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SOME OF OUR "HAPPY TAILS"
Snuggles
& Maggie May
Their
new mom, Debra, wrote:
"We met our beloved Snuggles (above left) last summer when
Katie, my friend and the manager of the SPCA Thrift Store, invited my
little Schnauzer Denali and me to come meet her in the office. Snuggles,
a tiny blue-eyed cat, had been battered repeatedly and suffered head
trauma that resulted in brain damage with little seizures and poor depth
perception. She immediately came over to Denali, walked around and
under her, meowed at her, and Denali was thrilled. It took me several
months to convince my husband that we needed to adopt this kitty.
Finally, he agreed, and now thanks me over and over again for bringing
her home. Snuggles and Denali are best friends. My oldest cat Evinrude
is nice to her, and my middle cat Maggie May (also adopted from the
SPCA) mothers her. Snuggles keeps us laughing and seems to be a
perpetual kitten. Her seizures are less frequent and less severe. We are
so happy that she chose us to be her forever family, and are eternally
grateful to Katie for introducing us.
Our beloved Maggie May (above right) was one of the most
beautiful cats I had ever seen. She is a tortoise shell, and her eyes
are brilliant green. She has a regal nature about her (her original name
was Queenie). She seemed to know immediately that this was her forever
home, but started out a little aloof. That changed when we brought
Snuggles home to join our family – Maggie became her mother figure,
became more kitten-like, and also more affectionate. Now Maggie joins me
at the computer desk, head butts me, and melts into my hands for her
nightly massage. She loves to watch our fish, and has her own seat at
both aquariums. Our home is full of love and it is a privilege to share
it with these wonderful and well-loved kitties. Thank you from the
bottom of our hearts. We are a blessed and lucky menagerie."
Kavik
Kavik's
new dad, Don, gave this report from Kavik:
"My name is Kavik and I just wanted to tell
everyone about my new home. I get all the attention in the world
and have
a 7-year-old girl that I get to play with all the time. My
friends take me to Flat Top so I can walk all I want to, and I
also get to
see all the other animals. My friends bought me a new bed, but I
like
sleeping in their bed better. I weigh almost 100 lbs. and
sometimes the bed gets
crowded, but they move over. They bought me lots of toys, and so
far I
chewed them all up except for one. I like the ones that squeak
or make noise. I
am very happy now and have lots of fun. My favorite thing to do
is to wait at
the bus stop for my best friend to get home every day. I start
talking to
her and the bus driver when I see the bus coming. Everyone
should come
down to the SPCA to see which of my other friends need a home
before they go
out and buy one from a stranger. Thank you SPCA for giving me a
chance to find a new home."
Sampson
Sampson's new mom, Cindy, wrote:
"
My
fiancé Mike and I adopted Sampson from you a little over a year ago when he was
just three. Sam is an epileptic dog who was left at the pound
likely because his previous owners were frustrated with his epilepsy.
According to his veterinarian, he was having seizures monthly. For anyone
who is unfamiliar, seizures are very difficult to watch, and if they last too
long, can possibly kill the dog. Epileptic dogs must be given medication
twice daily at regular intervals. In addition, their blood must be tested
at least once yearly in order to make sure that the seizure medication is
not having negative effects on their livers.
When
we adopted Sam, we were very careful about administering his
medicine, but very soon, we found evidence that he had had a
seizure while we were at work. He had two more while he was alone,
and finally had one when we were present. It was a nice morning and
we had
just finished watching a movie when, it seemed, an invisible hand reached out
to grab Sam as he was walking by us and threw him against the glass sliding
door. It took a while for us to realize what was going on. We
watched helplessly while he shook and frothed at the mouth. We talked
calmly to him, but it was like he was possessed. It seemed like
forever – likely only a minute or two – until the violent part of the seizure was
finished, and then he began to slowly come back to us. During the
