Love Letters

April 2008

The little white soft puppy we adopted from you last July has transformed into a giant Q tip on stilts. Her vet says she looks like an Irish Wolfhound. We changed her name from Layla to Loki, from the Norse god of mischief, which proved to be a most apt moniker. She is loving and rambunctious to all living things--people, other dogs, cats, and even the rabbit who teases her in the back yard. She is quite a talker and makes an unusually broad range of sounds for a dog. She can mew like a cat, squeal like a pig, and groan like an old man.

She's finally housebroken, and she managed to pass her first puppy obedience class, but I think it was because of a "No Puppy Left Behind" policy. She's not quite one yet and she's learned to sit, stay, lie down, shake, and not take something when she hears the word "Off." We are still working on her "people greeting" skills. She will now sit down in front of a new person just long enough for them to assume she is well mannered and then she launches herself at them like a cruise missile. And given her height, she is able to take pretty much anything she wants off of tables and counters while still staying on all four feet. Our kitchen counters have never been so clear. Aw well, life is about learning. And we've learned much from her about a having an indomitable, optimistic spirit and how far a plaintive look and an outstretched paw will get you.

Thanks for delivering her into our lives. I've included a couple of pictures, including one taken a few days after we brought her home and another with the same ball to demonstrate how she has grown.

--Loring

April 2008

I just wanted to send you an update on my kitty, Matilda (formerly "Bella"), that I adopted from you all in October 2006. She is such a precious little girl...so curious, fun, and affectionate. She is very talkative and tries to carry on a conversation with you. She is always in the room with me and hardly ever lets me out of her sight. I love her so much and so does my cat, Gus (the siamese). As you can see in the attached photo, they are best buddies. A million thanks to you all!!!

-Meghan J.

March 2006

We just wanted to let you know how thrilled we are with our adopted cat Oreo. We got him in January, and within days, he was fully immersed in our family. He loves the children, and they love him. He is an amazing cat, and we could not be happier with him. He is so gentle with our kids. Thank You.

The Hoods

March 2006

I just wanted to Thank-you for putting Gracia up for adoption. She is now called "Precious Grace". I have had her for a little over a month now and she is Precious. I am so glad my son found her for me, she is quite the snuggler. I just love her!

Pamela B.

September 2005

I just wanted to drop an email to let you know how Dinger is doing. Yes, we kept his name the same and as you can see from the pictures he is doing great. Butters couldn't be more happy, he has a new playmate....and boy they play. Dinger is fun, loving, and a hazard to feet under the blankets....we don't move them too much when he's in the room.

Thank you for caring for these beautiful animals and thank you for my new baby, Dinger.

Kimberly Newland

September 2005

I adopted Brownie, one of the "trailer dogs," sometime at the very end of January 2002. I happened to be walking through Metcalf South and came upon the adoption center. Brownie's pups had been adopted out that day, and she was the last animal left. Although she smelled worse than anything, her big brown eyes locked with mine as she hunkered on the floor, and I knew we needed each other. The vet told me she would never be sociable and would always be skittish as a result of living in a cage for the first year of her life. Not true!!! She is the most ornery but loving dog I have ever had! She's smart as can be! She loves to run and play with our corgi, Scooby, and she gives him a run for his money. As you can see by the picture, she has a permanent smile on her scruffy face. She loves to snuggle up in bed with me, and she is the best dog I've ever had. As you know, you help to create loving families by making sure these pets are put up for adoption instead of euthanized. Thank you for my baby girl, Brownie :) I can't imagine life without her.

Rosanne

May 2005

HI just wanted to send u an update about Sammi, she is doing really well! She now sleeps with us after we finally got her potty trained and she is so happy here, she plays with the kids out back alot and all that, her skin is getting better. im giving her baths to help her coat and she is getting better. She is the most wonderful dog we have had in a while, of course our other dog that died was a great dog too but Sammi is just as great in her own way... She has really just connected to us really well. She helps me wake up the kids every morning, sleeps with my daughter when she goes to bed then moves into ours later on - haha. Thanks for letting us adopt her. We couldn't have asked for a better dog than Sammi.

Thanks, Traci

April 2005

Greetings. We adopted Romeo on February 20. We just love this cat, and he has adjusted to everything in our house, including our dog, Annie. He is the perfect cat. He knocks things off of table tops, steals flowers out of vases, wants to sleep on the keyboard of my computer and generally runs around like a nut case. Terrific.

Thanks very much for your services.

Lynne

March 2005

I wanted to write you and thank you again for a wonderful dog . One night I had a major asthma attack while in bed, so bad I was too weak to walk across the room to where my home nebulizer was. After 40 inutes of gasping to breathe I could feel my lips go numb. I began to panic. My aunt who lives in the lower part of the house could not hear me gasping for air and trying to call out for help. I started whispering Reeses name who was on the floor by my bed. She jumped onto my bed and sniffed my chest and began whining and pawing my chest before laying next to me and gently licking my cheek and neck ever so gently. That had the most amazing calming effect and gave me a chance to remember I had my rescue inhaler in my purse on the floor next to my bed. I reached down and grabbed it I remember taking to breaths before passing out. When I woke Reeses was still licking my cheek and nugging me gently. She will even alert me now to an asthma attack on the way and I can stop it early. None of these she has been trained to do, she just does it on her own. Thank you for bringing my little guardian angel and myself togeather.

Eunice

October 2004

Just a note to let you know how my beautiful girl, Bella, is getting along. The first couple of days both cats hissed at each other. But in a few days they declared a truce. And now they have progressed to playing and chasing one another. Bella isn't too much of a toy cat. She sniffs them, pokes them once or twice then goes on her way. She does like to eat, sleep and greet visitors at the door. She has also made a big effort to go out in the hall. She is dying to see what is out there! So all in all I would say we are well on our way to being forever friends. She sleeps with me and Scrap and wakes me up if the food or water bowls are empty. Also she wants to be in the same room I'm in.

