After having a bad experience with a puppy and parvo, we decided it was time to try for another family pet. Our sons were 7 and 8 at the time and so we thought a puppy would made a nice fit. We visited our local animal shelter and saw multiple dogs of all ages but none really seemed to "fit" our family. There was one quiet puppy that was black, floppy-eared, and no tail that we looked at, but the shelter said she was spoken for by some local college students. We live in a college town and apparently this is a fun activity for college kids. But the shelter said that since it was December it was highly unlikely that the college kids would be back. We asked could we put a secondary hold on her and they said no.

So we visited two more shelters and then back to the original shelter a few days later.The same puppy was still there, sad eyes and shaking from all of the noise in the other cages. The college kids didn't want her, but we were told she had another hold on her. My husband persuaded the shelter to let us put a secondary hold on her and we paid all of the fees up front. We were told the other family had until 3pm to pick her up. We said we'll be here at 3:01 for either our money refunded or the puppy. We went to lunch and the shelter called the other family. They said they didn't really want her so she was ours. I cannot describe the joy that our Holly has brought us the past three years. She is good-natured, wonderful with kids, smart, and one of the most affectionate dogs we've ever owned.We now have two rescue cats and the three of them are best friends. I don't know how she came to be at the shelter, but she is certainly a treasure to us. Holly is our floppy-eared, stubby-tailed forever pet.

My next door neighbor Terri came to me one day and said she had gotten a cat from a farm in rural Kansas, but once home, discovered she was very allergic to cats. I was still grieving over the loss of my two cats and told her I couldn't think about another cat, but she persuaded me to come to her place. One look, and I was in love. She was the prettiest sweet little cat. I had her for almost nineteen years, and am grateful for every minute of them. Terri, I am so happy you happened to be allergic to cat hair, and that you lived next to me. Thank you for the gift of Crystal. She made me so happy.

In June 1998, Tommy was about 6 months old when we got him. He had been rescued as a stray with his littermates and mother. Tommy was a present from our newborn, Maggie, to her 3 year old brother, Mathew. The two reminded me from day one of "Calvin and Hobbes". At the time, Mathew was having undetermined brain seizures. The kid had been through several medical tests from EKGs to EEGs to MRIs with no cause found. He took medication which helped. One day when I was taking a bath, Mathew was in a vinyl beanbag chair watching a Barney video. Tommy came rushing into the bathtub hollering and pawing at me. I followed him to find Mathew had flipped over in the chair and was suffocating. I rolled him over and helped him breathe. My rescue cat had rescued my son!! When we saw his pediatrician, she said there are dogs who could detect seizures and would be good to get one. We got one and he would poop on the floor when a seizure happened. However, Tommy was always faithful and made sure Mathew was okay. The doctor said this was very rare for a cat to do.

Over the years, Tommy has taken care of all members of our family. He would greet me in the morning and coming home from work. During the day, he played with the kids and waited patiently for them to return from school. At night, he laid on my chest as I watched tv and made his rounds checking on everyone sleeping. Last year, he got sick with kidney disease. We opted to keep him home instead of putting him down as he was family. Finally, the time came a month ago. With his family by his side, we gave him hugs and kisses and let our sweet boy go to Heaven with no more pain. RIP Tommy. We miss you!! It is okay as we can take care of everyone now.

I got a call from a friend who volunteered at a shelter in Kentucky. “We’re full of cats, and they don’t want to euthanize. Can you take one?” I’d been wanting a young cat as a companion for a new kitten, so I said, “Sure. Just don’t bring me a grey tabby!”

You see, I’d had a magnificent grey tabby named Misha. He thought his job was to take care of me. He’d always reach out his paw to make contact if he was anywhere near. If I shifted position, so did he. When he passed away, I wanted to honor him by never having another cat who looked like him.

My friend drove 500 miles in winter to bring a shelter cat to me; that’s dedication! She told me she’d chosen an affectionate eight-month-old female. She said she’d “channeled” me at the shelter, and as she’d walked by, a cat had reached out and touched her with a paw. She decided that was a sign we were meant for each other.

When she opened the carrier, who walked out? A sweet, curious GREY TABBY. What could I do but name her Miranda as a tribute to Misha?

Nine years later, she’s been a terrific companion, both to me and Tibby, who I chose her for. She still likes to reach out with a paw or curl up next to me. She’s bossy, talkative, chubby and cuddly, my "Little Round Mound of Sound." I’m so grateful my friend ignored my “No Grey Tabbies!” rule. Miranda was worth it.

There is a sad footnote. Three weeks later, there was a shelter fire. Miranda was the last cat adopted out. And all because she reached out a paw to touch a volunteer. I like to think Misha was whispering in her ear.

It all started in 2009 when I went to a shelter after feeling for weeks like I just had to go; something I couldn't explain as I really wasn't looking for a cat or dog to adopt. My mom had just got divorced and we were living in my grandparents house. Anyway, after finally going with my gut and going to the animal shelter I decided to go in the cat room. It was honestly depressing; the shelter was in horrible condition (it was shut down a few months after I went) and all the cats were stacked in metal cages on top of each other. There was no play room and they were very understaffed. I was walking by the cages when I felt a little paw reach out and grip my shirt. I looked in and the cutest, 4 month old kitten was rubbing up on the cage. I always tell people she chose me :) The staff warned me that she had a few health problems as she was found alone as a one week old kitten on the side of the highway. She had then been adopted out to a staff member and they brought her back because of "personality differences". She also had a severe upper respiratory infection. I didn't care; I knew that we were soul mates. I brought her home and she is the love of my life. She sleeps on my chest every night, is the most social cat, and loves everyone/ every animal she meets. Everyone says that they think she thinks she is a dog because she is so loving and attentive. She has to be the center of attention and I honestly feel I would die without her! I love her more than anyone.

