Brady's Story

Pet's name: Brady
Adopted by: Erin
From: Desoto County Animal Shelter, Nesbit, Miss.

Erin, who blogs at The Spiffy Cookie, sent the story of Brady, whom she adopted as a kitten.  

Growing up, my family had all kinds of pets: dwarf bunnies, cats, a ferret, a cockatoo, fish, guinea pigs, and even mice. But the cats were always my favorite. They would cuddle up with you while you read or when you went to bed and seemed much more appreciative of your existence than a fish. But when I went away for college, obviously I couldn't have cats in my tiny dorm room. Even when I finally moved off-campus I couldn't have one because the apartment complex wouldn't allow pets. Therefore when I moved into my first pet-friendly apartment in graduate school, I began to feel the itch for a pet.

I had heard of a website called Petfinder.com and decided to take a dive into their database of cats up for adoption in my area, and ended up with more than just a few windows open on my computer screen. Somehow I managed to narrow it down to one kitten, which required filling out a very long adoption survey. I had no qualms about completing the survey because they just wanted to make sure the kitten would be going to a good home and that I understood what it meant to take care of it. However, when I began the two-week-long wait to find out if they would accept my request, I found myself back on Petfinder.com, searching just in case I didn't get approved. (I did get approved but had already adopted Brady.)

It should come as no surprise that I found another kitten. But when I contacted the Desoto County Animal Shelter where the little one resided, I was informed that he had already been adopted. BUT! They had just received a new litter of kittens and attached a photo:

Brady (left) as a kitten

I died from cuteness overload and told them I would come there directly after work. Once I arrived, I spent at least 30 minutes letting them crawl all over me. I wanted to take all three home but knew I couldn't. (My apartment had a two-pet rule and my roommate at the time already had a toy fox terrier.) After a very difficult decision I decided on the gray tuxedo, because he spent the most time in my lap. And it was no fluke! He was the cuddliest kitten I have ever known. Frequently while studying he would crawl up and perch on my shoulder, inevitably falling asleep. Much to his dismay he is too big for that now, but he has retained his desire to cuddle into adulthood. He also got along great with the toy fox terrier and they would play all the time. Unfortunately we no longer live with his playmate's owner. Maybe one day I will find myself back on Petfinder.com.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Gabbie's Story

Pet's name: Gabbie
Adopted by: Lee Ann
From: Nevada Humane Society, Reno, Nev.

Lee Ann, who blogs at Lee Ann's Road to Reno, shared Gabbie's story: 

The photo of Gabbie is at three months, the day that I adopted her. She has been healing my heart since I adopted her in November. The story goes like this:  In November I moved from Wisconsin to Reno, Nevada. Many traumatic events occurred prior to my move. My husband passed away very suddenly of cancer, my beloved dog Peaches died, I closed my massage therapy business after 10 years, I sold my home and was offered an opportunity in Reno for a new position of working as a color, light, and sound therapist.

One day I received "a message" to go to the Reno Humane Society to simply get a feel for a cat. I walked into the lobby, and there was a man sitting there with a cardboard box on his lap and he said "Hi, are you looking for a cat by any chance?" I said "possibly." I sat down next to him and he told me the story about he and his wife adopting two cats right away and the two weren't getting along, so they decided to bring one of them back. This nice man was really upset about bringing Gabbie back as he had already formed an attachment to her. He opened the box and out popped a little grey head and a "mew," and the rest is history.

An interesting adjunct to this story is that I sent my sister a photo and an email about my new family member and she couldn't believe what she was reading. Her grandson (my great nephew), who is three years old, had been walking around for two weeks saying "Gabbie, Gabbie, Gabbie" and no one could figure out why he was repeating this. Well, children are very perceptive aren't they? He knew, somehow, at some level, that there was going to be a Gabbie in the family. I love to tell this story because it tells of our connection to each other.

So Gabbie is now eight months old and is an awesome companion. She is waiting at the door when I get home from work and loves to lie in my lap. She is very talkative and expressive and is a joy in my life.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Lilly's Story

Pet's name: Lilly
Adopted by: Kelsie Fennell
From: Oktibehha County Humane Society, Starkville, Miss.

Kelsie, who blogs at The Overflow, shared this story of her cat Lilly.

As a little girl growing up in the country, I have been the mommy to a wide variety of pets. We've had several dogs that were very dear to my heart, cats, rabbits, an abandoned baby deer, ducks, and for a short period of time—a baby raccoon. I don't remember a time that I didn't open the back door to the warm greeting of puppy paws or a cat's affection. And then ... I went to college. *sigh* Obviously I didn't have the space or time to provide for a pet. For five years I browsed the "Our Animals" section of the Oktibehha County Humane Society webpage, admiring their little angels and dreaming of the day I could make one of them mine. This fall, I moved into a one-bedroom apartment and the time was right to finally bring home the perfect pet. I went to visit the shelter one afternoon in October, and immediately fell in love with an 8-week old black-and-white Maine Coon kitten.

She has been home with me since that day, and what a joy it has been to watch her grow. She has been a great companion over the past six months, and it is just a treat to come home to her excitement and fun every afternoon. She's full of energy, and has some funny little quirks. If the sink is running anywhere in the house, she's in it. If the bathtub is draining, she's perched on the side of tub watching it. She plays in her water bowl. She plays in the fish bowl (but doesn't bother the fish). She "talks" about 95% of the hours that she is awake. If you aren't quite sure what I am talking about, check out a few YouTube videos and you'll understand.

Adopting sweet Lilly was one of the best decisions that I have made in years. She has brought so much to my life and my little home, and knowing that I can provide her with love and care each day is so rewarding. She's my companion. She's my friend. She loves me every day, no matter what. She is sitting on my pillow each and every morning to tell me the sun is up. Please, consider adopting your next pet. Knowing you made a difference is so worthwhile. And Lilly will thank you.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Tallulah's Story

Pet's name: Tallulah
Adopted by: Andrew Vail
From: Toronto Humane Society, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Andrew's tribute to his cat Tallulah, who recently passed away, originally appeared on his blog, Unvailed. 

