Happy Homes

	Happy Homes

	We love to hear about the pets people have adopted from our shelter:



	A couple weeks before Christmas, I came into your shelter hoping to find the perfect feline to complete the home I have with my daughter. While there were many beautiful cats available and longing for a loving family, your gorgeous Himalayan/Persian caught my eye. She was so sweet, affectionate, laid back, and so very easy on the eyes...I couldn't believe she hadn't been adopted! Since bringing her home, she has happily become accustomed to the daily adoration and affection we provide and soaks up all the pampering we can muster. We have even taken her to Portland to see family and found that she is quite a wonderful road trip companion! Thank you so much for allowing us to provide Dinah the life she so greatly deserved-- we love her immensely! -The Jennings Family

		I adopted a small, black kitten in October 2010. He was underweight and shy, but something about him made it impossible for me not to take him home. Izzy has become an energetic, loving cat with loads of personality - he knows how to fetch and catch toys. Adopting him was the best decision! -McKenzie

	Around 2006 I went in to "just look around." I saw one of the weirdest looking cats. She wasn't the prettiest thing in the world, but I fell in love with her immediately. I opened the cage and found the most interesting cat. She was tiny, like a kitten but was almost a year old. She had just had kittens that were all adopted, and she had been there for a while. I started to pet her and she rubbed on my hand and was purring...and drooling. She was so happy. I loved her. She is the sweetest thing in the world and my view of not thinking she was a cute cat has completely changed - I think she is beautiful. Thank you for letting her be a part of my family! -Zhoey.

		Way back in 2000, I went to the shelter to see about adopting a kitten. I found a scrappy brown tabby with a white chest and paws and took him out of his cage. I held him like a baby and he put his little paw up to my face - that was it, I was sold. Needless to say, we adopted him and brought him home where he proceeded to climb up our sheer curtains!! But now, 11 years later, Chester is one of the best companions I've ever had. Even though he's a grumpy curmudgeon, he's a wonderful pet. He loves to sleep between me and my husband and loves to be held tightly. Thank you for providing such a wonderful companion! -the Brooks family

	This is our wonderful dog we adopted from you back in May 2010. He will be a year old in January and we are very excited! We were so lucky to have found him at your shelter and even more lucky to have put in our application for adoption first, as another couple was looking into getting him as well. Maybe we’ll get him a sister from your shelter too! Thank you for giving this animal a second chance to have a great home and a better life! -the Waynick family

		We adopted our precious kitty in November. I had been wanting to adopt a cat for a while, and when I saw his picture featured on the shelter website, I knew I wanted to meet him. We brought home this beautiful boy that same day. We call him Perry, and he has made himself right at home in our family. He rubs up against us when he wants attention, likes to sit in the windowsill, plays with boot laces, patiently lets our boys pet him, and likes to pounce on the area rug in the hallway. We all adore our little Perry! -the Wilson family

	We adopted Layla in July and just LOVE her! She is a sweet, good little cat and makes a nice companion for our other cat. We have spoiled her rotten, and she has gained weight and has grown hair around the previous bald spots she had around her ears. Just wanted to thank you for your part with this wonderful new addition to our lives. We will continue pampering her the rest of her days. -the Griffin family

		I was looking for a new companion and found Miss Kitty. How she was at the shelter as long as she was, I do not know--she had been there for a couple of months! Now she follows me everywhere, greets me at the door everyday, plays hide and seek and is overall the best companion! I highly recommend adopting from the shelter--they will be forever grateful and you will have a new found friend! -Kasey

	We adopted Logan, a 9 month old black cat, about a year and a half ago. He is an amazing cat! We named him Logan for his large teeth and claws--he's a bit like a wolverine. When people see him, they say he looks like a small panther. We have a much smaller female tabby named Eva who was not so sure about him, but boy did he want to play with her! They now are buddies and chase each other up and down and all around our home. We have never laughed so hard! When she hides from him or is done playing, he wanders the house making owl-like sounds. I have never heard this noise from any cat before. They both snuggle with us every night. He has been such a blessing to our family. I sure am glad I walked into the shelter that day. -Thank you, the Jones family

