Stories of Hope and Love
Everyone has a special reason for adopting a four-legged family member. And we want you to share yours. We're creating a collection of stories and photos from our Guardian Members as a testimony to the joy and inspiration of sharing your life with a pet. Tell us your story.
While you're here, take a moment to read other adoption stories and you'll see why Making Adoption Your First Option continues to have a lasting impact.
To submit your furry critter rescue story, please email your story, your name, and a photograph of your critter to: guardians@aspca.org.
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Cute as a Colby!
Lisa of Rhinelander, WI
In May 2006 we made the momentous decision to adopt a new puppy. We were looking for an all-black German Shepherd/Labrador mix—the perfect fit for our home and other dogs. Little did we know at the time that black dogs are often the first to be put to sleep and the last to be adopted out. Now we wish we could adopt them all!
My husband was the first to spot little Colby while browsing through Petfinders.com. Just a puppy, Colby looked exactly like our Olivia at the same age—stocky, all black, and brimming with intelligence and life. Colby was exactly what we were looking for. Now all we had to do was make the 10-hour round trip to pick him up. As soon as we got to his foster home, Colby became so excited that he tinkled in my purse—that's when I knew he was mine forever!
Colby is now a happy, healthy, and oh-so-silly 65-pound dog. He spends each day playing tug-of-war, taking long naps and eating forbidden food off the counter. His favorite hobbies are playing with squeaky toys and gently herding our kitties. He is being groomed to become a therapy dog to share some of the huge amount of love he has to give with others who need it. We love him and can't imagine life without him!
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Along Came Curby
By Mona Hilton
My son and I were driving to meet the rest of our family for a Father's Day dinner when I noticed a wad of fur lying on the side of the curb. Thinking it was just another tragic death by auto, I was stunned to see movement! The poor little kitten was limp as we picked her up. She had several lacerations on her swollen face and couldn't even open her eyes. I immediately called my family and told them we were bringing an extra guest to dinner—they enthusiastically agreed.
Living in the country, we have no access to emergency vet services, so we decided to make Curby as comfortable as possible for the night and bring her to the vet first thing in the morning. She devoured some moist cat food—and it became obvious she hadn't had food in quite some time. I kept a close watch on her for the rest of the night—only the sound of her wheezy breathing told me she was still alive.
From that very first day, Curby became part of our family. Today she is a very happy cat—with a big yard to play in, a cool house to sleep in and all the attention she can stand!
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The Mighty Zeus
By Elizabeth Chance
We fell in love with Zeus right away. His mighty personality had us trained to spoil him with love and treats in no time at all. Zeus came from the local shelter and hated to be left alone when he first came to live with us. But with training (for us, mostly), consistency, and lots of love he has become the perfect companion. Zeus has learned how to walk calmly on a leash, enjoys meeting new people and fancies himself a real ladies' dog. He also loves car rides and playing with other dogs, especially his brother Zeppelin. He knows how to retrieve tennis balls, and he how to go get his dad when dinner is ready. We enjoy Zeus so much that our only regret is we didn't get him sooner!
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Dear Abby
By Carol Herb
Just over four years ago, I was looking for cat to adopt when I found a grey kitten at the Humane Society of Utah. I knew right away that she was a perfect fit for my family. We took her home and named her Abby. Abby had only been with us for a week when she became very ill. She was burning up with a fever of 105 and vomiting. Even though she felt so crummy, she was purring away. My vet did a number of tests and we discovered Abby was infected with panleukopenia—a disease that more than 50% of cats perish from. She had no white blood cell count, and her outlook was grim. To top it off, treatment would cost upwards of $1000 with no guarantee of success. It only took a brief conversation with my husband for us to come to the conclusion that she deserved a fighting chance. She was still so young, and even though we adopted her only a week before, we loved her. When we adopted her, we also made the commitment to care for her no matter what. We gave our vet the go ahead to begin treatment, and my family began the waiting game. On the second day, the vet called and told us with enthusiasm that Abby was doing very well. I visited her that night, talking to her softly. She replied with perky meows, rubbing against her cage. On the fourth day, Abby came home and to this day I am so grateful that we gave her the chance to fight—she showed us that she wanted to live and has blessed our lives ever since.
