Animal Rescue Stories

I'll take it!

I was at a friend's when he took a phone call from a friend of his. I could tell by his side of the conversation that they were talking about an abandoned cat that neither of them could keep. Before my brain kicked in, my mouth said "I'll take it." I already had a large furry family, cats and dogs, all of which I had met before making a lifetime commitment. On my way home, I picked up a beautiful long-hair tuxedo female cat that looked into my soul, took possession of my heart, and proceeded, gently and quietly, to take over our household. Whispurr was my companion and my muse for nine years. She made it her responsibility to check out everything: each new box, any open drawer or cabinet, the sinks, my open suitcase (so much for packing to take a trip!) and the purses of visitors, among other things. She recently had what was diagnosed as either a brain infection or a stroke which left her barely able to find the food bowl, and walking was almost impossible. The veterinarian who checked her out also found mammary tumors. Her age and my desire to prevent any more pain and discomfort with treatment that may not even be effective meant that I had to let her go. I love and miss her every day but am forever grateful for my uncharacteristic outburst, "I'll take it."

Nancy McPherson
SILVER SPRINGS, NV

Our rescue from Hurricane Nate

Buddy was rescued after Hurricane Nate from Costa Rica. He ended up at our local humaine society Daytona Beach. This poor thing was burned on one side by acid, ears were cut really short has no front teeth was just abused and under weight. We lost our Daisy to cancer right after Thanksgiving and by mid Dec we were ready to get a new dog to add to our clan. We came across Buster now Buddy and after everything this dog has been through he is the most loving Pit bull. He had to be treated for heart worms but that's ok we still wanted him. After all this poor dog went through he needed a loving home that he could be happy and play with his new sisters and brothers. After a year he is finally understanding us as he did not know English since he was from Costa Rica. We would not replace him for the world and yes he is a Pit and a loving one at that even after all the abuse he went through. The picture is from when we first met him. If you could see him now you wouldn't believe its the same dog.

Mare B

Marie Bohannan
EDGEWATER, FL

Draft Horse & Donkey Resue

I have been rescuing Draft Horses and Donkeys for years and St. Bernards......The Draft Horse Rescue is called Gentle Giants and the Donkey rescue is called Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue. these are top notch rescue programs and I encourage everyone to look at their website. I also rescue St. Bernards and have 2-3 in the house at all times. And the good news is mine all live to be 14 - 15 years old.....it's the chocolate doughnuts for breakfast that gives them the long life span.

Janet of GA.

James Smiley-Miears
BUFORD, GA

My dear dogs

I have 5 dogs, 3 rescued dogs from the streets for 2 of them.
One "Mantequilla" was put in the street by hher first owner. She enjoy a lot her bed, now she has some issues to walk but we took great care of her.
Her nickname is "Mantecama" (joke as "cama" is the spanish word for bed.
She is very sweet and try to speak if I can say.
I have bough a trolley to be able to walk her.

The other one, Hannan is a mixted chowchow. She also was in the street. We rescued her, the veterinarian said that she will died as she was very ill. At least I though that she will died in a nice environnment, with love and care.
She survived and is a very very sweet girl.

The third, "Capy" (for "capitaine) was sold by his first owner. He was tied all the day along with an electric wire, had no education, was very shy.
He his now the funnest and smart dog of the 5 of my band (the 2 others I came with them from France and "pure" breed).
They are my gifts in the life, as my 3 others cats : one also from the streets and 2 others who were gift of my veterinarian as he said that I take great care of my animals.

I have also birds, the first came because people didn't wanted them anymore...
And in my garden a lot of hummingbirds and others specics.

A little paradis. I live in Dominican Republic and came to live here like a pensioner, from France.

Catherine Alquier
La Romana, Dominican Republic

A Little Rain...

It had been raining heavily for two days straight here in the Yucatan. The streets were flooded and mine now had quite a swift current flowing in all it's gutters. It was close to bed time when I started hearing the soft cries of a kitten some where out in the soaking wet night. I went out four different times to see where it was coming from. But each time I went out to the street, it would stop crying and I couldn't find it in the darkness. I was now drenched but I knew I would be unable to sleep with it crying for help. So on the fifth try, I was determined to stand there in the rain till it started again. It finally let out another squeaky plea and I was finally able to tell the direction it was coming from. There in the current of the water swollen gutters was the tiniest black kitten clinging onto a branch that had fallen. She was totally soaked and looked up at me with the biggest, saddest eyes. I scooped her up and tucked her into my jacket. Once inside, I dried her off and fed her and named her Rain. She curled up next to me that night purring and is still here with me eight months later.