recovery phase, he froths, twitches, and later walks around in a daze. It
is heartbreaking, so we finally started to understand why it would be difficult
for some people to experience it.
Sam
has had a total of seven seizures in the year that we have had him. We
have seen three. As hard as it is to witness and as hard as it must be on
Sam, we believe that he has an excellent quality of life with us – a trip to the
dog park every day, lots of treats and love – and we will stand by him until
that is no longer true. He is a great dog!
The
bottom line is that we are very happy with our "Special Needs" dog,
and although not for everyone, we encourage folks not to look over those dogs
who may have a problem or two. We thank you AK SPCA for rescuing Sam from
the pound and giving him a chance."
Cpt. Gulliver Treadwell (aka Morrison)
The Captain's new mom, Maggie, wrote:
“We adopted Captain Gulliver Treadwell from you on October 6th. We knew we were right for each other at
first sight. He has heard all about all of our previous pets and looked
at pictures of them and marveled at their beauty and intelligence. He
listens with a kind ear and heals our hearts as we mourn the death of our
dear Sheltie, Cinnamon, after 15 years of companionship. With
Gulliver's guidance we are able to love again. Gulliver is the perfect
match for us. Thank you for all that you do."
Buddy
Buddy's new dad, Michael, wrote:
"Buddy has been the best dog, and he has been good for me
too by getting me outside and walking daily. He is very smart, learns quickly, and has
made many friends (both human and canine). Buddy has also helped me in my
artwork – I think he really likes the camera."
Jack Sparrow (aka Gracen)
Jack's new mom, Gena, wrote:
"I adopted Jack back in September. Since
then, I can’t imagine not having him in my life. He’s such a great cat — he’s
sweet, he’s loving, and he’s just so goofy. He’s also very intelligent. He now
knows how to 'sit' on command ('command' meaning whenever he wants to) before
he gets fed or whenever I have a treat that he’s interested in in my hand. I
also wanted to say thank you for keeping him safe for me. I really
appreciate everything you all did for us. He’s the perfect cat for me and
I look forward to having him around for a very long time. Now onto learning his
next command: roll over. Wish me luck!"
Bugsy (aka Nater)
Bugsy's new parents, Doug & Michelle, wrote:
"We brought Nater home from the Fat Cat Inn last July.
We were apprehensive about bringing a new cat into the home with our two dogs.
But both Zoey our adopted Sheltie mix, and Abby, a stray Husky mix from the
streets of Anchorage, quickly accepted him as part of the family. The name
Nater just didn't seem fitting, so we now call him Bug or Bugsy. He
doesn't seem to have a preference for either name, he equally ignores us when
called regardless of what name we call him by. The same week we brought Bugsy
home we also bought a motor home. Bugsy and the dogs very quickly
adapted to life on the road. He likes to ride on the dashboard watching the road, and it's
also a favorite place for a catnap. We have a harness
for him so he can get out of the RV and walk the beach or the campground, but
he mostly likes to just lay in his favorite window watching for birds or
squirrels. We are so grateful to the AK SPCA for saving him and taking care of
him until he found his forever home here with us. He is now a full-fledged (and
thoroughly spoiled) member of the family. We've been thinking about getting him
a buddy, so we may come see you again soon."
Eddie
Eddie's new mom, Lori, wrote:
"They say they love walks into your life when you least expect it. That is just exactly what happened between Eddie (aka Fast Eddie) and me. July 2008, I was shopping at your thrift store when Eddie jumped from his perch in the cat tree. Our eyes locked and it was 'love at first sight.' I asked if I could pet him and in a few days he was at his new forever home. I am disabled with Multiple Sclerosis and he has shown me unconditional love. He doesn’t mind if my legs or body aren’t functioning 100 percent. On my good days we play, and on days when I need to rest, he loves to snuggle. He watches out for me and if I am gone from a room for more than five minutes, he looks for me. He has definitely found his forever home and I couldn’t be more thrilled."
 