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A New Start for Anna
By Kay Watson
When we adopted one-year-old Husky Anna, she was weakened by malnutrition and a case of heartworm. She was sickly, but there was a spark in her blue eyes and a little dance in her step. We knew there was a lot of play left in her—she just needed to get healthy.
When Anna arrived home, she wanted to rest. She curled up in an armchair in my bedroom and that night, when I got into bed, she crawled in with me.
After a slow recovery, her coat became beautiful and full, and we could begin to see muscles on her previously thin body. On walks, Anna became very animated with people and other dogs—she wanted to play!
Now—at four years old—Anna weighs over 40 pounds and seems to invite everyone she meets to be a part of our family. Her goal in life is to greet everyone, regardless of whether they're a dog person or not.
Anna is a wonderful companion. When she wants to cuddle, she'll run and jump up into our laps, demanding that we pay attention—she's the queen of our family—and our sofa!
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Hello Dolly
By Christa Clawson
When Dolly arrived on our doorstep, she was a very tiny, underweight and malnourished kitten—about the size of a mouse! She was battling a severe upper respiratory infection that made it very difficult for her to breathe and eat. Her hair coat was in very poor condition, and she had developed a secondary skin infection on her face from the excessive amounts of nasal and eye discharge. Under the vets care, we bottle feed her and nourished her back to health. We are happy to report that Dolly is doing great—she has become the one and only true love of our family!
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Our Perfect Match
By Krissy Rich
It's been more than a year since we adopted our Patches—and I couldn't be more pleased! She is feisty, gentle, funny and mischievous—a perfect complement to our personalities. She loves to perch on one of her many windowsills and watch the birds, chase her toys or just hang out as we get ready for work in the morning. I must admit, she is a bit of a magician—having the ability to make household objects disappear. We have lost two Christmas ornaments, one magnet, two phone chargers and countless other small objects to her playing—but all were well worth it. I couldn't imagine not having her to come home to every day. As soon as I can convince Patches' daddy that she needs a brother we'll be back to find another perfect match!
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The Queen Duchess
By Cathy Joyner
Duchess was found tied to the door handle of an animal shelter. She was an older miniature Poodle who had not been well cared for. I had been hinting to my husband for 10 years that I wanted a Poodle, when I saw an ad in the free pet section of the local paper. I took my daughter and grandchildren to meet her the very next day to see if she got along with the kids. Duchess had a spot on one eye and was very shy, but was perfect in every other way. Now, after two years with us, she is very happy and content with her 'guide dog', Frankie, the Chihuahua and her three cat siblings. She knows that she's loved.
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Blarney Comes Home
By Kelly, Mark and Liam Wright
This happy story begins with our family's search for a new dog. After months of research and investigation, we were matched up with a 19-month-old, Lab/Plott Hound mix, now known as Blarney. As a puppy, Blarney was unwanted because he wasn't a proper hunting dog. Later, he was placed with a man who didn't care for him properly. Blarney soon wound up as part of a unique rescue mission—several animal rescue organizations grouped together to drive homeless animals from the South to New England for adoption. In spite of his long journey, Blarney stepped off the van and wiggled with happiness. Once we arrived home, he curled up on his new dog bed and cuddled with our three-year-old son, Liam—an instant bond was formed. Blarney loves and respects all people and animals, and has flourished as our companion and best friend. Recently, he was named �2018;Best in Show' at a local dog competition with over 40 contestants. He also became the inspiration for a newly published children's book, Blarney Stays Home. Blarney is a ham for the camera which prompted our son to take amusing pictures of him—that in turn inspired me to write the book. Today we travel to schools—mother, son and dog—and encourage children to read and educate them on how great rescued dogs can be. Our family is overjoyed that we made the decision to adopt Blarney. His rough elbow patches stand as a reminder of his past, but an ever-wagging tail proudly confirm that he has found his forever home.
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Lucky Louie Moves Off-Broadway
By Celeste Varricchio
While taking a supper break during rehearsal at a Times Square theater, a fellow dancer and I came upon a group of people trying to coax a homeless kitten out from under a parked car. The little Tuxedo cat would cautiously creep forward, but run back under the car whenever some tried to approach him.
Realizing this was a job for a pro, I immediately called upon the help of another dancer who performs cat rescues. Together, we ran to a nearby drugstore and bought a can of tuna flavored cat food. This deliciousness was too much for the kitten to resist—as soon as he approached the food, we grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and secured him in a box.
