DID YOU KNOW... that a tired dog is a happy dog (which translates into a happy owner)?

HAPPY TAILS

Successful adoption stories are the best part of Pets Without Parents' existence. They remind us why we do what we do. We feel extraordinarily lucky to have such wonderful adopters.

Please submit your "happy tail" to us via email. Please include a photo (or 2) and a brief story, preferably 100-150 words. When available, we have provided the pet's name at time of adoption in parentheses.

Calloway

We adopted Calloway mid June 2010 and everyone loves him! After the first week or so of adjustment his personality really began to shine. Since he was a present for our daughter we wanted to make sure he loved her as much as she loved him, but in the words of Jerry McGuire "You had me at hello," was the feeling for both of them. Since we brought Calloway home he has been a wonderful addition to the family and really enjoys having an "older sister." Attached is a picture of Calloway and our daughter on the way to school. We hope that everyone loves their adopted pet as much as we do.

King

I adopted King in May 2010 and just want to let everyone now how he was doing. He is a little hand full and wants to chew on everything but I love him. He loves to play with our other dog Molly even when she doesn't want to. He's really smart maybe a little to much for his own good. It didn't take him long to learn to go out side to use the restroom and to go in his cage when its bedtime . He's getting to be pretty big now and will be 5 months old in 10 days according to his paperwork. I just wanted to let you know how he was doing

Roxanne Renee (Marie)

Roxanne Renee (aka Marie) is the love of my life. Her favorite toy is a tennis ball. We throw it and she brings it back up on the porch for us to throw again. She also has learned how to bounce it, raising her head, bouncing it and catching it again. How cute! She sleeps up near me, usually having me hold her foot or tail as I fall asleep and when I get up in the night she is right up against me. She is the most affectionate dog. She mended my heart after losing Sadie. We have her insured so that is taken care of. Silly law but oh well. We are so grateful for her. Thank you!

Malone (Rascal)

We just wanted to let you know Rascal (Malone) is settling in quite nicely. He's got a TON of personality and is extremely active. Funny how Rabbit was instant friends with the dogs, but had to warm up to the cats, whereas Rascal was instant friends with the cats first. Extremely happy with the latest additions. We will send people your way when they are in the market for new family members.

Lola (Flash)

Hello, I adopted Lola (Flash at PWP) in March 2010. She has brought so much joy to my life!! I should have known what I was getting into picking the puppy that was stepping over her siblings and jumping up and down as if to say, “Pick me! Pick me!” She has gone from a big-bellied 7 lb baby with floppy ears to an energetic and athletic 28 lbs with Flying Nun ears . She loves people and playing with other dogs and is the life of the party at her play group. She has graduated from Puppy Kindergarten and we’re working our way through obedience classes. She is smart and a real love to have around. We’ll be starting agility classes in the Fall b/c this little girl loves to run and jump!!! Thank you so much for all that you do. You not only save animals; you save people too!

Ginger (Bianca)

Hi, My name is Ginger (formerly Bianca). On 1/5/2010, my 6 siblings and I were born under a trailer. Luckily we were all rescued, our mom included, from the cold winter snow and taken into foster care. I was the first to be adopted. I love my new family. They give me lots of toys, play with me all the time and take me to neat places like Puppy class and the pet store. Unfortunatly, I get car sick. My new mama has taught me lots of tricks but she says that because I'm such a social butterfly, I don't listen well when I see other dogs or people. Plus, I like to chase everything from fireflies to birds. Still, Mama says I'm a very good dog, except when I'm not. Whatever that means! Mama tells me that we'll try to contact my siblings and my birth mom and maybe get together someday. I hope we can.

Cocoa (Levi)

Hi it's me Cocoa (Levi). I love my new home. I have a best friend Trixie who is a 2 1/2 year old pastel calico, who plays with me quite a bit, grooms me and sleeps with me. My human sisters are awesome too. They both like to hold, pet, and play with me. I am very laid back, I even let my 5 year old human sister give me a bath. But her mom did not like that. I hear my family saying that they will always adopt a black cat because they are the best! Basically, I am one lucky, happy laid back, playful dude.

Conan (Prince)

Howdy my friends at PWP, I just want to drop you a note about my whereabouts. I hope you remember me. I’m the cute tomcat called “Prince” who’s previous owner left me and my sibling behind to join the circus – how ridiculous! Now I live with my new Mom and my older sister Ruby for about 1 year. That’s right guys, my anniversary is coming up! So how have I been? Well, I settled in pretty good. I love my Mom and I don’t leave her side when she is at home. Ruby and I love to play hide and seek behind the curtains (Mom doesn’t like it too much, but who cares.). At night, I sleep right next to Mom together with Ruby and of course in the big bed. I learned to talk a lot. It is amazing how much noise I can make. Also my balance improved which comes in quite handy when I walk on the furniture (Don’t tell Mom!). So that’s it for today. Just let me say one more thing: Thank you PWP for giving me the chance to find a new home. You are amazing!

Milo

I Just wanted to let you know that Milo is doing very well. My husband and I adopted him almost a year ago. I believe it was June 14th 2009 and Milo was almost 4 months old and only weighed about 6 lbs, but now he weighs about 16 lbs. Milo turned 1 on Feburary 19th. We call him our bunny because hops like a bunny when he runs. This little boy is so funny and play full, we love him and we take him just about everywhere we go. He is so spoiled that he even has his own room and he has his very own doggie car seat for when we take him places. We are taking him to North Carolina this Summer so he will get to see the ocean for the very first time.

Jinger (Blinks)

Just wanted to let you know how Jinger (formerly known as Blinks) was doing. Right when we got her home a little over a month ago (April 2010), she decided to hide under the couch. Now, she's as playful as a kitten! She loves just about any toy (especially her toy mouse), and gets along well with our other cat, Fifi. Fifi, who is about 19, often gives her opinion on the new member of the family with a bop on the head with her paw, which Jinger takes as an invitation to play. Jinger is also getting to know her way around the house, and is learning new things every day (THE ROCKING CHAIR MOVES!!!!!). I wish I could have gotten you a picture of her sitting in her and Fifi's favorite spot on the window sill, but she had to come down and investigate the camera. We are so grateful to you guys for our new cat! Thanks for letting us adopt her!

Melinda Ann (Doyle)

Here is an updated picture of Ben, Billie and Melinda Ann. They are so cute together! Thanks for being there and for all you do to help the homeless pets!

Tucker

I adopted Tucker last summer (2009). He was from the Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Pluto litter (I would really love to hear about them or see pictures of them if possible!) Tucker is the sweetest puppy. He instantly got along with my other animals. He loves to fetch and run and play tug of war. He is definitely a mutt, Im not quite sure what he is mixed with but he looks like a lab/basset and its so cute. He is definitely my perfect dog, thank you for letting me adopt him!

Colby (Benjamin)

We adopted a dog from the shelter in July 2009. His name was Benjamin(we re-named him Colby) and he has been SUCH a good dog. He is fits into our family like he was meant to be here. We absolutely love him. The thing he loves most is being with us. He gets lots of trips to a dog park because it is close to where my daughter plays soccer, but even when he is playing with his friends he always checks to make sure we are close by. He has the nicest disposition you could ever imagine....playful and fun with no mean intent ever. We feel so lucky to have him.

Avery (BoMa)

I wanted to let you know how Avery (formerly Boma) is doing. She's the perfect fit for our family; she seems to be relaxed and happy about her new digs. Here's a picture of Avery doing her favorite thing ... chillin' out! We love taking walks down by the river at Whetstone, and Avery is doing well meeting/interacting with other dogs. She is such a sweetheart!! We love having her as part of our family, and she is happy now that she's home! Sidenote: IF the family who surrendered her happens to be reading this, I realize it must've been difficult to give her up. I just want you to know she's doing well, getting showered with love, and being spoiled rotten with toys, walks, etc. She is a happy girl!!

Lexi (Cider)

I would just like to thank all of you for rescuing dogs and cats - I think it's a wonderful thing. I wanted to send you a updated photo of Lexi AKA Cider. She is doing great. Just had her at the vet last Tuesday and she weighs 40lbs at 6 months. She is growing to be a big healthy girl. She is getting ready to start obedience school, but she really does not need it. She is very smart. Thank you so much for letting us adopt her. I will send more photos, thanks again!

Lyle

Lyle made it safely to Virginia and settled in quickly. The girls, 3 older female cats, are not quite sure what to think, but slowly the pecking order is being redrawn. He does have a lot of energy. Thank you for your help.

Joey

We adopted Joey, a gray male kitten, from you the end of February 2010. Thought you'd like to know he is thriving and bringing lots of laughs and joy into our lives. He's become friends with Ceasar, our 6 year old orange tabby and is full of mischief. He's completed all of his shots and our vet says he's healthy and will grow into a very handsome adult. Joey is a real gift and we are enjoying him so much. I'm enclosing a picture of the guys, hanging out on our screened porch on a recent warm day.

Beanie (Happy) and Stanley (Dopey)

Here are some photos from last nights mini reunion. They may be a little blurry but it was hard to get a good shot where they were sitting still. I think the puppies had a good time once they had a little time to get know each other again. They are so much alike and I am looking forward to reuniting more of the puppies. Next time I hope to have a few more of the 7 Dwarfs playing together.

Shelter note: Beanie and Stanley were adopted by two different families. They recently had a "playdate" and had a wonderful time. If any of the other families of the "Seven Dwarves" are interested in getting the pups together, email pets@petswithoutparents.net.

Declan (Bobby)

I wanted to first, thank You for giving me the opportunity to become an adoptive parent to one of your rescues. He has been and continues to be a joy and wonderful part of my life. Back in January 2010 I adopted an 8 week old shy puppy named Bobby. He has since been renamed Declan, which is an Irish name that means full of happiness. I was embarking on my first experience as a dog owner and excited, but anxious. Declan is such a good boy and so smart. He took to people and other animals like a fish to water. His sense of adventure continues to astound me and he is never shy around new people, which is shocking because when I picked him up he was so scared and not very outgoing. Declan was superb at being house trained and his puppy classes are no exception either. He is now in the intermediate training class and knows: sit, stay, come, wait, how to loose leash walk, how to heal and walk right beside me, rollover, fetch and the list just continues as he learns. Don't get me wrong he is all puppy and he has his moments when the selective hearing sets in, but he is a wonderful dog! He loves to play outside and his favorite thing in the whole world is Doggy Day Camp!!! He has made friends with Bella, Koda, LuLu, Jules, and Xander.

I hope this gives you inspiration and a really big pat on the back for what you do! Both Declan and I are so thankful that you brought the two of us together and I spread the word about your organization every chance I get!

Molly

Just wanted to update you on Molly. She has settled in just fine. She is part of the family and spoiled already. She definitely has her own opinion on things. Attached are picture from Easter 2010. She had a great time hunting Easter eggs with the kids. She was one of them. Our vet said she is healthy and in good shape. Thank you for letting us adopt her.

Lucky

Steve and I adopted Lucky "officially" in December, 2009 after his brother Charlie got adopted by a family from Delaware, OH. I had promised him that as soon as Charlie found a home, he would come home with me, and that happened just before Christmas 2009. Lucky was the almost-feral cat that came to the shelter in September, 2008, escaped and hid under the cages for several days before we caught him - remember him? Well he and Charlie fostered with us for 5 months, and then returned to the shelter for NINE WHOLE MONTHS before Charlie was adopted. Lucky is still a bit quirky, but he does cuddle with me and has fit in fairly well with our other 5 cats (3 of them are PWP alumni) and our 2 beagles (1 from PWP, and 1 from Kansas). I am thrilled with our new baby - another love of my life!

Play-doh (Kato)

We adopted Kato (now named Play-doh) in June 2008 when we lived in Westerville. Unfortunately our landlords foreclosed on the home we were in several months later but we were able to find another house for rent about 3 miles away for rent by dog lovers! As luck would have it, we then became the proud owners of two misplaced kittens (almost a year old ). These poor little guys were left outside in a box. Play-doh loves them! He was so excited to have them come aboard. We then received word that our new landlords were facing bankruptcy and foreclosing on this house too. Once again we were faced with finding a home for our 3 kids and 3 adopted kids (Play-doh and the kitties). So many people told us that it'd be easier without the animals. We couldn't bear to be without them! As fate reared its ugly head towards us again, my husband lost his job. Here we were jobless and almost homeless with 3 kids and 3 pets. People looked at us like we were crazy when we filled out rental forms.