My cat died today. She was my companion for 16 years. She lived with me through some of the best moments of my life and some of the worst. Family came and went. Friends and came and went. Partners came and went; yet through it all, there she was, loyal, loving and at my side; purring, playing and napping—as cats do. She was my little furry touchstone as I went from one stage of my life to the next. When the dust settled it was she and me.

Her name was Tallulah (named for a lyric in a Tori Amos song, in case you were wondering). I adopted her from the Toronto Humane Society in 1996. She was a bit of an anomalous adoption because she was an adult and typically people go for the cute and cuddly kittens when on the prowl for a pet. I could say that I chose her, but anyone who has adopted an animal knows that they choose you.

I remember spending two days at the THS looking for just the right cat. It was mind-boggling as there are typically hundreds of cats and kittens looking for a home. Sadly, many won't find one. Tallulah happened to me on the second day of my search. She sidled up to the front of the cage and just locked eyes with me. She purred so loud I thought she could be heard over every other creature there. I'd never heard a purr so loud. Maybe it was just loud to me because she decided I was her new human.

And so began an odyssey between man and feline that would last over 16 years: There were plenty of funny—and bizarre—times like when she went on one of her morning sojourns around the apartment and at top speed, bouncing off walls and furniture—as cats do. This time she miscalculated the contents of my claw-toed bathtub and nose-dived into four feet of water. She launched back out like a guided missile and tore under the bed. Cowed for a cat, she glared at me with a mix of peevishness and humiliation as I laughed hysterically at her soaked self.

Then there was the time—not long after I brought her home from the THS—that she went into heat. I didn't realize that she'd gone "seasonal" as I hadn't had a cat since I was a wee child and didn't know the signs. I was soon to learn. I awoke from a deep sleep in the middle of one hot summer night to the demonic yowl of a voice calling my name, sort of. "Meeeaaannddrrooooo" was being caterwauled through the apartment. I sat up in bed, half awake, listening to this nocturnal sonata thinking to myself, "Wow, how cool, my cat can talk and she knows my name."

Tallulah used to love to climb on my back and stretch out from shoulder to shank while I lie on the floor watching TV. She had a sonorous purr that would make me fight to stay awake. Her purr was so soothing and familiar. In times of stress or strife, I'd pull her up on my chest and pet her as she purred, her vibrations giving me a sense of calm and peace. That was one of the incredible things about this little "hollow kitty" as she was called: she had a purr that could register on the Richter scale.

In the last year of her life, Tallulah became very tiny and frail. She struggled to eat and keep food down from time to time, but she was not to be taken by death just yet. When it seemed like she was about to give in, she would rally and show vestiges of the girl I knew for 16 years. Finally, she just couldn't win her battle against the inevitable; she was, after all, 19 years old.

As anyone who has lived with an animal companion knows, making the decision to euthanize him or her is incredibly heart wrenching. You don't know if you're doing it too soon or too late. You are racked with thoughts of "too soon," "am I making the right decision" and all of the other ambiguities that go along with the responsibility of ending another creature's life. As much as it broke my heart, I knew that Tallulah was ready. She was not enjoying her life, she was struggling. I did not want my friend to suffer. I had to hold her and send her on her way.

Here's to you, the feisty bundle of fur that brought so much laughter, comfort, and companionship to my life. Tallulah, I hope I gave you as much as you gave me.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Fluffy and Notso Fluffy's Story

Notso sunning himself

Pets' names: Fluffy and Notso Fluffy
Adopted by: Wendy Scruton
From: Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Bethel, Conn.

Wendy, who blogs at Notso Kitty, sent the story of her two cats, whom she adopted together several years ago. 

My name is Wendy Scruton (née Casazza) and I currently live in Boston, Mass., with my two cats and dear husband Todd. I adopted Notso and Fluffy from the Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS) when I was living in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.—many years before I met Todd. I adopted them from that shelter in particular because that is where my family adopted one of our family cats that was a favorite of mine from when I was little. I entered the shelter with the game plan of getting two cats—so they could keep each other company. I took my little sister with me; she's a genuinely stoic individual at times and will not cave to the adorableness of kittens. :) I was slightly afraid of walking out of the shelter with more than two cats, but my sister was there to keep me honest!

When we went into the shelter we first viewed the room of individual older cats. None of these seemed like a natural pair for each other. We decided to look at the kitten room—though my sister warned me that TWO would be my limit. No cute third kitten would be sneaking home with me. :( In any case, they had three cute pairs of kittens in the room. But once I saw Notso Fluffy's face and he nuzzled me I completely melted.... So did my sister! Our decision was clear. We filled out the adoption paperwork, paid the small fees for their shots and upcoming "fixing," and adopted both brothers. They came with the names "Pepe" (Fluffy) and "Romeo" (Notso Fluffy)—it was clear to me that these names weren't going to suit me (or them), but I wasn't sure what to call them.

Fluffy

Notso

A few weeks go by and a few patterns started to emerge. I kept calling the cats "the Fluffy one and the Not-so Fluffy one," so eventually I found it easy to name them Fluffy and Notso Fluffy (Notso for short). Fluffy was very bashful and afraid, skittish at the slightest noise or movement toward him. He spent many hours under my boxspring or hidden inside my bedroom closet. He'd climb my clothes and sit on top of the hangers ... the poor thing! I tried to socialize him by petting him whenever I could get hold of him.... He accepted this eventually and even grew to seek it out. But he is still to this day very fearful of strangers.

