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Benefits of adopting older animals
Why mixed breeds make great companion animals
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Happy Tails
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Happy Tails
We’re all ears! If you have an interesting story and photo of your adopted animal please email it to pawmaster@PHS-SPCA.org with Happy Tails as the email header. Also please include your name and city.
Hello there,
I adopted my pooch about 4 months ago. His name is Blaze and he is a one year old Shepherd Mix. This was the BEST choice I have ever made! I had been looking for the right dog for me for a while. When I saw his picture on the website I instantly knew I had to adopt him. We went through training classes and he still needs a lot of work but he is the best thing to happen to me. I don't have any children except for him! He is a loving, sweet, energetic, beautiful pup that is such a joy to have in my life.
I work during the day so he has access to the yard as well as the house. As soon as I pull up after work I hear his collar jingle and then he pops up at the front window. He greets me with tons of kisses! We spend our nights playing fetch at different fields such as Frontierland Park, Oddsted and Terra Nova. Although we go one tons of walks they are not enough exercise for him...he needs to run! When I first adopted him the SPCA told me he didn't get a long with other dogs. Well, come to find out he LOVES other dogs! We go to the dog park on the weekends and he has a blast! We went to the lake this weekend and he had his first swimming experience (with me anyways). It was great.
I want to say thank you to all of you workers and volunteers at Peninsula Humane Society. My baby probably would not be alive today if it was not for you guys. Thank you also, to the great foster parents that take in these animals and care for them while they are finding new homes. I could not ask for anything better! Thank you again.
Kate K., Pacifica
P.S. Here is a picture of Blaze, being spoiled, taking a snooze on my bed
Hi,
We adopted three kittens a year ago - the two black kittens were named Blue and Purple. We can't remember the name of the other kitten who was a little puff ball. Here is our story -and a few pictures: My three sons and I visited the shelter many times and came back to adopt 2 black kittens who were siblings. We looked at them in particular because they had these amazing green/grey eyes. We played with three pairs of kittens in the "get to know you" room. One pair chased each other around the room and then would turn around and chase each other the other way. That pair was Blue and Purple. My oldest son insisted on adopting this little puff ball who talked to us the minute we went into the room. I balked at adopting three kittens - that was crazy - adopting two was already pushing it! I called my husband to get his opinion (because he is allergic to cats) and he said three isn't that much worse than two... so we adopted all three of them. We were allowed to take the puff ball home immediately that Saturday and had to wait to pick the other two up on Monday after neutering surgery.
We named the puff ball (who was a Maine Coon with an M on his forehead), Tiger. He was very affectionate and only a little bit exploratory in the bathroom we had confined him to for the first night. Little by little he explored out of the bathroom and into the kitchen/living room where we had the food, litter box and kitty kondo. By Monday afternoon when we brought the black kittens home, Tiger thought the place was his own and only his own and acted like it - hogging the food. He definitely staked out his territory when the other two started exploring. It took maybe two or three days before the two black kittens were comfortable enough to chase each other around and under the couch. And then they would reverse the chasing just as they had when we first met them.
In the end, we named them after cars: Jaguar, the skinny long black cat, Tesla, the squat sway back black cat, and Tiger, the Main Coon (and he is sometimes known as Fat Cat because his fluffy fur makes him look twice as big as the other two cats).
Now it's been a year and it has been awesome having three snuggle bunnies! They are indoor/outdoor cats and love sleeping on the boys' beds. They love climbing on our play structure - they even go down the slide (on their own)! The three cats used to sleep together when they fit on a chair or on the top level of the kitty kondo together but now they are too big to all fit. So, they sleep on one of the beds together.
I wish everyone would consider adopting a black cat, or two - they are definitely good luck for us! Thank you!
Sonya S., San Carlos
We adopted Flor back in December 2009 and already cannot imagine life without her. I've spent a lot of time working with her on her nervous behavior and she has really blossomed into a fantastic little dog. She knows all of her basic obedience commands (but chooses to ignore "come" a little too often for my taste...she'd rather explore the yard a bit more), and has settled into a great routine with us. She gets along with our 18 year old 3-legged cat, but truth be told, I think she wishes he would play with her more! She loves chasing her ball around the yard, rolling in the grass, laying in the sun, playing tug-of-war with her rope toy, going to the dog park and for car rides, and is a wonderful cuddle partner under her blanket on the couch. She is truly a joy to have around, and while I know shelter life can be tough, I am so very thankful to the staff and volunteers that worked to keep her comfortable and happy during her 3-month stay at PHS!
Jen & Craig M., South San Francisco
Hello!
This e-mail is a long time coming, but better late than never right? I adopted Pepper (previously known as Serena #A462371) a 7 1/2 year old German Shepherd in December of 2009. My boyfriend and I were nervous to adopt her because she had had mammary gland tumors that were recently removed, but she seemed like such a sweet well behaved dog and my heart went out to her. She immediately took to us when we got home, but her true personality came out a few months later. She LOVES water and squeaky toys!! She's eight years old now, but you would think she's only 18 months old the way she bounces around when you bring out her leash or a squeaky toy. We love watching her play and spoil her rotten! She is a big "dog bed'"potato and has too many toys now and even her own kiddie pool to lay in on the hot days! You can't see the water in the attached picture because we only fill it up a couple of inches so she can lay in it and cool off. But she loves her pool! And any other body of water for that matter (minus bath time of course)! She loves to run and chomp at the waves at the lakes and beaches we take her to. She's also so good natured that we can take her out to eat and she'll lay by us calmly at the outside dining tables.
I am very thankful to you guys for taking her in when she was a stray, giving her the necessary surgery she needed, and allowing me to talk directly to the vet about her surgery and health. She is a spry girl loving life and we love having her in ours!
Best
Rebecca T. and Charlie T., San Jose
Hello!
We adopted Cara (now re-named Kira) about 3 months ago and she is the best dog, and we are so happy to have her! We are so very thankful to all the staff and Cole, Kira’s foster dad for taking such wonderful care of her for the past 2 ½ years before we got her.
I am so amazed that nobody wanted her sooner and I guess she was just waiting for us to come and get her to take her home! She gets along wonderfully with our 2 kitties and gets along great with the dogs at the doggie day care her dad works at. We couldn’t have asked for a better companion.
Sincerely,
Elise & Adam V., Santa Clara
Dear PHS staff,
We recently adopted Jetty Bits, now Cricket, and could not be happier. We are so thankful to her foster mom, Olivia, and all the shelter staff for taking such wonderful care of her while she awaited her forever home. She is a joy to have in our home, well behaved and a wonderful companion. She keeps me smiling and laughing and never leaves my side. We're still working on kitty introductions, but I know that eventually they'll all be great friends (or, at the very least, civil housemates!). Thank you for all the hard work you do on behalf of our furry friends.
Sincerely,
Ellen and Matt D., Santa Rosa
We adopted Coco, our Dilute Tortie from the Peninsula Humane Society one year ago. She’s been a wonderful cat and we were very impressed with all the care and medical attention that she was given at the shelter. On a whim, we recently adopted Bella, our grey tabby. We were a little concerned about how the two would get along. After the initial 3 days, they have become inseparable. Coco already had a good life with her human companions, but now her life is even richer with another cat to bond and play with. Our 6 year old daughter, Ava loves being a big sister to the cats. We are thrilled to have such sweet cats that have added so much to our lives. We appreciate all that the Humane Society has done for them and so many other animals.
Caryn and John, Burlingame
Hi,
We would like to share with you these pictures of Lucas who has been a wonderful addition to our family! He fits in perfectly and has been very well behaved. We love him so much! Thank You for helping us find Lucas. His name at the SPCA was "Mr. Smithers". His card said he was a "Terrier Mix". DNA tests show that he is 50% Chihuahua and 50% Shihtzu! He is adorable and we love him so much!
Carol K.
This letter is well overdue. My name is Max. I was left tied to a pole for a week by a previous owner. I was shy, timid and scared of everything. I am writing to you today to tell you how wonderful my life is and how lucky I am to have been adopted by my new family. They took me to dog training classes here at the SPCA so I could learn new tricks. It was so much fun that my best friend (Bob my owner) and I are still taking classes. Only now we are taking agility classes. We get to run through hoops and climb things. I have a wonderful home, a new Mom, Karen, and three adult sisters who all love me more than I could possibly dream of. I feel like I am in heaven. I am not left alone anymore; my new family takes me with them everywhere. I think I have changed their lives to the better and have brought with me an abundance of love and I know for sure they have changed mine. I am one LUCKY DOG.