Anyway, too late to make a long story short, let me tell you about a stroke of luck we had. My husband was offered a job back in our native New York. Family owned a two-family home and we were welcome! We made our arrangements, took the job, packed everyone into our SUV and drove home to N.Y. The move went better than expected and Play-doh loves his new digs. The house itself isn't very big, but he enjoys a fenced-in whole acre of wooded backyard every day. We really are blessed. I just wanted to get in touch to let you know all this, so that you would know that there really are people who will stop at nothing to keep their pets as part of their family. Thank you for adopting Play-doh to us. We love him very much.

Necco (Valentine)

We adopted Valentine about a month ago. His new name is Necco. He's the new love of our lives. He's incredibly smart too for his young age. He already knows how to sit, shake, and lay down. Thank you so much to Pets Without Parents for giving us our amazing puppy. We are so attached to him already.

Orion (Jingle)

We adopted Jingle yesterday and decided to rename him Orion!! He is very sweet and loving and is adjusting to his new home very well!! I just want to say thank you for giving us these two precious puppy's!!! I hope that in the future when we get our house we will be able to work with your shelter again( adopting more pets or fostering)!!! WE JUST LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!! Im so glad that there are people like you guys in the world!! Thanks a ton and keep doing what you guys are doing oh so well!!!!!

Lucy (Martha)

My fiancee and I adopted 8-week-old Lucy (who used to be named Martha at Pets Without Parents) in July of 2009. She is a gorgeous shepherd/husky/hound mix, and when we adopted her she had one sister named Betsy and also a few brothers in her litter. We had been thinking about a dog and looking for a dog for a while - and when we saw Lucy we knew she was the one. As soon as I held her I knew I had to have her. We have been so delighted to have her in our lives - she has been the most well-behaved, smartest, and most loving dog either one of us has ever had. She is a part of our family now, and we think of her as our daughter. We love Lucy and can't imagine our lives without her. Thanks PWP!

Kiba (Paul)

My family and I adopted a wonderful husky/shepherd mix named Paul from PWP in July of 2009. Our wonderful puppy (now named Kiba-which means Fang in Japanese), has thrived and grown to a medium size family member. He is completely relaxed and loving, has to have part of his body on yours at all times. We are so happy to enjoy his spirit!!

Dip (Kanoa)

We adopted Dip (formely Kanoa) from PWP in August of 2009. She has been the perfect addition to our family. Our other dog, Bella, warmed up to her instantly, and they spend every night playing together. She is the biggest cuddler, can jump over six feet high, and outrun every dog she meets. She also made an excellent skeleton for Halloween this year. We are so thankful that you saved her from the Athens shelter and allowed us to take her home. We cannot imagine life without our Dip!

General Tso (Spencer)

We adopted General Tso (formerly Spencer) in April 2009. Since then, he has grown from a little 3 pound kitten to a 15 pound cat. He mostly likes to eat and sleep, but he also likes to play with his older “brother” Outrider. Outrider is half his size, but always wins the fights! Gen. Tso is very vocal and meows for attention. He likes attention, but hates to be picked up, so he squeaks if you do that, or if you squeeze him too much. It’s pretty amusing. Mostly, he’s happy sitting next to you, or being in the same room as you, but he’s not a lap kitty. That’s ok, because he has a big purr and is a very happy kitty. Thanks so much!

Hobbes (Barack)

There is not a word to describe how we feel about the dog that we got at PWP. He's the PERFECT dog for our large and lively family. We only got him about a year ago, and we can't remember our lives without him. Does anyone anyone know what happened to his brothers and sisters (John,Cindy,& Michelle)?

Porter (Guiseppe)

We just wanted to say thank you for our puppy. We got Porter (who was called Guiseppe at Pets Without Parents) at the end of September 2009. He was one of five in a German Shepheard Mix litter. He is getting bigger every day. He is up to 40 pounds. We just wanted to say thanks - he has been amazing.

Storm (Berry)

Mr Blue eyes is getting big. He eats everything in sight. And I do mean everything. He ate the foam from his dog bed (yes, all of it) when he first came home. The vet was concerned about that but when they did an xray they were more concerned about the screw they found in his belly. He easily passed all of that and moved on. He has gone through all his dog toys. We finally have purchased the ones with a lifetime warrenty. He is kennel trained and loves his "room". But still, he is a sneaky little guy. He will eat anything at all. He even ate a malmite bowl!

He did house train quickly and he is still just as adorable as when we first met him. He only bothers the Christmas tree when he is mad at us or trying to get attention, and he cuddles with my daughter most of the time, and my son he just holds down and cleans off. My old girl, Nayla who is 14 and a chow/golden mix, DID NOT LIKE THIS PUPPY! but after he was home a month she began to soften toward him and now he has truly brought the puppy out in her also. We love to see them play together and are happy that Nayla is getting to be happy in her last days with us. Storm is quite a handful and keeps all of us on our toes around here. But somehow, he just fits with our crew anyway.

I know that we will be back to you when our dear old girl passes on, hopefully not too soon. But we will let you know when we are ready another new member of the family and a friend for Storm.

Edie

I just wanted to send an email and let you know that our dog Edie is doing just great. We adopted Edie in June 2009 when she was just a baby, and she's growing up to be such a beautiful, intelligent, loyal girl. She's learned so many tricks like how to sit, stay, lay down, go to bed, and even how to give a high five! She loves going to the dog park, which we frequent a few times a week, and running around the backyard chasing squirrels. This is a picture of her dressed as a lady bug for Halloween. :) We love having Edie as a part of our family. I cannot express how grateful I am that PWP rescued her and gave her the opportunity to be the best thing that's ever happened to us.

Gretchen

Thought you would like an update on our girl Gretchen – OMG! How she has grown! We found out that she is actually a black lab / great dane and she thinks she’s a lap dog! She loves to try to get on your lap and if she can’t she will sit next to you and lean on you! She has so much energy and loves my daughter to pieces. Kasey our golden just rolled his eyes when we brought her home but now they are buddies! For as big as she is getting she is just as loveable but she can be just as crazy too! We love her to pieces although, most days…… lol.

Sunny (Catsberger)

Sunny earned her name because she loves to nap in sunbeams. She has especially bonded with my husband. She loves to sit on his chest and be right next to him. What a flirt she is! I can't believe she used to be a biting, hissing, cringing girl -- she's our sweet little star. PWP, you did such a good job socializing her! She is doted on constantly. She has the cutest belly and fluffiest ears, doesn't she? She flirts and cuddles like a champ. We give her lots of affection so she knows how loved she is. We can't thank you enough for making such a life possible for this lovely little girl. She lives a charmed life in our house!

Mia (Momma Mia)

We adopted Mia (formerly Momma Mia) in late summer after one of our cats passed away unexpectedly. It took her awhile to get acclimated to our family and come out from hiding, but she's getting better each day. At 1AM last night, she sat on me and started licking my face, saying "pet me, pet me, pet me." She is so cute! Thanks, PWP!

Hallie

I adopted Hallie in September 2009 just before her second birthday. In the short time I've known her, she's already had a tremendous impact on my quality of life. I work nights, so human interaction can be difficult to come by but Hallie's always waiting for me when I come home. She has a wonderful temperament, and everyone at her vet check up mentioned what beautiful eyes she has. Hallie loves to hang out with the small dog who was already living in my house, and she enjoys sitting on the back porch with me and 'talking' to the squirrels that pass by. She loves to play with crumpled paper and pennies, so Hallie's not only friendly but quite economical! I can't thank Pets Without Parents enough for giving me the opportunity to adopt this wonderful cat.

Rapunzel

I just wanted to share with you how happy I am that I was able to adopt my cat, Rapunzel, from you! I got her about a month ago (September 2009) and it only took a few days for us to get used to each other, (i.e. me getting used to her very vocal personality, that she can't hear me, and her getting used to my daily schedule) but we are very compatible. It is nice to have a cat up with me at 3 a.m. when I am studying so I can take several "study breaks" to play with her! Even though she is deaf, I honestly think she is better behaved than any of the other cats I've ever had! When my friends and family visit me, even the people who claim to "not be cat-people" love her. My mother- who is not exactly an animal person- has come up with the nickname "Punz" for her (and strangely enough, it has actually caught on) and tried to figure out how she can cat sit for me. Anyways, thank you so much, Rapunzel is the cutest and sweetest cat I've ever had and I am extremely glad I was able to provide a permanent home for her.

Here is a picture of her on my bookcase- one of her favorite places to nap.

Sheenaugh, Caeleigh, and Dino

OK, it's been a while since I submitted a "Happy Tail", althoughwe have now adopted 4 pets from you. Dougall (Alf) was the first (an earlier Happy Tail), but since then we have had Sheenagh (black cat) and Caeleigh (tabby cat)), and Dino (beagle). We fostered Dino for a few weeks before adopting him, and recently we adopted a brother for him (Otis) from a dog rescue transport going through Columbus to Canada. We are all going to start obedience training soon, because this has become a very unruly house. Added to my 4 PWP "alums" are Alec (Cat Welfare), James Bond (a walk-in volunteer), and of course, Otis-the beagle- who- never- made -it- to- Canada. Dino and Otis

Angus (Chili Bean) and Mayzie

A picture is worth a thousand words....Mayzie (adopted in 2006 from PWP) and Angus (formerly known as Chili Bean, adopted in 10/09) absolutely LOVE each other! We could not be happier to have them as part of our family. Thank you so very much for rescuing them so that we can give them a happy home!

Clementine (Chloe)

My husband and I adopted Chloe September 2009. Chloe had been left tied up in front of the shelter three months earlier. Chloe, estimated to be only about 2-3 years old, had obviously already had at least one litter of puppies. Chloe being a full-grown pit-bull sat in her cage for three months watching as other puppies got adopted. My husband and I looked at several homeless dogs at several rescue groups but we decided Chloe was the least likely to find a home so we chose her. That concludes Chloe's story.

Now let me tell you about Clementine. Clementine sleeps in bed with her people, goes for long walks, splashes in ponds, plays with toys, goes to dog parks, has play dates with other dogs and relaxes on the couch with her people. She's a 50 lb lap dog and very affectionate. She'd lick your face off if you let her. My husband and I decided to rename Chloe to Clementine. As you read in the beginning Chloe's life wasn't that great. But Clementine's life is spectacular! Clementine isn't my first rescue, and she wont be my last, but it never ceases to amaze me how people throw wonderful animals away. Clementine is a very good girl. Her transition into our family was very smooth. I honestly cant see one reason why someone wouldn't want her anymore. She has found her furever home.

Samson (Bobby Ray)

We adopted Samson (formerly Bobby Ray) in January 2009. He was only 9 weeks old and 5 lbs. He is now 11 months and a full 27 lbs. He has attended and graduated from PetSmart puppy obedience class. He loves to eat ice chips. We are proud that you were able to save his litter and provide us with with such a wonderful pet. Included are 2 pictures. One from they day we brought him home and also an updated picture at 10 months old. Thanks!

Petey (Mighty Dog)

Hi old friends at Pets without Parents! How is everyone doing? I miss you guys! Just wanted to let you know I am doing ok at my new home with Erica, Joe, Josh, Tess, Sabbath, and Tabitha. My only complaint is that the cats won't play with me. But mom, dad, and Josh make up for it. Grandma also comes over twice a day to visit. My wounds healed up real good, and my hair is growing back. Luckily I haven't been attacked by any more dogs, but my mom makes me go to the dog park every day. She said this will help me be less afraid. Yeah, right. I really like wearing clothes, especially sweaters. Grandma got me a sweater, a raincoat, and a coat, and I have 2 halloween costumes. Dad got mom a baby sling and she likes to carry me in it when she does chores. It's really fun!

Love, Petey (they changed my name, but I'm still a Mighty Dog!)

Puma (Snarf)

Just wanted to say that we love our cat (Snarf); now named Puma. We named him Puma as he loves to jump around on everything and has boundless energy. It was our first pet together and glad we came to Pets Without Parents. Thanks again for allowing us to adopt, what is in our opinion, the best cat ever.

Finnegan

Finnigan has completed his first obedience class and graduated. Thought you'd like to see him in his graduation gown. We're taking a second Basic Obedience class now. He needs the extra practice. Thanks for rescuing him and taking such good care of him.