		Tova, Scott’s beloved service dog, ever faithful, died May 27th. Tova was 14, and had been at home on hospice care for several months, not able to walk without help. Recently Scott got his bike trailer fixed and was able to take Tova zooming through town, which he liked very much. Thank you to Patrick, our good vet/friend who came to be with us as Tova passed on. Tovarish Didelphid Wagster 1996-2010

	My first visit to Animal Services was two weeks before Christmas, 2005. My wife wanted a black kitten desperately. We fell in love with Papito, a 6 month old kitten. A week later, we were eaten up with guilt for not adopting his brother also, so we went back, only to find he'd already found a home. There was another kitten pulling on our heartstrings though and we ended up taking home Persephone, a four month old, fuzzy gray ball of neuroses who had been at the shelter since she was only a few days old. As you can see, they're best friends. They've adapted well to the two other kitties (also rescues) that we brought home over the last 5 years and are the undisputed rulers of the house. A few years later, when we bought our first home in July 2009, we knew the first thing we wanted was a dog and we came straight to Animal Services. We ended up with Athena, a "lab and ?" puppy who was just 8 weeks old and left in the night drop by her prior owner. She's perfect for us...just the right size and energy level, and you can see every day how happy she is just being home. This picture was taken Easter morning when she was about 7 months old. She's just celebrated her first birthday and we are looking into training her as a therapy dog for people in hospitals and nursing homes. Thank you for helping the animals with nowhere else to go! -Hillary

		2 years ago, we adopted Sampson, our shepherd/husky mix. He's my jogging partner/protector, and our 3 boys love him! Lots of love and patience was all we needed to train him so he wasn't the one walking us! He's more of a family member than guard dog, but we know he'd protect us just as quickly as we'd protect him. Thanks for helping us find the perfect doggy for our family! -The Merritt Family

	We adopted our kitty from you in April and named her Pumpkin because of her roly poly tummy! She is the perfect kitty and can't understand why she wasn't adopted sooner. We are a lucky family! -The Halletts

		I adopted two dogs--big brother Ben in 2001 when he was 8 months old--someone had moved out of their house and left the poor boy in the back yard. He and I connected right away and have developed the kind of close bond you can only get with a "pound pup." Little sister Annie joined us when she was just a 9-week old playful girl. She has grown into a tall, athletic sweetheart, but she will always be my "little girl." They both are doing great at the ages of 8 and 9 (almost 9 and 10 now!) and I cannot imagine life without them.

	We adopted Bella in 2002. My mom secretly went and saw her without anyone else knowing. My mom then came back and got us and brought us to see her. There was a new puppy jumping around (her brother or sister) and we wanted that one because Bella was now sleeping in the back of the cage all by herself. Then my mom said it was that one in the back so brought her home and let her run around in our backyard trying to think of a name. Then we thought of my great-grandma's lamb named Bella who we loved to pet and play with, so that is what we named her, Bella. She is the best dog ever. We love Bella! -Emma, age 11

		I adopted this beautiful cat from you about a week ago. She is our pride and joy. I changed her name to Princess because that is truly what she is to us. She loves to sleep with her mama and she is still getting used to her two brothers, although they love her to death. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to adopt her and bring her to our family. Wish I could adopt them all. Thank you, Tonnette

	We got Peggy, a five month old kitten, and she's adjusted beautifully to our home. We were looking for a companion for our other cat, Odin, who was lonely during the day with my partner and I constantly working. After only a couple of days, the two have grown quite comfortable with one another, and play almost constantly. It has been a great pairing, and we are grateful to the staff and volunteers at Animal Services for helping us to find her! Note: One of the reasons we chose Peggy was because she was the loudest, most obnoxious one in the room and turned a lot of people off. In just a few days, her temperament has mellowed, and while she does talk quite a bit, she's more conversational than whiny. I urge anyone who is considering adopting to take a second look at the ones who put you off at first--very often the perfect pet is waiting to come out, if you just give them the chance.