Max (Max lives with Karen and Bob M.), Hillsborough
"The Girls" adopted me in January of 2006. Within minutes of hopping out of their carrier they were curled up on my lap sound asleep. I really enjoying having a "bonded pair" of kitties as part of the family. It's a lot of fun watching them do everything together and they have even started including me in their antics. They are sweet silly little girls who at 5 years old still act like kittens (and they love to have their picture taken too). I feel truly lucky to have found them and appreciate all that you do for the animals in our community.
With Much Appreciation,
Brandy, Lucy and their human Nicole, Daly City
It’s been a year since I adopted Tzipa aka Leilani, my adorable and bouncy min pin. She is sweet, cuddly and super protective. She barks at anyone and anything just to warn them that she means business. She chases anything that’s small and moves, eats smelly things that she digs up while I am not looking, and she loves long walks. Her favorite activity besides eating and sleeping is sun bathing. She can sun bathe all day. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Inside she plays with her toys; she is the princess of toys, guards her bones and hoards anything she can under my bed. She’s quite funny, especially when she lifts her butt in the air and wiggles her tiny wager (tail) in excitement. She moved to Southern California and went on her first airplane ride! While on board, she behaved like an experienced jet setter! I couldn’t ask for a better dog! Anyone that is contemplating adoption, please do! These pets are amazing companions, and having more than one owner, only makes them more loyal to you! Pets that are given away have a certain wisdom, loyalty and thankfulness toward their new owner that can warm any heart! Thank you SPCA for protecting and caring for these dogs while they are in transition to their new homes!
Ariella, Los Angeles
we recently got diamond about two weeks ago which we changed his name to ozwald, and we cant be any happier he is so loving and is great with my ten year old cat they already are playing together and he is pretty much house trained which i think is amazing since we have only had him for less than two weeks, he loves to cuddle and roll around in the grass, he truly is a very smart and wonderful dog thank you so much for letting us take him home
Ryan and Nicole, Davis
Within a day it seemed like our cat Loki had always been in our home. He is affectionate, playful, and silly and couldn't have been a more perfect cat for us. When he isn't playing all he wants to do is cuddle, and he keeps us laughing with his very un-feline lack of grace when he tackles his toys. Thank you for rescuing this little guy so we could have him!
Dave and Tiffany, Burlingame
Dear PHS staff:
I just wanted to express how grateful I am to you for the care you provided to the newest addition to our family, during his stay at the Peninsula Humane Society. We adopted Turnip (Now named Doiley) about a month ago, and don't know how we ever got by without him! As i'm writing this letter he's on my lap showering me with kisses. We initially came in with the intention of a big dog, but the second I laid eyes on Doiley he chose me! He's so affection and friendly that he brings a smile to the face of every new person he meets! When he's not being showered with attention he enjoys laying in my bed (even though he has four of his own), going to the dog park, basking in the sun, scavenging for treats, or playing with his housemates Sweetie the chihuahua, and Mia the cat. Thank You so much! PS: enclosed are two pictures of Doiley to show you how he's doing in his new home!
The Perucho Family, San Bruno
Hello,
After seeing Happy Tails on your website (which I LOVE), I thought I would send a note about Billie Girl, who we adopted from PHS January 2002. Ever since she came home with us she has been the center of our attention and we couldn't imagine our lives without her! She has so much love to give and we can't help but spoil her so! She is very spunky and loves everyone (and everyone loves her!). We are glad we went to PHS on a whim that day because we saw her and instantly fell in love - it was meant to be.....eight years later she's still as spunky and happy as can be. Thank you so much!!! Oh, my husband and I vow to only adopt dogs from shelters ever since Billie Girl - the greatest gift of all!!!
Thanks again,
Tracy and Craig H.
I wanted to send a follow up about Mikey (we kept the same name), who we adopted from Peninsula Humane just before Christmas 2009. Mikey is a fabulous dog who has fit into our household perfectly. When we adopted Mikey he was a very shy, timid guy who went everywhere with his tail between his legs. He was afraid to go most places or visit people or dogs, although we did get a quick tail wag when he first came home (I think he knew he had a forever home)! It took many walks before his tail started to relax, or even wag when we were out. We also took him to obedience class, and saw first hand how you can indeed teach a senior dog new tricks! He is an absolute pro at "leave it" now. After a few weeks Mikey was excellent and confident on leash, and eventually even off leash - it didn't take too much work to teach him to come when he's called, and is perfectly behaved with all the dogs he meets and seems to always steer clear of the agressive ones. Now he even approaches their humans for a pat on the head, and wins them all over with his sweet temperment. And he has only barked three times - a very quiet fellow too.
We weren't sure how Mikey would do with cats, but he has been fine right from day one with our cat Kid. She quickly trained him that she's in charge, and he's okay with that. There's no stress at all between the two, and Kid seems to be happy with a more eventful household and sleeps a little bit less (maybe 23 hours a day reduced to 22 hours). Lately they're even greeting us together at the door when we get home from work, and will sleep with only a few feet between them.
Mikey has truly changed our lives. He has brought so much love into the household in such a short amount of time - I couldn't imagine watching TV without him sprawled across my legs or his head in my lap. I never thought I'd become a morning person, but I actually enjoy getting up at 6:30 am for our daily journey down to the beach. I've even started jogging every evening thanks to Mikey, who runs right by my side! We want to thank you so much for helping us adopt this guy, and hope that others will consider older, shy dogs too - this one is the perfect companion. Thanks again!
Jen and Peter - San Francisco, CA
I have always been a huge animal lover. So it was not surprising that we had dogs, frogs, birds, & everything else, but I had always wanted "a little kitty of my own." It took a while, but 4 years ago, on my 13th birthday, I finally had that cat of my own, although he was a little bigger than what I had expected.
Chewy (formally Guerro) is the most loving & crazy cat around, & I knew from the day we met at the PHS-SPCA (when he grabbed a hold of my sweater as I walked by the cage, starting purring, & wouldn't let go) that I would have a life-long friend. I feel like I owe the people at SPCA an amazing thank you for letting me adopt my dear orange friend. Thank you so much.
Ashley Marie & Chewy, San Mateo, CA
P.S. Chewy also has some new cat & dog brothers (Moku- the Lilac Siamese cat & Nemo formally "Turtle"- the Chihuahua Mix), that we were lucky enough to adopt last year.
Hi All:
Just wanted to drop a line about our little dog Joey. When we saw him in his cage we thought he was just the most adorable dog. We thought about adopting him but wanted to think about it overnight. We decided he was what we wanted. We adopted him in October 2009. We kept his same name. We have a Black Miniature Schnauzer named Max and they get along pretty good. At times, they like to play rough. When we adopted Joey, he had no information about him. Sad to know that someone would just leave him without any info. He has totally fit in with our family… He gives Max a run for his money. I don’t think he had a good life prior as he is skittish about a lot of things. We constantly reassure him.
Anyways, we love Joey and am glad that we were able to adopt him.
Michelle P.
Hi all!
In May 2009, we adopted Lucy, formerly Muffin, and right from the start she became a treasured member of our family. We can't imagine our life without her! She's quite a character, with her little snuffles and loud snoring, and she enjoys spending her days playing with her tennis balls and Nylabone, following us around the house, hoping that food drops on the floor, and doing her 'happy dance' whenever we come home. She's currently snuggled up next to me on the couch, which is one of her all-time favorite pastimes. Our extended families adore her, and fight over who gets dog-sitting privileges when we go out of town. It's nearly impossible to take her for a 'quick walk' without kids and passersby stopping to pet Lucy and exclaim over what a cute pup she is...and we're always quick to tell them that she's a good girl too!
Lucy was classified as 'special medical needs' because of her dry eye condition, and we're thrilled to report that she's down to only one drop twice a day! The Vet Vision doctors are quite happy with how she's doing.
Words cannot express our gratitude to you for rescuing Lucy and nursing her back to health, and for our luck to have visited your facility at the right time to adopt her. She's a beloved, sweet, gentle, spunky little girl, and we are so lucky to have her in our family!
