Animal Rescue Stories

Jingle Bells, our best friend

Our cat Jingle Bells came from the Animal Orphanage in Old Town, ME. She was brought to the shelter with a dislocated hip. She had five tiny kittens who had to be raised by a foster mom kitty. The day I met her, our vet had to put our old cat to sleep, and afterwards Dr. Volk said, "I've got someone out back I think you should meet". As soon as she saw me, this kitty started singing and wanted a belly rub! After a couple of months recuperating at the shelter, she came to live with us. She's sweet-tempered and well-behaved - a joy to have around.

I'd encourage people who want a cat, dog or other pet to give a loving home to an animal from a shelter or rescue program. Your best friend may be waiting for you at your local shelter!

Connie Rand
Lincoln, ME

My "Main Man" Muttley

Due to my chronic illness, my sister and I were looking at properties for sale so we could live together. While looking at a duplex, there was a small dog in the backyard that was rail thin, covered in fleas and ticks and apparently trying to survive. We asked around the neighborhood and found that one of tenants moved and left him. I already had two large female dogs but I brought him home.

Whenever I have a low blood sugar, he lays down beside me and won't leave my side. Typically, if someone is at my front door, he barks; however, when the paramedics are called, he lays quietly, right beside me, while they attend to me.

I have a total of 5 rescues and they all have their place in my heart. Muttley just happens to go above and beyond in his role as protector.

I have been on Disability for 4 years now and I know that the time I spend with my dogs helps to keep me healthier.

Victoria L Bill
Oklahoma City, OK

Bonny-Jean Comes Home

Me and Mom adopted Bonny-Jean right before Christmas '08 at a local PetsMart. A pet rescue group was there and we immediately fell in love with the little Westie dog they had named "Allie" who was up for adoption. She was rescued from a horrible puppy mill in Missouri. We took her home and she is the happiest little dog in the world. We changed her name to Bonny-Jean (very Scottish). She loves our other two dogs Joshua and Annie and they love her too! Her favorite plush-squeak toy is her "Mr. Turtle". We adore Bonny-Jean and she is defintely home to stay!

Julie Trammell
O'Fallon, MO

Luci and Merlyn

At the time my hubby Gary, had only agreed to just one kitten, and my choice was the most active in the cage, trying to get the heck out, we named him 'Merlyn'. And for an added blessing, Gary asked about the other boy, who was pleasantly sleeping in the very back of the cage, not at all worried about getting out. Once in Gary's arms, all he said was 'This ones going to be real handful ! Lets call him Lucifer.' And so we did!!!

Both our babes, 'Lucifer' & 'Merlyn' absolutely adored my late husband Gary. He was so very ill, and rarely left the house, plus, they could lay right on top of him, for hours and hours and hours, sleeping contently. Plus they were amazingly obedient to him too. Where as me, well, they more or less looked at me like we used to look at our Mom's as teenagers.....right ?

The day we lost Gary, April 14th, 2007, they knew something wasn't right. When the ambulance was here, trying to revive him, they ran under the bed, and didn't move for nearly the remainder of the day. They knew that Dad was gone, they didn't even come out for their supper until, very very late in the night. Eventually things smoothed out around here (somewhat) and it was just the three of us. There are many nights when I've been sobbing my heart out, and each time, they've appeared from where ever they were, eyes wide open, staring at me, as if to say, 'What can we do to help you Mom?'So I know they're very smart. These little bundles are the reason I get up every morning, and I'm very grateful that Gary said finally we could have not one, but two!!!

Sheila Joyce Gibbs
Vancouver, Canada

Looking for a Home

About a month ago, my female black lab Josie and I noticed a stray cat hanging around between our house and my neighbor's, who has four cats of her own. Every time we went up to the fence he would look up and cry so pitifully. He seemed friendly so I started feeding him. With those blue eyes and long hair I found out later he is a silver Persian. I took him to the vet and got him tested and up to date with his shots and found out he is about two years old and neutered. He had to have his hair shaved off because of the burrs, so he enjoyed a day at the spa. It's been a week and Josie and he are getting along just fine. When I leave for work in the morning I see them sitting in the bay window together, and it shows how quickly animals accept each other. A good lesson for us humans.
P.S. I named him Gabriel, Gabby for short. In the evening when I'm home, you can find him in my lap!