The little guy was covered in dirt, had a serious upper respiratory infection, a crusty eye, worms and parasites. After a visit to the vet and a couple months of TLC, Lucky Louie became a full-fledged member of my family—increasing our pride of cats to four. Today, he is a bundle of energy and affection—a real sweetheart who still has his �201c;Broadway�201d; swagger.
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Cuddling Teddy
By Nicole Kontuly
My baby boy Teddy Bear, a Chow Chow/Sheppard mix, just turned 10 weeks old, and he has already been through so much in his short life.
Teddy Bear was born in a high kill shelter in North Carolina. A rescue group in Pennsylvania decided to save Teddy and his siblings. Teddy traveled from state to state via other friendly rescue groups, until finally arriving at his foster home in Albany, New York. The pups were taken to the vet, and sadly three were diagnosed with parvo-virus—Teddy Bear and his two sisters. They were hospitalized for about a week. Unfortunately, one of Teddy Bear's sisters passed away.
From traveling to escape death to combating a deadly illness, I am amazed at what Teddy Bear has been through. Despite it all, he is the most lovable puppy I have ever met—he just loves to be cuddled. I have only had him for a little more than a week now, but I can't imagine my life without him. My Teddy Bear is a winner and a survivor.
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Saving Sandy
By Ann Summerville
No matter how much I brush or trim my dog, Sandy, she looks like someone pulled her through a hedge backwards—but there is no mistaking that under that wiry fur is a very sweet dog. As a puppy she lived at my neighbor's house—a present for his grandson who seldom visited. She was neglected and left outside with little shelter. Despite these conditions, she always had a smile for my family. As soon as we stepped into our garden, she ran to the fence wagging her shaggy tail. When we gave her treats she would gently hold them in her mouth until we moved away and only then devoured them. It wasn't long after our own sweet cocker spaniel died that our neighbors told us they were moving. �201c;You can take her or we'll just have her put to sleep,�201d; the man told me. After agreeing to take her, the next day I took a leash and knocked on the neighbor's door. �201c;I threw her over the fence,�201d; said the callous neighbor and there she was, a little dazed, but happy to see me. Sandy became diabetic a few years ago, requiring twice daily insulin shots and a strict diet. I am forever grateful that she found her way into our hearts and ended up with a family who could love and care for her properly.
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My Friend Sidney
By Amy Drake
Over the last several years my husband, Dr. Miles E. Drake, Jr., and I have cared for 11 stray, abandoned or rescued cats. Among them our cat Sidney has become especially close to us. Sidney became acquainted with us a couple of years ago when he was a bedraggled stray who came to our back door for dinner. In time, he came to trust us and even brought his children, two adorable tiger striped kittens, to us for care. We took them in immediately, but Sidney was not yet ready to relinquish his independence. One day, after being mauled by a dog, he came and sat on the back porch. He looked up at us to tell us he was ready to give up the street life. He allowed me to scoop him up and I called our vet clinic for an emergency examination. It was very important to tend to his wounds and be sure we wouldn't be imposing a health risk on our other pets by bringing Sidney indoors. We were very relieved to find out that he was disease-free.
After moving in with us his life has become more comfortable, but it hasn't been easy. Sidney developed urinary crystals which led to blockages requiring two PU procedures to correct. I've had my share of kidney stones and knew he was in considerable pain. Today, he is healthy, with the aid of a special diet and has become my steadfast companion and assistant. I am a writer and Sidney spends many long hours with me at the computer. He sleeps on our bed and plays with the kittens. Having Sidney in our home has been a blessing: he is a compassionate, funny and loyal friend.
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Beautiful Lowell
By Phyllis and Rob Flint
We adopted Lowell after reading his bio on the shelter website—he had been in there for almost eight months! When we went to meet him, the shelter staff explained that while other guinea pigs were adopted quite quickly, Lowell was continually passed over because he was albino and a bit chunky. Albino animals are frequently overlooked in shelters for the more attractive colors. I knew right away that this little guy was the one—it was time for him to have his own home.
Lowell has become such a wonderful companion. He has slimmed down by getting fed properly and is comes out of his cage to play several times a day. He has developed a tremendous personality, and is quite the ham! The moral of this story is that all shelter animals deserve loving homes—but it is very especially rewarding to adopt one that is continually overlooked and watch them blossom into a happy, healthy pet. By the way, we think our guy to be quite beautiful, too!