Best,
Sue-Ellen and Scott A., Millbrae, CA
Humane Society,
Sitting next to me as I write this is the little terrier formerly known as Butters. My niece named him Willow. He is adapting to his new lifestyle quite well, and everyone really loves him. Willow is certainly not what I had planned when I considered bringing another dog into my home for the first time in five years. I thought that I would eventually find a hound or similar larger breed who could get around the steep terrain around the home. I had not considered another small dog who would be confined to the minimal flat area close to home, and who would need constant supervision while outside. What I also did not consider is that Willow is small enough that he can go with me everywhere, so does not need to be left at home. I spend much of my time in Scott’s Valley and Santa Cruz, and work in the car. (I am a garden columnist, so spend much of my time writing and responding to e-mail on the computer.) Willow sits in the driver’s seat next to me as I work, and often convinces me to take him out for walks on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, or wherever we happen to be working at the time. When we go downtown on Sunday morning, he really enjoys walking around North Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos and meeting all the other dogs. He is much more social than I am. When we do get home late in the day, he does not seem to mind not being able to go outside alone, and being confined to his limited area close to home. We can not see any of the neighbors from home, but Willow really enjoys walking to their homes and visiting with other dogs. One of his best friends is an elderly black Labrador retriever who lives next door to the north. Willow is remarkably compatible with children, even though I was initially hesitant about him interacting with them. The only difficulty that we have had so far was when we left your facility. Willow watched out the back window of the car and whimpered softly. He did not want to leave. I really felt badly for him; but I am confident that he enjoys his lifestyle here. Thank you so much for arranging the adoption of Willow. I intend to provide him with a good home and lifestyle. The enclosed picture is Willow on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, with the wharf in the background.
Sincerely,
Tony T.
Here is Samantha, formerly Muneca, adopted May 2009. She is a great dog with lots of love to give. The best part is that she saved me one night when our home was broken into- the burglar saw Sam move towards him and he ran away! Needless to say, she is part of the family and we love to bring her with us where ever we go (her "smile" always wins people over). She may be a big dog, but she loves to snuggle and give hugs. She is the best thing that has happened to us and we can't thank you enough for helping us find the dog we always wanted.
Jason and Karen V., Burlingame
Hello:
We just wanted to show you an updated photo of Marley (formerly Ninja). We adopted him in September and he's truly been a wonderful addition to our family. He's very happy-go-lucky and gets along with everyone (including people) in our neighborhood. We wish everyone at the Peninsula Humane Society a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Sincerley,
Gerry G.
Hi,
Our update to show you our "Best Friend" Sadie. Originally her name was Honey. We adopted her June '02 and she is the best companion! She is sweet, friendly and always smiling. When we first took her home she was so shy. Then she completely came out of her shyness. She absolutely loves going for walks, and being outside with us. She loves people, is so smart and knows lots of tricks. She loves to cuddle and goes everywhere with us....
Joan and Bob K., San Bruno
Hello there!
Sorry it has taken me so long to email you an update on Darius. The drive down to San Diego (where we live) was very peaceful. He slept pretty much the whole way! Upon arrival, he immediately explored his new home. He has claimed his favorite spot on the couch, which happens to be my husband's also, but they share just fine. In fact, Darius has taken a huge liking to my husband. They are best buds!
Attached is a photo of Darius doing one of his favorite activities: watching the neighborhood from our front door. He lets us know when he wants to see outside by meowing at the door. Another favorite activity is having someone play 'laser' with him. We bought him many toys, but his absolute favorite is the laser pointer. He sleeps with us at night, and is a polite bed-mate (when he lays down to sleep, he pretty much stays put). He graciously greets all visitors when they arrive (I'm sure it's just to be sure he gets a scratch on the head). He is such a mellow and pleasant pet, and the PERFECT addition to our family. Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Angel, Lance and Darius
Hello All,
About a month ago my daughter and I adopted Leila. She has been absolutely a joy to have around!!! She is so much fun and loving. My little girl thinks we should have named her wiggles because when she is happy, and wags her tail her whole body wiggles from side to side. Not only is she well behaved and trained she is loved by our entire neighborhood. We are currently training Leila to walk down the aisle for my upcoming wedding...She is the ring bearer!! =) Thanks for bringing our family closer together PHS My daughter especially loves her!!!
Angie W., El Sobrante
I have always loved PHS so when my mom and I decided to get a cat, that was our first stop. For a Christmas present I really wanted cat. So on December 16th we ended up leaving PHS with a very pretty, spunky cat named Surprise. it was around Christmas so we decided to change her name to Mistletoe Holly, Missy for short. We also sometimes call her Toe, because she has one bright golden toe. I love having her around and she is always meowing. In the morning she has her "crazy" moments where she runs around the house with her eyes all big and ears back. I love her sooooooooo much and wouldn't give her up for anything. Everyone loves her, and she is super special. She is defiantly the gift that keeps on giving. Thank you guys for taking care of her, and making sure she gets a home, which she did!!!!!
Thanks for all your help and everything!!!
Love,
Rachel B.
I adopted Bruce on may fifth of 2009, yes this letter has had a long time coming but now theres so much to tell you about Bruce and how hes doing! and let me tell you something I absolutely love him and couldn’t imagine life without him. This is the most amazing dog he is so eager to learn and is on a mission to make friends with EVERYONE. I cannot walk a block without someone stopping me to ask if they can pet him or complimenting me on how good he looks or on his huge adorable bat ears! Once a guy even pulled over in his car to ask me what kind of dog he was and compliment me on him! Naturally Bruce says hi to everyone who wants to say hi to him and makes well over two dozen new friends a day! Bruce and I live in San Francisco right in Haight Ashbury, naturally a very friendly dog area and an area that is as usual filled with people, and whenever we go out for a walk people recognize him cause of his big adorable face and huge satellite ears and his endless happiness...
When I took Bruce to the vet to get his first check up the vet was amazed he told me that every week or so a dog comes in that he wants to take home himself and he said he hadn’t seen one for a few weeks and that Bruce just takes the cake! And hes right Bruce is absolutely fantastic! We go running around the panhandle every morning and to golden gate park later in the day where he plays with all his friends. He loves playing with other dogs in the park every day his doggy friends range from little puppies or little pug dogs to Burmese mountain dogs and from dogs who live in big cozy homes to homeless dogs who live in the park with their owners, there is no dog who isn’t his friend. And there certainly isn’t a person whos not his friend. Bruce loves little kids and people he can be a little shy sometimes with adults but gets over it in about oh 3 seconds...
P.S. im sorry this letter is soooo long I just couldn’t not write as much as I did and I could go on BELIEVE ME. So if you’d like to skip all the juicy details then let me tell you this; Bruce is the most amazing dog ever! I love him sooo much and would’nt give him up for the world.
Sincerely- Alexandra P., San Francisco
Dear PHS,
We adopted our cat Smow (he was called Sylvanin when he was with you) during the July Adopt-a-thon, and he's already a part of the family. Within minutes of arriving at our apartment he wanted to explore and snuggle. No hiding under the bed, no litterbox problems, just a happy cat enjoying his new home. The picture we're sending is of Smow in one of his favorite spots, perched on the back of our couch. He loves sleeping on his favorite blanket, playing with cardboard tubes, sitting on laps, and purring when we scratch behind his ears and rub his belly. He always has something to say! Thank for matching us up with the best cat in the world!
Anna and Adam, Burlingame
Hello:
Our experience with the SPCA here on the Peninsula is two-fold.
We had to bring "Little Cat" in over a month and a half ago to be "put to sleep". She was 20 years and two months old and just wore out. We were so impressed with the kindness and consideration we received from your staff. It was an extremely sad, hard day for us but your staff couldn't have been nicer and more caring. We thank you, thank you for that.
After living for a month without a beloved pet, we decided we would adopt a new cat --- so again we ventured to the Peninsula SPCA. Low and behold we met Sabrina and Sophia, two "tuxedo" cats that are sisters. They are over 3 years --- and really big girls. Dwayne calls them the cow and the heffer. We immediately feel in love, so instead of adopting one cat we came home with two. They are the joy of our life and have adapted into our household so, so well. The first couple of days they were a little bashful, but that didn't last long. They are now the bosses of this house and we all couldn't be happier. Adopting our girls was a very easy, fun process. So again, thank you, thank you for being such a wonderful organization.
We just wanted to say thank you. You are A1+ in our book!
Sincerely,
Carolyn and Dwayne W., Foster City
Hello,
Our beloved Samantha who we got from the Humane Society 17 years ago passed away due to kidney failure. It took me awhile to put this message together because it is too heartbreaking for me. She is always in our heart and her place is irreplaceable.
