Animal Rescue Stories

Stewie the Lifesaver

We went to the shelter looking to bring another little bundle of love home. Walking along the rows of kennels this little Chihuahua mix caught my eye. I put my hand down so he could sniff it and to my surprise he reached through the slats of his kennel grabbed my hand between his paws, held on, and started licking my hand; then did the same thing to my husband and daughter. He had been at the shelter for almost two months. We could not believe someone else didn’t want to take this sweet little guy home. We adopted him immediately, but had to wait a few days to bring him home so he could be neutered. We changed his name to Stewie. Once home he fit right in with our other animals and immediately became the “caretaker.” Stewie is always checking on everyone and is constantly by our sides. He is so grateful for his forever home. He jumps up and down excitedly twice a day as we are preparing his food as if he still can’t believe his luck. We adopted him in August of 2014. In November of 2017 Stewie started to sniff me really hard in one spot, was very insistent and did this daily for two weeks. While there is no history of breast cancer in my family and I did not feel a lump, I decided I had better get it checked out. Sure enough in that exact spot they found a tumor and I was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer. My family and I will be forever grateful to our little Stewie for saving my life. Without him I would not have gone to the doctor and it may have been discovered too late. We saved him from the shelter, but really Stewie saved me! What a little hero. I cannot say enough about adopting an animal from the shelter. It is such a fulfilling and heartwarming experience. They have so much love to give. Save a life … you will receive so much unconditional love in return.

Anonymous
Orange County, CA

A Street Dog we Named Chooky

Myself and my husband traveled through Europe in our campervan last year, but soon realised the dia situation for dogs once we crossed the border into Romania. There were stray dogs everywhere, struggling to survive, dodge traffic, fend off abuse, suffering from injuries and disease and worst of all trying to avoid the public kill shelter dog catchers.

We could not ignore the problem any longer when we came across a sandy coloured stray dog hanging outside a bar. She looked just like my childhood dog Sasha, but seemed to have poop on her head.

However, when this friendly girl came over for a stroke, we could see it was actually a huge dark scar. More worryingly, there was also a large growth on the side of her head. The bar manager said that she had been abandoned there a year ago. We decided to help this sweet girl. But how?

We researched online, and came across Barking Mad Dog Rescue, a UK registered charity, and contacted them for help. They were amazing; offered their vet, to look after her in their shelter, and find her a forever home. We just had to get her to their shelter. We had named her Chooky (after the beer, Ciucas, we were drinking when we met her).

The day and a half journey across Romania to get her to the shelter was quite an experience. In this duration we tried to get a collar on, (somewhat) lead trained her, slept with her in our campervan, and shared tons of cuddles and strokes. We fell in love with the dreadlocked matted furball. 3 months later Chooky came to the UK to live with us. She has had the lump removed and has taken over the best sofa in the house. She deserves it.

Jessica D'Souza
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Sammy Will Run Away!!

After we lost two fur babies in a short period of time, my husband and I decided to look at a local shelter to see what was available. We found this adorable Jack Russell and decided to adopt him. They told us that, if turned loose, he would definitely run away, so we should keep him on a lease at all times. So home we came with our new Sammy. Since we live in the country at the end of a dead end road surrounded by farm land, we only kept him on a lease for a couple of days. After that, he learned the routine from the other members of our pack (we had 4 other dogs at the time). He loved the country life and being able to run and play with all his furry siblings. We couldn't have run him off if we tried. All we had to do was call his name and he would come running.
There is usually a good reason for a dog to run away. If you provide a loving environment for them, they will stay because they love you and feel safe. Of course, there are different rules for different situations. Country life is different from city life, so make sure your babies are safe. Adopt a fur baby if you have a place in your heart. You won't regret it and neither will they..

D Hinton
Portland, TN

Tuff Beginning

One day my husband and I were at the local shelter to find a cat. While we were in the cat room, a young woman with two small children brought in a Boston Terrier mix puppy about 6 month old to drop off. She would not fill out any paperwork (required for a drop off) and argued for several minutes with the staff. You could tell by her actions that the next stop for that pup was the side of the road, if they wouldn't take him. So I looked at my husband and he gave me the nod. I went up to her and told her "Just give him to me. I will give him a good home and you won't have to fill out any papers."
So that is how we added Tuffy to our "herd". After a vet visit, we found out that he was indeed about six months old and had a fairly bad case of mange. But it was treatable. From that day until the day my husband died, Tuffy was glued to my husband's leg. Now he stays close to me and I love him. He is our little Velcro dog.

D Hinton
Portland, TN

He arrived in the neighborhood because the neighbors cat was in heat

Six months later, he was still here, despite the fact I was not feeding him and was actively discouraging him from staying. The final straw was when he was on my feet in the morning, having figured out how to work the kitty door.

"To animal control with you," I firmly told myself, and easily captured him in my trap.

I sent him off with a check toward adoption fees and his history. I gave him the name of William because he was so sweet. I felt crappy doing it; there were already more furry denizens than humans, and I was becoming a crazy cat lady.

Ten days later, I received a telephone call from our local animal rescue that interfaces with animal control. They know who I am because I had donated items to their annual fundraisers in the past. The rescuer told me that the cat I had sent had been deemed a feral, had bitten someone, and was going to be put down.

It turned out in the ten days he was in a kennel, he would only hiss at everyone who attempted to interact with him, and was deemed non-adoptable. The situation was grim.

The woman from the rescue society offered to have him fixed and asked if I would foster him until he found a home. A few days later, a neutered, ear-mite treated, flea-treated, rabies-vaccinated William returned and was released in my back yard.