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Healing Booboo
By Emily Canters
Booboo came from a woman who ran a small rescue group. One summer day, she saw an uncaring person hit a small black cat with their SUV. Immediately, she took the little guy to the vet, thinking they would have to euthanize him due to the extent of his injuries. Not so! Little Booboo pulled through. I fell in love with him right away and took him home to help him heal. Booboo still shows signs of his accident by limping, and has a permanently crooked face as a result—but I love him all the more for it. His tragic experience hasn't stopped him from being my baby and best friend.
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Hop-along Cassidy!
By M. Stelter
I rescued Cassidy from my apartment complex in Texas where she was born out in the wild. She had major birth defect and the vet recommended amputation of her front left leg. She was suppose to take it �2018;easy' for three weeks after the surgery, but after only three days she was running around with her brothers and sisters. Having three legs doesn't stop Cassidy from doing anything—she teaches me everyday that you don't have to be perfect in body to love and appreciate life to the fullest. Cassidy has truly rescued me and made my life so much more fun and exciting with her funny three-legged antics. She is my Hop-along Cassidy!
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Zack the Wonder Dog
By Jessica Landers
Zack, a German Shepherd and Chow mix, started life under sad circumstances. His owner was looking for a guard dog, and was very disappointed to find this little guy was as sweet as pie. His way to solve the problem was to lock Zack in the basement and beat him periodically.
This went on for three years. Eventually this awful person gave Zack to a shelter. He was beaten down pretty badly by then, thin as a rail and terrified of everyone around him. Then a wonderful family fell in love with him, and took him home. At first, Zack cowered in corners, and refused to eat. Eventually, after months of love and affection, he learned that not all people are cruel and became a beloved part of their family.
Unfortunately, this family came upon hard times. They were forced to move into subsidized housing that didn't allow dogs of Zack's size. Crushed by the thought of giving up their dog, they put word out to friends and family that a wonderful dog was in need of a home.
Word got to me. While my landlord didn't allow pets, I agreed to watch Zack for a week. It took only a day for me to fall in love—Zack was the sweetest, calmest and most loving dog I had ever met. At the end of the week, I gave notice to my landlord and started looking for a place that Zack and I could live together.
He's been with me for six months now, and every second I spend with him is a gift. He's grown confident and comfortable. He comes to work with me every day and sleeps at the foot of my bed every night. Zack's story is one that begins with unthinkable cruelty, and ends with unwavering love. He's made my life infinitely better, and I love him with every inch of my heart.
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A Little Ball of Fluff
By Sandy McLeod
When people ask my husband, Alex, how he has stayed so slim since retirement, he states it's because he gained 25 pounds—I'll explain. We were fortunate to be traveling on a deserted road when we spotted a small white ball of fur bouncing through some tall weeds. Thinking it might be a rabbit we stopped to watch. Alex opened the truck door and walked to the edge of the field to get a better look when suddenly the small white fluff bounded through the open door and onto my lap! What a beautiful little puppy! We searched for several weeks but found no one who claimed him—he became ours. People say he should be named Lucky, but we feel we are the lucky ones. He helps us stay fit by walking him, and we stay social because he is so friendly. What a blessing this little stray is to us every day.
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Miss Audrey
By Anna Goodson
I work at a restaurant in Lafayette, Louisiana. One weekend a few of my coworkers found a kitten walking around the front door. They took him to our back outdoor area, where they fed him and set up a cozy box for him to sleep. Later in the shift, someone went to check on him and saw that he was gone. A day later, as I was leaving work, I saw him almost get hit by a car. I immediately pulled over and called out—luckily he came right over. I must admit, I was a little worried about the drive home as I had no one to hold him, but he just sat in my front seat looking up at me. I introduced the kitten to my beagle, Hank, who was still a pup at the time. I can't say they got along great right away, but they eventually became the best of friends. The kitten actually tried breast feed from Hank—I think he was trying to find some comfort, and Hank would let him! I named the kitten Miss Audrey. Yes, Miss Audrey is a boy, but I thought he was a girl before we took him to the vet—the name just stuck. I can't believe I rescued such an amazing cat.
