Animal Rescue Stories

Who Rescued Who?

I was ready for another dog finally, years after losing my sweet Shadow. I had mentioned to my friend (Who is a morning host on a local radio show) that I thought I was ready & she was thrilled. Every week a new dog from the shelter would come to her radio show, but none that really fit. Then, one day she says on the air "OH NANCI!!! Your dog is HERE!" She was so excited. They put a picture of her on their Facebook Page & I was smitten. The shelter was closed that day, so I had to wait until the next morning to meet her. I wasn't about to let someone else get her, so I sat there and waited until they opened. I went in to meet her & as soon as we met, her big ol' tailless butt started wiggling like I had never seen! She leaned against me as if to say "I pick you!" I took her back to work with me & she's gone to work with me every day since. It's been almost 3 years now & I honestly don't know what I would do without her. She has helped me through a major surgery & my husband passing away. She is my best friend & the best secret keeper of all time! I absolutely love her with all of my heart!

Nanci Ryker-Judd
FELTON, CA

Mama's Iggy monster

Iggy was a rescue from the Homer, Alaska animal shelter, and he was a gift from some very dear friends. I had another small dog that was 10, and I was looking for a companion for her. Iggy was 3, and the 2 dogs clicked right away. He had separation anxiety and some issues that could have been from abuse, but he adjusted well to his new home. He is now 14 and a half, and we have since lost Tazzie, but he is a loving companion and real cuddlebug. He is full of life and mischief, and i love him more everyday, even when he is pushing my buttons.

Cristanne Swanda
ANCHORAGE, AK

The Aussie that Stole My Heart

My Aussie, Bailey, was older and slowing down rapidly. I wanted to add another 4 legged love to my family to keep him company after my golden passed. Lexy was brought up from Texas to a foster home in Delaware which had about 12 other fosters. I went down from NJ to see her being told we might be a good fit. She was abused and very nervous...only dog not to come greet me when I got there and always has eyes on me wherever I moved. Two hours sitting on the kitchen floor and turkey in hand, she finally came over to get her tasty treat. I knew she was my dog. She hopped quickly in the car, fell asleep on the backseat, and followed me right into my house when we got back. That night, she slept right by my head on the air mattress I was using to sleep downstairs so I could be with Bailey who couldn't go up the stairs anymore. Precious girl...she helped Bailey and me through some tough times and even though she's the rescue, I think she rescued me.

Danielle Lake
SOUTHAMPTON, NJ

My cat through the woods

I found my cat coming through the woods one night. I was standing in my dad's driveway. I heard a kitten meowing! So I talked to the kitten & walked closer to the woods. I walked further into the woods. This older kitten comes out of the woods. I didn't know exactly how old it was. I wish that I knew. Well I kept the kitten at my dad's a little while. Maybe a few days. I decided to take the older kitten to my mom's house so it would have a place to live. It even lived there while I wasn't there. I consider it my cat. I consider it my mom, & step dad's cats also. I love our cat. He's sweet. He gets to come inside our house some when it's cold outside. The strays come to harass my cat on the porch. To keep my cat named Oscar from being beaten up we let my cat stay in the laundry room or he gets in my bed with me. My cat doesn't play toys anymore. He's a lot lazier than he used to be. I think he is somewhere between the age of 8 & 12 years old. Oscar likes to follow me to my walking track along with our other 2 younger cats. The cats run & play with each other. The younger 2 run up small trees. My cat Oscar will wrestle on the ground with them. I hope my cat Oscar lives at least 2 more years if not more. My cat Oscar is sick right now. I will take him to the veternarian soon. I will take him sometime this month. I'm not sure which day yet. My cat loves to get in the bed with me. I love my cat Oscar.

Lisa Richardson
LINEVILLE, AL

They Rescued me!

I currently have 2 dogs, Dexter and Roxie. I've always loved dogs but never really had my own until about 6 years ago. Dexter was our oldest daughters dog that she brought home with her in between moving. I fell in LOVE with him as I was home so much. When I started working I felt bad leaving him alone so I started looking for a companion for him. After learning about puppy mills and bad breeders I knew I had to adopt. I looked on several shelters websites searching for the perfect friend for Dexter. We found a little senior yorkie named Shelby. Since Dexter is so laid back we knew a senior dog would be perfect. We introduced them and they became quick friends. Snuggling with them was the best! Unfortunately Shelby only lived about 4 years in our home. She passed in Nov of stomach issues we could never quite cure. Our hearts were broken. Dexter was so sad. The middle of Dec my mom asked if she could get me a puppy for my bday. I reminded her I would only adopt. She said this puppy was up for adoption, she had been removed from a dangerous situation. Ironically I was in the process of gathering items from neighbors to donate to a shelter about an hour from my house. It happened to be the same shelter! I went to their website and seen Roxies picture and I FELL IN LOVE! I've never had my own puppy before so I was extra excited! Roxie had 19 applications within hours of being listed. We submitted everything and waited. Within a few days we were contacted and told we were being considered along with 4 other families. We set up a home visit for her foster to bring her to meet Dexter. After all, it was HIS feelings that mattered the most. He wasnt sure about her at first as she had WAY more energy than Shelby. We completed the visit and waited again. 2 days later we were notified that we were chosen to be Roxies new furever family! Dexter and Roxie have become best friends and Dexter plays a lot more than he ever has and both dogs love to snuggle which I love! Roxie is so hyper! We think shes part puppy, kitten, rabbit, and part gazelle! She drags everything in the house from the yard so were constantly sweeping! She LOVES toys and going for walks with Dexter! Our whole family gathers around her because she has such a spunky personality and is so fun to watch! I got her for my Birthday but shes Dexter's Valentine! (We love to tell people we rescued her but she really has rescued us! )

Dana Paxton
LINCOLN, NE

Maggiemae

Our beloved Maggiemae we had rescued 9 years ago from the shelter. She went to the Rainbow Bridge the beginning January. She had a heart murmured and seizures. It was a collapsing Trachea that took her from us. She had so much Love to give. We rescued her but she was the the one that rescued us.

