giant had some difficulty climbing the stairs to our apartment, once inside he had no problem exploring every inch—all 400 square feet!
Our Boy
When Linda left that day, Grant and I looked at each other and without words knew we had found our dog. We called Linda the next day and arranged to pick him up. Being an avid (obsessive) Formula 1 fan, Grant decided to name our new dog Lewis after Lewis Hamilton, the race car driver. Considering his retired profession, I found it quite fitting. When we got Lewis home, he quickly conquered the stairs and felt right at home in our modest Upper East Side apartment.
Today, Lewis is the absolute love of our lives. Because of his size and gentle nature, he has also become a bit of a celebrity in our neighborhood—working his way into the hearts of everyone he meets.
Please join the ASPCA’s effort to end Greyhound racing.
May 8, 2009
Adoption Diaries: Happy Mother’s Day
Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
Animal moms are lucky—they get to parent using their instincts. They don’t read What To Expect When You’re Expecting. They don’t deal with contrasting, unsolicited advice from in-laws. They don’t get even stopped on the street to be told they’re doing something wrong!
Animals know all about mothering in its purest, simplest form. Nature guides them to protect and nourish their little ones, and provide them the tools to survive on their own. And watch out if anyone tries to get in Mom’s way—if you’ve ever seen a mama cat hiss at an intruder, you know what I mean.
For being the ultimate model of selfless maternal love, I dedicate this diary to the furry moms I’ve visited at the ASPCA Adoption Center these past two years.
No matter how tired you are, you wear your motherhood with pride…
You watch out for your babies…
…and nurture them…
…even when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Happy Mother’s Day!
May 4, 2009
Adoption Diaries: Learning to Stay Positive Thanks to a Wise Old Cat
Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
My favorite lap cat was adopted! Remember Sherbert, from the “funny faces” post? Now there’s a cat I respected and admired. He was an eternal optimist, even though life threw a whole lot of challenges his way.
Our Humane Law Enforcement cops rescued Sherbert back in October. They found him emaciated, abandoned, and suffering from multiple untreated medical conditions. But at 9 years old, he had gained wisdom with age. Somehow, he seemed to know it would all work out.
Sherbert did not lose faith in human beings. In fact, the opposite was true. It was on human laps where he found the comfort he sought. He worked his way into the hearts of our shelter staff one lap at a time.
Sherbert, good luck in your new home. Here’s hoping you found your lap of luxury, my fuzzy funny face! Thanks for always staying positive. We can all learn a thing or two from you.
** Be sure to check out our Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the ASPCA Adoption Center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.
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Life is short, so let’s make time for love. Make sure your kitty gets a quick kiss on the head every time you walk by his lounge spot.
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April 21, 2009
Adoption Diaries: 3 Years of Food Theft, Furniture Destruction and Cuddly, Adorable Joy!
Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
Allow me to be a bit self-indulgent and wish my own two kitties a Happy Birthday today!
I adopted Bruce and Maow when they were itty bitty. Three years later, they still sleep in the drawer (and I still get startled when I open it and someone jumps out).
This is a photo taken from their first birthday party. I learned that trying to get a party hat on them for my own amusement will never be acceptable. I also learned that a thawed frozen crab cake, which I thought was a very generous gift, will not fool my epicurean eaters. If it’s not fresh, they say “No thank you, we’ll have your dinner instead.”
This year’s birthday party is coming up later this week. Any suggestions on a nice birthday treat for the feline foodies? Leave me a comment!
Now, on to the animals at the ASPCA. Kitten season is in full swing—meaning baby kittens are going to be popping up in drawers all over the country. But lately we’ve also been housing a number of puppies.
As you can see, they’re pretty relaxed with us! But the pups and kitties find homes quickly, of course. Our older guys and gals usually need a bit more help.
** Be sure to check out our Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the ASPCA Adoption Center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.
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How ‘bout we switch places today, and you provide the tip! Please leave a comment suggesting a special birthday treat for cats.
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April 10, 2009
Adoption Diaries: Happy Birthday to Us!
Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
Happy Birthday, ASPCA! Today marks 143 years of preventing cruelty to animals. To show our love and gratitude for the work we do, staff members and volunteers gathered for this fun photo shoot at the South Street Seaport.
The man front and center (bottom of the P) is our President and CEO, Ed Sayres. We were proud to stand behind him—literally!—for the photo.
You get 100 points if you find me! Points for what, I have no clue.
Thanks for faithfully reading our blog and keeping up with our efforts. We couldn’t do it without you!
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Like what you see in the photo? Gather together friends and animal supporters in your hometown and spell ASPCA!
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March 13, 2009
Adoption Diaries: Reunited!
Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
October 10, 2007: My very first Adoption Diary entry.
“I heard a gigantic rumble. Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I scooped Whitney up into my arms and carried her to the socialization area. I sat down and she plopped herself on my lap. I'm not kidding, this girl has the loudest purr I've ever heard. Oh man, I'm so in love.”
Turn up the volume on your computer and hear the purr for yourself!
I continued to visit Whitney until she was adopted the following month, in November. Fast forward to March 2009. I received a message on Facebook from Phyllis Will—the woman who adopted Whitney! She had read the blog entries about Whitney, saw how much I cared for the cat, and found me on Facebook. Phyllis invited me to visit Whitney in her home! Now here’s the kicker—she lives four blocks away from me! Two days later, I was reunited with the rumbling white goddess.
Thank you, Phyllis—my neighbor!—for taking such wonderful care of Whitney, and for opening your lovely home to me. I always wondered where Whitney ended up, and now I know. She’s spoiled to her kitty core. No complaints here from me!
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While it’s great to play with social cats to help ensure they stay that way, shelter volunteers should also spend time with the shy/scaredy cats to help boost their chances of adoption.
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February 20, 2009
Adoption Diaries: Thought We Were a Shelter, Not a Zoo!
Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
Man, oh man. I’ve never seen anything like it; crowds started lining up outside our Adoption Center at 5:30 A.M. today. No, not to see the Jonas Brothers—to adopt one of the dogs we rescued from a puppy mill in Tennessee.
The line was down the block and around the corner!
We opened our doors at 11:00 A.M. and the good people of New York City began filling out applications. Believe it or not, there was a method behind the madness. Organized chaos!
We always have plenty of volunteers to help out. In this case we were needed to herd the crowds and keep them entertained in the holding room. That’s me in the center! I’m probably smiling because I got to alphabetize—wahoo! I know, I know. I’m such a geek.
“Want me?”
“Who’s ready to adopt us? We’re all ears”
“How do you like my underbite? No braces, please. There are hundreds of people here to adopt me, and I ain’t goin’ home with nobody giving me braces.”
** To see more photos of the puppy mill dogs at our Adoption Center, check out our photo album.
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We know you know. But in case you don’t—do NOT buy dogs from a pet store! Please adopt from your local shelter instead.
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February 4, 2009
Adoption Diaries: There Are Faces I Remember
Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
I fell in love with a whitey again. You really can’t blame me—just look at Owen.
See? Now you’re in love with him, too.
But you don’t have to be conventionally beautiful to earn my love. You can be a short, stocky bulldog with a skin infection, and you can snort like a hog, and I’ll love ya even more! Meet Treasure. Now there’s a mug you can wake up to every day, one that will put a smile on your face 10 years later.
Talk about an odd couple! Here’s Treasure and his former roommate, Kimberly, a tiny stretchy girl with an underbite. I say “former” because yesterday Treasure went home to a foster parent who is looking to adopt him! Hooray!
Funny face, you’ve got the cutest little funny face! This is Sherbert, and ain’t he delicious? Of course, any time there’s a cage card that reads “lap cat” I have to investigate. Just to, you know, make sure they’re telling the truth.
Verdict? Yep, it’s the truth!
I leave you with some silly mugs. Enjoy!
Precious looks like she’s submitting to a dental exam. (left)
Daisy the chow-chow had a smile for everyone who walked by! (below)
** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.
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If you’re like me, and have reached the capacity for how many pets you can comfortably have in your home, volunteering at your local shelter is a great way to fulfill your need to play with long-haired cats and giant dogs. And all the rest, of course. Oh yeah, and the animals benefit, too!
