Oscar the Great

When we first got Oscar from the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA he was sad, afraid, and hid from us. He was almost anti-social after being abandoned and abused in his short life. Now he is the most loveable, sweetest, adorable dog, a constant companion and family member. He sleeps every night in one of our three beds and has found his forever home. We are the lucky ones.

Virginia Carroll
Everett, MA

Best friends!

I'd like you to meet our dog, Harley Quinn (My husbands favorite comic book character), and our cat Simi (THE Simi it's a name from my favorite author).

Harley is a German Pincher. Someone must have paid a LOT of money for her. But we found her at the local shelter. What made me stop in front of her cage was the fact she was very thin, and very scared. She would not come up to the door. She just hung her head and sat in the middle of the pen. She would not react to our voices. She needed LOVE.

Every time you would reach to touch her she'd pull back thinking she was going to be struck. For the first year she would not even play. She had SEVERE separation issues too. All we could do was love her no matter what. A couple years in, she turned out to be the BEST dog anyone would want. She loves kids, she's clean, never has an accident, is a good guard dog. And she is the best cuddle buddy you know.

One of our older cats died (We really miss Kira), and I adopted Simi. She was most likely born in the shelter. She was scared of everything, she didn't know she could jump or climb like other cats. She'd spent her entire young life in that tiny cage. Harley stepped in and protected the new kitten. Simi slept on Harley & played with Harley. Now I have to take them to the vet each year TOGETHER. So Simi isn't too scared.

They are BEST FRIENDS!

Who said dogs and cats don't mix?

Christine Hannigan
North Port, FL

Logan gets a deserved lucky break

I don't normally post so many pcitures of the subject doggie, but this story was very close to home. That, plus Logan is so darn photogenic.   A kind family fostered Logan until he could be picked up by the family that promised him his forever home.  But that was not to be.  For some reason the adopting family did not honor their promise and Logan's future was once again a big question mark.  Until that is, the kind foster family decided to make Logan a permanent part of their family - even though  they were about to move from their Florida digs back home to Illinois.  So, this story has a very happy ending for Logan.  And my guess is, the wonderful family that made room for Logan in their home will also be well rewarded for their kindness for many years to come.
 

Home at last!

Boo was an unadoptable rescue dog. When they called us to see if we'd try him, I agreed to with a lot of reservations. He had fear aggression badly and would drool profusely and bark viciously whenever my husband was at home. We had other animals and kids to worry about too. But within a month we knew he was home. Now, 2and 1/2 years later, he loves my husband and kids and he follows me everywhere. How can you not love a dog who thinks you're terrific?
Lindsay
Orangevale, CA

A truly amazing friendship

Greyhound gets the chance to be loved

A Good Samaritan alerted animal control to 12 severely underweight dogs at a home in Fort Worth. When they arrived, they found 28 greyhound mixes shockingly malnourished and neglected by their owner. Unwilling to submit to a search and seizure warrant, the dog’s owner surrendered them to authorities.

Landry, 7-years old, was found emaciated with large mouth warts, leaving him unable to eat full meals before stopping in severe pain. He was 40 pounds underweight, covered in ticks and days away from dying. Vets explained that surgery on the warts would cost over $1,200 and that Landry needed to gain weight quick before his body shut down. It took 30 days before Landry weighed enough to have the surgery.

Now, adopted by a family in New Jersey, Landry lives with a loving family. Healthy and finally at a normal weight, he’s able to thank his new family every day for the gift of rescue.

Second Chance Fund Donation Site

Give the Gift of a Second Chance

The Second Chance® Fund grant takes care of the medical bills for neglected and abused animals like Landry. Rehabilitation for animals that need the most help can be a long and arduous process, and Second Chance Fund lets animals and their new owners focus on recovery.

Each grant is given to shelters and rescue groups to ensure that neglected and abused animals receive the gift of a happy life.

This Valentine’s Day, take a moment to donate to our Second Chance Fund and send a gift to an abused and neglected animal in need.

A Long Way From Unloved Backyard

Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta iGolden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta is the rescue we currently enjoy supporting.

Ray and I moved to GA in 2001 with our adopted Golden Rosie. In 2006, we lost her (at 13½) to hip cancer. After a few months of grieving, we were ready to open our hearts to another golden. Rosie spoiled us with the breed and we loved her all the more for it. We both agreed we’d rather skip the puppy stage. My internet search found GRRA. I read about the organization and we decided this was the route we were meant to take.

The first Adoption Day we went to had mostly labs and a few older goldens. Our hearts were set on a youngish golden, so we went back to watching the website. Memorial Day weekend, Joey came to check us out and we passed. He made himself at home that day. He was an owner turn in, used to being tied up outdoors and full of ticks when GRRA accepted him. His first pig ear was carried around for 2 weeks. Toys were new and more fun than just his tail

GRRA has a calendar contest every year for our “family”. Our calendar entry that year was one photo, and Joey made honorable mention for 2007. By the end of summer he had earned his CGC (AKC’s Canine Good Citizenship ranking)..and we moved onto agility.

Joey and I helped out at Pet-a-Palooza (A local Pet Fair) and the Romp (GRRA’s annual fund raiser). The picture I took of Joey, at Pet-a-Palooza donning Ray’s new baseball cap was Mr. September in the 2008 calendar. Perpetuating his charisma, studying an ant made the 2009 version and Joey was Mr. February. This is the picture shown

Debbie DuPont
Lilburn, GA

Our Little Girl

Mimi was in a home with three kids that didn't know how to treat a pet.  When we got her she was a nervous wreck and fearful. Now she is in her forever home with all the love she can handle---and she never has to worry about being mistreated again.

Mary Cappiello

Las Vegas, NV