Share your pet adoption stories

[nancy679]

We are in the process of trying to adopt a homeless puppy. Theres more to it than just going to the pound.

Have some of you adopted from out of state rescues, where they bring the puppy to you? I am a little nervous about going this route without actually seeing the puppy.

Or how about adoption events, where the pets are brought in from shelters?

I've emailed some shelters and rescues, some have answered, some havent.

Our beloved dog died 2 months ago at age 14, and we are ready now to give our hearts to a new little pup.

PLease share your experiences
Thanks

 

[grinningghost]

We adopted a kitten at the shelter 5 years ago. He's now a big, fat cat and I can't imagine life without him. He follows me everywhere I go (including the bathroom) - as if he's making sure I don't ever let him go to that nasty orphanage again.

He's the light of my life.

 

[minniecarousel]

We adopted our cat 10 years ago from a communty group called "Community Concerns for Cats". We like to say that we rescued him from his rescuers. The home we picked him up from was really dirty & had waaay too many cats in it! (of course - she was caring for mother cats & their litters 'til the kittens were old enough for a home.) We took him to our vet and he had quite a flea problem. He has been the only pet we have ever had - and he really rules the roost!

 

[poohtown]

Tia (first adoption) is responsible for many others. So many people love her and when they hear we adopted her, they go out and adopt.

She is a Pom/Chi mix. She belonged to an elderly lady who had to go to a nursing home. None of her family would take Tia so she had to put her in the pound. No one would adopt her because she barked at anyone who tried to come near. The day she was scheduled to be put to sleep, a woman who rescues dogs came into the pound. She took her home and kept her for 3 weeks. We went to an adoption event and were given the womans name. After going to her house, I was a little hesitant because she wouldn't come near us, but the woman assured us she was just scared. My husband convinced me to give her a chance (which was weird because I was the one who really wanted a dog more than him). It took a couple weeks for her to get really comfortable, but she is a wonderful dog who loves everyone. After I got her, my mom, neigbors, and bil all adopted dogs.

Tasha, #2 adoption, is a pit/american bulldog/boxer? mix. After a year with Tia we decided we would like another dog and my husband was interested in a Boxer. The pound said they had a boxer (Tasha). Well the minute I saw her I fell in love. The warden said she was beyond her time and should have been put to sleep weeks ago but he couldn't bear to do it because she was such a good dog. She is very scary looking but really a big baby. One day I had her at a party and this woman came over and started telling me how she's always been afraid of dogs, etc., but she was watching my dog all day and she decided to come over. She asked if I thought she could pet her and I answered 'sure, but could you get off her tail first'. She did not realized she had been standing on my dogs tail the whole time and my dog never flinched.

I feel we lucked out with both our dogs.

 

[princesstommi]

We've adopted two cats.

The first one, Misfit, we got from the Humane Society. We decided we wanted a cat, and went there first. He's a bengal, and was four months old when we adopted him. He and his litter mates were available the very day we stopped by. He's been nothing but a joy. He's still playful, and will jump into a lap as soon as one becomes available. So loving.

2 years later, I found Bella next to the front entrance of my workplace. She was a little gray furball just sitting there. I bent down to say hello, and she started purring and rubbing against my hand. That was it, I was hooked. I picked her up and couldn't put her back down. I left work early that day to go straight to the vet. Check-up, disease testing, vaccinations, flea treatments, worm medication, an appointment for spaying and a good chunk of change later...I had myself furbaby number two.

Adopting a street cat was a little more difficult than adopting a kitten who had been in the shelter with people his whole life. But after an initial adjustment period, hissing cats and some trash digging - I have two kitties who love each other and cuddle and play. I can't imagine what it was like having only one! Now we just look forward to the day we buy a house and have more space for more pets!

Good for you for adopting. Good luck in your search for a new puppy!

 

[Otto's Doll]

We adopted Benji 2.5 years ago from www.Petfinders.org. He was in a foster home via a shelter in Moorestown NJ. What a great experience we had. I found his picture online, and sent a message to the shelter that I was interested. They sent me back a form to fill out and email back, checked my references, told me the fee ($125, including all his shots and neutering) and arranged for us to meet Ben and his ride about 2 hours away in NJ. Dory called me as we were on our way to say that Ben had just been vet checked and they found Hip Dysplasia, and did we still want to see him? I said yes, and they offered to pay 1/2 of all bills associated with this condition. I told Dory we wanted to give him a good life, even if it was shorter than we expected. When we saw him, we fell in love. He was a 6 month old Sable German Shepherd and was such a love right from the beginning. We just adore him, and he fit right in.
As for his medical condition, our vet says it is a mild case, and sometimes dogs never show any symptoms at all. We are just taking it one day at a time, but so far have had no problems.
I know this was a long post (sorry, Jason) but I had to tell you what a great thing you are doing, and that we would do it again.
I have also adopted 2 cats from the humane society, and would do that again in an instant.. but Dh says 5 is enough for now!

