I adopted this beautiful little girl after loosing my best friend and dog Jude. I walked into the SPCA hoping to find a little puppy i could take with me to work. I nanny for two small children, one with autism and it seemed to me that it was time to get a new dog, plus the kids would be great at helping me give it enough exercise! My mom and i had looked and played with several of the puppies before deciding on a beautiful yellow pit bull mix 5 month old puppy. We went to the counter to set up a home visit when my mom looked across the room, pointing at a dog that was laying on the ground next to a volunteer. To me it looked like an older dog, she was already as big as she was going to get, but she had the most gorgeous eyes we both had ever seen. I knew right then and there she was the right one for me. The volunteers of course took me out to see how she played, but i was already convinced i was going to go home as this dogs owner.

Sasha is 1 year and 5 months old. She was found as a stray and had been in the shelter for 3 months prior to me visiting. She is very good at staying by me and warning me if someone new is approaching. She loves to run in the yard and fetching the ball.

I cannot thank you all at the LASPCA enough!! I never thought I could love another dog the way I did with Jude.Sasha and I are still figuring each other out, but I have to say, i cannot imagine my life today if I would have walked out of your building without her. She has been nothing but joyful and loving. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

Buzz (now Known as Mardi Gras) is a very Special Dog. She has quickly become the Queen of the house. We are truely lucky to have her in our lives. The Kids love her and she has Daddy wrapped around her little paw. Thank you to everyone at the LA/SPCA for giving us this precious Gift. she is truly loved and will Spend the rest of her life happy and very spoiled.

I love dogs, and I thought that I was ready to own one. Instead of looking on craigslist/classified section, I decided that I want to adopt a dog from the animal shelter and give it a loving home that it deserves. I went to the LA SPCA and saw several pets that I'd like to take home but once I laid my eyes on Titus, I instantly fell in love! He's such a handsome puppy and those ears! 

He didn't show his loving and affectionate personality until the next day, after he realized that he now has a forever home. I am so glad that I brought Titus into my life and able to provide him a happy home. I feel that he is the perfect match for me! Thank you LA SPCA!

    I'm so happy to have my little red miss! I decided to change her name to Honey when I realized she wasn't so into Noodle and I must say it's a perfect fit. I can never look at her without smiling, just look at those ears! She gives lots of kisses and is the sweetest most playful girl and I love her for it. She is enjoying her new home and trips to the dog park amd has made so many new friends! She has learned to sit and how to play fetch and has come a long way with training, if only I could teach her to enjoy baths, haha.

She has been such a joy to have from the moment I seen her I knew I just had to have her she is learning new things evey day and loves playing with my three kids she is loving life!

I have been a foster parent for nearly 6 years, holding tightly to my role as an interim between an animal's life in the shelter and their forever home. I've had many pets pass through my doors, and it wasn't until meeting Geraldine (originally Brenna) that I realized it would be impossible for me to let her pass through. Since adopting her on February 24th, she has been my constant and greatest companion. From hiking swamp trails, to canoeing, to road trips, to long French Quarter strolls....I couldn't imagine my world without her by my side. She brings me such joy, and a higher quality of life than I could have imagined. I can't thank the LASPCA enough for their commitment and dedication to partnering pets with their human companions.

On 3/13/13 i adopted my new boxer mix puppy named sophie (originally chrissy). i got her for my son who is 2 and needs a companion. we first looked at her sister which didnt take to well to my son so they brought out sophie she walked right up to my son and put her head in his lap. she chose him. shes the best dog super sweet and laid back im so glad we picked the second choice because she was the best choice. she follows my son everywhere he goes and refuses to leave his side. they are best friends. thanks a million LASPCA im glad i was able to find my son a forever friend and sophie and forever home.

Thanks,

Natalie and Gage

On March 7, 2013, I checked the (laspca) website and found one dog that stood out. His name was Beckham. His intake showed as February 16 which was my birthday. That day was rather rough for me considering my 93 year old father and friend had passed on the 13th. Over the past month, I made several statements aloud before I checked this site. My wish list was as follows: retriever, pitbull, or shepherd mix, male, reddish brown, not too large and not too small, healthy, loves kids, loves other dogs, housebroken, and walks without a leash. I just had to have a closer look and urged my husband to take me to the shelter. Upon my arrival to the dog area, I noticed Beckham immediately (handsome guy). He caught my eye and began wagging his tail, panting heavily, and doing a little dance for me. I fell in love. None of the other animals did this. I even watched Beckham with other prospective parents, and he didn't even give them a second look. I checked out a few other possibilities while keeping my eye on my new best friend. I believe we got to the building at 12:30. He had a hold until 1:15 for another family and I was next in line at 1:00pm. I filled out the paperwork very slowly just in case the other family decided to show up. At 1:15, with an all clear, I was able to adopt Beckham. He was so excited to see me waiting for him in the lobby. I knew he would fit into my family.

Beckham who had trouble with getting into a vehicle, no longer has a fear of car rides. He also enjoys a good bath. Beckham loves our daily Esplanade Ave walks. He's very quiet and obedient. He can sit, stay, come, shake hands, go poop, and jump in (car) on command. He loves my children and every other kid he comes into contact with. He visits the dog park (Dauphine and Barracks) once a day and has met a few new friends. I got everything I asked for and more. He is irreplacable. We love Beckham! Thanks LASPCA!!!!

I’m writing this because I want to thank the LASPCA for giving my fiancé and I a wonderful addition to our young family.  In November 2011 the two of us found our K-9 companion sitting quietly at the shelter waiting for his forever home.  Turbo, then called Jim, was 8 months old and very shy, but  we knew there was something special to be seen in him.  Now as Turbo’s 2^nd birthday, comes around in mid March, my fiancé and I are proud of how much our little boy has grown!  The once shy Turbo, has turned into a very happy, silly, and outgoing dog.  He’s brought us many smiles and always manages to brighten our days!

I’m happy to say that Turbo’s grown in many ways!  Slowly, my fiancé and I have brought this little shepherd mix out of his shell with constant encouragement, basic obedience training, and plenty of socialization.  We take him on new adventures all the time.  (We even took him with us on a family vacation to Wisconsin where he saw snow for the first time in his life!)  And, best of all he loves it!  Whenever Turbo sees his leash, he gets very excited, spinning in circles and bouncing up and down.  We take Turbo on long walks in the various parks around the city, let him play with other dogs in the dog park, take him shopping with us or exploring the French Quarter.  He enjoys it all, plus  it is cute because he has a habit of bumping us with his nose whenever he is happy.  And don’t even get me started on how much he loves going to the pet store; he always seems to convince me to buy him a new toy every time we go!

It’s hard to imagine how our Turbo was when we first adopted him!  He’s really blossomed into a wonderfully happy dog who’s brought my fiancé and I a lot of joy in our lives.  It makes us happy to watch him grow and we are very excited to see him through many, many more birthdays! 

I just have to say, thank you LASPCA for letting us adopt the timid Jim and shape him into the outgoing Turbo he is now!  Because of Turbo, I recommend adoption to anybody who is looking to add a new pet into their family!

A new job had me relocating to New Orleans. I was excited to make the move with my constant companion of 11 yrs at my side, my rescue boxer Murphy (picture right). Murphy helped me discover fun new places, trips to The Fly and City Bark to meet new friends, and listening to live music at local restaurants. Four months after moving to the Crescent City Murphy had his first seizure and two weeks later he was gone. The hole he left in my life I thought would never heal. It took me eight weeks to gather the courage to pack up Murphy's toys, blankets, food and dishes and decide to donate them to the LA-SPCA. 

