Alumni Tales

Alumni Tales are stories of happy pet adoptions from the Maryland SPCA. If you have an MD 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 animal stories on our Alumni Tales 3, Alumni Tales 2 and Alumni Tales 1 pages.

Greg Jumped into our Hearts

Greg jumped out of his kennel and into our hearts, then into the water! He has proven himself loyal, loving and just plain adorable. —Bethann

Niko Is the Brad Pitt of Dogs

I adopted this handsome boy five years ago, and I can't imagine my life without him. He has lived in Baltimore, DC, out on a farm with my parents and, most recently, in Hoboken, NJ. Today at the park, a lady called him the "Brad Pitt of Dogs!" He is such a sweetie, and we are so lucky to have him. Thank you so much for saving him so I could find him! —Jennifer

Junior Captured our Hearts

We adopted RJ, now Junior, in August 2008. We could not have been blessed with a better dog. He was very easy to train and captured our hearts from the moment we met him. He is a happy dog who loves to snuggle with anyone of our family members. He also is a bed hog. We have attached a picture showing Jr. with his first birthday present. I would highly recommend adoption to anyone looking for a pet. We could not have asked for a better companion. Thank you for all you do. —Robert

Will is the Best Companion

One year ago this week, I came to the MD SPCA looking for the same type of pet I previously had, an "adult small breed female dog." When I did not find that type of dog available, I asked if I might take a look at the puppies in the nursery. My eyes locked with the soulful brown puppy eyes of "Will," and my heart melted. Will was listed as a Boxer mix and though he was only 9 pounds at the time, he would certainly grow to be much larger than the small breed I originally had been looking for. At that point it didn't matter, I was in puppy love! A few days after I adopted Will, he came down with parvo virus which we and the pet ER successfully nursed him through. Then I had to have him treated for mange, from which he again recovered. I realized the name the MD SPCA had given him suited him because he has a strong "will" to live. After one year he is now 70 pounds, muscular and fit with a gleaming black shiny coat. His personality is such that he is loved by everyone who meets him. I am a widow with the best companion and friend who gives me unconditional love on a daily basis. Thank you, MD SPCA, for all the good work you do, and thank you for helping to bring Will into my life. —Barbara

Millie is the Perfect Roommate

I adopted Millie this past March, and I don't know what I would have done without her. I wasn't even really a cat person, but I had just graduated from college and was on my own and needed a roommate who didn't leave dirty dishes in the sink. Millie was perfect. At the MD SPCA she purred and purred and was just so friendly. I had to take her home. She is celebrating her first Christmas with me. My mom even made an ornament and stocking for her. Even though she lives with me in Philadelphia now, my parents always call to check on her and bring her tuna for a treat when they visit. She is the best! I would love to find her birth family to see what they used to call her and what she looked like as a kitten. She is really sweet so they must have been good to her even though they had to leave her in a vet's parking lot. Thank you for giving me Millie. —Jenny

Mocha the Wonder Pet

Mocha the "Wonder Pet" (as my son calls him) is the most kind and patient dog I can imagine with my nine-year-old son, who has autism. When Mocha first came to live with us, he was full of energy, and I wondered if he would ever calm down enough to be a part of our busy but loving family. Now, Mocha is so tolerant of our son and lets him play with in ways that other dogs with less patience and tolerance would not. It's like Mocha knows that our son is a bit different and is doing what it takes to help him get what he needs to be the most functional member of society. We love our Mocha, even if we think he may have had too much caffeine!! —Lisa

We Can't Imagine Life without Toby

Toby (formerly Douggy) has kept us busy. He is adjusting well with just a few bumps along the way. He enjoys his four walks a day and playing keep away from my wife with his toys. He has learned to sit, stay, heal, lay down, roll over and hunt for his treats. Although he loves to chase squirrels, we are trying to help him calm that urge. He has a little anxiety when we leave home but is adjusting well to his crate. He is quite the magician and has figured out how to open every door in the house along with getting out of his crate. He has made friends with almost every neighbor and has introduced us to many new friends. Toby is the best dog, and we can't imagine our lives without him. Hopefully soon, we will be back to adopt him a new brother or sister. —John

Simba is the Best Dog

It was a Friday afternoon, I was in 5th grade and my brother, his friend and I were watching the 12 o'clock news. We saw a little dog on TV, and we rushed my mom out of the house and had her take us to the MD SPCA. When we got there, the dog hadn't even gotten back yet so we looked at older ones. After two hours, my mom said we had to go, but I really wanted to see one more that was just lying in the cage. As soon as that dog got in the room with me, I knew she was going to be the best dog. We took her home that day. My great-grandmother almost had a heart attack when she saw what big dog we brought home because we had gone for a tiny one. Simba is the best dog I have ever met, and we saved her. Thank you for letting us adopt Simba. She is now almost 10.5. —Elise