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My Dearest Gina
By Larry Davis
Early one morning in 2004, while I was sound asleep, my apartment caught on fire. I had accidently left a pan on the stove the night before. The fire was devastating and I was lucky enough to get out alive. For that, I thank my beloved German Sheppard, Gina—she was the one to wake me up. Believe me, waking me up was no easy task. I was on pain medication for my back, which I had injured badly in a car wreck earlier that year. Gina was persistent, she kept head-butting me and barking—she even grabbed me by the arm and tugged. Finally, she got me up. At that point, the smoke was so thick I could hardly see anything, but was able to feel the numbers on the phone and dial 911. After that, I turned to run out of the house, grabbing hold of Gina and a portrait of my parents. By the time help arrived, the fire was too far gone—it was a total loss. I had nothing left. Authorities wanted to take me to a local shelter, but I wouldn't hear of it. The shelter does not allow dogs and there was no way I was going anywhere without Gina. I was ready to sleep in my car if it meant keeping her with me. Luckily, the Red Cross arranged for Gina and me to stay in a local motel. They also gave me vouchers for food and clothing. I later found a new apartment, and while I lost all of my wordy possessions, I saved what counted most of all—Gina.
Unfortunately, Gina passed away on February 1, 2009. I knew it was time and held her in my arms while she was humanely euthanized. My dearest Gina was with me for almost 13 years and gave me more than anybody could have expected. She risked her life to save mine and I would have given mine to save hers, too.
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Adopting Joey Paint
By Dawn Laurel
My son's favorite animal has been a turtle ever since he was a toddler. He even played a turtle in a musical theater production. At eight, his pet rat died. Instead of wanting another furry creature, he asked for a turtle. I told him I would think about it—with no intention of ever getting one.
Occasionally I look at Petfinder.com for adoptable dogs. On one particular day, I decided to look at reptiles. Of course, the first ones to come up were turtles! In reading all the specifications for adopting a turtle—including having a 75 gallon tank—I thought there was just no way we could make it happen for my son. Then I came across a little paint turtle with special needs. He had been in a fire, and was missing his back toes, one eye, half his tail and his shell was not quite up to par. He also needed a smaller tank with less water. I made a call to the rescue shelter that was caring for him. They explained Joey's special condition and helped me make a list of items we would need in order to adopt Joey.
Later that day I showed my son a picture of Joey, alongside a picture of a �201c;normal looking�201d; turtle—one with no war injuries or badges of courage. I asked my son if this was really the turtle he would be happy with. He was ecstatic. He didn't care what Joey looked like. More than anything, he wanted to rescue Joey and give him a better life.
Adopting Joey Paint was the best decision we ever made. My son feeds Joey and talks to him every day. He also takes him outdoors to play in the warmer weather. Whenever Joey hears my son's voice, he looks around for him, lifts his head and then begs for a treat. Joey Paint may be small, but he has big personality and charm. We also think he is quite a handsome fellow, despite his past injuries.
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The One
By Lindsay Cohn
I had always wanted a dog, so when I finally moved into a house with a yard, I went straight to the local shelter. A total animal lover, I expected to fall in love right away, but to my surprise, I didn't see "my dog." I kept going back, but no dog ever felt quite right. Then one day, I read the description of a Rottweiler who sounded just perfect. I rushed to the shelter to meet her, but by the time I got there, she had already been adopted. Dejected, I was turning to leave when the shelter personnel encouraged me to go back and see who else was available.
At the very end of the row, lying quietly in his kennel I found a strikingly handsome Rottweiler-Husky mix with one blue and one brown eye. I went in to meet him, and the minute I started petting him he leaned into my legs. I took him outside and ran around with him—he was great on the leash. We then went into an enclosure where I let him off his leash. He wandered away from me to sniff and do his business, but as soon as I called his name he turned and ran straight to me, sticking his nose in my hand. I was done for, he was �201c;the one.�201d; I went back in, filled out the adoption form and took him home. The shelter people had named him Admiral, and I thought it fit him perfectly.
Admiral has become the greatest joy of my life. He is the sweetest, funniest and most handsome dog I've ever known. He also has the Husky habit of "talking" to me, and is clearly very intelligent. While I did save him from death row, of the two of us, I know I got the best deal.