Lum family (Redwood City)
Hi PHS,
I just wanted to send you a huge THANK YOU from Daisy and Jasmine. We adopted the deemed “wild and untrainable” Daisy a few weeks ago. Upon meeting Daisy and seeing her interact in the play yard with our other dog Jasmine, I knew they were soul mates! Jasmine and Daisy get along fantastic, and are almost inseparable now. Daisy quickly picked up the potty routine from Jasmine, and we have not had any “markings” in the house, of which she was apparently notorious for.
They love to play tug-o-war with their toys, chase each other around, and are getting pretty good at walking together on the double-lead around the neighborhood. Any worry we had in regards to training, wild behavior, the transition to a new home, and the two dogs getting along, are out the window. I’m not sure where the “wild and untrainable” Daisy is, because she didn’t come home with us!! We couldn’t have adopted a better “sister” for Jasmine. Thank you so much!!
Katie and Eddie N., San Mateo
Dear PHS
Hi, my name is Abigail, Abby for short (formerly known as “Tina” at PHS). My adoptive brother Rupert and I want to say thank you to the kind doctors, staff and volunteers at PHS for giving us a chance at life, and a good life at that!! Rupert and I didn’t know one other until the day nine months ago when our Foster Moms brought us to PHS to meet our adoptive Mom. You could say that we both insisted on going home with her that day.
It is hard to remember how difficult things were for me when I first came to PHS. I was around a year and a half old, stray, and pregnant. There were many dedicated doctors and volunteers that patiently took care of me despite my extreme fear and some health issues. I had a condition that made it painful to open my constantly irritated eyes that made me cranky all the time (which as since been surgically corrected by PHS doctors – thank you PHS doctors!). They tell me that I was so afraid and stressed out at the shelter that at one point I badly hurt my leg in the bars of my cage.
After nearly three difficult months at the shelter, Sue, one of the kind volunteers at PHS agreed to take me in as a Foster. At her home
I hid out for many weeks, but with her patience and love I slowly began to feel safe enough to emerge and show her glimpses of the sweet girl I really am. She took me into her loving home and cared for me for three months. I don’t know what would have become of me without her.
My brother Rupert had a hard time of it too. He and his biological sister were found as stray kittens and taken in as Fosters by Anika (a PHS employee) for three months as well. He’s now a totally sweet and easygoing fellow that I love to snuggle and play with.
Our Mom and extended family give us lots and lots of love and play time so we’re both thriving. I’m still uncertain about new people and typically hide when people I don’t know come to our home, but I don’t stay away too long (It is sinking in that Mom doesn’t let mean people into the house). We have a mellow 15year old canine sister Maggie that we both get along with. When we aren’t snuggling together or playing, Rupert and I tend hang out near (and frequently on) Mom when she is home from work or sleeping; we do so love it when she is home from work.
Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts,
Abby (aka “Tina” A424589) and Rupert (A435926)
P.S. Our Mom says to tell you that she can’t imagine not having us in her life and is forever grateful to PHS for not giving up on Rupert and myself and bringing us all together.
Hello! I had adopted a cat from you. Remember Sugar? I had adopted her after losing my last cat friend. I wanted to share the love I have for cats with one that needed a home. Sugar stood out instantly. She is a warm, kind and loving cat. She warmed up to everyone after just a day. Thank you so much for bringing us together and hope that others will find a friend just like her! :)
Here is a picture of her in her new bed! She loves it so much and likes to sleep on my bed with me.
Rosa S.
Hi there,
Trixie the Budgie here (#A450539). Since I learned to use the computer (!) I thought I’d let you know that I’ve settled in my new home quite well. When Mommy brought me home I spent 2 days looking not too happy in a little house (cage). Then Mommy decorated my REAL house and put me in it and I knew I was home. I have lots of perches, and a ladder that tastes really good and that I like to climb…mostly up the back side and between the rungs. I have some balls that I like to climb and swing on, and a tic-tac-toe that is lots of fun…even if I usually end up taking a bath in my water dish. I have a friend who lives in a mirror who is very good looking. Mommy was encouraging me to come out of my house by drawing attention to my front door, but I didn’t fall for it. Then last week, my Auntie said that she would buy me a jungle gym if I came out…and on Wednesday….away I flew ! I got to see my big brother Buddy (adopted last year ) who lives in the living room I can hardly wait for my new toys to arrive! Thanks for taking such good care of me until I found my forever home…now if only that jungle gym would arrive…a girl always needs more toys!
Wishing you many sprays of millet…. Trixie
I picked up Tate at the SPCA on 05/28/09. After staying in his new home for a week or so, he began to become comfortbale with his surroundings.
Tate is doing wonderful at home and loves his walks. As stated in his personal profile at the SPCA, he loves his stuffed animals, a mallard duck and 2 hedgehogs. Tate can never get enough treats, as pretty much anything thats crunchy will do. As I watch him as I'm writing this, he is sprawled out on the cool kitchen floor awaiting his daily jog around the block.
Tate is a joy to have in the home and everyone who meets him falls in love with him instantly. Although people are a little intimidated by his look when we walk around the neighborhood, they always find he's a big baby in the end.
To end this, a quick word to Tates previous family. Please know Tate is in very good hands and is doing great here in the bay area. A vet check up revealed a clean bill of health, although he needs to eat a little bit more to gain some weight (that is being taken care of quickly though :). Tate has another loving home and everyone is glad to have him part of the family. I thank you for taking care of such a wonderful dog.
-Kevin M., Belmont
Dear Peninsula Humane Society,
We want to thank you SO much for the wonderful experience we had adopting Princess. We LOVE her to pieces - she is so precious and she has made our family so happy! She fits right in with our family of five and our old lab Brownie. When we were adopting Princess, your staff found she had a hernia. One week later, she was scheduled for the surgery at your clinic. The Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Janowitz, was wonderful! She provided great care for Princess and continued to answer questions we had about her, as she healed. She is such a lovely dog and we are so happy she is part of our lives! Thank you so much for all the good work you do! We had a great experience adopting Princess and we will ALWAYS recommend the Peninsula Humane Society as a great place to get a pet! Princess is being treated like royalty here at home and we are thrilled with her!
All the best,
Jeanne and family, San Mateo
Hi!
I adopted Leilani two weeks ago. She is such a sweet and affectionate girl. She was a bit shy at first but now she runs around confidently, jumps under covers, rolls over and puts on all kinds of shows that makes me laugh. She seems to love her new home. I love having her. She brings so much joy to me. She met my whole family and loves everyone as much as we love her. She even has a new name: Tzipa! Thank you SPCA for doing such a wonderful job in providing shelter and new homes for these special animals
Ariella W., San Mateo
Today is June 1st, I'm sending you a photo of Pharoh...he will become my therapy dog. He has changed my life and I pray every day that we have a lot of years together. Pharoh is very well known in our areas. He's smart, gentle, kind, and loves all who meet him...AND he has not had any potty accidents. I love him very much and we will always be together in 'our forever home.
Raven
I adopted Sassy from the PHS in 1998 when she was just a kitten. Since then she has been nothing but a pleasure to be around. She truly runs the household. She cries in the morning when she wants to eat, she has a bed made for her in multiple rooms and she never does anything she doesn't want to. She is a goof ball and a love (but only on her terms). I can't think of a better companion. Thank you so much for bringing her into my life!
Kim M . Redwood City
Dear PHS,
Thought I'd send you an update on one of your former residents, this is Dexter! (He was known as Tigre when we adopted him). He's been with us a little over a month now and seems to feel right at home here. He loves to play and never fails to make us laugh with his silly antics, he really is a clown! He is also incredibly intelligent, he watches all that we do with great curiosity and he is a very quick learner.
He is also a very sweet and loving boy, he likes to share our bed in the morning, which causes us to move over as he isn't exactly small! He never fails to bring a smile to our faces. Thank you so much for caring for him and bringing us together, he really is a wonderful addition to our home.
Thank you for all that you do for the animals in your care, you are truly appreciated.
Danielle and Scott C. Redwood City
Dear Friends at the PHS-SPCA,
It's been over a month since Yoshi came to live with me, and I thought maybe I'd drop you a note to let him know how he's doing.