Notso on the other hand is quite the attention whore. He's always looking to be petted—usually trying to insert himself into scenarios he doesn't belong, like on top of the laptop or at the dinner table. He had his share of health problems starting when he was four—he had to have the "PU" surgery. It wasn't pretty—but he seems okay now. I feed him special food and he's a little fat because he likes it too much, but the vet says he's otherwise healthy, so all is well :) We have since moved to Boston, upon which I met my husband eight years ago! Crazy how time flies ... but we now happily live and work in the Bay State with our kitties

Myself, I am quite a cat fanatic. I decided a little while ago to devote my blog, my arts and crafts, and my spare time to all things cat! I started making cat hats—and using Notso and Fluffy as the models! I sell them on Etsy at the NotsoKittyShop. My most popular is the Princess Beatrice Cat hat so far, but I am constantly coming up with new things in my spare time. Fluffy especially loves his involvement! He has really come out of his shell thanks to cat hats. :)

Fluffy is ready for any royal wedding.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Zelda and Mrs. Parker's Stories

Zelda and Mrs. Parker perched on the shower door

Pets' names: Zelda and Mrs. Parker
Adopted by: Leonore
From: Putnam Humane Society in Carmel, N.Y.

Leonore (who blogs at As a Linguist...) sent the stories of Zelda and Mrs. Parker, her two sister kitties. 

My first cat, Gomer Pyle, had come to me as a refugee from a friend who loved him but also loved her two Boxer dogs and didn't want him to be chased anymore. He was a goofy cat: crooked tail, overbite, and slightly crossed eyes. Then, a tumor required the amputation of his front left leg and shoulder, which didn't stop him from chasing his tail. Finally, after a fang extraction, his upper lip would often get caught on his lower fang, making him look like he was imitating Elvis' famous half-sneer half-seductive smile.

And oh, how I loved him! I had him with me for six years.

Gomer got sick one Friday in March 2010. He was better by Sunday, worse again on Monday, and put to sleep on Tuesday. His last moments were spent purring and pushing his head into my hand for the scratches he so loved.

I spent a week crying, another week feeling numb, and the next four months not wanting another cat. Then, I finally decided it was time. I was ready for a new cat—not just Replacement Gomer—and maybe even two so they wouldn't get lonely when I was at work.

One day at the end of June, after many false starts and falling in love about a thousand times, I knew I had found my new cats.

My boyfriend and I walked into the Putnam Humane Society to inquire about some foster cats I'd seen on their website. Before we even called the foster parents, however, I saw two small kittens in a corner cage. They were sisters, 10 weeks old, and had been brought in about two months earlier. They'd been found together in a garage alone with no sign of their mother. They were quite feral at first but had responded well to care and attention.

I was handed a tiny white kitten. She was the softest thing I've ever felt. She sniffed around a bit, and then settled into my arms, closed her eyes, and started purring. I scratched her head. She purred harder. I rubbed her belly. She squirmed and, still purring as loud as anything, she turned her head and gave me a little love bite on the arm. She had chosen me.

Her sister, a little brown tabby, was still in the cage. She was even smaller than her sister. She had been in her little kitty cave, watching the whole thing. She was taken out and held up. She immediately squirmed and let out a little squeak that melted my heart even more than it already was. Her sister would not be going anywhere without her.

I was hooked.

A week later, just before Independence Day, they came home with me. They've grown into beautiful, incredibly sweet cats who still love to snuggle with each other when they're not chasing and tussling. In some ways they are very similar: they aren't very talkative, but they both trill quite a bit and let out their little squeaky meows when they want cheese, their favorite snack. Both also like to be in the same room as I am, and they both are very playful. Neither of them have a mean bone in their bodies, and they never bite or swat at me or my boyfriend.

Snoozing under the futon

But they certainly have distinct personalities. Zelda is intensely curious about everything and often gets into mischief by jumping to the tops of doors or bookshelves, or exploring every nook and cranny of a room. She loves to drink out of the faucet and is always on the bathroom counter to watch me put on make-up. She's the one who knocks pens off my desk, or bats at the cursor on the screen when I'm working on the computer. And she loves to snuggle, often making herself comfortable on my lap or next to my head at night.

Mrs. Parker is still more skittish around too many people, but she is extremely playful and silly. Her favorite toy is her scratching post, which she beats up regularly. She doesn't like to be picked up but will snuggle and purr for hours if she's burrowed under a blanket with me. She's a chewer, and after losing two sweater belts to her gnawing, she is the reason I now have a latch on the closet door.

I'm still as smitten as can be with my girls and can't imagine my life without them.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Sadie's Story

Pet's name: Sadie
Adopted by: Mike and Marisa Brantley
From: San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter, San Clemente, Calif.

Sadie's story was originally posted on Marisa's blog at SadieBloomDesigns.com. She wrote about her in one of a series of posts about the things she's thankful for this Thanksgiving.

My husband and I adopted Sadie from the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter in 2003. She was found with her siblings (all with black fur!) dumped down a touristy street in San Clemente, Calif. When we first met her, she was very shy, skinny, and had a bad case of ear mites (ew!).

With time, she developed into the sweetest, most loving, most obedient kitty cat (our "furbaby"). She comes whenever she's called, and understands the word, "No." She has some funny peculiarities, too. She'll drown her toy mice in the water bowl. She also loves feather teasers, which she'll track down, drag and drop to our feet, then let out monstrous meows for attention. She also makes sure to bring one of her feather teasers with her to bed, no fail!

This past year has been a challenging one for Sadie. She's been dealing with Irritable Bowel Disease. We didn't know what the problem was until she got officially diagnosed with it just last month, after a terrible flare up. She spent three days at the pet hospital, after her regular vet sent her there for intense treatment. I was a complete wreck. Sadie was seen by the best animal medicine specialists in Orange County! (You should've seen the other pet parents—Bentleys, dripping in diamonds, you name it!) She's now on a hypoallergenic diet and takes daily meds. The important thing is that she's back to her sweet self!

Sadie's been a true blessing to my and my husband's lives, and we are eternally thankful.

Glamorous kitty

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Olive and Nori's Stories

Pets' names: Olive and Nori
Adopted by: Jennifer and Evan
From: Pennsylvania SPCA and Morris Animal Refuge, Philadelphia, Pa.

