Animal Rescue Stories

Our Sweet "Dog" Cat, Frank

We found this little kitten in our garage one December night, about 13 years ago. Someone had put a child's costume bracelet around his neck; he had grown so much that the bracelet was cutting into his neck and causing him to have problems swallowing and breathing. We took off the bracelet immediately and took him into our hearts and our home. My daughters named him Frank. He is a perfect cat! He loves to sit on your chest and purr. When we work outside in the yard Frank follows us around like a dog - thus his title, The Dog Cat. We have gotten another cat and two poodles since Frank's arrival and he loves them all. Frank is the sweetest boy!

D. Townsend
San Antonio, TX

Miss Kitty comes 1300 miles to get here!

I received an email of this lab/pit girl needing rescue. For some reason, the picture spoke to me and I made contact with the rescue. After 3 months of arrangements and the help of a bunch of fabulous volunteers, we arranged to have her transported the 1300 miles from Missouri to Ct. She's the joy of my life!!

Raina Spaziani
Griswold, CT

Jelly from Katrina

I went to New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina to try to help. The day I got there the second storm Rita was about to hit. We evacuated the evacuation centers and I was sent off with 5 incredibly emaciated dogs. They had all been rescued that day and even though they were truly starving, they would not eat unless you would sit with them. They missed people more than food! I found good homes for the other 4 and over the next year I nursed Jelly back to health. Now he rules the house and my heart!

Erin Wood
Pagosa Springs, CO

Puppy Mill Reject

This is Lulu. I found her 2 weeks ago and she will be 5 years in Nov. I looked on PetFinder and found a shelter lady who said she had an adult Shih Tzu in foster care. I emailed the foster mom and she said I sounded like the perfect home for Lulu. I drove 1-1/2 hours to see her. She was so skittish and has a tattoo on her belly: 177. I'm still trying to housebreak her but she is worth every moment involved in training. And she loves the backyard and her older brother Mickey (a saved senior Shih Tzu I've had for 8 mos.). We are family now and I love my new gang.

Bunny Music
Sussex, NJ

My best friend

Ittybit like many cats was found cold and wet in a hedge row crying. A Vets. estimation of only four weeks old she was just an Ittybit. I was going through some hard times at the time when I took her in. She was with me then and in much better time now for fifteen years. Away on business I always looked forward to seeing her when I returned. I just love that cat so much. She's now quite old and frail. The Vet found some benign growths deep in her and she can't process food very well. I'm loosing her. I will soon take her in for her rest she deserves and away from her discomforts. I will miss her so much but I also know that we gave each other so much comfort for so many years. She has lived a beautiful comfortable life. We have one other cat (Smokey) he's young and also living a great life. We will be excepting a new lost or unwanted friend in time so we may give a loving home to another cat.

Kurt Saldutti
Palm Bay, FL

Ernie is my sundae with a cherry on top

...or in his mouth, as was the case. His original owners told me how they got him: They visited a woman who regularly goes to her local kill shelter and takes all the cats slated to be euthanized so that she can find them homes. Ernie was one of them. Just a few weeks old, he fit into the palm of one hand and promptly fell asleep. I took him from them a few years later when I was looking for a companion to my first cat. During his short initial stay in my bathroom, he stuffed all the mousey toys into my bathtub drain, and the rest was history.

Jin
Hoboken, NJ

My dear Coquita

Coquita was a birthday gift to myself - She was older and sicker than her Petfinder profile had let on, but how could one waive the opportunity to be her special person? Her love was unconditional and unending, and she forgave my many mistakes. For a dog that had not had the best life and was eventually abandoned in front of a vet's office, she sure loved each day and everyone who came her way! This is her napping with my cat, whose legs are popping out from under the blanket.

Jin
Hoboken, NJ

The love of my life passed away today

He stole my heart nearly 14 years ago. My boyfriend and I were looking for a dog to love at the Humane Society of Huntsville in 1995. We were walking near the outer perimeter with dogs barking all around when I heard one distinctive bark. It was deep and melodious...They all pulled at my heartstrings, but the one bark stood out for me. I walked near the area where I thought the bark had originated from & looked for the mystery dog. All the pups in the area were barking incessantly except for one golden puppy. He walked to the fence and barked again, once. It was him! He was the missing piece in my life.

He followed me everywhere, up to the very end. One day I heard a big commotion in the back yard & ran outside to try to keep them from hurting each other and/or a critter. It turned out that Bailey had something in his mouth & the other dogs were trying to get a hold of it. We went back into the house & Bailey gently placed a young puppy on the carpet. The puppy was unharmed. The puppy had somehow breached the fences & wandered into our yard. Bailey had saved him. If hope to find a man that loving and loyal!

Bailey & I were walking to the laundry room when his back legs gave out. I didn't know what was wrong so I whispered sweet nothings and kissed him, thinking the moment would pass and he'd hop back up. He died in my arms. I hope I loved him enough. He was an amazing friend. My heart & soul, my "daemon", is gone. I hope he's curled at God's feet and will wait for me there. I love you, sweet Bailey.

Melina Trevino
Austin, TX

Jonny

This is Jonny, my sweet little Pit bull mix. He was taken from a home that believed Pit bulls should be beaten into submission. I took him in originally as a foster pet. I didn't want to deal with all the issues associated with owning a Pit bull. It took Jonny no time at all to win over my heart. He is now a permanent part of my family and one of the greatest loves of my life. I've never met a dog so sweet or willing to please. Now, Jonny and I like to educate people about Pit bulls. He's done a great job so far at debunking all the stereotypes. He even won over the heart of my mother-in-law, who would tremble at the sight of a Pit bull! I thank God everyday for my sweet, little Jonny!

Cecily
Tacoma, WA

16th Birthday Present To Remember

This is Remi and my family and I adopted him from Petco for my 16th birthday. He is one of four kittens that were in foster care and we adopted him through Field Haven Rescue. He is white with orange ears and and orange and white striped tail and he has pretty blue eyes.

He loves cream cheese and enjoys sleeping in purses.
Remi is quite photogenic!

My new kiity was the best birthday present I could ever have asked for.

Claudine
Roseville, CA