Animal Rescue Stories

Thrown out of a truck.

I just left a yard sale, turning on to another road, I witnessed a man in the back of a pickup truck, and he tossed out a black kitten that was about five to six weeks old. I was so upset, I didn't think to get their tag number. I was more concerned for the kitten, and started looking for it. They drove off, and my sister and I looked for over an hour. I went home, got some dry food and a bowl to put some water in, set it where I was hoping he would find it. I was on my way to work, so I had to leave. After work, it was, by now, dark thirty, and I said to my sister, "Let's check again." So we drove up where the kitten was tossed, and I called, "Kitty kitty kitty." I heard a faint meow. Since we only lived about three blocks from where the kitten was tossed, I told my sister to run home, and get a flashlight and a can of kitty food. I would stay behind and would continue to call and try to locate him. He was jet black, so naturally so hard to see. She was back in about ten minutes, which seemed forever, and I found the little guy. He wanted to trust me, but was somewhat fearful. He started to move out of my space, and I reached over and grabbed him. Didn't care if he bite me, scratched me, or what, I was determined to get him to my house. Once I got into the car, he settled down in my lap, and seemed to sense he was finally safe. Got him home, set him up in a room with litter box, water and can food. He had about a two inch tail, and was just a sweetheart. Now, three years later, he is huge. Not fat, just huge. He's 25 pounds of love, and he follows me around like a dog. I named him B.J. Short for Bobby Jr. I think I know who his dad was, a feral that I fed, and he was solid black with no tail, but has since passed away. So in case this was his offspring, I named him Bobby Jr.

Charlotte Bates
CANTONMENT, FL

She helped herself.......

I was devastated after losing two of my cats exactly one month apart. About a month later, Mom & Dad suggested that we bring a bunch of supplies to the shelter. I really didn’t want to, but I knew the shelter desperately needed the supplies. We loaded up and went. After unloading, we visited all the animals. We entered a huge enclosure where the young adult cats were housed. Dad and I sat on the floor as Mom observed. The cats took their turns being loved on. When they had enough, they just walked away. The whole time, a dainty buff & white, sat off to the side, just watching. When all the other cats had their turn, she came over, climbed on my lap, flipped over upside down and just gazed at me. All I remember is Mom saying “I think you’ve been adopted.”
Not only did my sweet Samantha help herself to my lap, she helped herself to my heart.

Annette A.
CREAM RIDGE, NJ

B.B. Stands for Big Boy

My son looked out the window one day, and there was a tiny kitten underneath his car. It took a lot of coaxing, but we finally managed to catch him. He had one eye that was infected. We made a trip to the vet, and they said he probably wasn't more than four weeks old... and he was a very sick little kitten. We loaded up with medicine and took him home. My daughter wrapped him in a towel like a papoose and carried him around with her literally for two weeks, all the while administering medication and giving him baths in Dawn for the flea infestation. He's a year old now and doing well. We have five cats, and he runs the household! My heart breaks every time I read one of these stories about people dropping off or abusing their pets. They're family... and they are lifetime commitments.

Carol Kemp
DALLAS, TX

Discovering Suzie

While visiting our daughter and her family in California we were introduced to the Chinese Crested breed (Powder-puff variety) for the first time, having owned and even bred only large dogs we were intrigued by the small size and large personality. While we were not seriously considering another dog at this time, since we no longer have children at home and travel a lot, the "portability" of such a small sized dog was attractive.
When we got back to New York in January we got to thinking of perhaps trying to locate a rescue Chinese Crested. Not being the most popular breed in the world, rescues were few and far between. We found one in Pittsburgh, PA, run by a lovely young couple, and thus began our search.

The call finally came in late March telling us a match had been found for us. We made arrangements to pick up our child the second weekend in April. The day before we were to leave on the 400 mile (one way) trip, we had a death in the immediate family and could not go as planned. The death of a close family member and knowing we had to cancel our trip to Pittsburgh left us devastated. Since we could not commit as to when we would be able to make the trip we thought it best to pass what was to be our good fortune on to the next person waiting, as we know how we agonized over the three month wait. We called the rescue and told them of our decision and we were assured that as soon as we were ready we would return to first on the list.

When all family matters were settled we called the rescue. We were told that, at that time they had one dog in their care but most probably she would not be placed as she was in terrible shape from the abuse she had suffered and most likely would not make it. We pleaded and cajoled. Four weeks later we were on our way to Pittsburgh (via Philadelphia where we picked up our adult son).

