It's National Homeless Animals' Day. Anybody here ever adopted

[flvegan]

fostered or otherwise rescued a homeless animal? How about volunteering? Anyone volunteer in a shelter or for a rescue group?

More on National Homeless Animal Day here:
http://www.isaronline.org/pn_2005_spring_01.htm#P4

[Deja Q]

1. I think humans are more worthy of being adopted, sorry.

[Coventina]

6. I believe in a world where we can care for both humans and animals

Homeless animals are a HUMAN created problem, therefore it is OUR responsibility as humans to address the problem!!!

[ben_thayer]

7. We've done both

One daughter (working on our second), one dog (from Weimaraner rescue) and one cat (stray). They're all worthy.

[mzteris]

16. you CAN do both, you know!

I have. Kids need pets!

:hug:

[In_The_Wind]

2. I have adopted animals and I will again.

:kick:

[flvegan]

9. Very cool. Thank you!

[Systematic Chaos]

3. Meet Shakey!

Actually, it's more a thing of him adopting us. But, he's been our sweet little kitty cat for going on two years now, and we've never had a moment of regret.

[flvegan]

10. Was he a stray or a shelter boy?

Either way...handsome!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Yes.

All my pets were adopted. I have volunteered at the local animal rescue. We even rescued an emu that had been let loose after the animals lost their value. Poor thing was running down the middle of the state highway, frightened to death. After we got him, we found we could feed him cat food and hose him down with water. And he would purr--a sort of warbling purr--in contentment. And yes, we found a home for him where he would be kept as a pet.

[flvegan]

13. Awesome!

:yourock:

[cfield]

All of mine are adopted

with the exception of the fish, they were from an actual pet store. I have one kitty since high school that a friend found and nurtured until she was a little less scrawny but wasn't allowed to keep so I took her in. Next is our Wynston who was the ugliest picture online of available dogs at the local shelter. I laughed until I cried when I saw his pic but by the time I woke up the next day, I knew I had to bring him home. Lucky for us he was 3 trillion times handsome-er face to face. Then there's Rambler, our pug that was rescued by the mom-in-law off the highway one night a couple Decembers ago after being hit by a car. Of course we couldn't turn down a horrid looking injured puggo, so we brought him home too. Then this April, I saw online three 3 day old kittens that had been found in the rain, so I called hubby and BEGGED to get one. After bottle feeding, weaning, and teaching what cat litter is all about, she's going in Monday to get spayed, and I'm going to be so sad to leave her overnight. We have a ritual every morning, when I bend over the bed to kiss hubby goodbye for the day, she jumps on my shoulders, nibbles my wet-from-the-shower hair, and I walk hunched over down the hall where she jumps onto the couch and watches me leave. Aww, the joys of parenthood!

[flvegan]

26. The vision of your routine made me laugh out loud.

You and hubby and wonderful for taking those animals in and giving them a good home.

[AbbessHeloise]

5. Yes I have!

My husband and I have adopted homeless animals. We wouldn't get our pets anywhere else. We presently have two rescue cats. One we got at adoption day at PetSmart and the other one was a feral kitten we trapped and she is now Miss Princess. We also had a lovely stray tabby cat (we called him Rufus) who came to our door all summer for breakfast and then again for supper. We recently decided to adopt him and took him to the vet to get checked out, but he was feline leukemia positive. We noticed that he was not eating as much and had definitely lost weight by the time he was tame enough to let us get him in a carrier. So we had him put down, which was the kindest thing to do. We lost a cat to feline leukemia and it's a horrible thing to suffer through.
Anyway - yes we adopt homeless animals and also go and walk dogs on adoption day at PetSmart. I prefer animals to many, many of the humans in this world!
:hi:

[flvegan]

15. Petsmart is a great resource

for rescues to help get their animals noticed and adopted. Thanks for both adopting there and for helping out.

Rufus was a lucky boy. Without you, there would have been a great deal of suffering in his future.

[mzteris]

17. Just don't use

their vets........

[flvegan]

19. I'm not a fan of Banfield.

Banfield is who they have around here, at least.

I'm sure lots of folks have had good experiences with them. I'm not one of them, though.

[Missy M]

8. Yes, I have four abandoned cats at home and four abandoned cats..

in my office. I also have two broken winged pigeons at home (one I have had for ten years). All the beloved cats I have had over the years were all abandoned.

[flvegan]

18. Wow!

10 animals. You're a one person rescue! Very cool.