Sue
Dayton, OH

Maggie & Buster

When Maggie was 8 weeks old, she was found at the side of a busy road and brought in to a local animal shelter. I was in the process of looking for a second dog so when I brought Buster in (who was 9 years old) to meet a different dog there, she ran right up to him and I took that as a sign that she was the one to get. Buster's been her hero ever since. Although I technically adopted Maggie, Buster is the one who actually found her.

Cathy Benecke
Saint Germain, WI

Kirby - A saint from New Orleans

I had wanted a dog ever since my family's dog, Vanilla, passed away at 18 years old. Vanilla was a mini poodle mutt with a pink nose, the sweetest dog in the world. He was so easy going, he let me use him as a horse for my dolls. So you can see how I would want another "Vanilla". Unfortunately, living in an apartment would not allow it. I chose to volunteer at the local SPCA to get my dog fix.
Fast forward to October 14, 2007. My husband and I have been living in a house for five months and I am chomping at the bit. We had a week off from work and I decided that it was time for us to adopt our dog. We went to the shelter and immediately Kirby and I saw each other. I took Kirby outside to "meet" him. My husband was checking out the dogs we were really interested in, according to the local SPCA website. As wonderful as these dogs were, I didn't feel the bond I felt immediately with Kirby.
Fast forward another 30 minutes and Kirby, a boxer mix, was legally ours. But just who was this "Kirby"? A woman we met at the local off-leash dog park said he looked like one of a litter of nine Hurricane Katrina puppies rescued by a local shelter. Since then, we have seen four other dogs that look just like our Kirby, so that very well could be his story.
Now, almost 1 1/2 years later, Kirby is a happy, healthy 3 year old who gets along with his 14 year old sister, Kitty, a cranky, diabetic cat who gets twice daily insulin shots. This makes us wonder. Maybe he really is a saint from New Orleans.

Jessica and Chris S.
Cincinnati, OH

My tuxedo pals

I rescued Pippin from some boys tossing him around. A year later I rescued Sam and Stasia from an old wooden cage filled with feces and urine. They saunter (cats don't run to you) to greet me when I come home from work, and they fill my home with mischief and joy.

BabZ
Jersey City, NJ

Second Chance Dewie

Dewie was, presumably, a puppy mill dog sold to a local pet store. He was not of the quality one might expect of a purebred Westie. He ended up being brought in to a local shelter by an owner who couldn't care for him anymore. He had severe allergies, had chewed all his hair off, and was covered with raw, oozing sores. The owner could not bring herself to euthanize him. The shelter brought him to their vet. A tech there decided to foster Dewie and had pharmaceutical sales reps donate food and medicine. After 2 months, Dewie was over his infections and ready to be adopted.

That was 7 years ago. Today, Dewie lives with 2 other dogs and 5 cats. He is kind, gentle and loving to other animals, children, and all the people he meets. Dewie works as a special "volunteer" at an Alzheimer's center, where I work. He has definitely brought much love and joy into many, many lives since that day at the shelter in 2002.

Jennifer Brown
Richmond, ME

Comfort Cat

I adopted Skylie shortly after I had to put down my cat Shay. That was one of the hardest, if not the hardest, decision I've ever had to make. Skylie really helped me through it. My husband and I weren't aware of this, but soon realized, that Skylie is deaf. Which is quite ironic because one of my best friends is also deaf. Skylie was in the back room of the shelter and had been there for some time. As soon as my husband and I laid eyes on her we knew she was the one. I'm glad we chose her because she brings me so much joy and comfort.

Lindsay
Ulman, MO