Alumni Tales

Alumni Tales are stories of happy pet adoptions from The Maryland SPCA. If you have an SPCA adoption story you would like to share, please go to our Alumni Tales Submission page and tell us yours. Below are some of our most recent favorite stories! You can read more great stories on our Alumni Tales 2, Alumni Tales 1 and More Tales pages.

Kopper is Thankful for Home

Hi, guys. It's Kopper (formerly Budro). It's been a little while, and I just wanted to let you know how I am doing. When I was at the SPCA, I was the pet of the month, and I think that's a well deserved award. My mom and dad both tell me how good I am all the time. I mainly just wanted to thank you guys for putting me back together the way you did. I am so glad all my scars from the past have faded away. I have two sisters now—a jack russell and another pit bull just like me. We have so much fun all day. My parents take me for walks, and they even take me to a farm so I can run around every day. I have gained at least 30lbs since I left, and I get my hair done all the time. I mainly just wanted to thank you for letting them adopt me. Now I am finally in a place that I can call home. —Kopper (adopted by Stephanie)

Paulie is the Best Guy

I brought Paulie home with me in June of 2006. At that time his name was Paul, and I added the "ie" to it. I grew up with cats and have owned other cats as well at different points in my life, but I have never had one as sweet as he is. My father jokes and says that he's the best guy I've ever brought home with me. But, in a way it's true. He's always there. He greets me at the door when I come home, follows me around my apartment and is very friendly to anyone who comes by. He is definitely a lap cat and doesn't give me much time to become lonely. He's always there purring and happy, even when I'm not. He has even starred in his own video right here: http://www.visitmybaltimore.com/video/382/
I'm so happy I came to the SPCA and decided to bring Paulie home with me that day two years ago this June because he has definitely become a great part of my life. While others have come and gone, he has definitely been there to stay. —Sarah

Abby is a Mommy's Girl

I just wanted to let everyone now how Abby is doing. She is a puppy with lots and lots of energy. She loves the outdoors. She likes to sit by the patio door and watch everything that is going on outside. Abby is a mommy's girl. She follows me around the house all day. She is like my shadow. If it were not for all of you saving her, I would have never had her. She is my child. Keep up the good work. We will keep in touch. —Abby & Tiffany

fIGARO WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT

Figaro, Figaro, Figarooo!!! My boyfriend and I adopted Figaro (formerly known as Sasafrass) as a birthday present for me. I fell completely in love with this little kitten the first time I layed eyes on him on the SPCA website. On adoption day, the SPCA sent us home with some antibiotics for Figaro because he was sick. After many trips to the vet followed by nebulizer treatments and more medicine, he was cured of his kitty cold. Figaro is not even one year yet and is spoiled rotten! He has a huge cat tree that he loves to scratch and sleep on when he is not sleeping in bed with us. Thank you SPCA for the best birthday gift ever!!! —Melony

Maggie Was a Great Dog

Maggie, then Rita, was adopted the day before a blizzard in 1996. We came to the SPCA to adopt a dog for my daughter's birthday. It had been three years since our previous dog had died. Maggie was a german shepherd mix. My husband decided as soon as he saw her that she was the one coming home. All the dogs were barking and jumping at the gates, except Maggie. She just layed on the floor watching us. When we all agreed to take her home, she was put on a leash and walked out to the office. She walked right to the counter, jumped up, put her paws on the counter and barked twice, as if to say goodbye! She was a great dog who become a big part of our family. Unfortunately just last week we found out she had an advanced stage of cancer, and we had to let her go. I keep listening for footsteps on the kitchen floor and look for her when I come home from work. She is greatly missed, but all of us know we gave her a loving home and were greatly rewarded in the long run. —Karen

Dexter is Doing Well

It's me, Peepers. It's been just over a year since I moved out so I thought I'd let you know I'm okay. My one-year check-up at the vet was fine. My name is Dexter now, and I weigh six times what I did then, but I'm still so gentle our cat trusts me. Of course you saw me at puppy pre-school and March for the Animals, but as I said I'm a big galoot now. My sister was getting adopted when I left, and I know you only pick good owners so I know she has a good home too. I live with another dog who plays with me and two people who take me for walks every day. I'll be back for March for the Animals so other pets can get good homes although I won't be getting carried like I did last year. I'm probably going to dog obedience this summer, so I'll see you then. Thanks for everything, SPCA!! —Dexter (adopted by Chris)

Riff is the smartest dog

We got Riff, formerly Charlie, for our six-year-old son Corey. Riff was a wirely little guy when we brought him home. He has been a loving and sweet dog and a great friend to our son over the past seven years. He enjoys running and exploring the woods with Corey on a farm behind our home. He is the smartest dog we have ever had! He outsmarts the many full-bred Shepherds we've owned. He brings his leash when he wants a walk and brings his bowl when his tummy growls.
Riff is loved and very happy! Many thanks to all of you at the SPCA. We cannot express how much we love this dog and the childhood memories he has created with our son! Thank you, thank you, thank you. —Tim, Monica & Corey

Ringo has become part of the family

Ringo became a part of the family so quickly! Pokie, our other dog, is still getting used to her, but she still loves her like a baby sister. Ringo's made the couch her new bed and always howls when I leave her, including at bedtime. So she now sleeps in my bedroom. She is just so cute! —Sarah

