Animal Rescue Stories

Scrappy the Tabby FaTabulous

Our stray rescue Oliver Sudden had a tuxedo friend when he was living outside. This little tuxedo kitty would scream at Oliver so he could get the food. But he was all scream and no fright. So we called him Scrappy.
We rescued Oliver and just a few weeks later had to rescue Scrappy. This little boy was already "fixed" so apparently also abandoned. He fell in love with my boyfriend and would meow so loudly in the morning that nothing would quiet him until my boyfriend would go outside and pet and love him. Scrappy is now the sweetest boy and brings us his catnip mouse presents every night, meowing very loudly to announce his delivery.. usually at 3am! But we wouldn't change him or trade him for anything!

Aili Taber
LARGO, FL

All of a sudden.. Oliver Sudden

We were feeding a feral kitty at our home. We really didn't think he was in that bad of shape but was going to get him to the Humane Society to get help and adopted.
He went missing for a couple days and when he returned it looked like he had an infected eye. Turns out he was injured and had to have his eye removed. Well my "we can't have another cat" boyfriend decided there was no way this kitty was ever going to be in danger again and we became his family... but we couldn't call him Baby Friend anymore, we had to name him... so please meet Oliver Sudden who happened all of a sudden. Though he likes to be called Ollie Wood straight outta Hollywood because he's so pretty.

Aili Taber
LARGO, FL

Bandit of Four Winds

Bandit was rescued at the age of 1 ½ years thanks to the kindness of John Joseph Carey and Blanche Carey, my parents, who deserve a tribute for welcoming any cat or dog into their home. My childhood was filled with pets and laughter. Bandit’s early life was spent chained in a backyard with a low fence being teased by children going to and from school. One day he got loose and ran through the house, out the front door, and to the sidewalk, where he bit a child. My parents owned his sister, Bubbles, and upon hearing he was scheduled to be put down, took him in. At first, he spent his time laying in a corner near the front door and my dad’s chair. It was about a year before he learned how to play. His true character can be revealed as follows:

The Kitten – Shortly after he came to us, a litter of kittens just learning to walk were taken out of their box and put on the living room floor where they were milling around in a small group. Friends were over and eventually we lost track of a kitten. Bandit was laying in his corner and suddenly he jumped to his feet and trotted into the kitchen and we saw him heading right for a kitten. We held our breath as he scooped up the kitten in his huge mouth which he left partly open and holding his head right near the floor, slowing walked back to the living room and dropped the kitten off with the others. The kitten shook itself off and Bandit walked back to his corner to lay down.

The Intruder – One evening Bandit did not return to the house after he was let out to the backyard to do his business at bedtime. My dad went in search of him and related that Bandit had backed a man up against the back fence. Bandit was standing with his head about an inch away from the man’s chest looking straight up into his face. The man was so happy to see my dad saying he had been there what felt like an hour.

Bubbles – Bubbles, the house alpha, was Bandit’s reason for living. Bandit loved Bubbles’ puppies, licking them when they were tiny, letting them climb on him as they got older and playing with them once they got bigger. Bandit was close enough to the AKC standard that he did well at dog shows. Bubbles did not have the physical attributes to win, but she loved the showing off in the ring and so she would be entered for fun sometimes. When it was Bubbles’ turn to pace around the ring alone, Bandit would stand up, wag his long tail in a big circle and bark a big “Woof!” every few seconds, drawing the attention and applause of many around the ring.

Again, thanks to my parents, this wonderful dog was able to live the remainder of his life with love and security.

Susanne
RIVERSIDE, CA

Sundown

It was Summer 2006. A big flood had hit our area and roads were closed. I had earlier noticed a mother cat and three kittens roaming around the neighborhood probably trying to stay dry. They showed up just after dusk and then disappeared. I took my 130 pound great pyreneese dog to the yard for a potty break. He began to sniff around the front of my car and became animated. I popped the hood and peered in. I saw nothing at first. Then as I looked closer I saw a pair of brilliant amber eyes staring back at me. I reached in and pulled out a tiny black kitten I took him into the house and put him in a closed room away from my other cats. I gradually introduced him to the others and he fit right in. I named him Sundown because that was the time of day I first saw him. Sundown has now been a cherished member of my family for thirteen years.

raoul diblasi
SCRANTON, PA

He was right around the corner- alone and skinny.