In short : I feel like I won the doggie lottery! He's amazing, and I hope he loves being here as much as I love having him. He's great on walks, he's easy to train, and everyone loves him. Although he was a little weary of other dogs at first, he's even beginning to make friends in the neighborhood, big and small. He actually passed two big dogs on our walk this morning without even a growl! He was house-trained almost instantly (a few marking incidents every now and again, but nothing major) and continues to learn new things every week at training classes. You warned me about some possible 'destruction' issues, but so far the only casualty has been a paper towel. A PAPER TOWEL! I wish his past weren't such a mystery though. His files only go back to last year. If you run into anyone who knows his story please let me know.
Anyway, I can't imagine why anyone would give him up, but I try and think that maybe he just hadn't found 'the One' yet. Maybe I'm overly paranoid as a first time dog owner, but I started taking him to behavior trainings, and it's been doing wonders. I suggest it to everyone as a great investment. Knowing how to train makes a HUGE difference, especially since we have to spend the next 15 years together!
Thanks for making his Youtube postings! That is what made me fall in love with him.
I'm sure that any of you that know him would be happy to know that he's found a home where he's loved and spoiled. I feed him and walk him and give him treats and fuzzy blankets and in return he puts up with me. I think it's a fair deal :).
J. Tambe
18 years ago PHS put me in touch with Beagle Rescue where I adopted my boy Skip. Skip is a once in a life time dog, anyone animal or human who came in contact with him fell in love, and if you didn’t fall in love at first site he would stick right by your side until you did!
If I was to tell you how he made my life a daily Happy Ending I would probably take up the entire website. Everyday was a new adventure for this boy from pulling a 25 pound ham out of the refrigerator and devouring it, to being a Therapy Dog that actually got a young woman to come out of her shell. His favorite hobby other then food was chasing squirrels, Skip only had 3 legs but he would get down on that front leg and shoot out like a bullet to catch a squirrel (which he never did).
I used to look forward to waking up in the morning and seeing the constant smile and wagging tail that would greet me and to coming home at night to see this wonderful boy that made me feel happy regardless of how my day went.
I will miss my boy and I thank PHS and Skip for giving me 18 years of Happy Endings :)
Paula M., San Bruno
Peninsula Humane Society,
Greetings! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for our recent addition to the family - Bessie! She has been nothing but a non-stop charmer since the day we brought her home. As you know, Bessie is a master at sitting and shaking a hand but what you may not know is that we currently have her enrolled with a trainer, who has been bringing out many hidden qualities in Bessie that we didn't know about yet. She now walks happily on a loose leash, three times a day, sans gentle leader. :) I can honestly say that we spoil her because she can never get enough of cuddling up with Billy or I on the couch or sniffing our faces only to be hugged in return. Her exuberance, energy and wit make her a joy to be around everyday. We simply love her. Though she may have been at the shelter for a long time, Billy and I cannot thank you all enough for keeping her safe until we could meet her.
Sincerely,
Megan and Billy, Mountain View
Hi PHS,
I wanted to let you know how much we love our cat Gucci (adopted as Chelsea). My boyfriend and I adopted Gucci the day after Christmas, 2007. She was about 4.5 years old then. She’s a tiny, very sweet, mellow yet talkative cat. She greets us when we come home from work and wakes us up every morning for breakfast. We are so happy with her that we’re thinking about coming down to PHS to find her a playmate. See you guys soon!
Cassie A., Pacfiica
Hey!
Just wanted to give you an update about Bolt. He loves his new home! We take him out on long walks and play with him a lot. He's very well behaved and so far has not had any accidents in the house. We have also changed his name to Pepi and he is beginning to learn his name. He is also learning how to "sit" on command, but he hasn't quite mastered that yet. We can tell that he enjoys our company and he gets excited when anyone comes home. He greets us with lots of love :)
Kristy Y.
Thanks for all your help with the adoption of Mr. Bear! He is doing great and has been renamed by our kids as "Sneaky" as he has tried to sneak out a few times :) He is very playful and sweet and has a very fun personality.
Our golden retriever is in love with the cat and they are very cute snuggling together at night. I've never seen a dog and cat so affectionate!
Thanks again and keep up the good work!
Tricia & Eric M.
I adopted Annie from PHS exactly two years ago. I wanted to let you know that she has become a therapy dog, but not the typical kind. She has become a therapist to homeless, abandoned, and sometimes traumatized animals. Some of the foster dogs that have come into my home have been mistreated, and all have been abandoned. Annie has a way of immediately bonding with them and they learn to trust again through their observation of her amazing relationships with humans. She has also socialized several litters of tiny foster kittens. These kittens were more adoptable because of their comfort level with dogs. I call her my Ann-bassador of good will.
Laura K., El Granada
In July 98 we adopted from Peninsula Humane Society a German Shepherd male dog. He was very friendly and loveable companion to us till March 18th this year when he died of sudden heart and respiratory arrest at the age of ~11 years. We miss him very much and we were always very grateful for getting the opportunity to adopt him.
I attached few pictures from last Christmas when he was almost 11 years old since I recall that I had seen picures of adopted pets at the shelter facilities.
Peter S., Tucson, AZ
Dear PHS,
Thanks for saving our Julian. We adopted him in 2007 and kept his name PHS staffs gave him. However, he likes being call "Baby" better. My husband calls him Romeo because he's very attentive to females - humans mostly. He's very good with our cats and has been a very good travel companion for us. Luckily he doesn't get car sick, we do travel by car a lot. Here's his 1st Christmas outfit and his handsome signature look.
Thanks again,
Lum Family, Redwood City
Hello there,
Just wanted to pass along a recent holiday photo of Jezebel, Spike, and Bella – who were all adopted from PHS. How, you might ask, did we manage to get the three of them to sit posed long enough to take a picture? We like to think of it as a holiday miracle. Thanks PHS for everything you do and for providing animals with the opportunity to find new families who can love (and spoil) them.
Rowena & Michael (and Jezebel, Spike, & Bella), Menlo Park
Dear PHS,
I wanted to tell you what an "Angel" my newly adopted friend has become. Now named Winnie, I adopted him a little over two weeks ago and now can truly say I could not have asked for a better dog. He loves everyone and everything and has really added something extra to my life. Thanks so much for your help in finding the best companion for me!
Angelina
Hi PHS:
On September 6th, 2008 we adopted Parker (we kept the name you guys gave him). He was just a tiny little kitten about 6-8 weeks old. He was a spunky little guy and quickly won our hearts. Today, Parker rules the house and loves to snuggle at night.
Thank you PHS for saving Parker's life. He brings us joy everyday.
Thank you,
Amy, Tim, and Dylan
Hi,
I received the adoption receipt and AVID info yesterday. Bandit/Mango is settling in super well at my place. He was already comfortable by Tuesday afternoon, and fell asleep on my lap that night. The paperwork and reporting on him was very accurate. The only surprises have been positive and I already fully enjoy having him around. He's affectionate and playful, and he rarely lets me leave his sight. I hope I can make him feel happy and secure for many, many years.
Thanks again for your help. He's really a great cat and I appreciate everything you and the Humane Society did in preparation for his adoption.
Derek S., San Francisco
Hi!
I adopted Siena Sky last November. She is doing great!!! Presently we are taking PHS Dog Obedience Classes and she is having a ball making new friends and learning. Although her story when she was left at the PHS was she loved to chase cats (which she still does) she has become very motherly to the two I have at home. She was a little shy at first around people but has come out of her shell. She loves her walks, going to the beach, playing at the dog park and hanging with her dog buddies. Everyone stops and asks what type of dog is she and I say a happy dog!!! She's not fond of barrettes or sweaters but will let me dress her once in a while – she puts up with it for me. As you can see from this picture she loves to shop – just like her mom! I am so glad I adopted her. I love her very much. Thank you PHS!
Woof!
From Siena Sky and Carla D.
Greetings!
I just had to share some pics of my little Lily. She is a riot, and comes to work with me every day. She has my 3 pit bulls in line, but has no shame when it is cold – she snuggles right up to them. She has learned that if she first covers the pit bull sleeping on the couch with blankets then SHE climbs in, she has locked in a good source of heat. Clever dog!
She has completely recovered from her cough and is full of personality. She spins, squeaks, play bows…loves sleeping in laps and any lap will do. 4 lb dog with 104 lbs of personality.
The tongue is ALWAYS out. The only variable is how far out. She even sleeps with it out!
I will try and get some pics of the pack snoozing on the couch. It is hard, because she comes out looking like a tiny dot in the photos compared to her 55lb, 70lb and 90lb buddies.
Take care and thanks again for such a sweet dog.
