SPCA of Texas Love Stories

Jack was a kitten that was found in the engine of a car. He had taken quite a ride and needed to rest and recuperate in a foster home.  After weeks of caring for Jack, his foster mom took the steps to become his adoptive mom. This update letter is from Jack's mom.

“Jack is a big boy! He's about 10lbs. He's doing great though. Jack was really shell shocked when I first took him home. He was really freaked out by the car ride home, even though he was inside this time. At first, he did not want to have anything to do with me. He needed a bath from all car grease. He tried to socialize with my two other cats. They hissed at him and looked at him like he was insane whenever he walked right up to them not scared at all. He reacted by puffing up and hissing back though he was only 1/10th of their size. He hid in the closet for the first week. Every time I went home I pried him out of the closet to socialize with me. After the first week he made himself at home.

I was supposed to foster Jack until he was big enough to neuter. He became extremely attached to me during this time. He followed me around, cuddled on the couch, and slept on my head at night.

 I really was going to return him, but then he got ringworm. I spoke to my foster sponsor and he gave me the option of bringing him in or treating him at home. Being treated at the shelter, he would have been in a cage quarantined until he got better. I decided that I would treat him at my house which added another two weeks to his stay.

One Saturday I was vegged out on my couch watching TV. He cuddled the whole day. He has to touch me at all times when we are on the couch together. That's when he won me over. He's a lover. He starts purring at first touch. My other cats "love" me but they aren't "in love" with me. Little Jack is in love and so am I. It's Jack’s place I just pay rent! I would tell people that want a pet to try the shelter first. The animals are so appreciative! Also, to the people who only want a pure breed from a breeder; puppy mills are raided all the time and those animals that were potentially for sale from a breeder end up for adoption at the shelter. Look at the shelter first.”

You might remember Wills Point #139, also known as Shirley the Basset Hound.  She was rescued from inhumane conditions on January 25 from a property in Van Zandt county.  The SPCA was awarded custody of the 185 neglected animals and put them up for adoption on a case by case basis.  Shirley was adopted on February 6.  Below is a letter from her new dad.

"We have renamed Shirley to Lucy. We got her home and acclimated.  Here are a couple of pictures for you.  You can see from the photos that she is settling right in and making herself at home.  We are so glad to have her as part of our family and I think she is glad to be here.  Thank you for your efforts in rescuing her and your help in her adoption.

Lucy went to the clinic today for her 5-day follow up exam and except for a bit of an upper respiratory infection that the vet wants treated with some cough medicine and some antibiotics, she's in good shape and had already gained four pounds!"

Eddie was found after a call came into the Perry Rescue Ambulance.  This poor, neglected dog was found with burns coving the length of his back.  Eddie spent time in foster care and was able to heal and recuperate from the two surgeries needed to close the wound.  After being at the SPCA of Texas for more than seven months, Eddie found his forever, loving home.  Below is a letter from Eddie’s new dad.

 Eddie is doing fine. He has become a true member of my family. My daughter and Eddie have become so close. It seems that he is slowly adjusting to home life.  Eddie has been my buddy. You all thank me for adopting him, but it’s me that should thank you all. Eddie has gone from a sullen, withdrawn and scared dog to a very happy, content dog.  He now has a voice of his own. This would not have been possible without the SPCA of Texas.

Thank you all,

Eddie’s dad

I adopted Sunny the Parakeet from your McKinney location. She is no longer an "only child."  She is enjoying the company of her new roommates (Calypso (blue), Kiwi (solid green), and Sprite (green/yellow).

The staff there was very friendly and helpful.  Sunny is adjusting very well to her new surroundings.  She's still a little shy, but, that's to be expected after moving into a new environment.  Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will be able to start hand training her.  I've already let her fly around in the bedroom. 

Thanks again for all of your help and assistance.  Sunny is the perfect addition to my home and she is well-loved!

Sunny's Mom

My son saw a photo of George on Petfinder.com.  George is an 8 year old cat given up by his family because of allergies.  I went to meet this cat at the SPCA of Texas in McKinney.

 George was living/hiding in a cat scratching cubby in the cat room.  He seemed in shock and I could tell he was so unhappy about not being at home.  I certainly couldn't leave him after meeting him!  In about 24 hours it was like he had always been a member of our family!  He is the sweetest cat and is loved by every member of our family. 

 I highly recommend taking a chance on one of the older cats.  George is litter box trained, trained to use a scratching post, and he is so well-mannered!  A real lovely boy who jumps in our laps for cuddles and even likes to have his tummy rubbed!

George's Mom

Hello Friends - I am writing from my new home with Michele, my new Mom.I have been with her and her 'hairy son'  Walker now for a week, and it has been great. I am finally settling in. We go on walks with Mom and Walker - I walk so nicely on a leash, she says... We have a yard with lots of things to explore and ivy where I like to lay in the cool mornings. Inside, she set up a crate for me, but I really didn't like that. So now I get to sleep in the bedroom with my brother and mom. I like that very much. It is nice and quiet here. She plays classical music and the piano and I really enjoy that. I lay under the piano where I can hear it really well.

I have already transitioned to my new organic dog food and my mom puts some flax seed oil or meal on my food to make my coat shiny. I think it is starting to work!

Mom gave me a new name that I like and am beginning to remember... It is "Lilly". In fact I have a name tag now with my name and her phone number - I guess I am going to stay for awhile. That's good, because I really like it here.

I wanted to let you know I am doing really well and thank you for taking care of me those many months in the McKinney shelter.

Sugar (aka, Lilly)

This incredible love story began when a timid, lonely and desperate Pit Bull named Pudge was rescued from inhumane conditions by the SPCA of Texas on February 24, 2010.

Pudge, along with several other animals, was living in filth without access to proper water or veterinary care inside a property in Bonham, Texas. This precious 2-year-old was very underweight and suffering from hair loss due to demodectic mange. He also had puncture wounds and scars on his sweet, loving face. Needless to say his life had been less than desirable up to this point.

But even after all the challenges, mistreatment and stress he faced, he was a resilient boy who never gave up on himself or his future family. He was a staff favorite.

Pudge carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he had overcome all odds. The deck seemed stacked against him. He was a big, black dog, an American Pit Bull Terrier mix; one of many who wait and wait in animal shelters to find a new, loving home. And he had lived most of his life in inhumane conditions which would lead most people to believe he would have trust or worse yet, aggression issues. But Pudge was the strong, silent type who was terrified of his own shadow but who longed for love and companionship all the same.

April 28, 2010 would be the first day of the rest of Pudge’s wonderful life. Mathew Sprinkel and Tanner Teel of McKinney, TX had seen Pudge on the SPCA of Texas' website, and came to the shelter to meet him. Mathew and Tanner, along with their dog Biscuit, had recently grieved the loss of their beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback named Max, and they decided it was time to add a new member to the family.

They watched as person after person walked by Pudge’s kennel, tried to get a reaction out of him, and then, failing that, kept walking.

“I did see Pudge, and he looked so sad, [he] just wanted someone to love him. My partner and I went and visited him a few times, but he seemed very standoffish so I wasn't too sure,” Mathew said.

Pudge would cower, look at the floor and curl up in a ball on his bed when people attempted to give him attention. Mathew, Tanner and Biscuit met and visited several other dogs before formally meeting Pudge, but Biscuit never seemed too interested in playing with any of them.

After several trips up to the SPCA of Texas, Mathew and Tanner just couldn’t resist those sad, puppy dog eyes.

“After several visits to the SPCA of Texas, I decided to take Pudge. After watching several people go up to him and try to get his attention, and he would lie on his bed and shake, I knew there were few people who would give him a chance. Every time you look at him he just makes a face that makes me think, 'before, no one loved him, and that is all he wants.’ It broke my heart.”

Well that was then and this is now! Pudge, now named Grady, is the happy-go-lucky, energetic, playful pup he always wanted to be. Biscuit and Grady are now partners in crime. They love to play together, get into trouble and will even share the couch for a nap after a long day of mischief.

Biscuit has met her match when it comes to a need for speed. When the pups play in the backyard, Grady can beat her in almost any race. And of course, like any young dog, his favorite game is “chase.”

“He loves to play chase. I put my arms in the air like I'm going to get him and he goes spinning in circles around me then makes laps around the back yard. He plays rough, he likes to jump off the couch and land right on [Biscuit] but she takes it and does it right back to him.”

Grady is also a huge cuddler. He is the first one to run into the living room when the front door opens and jump on Mathew’s favorite seat in the house. He arranges himself in a position so that no one else has room to sit on the couch, unless of course they are coming to shower Grady with love and affection. Not only is he very playful and extremely loving, he is not completely free of his 'puppy phase' just yet.”

When Grady first became a family member, Tanner and Mathew thought it would be best for the two dogs to keep each other company while their owners were at work. And boy did those pups have fun! They entertained themselves by pulling out everything that was hiding under the bed and “cleaned out” a few things.

Grady is one of the strong, lucky pups who was able to overcome the harsh conditions of a life of neglect, and accept all the love and companionship his new family had to offer.