I knew that being a rescue himself Murphy would want dogs looking for their forever home to have his favorite items. Walking into the SPCA I knew I was doing the right thing; it felt good. I dropped off my donations and a volunteer asked if I would like to look at the animals up for adoption. I told her my story and that I didn't think I was ready to adopt again just yet but I wouldn't mind looking at the dogs. I walked around and said hello to many smiling faces and wagging tails, taking time to scratch some ears and get some kisses along the way. 

When I saw "Dasher" (picture below) there was another woman in front of his cage and he was in the back looking nervous and worried. I continued around the room and stopped back by when I came around. "Dasher" came to the front of his cage, lowered his head and wiggled his entire body. I knew he had picked me whether I was ready or not. 

"Dasher" has now become "Caboose" and is a wonderful, amazing addition to my family. He hasn't filled the hole that Murphy left, but he has helped heal the pain. Thank you LA-SPCA for taking care of my little Caboose until he could rescue his human! 

4 1/2 years ago, I adopted 9 year old Chi-Chi, an 8 pound Chihuahua with arthritis and one eye, who immediately became my special dear princess!  Then recently,  I accidentally came upon a Chihuahua adoption day and took in a 3 year old tiny Chihuahua weighing less than 4 pounds.  These 2 rescues mean more to me than I ever dreamed possible!  I recommend adoption any day!  It helps so much~  And gives back even more....

I adopted my Italian Labrador (Italian Greyhound/ Lab mix) in July of 2009.  Since the first day she couldn't have been more perfect.  She is a rare dog when even a 4 year old child can pull on her tail and you can see the smile across her face from the loving attention.  At parties at home she is so social and anyone who starts to pet her is in for hours of hassle for more. She loves every dog she runs into. Chloe is more than apart of my family, she is the center of our family.  She is waiting by the door starting at 4:30 waiting for everyone to get home from work and won't leave till all of her people are home.  I couldn't imagine a more perfect dog and I thank the SPCA enough for bringing her into my life.  She has changed my life in so many ways.  Adopt a shelter animal, you will not regret it. 

I brought Peanut home today but it's as if he's been a part of my family forever. Everyone loves him. Calm cool and collected he fell right into the family groove. Very sweet, and easy going. Just take a look, he's so at home.

We've had Mardi (Cary) for 5 years now and have been grateful for every moment. He was brought to Maine September 2007 from the LA SPCA by a group of volunteers. They drove him along with 5 other dogs to the ASPCA in Rockland, Maine due to overcrowding in southern shelters. Mardi was shy and nervous, expected after spending 3 days in a van. We could see the kindness in his eyes though and are so glad we took a chance on him.

He's grown from a gangly 50 lb puppy (it was estimated he was 7 months old) to a beautiful strong 80 lb dog. He's amazingly gentle and sweet. His best friend is Gobi the cat and the wood stove. For a southern dog he LOVES the snow. Bounding through and tunneling with his ever sniffing nose, heaven! He's a bit of a worrier but we attribute it to his past. We know he loves us and wants to make sure we're safe and close. We want the same for him and are so glad we found him. We couldn't imagine these past years without our constant bellowing fuzz ball.

We gave him a birthday, January 24th. So Mardi, Mr Pants, Buddy, Mardi Mooba, Fuzzface, Senior Pantalones, Happy 6th Birthday! We love you so much!

THIS IS "GOOFY", I ADOPTED HIM ON DECEMBER 12, 2012... HE IS A WONDERFUL SHITZU AND I LOVE HIM DEARLY HE IS VERY LOVEABLE AND LOVES TO PLAY. "GOOFY" WAS A NEGLECTED AND TREATED VERY BADLY BY PREVIOUS OWNERS BUT OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS HE HAS REALLY CAME AROUND. I DID'NT EVEN THINK I WAS GOING TO FIND A DOG OF MY LIKING BUT WHEN I SAW "GOOFY" I KNEW HE WAS THE ONE.... HE HAS REALLY MADE MY LIFE GREAT AND I WILL CONTINUE MAKING HIS AS WONDERFUL AS I CAN AND ALREADY HAVE. HE IS A VERY SWEET, LOVING YOUNG MAN AND I KNOW HE FEELS THE SAME ABOUT ME.... I WANT TO THANK THE LASPCA STAFF FOR THEIR PATIENCE, KINDNESS AND TIME AND FOR HELPING ME FIND THE BEST COMPANION FOR MYSELF.... OH AND BY THE WAY "HE SNORES" LOL BUT IT IS THE CUTEST THING..

We cannot thank the LA-SPCA enough for giving us such a precious gift. Natalie was adopted in June of 2011 and has been at our side ever since. She brings joy to us every day with her bright smile, warm nature, and unconditional love. We have always loved pitbulls because they are so opposite of the bad reputation that they have been given. Natalie, like so many others, will hopefully continue to prove wrong what is said about pitbulls. Her high-spirited personality and sweet-tempered nature have captured the hearts of many that have met her. We look forward to many, many more happy, healthy doggie years. Thank you so much again for all that you do for animals in need in our community. 

Charles and Emily Greer

Dear Hollie & the LA/SPCA Care Cadets,

Penelope has become such a part of our lives that we think we have had her for months. She has become the center of attention to everybody that comes to visit, and we had many friends and family that came to welcome her home from the LA/SPCA. She is such a well behaved lady. She has not forgotten her commands that the Care Cadets, Anna and Zora taught her. When we say sit, stay, come, she does them all so well. They did such a fantastic job with her. They should be very proud. When its walk time each morning and evening she hears me get her harness and she is ready. Thank you all for trusting her to our care. She is well loved. Oh, yes tell the girls, they were right....she does not like cats...so when we walk we watch closely to make sure we keep our distance.

Thanks again to the LA/SPCA and their Care Cadets for the fantastic job you all did with Penelope and continue to do for the animals of Louisiana.

Sincerely, Linda and the Brown Family (now including Penelope)

Hi, it's Aslan here. I'm just dropping a line to thank you all for taking such good care of me and finding me the best parents ever. They give me the tastiest organic food available (only the best for me). I have plenty of toys and they play with me for as long as I like. I've been to the beauty shop (groom) and now all my tangles are gone. I have my own bed that I sleep in often, but at night I do prefer to climb in my parents bed and snuggle between them. My parents scratch my belly for me and give me hugs and kisses all the time. I am such a happy kitty now. Thank you all so much for being there and being patient with me while you nursed me back to health. I love you guys!

I know everyone thinks this about their dog, but Callie (originally Polly) really IS the best dog in the world! We adopted her last September, aged 7 months. We celebrated her 1st birthday last month at an outside table at Rum House, having a few mojitos in her honour, while she chewed on a juicy bone from Petcetera, and Magazine Street shoppers constantly stopped to stroke/admire her!

My fiance and I had just moved to Nola when we got Callie - him from Masschusetts, and me from London, UK. We've explored the city as a family, and are all equally in love with the place! She made our new home complete, and gave us the perfect excuse to endlessy wander the streets of this crazy, amazing town.

Callie was a little under the weather when we first go her, but it seems it wasn't just the kennel cough keeping her quiet - she is one chilled out lady! An average day for her involves around 21 hours of sleep, and 3 hours of playing. In those 3 hours she can be found flirting with her various & many admirers in the parks of the Irish Channel/Uptown district. Before dinner is trick-learning time, and we've successfully taught her Sit, Lie Down, Come here, Paw & Roll over! She has very few bad habits, apart from snoring and occasionally trying to dig a tunnel from our garden to the center of the earth.

We could not have asked for a more gentle, affectionate dog. Callie loves to give kisses and will nestle her nose into the chest of whoever she is sharing a sofa with. She has made a place 5000 miles away from my family feel like home for me, and has made my fiance giggle like a little girl after the most exhausting of days at Med School! Thank you, LA/SPCA for finding this amazing puppy and bringing her into our lives. 