Maureen grandchamp
WEST WARWICK, RI

Desperately Seeking Silky Black Cat

Almost 10 years ago I decided I wanted to adopt another cat. I already had a fluffy black cat named CoCo. In order to avoid sibling rivalry, I wanted to make sure her new baby sister was a short-haired black cat so Coco would still be "The prettiest fluffy black cat in the world," and the new kitty could be "the prettiest silky black cat in the world." I started my search at various local shelters, and whilst I met sooooooo many wonderful and adorable kitties, I just wasn't finding "the one." In my search I realized how many cats there are in need of a good home, and started my journey into animal rescue. If I couldn't find "the one" I was going to help other cats on their way to their forever homes! For about a year I fostered a total of 6 cats! It was an amazing experience, and I learned so much about the cats and myself in the process. At one of the adoption events I was helping out at, I saw from across the room this tiny little black cat... the description card said, "Sometimes I eat things I shouldn't and I BITE!" I resisted asking to hold her 'till nearly the whole event was over - and as soon as I held her I knew she was "the one." She snuggled right into my shoulder and dipped her head back as she looked at me with her big green eyes. Her foster mom was really taken aback; she told me, "You are the first person she has let hold her, she's actually been pretty ill-behaved at my house." We laughed and talked a little, and the rescue we were working with allowed me to take her home because I'd had such good success with other "problem kitties" I'd fostered. Needless to say, after about 2 weeks I was completely in love and wanted to adopt her. I named her Mischa Mimi Demon Kitty. She still sometimes eats things she shouldn't, like plastic bags and leather gloves, and occasionally she gets "nippy," but nothing serious. Overall I think Mimi has made real progress in becoming the best cat she can be! We are closer than ever and her favorite thing is still just to sit on me and snuggle up into my shoulder while I read or watch TV. My older cat Coco has since passed, but Mischa Mimi Demon Kitty is still happy and healthy! I am still volunteering with Cat Rescue and would absolutely do it exactly the same all over again.

Erin
BERWYN, IL

Who Rescued WHO?

I am a volunteer for my local Humane Society. When I started in 2013, I was cleaning up after and loving on the cats they had up for adoption at Petco (they have since moved to PetSmart). Runt was one of four orange male cats that I took care of. One day I walked in and he sneezed. I reported it and to err on the side of caution, they took him back to the shelter where he SAT! Since I was in and out of the shelter as well, I would make a beeline to his cage to see if he recognized my voice. They then put him on their Mobile Adoption Trailer at an adoption event that I also volunteered. No one adopted him or a kitten that day, so I decided he was going home with me to be a "little bud" to Trey who I also adopted from a rescue. I renamed him Trevor and within a short period of time, this one year old ginger grew into a therapy cat for me (I have PTSD). He has turned my life around. No longer am I crying every day at a drop of a hat. And since he was dumped at the Humane Society (for spraying the house of his first owners who did NOT neuter him or get him his shots, plus they had dogs!), who rescued who here? And though he and Trey tolerate each other (with this little devil starting the play fights), having two now is just priceless. Trevor was the BEST twenty-five bucks I EVER spent!

Ronnie Teich
WESTMINSTER, MD

How Nova stole my heart.

I have been in rescue for many years now and when asked if I could take on a puppy that was 9 days old and had been the at the hands of an abuser I could not help but say yes. Feeding 6 to 7 times a day watching the awful scar that she would be facing from no fault of her own. I watched her grow and heal all the while stealing more and more space in my heart. As we bonded I had no idea that it would be a bond that Nova had worked into my heart as well. I have loved all my foster fur babies but Nova loved me back and refused to love another more than she loves me. She was scared of other people from the beginning beside my immediate family. Her big golden eyes would stare into your soul. When she went to be spayed was when I had to face the fact that I was in love with this intelligent, beautiful dog. She was so scared and wanted to stay with me but the reunion after was what did me in. She actually cried when I picked her up. Verbally and physically letting me know she would not be separated from me or my family again if she had a choice. At that moment I could not have agreed with her more.

Dina Grammer
PRESTON, OK

Jasper left and took a piece of my heart with him

I had my cat Jasper for 17 years. From a tiny ball of fluff to a grumpy old man. Lots of health issues over the years. The vet said she didn't expect him to get more than a couple years after his last bit of heart issues, but he lived another 5. So much love. The day we put him to sleep was one of the hardest days I've ever lived through. My heart was just so broken. My husband and I packed up all the toys, food bowls and the water fountain.
A month or so later, I had to go to the pet store for fish food. We kept a small aquarium for Jasper's viewing pleasure. Lo and behold there was an adoption event going on. I walked hesitantly though the kennels and the volunteer asked me if she could help. "Any tabby babies?" I asked. Then there was Jack, or Kix as the shelter had named him. He purred the moment I touched him and the tears came streaming down. I had my husband meet me there on his was home from work and he loved him immediately as well. We brought him home that day and have been made more whole ever since. Minnie and Calvin have since joined the family and we all couldn't be happier. I still miss Jasper everyday. But sweet Jack helped to lessen the pain and reminded me to think about all of the good memories.

Melinda Luk-Paszyc
ONTARIO, CA