Grace (Parsnip)

We adopted little Grace (formerly known as Parsnip) in June of this year (2009). We named her Grace because she is anything but graceful-she is prone to tripping over her own paws! We fell in love with Grace from the moment we saw her. She is so very sweet, and full of energy. Grace is 6 months old now and doing very well. We love taking grace for walks, and to the bark park in westerville. Grace is so very loved. Thanks to Pets without parents for giving us such a sweet little girl to love.

Fennel

I first laid eyes on Fennel at July's "Mingle with the Mutts." At two months old, he was no more than ten pounds, yet his mammoth-sized paws indicated he would grow into a much larger pooch. His expressive eyes locked with mine and as I picked him up, he gave me the best canine seal of approval: a big wet kiss! Within one week, we had visited Pets Without Parents and decided to adopt our little pointer mix. From our very first hour together, Fennel has assumed the role of "Entertainer" in our house. He lives for our affection (and perhaps his mouth-watering organic kibble) and loves to meet new people and other dogs. On walks, he leaves no leaf untasted and enjoys following a fresh scent. Fennel has become the center of our world and I can't imagine life without him. Thank you, PWP, for bringing such a wonderful friend into our lives!

Nyla and Joy

Do you remember Nyla and Joy from about a year ago? Nyla was the gray cat upstairs that put up a fight when my daughter and I tried to get her. Joy was the black cat in a cage that just had kittens. Well, both are doing great and love to play and love attention. Yes, even Nyla with her frightened attitude loves to be held and plays with Joy. So when others want a cat that puts up a fight, it is only because the cat is scared. They still make wonderful additions to the family.

Oliver (Fenway)

We adopted Oliver (previous name was Fenway) from pets without parents in June 2007. He weighed about four pounds the day we got him and now, about three years later, he has grown into a huge 18 lb cat! As newlyweds, he was the first addition to our family. Little did we know, he would soon become king of our house. He is the most lovable, friendly, feline ever! He has a sister kitty named Allie Cat, that that he has a love/hate relationship with. He spends most of his time sleeping in my bed or his cardboard box he calls a bed. His favorite thing to do is walk around and collect all my elastic hair bands and put them in his food bowl for safe keeping. He demands my full attention and when I'm on the computer and he wants my attention, he will flop down overtop my hands, so I can no longer type. Thank you Pets Without Parents for giving us the MOST wonderful cat in the world!

Harley (Pea) and Moe (Sally)

We adopted Moe (previously Sally) five years ago from PWP and recently decided it was time for Moe to have a sister. Harley (previously Pea of the pointer mix litter at PWP) is five months old and is the perfect pup. It was a great decision -- Harley is learning from Moe and Moe has had the energy of a puppy during the last month. We were told by PWP that she would be good with other dogs, would learn quickly and will grow into her gigantic paws-- all of which are true. She's put on 4lbs in height during the last week! PWP is a fantastic shelter with great staff/volunteers and has been a positive experience for both adoptions. We wouldn't adopt anywhere else!

Wendy

I adopted a cat from you all last January (2009) and I wanted to send you all an email to see how much my cat Wendy has grown since I have adopted her from you guys. Also, she had a sister when she was at the shelter named Wanda.

Brutus (Elmo)

I just wanted to give you an update on Brutus (previously Elmo) adopted just over a year ago from PWP. I fell in love with Brutus at your shelter and was so exited to take him home. He has been a joy and is one of the happiest dogs that I have ever been around. Brutus has so much energy and always wants to play with whoever/whatever is around. Brutus recently moved in with his new brother Jack (Yorkie) and they have become inseperable. Although they may not seem like a likely pair, they enjoy everything together and are such a joy. Just want to thank you for providing me an opportunity to adopt and bring Brutus into my family and who know, I may be by again to build on our happy family.

Dilla (Tahiti)

We adopted our pit bull mix, Dilla (then named Tahiti) from PWP in January 2009. My teenage son saw her on your website and we braved the frigid conditions to come and see her for ourselves. When she was let out of her crate, she immediately began bringing toys to us so that we would play. We brought her home to our two Boston Terriers, and although it was an adjustment for all, we now can't imagine life without her. She went through bully breed training and received her AKC Star Puppy Award. Thank you for our Dilla and all the good work you do.

Hudson (Soda Pop)

Hello! I just wanted to thank all of you at Pets Without Parents for all of your good and hard work: it was a great experience adopting our cat from your shelter. I thought I would walk away with ALL the animals- it's so hard to pick just one to take home when so many need to be taken care of. My boyfriend and I were drawn to one kitten in particular, a teeny gray striped one named "Soda Pop" now renamed Hudson. He was SOO small at 2 months old, when we first brought him home with us back in December! And while he still has his baby face, at 9 months old now his is getting to be a big boy. He loves to get into boxes, play fetch, and has claimed my papasan chair as his own! He's not a very shy cat at all, and likes to escort us whenever we open the door for visitors. It's just a testament to how well you all handle the animals, making sure each one is given lots of love and needed attention. Great work! We've spread the word to all of our friends (in fact, we have one trying to adopt a puppy from your shelter!) and you have our thanks and support!

Kermit

Kermit is about 15 months old now (his birthdate is 1-21-08). We thought about changing his name, but it was just too cute. Kermit is an inside cat, but we let him out because he loves it so much. He will lay under the trees and listen to the birds and sometimes sleeps under the deck. He is a wonderful and kind cat. He likes people, adults and kids. The vet says that he is not just a striped cat, but also a spotted one. He is Mama's little boy and my handsome man.

Keely, Dugan, and Archer (Victor, Vinny, and Stevie Ray)

We adopted the one year old brothers Keely and Dugan (Victor and Vinny) in September 2008. They are such wonderful, loving, affectionate cats. We have really enjoyed watching them play with each other and get to know our two dogs, including Archer (Stevie Ray), whom we adopted as a puppy 5 years ago. We originally planned to adopt just one cat, but we are so glad we brought both boys home. They are inseparable.

Roxeanne (Marie)

All - THANK YOU for rescuing Roxeanne, aka Marie. She is my heart and a wonderful addition to our family. She sleeps cuddled up by me at bedtime and is very attentive to where we are. She is adorable and so affectionate. she is healthy and will be two years old this summer. Time flies when you're having fun! :):). Thanks for your assistance and finding our jewel. She is the best.

Tasha (Natasha)

We adopted Tasha (formerly Natasha) in June, 2004, when she was 3 months old. We had been looking for a Golden Retriever mix, and we weren't quite sure what Tasha was mixed with, but she sure was cute! She was a curious puppy, as you can see, and she always wanted to be wherever the people were. We lovingly nicknamed her Houdini for awhile because she figured out how to escape from her crate when it was locked! She is still mechanically inclined, because we now have a toddler and Tasha has no problem opening the baby gates to be where her family is. She is such a sweet and loving girl, and so polite - she always waits to be invited up onto the bed; she never assumes. She can be a little bit pushy when she is looking for some attention. She'll push her head right up under our hands so there is no confusion that she wants to be pet. Now that Tasha is fully grown, she looks to us like a possible mix of Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees.

Leo (Monte)

Leo (Monte) was not my first choice for I was set on adopting a kitten. I held several cats but once I held Leo it was love at first purr :) He is such a calm affectionate cat and now he is spoiled rotten. I am so glad I chose him. He greets me when ever I come home and he answers to his name with the cutest meow. And of course he is a Buckeye fan notice his scarlet and grey OSU tag;)

Audrey (Godiva)

Audrey was adopted in July 2008, and has been a blessing ever since. She is a joy to come home to, and a great cuddler. She loves to snack on fresh fruits and veggies while we are cooking, should some happen to slip through our fingers. Her favorite thing to do is chase the rabbits that live in the bushes in the backyard. She is an amazing companion, and I couldn't be happier that we found each other! Thanks PWP!!

Pepper (Amstel)

Pepper is such a pleasure. She is the friendliest dog in the world, as she never meets a stranger. She loves to play, running in the yard and with other dogs at playgroups. She is so sweet with my nieces (13 yo, 5 yo and 1 yo), she behaves appropriately with each of them. The funniest thing ever was when I first came home and found her lying on the couch, she just looked over her shoulder at me, as if to say welcome home, but you woke me up. I love this girl!!!! Thank you PWP!

Nikki (Lulu)

We've had Nikki (Lulu) for about a month now. Although she came to us with several health issues that arose from her past life, she is now well on the way to recovery and is thriving in her new home. I have two large labradors who are older and unable to walk with me. I wanted to find a small dog that would force me to walk and get in shape, as well as be a good family pet. What I got with Nikki is so much more. She is a true companion, and she has completely devoted herself to me. It's almost like she looks at me as her savior. She has made a huge positive impact in my life. Unfortunately, she's been a little shy of my husband, but it's getting better every day. She stole my heart right away, and we are looking forward to having her in our lives for a long time. Thanks for the opportunity to have found such a lovely girl!

Duke

I adopted my best friend from you several years ago. His name is Duke and he is very spoiled. He his my best friend, stays with me all the time and is great company to me. He has seven feline brothers and sisters and loves to play with them. He is the typical brother though and picks at them to get them to play. In 2007 Duke decided to start getting things off the countertop and eating them, whatever it was, it didn't matter. One time it was a bottle of Crisco oil, but usually it was just a loaf of bread or crackers. The problem - he was mad, I just didn't know what about. The answer - I would close my bedroom door when I left in the mornings. Once I started leaving the door open again so he could go back to bed, the getting into things on the counter stopped. He is my "son" and I'd be lost without him.

Moo (Milk)

I just wanted to let you all know how Milk was doing-We renamed her Moo. She is such a good dog. Her and the cats are almost friends. Bork, the oldest will walk right in front of her and she sits like a statue. Fatty, my younger cat still yells at her, but he is coming around. She is so gentle around babies, does not beg for food and is doing very well in puppy classes. She is getting so big. She is up to 45lb and is not quite yet 6 months. And she thinks she is lap dog! She loves going in the car. She is doing good with potty training and knows down just by us pointing. She is such a lover. Thank you all so very much for all you did. We absolutely love her!

Bosco (Dewey)

We got Bosco last summer, he was known as Dewey at your place. He came in as our 5th dog! I know, we're crazy but I couldn't resist his sad story! He is doing great! He also joined 3 cats, and two human kids as well. His favorite past times are tormenting the cats, and sitting on a lawn chair on the back patio to enjoy all the sights, sounds, and smells! It's a full house around here but we couldn't be happier! Thanks for taking care of "Boz" for us until he could make his way into our lives!

Lucy (Jasmine)

We adopted Jasmine or Lucy as we call her in August of 2007. She was one of four litter mates in the "Aladdin" themed group who was left on the side of a highway in Athens, OH. I had just moved to the area and as an avid dog lover, coaxed my fiance into the idea that a dog was exactly what we needed to make our new house a home. After multiple hours on Petfinder and visits to all of the local shelters, we found ourselves coming back to PWP, the smallest of the shelters we visited but the one with the most heart. In the spur of the moment late on a Monday night, we went to pick up our baby. We filled out the necessary paperwork and with a smile and some last minute hugs and goodbyes we had added the newest member to our family. Since then, Lucy has mastered the role of only child in being spoiled rotten ; ) Her favorite activites include: Off leash nature walks and swimming at Antrum Park, scouting and chasing squirrels, car rides, belly rubs, naps, and mini vacations at Chateau Torchia to stay with her 4 best friends Lily, Sienna, Emily, and Miley (2 Golden Labs & 2 Red Labs) when we are out of town. We don't know what we would do without her ; ) Our only regret is that we did not rescue one of her brothers as well ! Thanks PWP, for all you do !

Sammy (Spanky)

We adopted Sammy (formerly Spanky) four months ago. We had been looking for a dog on and off for a few months and from the moment we saw Sammy, we knew she was the one. She was so calm and sweet and had the cutest floppy ears. Sammy was from an abandoned litter and had a skin infection from malnourishment. She was scared when we brought her home, but has since become the energetic and loving joy of our lives. She loves chasing the cat, playing tug of war and going for walks. Strangers comment on how she prances when she walks. She is smart and loyal, following us wherever we go. We cannot remember what life was like before Sammy. She has enriched our home so much. Thank you for all that you do, Pets Without Parents.

Ted

I can't believe it has been over a year since I adopted Ted! I was not looking to adopt another dog (as I already had a dog and a cat), but I happened across the PWP website one night and I was a goner. He was the featured dog at that time because he had been in the shelter almost a year and nobody wanted him. I adopted Ted the next day. He is the sweetest thing you could ever imagine. Some people are a little taken aback by his looks (yes, he's a pit mix) but the only thing they have to fear is being licked to death! He has even learned to tolerate my cat, though they still get into it every now and then - he's learning though! He enjoys day care at Park Your Paws, and gnawing on bones every chance he gets. He has been a wonderful < addition to my family and I can't imagine life without him.