Greetings,

I wanted to send in an update on Kobe, a dog that was adopted out in July of last year. Kobe is now named Gambit, and he responds very well to the name. He's also put on a few more pounds and is a healthy dog.

The transition when we first got him was easy. His main problem was using the bathroom in the house. However, after patience, we were able to eliminate that behavior. We've also had him trained, so he knows how to do some tricks, which is always fun to do with him. He's a very lovable dog, and we are very blessed to have him in our lives.

We also just recently adopted another shelter dog, and her name is Rogue (going with the X-Men theme). She's older than Gambit (3), and it took a while for them to mesh, but now they are pretty much best friends.

Now Gambit has a playmate! Thanks again for letting us adopt Kobe -- now known as Gambit. It's been a huge change in our lives, and it was the first major decision we made together since moving to Louisiana.

After loosing our dog back in November. My family and I were undecided if we would ever get another dog.  But as time went on, I began to realize that our home was not the same. On Saturday morning, January 21st, I had been browsing Craig's List when I saw that the SPCA had posted some of their pets for adoptions.  My kids, my nephew and I had gone, with the understanding that we were just going to look but not make a decision, but once we got there, everything else went out of the window.  We looked at a couple of dogs and while looking my youngest daughter happened to spot the cutest but shy 2month old Welsh Terrier Mix, by the name of Otis.  We were allowed to take Otis out to try and scope out his character.  I knew that, "he was the one." We didn't get him that particular day but was able to put him on hold for 24hrs.  When I got home I was thinking to myself just how blessed this puppy would be and we had never had a puppy before.  We woke up on Sunday morning and "Otis" was the first thing we thought about.  We did the paper work and I'm not sure why I was so emotional, but when they announced over the intercom, that "Otis has just been adopted!"  I was overcome with joy.  It was like some good deed had been accomplished.  When they brought him out, I actually cried!! Well, you have to know me to understand.  Otis came home with us on Sunday, January 22nd.  It was weird calling him Otis at first, but his name has stuck and he fits in well with everyone,including his gramma.  Otis is still learning, but he is happy to be here and we love him. The staff was excellent!! They gave us a lot of infomation as far as care, training, etc .One of the things a staff member mentioned is to make sure that we would teach Otis to play with toys and we have .Not only does he know how to play with them, but also knows how to fetch them. Thank You SPCA!!!

My girlfriend and I were looking to adopt a dog to take our relationship to the next level.  We did weeks of research and took trips to different breeders and looked at many dogs.  We started giving up cause we weren't having any luck connecting with a dog or the prices were just too high.  One day we decided to look up dogs on the la-spca website.  There were several dogs we were interested so we decided to take a trip to the shelter.  One dog in particular caught our eye. They were labeled as lab mixes. (after some research on the web, we decided he was a lab/ rhodesian ridgeback mix).  All were eager to come see us except one in the back.  He sat there looking tired.  We decided to ask to see him and he was just the cutest thing ever.  Small and fluffy, he was laid back and very calm.   After playing with him some in the outside play pin, we decided that this was the dog for us.

Almost a year later (and 80+ lbs!!!), Rocky (we changed his name to Dexter) is all grown up.  He is just a laid back and calm as when he was a puppy.  My girlfriend and I are just as happy as the day we got him and he has only made our relationship better.  Dexter has become the perfect dog for us and what made it even better was that we got him from the shelter.

The minute I read the story in Gambit regarding the pit bull overpopulation and abuse in New Orleans, something touched me that I couldn't ignore.  The next morning I drove to the LASPCA, and as soon as I walked in I saw Praline (then Kelly) looking up at me with her sweet brown eyes and fell in love!  I adopted her the very next day and have never felt better about a decision I've made.  She is the light of my life, and I can't imagine my day to day with out her.  Now I get to see the sunrise in Audubon Park every morning when we run, and I've found myself appreciating all the small things! Truly stopping to smell the roses - because she loves flowers!  Thank you so much for your help, I'm a proud Mama.

In August, I went to adoption day at the mall one weekend because I was feeling blue just wanted to come hang out and play with the adoptables.  As soon as I walked through the door, Shaggy greeted me and I immediately fell in love!  I couldn’t believe that a dog like him ended up in a shelter…and unfathomable that he had already been adopted once 8 months previously and then abandoned to walk the streets a mere 6-7 months later.  And I was even more shocked that he had been at the shelter for 5 weeks without anyone adopting him!  Poor baby was recently tested positive for heartworm and due to the recent Imiticide shortage, he won’t be able to be definitively treated even if he were adopted…and that he would require daily antibiotics 1 out of every three months until there is enough Imiticide to get around to him.  His future at the shelter looked meek.  I was initially concerned about the level commitment, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him after I left.  After doing all the research about heartworm treatments, I returned a week later and brought my baby home!   He was named “Shaggy” at the shelter because of the long unkempt hair full of matting.   As soon as we got home, he got a couple of haircuts and a couple of showers just to get him clean enough to be in the house…followed by a professional grooming the next day.  Since he didn’t respond to “Shaggy” and after grooming, the moniker no longer applied so he was renamed “Riley”.   The first sign of his intelligence was that it only took about three days before he learned his name.   And he marked once when he first got home, but he is completely house trained.  He is also extremely sweet and loving and playful and friendly.  He is loved and adored by EVERYONE he meets.   He’s traveled on cross country flights with me and had won the hearts of flight attendants and TSA personnel!   My 68 yr old mother stayed with me when she had surgery and he was so loving toward her and escorted her from room to room and really “looked” after her when I was at work.  She thinks he’s the best dog she’s ever met! He is in every way the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.  I think he rescued me as much as I did him!   As you can see in the pictures, his two favorite activities are playing fetch in the park and snuggling with his mommy. I feel so blessed that what the LA/SPCA does had enabled Riley to come into my life!  We are both extremely happy!  Thank you!!! Eliza & Riley

I had to put down, Abby,  one of my beloved dogs last month and my other dog Kenny, was grieving and sleeping a lot.  I thought a new friend was what he needed.  Boy was I ever right!  They are best friends, play most of the day and get along great. Kenny is blind and Rico brings toys to him, by shoving them in his face to play tug-war.  Rico turned out to be a joy, he goes to the back door to go potty, doesn't chew on anything but his toys, sleeps in a kennel at night and is a pleasure to have around, as he gives kisses free;ly and loves to be in your lap.  I have no idea how such a sweet puppy  ended up at your shelter but I am glad he did.

Thanks to the LA/SPCA for all the hard work they do and for having somewhere for them to wait  for that someone to give them a  home.

I was told that if it didn't work out, I could bring him back within 2 weeks, NOT A CHANCE !!!  He has found his forever home. And he is deeply loved by my husband, myself and Kenny.

Thanks for making this adoption a pleasure.

Rosalyn and Lonie Mayeux and Kenny 

I adopted a boxer from the LA/SPCA a few months back and wanted to send you all an update. Casey is doing fantastic. I couldn't imagine my life being the same without her in it. She and our other pets get along great, and we have had no issues with her since adoption. Thanks so much to all the wonderful people at the shelter for caring for her. She is a wonderful dog and a much loved part of our little family.

- Krista McCormick

Gus is still Gus and wouldn’t be called by any other name. He loves running in his back yard and going for walks in the neighborhood. He loves to play with other dogs and easily makes friends when amongst them. He has a wonderful disposition which makes him easy to handle in social situations and he loves all the attention he gets. For his first few days at his new home he was a bit timid. He would seemingly ask for permission to lie on the couch. Well that’s over with now and he is a lap dog that loves to just melt into the couch next to any person. For Gus’s first day at the house, he had a lot of visitors from his new friends and family and he was so excited that it seems as though his excitement has yet to go away.

-Peter

My husband and I wandered in to LA/SPCA last Friday hoping to find a new pal for our jack russell terrier, Cutter. Little did we know that we would fall in love with two, that's right TWO, dogs!! A two month old boxer pup named Kaci and a four year old catahoula named Rocko. We knew almost immediately that we would take them both. We brought them home Friday night and they fit into our family like they were always meant to be here. Cutter has never been happier to have two new siblings and I believe Rocko enjoys the big soft bed we got him. We like to call Rocko "Papa Bear" because he seems to take care of everyone. He lets my two yr old son roll all over him and he likes to sleep in front of my daughters crib during her naps. He is definitely the leader of the house already! We couldn't be happier with our new furry family members and are ecstatic with how well they fit in :)

Cutter Kaci

Rocko

As you can see from these photos, Reesey Marie rules the roost!  Her name given by the SPCA was Storm.  She was feisty and active, with lots of spunk.  In the visiting room, she wasn't the friendliest girl, but I was bound and determined that would change.  Her & I would challenge each other for the next four months. 

We named her for the color of Reese's Pieces!  Reesey came from the streets of Algiers as a feral kitten.  She was four months old and had to learn to fend for herself.  During her first winter with us (2010), she caught four mice coming up in the stove (continued Katrina construction in St. Bernard Parish).  She brings in lizards (and her share of birds) on a regular basis through the kitty/doggie door to our huge back yard.  And don't leave your glass of water or milk sitting around - Reesey drinks it with her paws!! Dip/lick, dip/lick, dip/lick!!! 

Ree-Ree still challenges us with her antics, she will push the limits, but is quick to understand commands are for her own safety.  She has four other adopted siblings (not by blood) to share the household, but she acts like she's in charge.  I have to show her who's the queen bee, and who are the worker bees!! (That's kind of funny, cuz she's two of five that actually hunts. My three oldest just lounge and live the Life of Riley!)

Anyway, she has grown into a sweet, loving, affectionate cat, who can hold her own.  She has her own fave spot, on the top back of the chaisse lounge chair for sleeping, and a window perch for morning viewing.  Once in awhile, when she's feeling especially affectionate, she'll snuggle with me in my bed late on Saturday mornings.

Reesey has been a blessing to our family.  She's fun to watch, and loves to play.  Anyone who adopts a baby from the streets of Algiers will have a jewel on hand - a real participant in the family.  We love her more now than ever!

Once Upon a time Mama strayed from her home and went exploring trying to find some friendly faces. She was enjoying a lovely New Orleans spring day when she accidentally wandered into an area that had lots of traffic. Unfortunately the rush hour drivers didn’t see Mama, and she was hit by a car. She managed to limp away from the accident with an injured leg but she couldn’t make it far. A nice bystander stayed with her in a safe spot while calling the LA/SPCA for assistance. An Animal Control Officer arrived quickly and brought Mama back to the shelter for treatment and some much needed TLC. An X-Ray at the shelter revealed a fractured leg. The veterinary staff thought perhaps amputation would be necessary, but Mama had a strong will and wanted to heal her leg. We wanted to give her and her leg every chance to heal so we placed her into a loving foster home. After several months and a lot of care, Mama was able to put weight on her leg and now can walk without pain! She’s now looking for a new home where she can play and enjoy companionship. Mama has soft eyes and a warm demeanor and she’s looking forward to meeting you!

Update 6/13/11: Mama has been adopted!!!!!

This morning Mama was adopted into a lovely new home where she's sure to get the attention and love she's been hoping for! Here's a picture of Mama with her new happy family!

And she lived Happily Ever After!

Update 7/27/11: Message from Mama's (now Winnie's) owner:

Hi everyone!

Mama (now Winnie - we think we've finally decided on a name for her!) is doing extremely well in our home.  We couldn't be happier!  As you may have noticed, she is no longer a mop, which she seems to appreciate because we no longer step on her fur!  She loves to play fetch, to get belly rubs, to play with her siblings, and to snuggle on the bed.  Her interactions with our other pets are even better than we had hoped!  We love her so much; she is the perfect addition!

Thank you for all of your work!

Lizz

By: Irma Landry

On April 29, 2011, two, precious, four-legged, little lives came into my life. Two little "throw away" pups that were dropped off at the shelter were in a sad, deplorable condition. They were so fragile and scared. In the nine shorts months of existence I don't think they were bathed or groomed, much less given any attention of affection. It looked like a case of neglect with a capital N. They needed to be fostered in the worst way.

When I saw them for the first time, my thoughts were; "This is God's handiwork, how could anyone let these two innocent little creatures get in this condition?" They were so terrified of humans; they huddled together and would not even come out of their kennel. They were also so dirty and their hair was so long and matted, I don't think they could see too well either. Some people at the shelter had almost given up hope.

I took them home and within 48 hours, there was a big change in them. The more attention and TLC they received, the faster they progressed. Then, after they were calm enough to get bathed and groomed, they looked like two different, little dogs. That was six weeks ago. They --Sonny and Cher (formerly Canine and Sasha) -- have blossomed into two, happy and playful puppies. They have just been thriving on love and attention. They love to greet me and all the visitors at my house with kisses and wagging tails.

Today is the big day! Sonny and Cher are going to be adopted today. Actually, I'm the one who is being adopted today by them. I know, I know, people adopt dogs, not the other way around, but in this case, I think they had me the first time I saw them. To me all the dogs and cats in shelters everywhere are precious little lives just trying to survive. I just wish I could help all of them.

While our decision to go to the SPCA could be called impulsive, the thought behind it was not. My husband and I decided long ago to add a new addition to our family, not only as a companion to our dog, Charlie, (a rambunctious terrier mix) but also as an additional security during the weeks he had to be away for work. Ok, and mostly, we love dogs. We knew we wanted a larger dog, and he had an idea of a lab mix for their loyalty and his history with the breed. I was just hoping I wouldn’t be dragged out, pleading for every animal I saw. We both are animal lovers and thought we would be able to explore our options like the impartial adults we attempt to be. Not so.

Pharoah was one of the first dogs we saw, he had a goofy and solitary air to him, and was extremely large for a 6 month old puppy at 60 lbs. He was a St. Bernard and Lab mix that was an “owner surrender”-supposedly the previous owner hadn’t anticipated his size.

The woman who helped us allowed us to take him out into the little gravel yard, and I tried not to fall in love while he chased a wounded pigeon. No, I thought, I’m not so sure, he is very large. The woman assured us that he was a lot like a prematurely tall 12 year old, the expectation was for him to act more mature, but he was really just tripping over his own feet. This stuck with me. She seemed to know Pharoah. What an accurate perception of this particular dog. His aloofness changed slightly as he went back into his kennel, mourning the freedom. We took the time to look at the other dogs, playing with an affectionate Doberman and checking out all of the kennels, still leaning and yearning towards Pharoah. Needless to say, we filled out adoption paperwork that day. There were extensive questions regarding living conditions, hurricane evacuations, and heartworm medication. I was impressed at the quality of life the Louisiana SPCA demanded for these animals, and I was grateful for it as well.

The following morning, we returned with Charlie, panting in our backseat, to meet his future friend. After some play and jumping, they seemed to get along famously, with a little bit of attempting to dominate, but nothing more than adolesant male dog shenanigans. Pharoah was brought up to date on all shots, and we were given the rundown from the helpful staff on what was expected of us, and they seemed genuinely pleased to see him go to a good home. As they announced on the loud speaker that Pharoah was going home, I felt like this was exactly the right dog for us.

Even today, minus the corners of our coffee table, and amidst the rubble that is puppy hood, I still feel this way. He has been a quirky and sweet companion to all of us. He is a snoring, face-planting, and happy dog who wants nothing more than to lie in the grass, sunning his pink, spotted skin. He is a good walker on a leash, tells me when he has to go out, and can sit and lay down. He now comes to us for affection and it warms my heart when I see Charlie and Pharoah, limbs entangled, sharing a bed at night.

 I couldn’t have been more pleased with the SPCA and the attention to detail they pay to all their pets, mostly on a personal level, recognizing the pets’ personality and celebrating the success of finding them a home. I would recommend them to anyone looking to adopt.

When I walked into the shelter that day in January, I was looking for a specific type of dog. I had wanted an aussie/catahoula mix that I had found on petfinder, but when I looked the morning we left, the 3 puppies had already been adopted from their shelter. There was another puppy I was interested in, a rough collie mix that would do well with my lifestyle. I wanted a puppy that I could teach to stay out of the hooves of my horses, one that could keep up on a trail ride, would love to hike, and could get along with a lot of other animals. The puppy's name was Popcorn, and, to be honest, my mother was pushing for me to adopt her.

We arrived at the N.O. SPCA and were met by a friendly volunteer who took us to see the puppies. Popcorn was as adorable as her picture had suggested, but she wasn't for me. She instantly bonded with my mother, and I knew she wouldn't ever be my dog. Mom said that Popcorn was coming home one way or another and the volunteer must have seen a chance to adopt out two puppies rather than just one. I had explained to the volunteer what I was looking for and she directed my attention to some fluffy Golden Retriever mixes I had noticed in the kennel next to Popcorn. Out of all the breeds I had considered, I hadn't really wanted a Golden Retriever because I had heard they were like fluffy labs. I'm glad that the volunteer convinced me to look at them.

The larger puppy was more active and I nearly took her with me because I couldn't wake up the other puppy. It was a hard choice though because they were so cute. The volunteer suggested taking them out to the puppy yards. When we put the puppies down, Lexis (then Lexus) was instantly awake. The other puppy wanted nothing to do with me and was playing with an older man who had come with his wife to look at the puppies. Lex went from sleep mode to play mode and started running and playing with me. I knew that she was the one that I wanted to come home with. The volunteer suggested that I hurry up to start the paperwork because closing was getting nearer and the lady wanted Lexis while her husband wanted the other puppy. While I was doing paperwork, Lexis was vet checked and then my dad wound up holding her. She whined and wiggled in my direction until Dad handed her to me. She settled in my lap until she had to potty and then when she was returned to me, she fell asleep in my lap. On the way home, this 4 lb ball of fluffy fur fell asleep snuggled against me. That was the start of a deep bond that I can't imagine my life without.

Lexis has turned into the perfect mix of dog for me. She has gotten larger than I ever thought she would and still looks like she has more growing to do, but that is fine with me. She and my other dog Silverbell butted heads for quite a while. Bell is a  6 year old puppy mill rescue long-haired chihuahua, and Lex doesn't realize she's not a 4 lb baby anymore. Now that Lexis is older and a little less hyper, she and Silverbell get along great. They play together occasionally and both love to hike even though Bell usually has to be carried home on the way back from longer hikes. They do still butt heads when Silverbell has enough of Lexis's rough housing, but they've learned to share me. Lexis still manages to fold herself into my lap when we're riding in the car or relaxing on the couch or bed.

Lexis is incredibly smart. She's a quick learner now that her attention span is longer than a few seconds. She has never made in the bed and is usually pretty good about going outside. The only times she makes in the house is when we don't catch that she needs to go. We had a bit of a problem with chewing on hands when she was teething but she's pretty much stopped that behavior since her adult teeth have come in. She's learned to fetch and to sit and is really proud of herself when she does sit. She rarely chews on things she isn't supposed to and has never gone after shoes.

She learned to jump into the vehicle on command with 3 tries. I started saying "Load up" when I would get her to jump in the car. She knew we were going somewhere and would see Silverbell jump in the car, so she'd follow. The third time I gave the command, she ran all around the car looking for an open door and jumped in immediately when I opened the door. Since then, she gets excited when I give the command or say "road trip." She gets mopey when we don't take her.

Lexis loves to run. She has learned to stay out of the hooves of my horses. It only took one stern reprimand when she tried to "play" with my mare who hates dogs with a passion. My other horses are fine, but Tilley hates being herded and saw Lexis's behavior as herding because Lex was going near her legs. Lexis didn't understand why Tilley didn't want to play with her, but she knows to stay away now. She doesn't chase my chickens and she typically leaves my geese alone but there's a love-hate relationship with them. Lex loves the geese, the geese dislike her. She just wants to play but she doesn't chase them. Lexis has even learned to herd the geese and the chickens back into our yard when they stray. She watched me chase them back into the yard a few times and now she does it on her own or I'll tell her to bring them back in the yard and she goes running.

She's one of the happiest dogs I've ever seen. She loves people but she always comes to me or my boyfriend when she wants something. She does warn us when there is someone there that she doesn't recognize, but she's never been aggressive or stand offish towards anyone. She just loves people and attracts attention wherever we go. I actually have to hold her leash tight when we walk in public because she just wants to love up on everyone. Most people love her. This dog is a constant source of entertainment and love. She cries to go outside in the mornings and then if we're still sleeping, she'll cry at the door to come in. She loves to cuddle and has a habit of sleeping against my feet if she can. She absolutely loves to hike and will actually cry and dance around when we are inside and she wants to go run. She's incredibly fast and looks quite beautiful when she runs, but I just might be a little biased.

I'm thankful every day for the fact that the SPCA took the time to take her in and put her up for adoption. My family isn't complete without her.

I have a video of her running around in the yard from when she was 5 months old. She's a lot larger now and a bit more graceful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qua4SdQ-Jc0

Sincerely,
Jerrica and Lexis

Erica is an adorable 3 year old miniature poodle / shih tzu mix who was recently transported to the Houston SPCA. Her big bright eyes were too cute to be ignored, and she was recently adopted. She is pictured here with her new loving family: Saul, Patricia, Alba, and Eliel. The family decided to adopt her because of her playful attitude and because the kids just loved her. As the family's only pet, she will be sure to get lots of attention and love!

Amber is a small Jack Russell Terrier mix who was transported to Houston last week as part of the LA/SPCA’s preparation for the historic Mississippi River flooding. It didn't take long for this little cutie to get snatched up. Amber was featured on Friday's KHOU Channel 11 Pet of the Week and was adopted quickly. Amber was very excited to go home with her new owner, Louise. They are both excited to start their new life together!

Those of us who write always find it difficult to write about our pets, I think.Those relationships, so important to us, can look ridiculous to outsiders who do not have pets of their own, while risking the “same old, same old” reaction from fellow pet lovers.  In either case, there is a difficulty in portraying deep relationships that, nevertheless, exist between pets and their humans.

I’m sure you’ll all know what I’m talking about.

            After spending a week in my native Ohio visiting family, I arrived at a half-realization that I wanted (needed?) some company, a companion, a best friend.  I’d had dogs in the past: a Greyhound mix, the best friend of a gangly seven year old girl who was being raised in the country, tearing through the woods on a four-wheeler while the dog ran close beside; a Humane Society rescue mix, the companion that guarded all the secrets of a sixteen year old who petted the dog absentmindedly during the day but whispered secrets to her while falling asleep at night; a chocolate lab, bought as a present by the boyfriend who was really the one that wanted a dog, but ended up being more fiercely loved than the boyfriend.  And now, at 31, I could feel it was time again.  The past pets had each broken my heart, in one way or another, but that is the deal we all make when putting our hearts on the line for our pets.  And my heart, mended, was ready to be filled again.

           Now enter the part that all adopters know: the timid entrance into the building, the meeting of a volunteer, the walk in the back to see the dogs that are “up for adoption,” the heartbreak when you realize that you can’t – you can’t, you CAN’T, YOU CAN”T! – take all of them home with you; walking up and down cement floors, flanked by kennels left and right, all the eyes staring up at you, naked longing for a home, a caretaker, a friend in them; howls and barks and whimpers and cries, defining in their desperation – I WANT TO GO HOME!

            And then I stop.

            I look down at the one dog that isn’t howling, jumping, competing for my attention.  He’s lying on a thin blanket, head on the floor between his paws, merely looking at me, looking away again with lost hope.  He’s been here for a while, I think.  He’s lost some of his energy to fight.  I wonder how many times before this moment he raced up to the kennel fence, sticking his cold nose through a hole in the wire for a sniff of a hand, a lick of fingers, a chance of GOING HOME.  And when it didn’t happen for him the first time, the second, the hundredth, he finally made up his mind that this time would be his last time, and it was.  Now he lies there, eyes not meeting mine because just like all of those other times, it can’t be him that’s picked this time.

            I pick him.

            He has heartworm, and I almost walk away.  After all, I wanted this dog for me, for my companion, for my laughter, for my love, for my best friend.  I hear the story of countless people that have walked away from him for this reason, a few people that brought families and pets and children to visit him then walked away for this reason, two people that brought him into their homes then walked away for this reason.  I start to wonder if maybe his need just a bit more desperate then mine, and I look again at his blank eyes. 

Do you have a leash for him that I can take with me? I ask the volunteer.

                                                 _____________

 The next three months are difficult.  His coughing gets worse day by day, and I finally see blood in what he’s been coughing up.  We go back to the vet; I must keep him still until the heartworm treatments begin.  It’s not too hard to do that; he’s tired and scared and getting used to my home.  I cannot take out the garbage without him howling; he thinks I’m going to leave him alone forever.  It wouldn’t be his first time, so he is hard at trusting me.  He is kind and forgiving though, and I try to be as well; we take this first month to feel each other out, to start to love with no restrictions again.  My animal loves have broken my heart in the past, so I’m afraid to get too close to him, afraid that this heartworm will not be easily mended and I’ll lose too much of my love if he does not make it through.  He, on the other hand, has loved before and been left to rot on the streets of New Orleans, and he does not know if that will happen again.  We are learning, timidly, that each of us must put a stake in the ground to build this trust.

The heartworm treatments hurt him, hurt me to watch him.  He is shaky on his feet when I pick him up.  His tummy is upset constantly, and we spend the majority of each first night home walking back and forth from him using the bathroom.  He wants to be in bed with me, next to me, underfoot, so I lift him on and off the bed, up and down from the couch, walk slowly so he can catch up.  His injection site itches and he cannot scratch it himself.  I scratch it for him.  I feed him pill after pill after pill.  I build hope after hope after hope.  He sleeps; I worry.

We do this for three months.

                                                _______________

 The day arrives on my calendar; he is cleared to play.  Cleared to run.  Cleared to do all of those things that make him a dog.

We drive to City Bark.  I clutch the gate card that I bought two months ago; it is soaked with nervous palm sweat in seconds.

When we arrive, he sits patiently in the backseat, waiting for me to open the door.  I do; he jumps out.  Sniffs.  Runs to the gate, where unleashed dogs and open fields call to him.

I unleash him and take a breath.  He looks up at me, expectantly; eyes now full of life and love.  I feel sentimental and teary.  I open the gate and watch him take off, watch him bound away happily into a world that he had given up on.

That, maybe, I had given up on a little, too.

He looks back, gives me a little tail wag, and plunges into the sand pit.

I think to myself, Ferris, what would I ever do without you? 

And then I hear him howl, a happy dog answer to my question of love.

Louie's story begins on Tchoupitoulas Thanksgiving Day. Since it was the holidays I kept him at my house until SPCA opened back up. I noticed that he was weezing and coughing pretty bad and was extremely underweight. I would hold him on my chest and rock him to sleep. After the first night I knew he had my heart. I dropped him off to the SPCA and would frequently call and visit him while he was being treated for pneumonia. I had been wanting another dog since I moved to New Orleans a couple years ago but never found the right one. Fast forward to New Years Eve and I received the call that Stylez's owner had not claimed him and I was free to come adopt him. As soon as he saw me his little furry tail started wagging and I knew he wouldn't leave my side. Since his 2011 New Years Eve adoption Stylez became Louie, his matted curls are now a nice poodle cut, and he is a happy socialized camper at Camp Bow Wow. I was the lucky one finding this little guy. Louie is one of the smartest dogs I've ever had. He loves to wake me up in the mornings with kisses and tail wags. He loves riding in the car with his ears flopping and he'd eat treats for meals if you let him! I'm so thankful for the SPCA healing my little man and all the others they take in!

I adopted Reedie (on the left, formerly Marissa) from the LA SPCA last June, and I wanted to give an update on her.

In May, my dog Chevelle died. That was hard enough, but on top of that, she had been a companion to my other dog, Tucker, who had very bad separation anxiety when I got him 6 years ago. I didn't realize that at first because I already had Chevelle, and he was fine with another dog around. It turned out that Tucker couldn't be left alone, though. After she was gone, I tried leaving him alone for short periods of time, and he did ok, but it seemed like he would do best with a companion.

I looked at the LA SPCA website and found a little border collie puppy without a name. She had the same spots on her nose as Tucker, and it seemed like a sign.  By the time I came to see her, she was called Marissa.  She was tiny, and apparently hadn't really showed her personality yet.  I brought her home, and though Tucker initially found her to be extremely annoying, she has come to be a great companion for him.  She loves to play with any dog she meets, and she adores every person she meets.   She is crazy enough to prove she is a border collie, but she is terribly sweet.  

What's amazing is how similar their markings are and how different their sizes are. Tucker may be the world's largest border collie and Reedie is tiny.

I have been meaning to send a photo of them with my thanks.

When Eleanor was found wandering the streets of New Orleans, she weighed a whopping 115 lbs!  She was so overweight that she could hardly walk and had difficulty breathing. 

Luckily, the LA/SPCA picked her up and kept her for over a month, trying to find her a home.  My husband and I came to the shelter looking for a dog, and as soon as we saw Eleanor, we fell in love with her sweet personality.  We brought her home and started on her weight loss.  At first she had difficulty walking around the block, and needed to stop at every corner to rest.  Every two weeks we made a trip to Maple Street Veterinary Clinic for a weigh in, and she quickly became a clinic favorite.  After 9 months of slow and steady diet and exercise, Eleanor now weighs a slim and trim 65 pounds!

 Eleanor still has some health problems related to her previous weight such as arthritis in her knees and elbows, but she has a much easier time getting around, and enjoys long walks in the park and swimming.  We are so proud of her progress, and are glad that the LA/SPCA found her and gave her a chance at a new life. 

We adopted the most wonderful, beautiful Lab mix this January and we are more and more delighted with her every day.  Charlene and Linda worked with us until we found just the right mix for our family.  We came back several times and finally we met Misty!  She is gentle and yet loves to run and play fetch.  She is sooo cuddly and sticks to you like velcro.  She is intelligent and wonderful with my three very active boys.  Even my husband is incredibly attached. 

We lost two of our animals around Christmas and Misty has helped ease our heartbreak.  She is such a fantastic addition to our family.  I was especially grateful that they worked with us to find the right dog.  Now we can adore her and she can adore us.  It's a match made in heaven!