The moment we laid eyes on Suzie we fell in love with her and knew she was our destiny. She was a frail six pounds. A nervous wreck who spun in circles and cowered whenever anyone kneeled down to pet her. It only took moments for her paw prints to be firmly imprinted on our hearts and off we went, back to New York with our new child. Our son drove so that we could take turns holding her and telling her how much better her life was going to be. We were never sure how old Suzie was when we adopted her, but dentition suggested somewhere between five and seven. As a result of her abuse her front legs were arthritic and one ear would NOT stand up...a quality that made her even more endearing.

Eventually Suzie came to trust us, her spinning circles ceased and she no longer cowered when we attempted to bend over to either pet her or pick her up. She gained, and maintained throughout the rest of her life, about eight pounds and came to love us as we loved her.

And love her we did! She traveled with us to many places: California, the Bahamas (no quarantine for entry there); Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, New England to cut our annual Christmas tree, just to name a few. She loved the car, but also liked air travel where we would slip her out of her carrier onto our laps shortly after each take-off. When travel restrictions were such that she could not join us she was cared for by our wonderful neighbors, her new aunt and uncle, who loved her as we did and emailed us every day to keep us up to date on her antics. We'd return from a trip to always find her freshly bathed by her aunt looking happy to see us, eager to cuddle when we settled in for the night.

Of course there was no shortage of creature comforts. She slept in bed with us, right in the middle with her back against one of us and her paws touching the other. She showered with mom (she's white after all) and loved to have her hair blown dry. Her wardrobe was quite extensive and she loved "dress up".

She brought 11 short years of sunshine in to our home and hearts and will be missed. I know that she'll be waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge when the time comes, ready to cuddle once again.

Doreen G
OSSINING, NY

Thrown from a car in the dark.

My husband and I were returning home from an evening out with friends. Traveling our regular route from town, we were going past a park where the speed limit is 20mph. A white SUV ahead of us slowed almost to a stop, the passenger door opened and a dog was held out and dropped to the road. We could see him in our headlights. Looking stunned and afraid, he turned to watch the car as it sped away.
We hit the brakes and parked. A car behind us did the same. We jumped out and my husband went after him. The dog had walked out into the middle of the road The people behind us were also out of their car and running up to us. When I came around to my husband, I could see the hope in the eyes of the dog. He was a mid-sized pit bull/boxer looking dog with a beautiful brindle coat. He let my husband take hold of his collar, and they walked to the back of the car.
There was lots of chattering by all of us; "Did you see that?", "That poor dog.", "How can somebody do that." "Is it okay?" My husband looked up at me and said "Do you want another dog?" My response was quick and emphatic. "Absolutely!" The driver of the other car said he would take him if we didn't. But it was decided. We got into the car with him on my lap and started home. I was looking at his coat and his face. He looked concerned so I talked to him about how beautiful he was and that he had a stripped coat like a Tiger. My husband asked, "So will that be his name?" I thought that was perfect, so that night, instead of becoming a thrown-away dog, he became a Tiger.
He had a couple of issues that love and trip to the vet easily took care of. After being neutered, he settled down and fit into our Pack perfectly.
Tiger has been with us for 4 years now. He has a sweet disposition and loves to cuddle. His joy and love for us is most noticeable by the thumping of his tail when we call his name or just walk into the room. We love him the same as he loves us, unconditionally.

Melanie
COLUMBIA, TN

Joey and Storm

We went to a shelter to get a dog, for one reason or another none of them would work for us. Then the woman says "Oh Joey is out for a walk, you need to meet him. He's shy, hides inside when people visit and has been here for 1 1/2 years". We met him in the parking lot, we decided he was the one. He went to pee on a tire of a car, the girl told him not to. We told her we guess he's claiming us, it was our car!! We picked him up a week later and they said he became so excited when they put the collar on him. Joey still gets worried when we have to take the collar off to switch tags. We call it his necklace.
Joey doesn't like most dogs but we thought he would enjoy a friend. So we went back to the same shelter a year later, we had no luck finding a buddy for him. A month after that, we went to a friend's, and a kitten approached us as we walked up. The itty bitty kitten played and napped. I explained to him I'm not a cat person. After almost being eaten by our friend's 2 dogs, we put the kitten in the truck and brought him home. After 2 weeks of introducing Joey and Storm, they became best friends. Storm now acts like a dog - Storm sprawls out anywhere, play-fights with Joey, greets people coming in and stands by the door when we leave. It's like having 2 dogs.
Joey is Storm's great protector and best friend. Joey doesn't even mind that Storm sits up on his feeding station while he eats. They drink out of the same bowl together. Kinda funny when he had almost been eaten by dogs at 6 weeks old. Sometimes when things don't work out, it's because the right one is just waiting for the puuurfect time. ❤

Cathy
ARNOLD, MO

That old Gal.

