Animal Rescue Stories

Who rescued who?

Many years ago we rescued our first little doggy from the shelter. Her name is Mocha. She's half dalmatian and half who knows what. She was only 5 weeks old. Not even old enough to be away from siblings and mom. Why was this precious little furball at the shelter? It was love at first sight. I had to take her home!
We became good friends as she grew and learned to trust our loving family. But only a few years later, disaster struck for me. I was a teacher and had to be "let go" due to downsizing at a little private school I had worked at for years. It was the week before school started. I had already prepared for the whole year. And teaching was all I ever knew. I was devastated and depression loomed near as I tried to make sense of it all.
My precious little furball, Mocha, stayed by my side through every tear and heartache. She started following me around the house wherever I would go. She bonded with me that year closer than I even knew was possible. She was my best friend through the hardest time.
Now she is 16 years old and nearly blind and deaf with arthritis and a fused spine. Does that deter her at all ? Not a chance. She still follows me everywhere and wants to be near me, sitting at my feet. I don't know how much longer she will be with us, but I'll never ever forget her undying loyalty and unbroken bond. Yes, I may have rescued her as a pup, but she has done more to rescue me than she can ever know. And I'll love her forever.

Marcia Knudsen
RICHMOND, TX

Ltitle Mama

A bedraggled new mama dog kept showing up at our house. She had no collar. I put puppy food and water on our back porch. She was very friendly and would run to the porch. I couldn't let her in because I didn't know where her babies were. She left for a few months. When she came back, she was skin and bones and fleas. I fed her again. She hung around. After a couple weeks I let her in the yard to meet my two fur girls. Instant love all around! Thanks to a good friend she went to the Dr. No chip. Got her built up some and back to the Dr to be spayed. She is now a healthy 60 pounds. Her former owner saw her. He had moved away and left her. He didn't want her back. Good thing. She's my baby now. All she wants is love and to play with her sisters. Typical pit mix. Her sisters are a pit and a black mouthed cur.

Susan Schlosser
INTERLACHEN, FL

Taking a "Chance"

I was walking home one day from work, in the pouring rain, when I spotted a little black kitten under a car crying his heart out. He seemed so little, too little to be on his own. Although I tried to grab him, he ran off. I told my husband and the next day when I got home from work, he had caught the little baby. He was sickly and so small. A trip to the vet confirmed his age to be in between 3- 4 weeks old. He had fleas, ticks, ear mites, worms and an abscess. Vet did not want to treat, but put him down, I said no, I will take him else where and get him treated. I did just that and it took patience and lots of love, but in a couple weeks he became a busy little body, running every where, attacking our feet and giving lots of kitty cuddles and love. The only obstacle we had was hiding him from the landlord. We were not allowed pets. We successfully hid him for 3 years, until we moved. Hence the name Chance.
At the point of finding him, I was very sad and depressed. I had just moved 600 miles from home and missed it terribly. Little did I know that this little black fluff ball would save my life and my heart. This was in 1997. And now 22 years later, our not so little Chance is still my cuddle bug.
My life would not have been the same with out him. I love my Chance

Jenny Lynn Ongirski
PHILADELPHIA, PA

Winifred Rose

I had just lost my sweet Gracie Lou, who was a very special girl, just a few weeks before my sister (who works at a local shelter) sent me a picture of two sweet little girls - both retired puppy mill mamas. She thought I would like the Maltese, but the little Shi Tzu actually caught my eye. I went to the shelter right after work to meet this little bit. She was so precious and seemed to connect with me, so I decided we should set up a meet and greet with the other two dogs in the house. She did so well, I adopted her and changed her name from Daisy to Winifred (Winnie). I added the Rose after about a month or so. This sweet baby is nothing like Gracie, but she has shown me love that I had been missing ever since Grace crossed the Rainbow Bridge. That was 3 years ago and in those years, she has gone on vacation with me, taken short trips, helped me walk after knee surgery and happily greets me as I get home, no matter how short or long I have been gone. This little one is the light of my life and so adorable! She gives me a reason to get out of bed every day and I know she looks forward to the love I give her every morning when we wake up. I love my sweet little Winifred Rose, she is the light of my life.

Bridget Hawn
TONAWANDA, NY

Old Girl

My most recent new family member became a family member after I lost my other old boy. She was in a nice home with several other dogs but was not happy. She needed to be the center of attention and have her our little family. She doesn't share well. So we brought her to our home where she will stay.

denise george
FLEETWOOD, PA

She chose me!

You know how pets, cats especially, pick their owners? Well my fur baby did just that! My mother adopted her and brought her into the house, introducing her as our new 'sister'. Well, Lily had other plans. She hated my mother from the get go, avoiding her at all costs by hiding under my bed. When it came time for me to move out, she cried while I was packing everything up, like she knew I was leaving her. I convinced my mother that my original cat would be lonely without her, and she agreed to let me have her. We're going on 15 years together! She is my Lily-bean and I can't imagine life without her!