 

[phillybeth]

I adopted both my dogs through listings on Petfinder. Grady was a 5 YO male who wound up in rescue due to a divorce in the family. Just about a year later we added Rosie, a 1 YO female, who was given up because her family didn't have time for her. I found the whole experience so wonderful and rewarding that about 6 months after adopting Rosie I started volunteering for a national breed rescue group!

You are right, adopting for a rescue can be different than going to a shelter and picking out a dog. Our adoptive families do not usually get to meet the dog until the day of the adoption. That is why our adoption process is so involved and takes at least two weeks. First the application is reviewed, then personal and vet references are checked, and then a volunteer does a home visit, to ensure that the house is safe and has been represented accurately- i.e. if you say you have a fence on your application there better be a fence there! Once all these steps are passed the applicant is matched with a dog that we feel is a good match for the home, family and life style- a family with kids that want a playful dog would not be a good match with a couch potato pup! We have a very good 'success' rate in matching dogs. Matching puppies is much easier since their personalities are less developed and they have little if any 'baggage'- emotional, behavioral or training issues to be overcome.

 

[Kallison]

We got SAmmie at the local ASPCA. He was a 95 lb. lab with no manners, none. I would find him on top of our dinner table eating off the plates. He would tackle the kids and their friends, nip at them, rip their ponytails out of their hair. You couldn't walk or control him. We got kicked out of obedience school. I wanted to send him back so many times. Eventually I did a lot of the alpha dog on my own, tackling him, sitting on him, yelling in his face - I AM the ALPHA DOOOOOOOOOOG. He trained us to keep our stuff away from him, don't leave sandals or towels around the pool, don't leave bike helmets where he can chew them, don't leave food out on the counter. Well he still counter surfs and still steals stuff occasionally but he has turned out to be a really great member of our family. He is sleeping with his head on my feet as I type. He is very clingy but he listens to me mostly, if I yell no or drop it he will isten. It took us about a year to get him straightened out, he is a super dog.

 

[bballmom56]

We adopted our current dog through People for Animals group. One of their members had spotted him in a pound and couldn't leave him there. (He still gives us that same look!) They adopted him out 3 times and he was returned because he had so much energy. They finally put an ad in our local paper (they are in the suburbs, we are in a rural area), hoping he'd have more room to run. DH called about him - ad said "large lovable guy" and we all loved him. He was 1 1/2 years old at the time - he's now almost 13. He was perfectly housebroken and he is the best dog we have ever had! What a shame if he had been put to sleep. He is still grateful to this day. We keep saying that all he ever wanted was a family with kids and he got that plus a farm where he could run and go to the barn and chase deer and everything. He is just the best!

 

[pw2pp]

We adopted Cali (the kitty in my signature pic) from an Animal Rescue. There was an event called "Petapulluza" held here in the Metro Detroit area where different animal rescue agencies brought pets to be adopted.
Cali was found under a wood pile and rescued. You can't tell from the pic, but Cali has a 2 inch "stub" of a tail. They don't know if she was born that way or it was due to an injury.
We love our Cali dearly (and our dog, Shelby, too).

 

[msteddom]

My puppy Jake actually adopted us! Our neighbors across the street had adopted him for theBaja Animal Shelter but ended up leaving him alne in their yard all day and most nights too Well, Jake's a smart little guy and he figured out how to get out of the yard. So he came to visit me and my mom who were both home during the day.

After he got out for about the third time our neighbor told us that she was going to return him to the shelter, but I couldn't bear to see him go. I had completely fallen in love with him. So I cinvinced my parents to let me keep him. We offically adopted him and Jake has become part of the family.