Scribbles Marie (Scribbles)

We adopted Scribbles Marie (we add the Marie to be more “gender specific”) in August 2008. She was very timid and mellow at the shelter and always stayed perched in the same spot. We didn’t expect her to turn out to be so playful and affectionate! She’s so curious and loves to explore. She will play with anything she finds laying around – jingle balls, cat nip toys, keys – but her absolute favorite game is batting around pens on the floor and chasing them under the rug. When she’s not playing, she loves to curl up on the bed and be petted by one of her humans. Thank you so much for taking care of Scribbles and letting us bring her home. We couldn’t ask for a better cat!

Khloe (Tani)

We brought Khloe (previously Tani) home March of 2008. I had grown up to black lab mixes and when I saw her I couldn't resist. Khloe had a very rough start, 4 days after bringing her home she had to be taken to OSU's Veternary Hostipital and was diagnosed with parvo. She was only given a 50% chance of survival. Luckily we caught the parvo very early and she is a super strong pup, she made it through and is one happy dog today! She enjoys cuddling with her mom & dad as well as going for runs, chewing on her toys, playing in the snow and swimming. I know that Khloe came from a large litter (some of which had parvo as well) and she would love to meet her siblings. If you own one of Khloe's siblings please contact Amy and maybe we could get the two together to play.

Pretty Girl

I already have a ga-zillion pix of Pretty Girl (a.k.a. Pretty Kitty, Kitty Girl and just Kitty) but just wanted to show you her and her cuddling buddy-purple monkey. She loves her purple monkey and sleeps with him in her bed,which is on my bed right next to me. She seems very happy-she purrs and coos the second you walk in the room. Her 'meow' needs some work but it's coming along. She has met Murphy, our 55lb English Bulldog. She has let us know she is in no way, shape or form ready to hang out with him. She does however tolerate him thru the baby gate we put permanently in my bedroom doorway. I'm not worried, my bedroom is the master so she has plenty of room to roam and explore-and she does. She loves to look out the big windows I have and even though I was keeping them closed to keep it a bit warmer-she loves looking out so much I just open 'em in the morning and close 'em at night.

I hope to be able to convince others to adopt from PWP. There's a warm fuzzy feeling that I get every time I see her playing, pouncing, lying on her back sleeping, and just enjoying herself. Thank you.

Lloyd (Logan)

This past summer we started searching for a brother to accompany our boy beagle, Skeeter. We saw 2 year old Lloyd's picture on your website and were drawn to him as he looked just like Skeeter. We visited him a couple times, but Lloyd seemed terribly shy and not very sure of us. Even when we brought Skeeter in to visit him they didn?t seem to click. But Lloyd tugged on our heartstrings and we knew he needed us, maybe even more than we needed him. In August we signed the papers and brought the shy little guy home.

It took us awhile to settle on his new name. He'd obviously had some neglect and/or abuse in his past, so we wanted him to start with a clean slate. The family decision was that he would be called Logan. He's been Logan, Logie, Loger, Loganberry, and many other variations since. It seems to have fit pretty well. Upon entering his new house he sniffed around for a minute or two, meeting his new cat brother without incident, and eventually Skeeter was let in to get better acquainted. They sniffed each other for a bit and then the funniest thing happened. This painfully withdrawn, hesitant, afraid of his own shadow little guy, when we opened up the patio door to the backyard, ran full tilt with his new brother all the way to the back fence. They chased each other around, sniffed for squirrel tracks, and played together until they came back to the patio panting.

It took him a bit longer to get over the fear of his new humans. He loved food, though, and that helped him to associate us with good things. We constantly had treats with us so he took to following us around, albeit from a distance at first.

He probably had never had a toy before, because the numerous ones we got him didn't interest in him at all. But six months later and he's now a full-fledged member of our family, as well as the local dog community. He will come up to total strangers and let them pet him now. He's attended training classes; one where the teacher called him the "star pupil". He loves it when his friends come over for play dates and sleepovers. And he allows his humans to experience joy, love and affection, as well as pride in all he?s accomplished.

We want you to know how happy we are to have him, and we thank Pets Without Parents for being the bridge that got him to us.

Louie

We adopted Louie in October and he has been such a blessing to our household. He loves our new home, especially the stairs as well as sleeping with us at night. Louie is so funny and really keeps us on our toes and laughing. He adjusted well to his new home and enjoys sunbathing during the day and running around at night when we are trying to sleep. His favorite toys are plastic Easter eggs, which are scattered all over the house! Thanks so much Pets Without Parents!

AJ (Preston)

When my sister's dog got hit by a car and had to be put down 8 mos ago, I was not sure that we would all make it through it. When she told me that she was ready for another dog, I was bound and determined to help her find the perfect dog. I remember that it was July 4 and I just did a random search for shelters in Columbus. Much to my surprise, I found your website and realized that you were just down the street from me. I called and was surprised again to learn that the shelter was open. I went to the shelter and found Preston. I fell in love with him. I called my sister and let her know that if she really was ready for another dog, I found the perfect dog. She and I went to see Preston (without even telling my brother in law) and she agreed. She took her husband there to see him that night. He also fell in love. Since, Preston has been renamed to AJ (Abita Junior, since Abita was the previous baby that had to be put down) and has won the puppy lottery! He is now 10 mos old and he weighs about 65 lbs and is very obviously part Chow. He is so mild mannered and well behaved. He is loved by everyone and is a welcomed part of the family.

Milo (Jordan)

When we saw "Jordan" (this was his name at the shelter) as a kitten, my sister wanted him a lot. I guess she loved the fluffy fur and cute face. My mom was a little worried about having such a fluffy cat in our house. She didn't want to get one that shedded too much. My sister wanted him really bad though, so eventually my mom agreed we could adopt him. He was very little and came from a litter of around 3-4 kittens. He must have caught our eye the way he was the only one in his litter with long hair. After adopting him we took him home and named him Milo. Milo was very cute a lovable but sometimes (just like all cats) he liked to play and gave us a scratch or two. Although we didn't like these things, we still loved the way he would fall asleep on your lap and how he would chase anything that moved. Today he is all grown up and he is actually pretty big! His weight is only around 11 or 12 pounds but because of all the fur he looks a lot bigger. No longer will he fall asleep on our laps but he still LOVES to play.

Oma

Thanks so much for everything you all do! We love our "Oma" kitty very much... she has doubled in size already... long...kitty. I named her Oma -- which means "love" in Yugoslavian. Thanks again ---

Claude (Buddy)

We adopted Claude (left) from the PWP cat condo about four months ago, as a companion for Stella. Many people had cautioned us that adult cats often have a difficult time getting along, but not these two! They were grooming each other within a few days and sleeping together within a week; now they are best friends. Aside from trying out his latest wrestling moves on Stella, Claude's favorite activities include attacking the printer when it feeds paper, lounging in doorways, and helping me cook. He is also a very idiosyncratic cat... he wags his tail like a dog when he's happy and actually likes being pet against the grain of his fur!

Murray McFly (Dyson)

Formerly Dyson. Now Murray McFly...This little dog spent his first 9 months in a barn with too many other dogs and totally neglected before being rescued by Pets Without Parents. He has traveled across the country, spent some time in Chicago and even flown in a plane. What an adventure for a barn dog!! I can't thank PWPC enough for caring enough to save him and the rest of the animals that need forever homes. Keep up the great work. You have saved so many...

Eima (Duelly)

We just wanted to give you an update on Duelly, We re-named her Eima. She is fitting in pretty well, we had some issues with separation at first she would bark non stop when we left the house. She has since gotten over it for the most part though. She has been a great walking and jogging partner we take her everyday. She is getting really good at heel and stopping at every corner. She will be going hiking with us for the first time in a few weeks. She and Nox are great buddies the play very well together they are inseparable. They sleep in the same bed, eat out of the same food bowls, and share toys. She went to doggy day care for the first time last week and we think its going to be a good option for the days that Nick and I are both in school all day. She and Nox also have been going over to my parents house to run in their huge yard. She is such a great little dog, really a nice addition to our family, I cant thank you enough for letting us adopt her.

Otis

I adopted Otis in the spring of 2006. He was part of a litter of about 5 puppies, all adorable with curly tails. He is curious about everything, very hyper and loves to cuddle. Otis is so full of energy and all of the kids in my neighborhood love to play with him when we are walking around. Children love him so much that when I go home my nieces ask when Otis is coming over, not me! He has become best friends with my room mates cat and they love to play together! It's very cute to see a cat and dog so friendly. He has brought so much joy to my life and I am so thankful for finding him at your facility!

Detour

I adopted DD about 4 months ago when he was just 3 months old. I wasn't even going to adopt a dog the day I went to the shelter. I came in to walk whatever dog needed walking and I saw his big, sad eyes, and crooked tail. I knew right away that Detour should be in my family. He was just the sweetest little thing I had ever seen, and so well behaved. We've been inseperable ever since. He loves to go for rides in the car. He also loves to go to the park and wrestle with his many friends. It's funny. It seems like everywhere we go, whether it be the pet store, the vet, or even Comm Fest, someone seems to recognize D. We'll continue to send in updated pics so that all of his many friends can see how he's doing, and how big he's getting.

Aslan

I just wanted to thank Pets without Parents for giving us Aslan. We adopted him a few weeks ago and feel so lucky to have him as part of our family now! He spends his days lounging in window sills and playing with his new toys and sleeps at the bottom of the bed at night. He is so loving and snuggly, we couldn't be happier! We just wanted to send a short note so you knew he was happy, healthy and doing well.

Maggie (Panya)

We adopted Maggie in January of 2006 and have loved her since the day we first met her. She is a super sweet dog, who aims to please and lives for love, attention and kisses. She is the perfect balance to our energetic and mischievous beagle - and they are inseparable. She is the best dog anyone could ever ask for! We are so thankful to Pets Without Parents for bringing us together with Maggie - we are glad we can provide a home to such a grateful and loving dog. For this, we will always choose rescue dogs from here on out. We'd love to get in contact with any of her litter mates, I know she had two sisters and a brother, to see how they are doing.

Lincoln (Benji)

We adopted Lincoln (Benji) almost a year ago. The picture of Lincoln the Horrible was taken a week or so after he came to live with us. He was a real ruffian when we first adopted him. He’s a smart boy and has really enjoyed having a forever home. He is a pretty good boy, most days and we’re so glad he joined our family. He also went with us on vacation to Tennessee last September and had a great time. We adopted a little brother named Sammy, in March, for Lincoln to rough house with; Sammy needed a new home and they have a great time together. The other picture was taken a couple of weeks a go, with his brother Sammy.

Stella

We adopted Stella last spring. At the time she was only 6 weeks, had been abandoned, and had a foot that was extremely infected (she almost lost it!). When we saw her though, we knew we wanted to try to nurse her back to health and take care of her. Just look at how adorable she is today! Thanks so much for all you do!

Will(Dodge)

I adopted Will (Dodge was his original name) from Pets Without Parents a little over a year ago. I never really had a pet of my own and was never much of an animal enthusiast either but this little guy has completely melted my heart. I love him more than I thought possible. He's the perfect cat and companion. He remains as playful as when I first got him but also enjoys to relax on my lap while I'm watching TV or playing video games. Will's charm and antics always make him the center of attention when guests are over and as you can see from his photos he is very handsome. I want to thank all of you at Pets Without Parents for opening up this brand new world for me and for all the great work you do for these helpless and homeless animals.

Penelope (Nikita)

I adopted Penelope (Nikita while with you) in November 2007. She is the most amazing little girl. She climbed all over me when I walked into the kitty condo and I just had to take her home. Now she lives with me and her big brother Boris the tuxedo cat. Penelope is the best snuggle kitty I've ever seen. She has slept in the bed since her first day here, and her very favorite place to be is on my chest or shoulder. She follows me around from room to room all the time. When I was adopting her I was told that she was the last of her litter left. I have no idea how she was still there, but I'm so glad she waited for me. Thank you so much for taking care of my little girl. Her catster page is located here: http://www.catster.com/cats/664715

Buck

Growing up with pets, I was used to having animals around my whole life. When I moved to Columbus, I was living alone for the first time and missed animals. My friend told me about Pets Without Parents, and when I went to the shelter to look, a kitten reached right out to play with me--I knew right away that was my new best friend. I named him "Buckeye", but he is must commonly known as Buck. He quickly secured a life long place in my heart, I even flew him home with me for the holidays to California! He has never met a stranger! We have since moved back to California, and Buck is enjoying the views of San Francisco out his windows as he watches birds in his time between playing and snuggling. He is the best friend and roommate I could ask for! Thank You!

