Happy Tails!

Read stories of pets that bring joy to their new owners.  Do you have a story of your experience adopting a pet from AWA? Email us your stories and and we'll share them.

• Alfafa--Bringing a dog into this graduate student's life helps relieve stress
• Brock--"We wanted a playmate for our dog."
• Cassie--"Excited to see what life brings" an 18-year old and her cat.
• Charlie and Summer--From disaster to one big happy family
• Fitzy and Mabel--"We needed some new little faces to add some mischief."
• Jake--A dog helps mend a broken heart
• Joe and Dynasty--Two cuddly cats

 

Alfalfa

By: Wendy

During graduate school and a lot of stress, I longed for a dog of my own. I started searching rescues for MY dog, and what I really wanted was an Airedale Terrier.

Airdales are not an easy find.I stumbled on Alfalfa. What a name! I thought it was silly and his tail did resemble the one spike of hair from the Little Rascals's head.

AWA staff were careful to check him out with the entire family. With 2 other dogs and a 5-year old, the behaviorists wanted to be sure Alfalfa would be a good match since he was quick on his feet but generally, a very friendly boy.

We passed their test and he has been my dog ever since. In only two nights he began settling in and he sleeps quietly all night in his bed next to mine. He gets up  and waits for me. We started our routine with breakfast and a run and he is up to 2 miles with me every morning.

 I love my dog and he loves me. Thank you Kate and Amanda from the Voorhees AWA!

 

BrockBy: James

I took Brock home yesterday after he met Angel. They seem to be a team. When we got home he took to me very well and won't leave my side unless he is playing with Angel. I don't know if my couches will survive. I think their names should be Bonnie and Clyde!

 

Cassie  By: Vered 

I adopted a one-year old cat from AWA after volunteering in the cat room a few times and getting to know each cat. As much as I would have loved to give all the cats there a home, I found one that I instantly fell in love with and wanted to give a forever-home.

She is my best friend and is always there to love me, calm me down, cheer me up, or whatever else. I can't believe how attached I've become to her, and I am so grateful to AWA for giving me a lifelong friend. I adopted her when I was 18 so she will be with me for many years and get to see me go through many life changes. I'm excited to see where life brings us!

Charlie and Summer By: Geneva 

Who could've known the scared dog, Charlie, cowering in the corner had such a personality? As adorable as Summer was, she certainly started out as a handful, but she soon became our extremely intelligent, cuddle-bug.

Charlie was a cowering in the corner outside. AWA staff told us he didn't like being inside and was leery of people but we took him anyway. We knew he needed a friend to help him adjust, so we decided to adopt the very happy, energetic puppy, Summer, to be his companion because Charlie really loves other dogs.

The beginning was a disaster! Summer puked every time she was in the care, she went to the bathroom inside the house, she was unruly and she played too rough for our little Molly, a Shih Tzu.

Charlie paced in one room in the house and used it as a bathroom as well. Then Charlie, who was deathly afraid of darkness, was frightened by the loud noise and ran off into the darkness. He was missing for three weeks in the Medford woods. He had been spotted, but no one seemed to be able to get close enough to catch him. Miraculously a family was able to catch him.

Well, our outside dog became an inside dog and he stopped pacing. I doubt he was ever so happy to be inside in his life. His phobias and fears are improving daily. Summer is such a smart girl! She learned the house rules very quickly and even demands to go for car rides now. Along with Molly, they are quite a happy, spoiled group!

The AWA staff was so very helpful and supportive  I would recommend to anyone interested in adopting to definitely check out the AWA, where they so lovingly care for the animals they rescue.

 

Fitzy and Mabel  By:  Kristin 

After losing several of our old rat ladies in the last year, my husband and I felt we needed some new little faces in our mischief.

So, we started looking at local shelters on Petfinder.com. We fell in love with, then, Snuggles and Fizgig at AWA. S

With the help of the wonderful staff we met the girls and knew they were meant to be in our family. After letting the girls settle into our home for a few days, it was time for them to meet their sisters. In the neutral area of the bathroom, the girls met, wrestled, cleaned tackled and got to know each other. The girls are the best of friends and you would never know these sweet little faces , now Fitzy and Mabel,  are newcomers to the family.

Thank you AWA for all you do!

JAKE  By: Regina

 I just wanted to give everyone an update on Jake.

Jake was excited when he reached his new home. He met a few neighbors, loves children, and is excited about the four cats who reside with him. Jake was so overwhelmed with all his dogs beds (3), toys and chewies that he was exhausted. He walks great on the leash (he goes for a walk every morning), he already knows where his house is, listens to commands, but didn't appreciate sleeping in the cage the first night. He cried for a little while but then decided he was safe and when he wakes up he will still be in his forever home. I think Jake was afraid of sleeping because he couldn't believe he has such a great home with so much love and attention.

He had a couple of pee pee accidents on the rug but we're showing him he needs to go to the back door when he has to go to the bathroom. Jake is pretty much housetrained and it's only been one week! I can't thank you enough for such a wonderful pup.

He is a combination of my two dogs that passed away recently - Max and Roxanne. My daughter kept telling me that those dogs  would send me another dog to love and she was right. All Jake wants to do is make me happy. Even though I was heartbroken twice, in less than two months Jake has definitely helped me heal and love all over again. I just wanted you to know that Jake is now HOME!!!

 

joe and dynasty 

By: Christina 

We adopted Joe and Dynasty from Animal Welfare Association in July. Dynasty was 3 months old and Joe 3 years old. We couldn't be happier. We all love them so much especially my kids. We enjoy watching the kitten play and Joe loves to sleep and cuddle.

I would recommend you adopt from AWA, they care about animals and really try to find a home for these precious animals that need a home. We are so happy with our very friendly and cuddly cats :)

Thanks again AWA :)