Jennifer (who blogs at Grey Garden and others) sent the stories of her two cats, who were adopted separately but are now friends.

After my first cat, Frances, died unexpectedly, my fiancé and I hemmed and hawed over whether or not to adopt another cat. Losing Frances was really difficult; for a long time after I was convinced that the joys of pet ownership were not worth the heartbreak of eventually losing your pet.

When we were finally ready, we started visiting local animal shelters. We found Olive at the Philadelphia SPCA when she was only two months old. The shelter employees had separated her, her brother (a tuxedo), and sister (a tortoiseshell) from their mother only moments before and had placed each in adjacent cages. Both the mother and kittens were in an obvious state of distress. Olive caught my eye because she was climbing the metal wire door of her cage; I appreciated her feistiness. A shelter employee told us that because of her calico coloring, she would likely behave crazily. They weren't too far off.

To be honest, the first few months of Olive's life were rough. Due to an infected spay wound (and continued botched attempts by the shelter to fix the wound), she spent the first two or three months with us in an opaque Elizabeth collar which inhibited her peripheral vision and scooped litter and food everywhere. Her unfortunate condition did not dampen her spirits though; she continued to play as hard as any healthy little kitten would. And, I'm not gonna lie, the lampshade look was pretty adorable.

Olive and the cone of shame

We entertained the notion of adopting a second cat, but we never seriously considered it until we saw Nori's sweet and confused-looking face on Petfinder. The shelter listed her age as one year old—roughly the same age as Olive at the time. When we visited Nori (then named Kiwi), the shelter employees had placed a big "adoption pending" sign on her cage. Although we were discouraged, the shelter encouraged us to submit an adoption request form anyway because "maybe the pending adoption would fall through." We were pretty surprised when we got a call a few days later from the shelter asking if we were still interested in adopting. We later learned that there had never been a pending adoption; the shelter has placed the sign on Nori's cage because there had been too many questionable people interested in adopting her.

We’ll never know Olive or Nori's history and how they ended up at animal shelters, so we like to make up stories for them. Since Olive was adopted at such a young age and was fairly healthy when we got her, we assume that she likely did not spend very much time on the streets (or in a foster home). Nori, on the other hand, is likely a Persian or Himalayan mix of some sort, and was already one year old when we adopted her, so we joke that she ran away from the cat show circuit that her previous owners had unwillingly forced upon her.

Nori 

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Beamer's Story

Pet's name: Beamer
Adopted by: Lindsay Stordahl and Josh Whitford
From: F-M Humane Society, Fargo, N.D.

Lindsay, who blogs at ThatMutt.com, shares her home with a dog and two cats. This is Beamer's story:

Beamer has been a part of our lives for about eight years, and he is quite the cat!

The reason I say this is because he will eat anything! Beamer has a food obsession, and that's putting it lightly.

I’ve found "the real-life Garfield" chowing down on pure butter from a container he opened. He has been brave enough to steal steaks and bacon and whole sandwiches off our counters. We have to keep all our cupboards and closets locked with child locks, and we have to keep our garbage containers behind closed doors.

Normal people are able to keep apples and bananas on the counters. Not us. Our cat has even eaten whole avocados and raw potatoes.

A sleeping Beamer tries to look innocent.

When we leave the house, it is not the dogs we have to worry about, it is our cat! Beamer has to stay in the laundry room when we are not home so we know he will be safe and out of trouble. This isn't as bad as it sounds, though, because he has his own kitty apartment set up there—his water bowl, cozy cat beds, and his litter box.

We used to try leaving certain foods out. We'd ask ourselves, "He won’t really eat oranges, will he?"

Of course he will. This is Beamer we are talking about.

Beamer was a year old when his original owner dropped him and his brother off at the Fargo-Moorhead Humane Society. We don't know why they were surrendered, but it was probably because they were past that cute, kitten stage.

It was my boyfriend Josh who was picking out a new pet at the time, and he chose Beamer because out of all the cats, he seemed to be the most affectionate. Beamer is just one of those cats that is constantly bumping his (large) head into you for attention. If you are on the couch, just assume you will have Beamer in your lap!

Beamer is a very laid-back, confident guy. We foster dogs at our house, and he is the perfect cat to find out if a dog is "cat friendly."

The reason for this is because it takes a lot to get a reaction from Beamer. Our other cat will freak out over the most insignificant change, but nothing really fazes Beamer. He knows that most barking dogs are just bluffing, and they are not worth his time or energy. Nine times out of ten, Beamer will literally yawn, walk right into the dog, and claim that space. But if Beamer is at all stressed, then I know the dog can't be trusted around cats and needs some serious structure.

This 15-pounder is a unique guy. Although he tests our patience often, we love our "Big Orange One."

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Amy's Story

Pet's name: Amy
Adopted by: Chelsea Champagne
From: Ottawa Humane Society, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Chelsea sent this story of Amy, who passed away recently, to honor her life and their time together: 

There’s nothing more reliable in this world than the connection you can have with your pet. My cat Amy was ALWAYS genuinely happy to see me. This cat slept on the corner of my bed every night for fourteen years. It was a part of our ritual; I'd scoop her up when it was time for bed and she would nuzzle right into the sheets. She had a weird habit of sucking on her smallest toe, and after a while this sound became the only thing that would allow me to drift off into sleep.

Amy was a loud cat from the beginning. She liked to make her presence known and was very vocal about expressing her moods. She absolutely loved food and was even known to purr while she ate! If you were on the couch, she would walk right up and meow her head off until you made enough space for her to cuddle. She also loved to sit right in front of the fireplace and soak up all the heat.