Bristol's new parents, Chad and Joey, wrote:
"Thought we'd send you some new pictures of our great pup! This is Bristol (you called her Fluffy or Emily when we adopted her). She's doing great and loves Juneau. She is the sweetheart of the neighborhood!"
 
Lady
Lady's new mom, Michelle, wrote:
"Here is Lady. We love her to death. As you can see, she got a new look for
summer, hat and all. She is doing great, though she has a habit of taking off and
not coming when you call her. She
goes everywhere with us – on the boat, in the car, in the kids' bed. She is a
sweet heart. Thank you."
Lily (aka Hope)
Lily's new mom, Patsy, wrote:
"I adopted Hope (now known as Lily) – what a joy she is, she has added so much to my life, and my older cat appreciates her, too. She is so petite, but what a terror! Lily has become so affectionate; she's my shadow. I think putting cats at the SPCA Thrift Shop was such a good idea. I shop there often and had observed Lily while I shopped. After a couple of visits it appeared to me that Lily would be an ideal adoptee. Thank you for taking such good care of this little creature until I could happen along."
Photo courtesy of Alaska Pet-ography
 
Chuck (aka Becker) & Lily (aka Poi)
Lily & Becker's new mom, Alison, wrote:
"My husband and I adopted Lily [top right] and Chuck [top left] in the fall of 2007. In July we had
suffered the loss of our beloved orange tabby (who we
found on the streets of Anchorage as a stray) and we
were feeling very sad. We finally felt ready to go to the
SPCA to see if there might perhaps be a new companion
waiting for us. We ended up signing papers for two
cats, both of whom were so affectionate and sweet. We
couldn't choose, so we took both on trial home visits
within a week of one another. They have both been
wonderful new members of our family and are getting
along great with our older cat Stumpy, as well as our
turtle and house-roaming rabbit. The cats and humans
all sleep on the bed together in one big knot and they
provide us with a lot of happiness. We adore our new babies and thank the SPCA so much for
taking good care of them and keeping them until we
could come get them."
Layla's new parents, Mikey and Ross, wrote:
"This
is Layla, our True Asian Princess. Pekingese were bred and lived as
royalty and considered part of the Chinese Emperor and Empress’
household… and she will not let anyone forget it! Seriously, Layla is
the most gentle and easy-mannered animal we’ve ever known. She can be
quite aloof and snooty if she doesn’t know you, but once she accepts
you, she’s a sweetheart. Four months after Layla adopted us, she jumped
off a chair and hurt her back. She almost had to have surgery and they
didn’t think she’d be able to walk again. One and a half years later, she is doing great; a very
happy little girl who loves to garden with Dad and cuddle with Mom. If
we could have created our own “perfect pet” I don’t think it would have
been as perfect as Layla. Layla says to say hello and thanks to all
those at the AK SPCA who took care of her until she could reclaim her
rightful place as Princess of the Universe."
 
Big Joe
Joe's new mom, Annette, wrote:
"I wanted to give you an update on Big Joe. He is just awesome and what a wonderful addition to our family! We all love him so much and he shows us the same love in return. Joe is a real snack monster and we have to "bear proof" the kitchen, but we wouldn't have it any other way. He just loves to snuggle and gives LOTS and LOTS of kisses. Thanks for all the love and care you gave him when he was there."
Jesse James's new mom, Linda, wrote:
"Just wanted to write an update on Jesse James. He is doing great and my cats are finally getting used to him. He is so much fun and he is just a perfect fit! I run with him in the morning and sometimes at night, so we are both keeping in shape. He is a pretty good lap dog, except that he weighs way more than my toy poodle. He does have some moments where he just doesn't want to listen, but hey, so does my husband, and I still keep him around! Thank you so much for our special blessing."
 
Deuce's new parents, Stephanie & Dustin, wrote:
"We
have had Deuce in our home for more than a year now and here's some
long overdue pictures and an update! We only had Deuce for a few weeks
and realized he really needed a playmate. We were looking for a good
match for him that would love to play as much as he does, but not quite
so big due to our small sized house. (Deuce's last weight was 130
lbs.!) We found a French Bulldog who needed a new home due to his
"hyperness" and decided to try it out. Deuce and Biggie are now the
best of buddies! They play and play and love to sleep together on the
bed and couch! Deuce loves the snow, loves to run, and loves to go to
get-togethers where his other friends (dogs) will be. Deuce loves to be
a lap dog, too, and will cuddle on the couch as close to you as he can
get anytime there is room! Thank you, Alaska SPCA for giving Deuce a
second chance! He is a very happy dog."
 