[Missy M]

25. I only wish I could have more, I love them ALL!!!

[khashka]

11. All my animals have been adopted

Stevie had been badly abused and no one would take a cat that hated people. So I did. And I gained the best friend I ever had.

Animals are like people - sometimes they just need a chance.

Khash.

[flvegan]

20. Agreed.

And such a rewarding chance to take...

[Coventina]

12. I've never had a pet (besides fish) that wasn't a rescue

Sandy
Katrina
Gizmo
Gertie
Hutch
BooBoo

and now
Sarah

[flvegan]

21. We have a BooBoo here, as well.

He found his way to us. He was the first stray cat to adopt us (and our porch).

[shockra]

44. Boo Boo was my sister's first bunny.

He was found outside her best friend's workplace.

[China_cat]

14. Let's see,

3 out of 4 of the dogs currently in residence are rescues. (In the last 30 years you can make that only 2 that weren't) And every cat we've had in over 30 years. At one time that number was up to 13, now down to 5.

When attrition takes those left in this household, we will foster as I no longer want to take a chance on an animal not having a place to go when we are no longer around.

[flvegan]

23. You have a big heart.

Foster homes are the single most important resource for rescues (not that I'm wishing to expedite the passing of your current animals, most certainly).

[China_cat]

36. We would foster now

except that the local shelter and rescue groups do not want you to have too many of your own. If we were down to 2 dogs and 3 cats, we'd be eligible.

Frankly, I'd much rather foster for our local SPCA because the more they can foster out, the fewer they have to euthanize. Our shelter has gone from being one of the worst hellholes to an almost no-kill shelter in the 30 years we've known of them and it will be a privilege to help them extend that policy.

[mzteris]

22. let's see

one dog from a rescue society, one dog "rescued" from being dropped off at the pound, one cat "rescued" as a kitten from a shoebox left at a soccer field. One PUPPY from a rescue society just a couple of weeks ago (who is currently alternating between tormenting the other dogs, trying to knaw on my toes, and chewing on any stray shoe she can find.) Ain't life grand?

Oh yeah, my son (nearly 12) volunteers weekly with the local rescue group.

(We had another puppy about six years ago from a rescue group, but he died from a botched neuter job. Thus my comment earlier about not going to Petsmart vets.)

[flvegan]

24. Ahh, puppies.

Good for you and your family. Your son obviously has a big heart as well.

Incredible.

[lavenderdiva]

27. Well, it all started for me with my late mother...

she used to adopt unwanted dogs, and pick up strays and rescue them.
Occasionally, she would actually find homes for them,
but as my late Dad used to say, 'They already found the good
home', when they came to live with her. At her death, she had
11 dogs living with her.

The first 2 dogs I adopted, were from a friend who could no
longer keep them. They were two wonderful cocker spaniels,
who lived with me for about 10 years, before they died.
They were full-blood brother and sister. I missed them so
much, and loved the breed so much, that I investigated, and
discovered the East Texas Cocker Spaniel Rescue, here in
Houston. From them, I have adopted 2 rescue dogs, Libby & Emma.
They are my precious angels, and I know they were sent to me
from up above!

Libby


Emma

Each of them has such a wonderful personality, and is so loving.
Emma came from an abusive home, and took many years to even
let me kiss her and rub her tummy. But now, she is a BIG
cuddle pot, who just loves her Mommy to hold and kiss her!
Libby knows no strangers, and loves everybody! She loves to
sing, and brings such joy and sunshine every day!!!

[flvegan]

28. Bless your kindness!

I hope you have a very long, happy life with Libby and Emma, and they with you.

[lavenderdiva]

29. Thank you!

I, too, hope they will be with me for many, many years to come! They have already been with me approx. 5-6 years, and I can't imagine them not being here.

I will say this, I made a decision a long time ago, that I would always have a dog in my life, and they would always be a rescue. I firmly believe that rescue dogs KNOW they have been rescued, and are oh-so grateful for their new home. I love supporting East Texas Cocker Spaniel Rescue, as they foster each of the rescues for a period of time, to assess each dog's personality and needs. That way, a good fit for a new home can be made, that will be right for the dog and the new dog-owner.

link to East Texas Cocker Spaniel Rescue website:

http://www.cockerkids.org/

:loveya:

[flvegan]

31. That's how our rescue does it too.

Thanks for the link. 142 homes so far this year. Well done, rescuers!

