Animal Rescue Stories

Mr Checkers finds a home

Birds are often neglected in rescue work, especially little birds. Checkers came to the Largo SPCA as a scared 5 month old among a flock of small birds confiscated from a breeder. His photo won our hearts at first glance. With such a big personality and adventuresome spirit, we call him Mr. Checkers.
He is our second rescue bird. Our birds live openly in our home, using their cages for night and when we are out. Mr. Checkers joins me for work in my home office, enjoying his freedom. As a baby parakeet, he is clumsy but determined and cheerful. Birds are precious pets who need hours of human interaction daily yet return love and loyalty in abundance.

Dr KT Erwin
Largo, FL

Wacky Wabbit

At the local Humane Society I noticed a small white bunny for adoption. His card said "Dwarf Bunny, 1.5 years old, neutered and litter trained." I reached in to pet him and he approached and licked my hand.

He had my heart. I took him home and tried to put him in a cage, but he obviously didn't like that, so I let him out. He followed me around the house and chinned everything, begged treats, and wanted his head rubbed. He ran big circles around the dining room and lept into the air. He used the cage as a toilet, always keeping his eye on me to be sure I didn't try to close the door. Intrigued, I went to the House Rabbit Society web site and determined that he must be a house rabbit.

Rocky is now almost 9 years old and is the best pet I have ever had. He is smart and affectionate and clean. When I go to bed he follows, sleeping under my bed. He has a way of telling me what he wants without making a sound. He has provided me with 7 years of love and companionship that I never would have expected from a bunny.

Coral King
Honolulu, HI

Stella

As a MinPin lover for more than 20 years, I will tempted when my friend, Sarah, was fostering an adorable one. I talked to my husband and the kids and we agreed that we had room in our hearts and our home for a second dog. Sarah's dog wasn't right for us, but we started looking on the IMPS website and fell in love with Stella the moment we saw her picture and read her story. After talking to her foster mom, we couldn't wait to meet her. We brought her home that day and our home has been happier ever since. We had never had two dogs at once and didn't know what to expect. What we got was twice the four-legged love and twice the joy. Even the aloof Zeus became attached to her quickly. Not a day goes by when she doesn't make me laugh out loud with her silliness. It is amazing that a dog who was mistreated for so many years can be so loving and trusting.

Thank you to all who foster dogs while they await their forever home. We are so thankful to have Stella in ours.

Stella is on the right in the picture.

Terry Hanly
Anaheim Hills, CA

4th Time's a Charm

After owning Dobermans for many years, we didn't think our new house had a yard big enough for a large dog. A neighbor though we would be interested in a Miniature Pinscher that was being fostered by the local shelter. After hearing that 3 other pet parents gave her up, we decided to chance it; new name, new home etc. It's taken a while to adjust to a small dog, but our family is complete with our fur baby.

Lenore & Bob
Green Valley, AZ

Our newest cat

This is Queenie. We live in a neighborhood in Georgia with a lot of rentals. People move out and leave their pets behind. We have 12 cats that we have rescued. Queenie's owners moved out and left her. Our neighbor started feeding her when she saw the cat was hanging around her empty house. Our neighbor couldn't adopt her because her dog was not friendly to cats. Our other neighbor already had 3 unfriendly cats. Queenie was overwhelmed by our other cats. We gave her a bath and cleaned her up. Her fur was matted and falling out. When she fattened up, her lovely long hair grew back and now she is happy and beautiful and proud. She has beautiful blue eyes and loves to be rubbed on her back.

Ann Marie
Smyrna, GA

Bailey

Bailey was born on Christmas Eve 1998. He is a shepard/husky mix. He was the most loving & loyal dog and it was a privledge to call him mine. I lost him and it took me a 1 1/2yr of running ads until I finally found him. The elderly man (Walter) who had him called me let me come see him on Christmas Eve (unaware that it was Bailey's 6yr Birthday). Walter and I cried and we both loved on Bailey and as I was getting ready to leave...he told me to take my son back home with me. I gained a friend that day. Walter passed away Feb08 and just recently my Bailey passed away. I am sure they are together....Moma misses you!.
Teresa Shew
Gadsden, AL

Teresa Shew
Gadsden, AL

1725 - Jethro's Story

I learned about 1725 via e-mail from a friend at my office who knows I am a dog-lover. 1725 (tattooed in both ears), had spent the last 2 1/2 years - from the time he was six weeks old - in a cage at a medical research facility, testing treatments for chemo patients, and was going to be euthanized if a home couldn't be found for him. I contacted the facility and, thank God, they were willing to wait until I could build a fence around my new house!

Research animal 1725 became Jethro, and, in the last two years together, we have learned all sorts of new things - he has learned about freedom, running, sniffing everything in the yard, playing with other animals, hugs, kisses and backscratches - and I have learned that love, discipline and patience can turn a backwards, terrified animal into a confident, trusting, loving companion.

I am happy to report that Jethro is now practically fearless! After collapsing in fear the first time a bird flew overhead, barking furiously at the wind blowing through trees and shrubs, and hiding in the corner in fear every time he entered a room, he loves to chase birds, greet visitors at the door, and sit next to me on the couch for snuggles.

His contribution to medical research and his ability to adapt to a brand new world, with no resentment of humans, just love and acceptance, has definitely made him my hero!

Judy H.
Memphis, TN

Inseparable - these two

These babies were at the animal control shelter and had been left there by their owner who couldn't care for them anymore. He was upset that he had to leave them there. Who could resist taking them home? Not me. They had to get used to parrots talking and cats meowing but all is well and Spanky (the cockapoo) turned 1 year old on July 2, 2009 - the day I picked them up. Star (chihuahua/terrier) will be 2 in November. They are perfect little babies and we love them to pieces.

Ginny Runyan
St. Peters, MO

Bella one happy dog

We fostered around 25 dogs from the Humane Society of Greater Miami and then we felt absolutely in love with our last foster dog Bella. Bella has been at the Humane Society for around 2 years. She has been the love of our lives ever since. Bella is a very active dog - she passed her AKC Canine Good Citizen and now works as a Therapy dog for VITAS. Her favorite thing to do other than helping people in need is travelling around Florida, going to the Beach, and playing with all her toys and dog friends.

Fabienne and Armando
Miami, FL

Please consider adopting from Animal Control.

We wanted to give a home to a dog who may not have much of an opportunity to be loved unconditionally. After weeks on-line with rescue organizations, one of the volunteers asked if I had considered an animal contol facility instead since time was limited for those babies. I had but never acted on it since I was afraid of what I might find. I ignored my fears and although the place I visited was pretty rundown due to lack of funding, I found staff that cared about the strays and I found Oliver. He was so sad and dejected he would not even raise his head to look at me. I immediately said that I wanted him, no questions asked. Oliver is now one happy, healthy and adored "Jungle Boy".

Amy Komack
Bluffton, SC