That's how my husband and I met our Kirk (on the left in the picture and named after Captain James T.!) as we were headed out to an appointment one cold December afternoon in New Mexico. We rounded the corner of our apartment and there he was, walking down the path! At first we thought he was growling at us, but he was just startled and immediately showed his sweet side when I reached out my hand to him. He was skinny and alone, but had a collar on. We spent a few minutes with him, but had to leave for the appointment. I couldn't stop thinking about him and neither could my husband. We rushed home, and there he was: waiting for us with a "goofy smile" on his face once he saw us. We cuddled him, opened our door, and he went right in and made himself at home on our couch. We sent out feelers to see if anyone was looking for him since he did have a collar on. No one was, that we could find. And maybe that's because of how high-energy and intelligent our boy was - he had bad separation anxiety, maybe due to previous treatment, and was destructive and escaped his crate several times. We were patient with him and he has mellowed with age into the loving, fun companion we knew he could be. We almost lost him in 2016 after a major case of IVDD that paralyzed his back legs and would have killed him without surgery, but he made it through and is going strong to this day. He is a great big brother to our newest addition, Scottie (on the right). And yes, we also have a Spock (a former stray kitten from the same complex). We are so glad we ran into Kirk that day. We gave him a chance after a seemingly rough start in life, and our patience has been rewarded tenfold. Please be patient and give the stray or shelter dog or cat you take in a chance to grow and warm to you and your household. It's the most rewarding experience to nurture growth and change in them.

Ashley G.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Sweet Rudy

As a tiny stray kitten, Rudy showed up for food on our doorstep. I couldn't get near him. One morning, he came to me covered in gasoline; it appeared that our evil cat-hating neighbor had saturated him. Who knows what was to come? I rushed him to our vet. After baths & vaccinations, I gave him to my daughter who loved him more than anything until her tragic death a year & 1/2:year ago. I promised her that I would give Rudy a good home. He's happy and the most loving, kissing kitty ever. What's funny is he was terrified of me when she had him. Now, he's happy and loves my husband & me so much. He and I both miss my daughter and rely on each other to get through this loss.

Marjorie Edwards
BAILEY, NC

My Best Friend

When my last child left for college, the house suddenly seemed very empty and lonely. My daughter said that I needed to have another baby (LOL!) or get a dog! I was reluctant at first, but started perusing Pet Finder. When I saw Maggie my heart broke. She was only a year old and had spent her puppy-hood tied up on a front porch. Her previous owners were excited about a new puppy, but when the newness wore off, they lost interest. They complained that she wouldn't use the puppy door to go outside to use the bathroom, so she was no longer allowed in the house! Maggie is a miniature poodle/Maltese mix and had suffered miserably outside through the cold northern Indiana winter! I brought Maggie home in February 2006; one of the best decisions I've ever made. Maggie was very timid at first and would hide, but through gentle pets and soothing talks, she quickly came to love everyone. Now she runs to greet everyone who visits, tail wagging excitedly, and she loves walks outside to "do her business." When I get home from work, she greets me at the door and hangs with me the rest of the evening. I am no longer lonely; Maggie is my best friend.

Bonny
LOUISVILLE, KY

Bob's Tail Tale

I went to feed a small colony of cats, and heard a faint meow coming from the bushes. I followed the meows, got into the bushes, and finally was able to pull out a dark grey tabby about 3 months old, whom I later named Bob. Even though he sounded like he was in distress, he looked ok.
I drove home with him on my lap and he never tried to escape my hold. When we got home I noticed his tail was bent at the end (like a number 7) and there were some raw patches on it closer to his body. I applied some triple antibiotic after I inspected him for fleas and gave him a bath.
When the vet checked him out, she said the tail needed to be amputated and that he was lucky gangrene had not set in. He was also tested, given his shots, and neutered while in surgery. I picked him up the next day and he was as calm and sweet as he'd always been.
Since I already had 7 inside cats (down from 8 since I had just put down my 13-year-old Anni whose kidneys where shutting down), my husband was not a happy about bringing in another cat. I told him I'd only keep him until I found a home for him. We all know how difficult that is to do. One day I was watching T.V. with Bob on my lap and the doorbell rang. I went to answer it with him in my hands. A lady who had come by to drop off a check saw Bob in my hands and fell in love. She wanted a companion for her small dog who had recently become very sad at the loss of her mommy. I miss Bob and his antics terribly, but I console myself in knowing he is with a great lady who will take extra good care of him.