We adopted Amy from the Ottawa Humane Society in Ontario. From the moment my parents brought her home, I knew she was mine. Over the years, this cat came to know all of my secrets. She spent countless hours staying up late watching TV, comforting me when I was going through heartache, and never left my side throughout every cold and flu. When it came time for me to move out for university, I wasn’t able to take her with me. By that time, she was almost 14, and a university apartment was not an ideal setting for a "senior" cat. It broke my heart the day I moved out and tried to fall asleep alone in my new bedroom without my cat.

Sadly, this past summer we learned that Amy had a tumour on her spine. Because of this, she was progressively losing control over her back legs and eventually her bladder. After consultation with our vet, we were informed that our beloved pet was in great distress. My Amy, the cat that grew up with me every single step of the way, died in my arms.

I know that we often say that we "rescue" animals, but the reality is we are not the ones doing the rescuing. Pets give us so much more than I think humans will ever be able to give back. They teach us responsibility, they truly enjoy our company, and they show us this constant and unwavering love that you can only get from a pet. All of my pets hold a special place in my heart from the moment we bring them home. And although it kills me to see her pillow lying in front of the fireplace without her, I am thankful to have had such an amazing companion in Amy.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!  

Casey and Gus's Adoption Stories

Pets' names: Casey and Gus
Adopted by: Kara
From: Sonoma Humane Society, Santa Rosa, Calif.

Casey and Gus, whom Kara often writes about on her blog, Well, One of My Blogs..., each came into her life at a time when she didn't expect to be adopting a pet. Here are their stories:

I had been casually browsing the petfinder.com listings for several months looking for a Catahoula-Lab mix, but I had no intention of actually getting a dog until I had dealt with my partially-fenced backyard situation: first a fence, then a dog.

However, one night about a year and a half ago, I saw Casey (then "Katie") online, and I can't actually explain it, but some irrational gut response took over, and I felt like she HAD to be my dog. She was at the Sonoma Humane Society, and I made sure to get there right at 12 p.m. when the doors opened for adoption, because I was totally worried that someone else would swoop in and adopt her before I could. Looking back, I could have taken my sweet time, because Casey was an ill-manered, huge, high-energy ball of mayhem who had already been returned to the humane society. Twice. I adopted her on the spot.

It has not been an easy road with Casey-Dog. Shortly after she came home with me, I had a consultation with a dog trainer who pretty much told me she was hopeless. We quickly enrolled in dog training classes, and in my first session, Casey was so excited she would literally jump straight up in the air with all four feet off the ground and do a flip. Repeatedly. For the entire class. It was both exhausting and mortifying to be the worst student in class, but we stuck it out.

At this point, we have taken the "Companion Dog Level One" course three times, and, well, will probably be back for another round soon. As willful and high-energy as she is, she is also crazy smart. We've tried "scenting" courses where the dogs learn to sniff out a special box hidden in a room, and she was the star of the class. She's by no means perfect, but has come a loooong way.

This spring, I decided to start volunteering for the humane society. Somehow, I ended up agreeing to foster two two-week-old kittens. They were the cutest things in the entire world, but I swore up and down that I would not keep them. I was certain that my home would remain cat-free.

I had the kittens (Boy Kitty and Girl Kitty) for six weeks, and then returned them to the humane society once they were big enough to find their forever homes. Each week when I went in to volunteer for my shift walking the dogs, I would check in on "my" kittens. The girl kitty was adopted quickly, but week after week, Boy Kitty was still there. It was breaking my heart. Finally, I snapped. One afternoon, I decided that if Boy Kitty was still at the shelter, he was coming home with me. And he was. So he did. And now he is Gus.

Since then, he and Casey-Dog have become best friends.  They play together, which is hysterical, and cozy up together whenever they have the chance.

Every now and then, when the cat is chasing the dog around the house, and they have knocked over and broken yet another table/lamp/picture frame/chair/shelf/etc., I wonder what in the world I was thinking ... but I certainly wouldn't trade either one!

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

fibi and clo's Adoption Story

clo

Pets' names: fibi and clo
Adopted by: AnaLiza Alba
From: Austin Humane Society

AnaLiza is the founder of fibi & clo, which she named for her cats. (That probably means that her kitties assume they own the company...)

I think I inherited my love for animals from my grandmother. It doesn't matter where I am; if I see an animal, I always have to give it attention, and she was so much like that too.

I had a cat growing up named Kitty. She lived to be 19 years old! After she passed, it took me about a year to adopt Phoebe and Chloe. I found them at the humane society in Austin. The shelter wasn't sure how old they were, but told me since they were full-grown cats they had been in the shelter for a long time. Usually, people come in wanting kittens, so the adult cats are usually there for a long time and sometimes never get adopted. That broke my heart. They ended up putting me in a little room with both of them, and it was love at first pet. I knew I had to get them out of there. I adopted them immediately and picked them up the next day.

fibi

Phoebe and Chloe have been mine since September 2000 when I proudly took them home. Years later in 2009, I named my shoe company after them but ended up having to change the name for legal reasons. So now they're just fibi and clo (in lowercase), you know ... hangin' out, chasin' catnip, runnin' a shoe company.

I'm a huge believer in pet adoption. There are so many animals out there without a home, sitting in shelters, waiting for someone to come and save them. I always encourage adopting. If I had a big ranch back in my home state of Texas, I would adopt as many as I could so they could live happily ever after like fibi and clo.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Jimi's Adoption Story

Jimi (right) with his friend Fonzie

Pet's name: Jimi
Adopted by: Lisa Fricke
From: Oakland Animal Services, Oakland, Calif.

Lisa (who blogs at Fresh Spinach) has two cats: Fonzie, who was abandoned on a doorstep, and Jimi, whose story she tells below:

In the summer of 2010, my fiance and I decided that our cat Fonzie needed a companion. We lived in San Francisco, and we knew that all the shelters in San Francisco were, by law, no-kill shelters. But just across the bay in Oakland, there was a shelter with a relatively high kill rate and an overflow of kittens.

We drove out to Oakland and went to see if we could find a kitten that would fit into our home. Upon walking in, our hearts melted. There were so many beautiful animals who needed homes. I remember seeing one kitten who had been there a while; he was gray and had such loving eyes.