Lupo (Abby)

When I first came in I set eyes on a few of the beautiful kittens your shelter had at the time, but a few had already had applications on them, so I was told the shelter would get back to me in a few days. I was so anxious to get another kitten that I came in a few days later to see how the application process was going. And there was little "Abby," a beautiful part main coon kitten. I had always wanted a main coon since I was very young because my best friend growing up had had two brother main coons and they were such wonderful and beautiful cats! The second I saw her I knew I needed to take her home. She looked exactly like my best friend's cat growing up! I hadn't seen her on my previous visit because she had been in the sick room because some of her siblings had died. So the fact that I just so happened to come back to the shelter to check on my application, and there happened to be a beautiful main coon kitten, I knew that it was fate!

I named her Lupo, which means wolf in Italian, after my best friend's cat growing up. She has been an absolute joy. She a huge cuddler and extremely friendly to new friends! All of my friends who have met her want to steal her away. I have been told on numerous occasions that I have "the cutest kitten in the entire world." And I would have to agree. Not only is she the most adorable and friendly kitten I have ever met, but she FETCHES! That's right, fetches. One day she started dragging a stuffed bunny I got for Easter by the ear and put it in my lap. I proceeded in throwing it and that is how we learned that she loves to fetch!

I loved Pets Without Parents, not only because they gave me the cutest cat in the world, but also because they were extremely helpful, personal and cared about the animals. The shelter was so intimate that I felt I was truly cared about as a future adopter. I am so excited that I got to adopt from this shelter and own such a wonderful cat!

Gracie Lou (Fuzzy Wuzzy)

[Shelter Note: When Gracy Lou was with PWP, she had a terrible case of a form of mange. We called her Fuzzy Wuzzy because she only had a fine layer of fuzz covering her little body. As you can see, she recovered!!]

Hi my name is Tiffani about 4-5 years ago I adopted Fuzzy Wuzzy who was re-name Gracy Lou and is happy and now has a beautiful brindle coat and is doted and loved on daily! I can't tell you what a great addition she was to my family and my life! I always say she is the best purchase I ever made! We hope to see you soon as we want to add another puppy to the family and wouldn't go any where else but to you for that special dog. Thank you sooo much!

Sonica (Fiona)

My new home is great! I run up and down the steps and chase the other cats in my new family. We have lots of fun playing with catnip and furry toy mice. Thank you for working so hard to get me into a forever home. My new mommy and daddy spoil me with lots of hugs and snuggling and even canned chicken and liver kitten food! They really love me! I've included a new potrait of me and a line-up of my new siblings: Sweetie, Wrigley and Buster. Purrs and kisses, Fiona/ Sonica

Boo and Azreal (Vanna and Cobain)

In January of 2005 we adopted 2 cats from you. We renamed them Boo (formerly Vanna) and Azreal (formerly Cobain). We originally went in there to get one cat. But Boo was so great and friendly ...we had to take her too. I noticed in the shelter both times I visited, that Boo and Azreal would play. She would pull on his tail, and he would take it. And still they are best buddies! Boo is already 8 years old, and BOY does she have energy! She runs circles around Azreal. I love them! They are our family. Thank you pets without parents!

Brawny (Nike)

Brawny was adopted from the Shoe Litter in May and was brought to live with his family the Fleck's and their 2 kittens Bobbi and Beans. He has a big house in the country where he spends his time playing fetch, chasing toads, deer, and bunnies, running with his humans, and fishing in the creek. His favorite food is cat food though he's not allowed to have it, and pupcorn. He likes to play with much bigger dogs than his and his favorite toy is his squeaky "possum". Brawny is very loved and is happy to have found his forever home. He hopes his 4 sisters are as happy as he is and have found their parents!

Buckeye

Buckeye was adopted in January. Buckeye now has a white Chihuahua friend Princess. These two our inseparable, well 98 percent of the time, unless Buckeye has a bone. Buckeye has made a great addition two our small family. He loves me (Melissa) and is always at my heels, wanting to play with a tennis ball or just to cuddle in my lap and cuddle. Walks are a must and he will let me know if he did not get enough outdoor time by sitting by the door and barking until I break down and go outside to play. Sadly he hates baths and swimming in Alum Creek at the doggie park, but gets along well with both big and little dogs when running around the Park. He loves fireworks and Sparklers, and just this July 4th 2008 weekend went to West Virginia. Mom and dad got sick and Buckeye kept us awake for the long 4 hour drive home. I could never be happier with a dog than with this Chihuahua/terrier mix. He learns fast and is so eager to be the best he can be. Thanks Pets Without Parents.

Q (Q-Ball)

I adopted a beautiful cat named "Q-Ball" (I have since shortened it to just "Q") several months ago and couldn't be happier. He was a little shy at first, but has since opened up and become one of the most loving cats I have ever had. He is very sweet and snuggly and always up for a good game of "swat the toy mouse". When he's not playing he enjoys lounging. I think shelter life (with a shared cage) gave him a need to always take up as much space possible, for now he tends to sleep like this (in the picture). He also enjoys our outside adventures, even though they never lead to any exploring past the porch. He has an affinity for bird watching and likes to take post in a basket for optimum viewing pleasure. He is truly a joy to have around and I love him dearly. I am so happy that I had an opportunity to make him part of my family and I treasure his kitty friendship and love daily. Thank you to Pets Without Parents for the wonderful work you do helping animals find there way to happy homes.

Teemu (Felicity)

We adopted Teemu (formerly known as Felicity) about four months ago. It took her a few days to get used to her new surroundings, but she is now very comfortable in her new home. She is very smart and has even learned to play fetch! She also makes some interesting sounds, more like squeaking than meowing. She has been a wonderful addition to our family. Thank you Pets Without Parents!

Atticus (Schroeder)

I adopted this beautiful boy in May, 2007. He was about four months old at the time. I had been having a hard time finding a dog that just 'felt right' when I decided to check out Pets Without Parents. Atticus (Schroeder, at the time) was patiently waiting in his crate. I took him out for a walk and left with him about an hour later. Since then, he has excelled in obedience training, learning not to fear riding in a car, and has learned to be off-leash! He is a wonderful snuggler and an endless source of entertainment. Atticus is a favorite of children and other dogs around the neighborhood and I could not love him more.

Dougall (Alf)

My husband Steve and I adopted Dougall (formerly Alf) from PWP last May (2007). We had lost two cats within a week to serious illness - Winston (nearly 17) and Mairi (only 12, but with incurable, fast working cancer). Two weeks after I lost Mairi, I stopped off at the shelter one day - the very day that Dougall (Alf) had just come back from the vets after getting "clipped". I fell in love on sight - and visited him several times before expressing my honorable intentions toward this beautiful guy (he's somewhere between 3 and 5, and had been out on the streets a while).

Dougall has fit into our house more quickly and completely than any cat I have ever adopted - simply amazing - and I love him. We are having to watch his weight - because he really, really enjoys the regular meals, just a little bit TOO much! Dougall has joined our family and has become brother to Ewan, Suisaidh, Alec and J.B. (James Bond). Thanks for running this wonderful shelter, and thanks for the efforts to find permanent homes for these animals.

Odin (Navidad)

Here's an unusual sight: Odin (Navidad) and our other dog, Yazzie, sitting still! They are typically playing together as though they've known each other for years. We are so thrilled with Odin--he's such a smart, gentle pup. He's almost housebroken and already knows "sit" and "fetch." To help him realize his full potential, we're going to take him to puppy classes next month. Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to adopt him and for all the important work you do for other animals.

Albert and Amos

I have adopted two felines from you. Albert was our first adoptee, an all black kitten who is the most loving, intelligent cat there is. We adore him and he shows his love in return. About a year and a half after adopting Albert, we lost our other cat, and came back to you to adopt Amos. He is a tabby and white cat who has a purr that can be heard over the phone it is so loud! Both boys are fabulous and enrich our lives. I recently was promoted to an international position with my company and am pleased to inform you that both cats are now living in Vancouver, British Columbia with us. We purchased airline tickets for them so they could travel with us in the cabin and they did remarkably well on the flight. I am attaching a picture of Amos in flight. (he was the star of the flight with everyone stopping by to pet him!) Albert was content to stay in his carrier under the seat. Getting them through customs was not an issue and they are enjoying the strictly indoor life in Canada. Thank you again for all you do for all the unwanted pets in the Columbus area. We are blessed to have two such wonderful adoptees!

Bella (Nala)

We adopted Bella, previously known as Nala, a couple of months ago and couldn't be more thrilled with her. She makes us smile and laugh on a daily basis, and could not be sweeter or more affectionate. Her playful personality has even sparked some energy back into our 8 year old cat Zoie, and it's nice to know that they keep each other company when we're not at home. We’re thrilled with our decision to add this adorable new member to our house and are always suggesting Pets Without Parents to anyone who is thinking about a new pet.

Oden (The Jackson 5 Litter)

My fiance and I adopted a puppy from the Jackson 5 almost a year ago - March 24, 2007. We named him Oden and he's been a wonderful addition to our family. He's made life much more exciting for our 5 year old formally lazy beagle Buddy! Oden loves playing with other dogs, swimming, chasing balls, and chewing bones. I saw a member of the Jackson 5 on the adoption tail and if any members would like to get together, I'd love to have a playdate! [Shelter Note: If you'd like to contact Oden's family, please email us.]

Thank you so much to Pets Without Parents for everything you do!

Isobel (Girl)

Hi, I have only been gone 5weeks but I am growing like a weed my new family loves me and are so happy they saw me on the web page. My littlest person likes to snuggle up and nap with me. Nicole the littlest person's big sis takes me to church once a week the kids in her class love me. I sleep most nights in bed with Nicole, she is looking into making me a therapy dog, because I am so gentle and love people. I take walks with Abby she is my sister dog. She is old and doesn't like to play much but she loves me. I play with Barkley and Angel they are my neighborhood friends they are young and full of energy we even take walks together without Abby so she can rest. I have already gained 10 lbs and love my new family they tell everyone about Pets Without Parents, thanks for letting them take me home, I have lots of toys, friends and humans to love me.

Pete (Donny)

Donny: adopted September 07 Pete has been with us for almost 6 months now and he is doing great. It doesn't seem so long ago we walked into the shelter and saw him so excited to see us. We always joke that we didn't pick Pete, Pete chose us. That's why we knew we had to take him home after our first play session with him. He loves going to Big Walnut dog park and running out all of his energy (he has A LOT of it), chasing after his friends. He listens very well when he wants to. Pete knows sit, shake, lay down, and roll over. He is also one of the best cuddlers ever! We felt as though he was missing his sister Marie so we adopted his step-sister Penny. They play all the time and sleep together. They are both much happier since they've been together. The bed seems smaller than it used to since Pete is almost 60lbs now (about 15lbs when we got him). We couldn't have been luckier to have Pete in our lives. Thank you so much PWP!!

Shaina (Hannah)

We adopted Shaina in March 2005. She was called Hannah and had six siblings (some with long hair, one other with short hair, and two that were black and white with long hair). (We think that her sister is Cali (Hazel), who also has a story on “Happy Tails”.) Shaina is a very sweet dog with a pleasant personality. She loves to sunbathe, but she also loves to run (especially when there are squirrels within range). Like her sister Cali, she loves to gather and chew on sticks. (Maybe there is a beaver gene in their family?) Shaina is a very good dog, and we love her very much. We so are glad that she came to our home.

Pupulmaio (Danny)

I recently adopted a beautiful kitten (I believe his name was originally Donny or Danny) from you on January 31, 2008. His new name is Pupulmiao (pronounced Pooh-pool-meow), it's Mayan for 'My husband made up this name'. He is fitting into the family as if he were here from the start! Our older cat, Zappers, is still adjusting to the fact that he is here and has so much energy. Nobody has gotten hurt, although they do take turns chasing each other around the house. It's great to see Zappers get scared when he is being chased by such a little kitten. Pupul thinks he is a big cat already and is definitely not afraid to play with Zappers. He is definitely a very affectionate kitten and we couldn't be happier! Thank you for doing what you do for all the animals. Your efforts are very much appreciated and I will recommend you to all friends who are looking for a furry friend!

