Animal Rescue Stories

My Oscar Bob

I was working a casino/bar and this couple's dog had 6 pups, she had them out on the sidewalk 2 hrs. after being born, her friend would sneak my Oscar into the bar at 1 wk. old so I could see him, he was the runt, they would sit at the bar and pass the puppies around and everyone giving them whatever they were drinking to the pups. I just couldn't stand it. She wanted $350 per pup but I told her I would give her $150 only and called my son and he brought me $75, I gave it to her and took Oscar he was 4 1/2- 5 wks old between my son and I we feed and nurtured him back and he has been by my side ever since, 7 yrs now, and not sure how he knew but I'm profound deaf and if I don't have my aids in he knows and jumps on me and barks if the phone rings or someone knocks at the door, the only other of the 5 pups that made it was the one my niece bought, the rest were hit by cars or just disappeared. She wanted to breed Oscar with his mom so they would have more puppies to sell for booze and drugs, I had him fixed that day. I love my little Oscar he is the only one I can tell my secrets to and never tells anyone else lol

Carol Cluka Long
COLUMBIA FALLS, MT

7 Kitties Later

I started with one beautiful orange girl that was my world, Missy. A few years later, a friend asked me to take a male kitten whose mom had passed and she had been bottle feeding him, she said if I didn't take him he was going to the shelter, so I agreed and gave him to my father to help keep him company since my mom recently passed. A year later, I helped a momma kitty and her 8 kittens, I found all of the kittens homes and I refused to return the mama to her former owner due to the poor living conditions she would go back to. So I had two cats that I love dearly. Shortly after my father became ill, me and my 2 babies moved home to take care of him. We now had 3 cats running around, my 2 and his. Two years later my father passed, then 3 months later, the day after Christmas, I lost my first baby Missy. Oh how my heart broke. A friend of mine has a rescue and I decided to adopt 2 kittens that needed a home together. As much as I missed my baby, I knew other needed love too. So now I have 4 babies running around. What joy they bring and spoiled is not the word. This past fall, my best friend told me that she had 4 ferral kittens in her yard that she wanted to catch before winter. I agreed to help her, I had the extra room. All of the babies had eye infections, upper respiratory infections and worms. My friends step son took one of the kittens when it was ready and I still have the other 3. So now I have 7 fur babies, 4 adults and 3 kittens. I love them all so much and even though they are thriving, 2 of the 3 I have still need socialization work with people. I had decided unless someone has as much patience as I do, the would remain with me. The past few years have been difficult losing both my parents in less than 5 years that the unconditional love and joy these babies bring me on a daily basis has helped. I was able to save 4 kittens that would have died if not treated. We have since caught the momma and my vet currently has her to spay her so there are no more babies. My vet is wonderful and has been there treating these babies. My story is not grand, but a small act of kindness can change the world for these animals and after the loss of my parents, they opened my heart and have given me comfort. It has been a lot of work and I have enjoyed every moment of it.

Melinda Funk
HUDSON, NY

My Beautiful Ava

I was searching online for a companion for my almost 2 year old husky and saw this female husky mix on petfinder not to far from me. I messaged them for more details and a picture. One look I was in love. She had been bought off of craigs list by teenagers without parents knowing. Their dog got her pregnant and parents didn't want her. She was everything I was looking for even the right age. She was so sweet and loving but so skinny. After waiting for her puppies to wean and her to be fixed I was finally able to bring my sweetheart home. Mind you my husband had not met her yet. We came to the conclusion that she might have been abused by a large man because she was scared to death of my husband. But he won her over soon and now they are best buds. She is the best fit for us; she loves our cats and is besties with my other husky Comanche. She has rescued all our hearts!!! Hats off to R.O.A.R. (Rehoming Our Animal Refugees) Mutt motel and Makeovers rescue, they are awesome and do a great job with their dogs!!!

Arianne Burress
ELYRIA, OH

Hector

Our family adopted a six year old bunny from our local animal shelter. He has added so much joy to our home. We hope we have added joy to his life too. He has a big pen in our family room. He likes treats and ear and head strokes.