A volunteer at the shelter came over to talk to us and directed us to the back of the shelter where there were cages FULL of kittens. One cage had four sibling kittens in it. They had a hammock in their cage, food and water, and not much else. There were two girl kittens who were tabby colored, and two boys who were tuxedo, once of which was very fluffy.

We asked to see the two boy kittens, and the volunteer took us to a room and put all four of the kittens in there with us. The two girls wanted back in their cage right away. The fluffy boy was playful like any kitten, but the other boy seemed shy and scared. We were both drawn to him though, and wanted him to come see us and interact with us. I understand now that he had been sick at the time and wasn't being taken care of.

Eventually, though, that shy boy kitten came over, climbed into my lap, and started purring and meowing like crazy and was kneading my legs with enthusiasm. It made me cry, and my fiance and I knew that this was the perfect addition to our family.

Jimi in his new home

We named him Jimi (like Jimi Hendrix), and we scheduled to have him neutered (required before taking home a shelter animal) and asked to have his fleas taken care of. The poor little guy was covered in fleas when we saw him.

When we did bring him home, there was the obvious adjusting of the family (and Fonzie had a rough time with this). Worse, though, was the fact that Jimi had a bad upper respiratory infection, which Fonzie then caught from him. So we had two pathetically sick kitties. It was heartbreaking, but they both recovered quickly.

Jimi continues to have health problems. He struggles to breathe sometimes, and we believe it's a sinus issue. He has been through numerous rounds of antibiotics and other medications. Nothing seems to help him, and veterinarians are baffled. We give him saline nasal drops when it gets bad, and that helps a bit, and every day we give him extra lysine to help as well.

We know that a cat like Jimi may not have found a loving home if we hadn't fallen in love with him that day. Because of his health problems, many families may have sent him back to the shelter or not have taken him home in the first place. To us, though, Jimi is a part of our family and we love him very much.

This morning I woke up hours before the alarm went off. I found Fonzie and Jimi snuggled up together on our bed. Fonzie was grooming Jimi, and Jimi was purring so loudly! It made me smile to know how much they love each other.

If you've adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and would like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Hailey's Adoption Story

Pet's name: Hailey
Adopted by: Lora Palmer and husband Steve
From: The Bucks County SPCA, New Hope, Penn.

Lora (who blogs at A Writer in Bloom) sent the story of Hailey—and just in time, too. It's been several days since I've had a cat story to post!

Hailey came from the Bucks County SPCA. She was about three years old at the time. My husband and I were looking for a young cat that had already been declawed, and our playful, mischievous kitty fit the bill. She had been placed for adoption several times, and so I believe this adoption was the last chance for Hailey. She's a fun and sweet girl, and it has been a pleasure to see her becoming more secure and affectionate as she has bonded with us over the past year and a half since we adopted her.

Smoke, Finnegan, and Molly's Adoption Stories

Finnegan and Molly snuggling

Pets' names: Smoke, Finnegan, and Molly
Adopted by: Mary Ellen and Jeff
From: Animal Rescue League of Boston and PAWS Wakefield in Wakefield, Mass.

Mary Ellen tells the story of a cat she recently said goodbye to and explains how she found her current kitty pair. 

In February 1997, my now ex-husband and I went to the Animal Rescue League in Boston in search of a cat. As I wandered through the room full of cats in cages, my ex called me over to look at a handsome longhaired tomcat. As I walked over, though, a paw darted out from one of the cages and snagged my sweater sleeve. I looked down, and there was a sweet little black cat, with a little white spot under her chin, rubbing against the cage door and purring like mad. She had picked me, I figured, so I took her home.

Smoke was my best buddy for the next 14 years—she was with with me through my divorce from that awful ex, through moves, through happy times and bad ones. She slept next to me every night, usually using my hand as a pillow. She was clumsy, clever, goofy, and beautiful. She was never one to sit on your lap, but she liked to curl up next to me on the couch while I knitted and watched TV. When I met the man I would later marry, she sized him up and decided he was a good catch. She adored Jeff—she'd let him pick her up, dangle her upside-down, tickle her belly—all things that, if I had tried, I'd have lost a hand!

Smoke

A few months ago, in early March, I noticed a hard lump on her jaw. Jeff and I took her to the vet, who confirmed my fears: she had a squamous cell carcinoma in her jawbone, and it was fairly advanced. The vet gave us two options—do surgery, and remove almost all of Smoke's lower jaw, and then do radiation, or give her antibiotics and pain meds, keep her happy and comfortable until she wasn't able to eat anymore, and then bring her back to be put to sleep. We opted for the latter—I couldn't justify putting her through a major surgery, with all the pain and fear that would entail, when it wouldn't really prolong her life by much.

We ended up having her for a little over a month. On April 21, she let me know that she was ready to go. She wasn't interested in the chicken Jeff was roasting for dinner—and prior to her illness, she'd have been climbing his legs to get at that chicken! She was subdued, and quiet, but happy—I could tell that she was ready. We took her to the vet the next day, and I held her close and told her how much I loved her, and what a good, good cat she's been, and she went to sleep for the last time. It broke my heart, but it was the right decision to make for her.

Jeff and I knew we wanted another cat—or, even better, a pair of cats. Smoke never got along with other cats at all, so she was an only kitty. We started looking on Petfinder and found a listing for a lovely female kitty available through PAWS Wakefield, and sent an email inquiring about her. Alas, she had just been adopted, but the PAWS volunteer mentioned a pair of sibling kitties, a male and female, who needed a good home. We went to the foster home and met them, and fell in love immediately. After doing all the adoption paperwork and paying the fees, we waited for a week or so, biting our nails, until the rescue group decided we could adopt them. That afternoon, we went and picked up Finnegan, a lovely orange tabby, and Molly, a sweet calico.