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The Amazing Adventure of Jack Sparrow
By Amy C.
One August day, when my nephew and his family were visiting, we heard a kitten crying. Despite looking around, we could not figure out where the sound was coming from. To our surprise, we found the little kitten curled up underneath the engine area of my nephew's car—he had apparently rode in this nook all the way to our house! We took him right to the vet because his little paws were burnt and he was suffering from ear mites, fleas, malnutrition, etc. Despite his sad condition, he was a very sweet and loving cat. We had recently lost our 16-year-old cat and still grieving, didn't think we were ready to adopt another. But, God works in mysterious ways—we fell in love. My daughter named the kitten Jack after Captain Jack Sparrow of The Pirates of the Caribbean because of his kitty eyeliner, black boot-like feet and, of course, his amazing adventure! Needless to say, Jack is now very spoiled and has us wrapped around his little paws.
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Duncan & Dakota
By Jenna and Ian Stitzel
My husband and I had been married only six months when we decided to add a dog to our family. We looked into adopting from a breeder but couldn't resist the idea of helping a shelter puppy. We found Dakota, a Chow/Australian Shepherd mix, through the Petfinder website. She lived in a town close to us, so we drove to meet her the next morning. As soon as we saw her, we knew she was meant for us. She was so fluffy and had the most beautiful blue eyes. Only a few months old, she had been found abandoned with her siblings behind an old building. When we first bought her home she was incredibly shy, but now she is the life of the party! She sleeps with us every night and chews our shoes every day—I wouldn't have it any other way.
After having Dakota for about a month, we read about Duncan, an Akita, who had been abandoned in an apartment for over two weeks! We drove to see him and fell in love once again. When we first got Duncan home, he would inhale his food as if he wasn't sure he would ever eat again. After some time, his trust grew and he realized he will never be left alone again. Duncan is the calmer of the two and is happy to go for a long walk or just lounge around watching Animal Planet.
We've had them both for about a year now and they are inseparable. They are the loves of our lives and we can't wait to move into a bigger house so we can add more rescues to our family!
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Tidbit's Lucky Day
By Jessica Bowlar
I'd like to share my story about how my sister and I saved our little kitty, Tidbit. My sister, Emilie, had come home from college for the weekend. We were both bored and decided to drive to the mall. Emilie decided to take an alternative route for no reason in particular and thank goodness she did! While driving, I saw a tiny little kitten walking dangerously close to traffic. I told Emilie and she turned around immediately. We picked the kitten up and saw that she was really sick—extremely skinny and her eyes and nose were crusted over. We took her home and tried to feed her while our dad found an emergency animal hospital. We drove for nearly an hour to the clinic where she was treated. Tidbit, now 100 percent recovered, has become the most energetic cat I've ever known!
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A Roadside Rascal
By Elyse Ford
A couple of months ago, my boyfriend and I were on our way home from dinner. It was getting kind of dark, and the busy streets of San Antonio, TX, can be fatal for stray animals. One main strip near our home has a couple of gas stations. One in particular is right next to an animal hospital. I think some people drop their unwanted strays there in hopes the hospital staff will take them in. Perhaps this is what was intended for the pup I saved.
The station was crowded with cars and people, but no one seemed to notice the little, skinny puppy sitting by the doors. I took one look at him and had my boyfriend go into the store and buy a little treat. I used the treat to get the puppy to come to me, saving him from the busy roadside. He was weary, scared and shook uncontrollably—definitely unsure of these two random strangers.
We took the little one home, bathed him and made sure he had a good meal in his belly. We then took him on what was probably his first walk ever with someone who loves him. We named him Rascal.
Today our little Rascal has a totally new disposition—he is happy, healthy and a whole lot bigger! I would never dare leave this little guy alone. He has been a blessing to me and my family. I can only hope that one day I am able to help more dogs cast aside by their owners.
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Annie and Me
By Barbara Galt Studley
On March 28, 2007, I adopted Annie, a 16 year-old Beagle/Sheppard mix, from the Burlington County Animal Alliance in New Jersey. She was totally blind in her left eye, had minimal vision in her right, and suffered from an open wound on her left hind leg, a tumor on her jaw and Cushing's disease. Luckily, after my veterinarian treated the leg wound and removed the jaw tumor, Annie began to thrive. On her one year anniversary with me, I threw her a party—complete with cake, friends and gifts. Six months later, Annie was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her colon and had to be euthanized on January 12, 2009. I am ever grateful she stayed with me as long as she did. She was a blessing who taught me to have strength in the face of adversity and to always be happy—I still cry for her.
