Alumni Tales

Huckleberry Is Adored

Dear MDSPCA Family,

I am writing to tell you about my new life with my forever family. It all started when a Brownie Troop came to visit the MD SPCA. I knew that if I could make a good impression, these girls would spread the word about me. The leader of the troop was so smitten that she e-mailed my picture to both the mom and dad of my forever family to convince them to come visit me. When they came that Saturday afternoon, I was ready! I was charming and affectionate, and even leaned on the dad when they announced that they had to go. Though they did not take me home that day, they assured me that I was their forever dog and that they would return for me the next day. To my delight, they did ... and I have had them wrapped around my little dew-claw ever since. It is clear that they adore me, and I feel the same way about them! We are grateful to the Brownies and the MD SPCA for bringing us together.

Sincerely,
Huckleberry

Hector is a Blessing

When I was 21, I bought a dog and named her Scout. She was my baby and, sometimes, my momma. I trained her and loved her and shaped her to my life. She was purchased as a child-substitute and was treated accordingly. I loved her completely and when I lost her, I experienced grief such as I never had or have had since.

Scout had been gone for a year and a half when I decided I needed a dog. And "need" is exactly the appropriate term. I lay in bed one morning and heard a strange noise outside my window. I was not overly concerned because I reflexively thought, "Scout will let me know if there is anything to worry about." And then it hit me: I'm a single mom. I need a dog. For protection.

I knew that I would adopt my next dog from the MD SPCA. I decided what I wanted from a dog: male, young adult, large, able to go for a run or hang out around the house, house-trained. The MD SPCA had exactly that dog in the form of Hector. It would be inappropriate to say that I "rescued" Hector. He was just fine without me. The MD SPCA doesn't euthanize. Furthermore, his bearing in his kennel at their facility told me "Hey, lady. I can take or leave you, too."

"Your job is to be intimidating and not pee on the floor," I told him. "And never touch the baby. In return, I will buy you high-quality dog food and take you for daily walks. Deal?" He gave me a curious, although slightly baleful look. He seemed to say, "That'll do." And Then he lifted his substantial body with wolf-like ease and walked with me to my car.

Over the following weeks, we learned more about each other. He learned that when I have company his presence is unwelcome, and so he learned to lay quietly nearby. I learned that while a leash is fine in town, when we're roaming the countryside Hector does not appreciate a leash AT ALL. The first time I removed the lead I thought to myself, "Well, he'll either come back or not. I am not going to chase him all over the county." He came back.

One night, he came to my bedside and tucked his pointed snout into the crook of my neck. I wound my right arm around his neck and buried my face into his substantial ruff. Next night, same thing. Third night, he placed a paw on my bed. I am firmly anti-dog-in-the-bed. "Alright boy. Up you come." And seemingly without effort he materialized on top of my bed. He slid his long, lean body along my left side, burying his nose in my hair and wiggling himself close to me. We have slept thusly since.

As I walked Hector this morning, I realized the joy that I get from watching him run. When Hector runs, it is apparent that he is a wild and free creature. No matter that he is confined all day long, his nature has not changed. I identify with his freedom. And it is a blessing to love—and be loved—by someone who is wild and free. He doesn't need me. I don't need him. He is not my child, nor am I his. We choose each other because we dig each other. And at the end of a busy day, we enjoy the steady, warm presence of the other. It's enough. It's better than I had imagined it could be.-Marianna

Pumpkin and Herbert Join the Family

My husband and I just moved into our own first home, a big house with lots of space—too much for just him and me! Since we don't have kids yet (I am 26 and he is 25), we decided to expand our new family by adopting two little kittens. When we went to the Maryland SPCA, we only came to look...but little did we know. We stepped into the kitten nursery, and there they were. Two tiny bundles of fur, so cuddled together that at first we didn't even realize that there were TWO kittens in the box. We stood in front of the cage and one lifted up his head, looking at us. Then he got up and wobbled to the cage door. We were sold. We had already bought everything we needed a few days before so we couldn't resist. We took them home right away! And we didn't regret it. Pumpkin (orange tabby) and Herbert (brown tabby with white) are now a wonderful, lovely and absolutely adorable addition to our little family life. They are playful, yet gentle and whenever they are tired from playing, they wobble up to us, climb on our laps, snuggle up in a furry ball and purr themselves into a nap under our stroking fingertips. We love them with all our heart already! They are wanted here. Thank you, Maryland SPCA! -Lena