I'm so grateful to you for taking such good care of her. Thanks again for making her mine!

Jeanine

February 2004

We adopted Stretch 2 years ago. We did not go looking for a black cat, and the majority of the time we were there picking up the different cats Fred was overlooked. He was very quiet and just lay in his cage. When my daughter did get him out he was a limp furball that did nothing but purr his little heart out and we fell in love with him.

He is an incredible cat. He does 4 tricks on command for treats. He sits up on his rear, jumps into the air, shakes (just like a dog) and plays “who’s a dead Kitty”? He would do more, we just haven’t thought of anything spectacular enough to ask this one in a million cat to do for us. He has no bad habits. He will sit on your lap
like you are holding a baby and let you hold his paw over a paper plate and trim his nails. He just sits there with this “Humor the poor humans” look on his face.

He is truly a descendant of the cats who were worshiped as gods. Actually he is probably not a descendant, but one of them. I was asleep last week after having minor surgery, and he had brought two stuffed animals out of my son'sroom and put them in bed with me. I just wanted to thank you for all the work you do for the cats and dogs.

Becky

February 2004

I adopted Mike and Charity in 2002. They were kittens of 12 weeks and 14 weeks at the time. Charity picked me out by climbing my coat thru the bars of the cage they were in. Mike was feral and very scared, but was brought along for the ride.

They are both more than two years old now and have a street cat roommate called Cas who is almost the size of a Maine Coon cat. Mike follows Cas around in hero worship, but they take turns playing tag. Mike is still skittish but will come to me for petting as long as it's his idea. Charity is still the kitty "pet me" kid and loves to be a lap or shoulder cat and is only still when asleep. They seem to be happy,healthy kitties, and I am so glad I brought them home.

Cynthia Lee

January 2004

We adopted a cat about a year ago and just wanted to let everyone know that it has made our year the best yet. Her name was Feline and we renamed her Roxy. She is the most loveable cat and has really added a lot of fun to our lives. She loves to play with homemade paper balls and she loves to be held and cuddled with like a baby. She had trouble with her heart according to her medical history; since then, all of her visits to the vet have been great and they indicate there is no longer any problems. Thanks for the work that you do and know that Roxy is taking very good care of her new owners!

Heather and Curtis Peterson

December 2003

My name is Allison and I adopted a cat from you guys on 6/2/02. That is the day that I adopted Chloe and ever since then it's been great! She is such an awesome cat and she has turned my Fiancee into a cat lover as well! I'm including a couple pictures of her! She's such a character!

Sometime in the near future my fiancee and myself would like to adopt another cat! Thanks again for such a wonderful cat!!

I just adopted Pistachio now named Reeses on Sat from your adoption on Sat 11/29/03. I just wanted to zip you guys a quick line letting you know how well she is doing. We (Butterscotch my other dog and I) LOVE her. From the night I brought her home she was right at home. She is doing well on her house training and is crate trained already. She is very playful and my little cousins just love her. Always coming over and asking to play with her. She is good with the kids and loves them to death. I wanted to thank you all for all the hard work you've done. I've really enjoyed having such a wonderful puppy in the house. Thanks so much,
Eunice

August 2003

I am just writing to thank you guys for all that you do to find homes for homeless kitties. We are the pround owners of Salem ( he's the black kitty in the picture) he has been a great addition to our family and has bought our other cat Sophia out of hiding and made her life a lot more interesting. Our dog Pheona also loves Salem, she loves to have a cat that will play with her. He is so laid back the minute we got him home he got out of his cage and found a place and relaxed like he had always been here.

Thanks again
Andrea Beall

Here she is at 4 months when we adopted her. Remember her? She was one of four siblings, and her brother Blackie was on the adoption floor with her. She was sure a doll baby!

And this one is from last April. She's grown into a beautiful dog, and (with the help of dog obedience school) she's a joy to have in our home. Thank you!!

Marty and Randy

December 2002

We adopted Sabrina (now called Sammy) and Pepper. We now have 4 cats, and we love them all very much. As you can see by the picture, they love to play. Sammy learned on her own how to play fetch with her red mouse. Pepper is now learning this trick by
watching her. What smart cats! Pepper thinks Sammy is her mommy. It is so cute to watch them together. Thank you so much for bringing them to our lives!!
The Armstrong Family

December 2002

Hi! Our family had read about your adoption league and showed up early for one of your Mission Mall events. We fell in love with Jodie right away and wanted to let you know how she is doing! She has plumped up quite a bit and loves to sleep on our heads at night :o) She can be found playing inside paper bags or on her cat tree. She has turned out to be VERY lovable, we couldn't ask for more!
Jason and Ambher

December 2002

We are Andrew's family in Montana. Andrew fought the good fight but lost the battle on November 25, 2002. He battled leukemia since birth but had a happy, short life in Montana with much love from his people family and his sisters (dogs Penny and Sis). We miss our Andrew every day but realize that he is in a better place waiting for us. He will always be in our hearts.

My name is Eric and I'm ten years old. We adopted Rodger and he is behaving fine. Cleo and Roger really get along great. One time Cleo snuck up behind Roger and Roger spun arouund and scared Cleo out of her wits! We set up a table so Roger can sit up and watch the world go by. We love Rodger!
Eric

Thank you for introducing us to our new family member for life, Lore. She is a dear sweet cat and we have grown to love her very much already. She is very content in her new home and is capturing more and more of our heart each day. She loves to have her picture taken, she’s a natural model! We think she is GREAT! Thank you again.
Bob and Virginia