All the best, Allison L.
Hi
This is Cuddles. We adopted her in November, (her name was Peanut at the PHS). She loves wrapping paper and LOVES stealing pens from my computer desk. Its so funny. She follows JJ (11 yrs old) like a puppy. She sleeps on JJ, she follows her from room to room. LOL. What a precious gift you gave us. Cuddles is a very special addition to our family and we thank all of the Peninsula Humane Society for helping us find our perfect new 'daughter'.
Janet and Janet Jr. B.
Dear PHS:
Thank you all so much for helping to bring the perfect pet - our
budgie, Teddy - to us! We adopted him this past June of 2008, and he
has turned out to be everything we hoped for and more. Despite being a little weird (but aren't we all?), he's great for our family. Teddy is a very happy bird, singing and flying the day away. Among his weird, but lovable traits are: making sure no one's watching him when he sneaks a drink or pecks at a toy, totally ignoring you when faced with the task of eating healthy, and picking random tunes he seems to love. He especially likes "Better In Time" by Leona Lewis. Thanks to all again, and Happy New Year!
The Saisi Family, Burlingame
Hi... my name is Manny and I'm a big, handsome common green iguana. I was found as a stray in San Mateo and was taken to PHS back in October of 1997! I was a little guy then, actually nearly dead because I was starving to death. When I got to the Shelter I was taken to the Wildlife Care Center and one of the volunteers saw what terrible shape I was in and offered to foster me back to health. She took me to her home in Pacifica where she force fed me a high-protein diet until I was able to eat on my own. Finally I was healthy enough to find my permanent home, and as it turns out, my foster mom WAS my permanent home! (She told me that she told her husband she TRIED to find me a different home... wink, wink!)
We now live in Santa Fe, New Mexico - I love the sunshine! I have my own room with lots of climbing branches, basking sites, special lights that allow me to absorb Vitamin D3, a tub to bathe in, a humidifier to replicate my natural environment, and a new plate of fresh greens and assorted veggies every day. Life is good and my mom loves me very much.
Lisa B., Santa Fe, NM
Dear PHS:
Thank you for letting Adrian and me bring the feisty Mona into our lives. We and our other dog, Max, love her so much. Max adores playing with his new pal immensely and she simply revels in cuddling with us. We so enjoy showering her with the love and attention she deserves. She's a great dog and we wanted to let you know how thankful we are to have her in our family!
All the best,
Jamie S ., San Mateo
I am the guy who adopted Elwood last Friday. And I am happy to tell you he is a really good cat! He is very affectionate and loves to play. And seems to do fine being home alone all day. What I don't understand is how he got to you guys, twice. It might be he does not do well with other animals. He is 13 pounds and very strong, and he does play rough. As soon as he gets more accustomed to his new home I'll start clipping his claws. And I suspect because he is so strong he probably would not be good around kids. For me he is perfect.
Barry L., San Mateo
Hi all at PHS,
I wanted to write a note of thanks and Happy Holidays to your wonderful staff, for the loving care they provide to the animals at PHS Shelter. Our elderly cat passed away last year. After much discussion, in September we adopted a kitten from PHS, thinking we would give a cat in need a happy ending. Instead, it was Smokey that gave the happy ending to us! We tell each other every day, how lucky we are to have this little lover boy, who brings us so much joy.
Smokey is the sweetest, most gentle cat you could know, everyone who meets him falls in love with him. He is our alarm clock in the morning, waking us up with a gentle nibble to our ears or chin, and the first to greet you as you walk in the door at the end of a busy day, usually talking the whole way, with a variety of meows and chirps. He's smart, he plays "fetch" and even opens cabinet doors! He loves to keep his owners company, no matter where they may be, and even sits tub side while mom takes a bubble bath!
His capacity for love is huge. Every day, he gives us unconditional love and joy. We are so thankful he is part of our family.
Sincerely,
Kevin & Liz (and Smokey), Pacifica
My name is Gemma. My mom adopted me one year ago this week. I could not have found a better place to live. When I was first adopted, I spent a lot of days hissing at mom and hiding under the bed. But she was incredibly patient with me and now I love her to death. In fact, she has to stop me from giving her kisses. I can’t wait for mom to get home from work so I can talk her ear off, and I really do, very loudly too. I love to play and hide mom's hairties. As many toys as she buys for me, those are my favorite. I can't wait to go to bed. My favorite spot is laying right next to mom, all night long. I still don't like people I don't know and I still get scared of loud noises or sudden movements, but I am getting a little better. All I know is that I am happy that I got to come home with my mom. Thank you for finding me a great place to live. I could not be happier. Oh, momma says thank you too.
Gemma, Pacifica
Hello
We wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Noobi is having a great time here and we are very happy to have him in our family. Will decided that he wanted to change Noobi's name to Buddy and we transitioned him into the name slowly using both for a while. Buddy and Pepper are best of friends; enjoying a good wrestle every evening. He has calmed down and realized that Pepper is his best friend. They are almost inseparable. Our Cocker Patches seems to enjoy all the action and tries to join in at times but usually just watches.
We hope all is well with you - The Abrams - Lock, Dogs! and Barrel, San Mateo
As you can see Milo has adjusted quite well. I love him and everyday he seems to relax more and more. He really loves one of my co-workers, Tuan. He loves the yard and his every day walks. Happy Thanksgiving to you and the entire staff.
Love,
Milo and Darlene, Redwood City
To whom it may concern:
2 years ago, I adopted Jeeves (Chevelle) from your shelter. He has been a tremendously meaningful addition to my life and has become quite an integral part of my family (my mother has grown especially attached). We had an adventure this summer as I got married and moved across the country to New York state - we couldn't bare to put him on a plane, so we loaded up the car with a spot for him to curl up and go to sleep in. He learned to swim by the Grand Tetons, learned what a thunderstorm was and as of just a week ago, learned about snow. I really think he's the best dog ever and wanted to express my gratitude for all the things that you do to help animals like him.
Attached is a picture of him sleeping in the car on our exodus and a more formal photo of him at our campgrounds in Minnesota.
All the best!
Alice B.
We just wanted to thank you again for getting us together!
Here are some adorable photos of Rudy. I think at first he felt ridiculous in his winter pajamas, but (being part chihuahua) he now seems to appreciate the warmth more than caring how he looks!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and bless your big animal-loving hearts,
Jill & Rudy
We wanted to update you on "Chaparita". We adopted her a little over 1 month ago. 10/10/08. She has been the best thing that has happened to us in a long time. She takes us on at least two 45min. walks a day and absolutely loves going to the beach, which she does about 2 times a week. She is the sweetest little girl in the world. Everywhere we take her people stop us and want to pet her. She is just magical. She truly has become our best friend and we love her so. Thank you PHS for your fine facility and all the hard work and dedication your staff and volunteers do for all these beautiful animals. We appreciate what you do very much. We plan on coming back in the near future to find a furry friend for Chaparita.
All our best ,
Jim and Joanne F., San Carlos
Just so people know I got Lily from PHS 17 years ago when she was 1 ½ years old. She had come from a laboratory environment and was scared of everything, when I first saw her she was hiding under two other beagles so as not to be seen. I figured no one would take her because of her problems so I told the Customer Service Person that is the dog I wanted thinking I would give her a happy ending. Instead it was Lily that gave the Happy Ending to me!
Lily was the sweetest most gentle dog you could know and I wish I was just half the “person” that she was! She was a great therapy dog and always knew who needed that special bit of attention. She was the most patient little creature, while Skip is always in the spot light she was quite and shy and did not mind being in the background. She never made a fuss if she was last to get her cookie or a hug as she always knew she would get it eventually. Her capacity for love was larger then the Grand Canyon itself.
I am so happy that she chose me to stay with these last 17 years and so happy that she gave me so many beautiful memories, where ever she is now I know is a better place.
Paula M ., San Bruno
Hello
I adopted Peanut, a 4 month old shep mix in the summer of 94, and we changed her name to Bailey. Bailey passed 11/8/8 at 15 1/2. She was loved by all. She was a family pet, spoiled but not rotten. At the age of 8 she was called to service as only a dog can be, she became my fathers hospice dog. She was certified as a care pet. She gave great comfort to my dad.
Bailey and family moved to Nevada and we began fostering dogs. Bailey and step sister Callie made a difference in many animals lives.
The picture attached is of my father and Bailey...
Thank you for all that you do.
Erin M.