I had lost my previous dog a year earlier, and finally found myself in a place to welcome another dog into my family. The local SPCA had a dog I was interested in, a 3 yr old boxer mix. I took the drive over only to find out that he was with another dog, an old, skinny skinny dog they claimed was his mother, and they had to go together. Well, I was ready for another dog, but not two, so I left.

I kept checking their website to see if the younger dog was still available and found out that the SPCA had what they called "doggie dates" where you could take a dog off campus for the day to see how they were when not in the shelter. My girlfriend and I decided to take one out to get our dog fix.

We arrived at the shelter only to find that all of the dogs we selected were either already adopted or already out on dates. Needing our fix, we asked the staff to just bring us one, anyone that could use a day out. Five minutes later, they returned with our original pick's mother. She was a 12 year old boxer mix, missing several teeth and skinny as a rail. The story behind these dogs was that they were strays that had been picked up and from the looks of her road-weary body, that was not hard to believe.

Off to the park we went, Coco (her shelter name) was eager and bounded into our truck as if she had been there a million times. We spent the day at the park, had lunch, and took a short trip through the local town. When I say she was a perfect date, I mean perfect. Well mannered, walked fine, never attempted to mind anyone's business but hers.

I still wasn't ready to adopt a 12 yr old dog though, having lost mine at 12 yr weighed heavy on me. That changed after we got back to the shelter where we were greeted by one of the attendants who happily told us that her son had found a home. How could I possibly let this old gal go back to that cage alone? As I sat pondering what to do next while watching her in the play yard, she looked over at us, and ran as fast as her legs could carry her back to our arms. Well, long story short, we have had her for a year now, and she is every bit the lady as she was that day. A true blessing to us. We've since adopted another dog, a beagle mix, who absolutely adores his older sister and she has taught him well. The moral of my story: Don't overlook the older dogs, they need homes too and have already learned a lot of their life's lessons.

Rob
VALRICO, FL

Harpo moved

A neighbor and dear friend who lived close by was being persuaded by her family to move to a facility where she would be taken care of as her needs had changed at age 85. She owned a beautiful home and would have no problem selling it. What kept her from moving was Harpo, a feral cat who began staying nearby her home and she had been feeding for 13 years. Harpo, being close to her heart, prevented her from moving on; she didn't want to abandon him. Having cats my whole life I told my friend I would take Harpo home with me and take care of him. So my husband and I purchased lattice and enclosed our screened in porch, some litter boxes and a hiding place so Harpo would feel safe. With the help of a kindness trap we were able to bring Harpo home. He stayed on our screened in porch for 8 weeks. Moving ahead several years and Harpo is now a member of our household. He has a brand new screened-in porch with his own personal heated Igloo, comes inside and visits several time a day, prefers high end cat food, and allows us to take him to the vet.
We gave Harpo the love and patience he needed and he in return has given us his acceptance and trust.

Geri Sink
SAINT SIMONS ISLAND, GA

People dump their animals in the country

In the 26 years I've lived here I've taken in 20 cats and a dog that were either dumped off or babies of a dumped off cat. I have paid for them to be neutered, spayed shots, wormed... some lived in our barn, some in the house, and some in the garage, but all were loved deeply.

Sue
WELLINGTON, OH

2017 Rescue from Louisiana

We had just put our baby Mia of eight years down due to lymphoma in of all her glands. We didn't want our Georgie to get depressed since they had been together for most of their lives. So in honor of Mia I rescued a puppy, who we named Precious, from a rescue. She had been a Hurricane Harvey puppy. They said they found her at a food truck dancing like a bear for her food, which she does at home. At first I really didn't like her because she would growl at me and at Georgie. With time she grew on us, with the exception of Georgie. Three years later she still doesn't want anything. But she has so many characteristics of my Mia that you would think she had reincarnated in Precious. I love both of them to the moon and back. It's a wonderous feeling when you rescue one knowing you just saved two. The one you rescued, and the place for the next one...

Irma Y. Banda
HOUSTON, TX