Molly is a sassy little thing and is QUITE sure that she rules the house. Finnegan is sweet, and a little shy. He's more timid around Jeff—I suspect that whoever had them before the foster home was not especially kind to him. (I know they had been adopted by an older couple who returned them because they were "too rambunctious." They aren't, at all—they get their fits of kitty-crazies in the evenings, and chase each other all over the place, but what cat doesn't do that?) Finnegan sticks to me like Velcro, following me around, snuggling in my lap, sleeping next to me like a teddy bear. Molly diligently grooms Finn, washing his face and ears, and whapping him upside the head with her Paw of Doom when she thinks he needs it. They are a delight, and while they don't replace Smoke, I can't imagine life without them.

Sister and brother

Finnegan smiles

CeCe's Adoption Story

CeCe

Pet's name: CeCe
Adopted by: Rebecca Sebek
From: The Arizona Humane Society (South Mountain location), Phoenix, Arizona

Rebecca, who writes about animal and environmental advocacy at The Savvy Advocator, contributed stories about her cats, Benny and CeCe. Benny's story was posted yesterday, and this is CeCe's:

"It was August 2009, and I decided that Benny needed a playmate. Everyone I spoke with said, 'It’s best to have two cats because they can use the companionship.' By this time, I was very educated about cats and kittens. Again, I was not going to experience what I did with Salem, my first cat who was feral. I was living in a brand new apartment complex which allowed residents to have a maximum of two pets. The apartment was bigger and perfect for two cats.

"I learned about the Arizona Humane Society and decided to drive to the South Mountain facility, located on W. Dobbins Road in Phoenix, Arizona. I couldn’t believe how packed it was. I was approached by a 'cat' adoptions counselor and told her I wasn’t sure if I wanted to adopt a kitten. I explained that Benny was a year and a few months. She helped me decide that a kitten wasn’t in my or Benny’s best interest.

"I looked at the cats in the kitty 'casitas,' and a female brown tabby named CiCi, whose name is now spelled CeCe, caught my eye. The adoptions counselor took CeCe out of her casita and placed us in one of the adoptions rooms. CeCe was very playful and friendly. She rubbed up against me and purred. I knew she was the cat for me and Benny and adopted her on August 9. I didn’t realize until I got home that CeCe came to AHS on August 4, one day before my birthday, which is August 5. Was this a coincidence? Maybe it was.

"It took CeCe time to adjust. First, she had a home. Then, she’s surrendered to the Arizona Humane Society. Now, CeCe had a new home and owner who had another cat. Two weeks later, she developed URI [upper respiratory infection], which was another learning experience for me. Since August 2009, she’s experienced a 32-hour road trip and an introduction to a dog. She’s come a long way!

"Adopting CeCe made me realize I wanted to help shelter animals. In October 2009, I became a volunteer for the Arizona Humane Society; I loved every minute of it. I began as a dog-walker and transitioned into the Humane Education area, which educates children 7-14 about shelter animals and animals in general. Unfortunately, I had to move away from Arizona in July 2010 but hope to return. Fingers crossed!"

Benny’s Adoption Story

Benny on top of the fridge

Pet's name: Benny
Adopted by: Rebecca Sebek
From: PetSmart in Chandler, Arizona, by way of Mixed Up Mutts and Shepherds Too, which partners with selected PetSmart stores

Rebecca, who writes about animal and environmental advocacy at The Savvy Advocator, contributed stories about her cats, Benny and CeCe. CeCe's story will appear in tomorrow's post, and this is Benny's story:

"Benny’s a dapper black-and-white tuxedo cat. His story begins with Salem, a black feral cat who came into my life in June 2008, but was unprepared to care for. I’d been living in Chandler, Arizona, for nine months and was still adjusting to my new home. One day, as I came down the stairs of my apartment, a fellow tenant walked by and said, 'That kitten has been there for weeks.' I had no idea what she was talking about. I looked to where she was pointing, and lo and behold there was a black kitten sitting on the patio of the 'model' apartment that was below mine. I brought Salem into my apartment but had no idea how to care for a kitten, let alone a feral one.

"I ended up taking Salem to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control in Mesa, Arizona. It was the hardest thing I ever did in my life. I was riddled with guilt and called the next day to see if I could get him back. I was told he was euthanized. I was devastated and cried every day. My mom, who was in Ohio, paid for my sister to fly out to Arizona to be with me; she was worried the guilt would consume my being. I did everything I could for Salem. I even hired a pet behavioral specialist, but she said there was no guarantee that Salem would adapt, since he was feral. One month passed, and I decided to adopt a kitten as a way to memorialize Salem, perhaps even redeem myself. I didn’t realize the healing I would receive from adopting Benny.

"In July 2008, I discovered PetSmart on Chandler Blvd. had adoptable cats; I wasn’t going back to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. By this time, I educated myself about cats and kittens. I drove to PetSmart and saw three-month-old Benny. Normally, kittens are adopted straight away. But Benny had been there for two weeks. The adoptions counselor couldn’t believe he wasn’t adopted. She said to me, 'Maybe, he was waiting for you.' I spent time with Benny and spoke with his foster mom, whom I asked many questions because I was not going to go through what I went through with Salem. And, I haven’t. Benny’s more than a pet; he’s my fur kid. I couldn’t imagine my life without him."

Maddie's Adoption Story

Maddie posing

Pet's name: Maddie
Adopted by: Kim and Scott Vargo
From: SPCA Cincinnati

Kim and Scott (of Yellow Brick Home) split up the writing duties for their pets' adoption stories. Scott contributed the tales of Libby and Jack, and Kim wrote about Maddie. Here is her story:

"After growing up with pets my whole life (we always had two cats and a dog in my family), I went away to college knowing that I would miss each of my pets back at home. My parents would send me updates and tell me how the four-legged gang was doing, but it only made me miss them more. Of course, living the dorm life meant no pets at all—my attempt at a goldfish was short-lived—but as soon as I moved into an apartment, I was ready to be a kitty mom again. The only problem was that the landlord advised against pets; they were a big no-no on his properties.