Indie Ren (Haley)

We adopted Indie Ren (previously Haley) November 2007 and we can't imagine our lives without her now. She was one of the first dogs my husband and I met at Mingle with Mutts and after an hour of meeting other dogs we had to come back to see her before we left. It was decided that afternoon that we would take her home. As my husband frequently says, "We hit the jackpot with her." She is darn near perfect for us: laid-back, loving and quiet indoors, but spunky and energetic outdoors. She is one of the sweetest and smartest dogs we know and definitely one of the funniest with her quirky personality. We both grew up with dogs but we both agree that she is the best dog we've ever had. Thank you Pets Without Parents for helping to complete our family.

Alena

We are so thrilled to have Alena as part of our family. Even though she has not been with us very long, she has become a integral part of our family. We joke that Alena picked us as much as we picked her. She is so good with our daughter Caitlin and she likes to be be a good "momma" to all of us, standing guard at the room where we are. I would like to tell everyone who is considering adoption to definitely do it and make sure that you take an extra look at the "imperfect" candidates. Alena has only 3 legs but her spirit more then makes up for her handicap. Thank you so much pets without parents!

Lex (Duncan)

My husband and I adopted Lex (Duncan) in October 2007 to give our current cat, Miles, a younger brother, and to have another animal around to love! He was living in the "Cat Condo" upstairs with the older cats and kittens. As soon as we walked in the room and sat down, he jumped right into our laps and purred up a storm! We knew he was the one for us! Lex has been everything we had hoped for, and so much more. He and Miles love to play and run around the house together and they also enjoy cuddle time together too! Just as he showed us in the shelter, Lex loves to sit on our laps at home and he sleeps with us every night. He has brought us so much joy. We just love him! Thank you so much for taking care of Lex before we could, and for giving love to so many other animals in need!

Cooper

I wanted to write you a quick success story about my Pets Without Parents doggie, Cooper. Last summer, I was honored when you asked me to be an MC at your charity Dog Walk event. My other pound puppy, Rocky, doesn't travel well, so I opted not to bring him. But when I arrived you had an AMAZING dog for me to walk. His name was Cooper...and it was love at first WOOF!!! We weren't even half way through our walk, and I KNEW he had to come home with me!!! Needless to say, Cooper stayed the weekend with me, the adoption was handles Monday, and my other BIG Pound Puppy Rocky, suddenly had a new little brother!!! Rocky and Cooper and the best of friends, play together all the time, and bring soooo much love and joy into my life!!! Thank you again Pets Without Parents!!!!

Chaucer (Alladin)

I was watching the news after the first Buckeye game and saw a segment on the filled to capacity shelters. Like every other animal lover I could hardly bear to watch it. The next day I packed my boyfriend and friend into the car and drove to Mingle With the Mutts. There were dogs of every shape and color, but none stood out more to me than Aladdin. I got directions to Pets Without Parents, hightailed it over (no pun intended) and filled out an application faster than you can say fetch. My pound puppy is simply the greatest impromptu decision I have ever made and thanks to the wonderful volunteers at PWP I have the greatest 4 legged friend a girl could ask for. Thanks so much again

Bailey (Roxanne)

We adopted Bailey (was Roxanne) who was 3 months old for our son in Sept. 2007. We immediately knew she was the one because despite all the other dogs barking and jumping she sat quietly and reached her paw to us as if to shake! She has been the best dog ever! She is laid back and yet protective of her new family. Potty training was too easy and she picked up fetch and sit quickly as well. I tell everyone I can about Pets without Parents. It was obvious the animals were not only cared for but loved. Thank you for our baby girl!

Fozzie (The Jackson 5 Litter)

I wanted to thank you for providing such a stable place for these animals to stay while they're in line for adoption! I adopted Fozzie (one of the Jackson 5 puppies) about 6 months ago and he was already a happy guy - clean; well-fed; socialized. He's been a handful, but well-worth it! Now he enjoys freedom roaming throughout the house, frequent park visits, hikes, and his favorite - tennis balls. I'm always amazed whenever I go in to your facility at how clean it is and how much attention all of the animals get. They're truly very lucky! Thank you for all your hard work!

Nagi and Zoey (Dora and Hope)

We first met Nagi (Dora) at noon on a Tuesday. My husband and I had been out visiting shelters without much success when I suggested we go to the shelter I used to volunteer at, Pets Without Parents. The minute we walked in the door I saw her, a little black fur ball shivering in the back of a very large cage. We took her up to the play room, Nagi climbed in my lap and thats all she wrote. I was in love. We filled out the application around 2pm that afternoon and went home to wait nervously for our call back. By 6pm that same night I missed her so much that we went back to visit her again. We were at the shelter when our final reference called back and our application was approved. The staff offered to let us take her home that night, but we had no supplies so we agreed to come back and get her in the morning. We showed up a half hour before the shelter opened the next day and the staff took pity on us and opened early. That was a year ago and Nagi has been the sweetest dog. She's still a "Momma's Girl" and she loves catch, walks and hanging with the family. I honestly believe she was fated to be with our family. I can't thank the staff at PWP enough for bringing her into our lives.

Since then we've adopted a second dog from PWP (Zoey). If you stop by to visit the shelter you'll see their plaque on one of the cages, "Nagi and Zoey were here". I really want to rescue them all, but my husband says I can't so I think it's really important to support PWP. Even if you are not ready to adopt remember there are so many other ways to help including cage sponsorship, "Run with the Pack" and volunteering! Thank you again Pets With Parents for giving me my family!

Joey and Rascal

Joey is without question, the most interesting kitty we've known. He's much more comfortable hanging out with the dogs than the other kitties. He's extremely social and comes to the door to greet guests along with the dogs. He travels very well in the car and has made one long distance trip to visit my father in Mississippi. He likes to sit on the top of a headrest or staring out the window with one of the dogs. He loves the outdoors and is always just a short distance behind the dogs. Ray, our husky mix, can always call Joey home. Inevitably, if Joey is out too long, I just go outside with Ray and say "Where's Joey". Ray will vocalize that awesome husky "woo-woo" and within minutes Joey will appear at the back porch ready to come in. We recently returned from a hiking trip and Rascal was the BEST climber. She's a very "girly-girl" though. She doesn't like to get her feet wet, won't go out in the rain, never strays away from my side and insists that it's really only important for her to look like a "pretty girl". There have been several times that, with a lot of activity with kids coming and going, the door is left open. Boo, our oldest at 16, still can manage to make it several houses down before we get a call. Ray will travel a little way but now we have an invisible fence, so he's pretty well contained. Rascal doesn't even need the fence and we've never had to use the collar, because she's just not going anywhere without her mommy. She'll be sitting right there at the front door waiting for her siblings to come home.

Punkin (Gwen)

Hi, My husband and I adopted Punkin (Gwen, Patches) three years ago this past winter. And she is truly the love of our lives! We were told "well, she might be ok, but you can bring her back in 10 days if it doesn't work out." What's wrong with her, we asked. "Well, we have to wrap our hands and arms in towels to change her water and food because she will attack us", we were told. Three years later we couldn't be happier. Not only does she not bite or scratch at us, she constantly talks, which is normal in this house, she loves us every second, and she has truly made our house a home. Thanks to Pets Without Parents for the wonderful place they are running!

Guiness (Lennox)

I really lucked out with Guiness. He was the smallest kitten, but has grown into a giant cat now. He has the best personality, very friendly with all the visitors I have passing through my apartment, and incredibly playful. I'm so happy with him and thank you very much for introducing him into my life.

Max

Max has made himself perfectly at home, especially with the kids (as you can definitely tell in the picture). He is great with the kids and as you can see in the picture, he woefully watches them get on the school bus in the morning and waits all day to rejoice when they are home. He and our 6-year old Calvin (in the picture) are especially close and Calvin looks forward to this reception all day.

Wicket (Pablo)

Two winters ago my husband and I received the best Christmas present ever, Wicket (formally known as Pablo)! Rob, my husband, adopted Wicket from your shelter and he turned out to be the best dog in all the world. He is such a loving snuggle-pup! Wicket brings both Rob and I so much joy. We can't thank your shelter enough.

When we first brought Wicket home he was only 6 lbs, and now he is handsome 45. Wicket has grown from a shy little puppy into such a loving goofy guy. He has traveled all over the country with us. He is such a well adjusted fellow. He has gone from having no home at all to being totally spoiled. He loves to go on daily walks and play kong in the park, but his favorite part of the day is snuggling with his mom and dad.

Thank you again for making our adoption story possible.

Kaya

Kaya is doing wonderful she and her sister Shadow run all over the house playing when Kaya is not doing her two favorite things, eating and lounging. I am not sure who loves food more Kaya or her Beagle brother Domino. I never have to worry where she is, as she follows me everywhere and is always pointing out things I miss on the computer screen. I can't even imagine how we got along without her, she fits in so perfectly and brings out the best in all of us. Thank you for taking care of her for us.

Puck (Barnaby)

I adopted Puck nearly a year ago from Pets without Parents. I had just moved to Columbus and never been without a roommate, so my friend told me to get a cat. We visited the shelter and I was overwhelmed with all the cute animals! There were quite a few black cats there (apparently people would rather have cats with more color), but Puck stood out. He had a little white locket, and when I picked him up and held him, he put his paws on my cheeks and licked me on the nose. That's when I knew he was the cat for me.

I named him Puck because he's black, and I'm a hockey player; I guess it's also fitting that he loves to sleep in my smelly gear each night. It turns out he's part Maine Coon Cat, so at his first birthday, he weighed in at about 16 pounds. He has a gorgeous fluffy tail and a purr that puts a jet engine to shame.

I advise anyone looking to get a pet to go through Pets without Parents. The animals are so loving, and Puck's been the best roommate I've ever had!

We adopted Cookie on the day of New Year's Eve 2005. She was apx 9 mos old at the time. Cookie had been rescued, adopted once and returned, and had been at PWPC long enough to become well known to the staff. I was there because my wife had 'given' me a dog for Christmas. She had actually only given me the idea of a dog, the actual specimen had yet to be determined. Not that she didn't try. She and a friend of hers had tried to adopt a dog the day before Christmas and it didn't work out. That's how she ended up at PWPC in the first place, trying to score a pooch to put under the tree. My wife had never owned a dog and was not at all sure about becoming an owner then. But we made a deal a few years ago and my part of the negotiations included a dog. We envisioned getting a chocolate Lab and naming it Brownie after my wife's favorite dessert, thinking that would make it easier for her to accept the dog. She had visited PWPC and left with a small, quiet, brown dog named Bailey in mind as a candidate. Alas, when I got there after Christmas to meet Bailey, she was already spoken for. The woman working there (Erin?) invited me to fill out an application to have on file in case a dog I wanted came in. While I was waiting, a puppy in the cage to my left stuck her nose through the top of the cage, stuck her paw out to me and started 'talking' to me, begging to get my attention. She appeared slightly too big and waaay too needy to fit my wife's expectations. I thought there was no way I was going to persuade my wife to take her. Somehow Cookie convinced me to take her for a walk. She was perfectly well behaved. And even better, her name, Cookie, came close to the name Brownie that we had already decided upon. I filled out the application and left feeling somewhat doubtful but optimistic. PWPC called a day or two later to approve my application and my wife went with me to meet Cookie. We went fairly early in the day and Cookie was pretty reserved with us, which was good because my wife believed that to be her true demeanor. What we later learned is that Cookie is just not a 'morning dog' and gets plenty of energy later in the day, after she has had chance to sleep in! Cookie now enjoys a large fenced yard in German Village, daily trips to Schiller Park to run like crazy, romp with other dogs, chase squirrels, and splash in the pond. In addition she gets nightly walks around German Village to inspect the neighborhood. I work at home and she spends all day with me, and has become a mascot for the Bed & Breakfast we own in German Village, meeting and greeting guests and begging for belly rubs. Today at just a couple months past her 2nd birthday she is very loved, spoiled, fit, healthy and happy! My wife says all the time that she can't believe that she has become such a dog person and that she never could have imagined how much she would love Cookie. Thanks PWPC!

Tucker

I adopted Tucker from you around January/February 2005. He's everything I wanted in a dog....my best friend for sure! He's about 30lbs more than everyone guessed he'd be when I adopted him, and twice as tall too. His head is about level with countertops when standing!

