Happy Ending to a Sad Beginning

"Dusty" had wandered onto the porch of neighborhood house still dragging the chain that was locked around his neck. No name or tags so the owner of the house brought him to the animal shelter where my mom volunteers. It is not uncommon in our economically depressed town for people to move and leave their pets abandoned. Dusty is about 7 years old, was malnourished. had mange, and tested positive for heart worm. His chances of being adopted were slim to none. At the shelter one day, he went over to my mother and put his paw on her as if to say, "don't give up on me". She fell in love with him and with a lot of help, hope, and love she convinced us he would make a wonderful addition to our home. Now he has a loving home with us. He followers her everywhere and they spend all day together. Months later he has gained weight, the heart worm is gone, and his mange is cured. He has adjusted to our house and we love him dearly.

Greg
Warren, OH

Bailey

We adopted Bailey, our Liver spotted Dalmatian, from the SPCA when he was 18 months old. He had already had 4 homes before ending up at the SPCA. We were sure that we owned one of his littermates, Shasta, and were looking for a friend for her. We had seen him advertised in the paper 3 times, each time we phoned about him he had been sold on to his next home. We finally caught up with him in his 4th home. We brought Shasta along and they got on like a house on fire! Unfortunately we decided at this time that we weren't ready for a fully grown male Dal. 2 weeks later we saw him on the local news being walked by an SPCA worker...I phoned that night about him and we had adopted him by the next day, no way could we leave him there any longer! His first hour in his forever home was spent playing and getting reaquainted with his sister. They became lifelong friends.

Bailey has turned out to be a wonderful dog at home. He always wants to be close, making up for not getting enough love in his first 4 homes we say. He has also turned out to be a great agility and flyball dog, earning championships in each sport. He is retired from competition now but still has plenty of enthusiasm for his ball.

Bailey has been with us for 13 great years. He is 14 years old now and sadly has outlived his littermate and best friend Shasta. We believe that it was fate that led us to our Brown Boy, he just kept turning up and finally we got the message! We wouldn't change a thing.

Dan and Leslie Morris
Victoria, BC, Canada

More than 400 Animals Rescued from Mississippi Shelter

On January 24, under the authority and request of the City of Clarksdale, MS, the ASPCA dispatched members of our Field Investigations and Response Team to assist in the removal of more than 400 cats and dogs from the City of Clarksdale Animal Shelter.

"We found more than 400 animals living in a space designed for about 60," reports Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. “Our goal is to export as many of the animals as possible to other agencies where they can be placed up for adoption.”

The animals were suffering from obvious neglect—including medical conditions such as mange, and injuries and bite wounds sustained as a result of living in overcrowded cages. A team of local veterinarians conducted exams on each animal and triaged any immediate concerns.

Rickey says, "It appears that this is a situation where the intake of unwanted animals was much higher than the number of animals being adopted, and it led to horrible living conditions. We are glad to be able to provide relief."

Essential medical aid has been provided by a veterinary team from Mississippi State University, led by Dr. Phillip Bushby, as well as local veterinarians Dr. Andrea Marble, Animal Medical Clinic; Dr. Jody Swartzfarger, Lawndale Pet Hospital; Dr. Wayne Adams, Adams Vet Clinic; and Dr. Rebecca Coleman.

On January 26, groups of animals began leaving the area with various rescue agencies, including the ASPCA, bound for New York City and several rescues based in Vermont and Delaware. The Atlanta Humane Society is transporting at least 100 animals to Georgia, and countless other shelters, individuals and organizations are offering their critical support in the rescue and temporary housing of the animals, including:

• Anna Ware of Holland M. Ware Foundation
• Mississippi State Animal Response Team
• Mississippi Animal Rescue League, MS
• Greg Norred with Norred & Associates
• Tailwaggers for Life, MS
• Jane Berry of Sterile Feral, GA
• PAWS Humane, GA
• Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, MS
• Tampa Bay SPCA, FL
• Broward County Humane, FL
• Delaware Humane Association, DE
• Kent County SPCA, DE
• White River Animal Rescue, VT
• Northern New England Dog Rescue, VT
• Bolivar County Animal Shelter, MS
• Louisiana SPCA, LA
• Capital Area Humane Society, OH
• Petfinder

For the latest information about the rescued animals, including those who will be available for adoption from the ASCPA Adoption Center.