Hi, just wanted to update you on both Frisky and Cleo (I adopted a couple weeks ago from the SM shelter). Frisky is in a new home where he gets to free range. He has a large martins cage all to himself, he gets lots of healthy treats and runs and plays all day and has a large hammock he loves. I have to say, he is the nicest rat I've ever come across from a shelter.
Cleo is in another home with some friendly cage mates. Although she doesn't like to be touched, she's getting lots of great food and attention.
Dan P.
I am in love with my two special boys, Bear and Hunter. They are the joys of my life. I adopted them over 5 years ago and I don't know how I lived without them. I teach elementary school and can't wait to get home to greet them as they greet me with the same enthusiasm every day. They are definitely spoiled and deserve every bit of it. Both are at my sides from the moment I get up to the time I crash at night. If I am sick, they do not leave my side. I can't thank the Peninsula Humane Society enough for keeping this darlings until I met them. I tell everyone I know to go visit you before even considering pet stores(ugh!) or breeders. You are truly special people.
Thank you,
Renee L., San Mateo
Hi,
My boyfriend, Sean, and I adopted Milton, "Miltie", from you a while back. I've attached a couple of his pictures. She's currently sharing a 65 gallon tank with a couple of little red devils and a pearl gourami. Sean found a 125 gallon tank which Sean is preparing to move Miltie and friends into. She enjoys rearranging her "furniture", and can be quite noisy while doing so! As I type, she is creating a new nest. Guess she got tired with the old one. Sean added bubbles to her tank, which she really seems to enjoy.
Lisa and Sean, San Jose
Dear PHS and ASPCA,
My family and I adopted our loving little chihuahua/ pug mix, Pina, from the shelter about a year ir two ago. She is a loving and caring little dog who pleases everyone. Pina has seemed to attach to my mother, Adele, she is always by her side and never leaves it except maybe for a piece of bacon! Thank u so much for giving us the opportunity for adopting a shelter animal. We also adopted a puppy "Herbie" whos name is now Spoti. Pina is like a mother ti him. Again thanks for what you do at the humane society and the work you put in to giving these animals a loving and nurturing home!
Spoti, Pina, other animals we have adopted, and Adele, Joe, Sylvie, and the kids (Burlingame)
Hi PHS Staff,
You posted a picture of Yuki on your Happy Tails website and I thought I'd send you 1 more that we got done by a good photographer since we adopted another husky to keep Yuki company... she has grown to be a beautiful, loving and compassionate husky that always wants to sit right by our side!!
Thanks,
Lilian K., San Mateo
Chalka has been with us almost 3 months now, and she takes up a big space in the hearts of everyone in the house. Chalka is a goofy bundle of joy. She frolics around our backyard chasing butterflies (she never catches them though) and tossing her stuffed octopus around. She has brought so much joy into our lives, and we are so thankful to the SPCA for helping us find our perfect match. She was very shy when we first brought her home, but she has really come out of her shell, first with us, and now at the dog park. Everyone knows and loves her. Thank you so much to everyone at the SPCA! Our lives would be empty without Chalka!
Jon, Jolene and Chalka
Hi,
Blackie is flourishing in our household. He loves our other 3 cats and plays with our other two boys, Pouncer and Charlie, very often. Blackie took up his new job position as the 'living cat alarm clock' allowing our only female cat Lucky to retire. He wakes us up every morning on time for work. Unfortunately, he also does that on our days off and holidays. Blackie is very friendly, vocal, and active. He likes to jump up on cabinets and dig through the recycling bags of shredded paper. Toys are scattered everywhere in nearly every room of our house. We all love Blackie and are glad that we adopted him. He has opened our eyes to accepting black cats everywhere. This black cat has brought us good luck
Nicholine L., Daly City
Our Story
The moment we saw Rex bundled up with his brothers and sisters one December morning, I knew he was the perfect match. We fell in love with the little puppy that was sound asleep with his 4 paws stretched to the air. With 7 weeks of age, we new raising Rex was going to be a big responsibility. Rex has taught us about patience and unconditional love no matter how many leashes he's chewed through or how many lip balms he's eaten. Rex has made everyday a learning experience for first time dog owners like us. Waking up every morning to our little bundle of joy has truly made us grateful for our decision in adopting and saving this beautiful puppy. Thank you SPCA for everything!
"Berex" (Lex, Belen & Rex), San Mateo
Hi to all at the PHS
Diamond here. Thank you for finding my new home for me. I have been here about a month now, and I am settling in. My main duties at my new abode include sleeping in till noon, lying around the back yard in the sun, rolling in the dirt, and being a varmint control officer. I'm still trying very hard to get along with the other cat that resides here, and things are getting better, but I will be the alfa cat soon. I miss all my friends at the PHS, but am happier that I have found a home to call my own.
Love Diamond (San Mateo)
PS My new name is Ozzy
Hi! We wanted to give you and update on Q-tip (Formerly “April”). She is doing very well and as you can see has taken over one of our chairs in our living room as her own! She greats Brandon and me at the front door every time we come home, no matter how long we have been gone. She still loves her pipe cleaners but has found a new favorite toy in a “bird” on a string and a laser pointer which she will chase around for hours without tiring. In the evenings he normally falls asleep in the evenings on one of our laps. Thank you so much for all of your hard work and taking such good care of Q-tip before we came to adopt her. Thanks again!!!
Tasha C., Burlingame
Desdamona was adopted May 19, 2007 and has been a wonderful cat. I lost my cat of 9 years to kidney failure and was devastated. I went to the shelter seeking a kitten and fell in love with her. The first day we brought her to the house, she was home. She immediately took to our friends and their children and doesn't even mind going camping (on leash of course) in the summer. Thank you so much for the joy you have brought to our lives.
Laura and Steve
Subject: successful cat adoption
Kylie is now 3! We got her at 6 months. She had been given a males name, but I cannot recall what that was. She is a little kitty but now weighs 8.lbs 3 oz. We love her so much! She is a happy healthy indoor baby and the vet says she is perfect health wise. Thank you!
Nancy, San Jose
Dear PHS,
We wanted to thank you for for everything that you have done for the animals of San Mateo County. A few years ago we adopted a fabulous pit mix from your shelter. We never could have imagined the amount of love and joy that she would bring into our hearts. Every morning we are greeted by her smiling face and wagging tail. Thank you for saving her from a life of cruelty and neglect.
Jen and Crystal W.
Dear PHS,
Now, three years on, I cannot tell you what a joy it has been having Becky, my 13 year old German Shepherd mix, in my life. I met Becky at one of your PHS promotions at Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo a few years back and instantly fell in love with this wonderful pet. At the time, my life was at a low ebb; I had broken up with my girlfriend, had been laid off from my job, and had family issues to deal with. The year previously, I had lost my 14 year old Doberman-Lab Mix, Sasha, also an adopted dog from the PHS.
Becky's story is an unusual one. She was found abandoned at SFO wandering the terminals there; a kind ramp agent discovered her, tried to contact the owners without much success. She wanted to adopt the dog herself, but Becky did not get along with her partner's dog. Thus, Becky was surrendered to the PHS to my good fortune.
Becky, is a fabulous animal. Sweet, loving, and adorable, she is constantly by my side and aways there watching me devotedly. Whether I am shaving in the morning, watching television, or taking walks in the park (which she loves) she is a constant companion. There is something different about an adopted dog that is inherently special; they will always love you more than you know!
Kenneth P., San Mateo
Hi San Mateo Humane Society,
I adopted a domestic short hair kitty back in January 08. She was the first one I saw in the cages and I decided I wanted to look at her. I picked out other kitties to look at, but none seemed to capture my attention. The society was about to close and I decided to look at one more kitty. It was the first kitty that I saw. She had no name on her chart so immediately my fiancé and I knew that her name would be Poker Dice (We like playing Poker and Dice just seemed to go good with it). As soon as she walked into the room she came right up to me. I noticed that she had a crinkled ear and to me that gave her character. It made me think about all the people that probably didn’t want to look at her because she was different. That didn’t bother me though. We took her home and she made herself right at home. She had an ear infection, but the vet took care of that the following week. She surely fits in our family! She waits for me at the door, she sleeps next to me at night, and she greets me every morning. We take her on trips and she doesn’t seem to mind the car trips. We had a birthday party for her in May (she turned two) and we bought her a kitty condo (which she loves!). All I can say is thank you so much for taking care of my little Poker Dice. I know that she was from Hayward and from what I was told at the Humane Society a family noticed she was pregnant and they took her in until she had the kittens. Afterwards, they decided to take her to the Humane Society in San Mateo because they heard it was a much cleaner facility. I couldn’t be anymore thankful for what you did for her. So thank you. Poker Dice and myself will never be able to express our gratitude.