Thank you so much,

The Marsiglia Family

I picked up Sugar at the Clearview Mall LA/SPCA center, during an adopt a pet week in September 2010.  When we first got her, it was clear that her previous owners were very abusive.  She spent her first few weeks walking around with her tail between her legs and having a submissive urination problem.  I was worried for a while that her previous abuse was too much for her to overcome. 

After a few weeks of love an attention, Sugar started coming out of her shell.  She loves the back yard and you can tell it's "her yard" now.  She always seems pretty excited now and happy with her tail in the air.  She has some issues related to being abused but we are slowly working those out.  One strange thing she does is she will only eat outside.  She will grab a bite of food from inside and walk through her doggie door and eat it outside, then she'll come back in, grab another bite and eat it outside.  She'll repeat this back and forth for 15-20 minutes.  She also prefers staying outside and  we have to make her come in out of the rain, even when she has the doggie door she is comfy using it.  I even got her a dog house just because she seems to enjoy staying outside more than inside.  She doesn't use the dog house and sleeps on the ground.   But she still seems pretty happy. 

She's become a good member of the family.  My daughter just adores Sugar.  I think she's a good dog and just needed some TLC to come out of her shell.  She seems protective of the house and the back yard.  If anyone (stranger) comes near she instantly perks up and keeps an eye on the stranger.  We're pretty happy to have Sugar and the LA/SPCA for the opportunity to adopt her into our family. 

A friend of mine found a dog on Esplanade Avenue on her way home from work. She scooped him up, took several adorable pictures and then dropped him off at the LA/SPCA. The very next thing she did was tell me how sad and pathetic he was and showed me picture after picture. At first I was mad at her. HOW COULD SHE?!? I went to go meet him the next day and let them know I was interested in adopting him. It was hard to wait the ten days of quarantine but when I finally went to go pick up my Pizza Pies I realized that they do wonderful work. He had gained ten desperately needed pounds in that time and was neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped all for the $60 adoption fee. If I would have taken him from the street it would have cost me several hundred dollars to get him the care he needed. He wasn't mistreated in anyway and recieved attention and wonderful care and came home a sweet sweet boy that I couldn't live without now.  If you find a dog on the street that you can't take care of or find a home for right away please bring them here. And if you have just a little bit of money you can spare from time to time, please help them. Even a few bucks can buy a bag of food...or a treat or a toy to help out somebody's pet they havent met yet. The LA/SPCA is a program that really works.

I adopted Luna in Feb. 2010 and I couldn't imagine my life without her. She is the coolest cat around. She knows when I am happy, sick, or sad. We have such a routine. Every time I get out of the shower she licks my feet and jumps on me. Yes, EVERY SINGLE TIME...lol. She sleeps with me every night in the same position. She knows everything. She is my best friend and she loves everyone. She is not scared of anything except the vacuum cleaner..lol. But I love her and couldn't imagine life without her. She is 1 1/2 now and hope she is around for a very long time. I love my Luna Marie Joseph!

-Malana 12/15/2010

I've adopted a second kitty this year from the LA/SPCA.  I found my Mr. Darcy (formerly known as "Vincent") after receiving a voucher in October for a 'Free Buddy Cat/Kitten,' to keep my Petite Pierrette-Cosette company.  He is a beautiful Lynx-Point Siamese Mix with HUGE pale blue eyes and loves to play play play!  He brings me toys to play with him and he loves the water.  He likes to jump to the highest perches, especially to places where he is not supposed to be...Mr. Mischief!!  He puts "play" into overdrive a bit with Pierrette, but he loves giving her kisses and cuddling with her at nap time.  Now I have 2 best friends, thanks to LA/SPCA! 

Isn't he a beautiful boy!

This story goes back to 10 years ago when my parents were watching Channel 4 news and saw a young boy on Channel 4’s “Home of My Own” segment. His name was Johnathan and he had a tracheotomy and other special needs. Johnathan needed to be adopted and in particular by a family that could handle his special needs. There were a few things that everyone had to adjust to when Johnathan came to live with us. That was ok with everyone because in the end we were Johnathan’s FOREVER FAMILY.

            Fast forward to August 28^th, 2010 my family had gone to Clearview Mall to do some shopping. My mom went to Target to go pick up a prescription but it wasn’t ready so she decided to walk around the mall. That is when she stumbled upon the La-SPCA’s satellite adoption center. That is where my parents and my brothers met TEDDY and fell in love. When I arrived at the adoption center to meet Teddy my brother, Justin, was squatting next to Teddy’s crate and letting people that looked slightly interested in Teddy know that we were adopting Teddy so they could just keep moving. Teddy was not just an ordinary puppy he is a Pit-Terrier mix and had already been returned once. Teddy also had some problems with house training and would require lots of extra attention and most of all patience. I couldn’t help but notice that Teddy and Johnathan were very similar both had some special needs that require extra attention and patience. So when my family adopted Teddy we knew that we were his FOREVER FAMILY.

            Now Johnathan is a thriving young adult who attends Louisiana Technical College and is an assistant equipment manager for Holy Cross Football team. Teddy fits in with our family so perfectly and is thriving! Everyone loves Teddy but in different ways. My mom loves bringing him the car to go run errands with her and Teddy loves it too. My dad loves walking Teddy and bringing Teddy to our lake house. Teddy loves the lake house because he can run free. My brother, Justin, loves seeing Teddy after his football games and Teddy’s bed is in Justin’s room. My brother Johnathan loves that Teddy likes to play football. I love bringing Teddy to the dog park and teaching him new tricks. My 6 year old son, Edward loves to play baseball with Teddy. Teddy loves to chase the balls. Teddy has brought lots of happiness to my family and I think my 6 year old said it best, “I really loved Teddy yesterday but I love him even more today.”

The Offsite Team is pleased to report that boxer/mix puppy, Joanie, found her new forever home at our Jeff Feed event on 8-14-2010. Congratulations to Joanie and the K family!

Seventeen years ago, I accompanied a friend to the LA-SPCA shelter on Japonica Avenue in New Orleans to help her look for a cat.  While there, I fell in love with a little white dog. 

Here's my blog post in honor of her 18th birthday. And here's a photo of her now:

When I first met Lucy, she was one year old.  Her shelter name was "Snowball" but she had been found on Toulouse Street, so we named her Toulousa, or "Lucy" for short.  She was considerably smaller than any of the other dogs at the shelter, and she sat in her huge kennel shaking like a leaf.  When I brought her home, she was scared of rain and could not fathom what stairs were for, so my then-boyfriend (now husband of 15 years) and I concluded that she had perhaps lived in a shotgun house and had been left out too often or abandoned in a storm.

Within a few weeks, Lucy got comfortable and her true personality surfaced.  She showed herself to be a determined chaser of squirrels and tennis balls and a devoted companion.  So devoted that she would follow us from room to room and up and down the stairs she finally mastered, refusing to let us out of her sight.  When we took her along on day trips, she would repeatedly paddle out to wherever we were swimming, trying to rescue us.  Lucy is also 100% New Orleanian.  She proudly marched in the Krewe of Barkus, once as Carmen Mirandog and once as a Devil Dog (the dessert, that is), and had to be restrained whenever we were at crawfish boils. 

When we moved out of New Orleans, Lucy went with us.  She was the proud and protective big sister when we had our first child and again when we had our second.  Lucy has given us nothing but joy and love for the past seventeen years.  So I wanted to take this opportunity on her 18th birthday (observed, as we do not know the actual date of her birth) to thank the LA-SPCA for the wonderful work you do to rescue dogs like Lucy and connect them with forever homes like ours.  It was a gift to her, but an even bigger gift to us.  In honor of her birthday, I'm sending a donation so y'all can keep up the good work!