Rusti has been gone nearly 2 years now, and I still miss her, my best friend and hunting buddy. She was not a rescue, but came from a very responsible breeder as a puppy. As my wife and I came to love the little fur-ball, we became acquainted with the American Brittany Rescue (ABR), and their programs for Brits, near-Brits, and Brittany wannabes. They care for all the dogs, puppies and adults, but have special programs for the Senior dogs needing homes. If you have room in your heart for a sweet medium size dog, consider the Brittany, and contact the ABR.

I got Cody fromt the Humane Society in Flagstaff, AZ back in 2010 when we was only 10 weeks old. The humane society said that they found him and his brother on the indian reservation outside of town. His brother has a tail, but Cody has his cut off at some point so he has what we like to call his "black nub".

He is all black, and when we got him they told us that he was a shepherd mix. But because of his size and his personality, we strongly believe that he is part black lab and part coyote.

He loves to be outdoors hunting and fishing with us, and he enjoys his car rides! He is really smart, and loves to be around other dogs. In fact, he always picks the biggest dogs at the dog park to play with.

I cant imagine what would of happened to him if we hadnt rescued him. He was really shy when we first got him, and he did not like the wind at all (just like a coyote), but he is the sweetest dog and now loves riding in the back of the truck.

Cody is truly a blessing in our lives.

My husband was in apprentice school and I was alone quite a bit. I decided I needed some company and saw these two on petfinder.com. I had to have them. When I went in to see them, the rescue told me that someone wanted to adopt Benny alone, but they didn't want to separate the brothers. I walked into the cat room and Benny came running over to introduce himself while Joey hung back. I decided then and there that they weren't going to be separated, the boys were coming home with me. Benny may be bigger and he's a lover, but Joey is the boss and he is just as big a mush as Benny. We don't know what we would do without them. They brighten our days with their antics and unconditional love.

Max..

Max was born with severe Scoliosis. It was suggested that he be euthanized at birth. His breeder just couldn't take his life after seeing how hard he fought and so he came to live with us at The Mia Foundation. When Max arrived at 6 weeks old, he could barely walk but we worked his little legs and tried straightening his back several times a day and within a week he was not only walking, but running!

Although we continued his physical therapy, as Max grew his spine was getting

noticeably worse. And then a new symptom occurred. He started having panic attacks, These attacks became so bad

that he was rushed to the vet several times and had to be given oxygen. The oxygen did wonders for him and

he came out of these attacks much sooner.

We saw several specialists that both informed me that Max’s condition was terminal. They all said it was the worst case of Scoliosis that they had ever seen, They also said that Max’s bones would eventually crush his internal organs. Max only has one functioning lung and his ribs are severely deformed as well as his spine.

Max is 1 year old now. We never hold Max, for fear of pushing on his lung and causing a panic attack. Max and his oxygen tank go everywhere with us. The panic attacks are less frequent now because we are more aware as to what causes them.

We have decided to just let Max finish growing and see what happens. He is a funny little

dog with quite the personality. None of the vets thought he would live this long, yet he is still

here and doing very well. I don’t know what the future holds for him but I do know that we

should not be so quick to euthanize these animals. If they are happy and not suffering they

deserve a chance at a happy life, They give back so much more than people realize. You can visit Max on our Facebook page, Love For Mia-Cleft Palate Chihuahua

Having recently lost two cats, we were looking for another, to join us and our remaining girl, in our small home--three had been too many. I wanted black, female, and short-haired. We were well employed, while many Americans were surrendering pets they could no longer afford, so we thought maybe one that others wouldn't take due to medical expenses.

Then a co-worker emailed about a pair of rescued girls needing a home: a 1-year-old, black, very-polydactyl, short-haired mama and her last kitten--a 4-month-old, black, long-haired daughter. We debated. Back to three? another long-haired? But they were so sweet when we went to meet them. And two--there was the extra expense we could afford. So (forever-) home they came.

Mama named herself Esme, which in French is "loved", and wanted a heart-shaped tag. I think she wanted to see if we really would love her--'turned out her first people had moved out and left her, along with her six new kittens, locked in the house! (It makes me so angry!!) She was pretty skittish and stand-offish at first, and we learned the hard way, that suitcases by the front door for a weekend away, looked WAY too scarily like we might be moving out. Despite twice daily visits from our neighbor, she peed all over one of our rugs while we were gone. But she is SO smart! She chose the ONE rug we could actually wash. Over time, we've learned how to not trigger her fear, and she in turn has blossomed into the sweetest, most affectionate (and less triggerable) kitty.

Mira (the daughter) is the queen of cute, and makes us laugh every day. She does the most hilarious things, like little jiggy dances trying to scrape the spots off the floor, and jumping straight up in the air, all four legs extended, when startled.

To our delight, they wrestle, cuddle and groom each other. I'm so grateful to the unknown person who discovered their plight, and broke into their house to rescue them. Our lives are so much richer with them in it--constant drifts of fur and all!