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Allie the Cat
By Karen O'Connor
My parents were walking around their neighborhood when they saw a little gray fur-ball scurrying around a man's yard. "Beautiful kitten," my mother said to the man. "You want it?" he replied. "It's a stray, and it's been hanging around here for a couple of days. I called the Pound and they're coming to get it tomorrow." Immediately my mother thought of me, how I had wanted a new cat but simply hadn't found the right one. It took her a while to catch up to the little speed racer, but she did, and brought her home. The next day, when I came home for a visit, Mom surprised me with Allie. She was perfect, the most adorable little gray fluff with big round golden eyes that stared at me as if to say, "Here I am, the one you've been waiting for." It is now more than ten years later, and Allie has been my constant companion, traveling with me around the country, entertaining me with her kitty antics and loving me with all of her heart. I am truly privileged to return the favor.
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One-Eared Wonder
By Ruth Revalee
One Friday evening, I heard crying from within the bushes outside my home. It took me a little while to locate the source, but there she was—a tiny four-week-old kitten. I noticed right away that her right ear was completely torn off and full of maggots. I quickly brought her into my home and began to clean her ear. There was no emergency vet near me, so I had to wait till Monday morning to bring her in to be seen. I was frightened that she wouldn't make it because I could not get all the maggots out of her wound. Finally, Monday morning came and I rushed the kitten to the animal hospital. The vet told me the maggots had almost reached her brain and that she was very lucky to still be alive—but she survived! Today, I have a very healthy, one-eared Calico cat ruling my house!
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Three Little Rescues
I live in Miami, Florida, where the stray animal population is terrible—the no-kill shelters are constantly full, leaving many of the strays in the hands of the city pound. Two years ago, I was a second-year law student and desperately wanted to adopt a pet. I was moving into a new apartment and my roommate agreed to get a kitty. The next afternoon, I left work a few minutes early and went straight to the Miami pound. Although the shelter was about to close, one of the employees offered to stay late to show me the cats and kittens. I immediately began to cry as she told me that only 30 percent get adopted while the rest are euthanized. After hearing that statistic, I could not fathom the idea of taking only one of these poor victims of circumstance home with me. I told the volunteer that I needed to think things over, and would be back. That night, I could not get two of the cats I had met out of my mind—the orange, playful guy and the quiet gray girl. Needless to say, the next day I brought Simba and Nala home with me and have never regretted the decision to take two kittens instead of one!
Before my roommate and I found our new apartment, I mentioned to our realtor that we were planning on adopting a cat. About a month after adopting Simba and Nala, I ran into the realtor. He asked if I was still looking for a cat and I instinctively knew he must have found one who needed a home. "I can't have any more cats,�201d; I told him. �201c;We're already breaking the apartment rules by having three. He, of course, went ahead and sent me a picture of the little black kitten, anyway. He and his roommate had found him in a dumpster and rightly named him Oscar. Oscar was so tiny he had to be fed with a bottle—he never would have survived had he not been found.
Although I could not have any more cats in my apartment, I was very touched by this little kitten's story. And I just happened to know two people very close to me who had
plenty of space in their house for a little furry friend. I forwarded the picture of Oscar to my parents with a plea for help. After much trepidation and debate, my dad agreed to take Oscar in and help find him a home.
After spending a day with my parents, Oscar was theirs. They decided they could not part with the little one and he became a permanent member of the family. Now, he and my dad are great friends—Oscar follows him everywhere. If the door to my parent's bedroom is shut, Oscar sits outside, waiting for dad to reappear. When my dad stretches before going to the gym in the morning, Oscar "stretches" on the living room floor with him. When my dad takes a nap, Oscar takes a nap with him, and when my dad is awake, so is his buddy, Oscar! My dad would agree, our lives would not be complete without our three little rescues!
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Saving Sweet Pea
By Linda Robinson
One evening, I was outside calling for the feral cat, Sweet Pea, who lived in our yard. She would usually come running for her dinner, but she didn't answer my call. I started looking around the property and found her on a patio chair—she could hardly pick up her head and her little body was burning up.
