Animal Rescue Stories

Justice

I agreed to foster this adorable doggy since the rescue group I have worked with before was having no luck with him.Rescued just hours before he was to be put to sleep, they soon discovered that he was extremely fearful toward people, probably due to his broken hip that someone dumped him off at the pound with and no one at shelter noticed. He lived in this pain for over 3 weeks before he was rescued..Irresistably cute, most people would want to adopt him but once they came close, he would lunge and nip. He had learned that people equal pain. I drove him home in a crate and was told to ignore him. Half way home I had to let him out of the crate. Within minutes he crawled onto my lap and went to sleep. We bonded immediately. He still has some issues with people but every day he gets more and more trusting. He has become our best friend and he fits into our family of 2 other dogs and 3 cats perfectly. We are so lucky to have this sweet, affectionate, loving and beautiful dog.

Chandra
Cornell, CA

Adoption of Digger Phelps

I adopted Digger Phelps from my county animal shelter almost 4 months ago. The shelter felt he was 10 years old and had placed him on their urgent adoption list after having him for 4 months. No one else adopting animals had shown any interest in him. The shelter warned me that he was an older cat and might have medical issues. I told them that was exactly why I wanted him because no one else did. He is a blessing to me every day.He sleeps right next to me all night and has made best friends with my 9 year old cat,Teddy, also a rescue .

Suzanne Folwell
Waldwick, NJ

Friends to the end

Dixie was found in the rain in front of the Winn Dixie grocery story, a very small, very wet kitten. A young girl pleaded with her mom to take her home, but the mom wouldn't let her have the kitten. I asked her if it would be OK for me to give her a loving home and put her in the car to awake to the most beautiful white kitten the next morning. Sheeba was found born under a friends house and they were looking for a home for her. Dixie adopted her immediately and they were inseperable until Dixie passed away from cancer at the young age of 6. Sheeba is now an old gal of 13 and still has trouble adjusting to loosing her best friend.

Barbara Crisler
LaGrange, GA

Catnapped! The Story of Athena

My mother was the original crazy cat lady! She always had at least one or two living with her, and her cats NEVER went outside.

Her neighbours brought a kitten home, only they hadn't brought it into the house: they had left it outside, picking through garbage and drinking out of puddles. Mom waited to see what would happen but nothing changed. Never a shy woman, she marched across the road to confront these people about the way they were treating "that poor kitten!" They laughed at her, so she went home and waited. After dark she snuck over, scooped up the tiny handful and skedaddled home!

Their children came by searching for the kitten, but she swore no knowledge of it. After she had her vet OK and spay the kitten, she found a Greek friend to foster her with who named the beautiful tortoiseshell "Athena". Mom called me to take her: it was "safe" because I lived elsewhere. Athena quickly fit to my little apartment, but I was never "hers" in the way that cats adopt one person as their personal property.

It was when my husband-to-be walked through my door that she found her "person": she took one look at him, leaped into his arms, and was never willingly out of them again!

She died 11 years later, still in his arms and still satisfied with her choice.

Athena and the love she engendered from total strangers reminds me of the love God has for even His smallest and most insignificant creatures. I know He prompted my mother to "steal" her away to safety. I know He prompted Athena to "leap" into my husband's arms, a man certain he didn't like cats and yet was instantly in love with her for the rest of her life.

Sharon Dunford
PETERBOROUGH, Canada

Tuki finds a home

Tuki ("sweetness" in Hebrew) was a stray in the neighborhood. I put food out for him, but he ate it at night when no one was around. He watched us from afar, but wouldn't come near. My neighbor, Susie, worried about him living thru another freezing cold winter, so she and her husband trapped him for me. I gave him a bath that first day. He didn't claw me at all, and fell asleep in a soft towel in my arms. Tuki is still adjusting to living with 3 other cats and a dog. He is just beginning to explore the house, after living here for 7 months. One of my cats in particular, keeps him confined to living under the kitchen table. But when that cat's not around, Tuki enjoys his freedom! He loves to play, and enjoys catnip. He is also a great cuddler. The biggest surprise of all was that Tuki's fur grew out. He had short fur when he lived on the streets, maybe due to malnutrition. The vet says Tuki is a Ragdoll. He is a big, furry, sweet doll all right!