When my husband and I lost our precious Booboo, we knew we needed another dog.  We intended on getting a small dog because we have 3 cats.  The only small dogs available were puppies that would not stay small for long.  We were almost about to leave the shelter when we decided to take one more look around and we saw Olivia.  She looked at us with her head kind of cocked off to the side and we immediately knew she was a good candidate for us.  While she was not a small dog, we figured it would not be a problem because our cats were used to being around our other dog.  She seemed to be gentle enough to be a good fit for us.  My husband fell in love with her before we even left the LA/SPCA.  When we took Olivia home 3 days ago, it was a little rough at first.  The cats were not happy at all, but they are slowly coming around.  Thank goodness Olivia is as gentle as she is.  She has been very patient with the cats.  We have come to love Olivia very much and are glad we made her a part of our family.  Nothing will ever replace our beloved Booboo, but she makes us laugh and smile and makes us remember the good times we had with Booboo and she makes us forget the bad.  For as bad as the end of an animal's life can be, we wouldn't have traded a single day with our Booboo.  Now Olivia can continue in his footsteps as a beloved member of our family.

I'd been considering adopting a dog and decided on a whim to go visit the LA/SPCA to get an idea of what types of dogs were available, little did I know but this visit would turn out to be the best day of my life.  Nola (formerly known as Shelby), with a broken leg and a little purple cast that she liked to gnaw on, was laying there patiently until I came over to visit her.  I looked past her initially because she was a Pit Bull and I knew very little other than what the media portrayed of these misunderstood babies-thank God I did my own research!  There was something about her that connected with me and I knew instantly that her place was with me forever.  Nola has been a part of the family for just over a year now and she continues to grow and amaze me everyday, she is the most loving and sensitive dog that I have ever known.  She knows NO STRANGERS and loves to be the center of attention wherever she goes. 

If you've ever thought of adopting please consider a Pit Bull, I promise that you will not be sorry...help save these beautiful creatures because they are dying because of misinformation. 

The words "thank you" don't seem to convey the gratitude that I have for the LA/SPCA and volunteers.  You have improved my life immeasurably all because you rescued a Pit Bull named Nola.

 Over the summer of 2009 I had been going through a tough time stemming from a D.W.I I had received right when I got home from college for the summer.  After an unsuccessful court date which had once again been pushed back I decided to stop by the LA/SPCA and take a look at the dogs.  One puppy caught my eye in the front right before you walk into the main area where the dogs are kept.  She was this little black Lab looking puppy that I just had to look at.  The lady took her out of the holding cage and she ran right up to me and something inside just told me this is THE ONE, the puppy I had kept going back for every time but never found her.  I made the decision right there I was taking her home.  She has honestly been the best dog I have ever owned.  I have never had to potty train her (she knew that outside was where she goes to the bathroom) and she is a HUGE cuddle monster, she always has to sleep by me no matter what.  She is the sunshine in any bad day I have, I always know that when I get back from class or home from something Chloe will always be there for me.  After bringing her to my regular vet we came to the conclusion she is a Boxer/ Lab mix.  She is now 8 months old and everyone will agree she is adorable and they can't believe I adopted her from the shelter.  She has the sweetest personality and is just the happiest puppy in the world no matter what.

It was love at first sight, which made the snow storm a distant memory. Duke and Maggie spent some time getting to know each other and she quickly claimed the title of Alpha Dog. Dr. Kathy agreed that she had found the right family for Maggie, though it was a tearful good bye as we left. Maggie has been such an awesome addition to our family which now also includes another abandoned soul, Max, who we adopted just this past February. We are all doing just fine...happy and safe here in New Jersey. Thanks again for all you do for Gods creatures.

I worked disaster response in post Katrina New Orleans.  I came down with my then 8 yr old Great Dane, Buster.  As he got older we found ourselves adopting a puppy which was abandoned at a FEMA trailer.  She really captured our hearts before she was hit and killed by a car.  Because of Buster's very positive response to having another dog in the family, we attended the Dog Spa Day at Delgado College in Oct of 08.  There we met Byron, a box mix who was being fostered by Boxer Rescue.  He and a sibling had been surrendered to the Humane Society 6 mos earlier.  I applied to adopt him and we were accepted.  He was named Baron on the Humane Society paperwork, but he didn't have a strong attachment to either so I ran a couple different names past him, and was rewarded with the "Boxer tilt" when I called out Elijah....he's been that ever since.  Our volunteer facility closed in May of 09 and Buster decided he didn't want to leave I guess.  He had a stroke and was put to rest a week later.  Elijah and I continued on to Wisconsin and he is now a "Cheese-Head".  What a hoot he is to watch as he tries to keep his behind out of the snow!!!   Elijah graduated from clicker training from the LA/SPCA in March of 09 and I think he was the honor-role student....but then I am biased.  Thank you Humane Society, Boxer Rescue and LA/SPCA, I don't know how I would have gotten through this last year without Elijah!

On November 10, 2009, I called LA/SPCA to help me rescue a kitten that was stuck in an alleyway between a parking lot wall, another building and a tree that was growing between both. The only thing I could see of "Ali" was her tiny white face and I told the rescuers that I wanted to adopt the kitten if it was possible.

I was called two days later to go to the LA/SPCA and put a "deposit" down on the kitten and they would let me know when she would be ready to adopt after the waiting period. I did so and was told that she was too small to spay so I would have to wait until she weighed 2lbs to have her spayed. I kept calling almost daily to see how she was doing. After a few weeks, I was called by the office and told that my kitten had been accidentally been given to the Atlanta Humane Society with 39 other cats and dogs!!! I was horrified! After crying about it to my family, I was encouraged to call the LA/SPCA to see what could be done to get Ali back.

Ana Zorrilla stated that she would be glad to help me with the costs if I wanted to go get her. I also asked her about flying Ali back and Ana stated that she would help financially if it wasn't too expensive. I then called Continental Airlines and got all of the information I needed and then called Ms. Peacock in Atlanta to make arrangements on their end. Ms. Peacock stated that Ali was still too small to spay and we would have to wait until she weighed 2lbs. I then started speaking with Gloria Dauphin at the LA/SPCA in New Orleans and she was a great help with keeping me updated on all the plans to get Ali back home.

After Christmas I got the call stating that Ali was in good health and has been spayed but now has the sniffles and is on antibiotics and will not be able to travel until better.

She was finally better and able to fly back to Louisiana! YEAH!!! Gloria called me on Thursday evening (1/14/10) at 9PM to tell me that Ali made it back safely and I could go to pick her up on Friday, January 15, 2010. I was sooooo excited!

I brought Ali home and she is a joy!!! She is still getting used to her surroundings and my Hungarian Vizsla dog, Kelsey (who is afraid of Ali! LOL). 

I am so grateful to everyone at the LA/SPCA and the Atlanta Humane Society for everything they did to complete our family! Thank you so much!!!

Madelyn O'Brien 

As a rescue volunteer from Lone Star Bulldog Rescue in Dallas, Texas I wanted to send you an update on a stray English bulldog you picked up and were kind enough to contact us about. "Meatball" rode here with a "pug caravan" and found himself at my house. I kept "Meatball" for two months. As he went through heartworm treatments, I renamed him "Bear", since many bulldogs named "Meatball", "Meatloaf', or "Meat" come into the rescue program. Bear brought me many laughs due to his constant chewing on toys, shaking his head, moving the furniture around, and trying to locate lost items. Hundreds of people wanted to adopt him due to his unusual black coat. After careful screening, Bear was adopted by a wonderful family with three kids, another bulldog, and lots of love to give Bear. He has moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bear's life will be wonderful now that he is getting the love, toys, and attention he deserves. I have enclosed Bear's pictures along with a big Texas thank you! Thank you for all your help and for all you do. Each of you has a very hard, thankless job; but it is a job that must be done. Bear sends you bulldog hugs and kisses!