I didn't see him for a few days, and when I finally did, it was on the roof of my flat-top shed. I had to put his food up there. He didn't really trust me right then. When he did, I brought him in to work on his manners, and found perfect potty box attendance, no food aggression, and no paw-eye coordination.

Shortly thereafter, the rescuer called again; she had placement for him as a barn cat. Given he couldn't track a TOY mouse, I knew that was doomed.

I found he is a Siberian, and renamed him Willie-Bear. "Bear" is 24 inches, 16 pounds of headbutts and goofy love.

J.S.
Eureka, CA

Our friend Izzy

Izzy came to us as a stray. We think he was a dump from a nearby college because it was the end of June. He was very thin but had tail that was VERY thick! As he grew into adult he became the family favorite! He was an excellent mouser and a all around 22 pound friend!We enjoyed 10 years of his love until last week when I was getting ready for work he came into the kitchen and was howling, laying on his side and drooling. It was 5:15 AM and I was on my way out the door for work. There was nothing I could do for him then,but at 7:30 I called the vet and they said get him her ASAP! When I got home at 9:30 AM I found him under my bed. He was gone! Such sadness came over our whole house! He was our clown, head butter and gentle paw for attention friend! We all miss him very much. He is buried under the bird bath in the yard with flowers planted around him!

Christina Carlo
Worcester, MA

Kitty by the Laundry Block

One night I was awoken by caterwauling in the backyard and noticed a white male Persian cat having sex with a black cat. A few weeks later I noticed a kitten by the laundry block of my block of units. I rescued it on 19MAR2007, thinking that the mother had abandoned it; it was all alone with no sign of it's litter mates or mother. The kitten's eyes had not opened, nor had it's ear flaps formed. I took it to the Vet's to ask for help. They told me they would euthanase it if I left it with them, as they could not provide the intensive care it would need to survive. They said it was female, about one week old and weighed 200g.

Determined to give her a chance at life, I bought a nursing kit, including a bottle and baby formula and fed her eight times in the first 24hrs. We settled into a feeding routine and by week's end she weighed 280g and had taken her first steps. In one month she put on 500g and weighed 700g. In four months she weighed 2.5kg. Eleven years later and she weighs about 5kg and has been a wonderful companion. She loves hunting lizards and enjoys being brushed.

Ian B
Sydney, Australia

True Friend

Silo was part of our family for over 13 years. My wife worked for a moving company and called me at home to tell me that three dogs had wondered into the work yard (2 adults and 1 pup) and she was afraid they were going to get hit by an 18 wheeler. By the time I arrived at her work the adult dogs scampered away but the pup was in her office playing and having a ball with some type of office item. I specifically remember him stopping, eyeballing me for about 5 seconds and then running into my open arms. We immediately went to the pet store where he screamed at the top of his lungs as I tried to walk him on a leash throughout the store. He was so loud that two employees challenged me to make sure I was not hurting him in some way. He came home with me and joined the rest of our family. My wife passed away in February of 2011. We were unable to have children so our dogs were God sent to fill that void in our lives. Driving home that fateful night she passed I had never felt more alone. All of my family lived out of state and her family and I were never that close. When I pulled in the drive and walked into the house, I was greeted in typical fashion with 4 wagging tail and a lick bath. I think Silo immediately sensed that something was wrong and followed me to the bedroom, placed his head on my chest and spent the night in that same position as if to comfort me somehow. Often when the tears would come I would give him or one of the others a big long hug and it would relieve some of the pain I was feeling. I lost him a few years back to illness, but I will never forget how much Silo and my other 3 (kids) helped me through one of the most difficult times I have ever endured. I miss you buddy!

Anonymous
San Antonio, TX

Rescues Rule!

In our 40 years together, my spouse and I have had the good fortune to be pet parents to seven cats (and a fair share of foster kittens/cats). All were rescues, the first two being strays that we literally plucked off the street. They were/are unique, beautiful souls that hold special places in our hearts. Five have passed, taking a little piece of us with them. Forget the 300 words available to tell their stories on this site. I could fill a book with photos and descriptions of their quirks, antics and positive impact they have had on the humans in their lives.

Our two remaining, Bourque and Manoe, came to us as terrified 5 month old feral kittens who had been rescued from euthanasia (the shelter was full and they were considered “unadoptable”). Eighteen years later they still don’t like strangers, but are two of the sweetest kitties that want nothing more than to be our constant companions.

Save a life. Adopt. Don’t shop.

Jean Buhler
East Lansing, MI

What Big Mitts You Have!

Those were my first words when I saw the cutest little grey kitten with big mittens. His feet were bigger than he was when I first met him at 4 days old:) Some nice samaritian found the momma cat with 5 newborn kitties living by the edge of a river bed and brought her and her kittens home to care for them and keep them safe. I saw them while she was fostering them and fell in love with the little grey kitty and his big feet and I said I would adopt him when he turns 8 weeks old...we named him Tate. Almost fourteen years later, lil Tate is now Big Tate and his mitts are still big, he is a very handsome mancat that loves to be petted and pampurred. He is a strictly indoor kitty and is very happy, he lives with another cat Chad-who is also a rescued feral kitty, a dog brother Bumble, 2 guinea pigs and a rabbit. They all get along purrfectly and enjoy each others company. Im so grateful that there are such nice and caring people in the world that will stop and help animals in need. If it wasnt for "foster parents" helping the momcat and kittens I never would have had my precious Tate to love. Thank you to all who love and care for animals that need our help!!

Sandi Guzman
Westfield, MA