Melissa D., Santa Clara
Dear PHS,
We wanted to thank you and Queso's foster dad Tim for giving us the opportunity to adopt Queso. We had Coco already and wanted to add another member to our family. So, we came across Queso and fell in love. He is doing great and we love him very much!...Coco and Queso are like two peas in a pod! When they go outside in the backyard they wait for each other, even when we go for walks they have to walk right next to each other. They bring their toys out in the backyard with them and play tug of war and just the other day I caught them laying on the lounge chairs together with their heads pointed towards the sun!...So once again thank you for Queso!...My mother, Coco, Queso, and I are having such a great time together! attached is a picture of Coco and Queso laying on my bed under the covers together!
Theodora L.
Hi PHS!
We wanted to formally thank you for bringing Riko into our lives. We were told that he had no name upon arrival so we took the liberty of naming him Riko which in Japanese means clever and wise. We have never had such a sweet and intelligent dog! He fits perfectly into our family and loves everyone unconditionally. When we brought him home he was shy and timid and would hardly leave our sides, however he has come out of his little shell and now loves to play romp and run around our big backyard. He looks forward to his play dates with Kylie, his new best friend, and he especially loves Yuki our other wonderful dog; we constantly find them cuddling in the warm California sun. His favorite things to do are napping, playing with his toys, snuggling, and eating! Our little boy has a voracious appetite! So in short, thank you PHS for giving us the opportunity to meet and bring Riko into our home, we could not be happier to have such a loving addition to our family.
Mike, Karen, Hana, Riko, and Yuki H.
Hello PHS,
I want to thank you and especially Carol for allowing me to meet and adopt my special dog. After several trips to find the right match, I went to PHS on March 17, 2007 and was looking at another dog next to “Patrick” and my friend who was with me said “what about that little one?”…..he came up to me and was so calm, sweet and we knew he was the one. I nursed him back to health, house trained him and today we are learning how to be the best dog and owner together. “Carmello” (new name) is a great guard dog, he loves to meet up with his pals at the dog park, he is an extremely intelligent dog, very handsome and a great companion. I consider myself very fortunate and blessed to have him in the family. He is such a cool dog!!! My mom calls him a movie star! Will be looking for his mate pretty soon. Thank you!
Carla N., San Mateo
Dear Peninsula SPCA,
I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how well my little dog Rocky has been doing since I brought him home last May. When he first got here, he was overall hesitant and very nervous around new people. He was a little pudgy, had a bum leg and a rough case of kennel cough. Well the leg is still bum but he's not letting that stop him from loving his new life. He runs, well actually he sprints, all over the dog park. He goes right up to new people and new dogs to introduce himself. We've gone to obedience classes and he knows sit, down, stay, shake, roll-over and is really just the coolest little Chihuahua mix ever. He's also physically stronger as well. You can actually feel his little muscles and he's got great stamina. He loves to snuggle, curl up in fuzzy blankies and sleeps under the covers every night. We're pretty much inseparable and I have you to thank for bringing us together. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Katie M., San Carlos (and Rocky too!)
Dear Humane Society,
We got Jack in December of 2007. Although when we got him, he wasn't yet named Jack. We named him after both Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean and Jack Dawson from Titanic. We figured he could be both an adventurer and a lover. Jack has proved to be an adventurer. Since he lived most of his live in a cage before we got him, he didn't get the opportunity to explore as he does now. Now he gets the opportunity to explore our backyard and the coast side of California. He is a lover as well as a explorer, he likes to be with people. There is no where in the house Jack would rather be then with his family and with his best bud Megan (our other dog). From all the members of the Rose family we would like to thank the Humane Society for bringing Jack into our home and for all the work they do.
The Rose Family
Dear PHS,
A couple months ago we lost our 10 year old dog, Cuba, who we adopted from PHS 9 years ago. Soon after, my husband and I decided the only way to honor him was to go to PHS and adopt another dog. Since I’m a volunteer at PHS, I knew there were 5 dogs that had been at the shelter for a very long time and they all needed a home desperately. As we entered PHS, I let my heart guide me. The first dog we looked at was Daisy – she’d been at PHS for 9 months and for some strange reason, no one ever inquired about her. My husband is a softy, so I knew the first dog we looked at would be the dog we’d take home. Daisy has adjusted to our home as if she’s lived here for years. She respects our 7 year old dog (also a PHS alumnus) as well as our 18 year old cat. Although we often ask ourselves how such a sweet dog could’ve been overlooked for so long, we’re thankful that she was – she’s truly an angel, and she’s our angel!
Linda and Jordan G, Hillsborough
Dear PHS,
Hello, this is Shadow checking in! I am happily settled into my new home and I have learned to get along with the dogs here (although I do have to compete with Annie the dog for the sunny spots...FYI, she also came from PHS a year ago). I want to thank PHS for all the care that you provided to me. Thank you to the humane officer who picked me up when I was abandoned, the vet staff who healed my injuries, the animal care technicians who made sure that I was clean, fed and comfortable every day, the behavior department who quickly determined what a great guy I was, the volunteer staff who advocated for me, and finally, the customer service department who processed my adoption with such enthusiasm. Black cats are often overlooked in shelters, and I am very grateful that PHS gives us all a chance for a better life. By the way, my new Mom thinks that black cats are smarter than other cats, and I have to say that I cannot disagree with that conclusion!
Sincerely, Shadow the cat
Dear PHS Staff,
Attached are some pics of Yuki! My husband and I are enjoying her so much, so thank you for all the hard work you do at the shelter! Thanks too for Yuki's spring photo! We got it in the mail this week and it is so adorable! I will send more pics after I take more this weekend of Yuki's room and her yard!
Best,
Lilian K., San Mateo
Dear PHS Staff,
Pictures of my wonderful new kitties from PHS are attached. Abby (black and white) and Belle (formerly Aspen is gray and white). The girls are adapting nicely. They are still a bit shy and skittish, but have come out of their shells quite a bit in the last two months.
Abby is on a diet, and trys to eat Belle's food at every possible chance. Both enjoy taking over both the couch as well as the bed. They love to run up and down the hallway and chase their toys and each other.
We are enjoying them thoroughly!
Anne Marie & Dan P.
Two years ago my beloved cat Cow passed away. He was with me for 15 years and I wasn't sure I would ever get another pet. But one rainy afternoon I started looking at photos of cats up for adoption online and as soon as I saw Cleopatra I knew she was the one. My husband went to meet her at the SPCA in San Mateo and within ten seconds she was on his lap reaching up her paws to give him a hug. He brought her home that day. She was very happy to be living a life of luxury again - getting lots of pets and free to roam over her new domain. She has a beautiful shiny black coat, green eyes, and loves to cuddle and play. Her favorite games are chasing paper balls up and down our long hall and swatting at the cat dancer. She is content to be an indoor kitty which is perfect for us because we live in a City flat. I am so happy we were able to adopt Cleopatra. She brings joy to our home.
Rosemary P., San Francisco
that my new husband loved kitties as much as me! 6 months after our wedding we went to PHS and found our black cat, Merlin (formerly known as Raven). Then, one year later, we went back to PHS to find Merlin a companion. And then the tiny gray tabby we named Loki came home with us.
Today, Merlin is a big cat -- he's all muscle. His brother Loki is much smaller in size, but loves to wrestle with Merlin. When Merlin isn't sprawled on his back on the chair, snoring away, he's chirping for
belly rubs. Loki lives up to his name by opening cabinets and howling for attention every so often.
My husband and I agree that our lives were pretty darn
good without pets, but life is so much better with our
2 kitties! We wouldn't have it any other way.
Thank you PHS for all you do for the kitties!
Kari S. and Vince T.
We adopted "Niner" several months ago. When we brought him home, he only weighed 8 lbs and you could see every bone in his body. He was brought into the shelter as a stray. Once we spent some time with him at the shelter, we knew we had to take him home. He was a sick for the first two weeks. We hand fed him during this time and as you can see, he is very healthy and happy now. He is a wonderful addition to our family and we couldn't imagine life without him. He has a great demeanor and is very affectionate!
Thank you so much!
The Michell's, Pacifica
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