[Nikia]

30. We got our little dog from the Humanae Society

His owners surrendered him. Allegedly, he wasn't good around their new baby. I think that his information stating that he was bad around children, as well as his older age of 8 years, kept him from getting adopted.
He had been at the Humane Society, which is small for the area it is located in, for a couple of weeks and had lost a significant amount of weight being there (we know this from his vet records). He would have been put down soon, as are about half the animals that go through that shelter, if we hadn't adopted him.
He is a very loving affectionate dog. We've had him for almost 4 years now and are very glad to have him.

[flvegan]

32. How wonderful of you to adopt an older dog.

You're right. All too often, they are passed over, yet they can be the very, very best of pets.

[skygazer]

33. I've adopted several animals in my life

And I used to volunteer at a shelter in New Hampshire. It was hard - I wanted to take every single animal home with me and give it a secure home. But it was also very rewarding and there was nothing so satisfying as seeing a pet (especially an older or hard to place pet) find a good home.

[Flaxbee]

34. My evil bitchcat (whom I love dearly) was a shelter girl...

I got her when I was living in NYC; I adopted her from the guy who ran a no-kill shelter and would come to Union Square Park every weekend to try to have his rescues adopted. I got Clarisse (mostly white with calico tail and ears) from him.

My husband had adopted a stray - Tom (orange tabby) before we were married, and oddly, Tommy loves me and is on my lap whenever I sit down, and Clarisse loves my husband waayyyy more than me.

We now have four more strays, all fixed and permanently part of our family... I was going to try to find a home for the remaining two of the female stray's kittens (Novi, the stray female, brought us her three kittens a few months ago and Ivan, the other stray-in-residence, looooves the kitties; I've found a good home for one of them) but we should be closing on a house with 3 acres in Sept. so I'll just keep 'em all.

Current count is six cats, all shelter babies or strays we've taken in.

And one stray cat I found earlier this year and couldn't care for b/c of my living situation was adopted by a wonderful DUer up in Maryland.
She (the cat) had obviously been dumped, b/c when I took her to be fixed the vet said she'd already been spayed... we lived near a shelter and people often just dumped animals in the vicinity of our house/the shelter. So I posted her photo here and voila! - she found a loving home.

Not to mention my precious, recently deceased Lindakitty and about 15 others I've cared for in my lifetime.

One of these days, once we settle into the house, I'll go to a shelter for a dog, and will probably take the one no one seems to want, so long as he/she is good with cats. I love German shepherds, Border collies, Labs, etc., but will take whichever one needs me most, even if it's a chihuahua.

And then maybe later, I'll look into adopting a child. Every creature, human, dog, cat, whatever, needs love and care. I don't see why anyone would think you couldn't adopt children and furbabies - they're not mutually exclusive.

[Samurai_Writer]

35. All my pets have been adopted

Here's a list:

Dogs
-----
Babe, St. Bernard. She was found in the snow a week before Christmas by two police officers. No one claimed her, so the first person who showed up at the SPCA the following Saturday would get her. That first person was my dad. We had her for 8 years. She had cataracts and bone cancer, and finally had to be put to sleep because of the cancer.

Bandit, Border Collie. I got him from a lady who was having to get rid of him. He was 3 years old when I got him, and 13 years old when he died. He had heartworms for 10 years (before they had treatments for it), but was a great dog.

Magic, Cocker Spaniel. He was picked up as a stray by the Humane Society. Estimated to be 4 years old, he was hearworm positive, and they were going to put him down (standard procedure for all incoming, heartworm positive dogs). They allowed me to adopt him, and I paid for his heartworm treatment. He came through that fine. 1 1/2 years later, he got very sick, and turned out to be pancreatic cancer. I had to put him to sleep, as it would be only a matter of days, and he was in pain. He was the best, sweetest dog I ever had.

Cats
-----
Nightmare, black longhair domestic. She turned up on my doorstep at the age of 7 months old and pregnant. I couldn't turn her away, having been an unwed teenage mom myself. She lived to be 15, and was a very sweet cat. She had hyperthyroidism for the last 2 years, and it finally caused kidney and liver damage.

Smoke, grey longhair domestic. Nightmare's son. He's 14 now and hyperthyroid, but doing really well so far. He is the most non-cat cat I've ever seen. Very affectionate and follows me everywhere. Comes when he is called and listens to everything I say.

Sterling, silver persian. He's 10 years old and I just adopted him from a rescue where one of the foster parents is one of our DUers. His original owner couldn't keep him anymore, and I wanted to get another, older cat to keep Smoke company after Nightmare died. He has a very strong personality and is definitely the alpha cat of the household! I still am in contact with his original owner, and she is really glad he found a good home.