Donna Spadafora
NAPLES, FL

Carmella the Cat

Carmella was found in a flooded drainage ditch. Her litter mates all drowned and she was barely alive. My vet saved her life. I was lucky enough to adopt her and now she is the Queen of the house and star of her own children's book series! A true rags to riches story!

Ann M Cerino
ALLENTOWN, PA

Wiener dog

My daughter got a call from her friend saying that they had a dog that needed a home, and that she was being abused. I said to bring her over here right away. They brought her over in a box and when they put the box on the floor she came popping out. We were told she was 4 or 5 years old.After a few days I noticed that she had lumps in her nipples so I brought her to the vets right away. During her examination they found that her teeth were really bad that she was never spayed, had multiple litters, and had breast cancer. She had scars on her head from where she was hit and she had splits in her ears possibly from frostbite. We were also told that she was about eight or nine years old . We got her all fixed up. We love her with all our heart and she is the best dog ever. She is happy and playful and she will never be harmed again. Her name is Shakira.

Debbie
HOLYOKE, MA

Meet Freddy Mercury

Not sure who rescued who..but this little guy was passed over at the shelter due to he's 10+ years old with a severe heart condition & at some point, could go into congestive heart failure.But we both needed each other & their loss..they missed out on a true sweet heart & a real character..so happy to be his Momma.

Dawn
MIDDLETOWN, DE

Beyond Luck

Sept 29th 2018 was unseasonably cold here in WI.It was 32 degrees as I was on the road to the gas station at 5am this saturday morning to get a decaf coffee for my daughter, who had spent the night.This is something I never do at this time in the morning. It was black out as I drove the 5 miles on the country road. I passed a kitten on the side of the road near a farm which was not unusual. As I slowed not to hit it, it looked at me as my headlight shone on it's little body. I got an uneasy feeling because it never moved. I said a prayer for it and headed on. At the gas station I could not get this kitty out of my mind and I made a vow to investigate if it was still there on the way home. I prayed again for the kitty as I headed back toward home. It was still there. I pulled up directly in front of it and got out. It was bleeding from one ear and could not move.It let out a little meow as I picked it up and put it in a dog bed that was in my back seat. I waited for my daughters vet to open(mine is closed weekends). My daughter got me into her vet an hour away on emergency and we rushed this tiny kitty in. The vet estimated her at 4mos. She had a broken pelvis and head trauma. As they were trying to examine her, she crawled under my arm with a tiny meow to try to hide. It melted everyone in the room. I knew then she had been meant for me. I was not looking for another cat, with 2 older cats and a dog at home, I wasn't sure how it would go. I just knew God would have to work it out. I named her Lady Luck at the advice of the vet tech, but later changed it to Jayna, meaning God has been gracious. I knew it was God who crossed our paths.Jayna spent some time recovering from her trauma. As I introduced her to the other rescues who have been with me for some time, it went better than I had hoped for. Her recovery was speedy and soon she was knocking plants out of my window and getting into everything she could find. Her and my 14 year old cat Jack made fast friends and chase each other through the house. She even goes to Iowa to visit my mom for a week at a time with the dog and I. I can't leave her home yet for that long as I feel I may come back to a disaster. She is going in this tuesday to be spayed. I can't believe it has already been over 3 months since God led our paths to cross. This little clown is the life of the party and eats like a horse. I am an avid animal lover and I am so grateful Jayna's life did not end on that cold, dark road. I just wish every animal had a safe and loving story.

Lisa
MELROSE, WI

This is Kimi

During the Woolsey fires, on Friday the 9th after being evacuated, I had to make a delivery to one of my accounts. Going through Compton, a heard the scream of a dog when being hit by a car on the opposite side of the road, when I looked saw the car taking off and the dog limping to the center divider, made a u-turn, pick him up, took him to a vet in Covina my friend Gino recommended. He had a broken leg and a fracture pelvis, the great people from Covina Animal Hospital did a wonderful job inserting a rod with ten screws in his leg during surgery.
Now, two months later he feels so good he enjoys destroying my home every time I leave him alone.

Pedro Serramalera
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA