We adopted Smokey the cat over a year ago from the local pet shelter. The day we went in looking for a new cat I almost walked right on passed her, but she reached her paw out of her cage and grabbed my sweater and started meowing. I picked her up and she started licking me and purring, so I had to have her.

Smokey is now a very fat, happy cat who enjoys chasing our Great Dane, Luna. She is a Great Dane and still less than a year old. She is so big now that we had to buy a second couch for her to sleep on, and she takes up the entire thing when sleeping.

She is afraid of the rain and any large amount of water, but loves to run in puddles. Luna is also afraid of our cat, who often chases her out of a room. She is a complete sweetheart.

— Laura from Tulelake, CA

We noticed a cat limping at a nearby golf course. We took him to vet for x-ray, which revealed buckshot in his shoulder, and bb’s littered throughout his body. Someone was using him for target practice. The buckshot was surgically removed, and we had him neutered. He’s a nice cat, and will never be hurt again. His name is Hickory.

— Jeffrey from Columbus, OH

This is our beloved Sadie, who left our lives on October 4, 2012. We rescued her from our local shelter, and she gave us the happiest years any dog could ever hope to give. In 2010 she contracted SARDS, a disease that robbed her of her sight and packed on a lot of extra weight. We loved her no less however, and made sure to help her around the house. She still always managed to find her favorite toys. A few days ago she collapsed in our home, her back legs seeming to be almost completely useless. What caused this we don’t know, but we took her to the vet as my wife and I were completely stunned and distressed, and as Sadie herself seemed to be in pain. We had to put her down that same day, and it was and I’m sure will be one of the hardest decisions we’ll ever have to make. For a dog that had been abandoned she was one of the sweetest my wife and I have ever known. I find myself apologizing to her over and over. I’m sure you can sympathize with the pain we’re feeling, for there will never be another dog like Sadie in our lives again.

— Eric from Kent, WA

Growing up, every dog we had that I grew close to, died. So I decided I\’d never get close to another one in my life. In 2004, my parents little dog was killed and my dad grieved alot as Jack was his shadow and buddy.

My sister got him another dog…a terrier mix pup and they named her Brooksie. She was young and loved to be outside, explore, walk. But my folks are old and really couldnt take her out for walks like they wanted to. That became my job when I went down there on weekends.

Somewhere on one of those walks, the bonding began. The folks would tell me she’d look forward to my weekend visits, and I began to look forward to them myself.

What seemed a chore became a pleasure and Brooksie managed to do what no other animal had done in years…broke thru the wall and became my furry friend and companion.

She still lives with my folks…there she has 90 acres to run on and she keeps a good eye on my parents.

But on the weekends and vacations…she’s my girl and my best friend…best friend I ever had…and I will cherish this friendship to my last breath.

— Leonard from Ruther Glen, VA

Loopy de Basset she is 8 yrs. Loves & eats 2 chicken hot dogs every night. Likes to go to park and pick up a scent; when she did find that ground hog they just stared at each other. When she sleeps with me if I move around in bed she growls for disturbing her!

— Frank from Englishtown, NJ

just adopted a new cat after the sad death of our 10 year old one. bitter sweet. my daughter and I went to the local “kill shelter” and told them to give us something on death row! We aquired “Mitt”, this was a friday his last  day was on monday! He was a older cat, past the cute adoptable kitten stage! He is fantastic! he fit right in with our other “shelter finds” which include 2 other cats, eugene, who was returned to the shelter twice,and a orphaned one, known as, the terrorist that we had to hand raise,and a bejingi/beagle mix dog! Please remember to always check the shelters first!

— Jill from Bellflower, IL