[MeatLoafZero]

37. We adopted a 5-year old

Norwegian Elkhound. He'd been abused and abandoned. He lived another 15 years with us and was the best dog I have ever owned. I don't think I will ever get another breed.

[MN ChimpH8R]

38. Today is my one-week anniversary w/my adopted kitty.

He'd been in foster care for more than a year.

[cedahlia]

39. All three of my wonderful babies are rescues!

IMO, adoption is the only way to go. There are so many animals who need to be adopted out there, it just breaks my heart. It always infuriates me when I hear of family members/friends/aquaintences who senselessly drop hundreds or even $1000+ for a purebred from a breeder. :mad: :mad: :mad: It just makes me want to scream:

"DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE ANIMALS CONTINUE TO DIE!!!!!!!!!"

Yes, I feel very passionately about this. ;-)
I just love animals so much, and am so frustrated by people who for whatever reason won't consider the adoption option.

Thanks for your post!!! :pals:

[annonymous]

40. Both of my cats are backyard babies.

My family adopted two cats that wandered into our backyard. Mamacat had kittens when she came into our life but unfortunately, the kittens were afraid of our two children. However, we managed to get the kittens fixed before they contributed to the stray cat population in our neighborhood. None of the kittens is alive now. Bigboy was another stray that wandered into our backyard and into our hearts.

Another stray we tried to rescue called Agent Orange had feline leukemia so we ended up having him put to sleep. We felt sorry for him because he was the sorriest looking cat we have ever encountered.

All in all I would recommend adopting stray cats.

[City Lights]

41. Volunteering at a shelter is how we ended up with 7 cats.

We've had 9 cats, and all but one were rescues of some sort. 4 are from a shelter, 1 from the Humane Society, 1 was found as an abandoned kitten in a neighbor's garage, and 2 were taken in from other families that didn't want them.

When I volunteered at a shelter I also fostered. I'm a complete failure at fostering and had to stop. Too difficult to say good-bye.

[RebelOne]

42. I am fostering a doggie now for a local animal rescue.

I have had him since May 31, Memorial Day. I take him to the adoption at PetsMart every Saturday. But no one seems to want him because he is so old. He is 11 years old and is a Benji-type doggie. He is cute as a button amd I may end up keeping him, but I don't want to, because it will be so heartbreaking when the time comes that I may have to put him down.

I also have a Rottweiler, Legend, that I inherited from a friend in Florida. So you could say that my Rottie is adopted. My friend bought Legend with the intent to breed her and than decided against it. My other Rottie had just passed away and my friend brought my Legend from Florida here to me in Georgia. I love my doggie and it wouldn't make any difference whether she was a pound puppy or a pedigree.

[flvegan]

48. I can tell you a story

We took in a lab girl. She was 10 years old. She had tumors all over, and a really bad one that had destroyed her spleen and other internals. I knew, I knew when we took her in that she'd never be adopted. She was too old, too problematic, too much trouble.

She was the best. I learned to appreciate so much from her. Gradually, she started to go blind. Then, when her time was nigh, as her body failed her, I filled out my OWN paperwork, wrote my OWN check, and I adopted her for myself. She wouldn't die as a foster, an in-between, waiting for a home. That very night, I took her to the emergency clinic and wailed, as she died..."you're NOT a foster dog. You're MY dog, and I love you."

Then she crossed the bridge.

Let it be heartbreaking if you keep him. While it breaks your heart, it mends his.

Legend sounds like a sweetie. I've seen you tout his good name all over DU. Well deserved it seems.

[Old_Fart]

43. "My cats and dogs were taken in from the streets"

Get rid of the breeders for five years and we won't have a problem with over population and strays any longer.

[flvegan]

45. Kick, and big thanks!!

To all my fellow DUers...

Thanks to those that have adopted.

Thanks to those that have fostered.

Thanks to those that have taken in strays.

Thanks to those that have taken responsibility.

Thanks to those that have taken in a rescue, or taken part in a recovery.

Thanks to those that volunteer.

There are so many of you. You are all heroic.

Thank you. Thank you.

[benny05]

46. Two homeless kitties adopted me

In the course of 13 years. They are the best babies!