		I adopted Jasper in Feb, 1996. He was 6 months old and starving when he came to the animal shelter. He was the only cat that day that would approach my active 3 year old son. Jasper is turning 14 next month and has been diagnosed with cancer. This may be our last year together. I look forward to his old kitty meow every day. I am thankful that we found each other. He is and will always be my best friend. We have been through life together. -Debbie

	We adopted Kali (then called Callie) in January 2009. She's a border collie/retriever mix who is smart, loving, and full of energy and fun. Kali loves to go camping, chase frisbees, and perform tasks, such as taking the key out to the mail box, bringing in the mail and the newspaper, and carrying gardening tools. Her coat is now beautiful and shiny, and she has overcome her initial shyness around other animals and people. Since she enjoys herding, we hope to give her the opportunity to herd something besides us in the future! Thank you to the animal shelter staff and volunteers for all you do. -Judy & Don

		I adopted Rufus in March of 2007. I so desperately wanted a companion who would be able to travel with me and visit with my elderly clients, if they so wished. Upon arriving at your shelter, I opened the door to the dog pens just as the door in the rear opened with two volunteers...and a small dog. And there he was...Rufus...trotting down the hallway with no clue as to what was going on or where he was. Almost 3 years later he is still the number one man in my life and is adored wherever we go. His goofy wild hair, quirky old man personality and endless terrier enthusiasm is loved by all. My cup runneth over... -Kelly

	We said goodbye to our beautiful Nadya on Monday, April 6th, 2009. She had been a beloved member of our family since May 1995, when we adopted her. Of the six huskies we have had over the past 39 years, Nadya was the smartest and the sweetest, and always wanted to be near us. Many friends assumed we had named her after Nadia Comaneci, the first Olympic gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10. That was a good portent, but she was actually named in tribute to Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, whose spirit-filled violin concert we heard with the Seattle Symphony a few days before we brought Nadya home. -Gerry and Barbara

	We adopted Diggy, a 10-week-old border collie/lab mix puppy, in 1996. She quickly became the center of our universe and made our family complete. Two years later, a cold and hungry little pit bull mix puppy showed up on our doorstep - we never found her owner and she joined our family. Diggy and Tommie became inseparable, Diggy assuming the momma dog role and taking care of little Tommie. I can’t imagine not having had the last 13 years with our girls. In January 2008, Diggy was diagnosed with diabetes. We give her two insulin injections every day and she is still very healthy. She never hides when it’s time for her shot. I honestly believe it’s an indication of the trust and love she has for us. While we have had to make slight adjustments to our lives - making sure one of us is home when it’s time for her shot and taking vacations/trips that she can go on with us - we wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world. Tommie has developed allergies, and while it can be a little challenging to keep them both healthy, they are so worth the effort. They love us unconditionally and we them - unconditionally. Thank you for your tireless efforts to save these helpless animals and for placing Diggy in our care - she has truly brightened each and every day of the last 13 years of our lives. -Linda & Mike

		Rukia arrived home last night around 6pm. We kept her in the carrier for awhile so she and my other ferret, Ginger, could sniff each other out safely. Well, neither approved of this and a cacophony of door rattling ensued. Since they seemed so insistent, I decided to let Rukia out. After a couple of minutes of sniffing and rolling around, they became best friends and adept partners in crime. Ginger has Rukia well-acquainted with all the hiding spots in the front room and she has already begun her own little stash of toys and other odds and ends. She is the friend Ginger needed and the extra amusement I needed! Have you ever seen two ferrets share a water bottle? It is so adorable--especially when one is half the size of the other. Thank you so much for the opportunity to give Rukia a forever home. She makes our silly family very complete!

	Most of our pets have come from Animal Services over the last 25 years and all of them have been exceptional. Buddy and Rocky are brothers that we adopted in 2001 as young adults. They were obviously attached to each other so we adopted both. They enjoy each other's company as well as cuddling with us. In the spring of 2008, Ciara was a wonderful addition after losing our old male Dobie the previous year (Ciara was approximately 3 years old). She is a fun and loving dog with a huge sense of play and need to cuddle, when she isn't curled up on the couch or stretched out by the fire. Thanks, Animal Services, for being there--not only for the animals but for people who love animals. -Jewell and David

	I adopted this wonderful black lab/great dane mix in fall of '03 when he was about 3 months old. His name is Henry, but Mr. Stinky or Princess Twinkles also works! He was quite a challenge early on; he ate a the door jamb to our basement and raged through like a tornado, chased the mailman down the street, fell off a cliff in Bellingham, and had many other exciting adventures! But now, 5 years later, he a sweet, wonderful, well behaved dog...well, sort of well behaved! I'm so glad I found him--he was meant for me! -Adrienne West