Little Orphan Annie

My son-in-law found Annie in a box of puppies outside a Wal Mart in Cullman, AL. He hoped to keep her as a playmate for his other dog, but Blondie did not like having another female in the house. My daughter knew my schnauzer, Jack, needed a playmate as he was driving my husband and me crazy! Annie came to live with us and she and Jack are now best buddies.

Barbara Assell
Birmingham, AL

Sweet Amy

About 10 years ago, I was working at a veterinary clinic. Someone brought in their 9 month old puppy that had gotten her leg stuck in a trap or barbwire fence. Her leg was in bad shape. We amputated her toes, and knew it was possible that we may have to amputate her leg. Her family was told that they would have to keep her inside (they had been keeping her outside) and treat her leg daily. They felt that was more "work" than they wanted, so they asked the vet to euthanize the puppy. The puppy was one of the sweetest we had ever met. The vet declined to euthanize the puppy saying that we would try and find her a home. The puppy was black and part pit bull, so she might not be the easiest to adopt out. But her personality was second to none! Well, she came home with me and I named her Amy. I began to treat her leg, and she healed remarkably well. She has been such a wonderful addition to our family all these years. I've often said that I think Amy is the perfect dog with her heart of gold!

Sara

Pickerington, OH

George the "Ladies Man"

In May 2009, when the three-year-old Pug mix formerly known as Joe Jackson arrived at Animal Care and Control in New York City, the poor little guy was suffering from severe neglect. He had an excruciatingly tender, dangling paw, and veterinarians at the shelter determined that he’d been in pain for two to three weeks. Joe was transferred to the ASPCA, where his right leg was removed.

It wasn’t an easy road for Joe—but by all accounts, he made great strides during his weeks of recovery at the ASPCA. In early July, he was made available for adoption and feeling well enough to participate in Broadway Barks, our annual adopt-a-thon in Manhattan. But before the big event, on Friday, July 10, certified trainer Cheryl Loiacono of Albertson, NY, received an email from us about the pup and was instantly smitten.

“I just knew!” Cheryl says. So she immediately called our Adoption Center and arranged to visit the shelter the next morning, before Joe made his way to Times Square for the adopt-a-thon. The rest is history, as they say—the pup still went to the big event, but he was already spoken for.

Nearly a month later, the pooch has a new home, a new name—George!—and a new life with four fabulous ladies—one pet mom and three four-legged sisters.

“He’s terrific!” says Cheryl. “George has a great disposition and gets along well with my three other girls, all rescue dogs.”

Not to worry, though, this little Puggy hasn’t grown soft surrounded by all this maternal affection. “Sometimes the girls get a little annoyed because they’re older and want to relax, while George just wants to play,” Cheryl laughs. “But he’s doing great and making friends.”

“It’s nice to have a man around again,” she adds. “He's as sweet as can be and I adore him—I really do.”

Alive and happy!

This is my adorable German Shepard. His name is Oso. When I got him he was just a puppy. We didn't know how old he was because my brother had found him in the streets. Apparantly his family didn't care for him because when my brother brought him home he had a piece of rope and a piece of belt as a collar. I love him so much he was saved too. Now today he's grown up and he's a trouble maker he bites on the fence which is wood he gets out all the time and my mom is tired of it but we still have him and no one wants to buy him so I'm happy and he loves us he's very friendly and funny. He loves to play a lot too and right now he's about 1 and a half.

Cali

Victorville, CA