[Redstone]

47. Yes.

Redstone

[kodi]

49. 4 of my 6 doggies are rescues. i have found homes for a dozen more

out here in the country, redneck assholes drop off dogs near my property like empty beer cans.

there was one funny event once.. i returned from a trip and arrived at my house. as i approached the gate i counted one, two, three, four five six, SEVEN doggies? i recounted....still seven. there was an extra dog inside my fence! i called my neighbor who watched my pack while i was away she said she had checked on them at 7pm and did not see seven dogs then. i arrived home at 9pm. in the two hours in between, a sweet year old golden retriever dug his way under my fence to join the pack!

i swear my pack must send out doggie ESP telling all strays to come on over, kinda' like frodo getting to riverndell and doggie sanctuary

i found a great home for him within a week, but one more day and he would have been mine. that's the rule. one week to find them a home, then they get adopted by me.

my dedication to my doggies and rescue work have cost me more than one girl friend over the years, who complained about all the time and money i spend on the dogs, but i figure i'll start another relationship when i can find a woman who can do what my dogs do.. wait for me by the gate nekkid on all fours with a leather collar around her neck. being able to lick her own butt is, of course optional.

[shanti]

54. what a guy!

you have a big heart, kodi! lucky you to have property to keep all of your furbabies:-)

my EX (emphasis on ex) BIL used to dump animals he didn't want out in the courntry. he's still an asshole too....what do you think causes people to do that?








*now if i could just find a dog that liked cats...*

[Liberal In Texas]

50. My Zelda came from the pound. Best dog ever.

Terrier mix with chow. What a great disposition.

If I were smarter, I would post a pic. But I'm not.

[shanti]

51. why yes i have

i got my pound kitten (5 months old) last month. his name is ninja.

[MelissaB]

52. I have two dogs from the "pound". Here is my latest, Sadie.

She is a sweetheart and much bigger now.

[ignatius 2]

60. Sadie is a doll baby..thanks for posting that picture..puppies

always make me smile.

[jmm]

53. All of my pets have been adopted.

I wish I had the time and space to properly have a pet now. I've had birds, rabbits, and hamsters that friends couldn't take care of any more. I had a few dogs growing up. Bonnie and Clyde were brother and sister. Their mother had given birth only a few weeks earlier and her owner had found a home for all the puppies except for these two so they were about to abandon them. After they died we were given Alien. A friend of my mom's was walking by the Charles river one day when he saw a man walking with a box of puppies. He asked if the were for sale. He said no, that is dog had just given birth and he was taking the entire litter to the river to drown them. He wanted to take all of them but didn't think he could find homes for them so he took three then went to our place and let my brother and I pick out the one we wanted. The others went to friends of his.

[nuxvomica]

55. I'm fostering a cat found abandoned on a rainy road

I agreed to take him in till someone could find him a permanent home cuz "I really don't like cats, y'know." Haven't found him a permanent home in 14 years but I guess I'm not trying very hard. :-)

[ignatius 2]

56. My husband saw a wee dog in our front yard last fall. He came

inside to tell me, but when we returned the dog was gone. Later, he heard something in the bushes at the side of the house and it was the dog. He was shivering and was so skinny and frightened that it was heartbreaking.

We brought him in, fed him and began asking our neighbors if they knew the dog. We checked at the local pet shop for any lost notices but there was nothing.

We took him to our vet to see if there was an electronic chip, but there wasn't. The little guy weighed only 5 pounds and the vet said he was a terrier,chihuahua mix. He has been with us almost a year, now weighs 9 pounds and gets along so well with our rat terrier, Chloe.

Benny(that is his name) is so happy here and we absolutely love him. I cannot imagine why anyone would have "dropped" him off, but I am so glad that my husband saw the wee dog in our front yard.

[Dervill Crow]

57. All of mine have been "pound puppies" except one.

My daughter's American Staffordshire had an unplanned pregnancy because of a friend's English Staffordshire who is either a canine McGyver or has thumbs and a lock pick. She would only sell the puppies to people she knew would be good pit bull parents.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

58. I've only adopted...

Well, in one case, we were adopted by a homeless pregnant kitty. We named her Tastrophe. :D

[barb162]

59. all of my cats are rescues

[rainbow4321]

61. Both of my dogs....

...one I got from a rescue group, the other from the local animal shelter.

[ignatius 2]

63. They are both cutie pies. They look almost alike and the little one in

his bed sure looks content,

[Lady President]

62. Only pets I'll ever have

I've only had shelter pets my whole life. They've been sweeties, so I'll stick to it.

Like any proud mommy... here's Mick. Poor thing had ear mites, fleas, eye infections, lung infection, and two kinds of worms when she adopted me. She's fit as can be now.