Animal Rescue Stories

The little tortie who changed a man's heart

My husband never wanted a cat, and certainly not one in the house. One summer day in 2011, a little tortoiseshell came out of the woods, crying her head off. We assume she had been dumped on the other side of the small lot, which borders a highway off ramp. We tried to keep her outside, with nights in the shop, but as it got colder, hubby got more and more worried. Finally, he brought her in. Now Harley rules the roost! We have (unfortunately) added 4 more strays. All but one appeared more or less the same way.

J. Thomas
OLIVET, MI

Everest - A Mountain of Love!

Unfortunately, I had to make the decision to lay to rest my beautiful boy, Bowie, on 30th April 2018 after 15 years, 14 of which were with me ( I have written about him on this site previously). The house was so quiet, I couldn't stand it. I got online to a lot of the Rescue Groups to see if I could find my next friend. And I did! His name is Everest. He was found as one of 29 cats in a hoarder's abandoned house in March 2018. He was classified as 4-5 years old by two of the Rescue Group's vets. Given a clean bill of health but requiring a dental to be done within 2 years. I met this boy on the 16th May & brought him home that same day. I took him to my vet a week later. After many tests it was found he had Stage 2 Kidney disease, a heart murmur, Cat Asthma and a Dental was definitely required, sooner rather than later, because he had a number of teeth to be removed (one fractured and necrotic, a 2nd necrotic tooth, 5 missing teeth and the 6th also requiring removal). He is on an Asthma inhaler with spacer for the asthma and that is a daily challenge in itself. But he is the most loving boy you could ever imagine. The final heartbreaking news was to come when I changed his microchip details into my name; he will be 12 years old in March 2019. What a shock! His name was Everest when the details were first set up so I didn't change it. And yet to look at his photo he looks like a kitten. He is the most loving boy. He talks all the time. I just hope that with the love and care I am giving him his life will be extended for a good number of years yet.

Robyn Knorr
Epping in Victoria, Australia

A broken heart

I lost my binky at 8yrs old. My heart broke! I always love black cats so my the hubby said lets go. We did. Several trips to shelters but nothing. Decided to try Milwaukee area again and there she was my furball. 2.5 yrs old all black and a lover. She never leaves my side, aka Ella glue. Adopt a shelter, wont regret it! Tina(Milwaukee)

Tina G
MILWAUKEE, WI

The Kitty Shark

It was a busy day at work, full of lots of meetings. I finally returned to my desk, only to find a voice message waiting for me. My husband's voice said, "Sweetheart, someone wants to meet you." Then I heard a very distinctive, "Miu! Miu miu meeewwwww!"

Guess what happened two days later? That's right, we went to meet the kitties - not that he was biased toward a particular one, really (and if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you...) The adoptable cats were in a room where they could roam freely, so I sat down in the middle and waited to see what would happen. A gray tabby with a very recognizable voice came right up and demanded my attention. She was so adorable, with wide, sincere green eyes, and she rubbed against my arm and purred like there was no tomorrow! But I'm a big believer in giving Dame Fortune her due, so I tried getting to know the other cats as well.

That wasn't going to cut it. The gray tabby started circling like a shark. As curious cats started to approach me, she cut them off with a soft snarl. The brave souls who made it through her protective circle were petted maybe once or twice before she forced her way between us - never threatening the other cats, just insisting that I pet her instead. My husband laughed and said very firmly, "She's coming home with us."

And she did! Tigra has added color and affection to our household ever since. I think it's the first time a cat has gone so far out of her way to adopt me!

N.B.
SEATTLE, WA

Skye's Story

I wanted to share Skye's picture, because it reminds me of the Click to Give pup.

She was rescued about a year ago from a terrible hoarding situation. She had zero social skills, and was scared of everything.

When we first brought her home, she was afraid to even be alone in the same room with me.

Through time and patience, she's learned to love and trust and now spends every night curled at my feet.

My heart swells when I think of how far she's come and I urge everyone thinking of a pet to rescue.

It may take more effort, but the rewards are priceless.

Eileen Edwards
MYRTLE BEACH, SC

My sweet angel Sadie

I found my sweet Sadie at a feed store. She had been found wandering the desert in CA. She was such a playful and loving kitty. She was my lap cat. She was always on my lap and loved to sleep next to me. She also loved to sleep on my pillow. I would put my head in her belly and she would wrap around my head and keep me warm in the winter. She used to play fetch with her favorite ball toy. Of course, she would play with the ball first before returning it. She passed at age 14 of cancer. I was truly blessed to have her love in my life.

Patricia Ponivas
Las Vegas, NV

Merlin warmed my heart

My husband and I saw POE at the Rochester MHS when we were looking for another cat. He was so adorable and my husband said this is the one. When we brought him home is was only 2 months old with a cocked tailed so we changed his name to Merlin because his tail reminded us of Merlin's hat. He has been the best laid back kitty we have ever had. Merlin became my buddy and always tried to find a way to lay a paw on me. In 2017 our baby boy passed away(liver failure) at home with both my husband and me right there by his side. He is forever in my heart, we had 11 wonderfully blessed years with our gentle Merlin.

Rhonda
Sterling Heights, MI

Mikey

We lost our Sadie girl 2 years ago and haven't stopped missing her since. We recently decided we were ready for another Boston Terrier but wanted to rescue one. This past Friday we had that opportunity, we adopted "Mikey", a 5 year old Boston Terrier from the APL in Cleveland, OH. When we brought him home, he fit right in with our 2 other dogs and made himself at home. The cat will take a little getting used to, but Mikey is making progress on that front. Please consider adopting,

James Bilbrey
Medina, OH

Journey

I'm in AZ, and Journey had been dumped at a high-kill shelter in TX when AZ Border Collie Rescue found out about her. The wonderful volunteers worked out a transport, and she was brought to her foster here in AZ, who happened to be the same person that fostered my Max. The first photo I saw of her in AZ stole my heart, and after she got all her shots and vet checked, her wonderful foster brought her to me. Journey was given her name because of the long journey she took to get to me. This is the sweetest dog. She's young and goofy, and at the same time has an elegance about her. Her vulnerability and trusting nature just make me melt every day. Journey gets along great with my other dogs, Pearl and Max (Pearl is also from AZBCR), and she's polite and gentle with my cats. There is some abuse in her past, but she is getting over the need to be safe a little more every day. I am so lucky to have this sweet, gentle soul in my life.

Barbara
Tucson, AZ

Mavis, my itty, bitty, pretty, kitty...

Mavis was adopted from the Taylor Animal Shelter on July 2, 2018. She’s 4 years old, mostly black, with some white hairs on her chest and stomach. She’s such a goofy cat, she makes me laugh, at her antics, every day.

One time, I guess she was feeling ignored. I was sitting on the edge of my mattress, with my elbows on my knees reading an article on my phone. She climbed up my back, sat on my neck and swished her tail in my face. I laughed and put the phone down to play with her.

We bought her a cat bed, the next morning I found her sleeping on the floor, in front of her bed. She had never had her own bed before, so my husband helped her understand that it was her bed. Now she sleeps in it all the time.

She likes to walk back and forth on the edge of the bathtub and play peek-a-boo with me, when I shower. She keeps me entertained every day.

Please consider adopting a shelter animal, they are so grateful to become a part of your family.

Linda (Allgeyer) Hautala
Taylor, MI