Alice (Vixen)

Greetings Pets without Parents, My husband and I adopted Alice (while at the shelter her name was Vixen) about 2 years ago. She is a little all black cat who we just love. We adopted her when she was about 4 months old and she was loved from the start. When I found out I was pregnant I was afraid she would think she was being neglected but by looking at the picture she has become a little mommy! Anytime our son (who is about 5 months) cries she is right there. He loves to pet her and gets excited anytime she comes near him. I just wanted to share this picture of a sweet kitty who has become a wonderful member of our family. Take Care and Thanks for giving us such a sweet Cat.

MoMo, Laddy, and Cutty (Moe, Larry and Curly)

My boys have been with me for five weeks now and are coming along fine. It was interesting the first couple of days, they would walk around, smell everything and call out to each other when out of site to one another. Moe was the more outgoing of the three but after some time Larry and Curly came around and are now so lovable. They're good boys; so glad we were introduced. We have a happy home and they have plenty of room to romp, run and wrestle.

Sadie (Bunny)

In 2002, my boyfriend and I decided to get a dog together. So we, of course, went to Pets Without Parents, rather than a pet store (ugh!) At the time, the shelter was located on Bethel Rd. Upon entering the store, we immediately spied Sadie, our silly rottweiler mix. There were tons of other people surrounding her cage checking her out but we were the ones who took her home. Now five years later, not only do we have Sadie, but a three year old daughter as well. Sadie is Peyten's protector wherever we go. She won't go within 10 feet away from her at the park. Sadie is an important part of our family and is best friends with our cat, Kitzy! They sleep together quite a bit, with Kitzy on my head and Sadie at my feet. Honestly, we can't sleep without Sadie, even though she takes up half our bed! So thank you for a great dog! We just adore her!

Bobby

Hi everyone at PWP! My boyfriend and I adopted Bobby, the gray one-eyed cat, a little over 2 weeks ago. We came to PWP because Chris used to work for Amy about 6 years ago. Also, we were looking for a friend for our chihuahua Puffy and we really wanted to give a good home to a pet in need. When we saw Bobby and how well he and Puffy got along together we knew he was the one we had to adopt.

Now Bobby is doing great in his new home. His stitches are out and he's healing well. Our vet has a weakness for gray cats so she has even given us discounts on care for Bobby. When we first brought him home Bobby was very timid and afraid. Eventually he began to trust me, Chris, and Puffy. He loves to run, play, and wrestle with Puffy. Bobby also loves to sit on our laps and be petted and brushed. His favorite activities are to hide under our bed and jump out and attack our feet or scare Puffy when he walks by. He also loves when we play with him with his feather wand and he greatly enjoys pouncing on us in bed. We feel so blessed to have found such a sweet, lovable, and adorable cat that has become a best friend to our dog. Thanks PWP for helping us to give a forever home to Bobby!

Ernie (Spike)

I just wanted to say thanks for letting me adopt "Spike", who is now known as "Ernie". Ernie is doing very well, he is such a good dog. He was very timid at first when people would come over but now he is friends with everyone. He loves his walks and jogs and especially loves romping with other dogs at Goodale Park. Both Ernie and I are looking forward to better weather. Thanks again.

Serenity (Godiva)

I don't even know where to begin to describe our experiences since getting Serenity (formerly known as Godiva). Serenity has been a great addition to my four legged family. She can definitely be a bundle of energy. I was a little hesitant about getting a cat at first because I have only had dogs (and fish) in the past. I must admit I am extremely happy with her! She gets along well with her two adopted sisters, and I sometimes take her to a friends house to visit a cat friend. With her cat friend they get to run around the house chasing each other and wrestling - things she doesn't do with the dogs. Even with all of her energy, bedtimes are the best with Serenity - she is a cuddle bug.

Karma (Thora)

We adopted Karma at the end of August 2005. What I remember most clearly about her at that time was how heart-achingly timid and shy she acted. She seemed so very tiny - curled up in a tight ball, watching and purring madly as we petted her. While initially timid, she gracefully gained confidence in our home and has become an impossibly sweet and loving member of the family. I can't - and don't care to - imagine my little world without Karma in it.

Like so many other animals, she deserved another opportunity at love and security. The love she returns in-kind is boundless, and I can only hope that others take the opportunity to find a companion who is equally devoted, loving and funny as her!

Since adopting Karma at Pets without Parents, our family has relocated to Western Washington. The airplane ride was traumatic for us all, but I think Karma liked it least of all. We're now safely settled, and Karma watches the numerous crows with awe.

Marley

About a year ago I began volunteering at the shelter as a service project. The first day I began, there was a very nervous dog named Marley that was scared to go into her cage. I walked Marley every day for 2 months and would play with her, I would come to "volunteer" when really I just wanted to see Marley. After a lot of nagging I finally convinced my Mom and Dad to adopt Marley. I already had a black lab named Ellie so Marley would be a second dog. At first Marley came on as kind of aggressive to Ellie and that worried me. But after about a month of adjusting to her new home Marley became very good friends with Ellie. They now will lick each other and lay down with their heads resting on each other. Marley does not leave my side. If I leave the house she waits at the door for me. I went on vacation in the summer and Marley wouldn't leave the living room not even to eat, or sleep. She is very well trained and listens to me. I walk her without a leash and she does not have a problem with it. I always suggest Pets Without Parents to anybody looking for a good animal. And for those of you who are looking to adopt an animal look at the older dogs, Marley was five when I adopted her and she has turned out to be the worlds best dog.

Princess Tofu (Sami)

I was the one who adopted "Sami" (new name, Princess Tofu Alleycat-Kalafarski). She has been pure delight--a lovely, cuddly, playful kitty. She likes to play hide and seek and she's so smart she can even play fetch. Thanks so much for rescuing Tofu. She is a wonder kitty and I love her.

Charlie (Charlie Brown)

These are pictures of Charlie (Charlie Brown) shortly after we brought him home, at about 6 months, and about a year. We saw his beautiful sister Gravy (AKA Peppermint Patty) on the PWP website. Charlie loves to swim, play in the water hose, play fetch, and go for walks (although he would rather jog). He has a great personality. We love it when people ask, "What kind of dog is THAT!" If we had known what a great dog he would be, we would have adopted the whole litter! Thanks, PWP.

Semper

Semper is absolutely the most wonderful dog. He was a part of our family immediately. There was no adjustment period. We loved him the minute we first saw him after PWP called us to say they had an American Bulldog that needed a home. Just the day before we asked them to keep their eyes out for us. How lucky was that? He was so gracious and grateful from the moment he came into our home. He owns us now.

I have no doubt he was meant to be with us under the circumstances in which he came to us. Even with all his issues, we never hesitated to make him ours. I know deep down inside of him the situation PWP helped rescue him from has made him appreciate his forever home. We had the opportunity to help save his life and brought him into our family, and in turn I know there is no doubt he would risk his life for everyone of us. He is a wonderful boy and we are blessed!

Here is Semper's background info: When he came to Westerville East Animal Hospital : 30lbs (10-15 under weight)/4 mos old, mange, issues with tongue sticking out due to swollen and possibly fractured jaw, herniated belly button, crippled/leg issues due to being bound to a cage that is too small, and no energy.

Today 2.5 mos later: almost 70 lbs/6.5 mos old, mange under control, big and muscular and owns our 1/2 acre yard, happy and playful and his legs are in perfect condition.

Sissy and Chugs

I adopted Sissy and Chugs a little over a year ago at Pets without Parents. I was driving by the shelter and decided to just "stop in" to see what they had. As soon as I walked in, I saw Sissy and Chugs and was immediately smitten. I was first drawn to Chugs and I remember when he was removed him from his cage to visit with me, Sissy freaked out, yelping and crying for her brother. I quickly decided that I wanted to adopt Chugs, I filled out the paperwork and went home, anxiously waiting for the news. During this time, I decided that I would "foster" Sissy until a home was found for her. Pets without Parents was thrilled to hear this and I ended up taking Sissy and Chugs both home. It took about a few hours until I quickly realized that there was no way that I could separate the two of them and I quickly fell in love with Sissy. I ended up keeping them both and am so happy that I did. They are great dogs and so cute together!! They play and snuggle together all the time...I can't imagine them ever being separated. Thank you so much for bringing them into my life!

StanLee

StanLee is the best kitten we could ever hope for. He is so loving, affectionate, friendly, and he took to our home like he has lived here all his life. He is really enjoying having so much attention from his human family, as well as his furry family. We rescued another kitten from a co-worker. StanLee and his new buddy Aristotle are having a ball playing and being kittens together. StanLee also loves his dog sister Lucy, and she loves him. His big bro and sis cats haven't quite warmed to him yet, but I am sure he will soon win them over with his abundant love and sweetness.

Lucy

We adopted Lucy in Jan 2006 and she was a tiny little pup that had no coordination. My husband and I had just suffered a late pregnancy loss and were having a pretty hard time. We had always talked about getting a dog but the time seemed perfect. We found your webpage online and the next day came down to the shelter. We saw pictures of Lucy online and fell in love with her. She had three beautiful sisters and Lucy was always sleeping on the bottom of the pile. We knew she was perfect. At the time, no one was quite sure what kind of mix she was but it has become quite clear that she has some Beagle in her and a lot of Jack Russell. This little puppy is truly the light of our lives. She is almost one year old now. She has a TREMENDOUS amount of energy which we try to wear down in the evening by having her fetch golf balls that my husband hits which she just loves. Lucy had a rough moment a few months after we adopted her. We had gotten half way through her parvo vaccines and she got Parvo. She was admitted to Riverside Animal Hospital for a week. My husband and I visited her 3-4 times a day until she finally kicked it and came home healthy. We were sick with worry but Lucy is a trooper. She made her first of many to come camping/hiking trips this summer and she had an absolute blastl. Lucy has an older brother Yougha that she loves to torment (yougha is a cat we adopted years ago from the SPCA in Baltimore). Yougha has decided that if Lucy is going to stay then he makes the rules. The play chase all evening long all throughout the house which is good exercise for both of them. We love this little doggie more than we could have ever anticipated. We don't remember what it was like to sleep without her nestled in between us under the covers. It was a hard year for us and I think Lucy saved us more than we saved her. I just can't imagine life without her. We are so grateful for shelters like yours and the service you provide.

Mila (Gina)

We came to the shelter on Bethel in January 2003 to find a friend for our cat, Pepper. We found Mila (Gina) located in the back of the building and were taken by her because she had been there for such a long time. The staff we spoke to clearly loved her and were both happy and sad to see her go. She was very timid and shy when we adopted her. We renamed her Mila because it means sweet or kind in Czech and she is most certainly both. After we brought her home, she quickly became friends with our other cat and played with him constantly. Pepper grooms her whenever she is not hiding under furniture. To this day she continues to be very shy with people, but she occasionally becomes bold enough to demand that we pet her. Although she’s not much of a lap cat, she’s very pleased with her feline companions. All parties are very pleased that she has come to live with us. There are two pictures of Mila snoozing, one of her playing with her mouse toy, and one of her sleeping with her buddies. The black cat is Pepper and the other tabby is a stray we found last year named Tiny Ricardo. Thank you for everything you do.

Tuesday (Sverte)

We adopted Tuesday as an adult dog from Pets Without Parents in 08.02 when you were located in Olentangy Plaza. She had been returned twice which was to our good fortune.

From day one Tuesday loves to go for a ride and is a great traveling companion. She is extremely smart and loves to play. She is a master frisbee catch & return partner and a great watch dog. She plays well with other dogs and always runs in the backyard in hopes of giving chase to a squirrel or chipmunk. She is our first rescue dog and now would never think of returning to a breeder. We bought a Shar-pei pup 12 years ago who was plagued by health problems and was covered with fleas when we picker her up from the puppy mill. Tuesday is a nice mix which we attribute to her extremely good health.

We truly recommend Pets Without Parents and we hope to return for a dog companion for Tuesday.

Atticus (Edgar)

We adopted Atticus on May 16, 2005 -- he was two months old and named Edgar at the time. He has been the most perfect kitten. He gets along amazingly well with our dog (he LOVES to pounce on the dog's wagging tail!), and the dog immediately accepted Atticus as one of the family. He is so friendly that he wins over every human he meets, even some who think they don't like cats. We feel so lucky to have him! The first picture is from his first day at our house, quickly discovering the best hiding spots. The next two are fairly recent -- his one and only venture outside on a leash, and his contemplation spot (the floor brings out his inner philosopher). Many thanks for helping us find such a beautiful and wonderful kitten!

Solo (Wilbur)

We adopted our kitty Solo, who was then known as Wilber, in June of 2004. He went from a cage full of kittens to a 3 bedroom house! Solo is very friendly, playful and sweet. As soon as my alarm goes off in the morning, he jumps on the bed and snuggles up to my ear purring. And almost every evening, he jumps up on the couch and curls up next to my husband. We have enjoyed him so much. PWP, you do great things. Thank you for taking care of our little buddy until we found him : )

Ciara (Bailey)

I adopted Ciara (Bailey at the time) on July 22, 2002. I am sure glad I stopped at Pets Without Parents that night. You were located on Bethel Road then. When I saw her it was love at first sight. I knew instantly it was meant to be. I picked her up in my arms and did not put her down (she came home with me that night). Ciara has been such a joy in my life. She is a very loyal, loving and wonderful dog. I take her to doggie day care while I'm at work. I was told that she had a brother named Brock that had been adopted the day before. Her birthdate is May 20, 2002 . I will definitely adopt from you again. Thank you PWP.

Dingo (Skittles)

We adopted Dingo (formerly Skittles) almost three years ago from the Indianola location. He has fit into our little family perfectly, and wins over any and all who meet him (even self-professed cat haters!). He's generous with lap time and affectionate "head butts." As his current photo would indicate, he has turned into quite the handsome feline! We encourage anyone considering adding a cat to their home to check out Pets Without Parents.

Tiger and Bogey (Fido and Richie)

We got Bogey (Fido - grey) and Tiger (Richie - brown tabby) in March of 2004 and we love them more than ever! Tiger has a very fun personality -- he is quite the wild man and big Kahuna, and Bogey is such a loving kitty!! We have moved from an apartment into a large condo where they have lots of room to run 3 floors! We have also since added a sister stray, Zoe to the family, who was sadly dumped off in the country. We love our feline family! Thank you Pets Without Parents!!!!!!!!!!!

Patches (Jasper)

(Shelter Note: Patches (aka Jasper) was one of our sheltered pets who could never seem to land a break. This sweet girl was adopted several times and returned - always through no fault of her own. We're so incredibly happy, as we are with all adoptions, that someone special finally came along and saw how wonderful Jasper is. Thank you to all of our adopters!)

Hi my name is Patches (formally Jasper) or as my new Mommy calls me "Princess". Today is only my first full day with my new family, but I am already fitting in quite well in my new home...soon I will be running this place. Mommy woke up early today to take me to the park...with my sister Buffett who lives with my Grandma and Grandpa. We had so much fun, and I even got to show her how I can climb big boulders. Mommy says I can get an attitude when I'm sleepy, but she says it all part of my charm, and I must be taking after Daddy. Here are a few pics. of me at the park today...I will send more later, but right now I need to go drag Mommy's pillow out into the middle of the living room floor so I can take a nap. YAWN........ Love, Patches

Lola (Clarice)

When my much loved little beagle mix died at the ripe age of 14, it took me a while to decide it was time for another dog. Actually my Lab Rocky (I got him from Lab Rescue about six years ago) let me know it was time--he was lonesome too! I had a list of requirements for a dog; about 30lbs, a year or two old, female and housebroken. I went to Mutt Mingles at the shelter, checked out a few other rescue groups. One day I stopped by Pets Without Parents to check out the dogs. I met three or four dogs who were all very nice, but none of them MY dog. As I was leaving, I passed an eye-level cage that had two puppies wrestling in it when I came in. One had been adopted while I was there, and now one was left, lying sadly alone with her head on her paws. Our eyes met and--well, I was gone. She was pretty much everything I didn't want. A puppy, definitely NOT housebroken, and despite assurances that she would grow to about 35 lbs, she had feet like Shaquile, and I had my doubts. I went home to think about it for 24 hours. I called first thing in the morning on April 5 and told them I wanted Clarice.

I brought her home a few days later. She was skinny and timid and had kennel cough, but she made herself at home. The first night she spent in her crate was when I learned that she could sing. She howled for about 10 minutes, and by golly she was musical. At one point she sounded just like Ray Davies. For those of you reading this who are under 40, he was the lead singer for the Kinks. Anyhow, it sounded like she was singing the line "Lola, la la la la Lola, L-O -L-A, Lola...." That is how Clarice became Lola.

She has since grown, and grown, and GROWN. She became an irrepressible ball of puppy energy. Her ears now stand up, and her legs are a mile long. My vet tells me she will likely top out at 50 lbs. She is housebroken and enrolled in dog school where she makes me look good by getting everything right the first time. Rocky loves her and even my two cats have made peace. She's getting to be a big girl, but really, who wants to have to bend over to pet a dog? She shows promise as a therapy dog. We visit my uncle in the nursing home where she is patient and gentle with everyone. She's also obsessed with flip-flops--I'm on my third pair as I write this.

For a dog I didn't think I wanted, Lola has turned out to be the best dog I've ever lived with! (Don't tell Rocky!) Thanks to Pets Without Parents!

Molly (Macey)

I adopted Molly (formerly Macey, littermate of Molly, Max, etc.) in May of 2002. She was only 11 weeks old and scared to leave her sisters and brothers. She has been the best dog that I have ever had! Everyone that meets Molly has decided that she is definitely a person and not a dog. She has such a personality and is very very smart. She has brought a tremendous amount of joy to me and my family. Thank you to everyone at Pets Without Parents. I can't imagine life without my baby girl!

Sunny (Sunshine)

My husband and I adopted a young boy named Sunshine in Dec. 2004. We thought it was a great name for him as he is truly a ball of Sunshine. We now call him Sunny for short. He has been here for 2 and 1/ 2mos now and would never guess he didn't grow up with all his sisters and brother. His little sister, Penny, and now best friend, has shown him all the ropes. He was timid with his three dogs at first, but Penny was quick to show Sunny how to boss them around and Princess Penny now has a King Sunny. He loves to cuddle with Penny on their "Condo" and devour cat nip. His favorite time of day is cuddling on the couch with Mommy and Daddy and enjoying an evening brush, although if you asked Penny, she would probably insist that their favorite time is 2:00 am when they can both run up and down stairs and slide on the wood floors. Sunny would like to thank the best woman in the world that saved him and gave him the opportunity to have such a great life with his new family and all the people at Pets With Out Parents for giving him a chance for a better life. Thank you for allowing my Husband and I to give Sunny this life and for the Sunshine we now have on all rainy days...and Penny would like to thank you for the wonderful big brother and best friend.

UPDATE: It has been one and 1/2 years now with my family. While I sent and update a few months after leaving Pets without Parents, I thought I would update you since this has truly become my home. My Mommy and Daddy say I am the most lovable guy they've ever known and they even got me a two legged little brother to cuddle with. He doesn't give very good chin scratchings yet, but we have a lot of years to teach him. In additional to my sister, Penny, we took my great grandma's cat, Frieda, in as well. I sure was glad to here Mom was having a boy because it's hard for a fella to get some peace with those two crazy girls trying to bathe me at once. I even cuddle with my three dogs now. They have great beds and are always willing to let me squeeze in with them. Life is great for me and I hope all the Kitties and Dogs find wonderful homes!

Sadie (Bella)

Just wanted to THANK YOU & let you know that "Bella" ("Sadie" now) is very happy in her new home. I adopted her at the beginning of May and she was SO shy. She's really warmed up now...she's the friendliest little thing you'll ever meet. She loves to play with other dogs and everyone always comments about "what a sweet, well-behaved dog she is." She knows sit, down, stay, off, come, fetch, no, drop it, wait, and heel. You should see her when she gets ahold of a tennis ball or pine cone...she could entertain herself for hours just running & jumping, tossing it up with her paws & catching it in her mouth! She's a great traveling dog too...We go to the car & she just waits for me to pat the seat & say, "ok, let's go!" then she jumps in the passenger seat, sits there & looks around a bit like a person, then promptly curls up in a ball & falls asleep until we get where we're going (even if it's an hour or two away).

Kesha (Applesauce)

I had wanted a dog for a long time and it took some convincing for my parents to adopt one. I have been going to the shelter for a while just to look and play with the animals. We went one day and saw Kesha, formerly Applesauce, when she was a little puppy with the rest of her siblings. We really liked her. A few weeks later, we went back to the shelter and filled out the adoption forms. A couple of days later, my dream had come true. Since then, Kesha has grown up healthy and beautiful. She loves to play fetch, but we're still working on "drop". I couldn't have asked for a better dog.

Winston (Rudy)

Its been a little over four months now since I adopted Rudy at the end of January and I just thought you might want an update. I switched his name to Winston and he is doing incredibly well. He weighs just over 40 pounds now and he may even get to be as big as 50 pounds by the time he's done growing! I'm attaching some pictures I took at the end of April during our first trip to the water. He was very brave and had a great time! The other three pictures were ones I took at home over the past few months. You can see how much he's grown! Just as he was when I first saw him at the shelter, he's a very sweet dog!

Tanis (Keller)

Keller's new name is now Tanis Half-Elven Fistandantilus Toney. Tanis for short. He is getting along wonderfully with us. When we come home he jumps up while wagging his tail so hard that his entire body wiggles! He loves to go for walks around the neighborhood and even remembers which trees he has seen the squirrels running up. Needless to say, those are his favorite trees. He loves belly rubs, gives multitudes of kisses when ever he can reach our faces and has two favorite sleeping places, under the blankets behind our calves and on his back between our pillows -- just like a little man! He goes through bones half the size of his body in about a week and loves to shake and throw and chase his soft toys. We love this guy so so much are are so grateful to have had the chance to take him into our home and give him the most love. And I think he knows this and is one happy little doggie.

Georgia (Snickers)

I adopted Snickers in October when she was 8 weeks old. My boyfriend and I changed her name to Georgia because she was just the most polite puppy, she reminded us of a little southern belle. She quickly grew out of her timidness that she had shown at the shelter, and has become the most loving, curious dog (which sometimes gets her into a little trouble!!). She is happy to see almost everyone, but is a great guard dog when needed. She has grown into a beautiful, 1yr old, 40lb girl, and we are eternally grateful for the opportunity to have her in our lives. Thanks Pets without Parents!

Scout

Hi I'm Scout. My parents fostered my mom when she was pregnant with me, after me and my seven brothers and sisters were born they couldn't not keep one of us, and lucky me I was the one they kept. I'm telling you, they made our first 10 weeks a blast..we had so many toys and things to stimulate us, and we were trained to sleep in a crate all together. Which I must say was a little ruff sleeping alone when everyone else left the house. But I got used to it..because I had a teddy bear they gave me to sleep with, which made me feel not so alone, and Tucker my adoptive father figure slept right next to my kennel to make sure I didn't need anything. He was the best, he taught me how to eat, play, and sleep on big pillows made for us. He would let me sleep right next to him however, because he was so nice. The other two dogs in the family were nice, but didn't like to share anything. Tucker shared everything with me. Sadly Tucker had to go to the doggy park in the sky which was very sad for me, but then I got to know Molly better, who I misunderstood for a long time. She looked like my real mom, but wasn't real interactive, now she plays with me all the time. I love her. She helped me take all the nasty fuzz and foam out of our human parents couch. It was too fun, you should have seen the downstairs we covered it with fuzz and foam, it was the best time ever.

I'm loving traveling. I have been to Hilton Head Island 2 times, and I must say it is a blast. I went boating and saw the dolphins, and met several other dogs. I have also been to Hocking Hills camping. It is a great place for dogs, all the trails except Conkle's Hollow are dog friendly. I'm telling you, you meet so many friendly dogs there. I even met a baby deer but her momma yelled at her to come home too quick for us to be able to play. Next time, I hope I get the chance. Traveling is soooo much fun.

I'm having a great life, and I have Pets Without Parents to thank for guiding me to my forever human parents.

Sputnik

When first coming into my home, Sputnik was a bit shy ( to me mostly) but gets along great with my other two cats, but mostly with my Dog Trooper. Sput follows Trooper around all the time ( Trooper is not always crazy about it). My other two cats tolerate my dog, Sputnik worships the ground my dog walks on. If my dog is lying on the ground, Sput is next to him. If my dog is on the bed, Sput is next to him. Sputnik weaves in and out of Troopers legs while Trooper is standing. Sputnik is still a bit shy around me at times, unless I am on my computer and sitting at my desk. As soon as I sit down, Sput is on my lap. It is great to have Sputnik in my home. Thanks!

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