Anastasia
OVERLAND PARK, KS

Remington & Tazzy

We lost Bullett Dog to cancer in April 2007. His buddy, Remington, a 92 pound long haired Dalmatian-Pointer mix was lost without his best friend. My heart was crushed & it hurt more watching Remington struggle without him. We took Remington to pick out his next buddy, even though we weren't ready for another dog. We wanted a rescue, a female & she had to be at least 65 pounds.After all Remington was a big boy. We arrived at a shelter. They had a litter of black labs puppies so I brought a little female out. Remington looked at her & walked away, sitting with his back to us. I tried again. He did the same thing. I took her back inside & asked if they had any other female young dogs. Then I saw her. She was golden brown, like a young fawn. She was standing in a crate that was much to small for her. I was in love but it was up to Remington. I took her outside to meet my boy. He ran up to her! He sniffed her all over, gave her a big, wet, slobbery kiss. Then he ran to our vehicle & barked, as if to say "I want her, Momma. Now take us home". And we did just that. We name her Tazzy. She grew to be 106 pounds of lanky legs & love. She was a Dane mix. She & Remington were best buddies. They helped each other through their double knee surgeries. Thankfully at different times! Even though Tazzy was not a trained therapy dog, she knew when my PTSD was elevated. She'd come to me, put her head in my lap, & look at me with her big, brown, beautiful eyes. At night, she'd wait until I laid down, then she would cuddle up next to me. Most mornings, we'd wake up still cuddling.

She & Remington were both amazing. Remington was a fearless protector, a giant love bug and an ambassador for rescue pets. He was a donation dog for many fundraisers I did for a local rescue. We saved Tazzy from being in a crate way to small for her. Tazzy saved Remington from his broken heart. And Tazzy saved me.

Remington lived to be over 14 years old. We lost him on May 8, 2015. Sadly, I lost my Tazzy to cancer on November 1. 2018.

Denise Wake
LOAMI, IL

Meeting sweet Tiger Lily

I had the privilege of adopting a beautiful, sweet and quirky seven month old Shepherd mix named Cassie in 2004. She was basically my life, my bestie and I adored her. She was shy and often anxious, but we were really an in synch pair and lived many happy years together until that dreaded day when something went wrong. I never had allowed myself to dwell on her increasing years, because I knew how very hard it would be to say goodbye. She was about 13 and a half years, and the day began normally but ended painfully after taking her to the emergency vet because she quite suddenly could not walk on her own. After a heart-aching evening and half of another new day attempting to keep her comfortable with prescriptions hoping that she would improve at the advice of the attending veterinarian, I took my baby to her regular doctor and tearfully watched her cross into the next world. She had wagged her tail for me and I knew she was peacefully surrounded by angels and our family; I also realized how much she absolutely had known how much she was loved. That night, I consoled myself with a cocktail or two, and ate a baked frozen pizza, not wanting to think about a darned thing. But there was the fact that even the night before, I had seen that I had to immediately have another pup to love. I volunteer for our animal shelter, so I regularly have an eye out for pooches to "crush on". I had a favorite rescue group that I emailed on that very night about a particular dog, and also checked a nearby rescue that I knew about. I rarely went onto their site, but was compelled to in my search, and noticed an 8 year old previously neglected very matted Australian Shepherd Mix named Tootsie, scooped up from a reservation in New Mexico. She was really cute, appeared sweet from the posted photos and even had the same three colors that my Cass had. I went to bed late that night and woke up in the morning with the name 'Tiger Lily' in my head, along with the picture of the namesake vibrant orange flower. I knew instantly that Tootsie was the one meant for me and Tiger Lily would become her new name, further confirmed by the email in my inbox that the other dog I had inquired about had already been adopted! One long and sad week to the day of Cassie's passing, I had a new poochie to love on, and be so loved in return with the fact in my head that Cass had purposely brought this new love to my life to help me heal! Over a year and a half later, she is, as my mom calls her, the lickiest dog we have ever known, who will kiss my legs or face as long as permitted, and lean her head on my leg for petting and attention. I had always planned on having my Cass' pawprint tattooed on my ankle with the words "With Me" beside it, which was the command I gave on our walks together so she would walk close by me. Tiger Lily, I've decided, will have her pawprint tattooed on the inside of my right wrist, because she definitely has become my "right hand man".

Jennifer
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ

Buddies Fur Life

Back in July of 2016 me and my mom went to a animal rescue to look for a pet. We kept looking in all the rooms and walked past the very last room to talk. As we were walking back I noticed out of the corner of my eye a very small cat jumping up and down in the back. Trying very hard to get my attention the moment we looked at each other we knew we were meant to be. We went in to see her and she came right up to me and the second we left the room she went and hid. We immediately went and adopted her and the second she was brought out to me. We became instant buddies it was like we were meant to be together. Ever since we brought her home I've been the happiest I've been in a very long time. I think I really needed Precious in my life so I could have a friend. We do everything together and if we are ever apart. I just have to call her name and she comes running. I couldn't of asked for a better friend than Precious. Going to that animal rescue was the best thing I ever did. I may not have people friends but I don't need them as long as I have Precious the bestest fur buddy in the whole world.

Tricia
SPRINGFIELD, MO

Rescuing Angie Pangie

We rescue abused, unwanted dogs. We went to look at a 6 month Golden Retriever. She was in a small chicken wire cage and her tail had grown through the broken wire. We brought her home, took her to the vet, got her tail fixed but had no idea she was kept INSIDE THAT CAGE HER WHOLE 6 MONTHS!!!
Our other rescues taught her how to bark, play, run, and just be a puppy. We gave her the best food, vet care, spa visits, our bed but mostly our love. We recently lost Angie Pangie to Cancer...she was 6. She gave us her heart, she took a big piece of ours when she left us. We are so proud to have been your mama and daddy. Thank you for teaching us what love truly is our Angie Pangie. You blessed us with your presence.
Love,
Mama, Daddy, Misty Grace-Kelley and Polly Doodle

Betty Carter
READING, PA