Kenshi Will Love You Forever

When my fiance and I first met Kenshi, his name was Clyde. I was looking at another dog when Nick told me to turn around. There he was. With ears bigger than his face and a wagging tail. All he wanted to do was give kisses and play. He was a little scared when we went in the play room, but he absolutely loves everyone. At first, we thought he was a beagle mix, but we came to find he is a Plott hound! He was a little hard to housebreak, but he learned. He is the sweetest little guy and does the goofiest things. All you have to do is look in his big brown eyes, and you know that he loves you forever.—Victoria

Magoo Is Missed

I remember the day I adopted Magoo. It was a nice sunny December day, and when we walked in all you could hear was howling. As we passed all the wanting faces, I approached a dog that seemed curious. He was black with white on his belly and white paws, pointy ears and the cutest face, but he was very skinny. We took him outside, and the first thing he did was run to the bushes and lift his leg as high as can be...I knew that was my dog. Through the years I had Magoo, he was not only my best friend but a piece of my soul. We had the same personality and behaviors oddly enough. On September 4, 2007, I lost Magoo suddenly to cancer and with it a piece of me. I think about him every day. I think about how he was the best dog and everyone he met loved him. He is missed, and I thank that December day when the SPCA changed my life! —Stephanie

Everyone Wants to Take Home Boopsie

The day I came to the SPCA to look for a dog, all of the dogs were jumping at the front of their cages and barking—all but Boopsie. She sat at the back of the cage shaking. I knew I had to get her out of there. The day I came back to pick her up, she urinated all over the floor as soon as I looked at her and I thought what am I getting into here?? We took her home and fell in love with her. She didn't make it easy though. She was a nervous urinator and would vomit when she was scared. Needless to say, she needed extra love and has come a long way. Here we are almost nine years later, and I can't imagine life without her. She is part of the family. Everyone who visits us wants to take her home, even the ones that don't usually like dogs. Thank you SPCA for giving us our baby!!! —Stephanie

Sassy and Sierra Join the Family

I came to the SPCA looking for one kitten but couldn't bear to separate these sisters! They are doing so well in their new home, and they love their big sister Macey, a 70-pound American Bulldog. They spend all day playing with each other, and then they curl up at night and sleep together usually in the dog crate!! They are fascinated looking out the window at the blowing leaves and the squirrels. What a great addition to the family! —Lynn

Trixie Came a Long Way

Trixie lost her battle with cancer on January 4, 2008, two days after turning six years old. Although I miss her terribly, I know she is happy and healthy now and reconnecting with her sister and companion, Sophie. The 2008 issue of Pet Gazette Magazine will feature a portrait of Sophie and Trixie on the cover. Trixie came a long way since being a shelter dog! —Irena

Schroeder Has Become a Perfect Gentleman

Schroeder has a tremendous amount of energy. He is very strong and sometimes was difficult to walk. When left alone for one hour, he chewed a hole in my couch. He couldn't chew up the ugly chair, he had to chew the couch! I tolerated the limited destruction because he is so incredibly tolerant of our young children. Just two lessons in with a dog trainer, Schroeder is now a perfect gentleman. He does not pull on walks, and he is starting to distinguish between dog toys and kid toys. I knew from the moment that I met him that he was a great dog. He just had to find it in himself, and he has. Thank you all for bringing this lovable, gentle giant into our lives. He is just fantastic. —Laura

Zoro Fell in Love

Bonjour! I just wanted to thank you for taking such good care of me when I was a lost little kitten. I got adopted by a nice family, but I fell in love with our French Au Pair and ran away with her. Since then, I have been leading a blissfully happy life. I even have a beautiful snowshoe Siamese girlfriend, named Mademoiselle Coco. Merci, merci!!! —Zoro

Maggie Is a Superstar

Hershey, now Maggie, really responds to Maggie. She loves her new yard. She loves going for walks to the park and is a real sweetheart. The kids adore her. She is so smart. She takes her leash to you when she wants to go for a walk. She grabs the leash like she is walking you. She is so cute. The vet says she is really healthy. We love her very much. She really brightens up the place. All the kids come just to see her. She is a real superstar in our neighborhood. —Viola

Macy Jane is an Incredible Girl

After our Tasha left us at 21 years old, I swore no more dogs. When visiting the SPCA in February of 2007 with my niece, the first dog I saw was Mazie (now Macy Jane). She is an incredible girl. She loves being outside and will play for hours with her cousins Shelby, Reed, Bogey and Dana. She is my best friend, and we could not be happier. Thank you SPCA! —Nancy

MOe Has Brought Much Joy

We got Moe back in July of 2007. He immediately made himself right at home. Since then, he has brought such joy to our lives. He is so playful and sweet. We can't imagine life without him. He has many favorite spots in our house but his most favorite are our window ledges where he can lie down and look outside.—Amy & Mike

Nellie Is Full of Personality

I adopted Nellie in July when I was a travel R.N. in Baltimore. Adopting her has been the most rewarding experience ever! She has more personality than any human I have ever met! She loves life so much and has the greatest howl I have ever heard. She loves the doggy park SO MUCH and loves her current foster puppy brother, Rudy. She's a great traveler, and she gets along great with kids and, well, with everyone. Thanks so much for my Basset Baby! —Jenifer