I immediately took her to the vet where we discovered she was not only suffering from a severe infection, but had Feline AIDS. We were devastated, but the veterinarians reassured us that as long as we didn't let Sweet Pea back outside, her chances of living to a ripe old age were good. So we took her into our home.
It's been six years now and Sweet Pea has become quite socialized. She has learned to co-exist with our original house cat Silver and with Cindy, our Tibetan Spaniel. She even lets new people who visit, pet her!
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From Rags to Riches
By Andrea Reeve
The morning we saw the photo of Duke on the front page of our local newspaper, we knew we were in love. While my husband and I were not really ready to adopt a second dog, we couldn't resist meeting this special guy.
The newspaper had informed us of Duke's story—he had been rescued from an abandoned house in New Jersey, along with 33 other dogs and numerous cats. The house had just been raided by the local shelter and all the animals rescued were now looking for homes. When we arrived at the shelter we saw the cages were filled above capacity. We finally found Duke hiding behind two other dogs. He was filthy and covered with scars, cuts and scabs. We couldn't wait to get him home.
The first few months were very stressful as Duke had many ailments. After going to the vet several times, we finally found out he suffered from an intestinal problem and needed a special diet. Duke also had to have emergency cataract surgery to prevent him from going blind. Yet, despite all of his health issues, Duke is the best dog in the world. We spoil him rotten and are so happy he is part of our family!
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A Special Little Guy
By Kari Palmer
Jackson, a very special Schnauzer mix, lived across the street. Every day I would watch as his owners left him outside in their unfenced yard—often for hours at a time. We lived on a very busy street, and Jackson would often dodge traffic to cross the road and visit with our dogs. We tried several times to tell Jackson's owners to not let him out unsupervised, but they never listened.
One evening in late October, my husband and I were in the backyard working on Halloween decorations when we heard a car honk and the squeal of tires—then we heard the yelp. I ran out to the street and found Jackson sitting on the sidewalk holding up his front leg. I carefully picked him up and took him to his owner's house. They told me they didn't have money to pay for vet care and would be calling the local shelter to come pick him up for euthanasia. I had gotten to know this special little guy and couldn't stand the thought of him being put to sleep—he was only 9-months-old. I told the family, I would take care of all medical bills and for Jackson's well-being from then on. They agreed.
Jackson did in fact have a broken leg that required surgery and several pins to be inserted into the limb. It took weeks for him to recuperate. During that time he and I would often sit in the recliner together—we really bonded during this time.
Finally, about a month after surgery, Jackson was free to run and play with my other dogs. He fit right into our home as if he had always belonged. Jackson is such a special little guy with his own spunky personality—I simply can't imagine my life without him!
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Scout & CJ, Best Friends Forever!
By Martha Russell
The summer after our first shelter dog, Output, passed away at age 16, my husband and I were ready for a new best friend. We decided to start our search by making a list of characteristics we were looking for in our new dog. Output had been a golden retriever mix, so we really wanted another golden mix. Output was also a female, so we wanted another female as well. Then my husband said, "Oh, I just HATE curly tails. Please, no curly tail!" And with that, we had our list firmly in mind as we headed off to the city animal control center. As we looked down the line of kennels, one young dog sitting up front caught our attention. We eagerly looked at the information card. The dog was a Lab mix, not a golden. A male, not a female. And to top it all off, squirming all over with excitement, the puppy stood up and wagged his extremely curly tail. I looked over at my husband with questioning eyes. "So... how much do you hate curly tails?" It's now nine years later and Scout is our second World's Best Dog. And yes, his tail is still curly.
A short time after adopting Scout, my husband and I stopped by the vet's office to pick up some medication. There I noticed a teenage tabby cat sitting in a cage in the waiting room. I asked about him and was told that he was a feral kitten found on the street with his sister and they were trying to find him a good home. His sister had adjusted easily, but this little guy was having some trouble. I was instantly smitten and convinced my reluctant husband to let me take him home. We named him CJ. While it took a few days for CJ and Scout to adjust to each other, and for CJ to feel safe in our home, the adoption was a success. I later learned that CJ had been adopted twice before we took him—and returned because of his being so fearful. I often wonder what would have happened to him if we had not adopted him. Needless to say, we love both of our boys—and they are the best of friends!