		I would just like you to know that a Blue-Heeler, German Shepherd mix dog we named "Laci" is doing fantastic! I'm sure you all will remember her as the one-eyed dog adopted this July. She's accomplished many things, including becoming best friends with our three cats; watch-dog of the century; and completing dog training 101 at Petsmart. We love her and couldn't have found a more perfect pet to blend into an already-blended family. Happy holidays to you all and let's hope all of the animals you shelter find homes like ours and the love, care, companionship, and healthy life they all deserve! -Reuben

	Thank you for our sweet little Pearly girl. We had been making weekly visits to the shelter after losing our beloved lab last summer to cancer. I saw an ad listed by Pearl's foster home and stopped to see her--it was love at first sight! I called my husband crying, begging, pleading that she belonged with us and he said yes! We took all 6 kids to pick her up and she won all of them over instantly as well! She is sweet, adorable, spunky and spoiled! We just love her and thank you so much! She is right at home with all of new brothers and sisters! -The Krug Family

		Hi. my Name is Tunguska Diamond-- Tunguska for the rivers running in Siberia--as I just love the water! I'm getting along really great with my big brother Brock. He teaches me lots of stuff, like playing, wrestling and digging! I actually taught him something--how to jump up on his dog house and lie down up there. I can sit on command, am learning to lie down and this new thing brother is helping me with--dancing. Every morning I greet mom with my pink teddy bear in my mouth--she likes it and thinks it's cute! I'm learning how to sing too. I just wanted to thank you for finding me ,"My Forever Home."

	We adopted Willow about a month and a half ago and are very happy. She is so wonderful and very sweet. It has been so much fun to see her grow and adjust to her new home. She is a fast learner and already knows sit and down and we are working on come and stay. Without the help of Animal Services, we would have never found her and we are so thankful to have her. Thank you! - the Van Ramsey Duseys

		We are so thankful for your adoption program, as you brought Benny into our lives in April. He is 20 pounds of joy and we enjoy every second with him. Benny is spirited and energetic, yet loves to cuddle and snuggle on the couch when we are having some down time. He seems very happy with us, too - he loves that we take him to doggie day care at Fort Lewis while we are at work each day, so he gets to play with lots of other dogs and expend his energy; he also loves to hike with us all over the state. Everyone who meets him falls in love with him and we can't even imagine how such a great dog ended up at the shelter. Thank you for uniting good homes with the best of pets. -2LTs William and Kristen Johnson

	I am so glad to have found Mattie in your shelter. I was finally ready to adopt another dog 2 years after losing one to cancer. I went to the shelter hoping to find a smaller male dog but fell for Mattie, a springer mix. She was so quiet when all the rest of the dogs were barking. She is such a good girl and she smiles all the time! You never know which animal is going to be the one for you--keep your heart open as you meet and greet them at the shelter. Thanks so much for my happy girl! -Lisa Ramirez

		We adopted Remmy about 2 weeks ago and we just wanted to let you know how happy we are with him and him with us. He has adjusted well and we're so pleased with him. He rode home great in the truck with us and laid down like a perfect gentleman. When we arrived at the house we walked him around the yard for a little while and then brought him inside. He walked in like he'd lived here his whole life. He is very comfortable here and has already made his way into our oldest son's room to sleep on the bed with him. He's been great and we couldn't be more pleased with our decision to adopt a shelter pet! -The Buckout Family

	One day after work, while visiting the shelter, I just wanted to hold one of the kittens. One of the volunteers took a little scrawny tabby kitten out of the cage for me to hold, while I looked at the adult cats. This little kitten began purring and lay on my shoulder as happy as can be. After about 45 minutes, another visitor said to me "Looks like you found the your kitten." I realized I had become so attached to this little girl, I had no choice but to call her my new baby. She is now the most spoiled, awesome cat anyone could ever want. She sleeps in my arms at night, pats me with her paw when she wants something and insists I pet her until she falls asleep. -Charlie, Lisa, Wrinkles, and Little Missy




	Would you like to see your adopted pet's story here? Please email a photo and brief story to our webmaster. Be sure to let us know your pet's name, when you adopted him/her from us, and whether you want your full name included in your pet's story.