Kathleen MacCubbin
COCKEYSVILLE, MD

A Match 5 Years in the Making

When it came time to find a friend/pet for my cat Tiggs way back in 2011, I visited Bideawee, from whence I had adopted him. I had some lovely interactions with the amusingly-named Purrsia, a pretty little shorthair with a snowshoe-esque spot on her nose. The staff - following the shelter's "full disclosure policy" - advised me that as a former feral, one couldn't pick Purrsia up or restrain her; I responded, "that's too advanced for me." And then I fell in love with my Munchie from another rescue - he, too, was a former feral, but I got to find that out on my own. No matter - he and Tiggs became fast friends and scrapping partners.

Three years later, I was a volunteer at Bideawee cleaning cat receiving. A small cat sat with its back to me in its litter pan. It's intake form said the cat was female, about 3 years old, and named "Purrsia." Of course, I asked her if she was the SAME Purrsia. She turned around, and there was the snowshoe mark. She wandered up to the front, stuck her paw on my finger, and purred. I was convinced she remembered me, and we began our human-feline love affair, as I dithered about adding a third cat to the mix.

About a year later, Purrsia was readopted, and saddened, I breathed a small sigh of relief (because I don't have room for 3 cats). And then, about a year after that, her second adopter returned her.

At this point, nearly 5 years after meeting my girl, I surrendered to the inevitable, and after a month more of "deciding," I brought Purrsia home to the boys. She almost immediately jumped on my bed, sat amid my pillows like a little princess, and gave me a look that rather clearly said, "You foolish human. How could it take you 5 years to figure out what I knew right away?"

Apparently, everyone except me knew this right away, including Purrsia's 2 "boyfriends," Tiggs and Munchie, because we had an absolutely seamless "merger."

Purrsia still isn't a kitty I look forward to corralling for a vet appointment, but she is the one who sleeps on a pillow right next to my head every night, and was always the first to greet me when I'd return from visiting my ailing, elderly mother.

Could this cat be smarter than I??

Lauren Pytel
NEW YORK, NY

Gift from above

I was at the pet store to look at kitties as mine had passed away one month to the day ago. As I was looking at the cats and silently crying, a dad with two little kids came up holding a kitten. We started talking and he told me that his wife wouldn't let the kids bring the kitten home unless they got rid of one of their current animals (3 dogs and 2 cats). So I followed a stranger home and was given a sweet orange and white cat named Tweety, which soon became Sweetie, as he is a lover. God brought us together that day. I was contemplating suicide because I was so depressed about my previous cat Nero.

Ericka Skoog
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN

One day at the Pound

My husband and I decided to adopt another dog as a friend for our now 6 yr old Boxer/Pitbull mix. I decided to let my husband pick this one out. I promised I would let him choose. We went to the pound and talked to the people there. We wanted to save one of the dogs on "death row". They opened the door for us to go back and look at the dogs. He was the first dog I laid eyes on. He had the saddest eyes. We saw some other dogs that my husband wanted to meet. Then I told my husband I wanted to see the skinny little white one. He was wary but agreed. We took him outside and it was like he had been missing us his whole life. The lady said that he was usually very timid and shy. With us he was a ball of fun! My husband agreed and we brought him home. There was a little tension between Daisy (our other dog) and Ghost at first. Then they settled into a rhythm and started to get along. They play all the time now! To this day, my husband still thinks that he "chose" our new shelter dog named Ghost.I think in the end it was really God that chose this dog for us.

Andrea Humphrey
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

Mia and my Shadow

I was divorced, kids grown and gone, and living in the country with a black cat, Shadow (a shelter cat). We were happy but something was missing. At my local shelter I found a bischon. She was a matted mess. I brought her home, groomed her and the bonding began. I now had Mia and my Shadow! Mia feared thunderstorms. Shadow would put a paw on Mia and we weathered all life's storms together. Shadow has passed away now but Mia is now 9 years my best friend and companion. She is a dependable watch dog. She is a whole lot of dog in a small body. I love her very much!

Nancy McKillip
KEARNEY, NE

Our rescue Cody

Our little fur baby was a rescue from Arkansas brought up here in a foster home until we found him and adopted him. So thankful to have Cody as part of our family.

Lori Card
AUGUSTA, ME

Not a replacement

When my son's 17 year old cat passed away he decided I would be lonely. He decided I needed another fur baby. He brought my Loki to me. She helped me get through my Mom's stroke and passing. She is a little stinker, but she sure knows when I need comforting and is right there with kisses or nibbles.

Kathy from Mason, MI
MASON, MI