"You'd be silly to think that this would stop me. After my roommate agreed that she could certainly stand to have a cat around (she also came from a full-pet household), I called my landlord and pleaded with him. I said, 'I'll maintain the hallway! I'll take out the trash for the building! I'll keep the lawn free of weeds!' and you know what? He agreed. Sure, his life just got a little easier, too. And he knew I was a neat freak, so although it may seem he made out in the deal, I was really the one who won.

"I picked out Miss Maddie from the SPCA in Cincinnati. She was so small, so tiny. She was with her brother, a black-and-white, very excitable little guy, but I was drawn to the sweet face on my soon-to-be kiddo. I was told she was eight weeks old; her first check-up two weeks later proved she was only eight weeks old then (so she was six weeks when I adopted her). She had to be put on a special wet diet, because she was so weak and too young to be away from her mother so soon. But just like any strong-willed woman, she came out strong, healthy, and beautiful.

"Over time, she's become our diva girl, roaming our kitchen counter and putting Jack in his place when he teases Libby. Scott and I like to joke that she's the queen of this home. She rules this roost. And now, I'm back to my two-cat, one-pup household. Funny how history repeats itself."

Libby and Jack's Adoption Stories

Libby lounging

Pets' names: Libby and Jack
Adopted by: Kim and Scott Vargo
From: A veterinary clinic in rural Ohio (Libby) and City of Chicago Animal Care and Control (Jack)

Kim and Scott (of Yellow Brick Home) split up the writing duties for their pets' adoption stories. Scott contributed the tales of Libby and Jack, which you'll find below, and Kim wrote about Maddie. Check back tomorrow for Maddie's story! 

Libby, our little tail-less wonder of a cat, came into our lives in a very peculiar way. The adoption stories of pets choosing their parents could not be more true than in her case. I was working a job that had me traveling to rural Ohio every week, and one of my favorite customers was the local veterinary clinic. I had known the staff for about a year, and would spend a few minutes each week saying hello to puppies with broken legs, cats wearing surgery lampshades, and the occasional feral raccoon being nursed back to health.

One week, the perky head veterinarian insisted that there was a special new kitty that I absolutely had to meet. Knowing that I was a sucker for a sweet face and a unique appearance, she led me into a sterile room that had been cleaned without bleach or harsh chemicals. "Libby is a special kitty..." she said. "She has terrible allergies, chronic asthma, and has had two emergency surgeries to remove part of her intestines." Expecting the feline equivalent of Frankenstein's Monster, imagine my surprise when this sickeningly sweet, beautiful, charming grey Rumpy Manx came hopping out to meet me.

With full knowledge of her health challenges, I returned a week later on my day off to bring that little grey moonface home. What can I say? I was compelled. The early days with the Libster were a challenge as she adjusted to her new family and environment, but we eventually fell into a routine with her medication and special low-residue diet. Five years later, we're happy to boast that Libby's asthma has gone almost completely away and we've weaned her down to a much healthier, lower dose of her medications. It turned out that she's a pretty sensitive kitty, and her ailments were, in large part, magnified by stress. A happy stable home was just what the doctor ordered.

Jack on his first night with Kim and Scott

Our puppy Jack, on the other hand, has a much more "traditional" adoption story. I'd been bugging Kim to adopt a dog for years. She'd grown up with Australian shepherds, and I'd grown up in a dog-less household. She had largely outgrown the responsibility of caring for a canine, and I was ecstatic at the idea of multiple daily walks around our beautiful Chicago neighborhood with my soon-to-be best friend. Finally, after what seemed like decades of bothering her to allow us to save another life by adopting from the Chicago city pound, she relented. "Okay, okay," she said, "we can go look at dogs tomorrow." After spending hours on Petfinder.com and narrowing our choices down to a few virtual candidates, we were off to see the pups in the flesh.

We headed to the pound with a few ground rules for our ideal dog candidate; female, 45-pound adult weight, and preferably a boxer or pit bull mix. We brought a few of our virtual candidates out to the play yard, where we were largely ignored in favor of ropes and chew toys. Of the first few dogs, none were very engaged or excited to see us. A little disheartened, we headed back inside and walked past the cage of "Jimbo" a few times. He was a scraggly, ribby fellow, with a projected adult weight of 55 pounds. Unfortunately, he was the wrong gender, and he was going to be too big (and he smelled a little). He was a pit bull mix, however. But the poor guy just wouldn't stop staring at us. We finally relented to his droopy, red-rimmed eyes and gentle whimpering and took him outside. He immediately licked our faces and was ready to play fetch. We were smitten. We knew we could bring him to handsome maturity with a new name, a few baths, and a healthy diet, so we quickly filled out the paperwork to bring him home. "Jimbo" became "Jackson McDogg," and we quickly became besties. Then came the hard part...

Jack's first vet visit was, well, interesting. We'd had a few days to fall deeper in love with his goofy grin and infectious energy, so we took him to the vet for his checkup. Turns out our boy has a level-5 heart murmur. Yup, 6 is the worst and our boy's a 5. After a visit to a suburban specialist and draining our savings account, we were given two options: Option #1- Travel a few hundred miles for an incredibly expensive, unproven surgery that might kill him, might make things worse, or might help improve his condition from a level 4 to a level 2. Option #2- Do nothing but love him extra and give him the happiest, most fun life that a dog could ever hope for. Our vet recommended option #2. We agreed.

Jack's condition is serious enough that medication won't be effective, but not so serious that it restrains his quality of life. Sure, his heartbeat sounds like the equivalent of chucking a basketball down a long spiral staircase, but he certainly doesn't seem to notice. Jack is happy, healthy, and loves every person and animal he's ever met. He currently weighs around 60 pounds, and he's still a boy. It just goes to show once again, that the you don't choose the pet, the pet chooses you.

Happy Jack