Cristina Miguel
MIAMI, FL

My little tri-pod

I already had two cats. But my 16 year old was in kidney failure, and while I wanted to stay in denial, I thought maybe I should start looking for a friend for my four-year old female. With half a heart I got onto a website, entered my VERY specific criteria (baby, small, male, black, special needs) and thought that if my criteria was met, it was meant to be. Around eight months later an email popped up with a picture of a four month old, small male black cat that had to have his right rear leg amputated from being hit by a car. I knew right then that the universe wanted me to adopt this little guy. I went that day to the shelter and told them I wanted to see "Stretch." They were so excited that he had a potential adopter. I picked him up; he put his little head right in my palm, closed his eyes, and started purring. I brought him home that day. I thought he needed a "tougher" name for all that he had been through, so I re-named him Thor. I lost my 16 year old two months later, so now I am back to two. He's a mommy's boy, loves to be held and is my shadow around the house. I've learned his cues when he has an itch on his right side and he needs me to scratch it for him. Only having three legs doesn't slow this little guy down at all! He runs up the stairs and climbs the cat trees like a wild banshee. Thor is a rambunctious one year old, and his older sister sometimes gets irritated with him, but it's all good.

Mary Ann Walter
BEREA, OH

Molly, Our Quirky Mutt

We adopted Molly in November 2005, and her life was one long interesting adventure. The foster home was overcrowded; it was obviously a rescue trying to save as many pets as possible, but out of space. Molly greeted us at the door and sat next to me as I signed her adoption papers, her little paw on my arm. She jumped into our car and sat in my lap, never looking back! The overcrowding at the foster home had a drastic effect on Molly. She was possessive about toys and treats, digging pretend holes and “hiding” them only to dig them up and move them to better locations. It was entertaining but sad to see her trying to stake a claim. She eventually outgrew this behavior, but remained vigilant about guarding her food and sleeping space the rest of her life. Molly was a small dog, border collie and some sort of terrier mix. She weighed about 30 pounds, but had a big attitude. We were her people and it was her house and yard! She took her time to warm up to people, but once she did they were friends for life. She particularly loved a neighbor of ours. He was an older widower who took long walks through the neighborhood and always brought our dogs treats. She quickly figured out where this man lived and always stopped during our walks to see if he was outside. This continued even after he had passed away.
Molly kept us on a strict schedule; feeding, walks and bedtime were controlled by her internal clock. She learned that when I used the computer in the evening, the internet server wished us “goodnight”. She would immediately jump up and head upstairs to her spot on the end of our bed. Once we realized what she was doing, we were completely amazed by her behavior! There was no denying how smart she was. She understood numerous words, and even learned what we spelled out. It was as Molly’s self appointed job to keep track of everyone; my husband and me, our adult children, grandchildren, our other dogs, and even the neighbors! She was always on alert, even if she appeared to be asleep. Molly continued to learn new things even as an older dog. When she was 8 we adopted a new puppy. Copper wanted everyone to play and never gave up trying to convince Molly. She had never been very playful, a skill she missed out on learning due to her rough start in life. Copper would play bow and run in circles only to be growled at until one day Molly jumped up and ran after him. Soon they were running in circles and jumping on each other! Copper finally made her understand how much fun she had been missing.
One thing Molly always enjoyed was traveling. She loved going for car rides and would happily jump into the car or my husband’s truck and take her spot as copilot on the front seat. She went back and forth from Pennsylvania to Vermont several times on visits to one of our daughters. She also visited another daughter at college, where she enjoyed exploring the campus. In later years she went with us on getaways in our camper. She always knew instinctively when we were repairing for a trip, running around and barking until we got ready to leave.
She was brave and boisterous everywhere except at the veterinarian's office. There she would cower behind my legs or under one of the benches, no matter which doctor was on duty. The vets loved Molly, but the feeling clearly was not mutual.
As she neared 14 years of age, she began to have some issues; seizures and accidents. We knew her days were limited. In September of 2018 she made her last trek in our camper and two weeks later her last visit to the vet. She did not hide this time. She seemed to understand that they were helping her, and with love and forgiveness licked their hands. Her life was an adventure, and we miss her every day.

Lindsay Dierolf
BARTO, PA