Harvey's new mom, Sunshine, wrote:
"Harvey
is such an awesome dog, I can't believe I was the lucky one and he
didn't get adopted sooner. Since his adoption, we have moved from
Anchorage to Bozeman, Montana. Harvey has learned to walk on a leash
and even runs next to my bike (really scary things, those bikes). We
have taken him hiking, canoeing, innertubing, skiing, camping, and even
riding on 4-wheelers. He LOVES to visit my parents' farm, but had to
learn the hard way from my mom that that cats and horses don't need to
be chased, and that chickens and sheep are not breakfast food. He now
gets along with all the neighborhood dogs and cats (and chickens) and
no longer barks at the lifelike elk statues on the bank lawn. Harvey
has been such an awesome addition to my life and is loved by everyone
who meets him. Thank you, thank you, for saving Harvey for me!"
Rocket's new family wrote:
"Rocket [above left] is doing great in our home. Within 10 minutes of getting inside and sniffing around, he was laying on the floor with his legs in the air, waiting to have his belly rubbed. The first few days were touch-and-go as we were watching him interact with our 1 1/2-year-old Husky mix, Dozer [above right]. But it seems like they are becoming fast friends and Dozer is appreciating having someone to play with in the back yard -- and chase the cat from room to room. All is well and we really believe that Rocket has found his forever home with us. We have all completely and totally fallen in love with him."
 
Deshka's new family wrote:
"Deshka is such a great dog! You obviously took wonderful care of her because she is so sweet and loving. She and Nina [above left] are a great team and when Nina is gone for work, Deshka gets to come and spend time at our house – playing in the yard (fenced 1/2-acre) with our dogs Greta and Tisha [above right]. She can also come through a dog door into my house to warm up whenever she wants. She seems very happy and is a joy to have in our family! I hope more people will realize what wonderful pets they can get from the SPCA!"
Lucy's new mom, Angela, wrote:
"I must say, we absolutely LOVE Lucy. She has been such a great addition to our family. After having some tiffs in the beginning, she is now very protective of our 14-year-old Springer Spaniel (Molly). It is really cute. Lucy loves to play fetch with the kids, play with her ball in the backyard, and to go for runs/walks and even rides in the car. She has such a wonderful personality. She and I are beginning class at Alaska Dog Sports this Saturday. I cannot wait to get to know her better."
UPDATE [Dec '07]: "We have graduated from the Beginner I and Beginner II at Alaska Dog Sports, and we are going to participate in the Rally class beginning in January. She is adorable, and we love her dearly. Thank you so much for keeping her for so long. I just know that she was waiting for us!"
Dolly's new family wrote:
"Dolly is great! The girls just love her. Thank you!"
Otis's new dad, Bob, wrote:
"My girlfriend Hannah and I adopted Otis from you back in May, and I wanted to give you a long-overdue update. Otis has been absolutely perfect for us, and he’s got a great life now – including a cozy dog crate in the bedroom, a great yard to play in, and we take him for long walks/runs twice a day in either Russian Jack Springs Park or around Cheney Lake. Otis is extremely mellow, smart, obedient, and sweet, and he’s warming up to his new home and showing off his wonderful personality more and more all the time. He gets along with people and other dogs fabulously – in fact, we can let him off leash almost anywhere if we want to, as he obeys us very well. We’re happy to report it’s a total success story all the way around!"
Tootsie's new mom, Jan, wrote:
"Dear folks at SPCA, thank you so much for helping Tootsie join our family. She is such a wonderful dog! We are all crazy about her. She came to us in January but it seems like she's been part of our family forever. She's a very happy, affectionate, smart dog. She sleeps on the floor of the girls' room, gets lots of walks & play time, and is the delight of the whole neighborhood. She went to dog obedience school with Liz Williams (Alaska Dog Sports) and did very well."
Photo courtesy of Alaska Pet-ography
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We hope you enjoy these photos and stories submitted by our former Shelter animals' new families!
These are some of the reasons why we do what we do – and we love hearing the "Happy Tails" of our former charges.
If you adopted your new family member from us, please tell us your special story and send photos.
Let us know, too, if you would like your story included on this page.
Note: content may be edited for grammar, clarity, and length.
We thank all of you who have elected to share your loving, heartwarming, and successful adoption stories with us.
You are an inspiration for new beginnings for the once homeless, abused, neglected, and abandoned.
Click here to see some of our recently adopted kids.
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