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January 16, 2009
Adoption Diaries: Cuteness on Wheels
Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
How ‘bout I skip to the good stuff? Without further ado, I give you skateboarding puppies:
Trish McMillan, ASPCA Director of Animal Behavior, took this footage while conducting a training session with the pups. Yes, training. Knowing I’d want to write about this, I asked Trish what was up with the skateboard. She says she uses it with every new litter of pups they get in.
Me: Do you bring out the skateboard with the puppies just for fun, or is there actually a behavior/training reason to go along with it?
Trish: It gets them used to novelty, skateboard sounds and moving surfaces.
So there ya have it. Our way of justifying that which needs no justification. Come on—cute puppies on a skateboard!
But wait—there’s more. This is Peanut, who loves to stand up. Nickname: Teddy Bear Supreme, so lovingly dubbed by the staffer in this video, who claims Peanut is her boyfriend…but then again, as she added, she’s had a lot of boyfriends at the ASPCA.
We won’t beat around the bush. Mr. Daisy is fat. But boy, can he move! Look at that sweet, innocent face. The last thing I expected was for him to roll around like an ecstatic looney! Watch this video and tell me if you don’t swear Mr. Daisy is moving to the music. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I adore the music the cats get to hear all day! Usually it’s classical, but on this day it was jazzy standards. Cool.
Brooklyn’s in the house. This pit bull is a little nutty, but she’s only eight months old. She’s as sweet as they come, though, and is gearing up to make a great forever pet for someone soon.
** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.
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Adopting a puppy? Get him used to lots of surrounding street activity by bringing home a skateboard! (Bet you saw that one coming!)
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January 8, 2009
Adoption Diaries: What a Way to Start the Year!
Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
Haaaaappy New Year! I hope your holidays were relaxing and filled with family, both human and furry. And scaly, and feathery, etc. My brother, mother and I all exchanged Christmas gifts for our respective cats, which was completely unplanned! My two orange kids made out pretty well—they got a Chia Cat Grass Planter. Grass they can eat! We can’t have any flowers in the house because they will be attacked by my little monsters, so the cats probably don’t deserve a plant of their own—but hey, I’m a sucker. They have me wrapped around their pretty paws, for sure. By the way, if anyone has any experience with this cat grass stuff, shoot me a comment and share your tips!
Speaking of family, my niece joined me at the adoption center last week. Gianna is 10 years old, and already an animal advocate! She knows all about the plight of pit bulls and watches our show, Animal Precinct, religiously. A horse lover and rider, she wants to be an equine surgeon one day! I sure didn’t know about any of this stuff at that age; I think it’s so cool. It was a blast giving a tour to such an enthusiastic guest! She got to watch Victoria Wells, ASPCA Manager of Shelter Behavior and Training, in a behavior session with two dogs. Victoria granted Gianna’s request to see “the arm” used on TV in Animal Precinct. (It’s a fake arm used to gauge a dog’s level of aggression, if any.) Gianna also got a tour of the hospital, and was really excited to see an actual animal cop! Big thanks from me to the ASPCA staff for helping me to give my niece such a positive experience! She’s a special kid.
After Gianna left, it was time to get to work playing with the pooches and kitties. I had the privilege of watching Doug work with Spud, last week’s Pet of the Week. Doug is a regular volunteer at the ASPCA, and one of our dog captains. See how Doug shows off Spud’s skillz!
Here’s Doug working with Precious, our big ‘ole charming St. Bernard
This is Morris. He’s five years old and has a hyperactive thyroid gland—but what a mush!
Shy Peter likes to keep one eye open, always on the alert and ready to pounce. But the more human attention he gets, the more he warms up to the idea! We’re slowly breaking him down. Hopefully soon, he’ll be putty in our hands!
Thanks for reading. It’s good to be back and blogging in 2009. Here’s to a great year ahead. Cheers!
Love,
Elyse
** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.