Guiness is a Great Addition

We lost our 11-year-old Lab over three years ago, and we finally decided it was time to start looking for a new addition. We decided to help by adopting and figured we would need to be patient to find a good fit. One dreary Saturday, we visited the MD SPCA to check out some of the two-to-four-year-old Lab mixes we saw on the website. Instead, three cages into our visit, we found a five-month-old puppy who just came to the kennel door and looked at us with eyes that said "take me home please"—no barking, just longing in his eyes. After our visit in the dog run area and a bit of discussion on whether we were ready for a puppy, we decided to take the Lab/Boxer mix home. He is our special puppy and after a few private training sessions for us since it had been many years since we had a puppy, the bundle of energy is a well-behaved addition to our home. We could not be happier and we look forward to many years with Guinness. -Lois & Scott

Linus is Loved

We renamed him Linus (formerly Harpo), and he is getting on great with our Pug. He is doing great and is loved, already!-Angela

Finnigan Is Everything You Could Ask For In a Companion

Last year, I stopped in just to see what pets were in the shelter. I had no intention that day of actually adopting anyone until I saw Finnigan (formerly Smith). It had been a year since our first dog had died, and I wasn't sure I was ready for another one just yet. Something about him just connected with me and when the volunteer walked by and told me how sweet he was and that he was the free adoption of the month, I knew I just had to have him! He has a definite vulnerability to him. He can win over anyone he meets. He enjoys doggie play dates with some of my friends' dogs, outings to the beach, car rides and going to his grandmother's house. He gets along with everyone! He is everything you could ask for in a companion. He's just so happy to be with you no matter what you are doing. We love him more and more every day! He's just perfect! -Mary Beth

Neko is Adored

Words cannot describe how blessed we are to have Neko in our home and our lives. I visited the MD SPCA on a Friday afternoon in late September of 2010 just to look. I was introduced to Neko (formerly Tigger) when I inquired about a declawed cat. She was alone in a large cage and was on her second stay at the MD SPCA, having been returned once already. She looked at me with her big green eyes and when she was placed in my lap, she cuddled and purred. I told my husband that evening that we were adopting her. He had resisted getting a cat but he said, "You are going to do what you want." Fast forward one year later. Neko has my husband wrapped around her little paws. She sleeps next to him every night. We joke that she has a "petting deficit" if we do not give her enough attention. We absolutely adore her, and cannot imagine our home without her now. She is already seven years old (adopted at age six), and my husband said recently in a wistful tone, "That means we only have about five more years with her." We will enjoy whatever time we have with her because she is a treasure and a joy. Thank you, MD SPCA, for taking her in and caring for her until she could find us. -Amy

Linus and Puzzles are Best Friends

I previously adopted a cat, Linus, from a lab when he was only three months old and have had him for just over a year now. He does great on his own, but I felt bad leaving him by himself a lot at home during the college semester (and during the late nights in the library) so I decided to go to the MD SPCA and find him a friend. Puzzles stood out to me because she was the cutest tabby that I'd ever seen and had really pretty coloring. Once I walked up her little house in the cat room she came out to the window and purred at me. I asked to take her out so that I could meet her, but I was already sure even before I did that she would be perfect! She was also just about the same age as Linus, which was great.

At first when she got home, Linus was a little bit scared of her (he's kind of a wimp and is about half her size!). It only lasted an hour or so, and then they started "tolerating" each other. But now, less than two weeks later, they're best friends...I'll find them curled up behind the sofa together, sleeping together and even grooming each other! I've actually had to put them in separate rooms to sleep the past few nights, because when I don't, they'll be up all night playing with each other and running all over my apartment! They are great together and I'm really happy that they get along and that I could give Puzzles a new home. Thank you guys at the MD SPCA for keeping her until I could find her :). -Thomas

Mia and McDuff are Irresistible

As a volunteer at the MD SPCA, I'd successfully resisted taking a dog or cat home with me for a long time...until the litter of kittens named after the Kennedy brothers came in! After watching and interacting with them for over two days, I took Joe (now Mia) and Bobby (now McDuff) home with me, and I couldn't be happier. They are wonderfully playful, loving and mellowm and my 13-year-old Lakeland Terrier thinks they're her children! Mia, the black one, is the instigator, and McDuff is the old soul. Thanks for my new additions! -Sandra