Melissa

 

[Celluloidgal]

We had a cat named "Hobbes" that adopted us! He used to come by our patio door and meow at our cat "Ashley". He was a beautiful DLH. Kinda looked like a Maine Coon, but smaller. Anyway, after posting pix of him and calling shelters, we decided to bring him in. I worked for a vet, so I took him to work to get neutered/vaccs & cleaned up before bringing him home. He was a sweet cat. He seemed to know he had a second chance. We had to put him down, cancer at 13 years old.

More recently, we adopted a Great Dane who is 2 1/2 years old. We found her through Petfinders.com. Since we knew specifically the breed we wanted, we checked out with the Dane Rescue Societies also. She is great too! It was wonderful adopting a little bit older dog. She was already spayed, housebroken, and knew some basic commands. We are currently going through obedience classes with her, and she is learning quickly.

Sorry for the long post. I could brag on my pets all day.

Good luck on the pet search! I'm glad you're looking at adopting!

 

[JKanownik]

We adopted our 3 cats at Petsmart from 3 different animal shelters. Our local Petsmarts have cats there daily and feature dogs and even more cats on weekends. We paid a $60 per cat adoption fee which included having them spayed/neutered if it hadn't already been done. Petsmart also provided a booklet with coupons for free food and discounts on starter cat supplies such as litter boxes, collars, toys, grooming supplies and carriers. Also included was a discount for their first visit to Banfield which is the Vet located at some Petsmarts. Calvin, Claire and Graycie have brought so much joy to our lives. We don't have any children yet, but we consider our cats to be our babies. We could not imagine life without them.

Calvin:

Claire:

Graycie:

 

[LUVDSNY04]

After our 15 yr. old cocker spaniel died my son went to our local SPCA and adopted a little mixed breed. Honey looks like a beagle and something else. When she first came home she was an ugly little thing but she's a beauty now. She is the most loving dog and obedient dog. She was only three months when our son adopted her and was only at the SPCA for an hour before she was adopted. She was easy to potty-train and now we have a black lab but Honey lets him know she was here first !

 

[Laura]

We adopted a cat from a shelter last July. She's a terrific cat and adjusted amazingly well. I thought she'd hide under the couch for a week, but all she did was inspect the place and she seemed right at home. We haven't had any issues with her behaviorally, and she is very friendly with strangers so I figure she was never abused. She had tapeworm when we got her (easily fixed) and a stuffed-up nose that took a while to get rid of. But otherwise she's a great cat. We love her to pieces; she's quite a character.

 

[scarlett873]

we recently adopted our jasmine from a local organization here in the indy area. we weren't totally ready to adopt just yet, but i was looking through the petfinder website and came across her picture and fell hopelessly in love with her! she's a lab/rott mix and quite the handful! we had to submit an application for her without seeing her in person. we were approved to adopt her and had to go to our local petsmart that weekend to meet her. we filled out our paperwork and then got to meet the precious little one. we couldn't take her home with us...they had to bring her to us that evening. so....we spent the day shopping for everything that we would need for her. and then she came home to us that night! she's been a handful...and then some, but i wouldn't trade her for the world! (well, catch me on the right day and maybe we'll talk! ) we plan to go the same route when we're ready to get a 2nd pup...

good luck!!

 

[adamak]

We adopted our Sheltie from the Long Island Sheltie Rescue Fancier. Very nice people, who truly sincere about match up abandoned dogs with new owners. He's 9 years old then, but very sweet. I'm so lucky to have him.

The adoption process may be different from regular shelter. But still I'd lots of paper work to fill out. They send people over to my apartment to make sure I have enough space and can handle him well. It's a perfect match after all the work.

 

[grinningghost]

Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. I love reading them. For anyone who loves pets (especially adopted ones), consider reading "Second Chances". It's a book full of short stories about orphaned pets who found happy homes. It's very uplifting and easy to read.

 

[katerkat]

Wedge and Tycho are both from the same shelter in Virginia. DH and I (well, we were engaged then) went to pick out a kitten in July 2001. Wedge was teeny tiny, looked like a rat! He bit DH's sleeve and it was love at first sight. We took him home that day and he's been Momma's baby ever since.

Six months later I decided Wedge needed a brother, so I went to a bunch of shelters looking for one. I found Tycho, but he had a real brother with him and I could only adopt one. Went back a couple days later and Tycho's brother had been adopted. Tycho was scheduled to be put down the next day. So, of course, I took him home!

 

[JKanownik]

Thanks for the book recommendation and thanks to everyone who has adopted a pet! I love reading these stories. You are all heroes!