Laura
Columbia City, IN

Sasafrass has a home:

Sasafrass had just arrived at the Central Mo. Humane Society when I went to pick out a new cat. She was starved, abused, and very sick. For a month she was on antibiotics, and hanging on to life. She has now doubled her weight, and is a healthy, loving, happy cat. After having her for 5 years she even trusts my friends enough to sit on their lap. She has come to live up to her nickname of Sassy. She is a very good companion for Boots, my other cat. She is a flame point siamese.

Phyllis Sapp
Columbia, MO

My little Angel - Adam

Adam was a rescue from a puppy mill, he was kept in a small carrier for a bit over 1 year, he was let outside to potty and back into his carrier. The breeder passed away suddenly and the animals were left to the spouse who really did not want to deal with the animals. My brother was informed about the situation and he adopted a Chihuahua and could not resist Adam's beautiful face and tender eyes. I had lost my Yorkie of 13 years to Cancer and thought I could never have another pet as the pain of loosing Chauncey was nearly unbearable, until I met Adam. Adam was so pitifull in his behavior, he cowered away from people, could not walk on a leash, spun circles over and over again before entering through a door, he would not eat with anyone near him and now not only has he regained the trust of a human, he reopened my heart to love again. He is the most precious gift I have ever recieved and I am thankful every day that Adam has accepted me as his life long friend and companion. Adam just turned 10 years old and is a very happy, healthy and playful little person and is one of the most important parts of my life!

Kyle
Orlando, FL

Maverick's Rescue

I went to our local Humane Society to adopt a dog for a companion for my other dog. I found a white German Shepard and thought, "This the one I want!" I went home to wait the proper time and when I came back, the lady I was working with told me a couple had come in and asked about the white German Shepard. They had a little girl that fell in love with him and he in return with her. They asked if I would be willing to let him go. How can you say, "No," to a nine year old child. So I let him go with her. I went back inside to find a different dog. As I walked into the room, this chocolate lab jumped up on the gate and began licking my hand. He was so sweet I just couldn't refuse. I was told the dog had been abused and was thrown over the fence at the Humane Society and was found in the morning. His injury was his right hind leg. All they could do was let it heal by itself and watch him close. He wasn't adoptable for another week, cause they have to give the owner a chance to come back and claim him! No, I thought! But the call came thru at week's end, I could adopt him. I immediately went to pick him up. It took him a good six months to trust any male since he was abused by a male. But he has been with me for six years now and has found out all people aren't abusive. He is right at the door to greet me when I come home and treats my grandchildren like precious treasures. Maverick now knows what a good life is all about!

Donna
Menasha, WI

My Brodie Kitty

I rescued Brodie (then named Gator) from an animal shelter in March 2006 after falling in love with his picture on the website.

I picked him up in May, and he's been my favorite snuggle bug ever since. I love him just the way he is - which is hard sometimes. He loves my boyfriend and me because we are his owners, but he has trust issues with everyone else....

Brodie was the only surviver after being found near death with his siblings in a box on the curb. If he wasn't found when he was, he would have died like his brothers and sisters. His story touched me, and I had to have him.

He is a little sassy and fiesty, but he will learn to love you if you give him the chance! He loves stuffed animals, cheese, and turkey. He also LOVES to steal my hair accessories and destroy them :-) I love taking cute pictures of him, and he even has his own Facebook profile!

We are hoping to save another kitty once we have a bigger place, so Brodie will have a partner in crime!

Melissa
Milwaukee, WI

BOUNCER

Bouncer , a stary Jack Russell, was living in a shelter in Wales, near the area where I used to live. Having lost my previous dog at 14 and a half years old I was ready to give a loving home to another one and I wanted a 'rescue'' from 'Ty Agored' or 'Open House', the shelter's English translation. As soon as I saw his picture I knew he was the 'one' and we set off to fetch him home, a journey of two hundred miles.

He's suffered a broken hip and pelvis which we're told was allowed to heal without the help of a vet, so he's on permanent medication. But apart from walking with a bit of a 'waddle' you'd never know there was anything wrong with him, he's so lively and full of fun. A sweeter, more affectionate little dog would be hard to find. I can't believe how forgiving rescued animals are, when yoiu think what they've suffered in the past. He's certainly made himself part of the family and repays us with his love and cute ways every day.

Lyn and Dave Evans
Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom