January 29, 2012

Hey there Toronto Humane Society and Friends!

I wanted to write my success story on the cat I adopted from you! Her name was formerly "Celeste" but I renamed her to Phoebe after she started following me around and acting weird but loveable (I got the name from the TV show Friends, if you've watched it, you know what I mean).

At first when I got Phoebe, in November 2011, she was very shy, and when I saw her in her little cage, she looked so upset and unhappy. In comparison to all the other cats who seemed to be super cheerful, this one stuck out to me the most because of her cute little "sad" eyes. She didn't get up much when I tried to first pet her, and I thought there was something wrong with her, my mother asked me if I still wanted to get her, and I said of course. The workers at the shelter told me she is very shy, and it might take her some time to adjust to her new living situation with me.

Within 2 minutes of being in my home, she was trying to find every hiding spot there was, under couches, desks, beds. But I managed to remove her from spots she was trying to hide from, and gave her a comfortable, yet, semi private area in my room for her to sleep in. She adjusted really well to the spot, and stayed there, as she fell asleep. After she woke up, she started exploring my house more, and eventually, she started to come up to me, licking my hands and purring. I bought her a feather toy to play with, and once she got warmed up to me, she has never been so loving and outgoing!

She is one of the most playful cats I know! And what I love most about Phoebe, is that I can really tell she appreciated me adopting her, she shows it every day by following me wherever I go in my house, not in an annoying way, but a way where she always stands by me just in case if I'm ever feeling down. She also is really friendly to all of my guests! Greeting them with a friendly meow and going right up to them and purring. Oh! and she is also a bit of an attention hog, making my friends pay more attention to her than me, it's really funny!

I am so glad that she is a part of my life now, and I never plan on giving her up, she is a part of my family now, and I couldn't ask for a better pet! :D

Thank you so much for letting me adopt such a wonderful pet, I promise to always care for her and look after her, and keep her cheerful and outgoing! :)

I hope my story inspires more people to adopt more pets from you guys, because you truly do a really great thing, taking in pets, and fostering them until the find a home, thanks again for letting me adopt my cat! It means so much to me.

All the best!

- Shirin

January 29, 2012

Hi,

We wanted to give you an update on our cat Maggie who we adopted back in November 1999. She was one of the cats who were being adopted from the Christmas windows at the Eaton Centre. The cats who were up for adoption were in the windows where people on the sidewalk could see them. We asked the adoption agent about Maggie and when we first met her Maggie walked right over to my husband and gave him a big kiss. That was it, and we knew she was the cat for us!

Since then she has been a wonderful addition to our family and has had many adventures as an indoor/outdoor cat. Now she happily spends most of her time napping and looking out the window or begging for treats. She is now approximately 13 years old and she is very spoiled and well loved. She loves to cuddle and she has an uncanny radar for snuggles - the minute someone in the house is napping she shows up and gets right in there! She is also very dramatic and loves to flop onto her side in what we call the 'luxury flop'. She has been a lovable companion for our golden retriever Arizona (who died last year) and our black lab Scout who loves to chase her around the house.

Maggie has been a wonderful cat and we have been very happy to have her as part of our family. Thanks so much to the Toronto Humane Society for all the great work you do in finding forever homes for the animals who need them!

Stefanie, Aaron, Aidan, Abby, Scout, Maggie (and Arizona) Dickerson

January 26, 2012

Hello all at the Toronto Humane Society.

I wanted to let everyone know how Maly, our 3 1/2 year old beagle was doing!

We started fostering Maly end of Oct because she had a urine infection and kennal cough. We continued this until the THS vets told us she was ready for adoption 3 months later. The THS was amazing, they helped us with her treatment and followed through till she was completely healed and ready for adoption. It didn't take long for Maly to fit in. Maly is very affectionate and loves to be the center of attention. She's also very soft spoken and doesn't bark which was quite surprising, knowing she's a Beagle, and beneficial since we live in a downtown condo.

At first, she had separation anxiety every time we left her alone. However she has improved and is now completely house trained. She loves going on long walks and sleeping! She sleeps almost 6 hrs a day and is very particular about where she sleeps. She loves to be cozy and will do anything to have the best sleep, such as sleeping on 2 pillows on our bed, rearranging the sofa cushions to sleep on, sleeping in her doggy bed with a bundled-up comforter, or on a fresh pile of cloths straight out from the dryer!

We love taking care of Maly, and Maly loves taking care of us. Especially if we are sick or down she will be there to be affectionate and comforting. We are really grateful for all the support THS gave us during her fostering and adoption. We are definitely lucky we found our Maly, she is the best dog anyone could hope for.

Thanks,

Prit & Shim

January 25, 2012

Hey Mitchel,

To give you an update on Socks: We are doing very well. It was just me and Socks for about three months. He is still very quiet and calm, very snuggly. Though he doesn't always sleep on the bed with me overnight, if I lay down for a nap he is always curled up right beside me. He loves to sit on the couch with me, and when I am sitting at my desk to do work, he tends to come sit behind my computer and wait for some attention. But his favourite thing by far is to sit on the window sill and look outside. I took Socks to the vet, and though he did have a cold/virus infection of some kind when I first got him, it has all cleared up now and he has a clean bill of health.

Then my cousin rescued an abandoned and ill kitty from the woods. As they were not able to find a home I took the cat in. At first Socks did not like my new cat, Peach, as Peach is significanty younger and almost always wants to play. Socks was less than assertive and sometimes the kitten's youthful energy overwhelmed him and I would have to get involved. I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to keep the kitten as a result, but over the holidays the two cats came with me to my mother's for 2 weeks. The stressful experience seemed to bring them together and Socks even stood up for Peach to protect him from my mom's cats (who were being kinda bullies). Now, though sometimes Peach still annoys Socks, Socks is much better at asserting himself, telling Peach when to get lost, and even initiates play with Peach himself.

I have attached a few pictures. I have a couple of Socks just hanging out or playing, one of him playing with my new cat in the papers from a package I received, another one of the two cats on the chair of mine they have inherited (they sleep on that thing all day, I can't get all the hair off it now even if I tried) and one of me taking a nap with both the kitties. That picture was taken by my significant other. It was an important moment to me as I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep Peach, but that was the first time they both stayed on the bed together (normally when Peach came up on the bed, Socks would run away).

Hope all is well with you and the shelter,

Khrystina

January 25, 2012

Hi There!

I wanted to share the story of Fitz (formerly Angel), the kitten we adopted in November... He is such a happy little guy and was the perfect addition to our home! He is full of energy and is an amazing jumper/climber! His new favourite place to sleep, believe it or not, is atop the hoodies we have hanging on the back of our bedroom door.

He also loves to cuddle and has been accused of being a "big suck" by our friends!

This has been such a positive experience and we can't wait to adopt our next one!

Sincerely,

Cassandra, Steve & Fitz

January 25, 2012

Hello Toronto Humane Society (THS) Family,

It was a pleasure for us to visit with the animals, staff and volunteers on Dec. 19, 2011, and we were exceptionally fortunate to have the exciting opportunity to meet adoptable Whippet-mix puppies that day. The mother was friendly and her pups were incredibly interested in meeting everyone. The pups were all fantastic, but we had to make the fun decision of selecting only one to adopt.

We selected Buck Devo Lima, formerly known as Arthur, based on his energy, alertness, and good looks. Many people that we meet are enchanted by his coat colour. He is beginning his puppy training lessons and will soon be as great in behaviour as he is in looks. He is a wonderful addition to our family. Thank you THS Family for helping us with Buck's adoption.

João and Gláucia Lima

January 22, 2012

Hello All at the Toronto Human Society,

We just want to take the time to thank you all for helping us adopt Togan (on January 15, 2012), our precious little mixed beagle/hound. Togan has settled in very nicely with us, we are getting her into a routine that fit's in our schedule well.

On Saturday Jan 21st we organized her first ultimate Spa day (2 and a half hours) at the new Pet Smart in Etobicoke. When we brought her in, all the employee's were drawn toward her. Natasha & I have never spent so many hours outside walking, running and playing as we have now....this is a good thing. Overall Togan has been a very good girl and with further training things will only progress.

We are attaching some pictures of a happy girl in a great home.

Love
Natasha & Blair

January 21, 2012

In Febuary of 2011, I adopted my belioved rabbit. I was looking on the website, and I live quite far, but when I saw her picture I new she was the one. Her name was Pipi at the time but I have changed it to Sophie. She comes when her name is called, and circles until shes dizzy when she sees her veggies! She is honestly the sweetest little thing ever! She loves to cuddle, and could do it all day! She binkies and loves to sit with her mommy! She gives little bunny kisses and is perfect! I couldn't have asked for any better! She has some words to say of her own:

"Hey guys! It's sophie! Just wanted to say hi! My new mommy is the best! She gave me a big cage and because I'm special, it's a big doggy cage so I have lots of room! I know I'm cute, and I always use it to my advantage! I like to stretch and take up as much room as I can when I sleep! My favourite spot to sleep is under my mommys bed! She pets me and I don't like when she stops so I give her lots of kisses and I'm such a suck up! I have a big sassy attitude and I like to get what I want! When I'm hungry in the morning, I like to stomp my feet and make as much noise as I can to get my food! My mommy was very patient with me, she showed me that I don't have to be shy and she lets me personality shine! I love to pose for pictures because I know I get bunny snacks after! Thanks for everything THS! You guys helped me find my forever home! I learned to be a real bunny! I love my new home and I'm very happy! Everyday is a new day of exploring! Thanks again! Just wanted to let you know how happy I am!

P.S. I'm sitting beside my mommy munching on some lettuce while she types because I dont know how! Thanks!"

January 21, 2012

I wanted to take a moment to tell you how well Suzy, now named Soha is doing.

On her first day home she immediately found a safe place to hide and she stayed there for about an hour. I gave her sometime to come down from her trip and then I began to walk around my condo with a long piece of string and it didn't take her long to come out of hiding. She followed the string around the condo, I introduced her to each room. I showed her where the litter was and her dishes of food. Once the string was put away, she darted for her safe place again - I left her alone.

When I woke up the next morning, she had eaten all her food and water. Her litter box was used and she was sitting on the chair in the living room watching my every move. I spoke to her gently as I got ready for work, constantly talking to her as I walked around. Her eyes did not move from me and she didn't move from her throne.

I got home from work that day and she was sitting in the middle of the floor with a toy in her hands. I gently and quietly walked around and finally made my way to the couch to read a book. She sat two feet in front of me and meowed constantly. I patted the couch, motioning for her to come up and join me. Within two minutes, she was beside me and I was scratching her behind the ears, she purred..... Soha stayed with me on the couch for a good hour.

Every night now, Soha gets her daily scratch behind the ears, we play with her string and ball and she tells me long stories about her day. A couple times a week, when I am in bed, she jumps up on the bed and watches me but it only lasts about half an hour then she finds her safe spot again.

I love Soha and it seems to be a great fit! I have attached two pictures for now, one in her favorite chair and another of her sitting pretty. Thank you for your great care of Soha during her visit at the Humane Society, she is now home and settled!

Best regards, Tammie

January 20, 2012

Hello to my friends at THS!

After a grueling two-and-a-half hour car ride to Whitby and Oshawa, I am finally HOME! Jen (my female person) says the drive was only that long because the weather was terrible, but when I wasn't napping all over the seat, I was distracted with my favourite Kong stuffed with some treats, so I didn't notice. As soon as we stopped in Whitby, I got a nice walk to see if I needed to mark any territory (I didn't).

Jen and Jared (my male person) took me shopping at PetSmart! They let me pick out a new Kong toy with tails so that we can play fetch and tug (but only if I'm good). There were even some other dogs at the store, and even though I wanted to sniff them I followed Jared when he walked me away. I wanted to be on my best behaviour so that Jen and Jared would like me! The staff at the store were excited to meet me - Jen and Jared were there yesterday picking up my leash and told them about me. They say I'm a cute little bear - whatever that means. I got lots of pets and some delicious liver treats.

I remembered how to sit... but only for the nice girl that gave me the liver treats. When we got to my new home, I got to meet some other people (they don't live with my people, but upstairs in the same house... I don't quite understand that yet). They were so nice, and they loved to pet me and give me attention. I think I like them, too! I also got to sniff all over my new home, and there are lots of interesting smells in here! I am especially interested in the smells coming from this big white metal box (Jen says she calls it a "fridge") but I'm not allowed to get inside it.

I also smell these other things called "cats", but my people are keeping the cats in their bedroom for now. I got to see one of the cats, but she was all angry and had a big bushy tail, and she hissed at me, so we're not friends yet.

Jen gave me a few treats once we got home, and in exchange I sat for her a few times, too. I am following her all over the house like glue, because it's her house and I want to be near her. She made me a nice bed in my new crate (where I'm lying down now) and gave me my evening food, though I'm a bit too excited to eat much right now (or maybe I had too many treats?).

Looks like Jen is going to take me for another walk now! I miss you guys so much, but I know I'm going to be happy here with my new family, too!

Love, kisses, and slobber!
Diego (and Jen, because she has fingers, and I don't!)

PS (from Jen): Hi! Since I wrote this last night, we have introduced Diego to the cats. So far, he's treating them with absolutely no attention, and the cats are warily giving him his space. He's taken very well to his crate, sleeping in it at night and sometimes when he naps during the day. He snores! We've had one little accident in the house, and of course it had to be on the carpet, but he's otherwise been a total angel. We love having him with us, thanks again!

January 20, 2012

Dear Toronto Humane Society,

My family wanted to send you guys an email letting you know how Tiny (his name when we adopted him) is doing! We adopted Cheico around 5 years ago. Cheico is the best dog we could ever ask for! He is the glue that holds our family together. He is the most loving and funny little dog ever.

We can proudly tell you that Cheico has the best life any dog could ever want! He is so well behaved and calm, we always take him to dog parks and let him off leash with no problems at all. Many people have told us they have never seen such a well behaved and active chihuahua!
Cheico loves hiking at Greenwood conservation area by our house. He is a little nature dog.

My family loves this dog to death and he gets treated like a king. We take him on so many adventures to dog parks and conservation areas, he loves it. We attend Woofstock in Toronto every year and other dog events as well!

Thank you so much for everything you do!

The Stanley Family

January 20, 2012

I want to share my story of Snowball and Nippy. I went there last summer (2011) with my Snowball. Although Snowball has very good personality, I was a bit concerned that he might not be able to find a friend there. He found Nippy (Athna at that time) there and it was a most successful (and easiest) bonding ever! They fell in love each other at the first sight. So I brought them together.

On the first day, I was told, I separated them in case they fought. Guess what! They missed each other over the fence. So I let them stay together from the second day. I haven't seen any fight until now. After I played with Snowball and let him go back his home (he sent me a signal by giving me many many bunny kissed when he wants to go home), Nippy grooms Snowball right away! She does not like to smell someone else even though it is from her mommy! Snowball goes everywhere as long as Nippy goes. They napped together like an old couple.

I built a huge bunny condo for them and they stay there when I am away for work. One day I did not lock the bunny condo door tightly. My living room is bunny proof so there was nothing dangerous. Guess what happened! They were too excited so they chewed some of my books and played so well! When I came back home, they were in their condo and gave me this innocent look. I was not mad at them at all. I was just very surprised that they knew they had to go back home when I came back home.

I am so glad that Snowball was able to find a perfect mate. The only sad feeling is.. he seems to like Nippy more than myself. Well......

I am attaching a picture of Snowball (left) and Nippy (right)

January 19, 2012

We adopted our cat Chiquita on November 20 2011 from the humane society, and it took her about an hour to decide this was home, "our" bedroom had become hers. She's very delicate and even though she tends to climb she's yet to send things flying off the shelves.

We're very happy to have her here, to see her in the morning down at the foot of our bed and sitting waiting to greet us when we get home. We'll buy her toys, a scratching post and she'll ignor them all in favor of a balled up piece of tin foil, she's quite a character! She loves hiding in the bathtub just behind the curtains and jump out at you at just the right moment.

We can't believe someone would give her up but we are so happy to have her here with us.
Kimi & Peter

January 19, 2012

We adopted Tater (then called Baby) from the THS in early Nov '08 when she was probably about 8 months old. I had made several trips the THS without finding the right dog, and on the 3rd visit, I saw Tater crouching on the small bed in her cage, and I thought she was pretty cute. However she immediately growled at me and I remember thinking "that's not a smart move Dog" and I moved onto the next cage. But then I realized that although she had growled, she hadn't advanced towards me, so I figured she was just scared and not being aggressive. So I walked a few paces back to her cage, and this time she hopped off her bed and came over to greet me through the bars. I went home and told my husband about her, and we returned to the THS the next day for a meet and greet. The THS adoption agent was very forthright about Tater and told us about a couple of issues we might have with her. (which I appreciated; I never once felt like the THS hid anything from us so that we would adopt her) Tater seemed to like us, and us her, so the three of us set off to start our new life together.

Tater was not house trained, wasn't leash trained and had the energy of 3 dogs. It was clear that no one had ever spent the time with this dog to teach her anything, and she definitely had a mind of her own. For the first 6 weeks we owned her, I seriously wondered what on earth I had done bringing this dog into our house. But I kept working on the training with her, and miraculously, right around the 2 month mark, she morphed into the most amazing dog ever! She's the queen of the dog park and everyone knows her by name. She is just a charmer! Just goes to show that all that most dogs need is some direction and affection to become wonderful members of the family. Here's a picture of Tater at her most Tater-esque...in a play bow!

Tater is such a great dog that just 3 months ago, when another shelter dog (not from the THS) caught my heart, we adopted a brother for Tater. She took him under her wing right away and they have bonded beautifully. The house now is rarely quiet...the two dogs are either wrestling, chewing on their squeakies, or cuddled up together snoring! We are so thankful to the THS for taking such good care of Tater while we were looking for each other! In fact, because our experience with Tater was so great, I started volunteering at the THS as a dog-walker as a way to pay back for Tater and all the other beasties they tend to.

Everyone, please adopt! Shelter dogs make great pets!

January 17, 2012

In October 2010 I adopted Bogard (now Bogey) a sweet 5 year old Cocker Spaniel mix. Bogey and I had problems from the start. He loved his cage. He knew how to open it.

He had arrived in Toronto from Timmins, and I suspect had never been on a lead. He was anxious to go home. He missed the baby. Every time he stopped when a woman got out of a car I knew there would be a baby in a car seat. He was a digger who escaped under the fence. It was fortified with bricks so he jumped the fence.

He was house trained but when I was out for more than 3 hours he would poop on the floor behind the sofa, and rush to his bed when I came home. He did not leave his bed until the mess was cleaned up and I had forgotten it had ever happened. The groomer said he was the first dog with ADHD she had ever worked on. He tore plastic bags and created garbage in a tidy house That’s just for starters... My daughter pleaded with me to return him, but I couldn’t imagine anyone else putting up with his antics.

Then he crossed the line. After being out for about 20 minutes at 11 p.m. he peed and pooped on my rug in front of the sofa. Rug went to be cleaned and Bogey to the vet to rule out urinary tract problem. No problem. At 5 am the following morning I heard him moving around. I got up to find him with his leg lifted against my sofa. I simply said “What are you doing.” Caught in the act he ran to his bed and faced the back wall. While washing the floor and the sofa I decided to take him back to THS, but something happened that day. I wish I understood the way a dog thinks. He lay on his bed for 10 hours and would not get up even when I said magic words like ”treat”, “lead” and “walk”. Eventually I picked him up and put him in the back yard, expecting he would try to jump the fence. He did his business and came right back.

I wonder about those 10 hours. Did he sense that he had gone too far? Did he know I was ready to give him up? I wish someone could explain this to me. From that day forward I have had the perfect dog. He understands more commands than I realized. He is well behaved and very affectionate. He is sweet. We play ball. He loves his kong, Well, almost perfect dog. He still pulls on the leash when there are birds or squirrels that need his attention.

I can’t imagine life without Bogey. He has taught me to really appreciate a well behaved dog. My previous dogs were pups when I adopted them. There were no serious behavior issues. Now I know how difficult dogs with behavior issues can be, and I know how rewarding it is to stick it out. I’m a senior who does not know how to post a photo. He looks like a tall English Cocker Spaniel.

Esther Dalys

January 12, 2012

Hi everyone at THS! It's me - Zoey! It's been six months since Mom and Dad came to the shelter to pick me up, and I've been having the best time with them, my brother, and my doggie sister, Eleanor!

When Mom and Dad visited the shelter the first time, I was already on hold. Mom's heart was real broken. She logged on to the THS website every morning just to look at my picture even though I was going to another home. On Friday Mom went online one last time to see my super cute face and was shocked to see the check mark was gone! She and Dad raced down to the shelter to visit with me and it was love at first bark.

Since then I've been exploring the neighborhood with Eleanor. We love to go to the park and play. I am more outgoing than my sister so I've been helping her make friends. I went camping this summer and had the best time digging holes on our campsite and sleeping in the tent! These days Eleanor and I are waiting for more snow to play in. I sure do love my family and they love me too!

Thank you very much for bringing us together!

Ruv,
Zoey

January 10, 2012

In May 2011, I started volunteering with the shelter and was instantly drawn to a handsome black cat named Tigger. His big green eyes were so full of love and curiosity and I just knew we were meant for each other. On adoption day I learned that he had some stres issues and perhaps a skin allergy as well. The green cone he was wearing just seemed to make him even more adorable to me. The minute the staff opened the cage to introduce us and he gave me his first kiss, I was hooked!

Tigger has become such a huge part of the family and my heart since the first day I brought him home. he loves to cuddle and play with his new big brother, my grey cat Battle-Axe.

He still has stress issues from time to time but has greatly improved. I think he just needed to know that his new family wasn't going anywhere.

I can't imagine my life without him. I'm grateful for him everyday!

Thank-you so much!
Heather Ireland

January 06, 2012

Once upon a time in Scarborough Ontario there was a young couple Roy and Stephanie who dreamed of the perfect puppy to complete their home. After months and months of searching for this beautiful puppy they went to the Toronto Humane Society to try their luck.

When they first set their eyes on the beautiful Petunia all shy in her corner they had no doubt in their minds that she was the one.

Determined to bring Petunia home for Christmas Roy and Stephanie applied for the adoption of Petunia and got her just in time.

Ever since they brought Petunia to her new home the shy little girl have evolved into a wonderful Puppy with an amazing personality. She is very energetic, loving and happy. Roy and Stephanie can never imagine their lives without Petunia again!!

Thank you Toronto Humane Society for making our lives complete!

Roy and Stephanie

December 30, 2011

Dear THS,

This fall, my roommate Emma and I started entertaining the idea of getting a cat. We like to consider ourselves relatively well-educated animal lovers, so we researched our decision before we made it. Once we'd made sure we could afford a cat and worked up the gumption to enter into the adoption process, we knew that there would be no turning back in our hearts our minds. We adopted Flip, a beautiful male silver tabby with white socks and silly green eyes on November 10. From the minute we introduced him into our two room apartment he became the focus of both of our lives.

We soon got know his likes and dislikes, but not before our shy boy worked up the nerve to come out from under the bed. We've tried to make the transition as comfortable as possible for him and so far he seems to be adjusting quite well. He absolutely loves to hide under blankets, we have to check carefully before sitting down on beds! He also enjoys pouncing on his mouse toy and playing with soft pieces of string. His favourite places to be scratched are under the chin and behind the ears :)

Flip has come so far and he is still exploring, growing, and changing with us. We're so glad to have him and we couldn't imagine living without him now.

Thanks THS,
Muna and Emma

December 27, 2011

Hi!

I'm writing in regards to "Polly" (now named "Mouse"), a "pudding" Jack Russell Terrier who was adopted on September 12, 2011. My husband and I had been searching the shelter websites for many months for a dog that we could offer a good home to and who would be a good fit for us.

Finally, we found "Polly" at the beginning of September, on your site and had to go meet her. We made the one hour drive into the city prepared to make a major change! (it was like having a discussion to have another "kid"). When we finally got to the shelter we heard this really raspy bark from the entrance area and went down the hall to go find her.

There she was, in a crate just after the first set of doors and as she saw us, she rubbed up against the crate just like a cat would; she just wanted us to touch her. The second she wiggled into the sitting room to meet us, I knew she had my heart! I told my husband that I wasn't prepared to leave without her so we asked to come back the following day with our ten year old Jack Russell to see if they would be okay with each other.

When she first came home with us, it took her some time to settle in, naturally, but what was so funny is that she would literally tip-toe into different rooms of the house and check to see if Meeko was around. It was especially funny when she would peak around the couch in the living room! She was also more reserved and cautious, and very observant. It's now the end of December and things are amazing. We gave Polly a new name; "Mouse" as she didn't answer to "Polly" and "Mouse" was very fitting as we got to know her! She has settled in with us and Meeko (our other dog) very well and very quickly - it's almost as if Mouse has always been part of the family. Now, she runs excitedly and confidently into any room she chooses, and she shows her affection toward all of us, even Meeko!

They are becoming great teammates and enjoy barking on occasion together to protect their home and I'm sure they will soon snuggle together. Mouse loves to go for walks. The second she hears that word, her little bum wiggles all over the place! Her and I go three times a day (including our nightly family walk with the four of us). And the dogs are getting really good at walking together and being more patient with one another. Mouse loves seeing the kids in the neighbourhood waiting for their school buses in the morning and she has made friends with some of the other dogs in the area. She's a very happy-go-lucky little character who is full of love and just wants us to cuddle and play with her... and she's super funny! Mouse has bonded with all three of us, and although Meeko still resists her kisses, he shows his affection to her in his own little way. And he's a different dog now too! He enjoys going out for longer walks with me and Mouse and he literally gallops through the house in pure joy and excitement! He needed the companionship! It's been a rewarding experience for all of us.

Since bringing Mouse home, she is becoming a great snuggler! She was awkward at first, but she's learning quickly :) It is our nightly ritual that she snuggles with me on the couch while we watch t.v. (and she snores!) and Meeko either joins us, or snuggles with his dad. And on occasion, Mouse will jump into bed for a few minutes in the morning and have a snuggle with us too! She's also learned how to "sit" and we are working on "paw" and "tummy". She loves to have her tummy rubbed, so i'm trying to teach her that when I say "tummy", I'm offering a tummy rub. she doesn't show any interest in any toys, and seems to only want to play with our hands. Her mannerisms are very puppy-like in her play. She play bites and snaps (as if she is offering love bites), so we are assuming that no one really played with her prior to us. Also, she snorts when we play almost like she's laughing - it's super cute. Both my husband and I have a huge feeling of fulfillment from not only adopting Mouse and giving her a new home, but from all of the joy and laughter that she brings our family - she's stuck with us and I have a feeling she is perfectly happy with that :)

They say that you don't chose the dog, but rather, the dog chooses you, and I really feel that way. Mouse and I are the best of buddies and she goes everywhere I go (at home); we have an amazing bond, already! Thank you for joining us with Mouse, we are so grateful to have found her. I have included some photos for you.

Sincerely, Ryn (and Ben) Weisz

December 23, 2011

One year ago on the 23rd of December, we were lucky enough to pick up Lucy and bring her back with us to her new home in the Muskoka woods. Lucy had been rescued from a grow-op and, given some of the things we have discovered, she probably had a challenging life for her first two years. The vets at THS suspected some liver problems given what was then a high ALT level. This appears to have been confirmed in her latest blood tests which show an elevation to 1200. Nevertheless, we love her and she has proven to be a loving companion.

You may recall she had anxiety issues and was prone to urinate slightly when faced with stressful situations. This problem has continued to plague her, but now is much reduced. She has always gotten along well with other dogs, but meeting new humans has been a stressor and she has shied away from any new contact. However, she now seems to be more inclined to give new humans a chance and will go and sniff an outstretched hand.

She has now done 4 courses at the Muskoka District Kennel Club where we are members. Although she obviously had had obedience training, we did two novice level obedience courses mainly for socialization. This has been followed by two Rally O courses. Given her natural Doberman tendency to watch everything in the room, except her handler, it is unlikely that she will gain many competitive points, nevertheless, she loves the Rally training. When we go to the club and use the ring when no one else is in the building, she can do every exercise perfectly, and with enthusiasm.

As you may remember, Lucy is our fourth Doberman, and the first that didn’t come directly from our breeder. Knowing the breed, we have enjoyed helping her to find the natural Dobie within. She is a delight and as we wish her a happy “birthday” we want to wish you, and the THS staff a very Merry Christmas and a very happy holiday season.

I have attached two pictures of Lucy. One was taken a few weeks ago when we actually had some snow here in Muskoka. The other was taken last night on the Rally course with Lucy forging ahead, as usual, to get to the next test point.

Thanks again and all the best
Gord and Shelley

December 14, 2011

In April of 2011 we arrived at the Toronto Humane Society shelter with the hopes of adopting a cat or kitten. After visiting all the cages and trying to decide on which kitty we should adopt we settled on Mystic. His unusual colouring and amazing eyes are what caught us first and foremost, his lovely nature captured our hearts second.

He was 2 years old and most people pass adult cats up. We couldn't though and we are so glad we didn't. He's incredibly affectionate and loves to sit on your left shoulder when feeling needy. He greets us each day when we come home and loves and craves our company when we are there. He has developed one habit though which we cannot explain. Balls of paper seem to fascinate him and he regularly empties the trash bins and collects the bundles and brings them to us. We sometimes wake up in the morning to find our bed surrounded by a ring of paper balls. His version of a fairy circle I'm sure.

We are so happy with him and could not have asked for a better cat. Thank you to all those at the shelter who provided the start he needed in life until we came along and welcomed him into our family.

Steve and Sue Duncan

December 11, 2011

Hello there,

I thought I would share with you all our wonderful success story. About a year ago, I visited the humane society to look at some of the cats and that's when I met my beautiful tortoiseshell cat, Kaitee. The second I held her in my arms, took one look at her, I knew she was the one. She loves to get into trouble, but I can't stay mad at that adorable face of hers.

She has a weird adorable habit though. She LOVES boxes. And when I say loves boxes, it's not just the occasional "I'm going to sit in this box and look pretty", oh no! It's the whole "this is my box, I have made it my fort!" type thing. If you open a box, turn around for a second, she'll be in that box in no time. If you pass the box, she'll definitely try to grab you to make it known not to mess with her box.

She knows exactly how to make me laugh and smile. She's amazing. Thanks to the humane society, I have found my best friend - Kaitee. I can't remember a time without her, she's my everything. I send you a couple pictures - One of her on her favorite pillow, and the other of her when she climbed up on my door.

Again, we thank you.
Danielle Martin & Kaitee

December 07, 2011

Hi There!

I just wanted to send an update on Moose (formerly Dozer I think). He was one of the 12 Cane Corso mix puppies that came in feb 2010. We went to PetSmart to buy dog food and TAS was having an adoption drive and we came home with a puppy. Moose was such a fat ackward little puppy but we loved him immediately!

Moose and such a good boy and loves his brother Rocky (the Eurasier), he also loves pretty much every dog big or small and will try to make friends with the smallest dog he can meet. Moose is very spoiled and has lots and lots of toys that he loves to hoard! He is now over 100lbs and still thinks he is a lap dog and will try to snuggle with us at any opportunity. He loves to sleep and still snores like he did when he was a puppy! Moose and Rocky are looking forward to christmas and even have their own stockings that 'Santa' will fill.

The staff at TAS were very helpful and do wonderful work! Moose was neutered and had an umbilical hernia repaired before we even met him and has had no complications from either of them! We recommend people adopting from TAS all the time and every day we use restraint from adopting new dogs we see on your website!

The pictures are Moose as a puppy, Moose at centre island and Moose staying cool in the summer

Thanks from Jake, Siobhan, Moose & Rocky

December 04, 2011

Dear THS,

I have been a monthly donor for many years and in August 2008 my daughter and I decided to visit THS to see if there was a dog that my daughter could call her own. She had allergies to specific breeds so we knew we had to find one that was hypoallergenic. I wasn't sure we could find one at THS but we headed down to THS on August 23, 2008 to try our luck. And boy did we strike it rich!! It was an adoption blitz weekend and the shelter was packed with potential new pet owners.

There was only 1 dog there that she might have been compatible with but I wasn't quite sure. While we were waiting to speak to someone about adoption I spotted a new dog that was just surrendered and was getting his picture taken for the website. My daughter and I rushed to the back room where our new best friend had been put in his cage. He was only a year and a half and was a Shi-Tzu, poodle, maltese mix. He was perfect. He only spent 5 minutes in his cage and we began filling out the papers. His name was Mong and that was changed to Monty who has become my best friend and big baby. He is the best dog I could have ever hoped for. He is such a sweet dog and so loving!

Then on November 27, 2010 I felt the desire for another cat for our family. My cat had passed away on November 10, 2003 and it was heartbreaking!! He was 14 years old and was my first real pet and my best pal. He had cancer and his passing affected me so badly that I could not even think of replacing him for another. Seven years later we ventured to THS again looking for our new family addition.

There were 3 kittens from a litter. We were behind a couple who were adopting one boy and one girl and had begged us to take the third kitten because they felt bad for taking his brother and sister fro him. I assured her that we would be taking him home and we did. His name was Edsel ( yuck! ) so before we had even left THS his name was changed to Nico. He was 2 months old and had a little black booger mark on his nose. This added character to our new baby. He had been a terror at times,climbing into our Christmas tree and knocking off ornaments but has become such a special part of our family. He was a great addition to our ever growing pet family. We have a 17 year old cockatiel named Spike and a 4 year old Lionhead rabbit named Riley. We are looking to expand our pet family even further. We visited THS yesterday and spotted a kitten named Warren. We are looking to add him to our brood!!

Thank you THS for all you do and for providing myself and my daughter with 2 beautiful additions to our family...and possibly a third today!!

Pam and Lindsay Zambri
(Toronto)

December 03, 2011

Dear Toronto Humane Society,

I walked into the Toronto Humane Society in September of this year looking for a "new" older dog in need of some TLC who would make a great addition to my home. Instead, and by pure chance, I stumbled upon Nico, a 4 month Bernese Mountain Dog cross. Nico immediately captured my heart with his warm eyes and cute fluffy hair, I knew I couldn't leave him there. I immediately filled out an application form and had the amazing chance to meet this little guy. Now 2 and a half months later the little puppy from the THS is a big bouncing bundle of joy who has brought so much to my life.

He is so calm and caring beyond belief, but still manages to maintain a very mischievous and stubborn side that is reminiscent of myself. We're two peas in a pod. Nico loves playing with other dogs at the dog park near my house, and is always excited to meet new people. In fact, on our daily walks if he doesn't receive as many compliments, pets and attention as usual he gets all glum. I think he knows he is cute, and undoubtedly uses it to is advantage. He has quickly learned sit, lay down, shake paws, and stay commands and is a perfect gentlemen around friends, family, strangers and even my parents' cats.

He has become my partner in crime, my exercise buddy, the best friend (and protector) a girl could ask for, and my world. I want to thank all the staff at the THS for this amazing little guy. I can't imagine my life without him and I have all of you to thank for that.

Alex Ruyter

November 29, 2011

Hey THS,

My partner and I adopted Dalton nearly a month ago now, and he is a peach! Everyone is always shocked at how calm and well behaved he is. We are working on his separation anxiety and leash walking, but aside from that he is the perfect dog. He has adapted very well, barely noticed any stress when he arrived at his new home.

Thanks so much for this wonderful addition to our family!
Joanna

November 21, 2011

Boomer is the THE BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO US !!! He is such an amazing little soul filled with so much love. He's quite silly too. His personality is very different from when he was in the shelter. He took about 2 days to trust us, and now he's our best friend. He has learned to sit, stay, walk beside us and not pull on the leash. He's been a breeze to train. Everyone always asks us about him because he's so unique looking.

He LOVES to cuddle, loves to be covered in a blanket and ... he loves to nap. He also answeres to "BOO" and "BOOM-ALOOM" which is quite hilarious. His little legs get tired on walks, so we are trying to build his endurance! He is so friendly to everyone he meets and is eager to be socialized with other dogs once his cough is over.

Boomer can't wait to come to obedience classes :)
Olivia

November 20, 2011

Hello to all of the staff at THS.

I just wanted to send you a quick update on how Eva (formerly Diamond) is doing. My partner and I adopted Eva in September from the River Street location. She was being wild and crazy while the other kittens were sleeping and we knew she was for us.

We brought her home and put her in her sanctuary room, but within an hours she was ready to take on the whole apartment. The very first night we had her home she decided her sleeping place was on my pillow (or my head) and she has slept there every night since.

When we first brought her home we noticed she was sneezing a lot and eventually took her to the vet for some antibiotics which cleared it up within a week. Ever since then she has been a happy and healthy kitty who is just as wild as when we got her! We couldn't imagine our lives without her and we're so thankful to THS and all the great work you do.

Thanks again!
Alison, Adam and Eva

November 20, 2011

Hi There,

I wanted to provide you with an update on our adoption. On June 12th, 2011 we adopted Eli, now known as Fezy. At first he was quite shy and apprehensive. But he started to warm up quickly. Fezy is a little explorer who is fascinated by movement, light and sound. He enjoys playing with his toys but in particular his feather wand. He never gets tired of chasing it around the apartment. Surprisingly enough, he likes to fetch as well. We bought him a plush ball toy but were surprised when he started fetching it. We throw the ball and he runs after, catches and runs back to us with it and patiently waits for us to throw it again.

He has a great demeanour, a unique personality and loves to cuddle. He was taken to the vet after we adopted him and the Vet found him to be in great health.

When we were first contemplating adopting a cat, we were a bit hesitant about the idea because we have a guinea pig and were concerned that the cat could attack the guinea pig. Even though Fezy’s profile mentioned that he got along with rabbits- we were still doubtful. We went ahead with the adoption and it turned out to be a great decision. Fezy was curious about Gwenn (our guinea Pig) but never tried to attack her. He has realized that she is part of the family and when we pick her up to pet her, he lies next to us, never hisses at her or engages in attack mode, he simply lies down and we pet them both at the same time.

In the past 5 months, he has grown quite a bit, he is very comfortable with us and we love him very much. He is the king of the house. I am attaching a number of photos so you can see how he is doing. Thank you THS for your assistance and the service that you provide. Keep up the good work!

Thank you.
Roland

November 16, 2011

Hi there, I just wanted to thank you for all the amazing things you guys do at the Toronto Humane Society. About a month ago I went to adopt a cat from the River St. location. I ended up coming home with Lucy and she has truly made our home complete. She is the sweetest cat with so much love. I've attatched some pictures of our precious new family member. Thanks again for everything you lovely people do! :)

Robyn

November 16, 2011

My 18year old cat passed away in August and I took a trip to the THS to see the cats looking for good homes, there were so many I wanted to take them all home with me! I wanted an older cat as the kittens were the most popular and also LOTS of work and so I strolled around trying to decide. I spotted Mort because he came to the front of his cage whenever I passed by and gave me the eye, (you know, the one that says "hey, I'm cute, come over here") I couldn't decide so went home to give it some thought.

I returned the next day and adopted this barrel of fur and fun. Apparently he was a stray transferred from the TAS, so his history is unknown. At 7 years I thought he was older but he's playful like a kitten!! I was worried he'd be nervous adjusting to my small apartment but as soon as I popped the box open he explored, and in 20 mins looked at me as if to say "yeah, this is nice, so when's dinner?" It was like he'd lived there his whole life. He's made the couch his own, loves to play with his string and tells me when he wants something. He's not the most snuggly of cats but he is super affectionate and loves, loves, loves being petted. I'm working on getting him to sit on my lap, I don't think he's ever done that! He has the cutest way of squeaking when he yawns :) Goes crazy for his catnip "mice" and likes to sit on the balcony surveying his kingdom (I keep my eye on him out there).

Thanks to the THS for all the incredible work they do, Morty (as I call him) is super happy and I'd advise anyone to consider an 'older' cat. Many people see them as old and assume they're close to cat heaven. Older cats have tons of life left, are litter trained, scratchpost trained. Many, many cats live to 16-18 years these days - even longer, that's a lot of years. It's so sad to see them rejected when all they want is a second chance to love and be loved! You won't regret it.

V and Morty

November 14, 2011

I have adopted 2 pets from the humane society. First was my cat, Chloe who lived to the ripe old age of 23. When she was 6 we decided to adopt a puppy, Venus, who had some issues for sure.

For 2 years Chloe lived in the basement and only ventured up when the pup was out or sleeping. After an initial rough patch the two became like two peas in a pod. They ate together, slept together and sun bathed together. Venus lived to be 15. Both of these pets lived long wonderful lives and enriched all of our lives especially my children’s. They grew up knowing the love of an animal and how to nurture and care for another living thing. This has helped make 3 wonderful caring adults.

Thank you and until next time.
Cathy

November 14, 2011

Hello, We just wanted to send you an update and let you know how Tito (Kai when we adopted him) is doing. We adopted him in October, 2011.

We feel so lucky to have been able to adopt him from the Toronto Humane Society, he has turned out to be the best dog and our best friend! He has adjusted to life here with us really well.

When we first met him he seemed shy and a little nervous but he has really opened up and become a social and friendly puppy. He loves to run around (he is really fast!), play with his toys, cuddle with us, and can't forget his favorite pass time, getting his belly rubs!! Thank you so much for bringing him into our lives!

Karen and John

November 12, 2011

Hello there! My name is Midnight and I was adopted at the end of July 2011 by my new family.

I just wanted everyone to know, that I am doing really well and am very happy and content. I do want to thank several people for this happy outcome: Firstly, I really want to thank the volunteer who wrote up the description of my personality on the humane society website. I was described as calm, patient, affectionate, tolerant and loyal. That is what led my Mom to me. She knew that I was very special!

I also want to thank the lovely lady who was present when I got adopted. She was very happy that I was getting adopted and even sent me home with my favorite toy!

Lastly, I want to thank all of the wonderful volunteers and vets who took such good care of me while I was there. I do consider myself to be fortunate. My new family saw beyond my health issues and the fact that I was a black cat. I urge anyone reading this to please give my friends who are at the humane society a chance. Black cats are pretty adorable and we also tend to have great personalities as well.

My Mom tells me that sometimes she will wake up in the middle of the night and see me by her side with my green eyes shining at her full of love, and then she knows that she did the right thing by bringing me into my loving and forever home.

With lots of love, Midnight (Burrito) and family xoxo

November 11, 2011

Dear Toronto Humane Society,

We wanted to share with you our success story. My husband and I were at the Toronto Humane Society a month ago to adopt a dog. We met and fell in love with Apache, a 1 1/2 year old Husky mix who arrived at the THS through a partnership with Quebec. Apache is full of energy, spunk and love. He is very affectionate, well-behaved and lots of fun to play and run around with. His two favorite things are running to his heart's content with a toy in his mouth and getting his belly rubbed. But nothing gets Apache more excited than when we come home. Apache is absolutley amazing and we adore him!

We found the perfect dog for us and can't imagine our house without him!

We've attached a couple of pictures of him on what he believes to be "his" couch =)

Thanks so much!! We couldn't be happier!

Sincerely, Chris and Laura VanVliet.

November 10, 2011

In June of 2004 I volunteered as a "Bunny Cuddler" for the THS. That is where I met and fell in love with a little "unadoptable" 1 1/2 year old bunny named Billy. They told me he had "anger issues" and had been abandoned. It took all of 10 seconds to realize that I had to take this little guy home and work with him.

I fostered him, changed his name to Paxil and knew he had found his forever home with me. Since then he has mellowed out, but still maintained his big as life personality. He has kept me company, made me laugh, made me insane with his insatiable appetite for speaker wire, and made me appreciate bunnies for who they really are. Next month Paxil will turn 9 years old and I cherish every day we have him.

Thank you THS.

Patricia Manning

November 09, 2011

I wanted to update everyone about Ethan, my 17 year old diabetic cat that I adopted from the THS in April of 2010. I have fantastic news. He is now in remission. I am so happy about it. When I adopted Ethan I was a little overwhelmed about diabetes. Can I really give him needles and check his blood glucose levels. The answer is yes. I have learned so much about diabetes and I want to thank vet Karen Ward for taking good care of him while he was at THS for 2 years before I adopted him.

Although he keeps to himself alot and has not bonded with my other cats, Ethan is a happy camper. I have seen my cat Lynx groom him on occasion and Ehan did not seem to mind. Every night when I come home from work Ethan comes to greet me with the other cats and proceeds to come out into the appartment hallway. He rolls over in the hallway and exposes his tummy for a rub. He also rubs his face up against the wall. (I would say he is happy at age 17).

Ethans favourite place to hide is my closet in my bedroom. He chills out there alot of the day. Every once in a while he makes an appearance inthe living room. I want to thank THS staff and vets for doing such a wonderful job with all the animals. I have been a cat volunteer for the THS for almost 2 years. It is a very rewarding job and I have learned so much about cats. The THS is a wonderful place to visit and adopt an animal. Ethan is proof of that. I am someone who likes to adopt older cats and special need cats. I would adopt OJ if I could because older cats need to spend the rest of there days in a pleasant home.

Pictured on the right is Ethan in the bathroom chilling and Ethan in the linen closet lying on the blankets. Once again thank you THS. I challenge every one to come down to the THS and see for yourself what a wonderful place this is and its only going to get better. Also THS needs so many more donors.

Thank you. Greg (The cat man)

November 09, 2011

I adopted BeepBeep from The Toronto Humane Society in July, 2011. When I first brought him home, he was extremely scared and timid. I could tell he had never been in a car before as he shook the whole way home. In the first few days after his adoption, I felt very sorry for the life he once had. He was originally from a breeding facility and was surrendered to the Quinte Animal Shelter and then The Toronto Humane Society after hadn’t been adopted from Quinte. I could tell his previous life was not fun, as it should be for any dog! He didn’t play with toys, make eye contact or wag his tail and most liked to stay in a corner alone. He seemed depressed, scared and abandoned.

It is now November and BeepBeep is like any other joyful dog! He plays with friends at daycare, plays with toys at home, loves to cuddle up in my bed and shows his teeth to smile at me when I get home (he does not bark!, only when he’s overly excited). I treat him like a baby, maybe a little too much, but nonetheless he is a great boy!!! I am so happy to have him. He is a joy to have.

Here he is at day care (the white HAPPY poodle). My BeepBeep!!!

Sarah A. Colucci

November 06, 2011

Hello! I would just like you to know how well Dyllon and Gwyneth are doing in their new home. We are so happy to have them! We adopted them back in February of this year, and they have come a long way in learning about play, love and trust. They are now called Sky and Cloud. These “hot chicks” make us laugh as they bop and sing to their favourite “cool jazz” tunes on the radio. They love to take turns swinging on their bell chain, singing to their mirrors and sharing some delicious broccoli. After a busy day they relax, cuddling and snoozing together, knowing they are safe and loved.

Yours truly
Janet

November 02, 2011

We have been having some wonderful fall weather here in the falls the past few days and I have had a little time off work so me and Venus have been out for some adventures! Snapped these photos at Dufferin Islands today....as you can see she had no interest in the ducks and geese, but there were a few squirrels and chipmunks that were very glad she had a leash! lol Oh and we even donned the angel wings halloween afternoon and trick or treated at 2 houses (a neighbour she's getting to know and my folks)!

Chase and I couldn't be happier with our decision to take her home, she does take extra care, but she is so worth it! We are making progress with the kitties and with some new people too, we recently started introducing her to our family and friends (wanted to wait til she was really comfortable with us first). And with the tips from Shas it is going well!

Thank you so much for all your help and for taking care of this sweet girl for so long, we are so glad you didn't give up on her, and we are so grateful to have her as part of our family!

Much love,
Kelly, Chase and Venus

P.S..... the cats aren't quite ready to thank you yet! lol ;o)

October 24, 2011

Hello there,

In August we lost a very beloved cat that had been with us for 8 years. In October we decided we wanted a new little furry friend in the house. I initially saw Mona (now called Lola) briefly at the River St. site but she was napping. Her photo was so adorable though, that we decided to go visit her again, this time at the Victoria Park site, where she'd been moved to. The staff there were delightful and this time Lola was out and about. She was so good-natured, laid back and friendy! She let us pick her up and hold her and made no fuss. We decided to adopt her right then and there and she has been just delightful. She is a sweet, good girl that just loves getting brushed and having her belly rubbed. She has taken to sleeping on my bed sometimes, which means my feet will stay nice and toasty all through the fall and winter! Our vet says she seems to be in excellent health and we will be putting her on a bit of a diet to lose a couple of extra pounds she's got. We are so happy to have Lola in our lives. Thanks, THS!

Suzan

October 23, 2011

Hi my name is Erin Vassilakos. 2 weeks ago on thanksgiving monday I adopted 5 mnth old Rickey (Now known as Popper) an orange and white spunky kitty. When I came in to THS he took an instant liking to me, sitting on my lap and being his friendly upbeat self. He enjoys popping his head out and being social which is why his name is Popper. He enjoys playing with his toys and purrs and loves being pet. He has found a great home he was eagerly looking for when I first saw him reaching his paw out of his cage for me!

Erin

October 16, 2011

Hello to all staff at THS.

In August 2011 we adopted Lima (formerly known as Shady). We were taken by her story - senior black cat with hyperthyroidism, requiring daily medication, who spent 7 months in the THS.

Lima has since settled wonderfully in our downtown condo. Her frequent purrs sound like lawn mowers and her favourite game involves hiding behind the laundry and pouncing out on her string.

Lima has added wackiness and love to our home. Thank you for introducing us to her!

Jeff and Gary

October 15, 2011

Hey There!

We adopted out two black cats from the THS in late August 2010. When we adopted them we were asked to keep everyone there updated and we would like to take this opportunity to do so!

When we brought Pandora and Percy home they both were being treated for respiratory infections. After their first visit to the vet to get their shots it was suspected that they had feline herpes, which was causing the infections. We were given medication and they spent another few weeks being medicated with pills and eye drops :(. Ever since they have had only minor outbreaks which have cleared up on their own without any medical intervention :).

When we went to THS to adopt Percy we weren't really looking to adopt two black cats. We fell in love with the little furry ball that Percy was and after hearing that Pandora was only comfortable around her sister we were convinced to take Panda home too. We are VERY happy we did. They both have HUGE personalities and its hard to remember what life was like without them. They were very shy when we first brought them home. They spent most of their time hiding under the couch and trying to avoid being seen. Now you can't leave the room without Pandora attached to your leg. They spend hours of the day (and night) chasing each other around the apartment before tiring themselves out and finding a human to cuddle.

They are both very intelligent. They answer to their names, and have even learned how to play fetch. Panda has learned how to turn on appliances and locates the phone for us every time it rings (which has come in handy a few times). When we come home from work they are waiting at the door to be loved, and demand to be pet before we are allowed to take off our shoes. Percy has claimed daddy as her own and spends most of her time sitting on him and licking his hands (which is kinda gross.. but I don't have the heart to stop her). Percy sleeps on her back (which is adorable), and Panda likes to sleep in between the two of us in the bed or under our arms if we let her. And both LOVE to have their bellies rubbed.

Both of our babies are very loving and needy and I can't imagine our lives without them. They will stay with us their whole lives - no matter what. They have a forever home.

Regards,
Meaghan and Chris.

October 14, 2011

Dear staff at the Toronto Humane Society,

We are pleased to tell you that Beamer (formerly Pico) has settled into his new home beautifully. He's a handful, but a joy nonetheless.

My boyfriend and I went to the Humane Society to "just look" at some dogs on September 17, 2011. We had another dog in mind as it was, but Beamer quickly stole our hearts. He was sitting in the corner of his kennel and came right to us when we walked by. I asked him to sit, he sat, I asked him to shake paw, he happily gave me his paw. After that brief meeting, my boyfriend and I quickly went to fill out an adoption application for him. We were elated when we were accepted and got to play with Beamer one on one in the interview room. He was very timid, but it was love at first sight (excuse the cheesy cliche). We brought him home the same day and the rest is history.

Everybody Beamer comes across is surprised at how well behaved he is, especially at just 4 months old! When we brought him home, we realized that his sit and shake paw performances were just a fluke. He actually wasn't trained, but it didn't take long for him to learn his basic commands. It only took him 1 week to learn "sit, shake paw, lie down, and roll over". He is a very smart dog! I guess that's natural since he is a shepherd/labrador mix; both very intelligent breeds.

Since being adopted, Beamer has been spoiled to bits. He shamelessly rolls over for belly rubs on a constant basis. His favourite treats are homemade liver loaves and peanut butter and banana biscuits. He occasionally gets a fancy doggy treat from the local dog bakery down the street. We take him to the beaches for long walks and have 2 dog parks just around the corner from us. He has been very well socialized with both people and animals already. He's great off leash as well!

We cannot thank you (the fantastic staff at THS) enough for the great care Beamer and litter mates, among countless other animals have had and continue to receive. We are truly blessed to have Beamer in our lives.

All our very best,

Katharine and Derek

October 13, 2011

Hi, on August 20, 2011 Caramel graduated from the Toronto Humane Society and became a beloved member of our family.

We re-named her Jessie (which means God is Gracious). She came in, laid down on the bed we had set out for her and promptly went to sleep like she had always been here. Jessie is loving and funny and a delight! Jessie has fit in well with our other dog who is 12 years old and our cat (who thinks she is a dog!)

Thank you to the staff of THS for the positive experience we received when adopting Jessie.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Stretton and Carol O'Byrne
Jessie, Maddy and Maggie the cat!

October 12, 2011

It's Carlos, remember me? I'm using my owner's computer because I still don't have my own. My new parents are really really really nice! And I am being a very good boy, so good that they even bought me a bone today! It's a bit dry but it's ok. They told me I have an appointment with the vet on the 20th of this month. Do they know I'm a dog and I don't keep track of what day is it today??

Anyway, I just wanted to say that they are treating me very nice and they seem to be very happy with me. I sleep with Javier, he snores but so do I.

Miss you, and I will come see you one of these days.

Woof!
Carlos (aka. Max)

October 12, 2011

Hello all, I'm just sending this to let you all know that Keyla is doing great. The country life is definitely for her. She has lots of space to run and play and much to our pleasant surprise does not need to be on a leash. She is a very obedient girl. We have even been taking her our on the trails in the bush off leash and she will come when called back no problem. Her barking is not a problem at all because she has not too much to bark at other then a few chipmunks running around. She can be silenced when she does start to bark too much. All in time.

She is the biggest suck too. She just wants to get under your skin, she can't seem to get close enough to you. She has been excellent in her create at night however she does not like to be left out in the dog run by herself and will bark until you give in. We are working on that. She's getting the picture fast. She seems to be a very fast learner. We don't know why her other owners gave her up, I'm sure it was a hard decision to make for them. She is an excellent girl. Very smart and full of lots of love. Maybe she just needed the right environment to shine.

Thank you for making what we think was a good choice for Keyla. We are really enjoying her.

Carla & Ed.

October 07, 2011

This is unbelievable! Abel is doing SO well here!!! We made her sanctuary room.. and then she completely abandoned it within 14 or so hours in favour of the rest of the house! In the first hour with us, she ate both wet and dry food, she drank water (from both water bowls!), she used the litter-box in every way possible, she liked her brush, she even played with all her toys! She is so adorable and seeing her come out of her shell like this is so rewarding :)

She didn't seem to sleep much last night, but she explored the whole apartment down to the last corner. The only things I have noticed with her is that she blinks one eye more than the other (like she's winking half the time).. I think it may be dry? She is still scratching her tooth against objects around the house, like it's itchy or something, probably just do to healing I suppose, and she is still sneezing. (Which is very cute :)) But I think all of these things will heal in time and with lots of TLC.

My favourite part about her is how she follows you from room to room looking for belly rubs and what not. She even sits with Alanah and I to watch TV! (She's sitting on my lap as I type this email!) I think we're going to have a very happy home here. Attached are some pictures, not the best quality, but I'm sure you'll see what I mean about her coming out of her shell. We're so happy to have her, thank you for helping us find her.

Lexie J. & Alanah S.

September 25, 2011

Hi Mitchel and friends!

We're writing again to provide you with a vet update. Smudge has met her new vet and was a very good girl with all of the staff, they called her beautiful and loved having her visit.

Her bloodwork has come back and they don't foresee any issues, same with her fecal sample. She behaved very well getting her nails trimmed and she looooved all of the attention, she licked everyones hands, it was really sweet to watch.

Smudge keeps adapting well into our home, she's a wonderful companion and we're both totally in love with her.

Thank you for all the great work you do at your shelter, and for introducing us to Smudge!

Below are a few more pictures of Smudge at home.

September 07, 2011

This is a Success Story about a Boxer American Bulldog mix named Jack (Formely known as Brutus). My family and I had lost a dog of 13 years. We knew we needed someone to fill our void and we knew we would find someone who needed us.

My mom and older sister went to see the dogs before my other sister and I. They saw this dog named Brutus. He would wait at the door of his kennel for them to walk by again. I mom instantly had a connection with him. When my younger sister and I got to meet him he warmed up right to us. We then decided that he was going to be a part of our family.

When we got Jack he only weighed about 65 Lbs. He is now approx. 110 Lbs. I would like to thank The Toronto Humane Society for helping us find a new member of the family. Jack has been with us for around 3 or 4 yrs and we have all grown to love him and his goofy looking face. He will forever be a part of our family.

September 01, 2011

Our family adopted Mushy (we kept his original name) from the Victoria Park Satellite adoption centre almost two and a half years ago. There were a few rabbits there that day, but my son insisted we adopt Mushy because he had been at the shelter the longest. Mushy is a very friendly bunny. He doesn't like to be picked up very much, but loves to sit on my lap while I groom him. He is not a skittish bunny and will lounge quite comfortably in the family room while we walk about.

He doesn't mind the vacuum cleaner either and will make a point of coming out to look at it as it moves about the carpet. Mushy has free range in the family room (we bunny proofed it) all the time and hops in and out of his cage which is always open. His litter box is in there and he is litter boxed trained. Mushy is well loved and very spoiled! He's a happy family member.

Mimi, David and Cameron

September 01, 2011

This is me hanging on my new porch greeting the neighbourhood. My name used to be Bond. James Bond. 007 with a License to Love. I'm the small husky/shepherd with one leg too short from an injury. My New Person and I want to thank some special people at the Toronto Humane Society. Thank you for rescuing me in the first place, broken leg and all, from a Quebec kill shelter. My Person is thrilled that I was saved. She says I am "an absolute joy". A slurp to Jenny the adoption counsellor for sticking with us through all the paperwork and questions even when she was so busy. I'm having a ball. My Person calls me "LitLon" [Little London] after London, the Littlest Hobo. Not only do I look like him, my Person says I seem to be that smart, too. Another thank you slurp to the dogwalkers for taking me out, I haven't had a single accident. I have my own real fire hydrant just outside the door. I already learned to sit and wait at the doors before going in or out. It only took me four times to learn it. I can "sit/stay" and "down/stay" in the park for a whole minute already.

I'm trying really hard to be The Best Dog Ever. I'm learning all the time. We go out every couple of hours and practise for awhile. Sometimes I get to play with some big dogs on my lunge line and I have so much fun bouncing and wrestling, nobody even notices that I limp. Mornings, we play in a sand lot to strengthen my legs. I still hobble a bit but with exercises, massages, playing with my new dog friends, training and walks, it's less and less. I rest my leg awhile and away we go again. It's so cool to wake up in my crate next to the bed in the morning and realize that my Person didn't go away--she's always right there where I left her. Everyone in the neighbourhood loves me. I 'give paw' to people, let them pet me and wag at all the dogs. I make people smile. I have my own park to visit.

My Person says if I can get my sit/down/stay just a little longer, in a couple of days we can go on something called, a 'bus'. It's a big rolling kennel full of new people to meet and places to go and things to sniff. How exciting! So if anyone out there sees me with my Person, I walk with a bit of a wobble and I look like a small version of the Littlest Hobo. Stop and say hello because I love to greet new people and dogs.

To all my kennel mates left behind. NEVER GIVE UP--there's someone out there who thinks you're special if you're patient. Keep wagging. And for any people thinking, "That dog isn't perfect so I don't want that one," follow your heart. It might be the right dog. Don't look at all the things we can't do--look at all the things we *can* do. If you have faith in us we might be more than you can ever imagine.

LitLon aka Bond

August 31, 2011

Tara is doing very well. Her intestinal problems seemed to have cleared up. She loves everyone and has rapidly become my lover and a wonderful Lap Dog. Although she is over 30 kgs, she just climbs on my lap at night and cuddles right up as I watch TV. I know she is a bit big for a “Lap Dog”, but you try telling her that! In only two days, She has already learned to sit, lie down, and is learning to shake your hand. I fell certain that she will be very easy to train. I have had her out for short walks off the lease and she just sticks to me like glue, a wonderful temperament. We all love her. Thank you!!

Jack Wallace

August 23, 2011

My wife and I adopted Dude (Black cat) when he was a kitten just over 2 years ago. He immediately became part of the family and loved to roam his new home and sit on his dad's chest for hours on end. He is still an affection boy but now he sits on his mum's lap being too big (12lbs) for his dad's chest.

Last year at approxiamately this time we saw Tubbs on the THS web site and we went to see him all 22 lbs of him !! We had to wait a day or 2 because he had some problems at the time including a heart murmur. The THS vet explained the problems this overweight old cat (12 years old at the time) had. We took him home anyway and to this day we are pleased we did. He purrs constantly and just about shakes the house when he does . He gives kisses on request. When he meows I am sure he disturbs the neighbours.

We were warned that because the old boy was the same sex as Dude and older instead of younger, that integration might take some time, perhaps a month.

Fortunately for us both these cats have great dispositions.

Tubbs came home to his own bedroom , his dog bed ( cat accommodations were too small) his food and water bowls and his litter box. My wife and I took turns sitting with the Tubbs. By the morning of the day after he arrived the Tubbs and the Dude were reaching under the door with their paws and talking to each other.

The next day they both had the run of the house and its been that way ever since. The little guy as he is known chases the big guy up and down the stairs until the big guy tells him he has had enough. They really are best friends with marvelous accepting personalities.

Tubbs was taken to our vet within a week of coming home (and voluntarily every 3 months thereafter) and with his restricted diet (try that with 2 cats in the same house) and the exercise he gets trooping up and down the stairs and through the house he is down to 17 lbs with yet another lb to go however he is much more alert, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

The 2 of them continue to be affectionate with each other and with us and bring much joy to our household.

We owe the THS a great deal of thanks for the care they give the animals in their charge and especially for allowing us to adopt Dude and Tubbs.

August 18, 2011

Hi everyone

Harlow is doing really well and she has been a joy to work with. She is a sweet girl and with some training she is now a model dog.

I would love to thank the staff for bringing Harlow into my life she is my new best friend!

cheers,
Shaun R. Coghlan

August 16, 2011

I would like to take this time to thank you for all that you do.

My family adopted Marylou from the Toronto Humane Society nearly 5 years ago now. Marylou is a Stafford shire Bull terrier, and the biggest suck I have ever met. She fits in perfectly with our family and has an amazing personality. She even does a look that we call "Elvis" because she lifts up her top lip in an "I'm all shook up" kind of way. She talks like Chuwbakka from StarWars, which makes us all laugh on a Daily basis.

Our family adopted Marylou after we had some tragedies, including the passing of our old dog Coco, who we adopted from the SPCA. Marylou has been a lovely addition to our family and an amazing companion to my father who works at home, so she is his company and exercise throughout the day. She keeps him busy with her gigantic dog bones which she has hidden everywhere in our home.

She is very much a city dog and loves to go for walks, as long as they are on the sidewalk, she tends to get nervous still around other animals and tends to avoid them as much as possible. She also avoids puddles.

Again, thank you for the amazing work you all do,

Sincerely,
Marlaina Kahn and Marylou

August 15, 2011

HI there to all my friends at the Toronto Humane Society!

My name is Kodiak, as in Kodiak Bear. (known as "Cody" at the Toronto Humane Society) I answer to Kodi still, but I also go by "Kodi Bear", "Mr. Bear", or "Kode Man". I instantly won the hearts of my family when I was adopted by them in March 2011. I am so lucky to have a great Mom & Dad who love me so much... and an awesome SISTER, Bella. Bella and I have become best friends. We immediately clicked and have been inseparable ever since that day in the "meet and greet room". We are both Boxers so we just get each other, however she's about 6 months younger than me, but I'm already 20 lbs heavier than her!!! We usually spend our days by starting off with a run in the morning with our Mom, then wrestle around the backyard for a couple of hours throughout the day, and then cuddle and nap in the afternoons. Sometimes if Mom and Dad both have to work our Grandma comes and picks us up and we get to hang out with her for the afternoon!! She just loves us so much and spoils us like crazy. She even makes us our favourite dinner (rice and chicken) when we come over for dinner!! My favourite time of the day tho is the evening. I get to cuddle up with the whole family when we watch TV after dinner, and then I sneak up into Mom & Dad's bed at night time for even more snuggles. Anyways, just wanted to send a quick note to let all of you know how great I'm doing, and how great of a fit I am with my new family. My family also sends their thanks for how grateful they are to have me.

Thank you Toronto Human Society!!

Lots of love and kisses,
Kodiak

August 14, 2011

Hi, we just wanted to say thanks to all at the humane society, especially Tess, and to let everyone know that our new addition is doing amazing. We adopted Lucy 3 weeks ago and she is the most amazing dog. She became part of our family instantly and has even claimed one of the patio chairs as her own as you can tell by the picture.

Thanks again to all,
Judi, Jim & Lucy

August 04, 2011

We adopted Arabella, now re-named Audrey, in September 2009. Audrey had come to the THS as a stray and had already been adopted once. Unfortunately, it did now work out with the new owners and so she was returned to the shelter. From the moment that we saw her and she saw us, we knew that we had to bring her home!

Audrey has been an amazing addition to our lives. She loves to go for walks and play hunting games. When she was adopted she already knew some basic commands, but has since learned many new tricks and loves to show off her talents and earn a treat! Audrey loves to see all of our family members and friends, and greets them with a very enthusiastic tailwag!

We cannot imagine life without her now, and love seeing her curled up at the foot of our bed every morning. Thanks THS!

Niall, Erin & Kieran

July 26, 2011

Hi Toronto Humane Society!

We adopted Tanooki (formally CoCo) in March 2011. We brought her home expecting her to pull the usual 'I'm going to hide under the bed until I'm sure it's safe here' cat routine. Instead, to our delight, she spent her first few hours in our apartment exploring and purring loudly. Since then she has always been eminently curious and outgoing. She becomes fast friends with everyone she meets, loves to play and the consensus is that she is the sweetest cat ever! Even when she's being not so sweet (she loves to try to get you to share your food with her by sticking her face in it, should you look away for a second), she's totally endearing.

Thank you for introducing us to Tanooki, there couldn't possibly be a better cat for us than her!

Christine & Ken

July 22, 2011

Hi there everyone!

I adopted Argus last month and he quickly stole my heart. He is just a joy to have around. He is very vocal – he likes to call me from other rooms – and of course, he is the friendliest of little guys! He loves attention and I can’t wait to get home from work, as he now waits for me and greets me at the door with a purr!

Anyway, he has asked me to pass on this message to you at the shelter, as he remembers you all fondly (he doesn’t miss being there however), and wanted to let you know how he was:

Remember me? My name is Argus and I just wanted to let you know that I am very happy with my new mom and my forever home. I was adopted a little over a month ago, and although it was a bit scary at first, by new mom had a room all ready just for me and I settled in pretty quickly. Now I can sleep anywhere I like (but mostly I like to sleep beside or near my mom!)

She is the best mom and lets me cuddle with her anytime I want! She has given me lots of toys to play with and she is always willing to stop and play with me – so I have been getting a lot of exercise!

Anyway, I just wanted to say a big thanks to all of you for taking good care of me while I was waiting to go to my forever home!

Yours truly,

Argus

July 19, 2011

Dear THS,

My boyfriend and I had been looking for a companion for our English Bulldog, Forrest, for quite a while. We were attending obedience training at the THS with Shas for a number of weeks, each week being introduced to a different dog to help with Forrest’s socialization. On the sixth week, our last training session, we were introduced to a timid Australian Cattle Dog mix named Piper (since renamed Lucy). It was almost as if fate had brought us together, with 5 weeks of unsuccessful introductions behind us, Forrest immediately took a liking to Lucy. Lucy wasn’t even in the system when we decided to adopt her because she had only been surrendered a few hours earlier.

It took some time for Lucy to settle in. With regular visits to the dog park she went from the dog that would shy away from others to the social butterfly that began to approach dogs and their owners alike. We have also worked through the minor issue of Lucy’s nervous and excited peeing. She is a very clean dog that took to the house training rules very quickly. As well, we have minimized her tendency to bark unnecessarily and car rides have gone from a state of panic to a nap in the back with Forrest.
Lucy and Forrest have been the best of friends since day one, with their affection for one another growing each day.

We would like to give a big thank you to Shas for introducing us to Lucy, adopting her has been one of the best decisions we have made for our family. We could not have asked for a better dog, her sweet and loving disposition has changed our lives forever.

Sincerely,

Sasha and Craig,
Lucy and Forrest.

July 18, 2011

Dear Toronto Humane Society,

We adopted Bruno from the Humane Society near the end of last year. He is a special needs cat, but you could not tell from his happy and boastful demeanour. He was a little apprehensive and wary at first mainly because our first cat, but now he runs the household. He's adorable and has bonded with his sister-cat. His name is now Lennon, because his sister is Yoko.

Next month, he will be turning the ripe-old age of 1. His daily routine involves waking me up at 6 to make him his breakfast, playing with my mom's apron strings, sleeping and bothering his sister alternately throughout the day, and waiting for my father to arrive home near the garage door.

He is a great addition to the family. Enclosed are some pics of his cherubic face.

Sincerely,

Allison Ritchie

July 14, 2011

adopted Taz AKA (Tazie Joe) from the Toronto humane society on Jan 2/2011. Taz was tranferred from Toronto Animal services along with his sister Sylvia. They were split up because they were fighting with each other. He is very friendly guy, loves to cuddle. He comes running when he hear bag of treats being open. He loves any boxes, he will get into them. He and Pinkie Joe play together and clean each other. It didn't take him long to make himself at home. He didn't want to stay in his sanctuary room. He looks like my Joey that passed away. He has similiar personality like him. I am glad that he came home with me. He is a big part of my life now. He is doing great, settling his home very quickly. Loves being out in his balcony.

We would like to say thank-you THS staff for bringing us together!

Kelly and Taz

July 13, 2011

Hi! Thought I would send you an up to date photo of "Sherlock", whom we adopted about 8 weeks ago. His name is now "Walter" and he has fit into our family so well. We all love him, especially Norman our Boston Terrier, and Walter's new best friend! What a great little dog he is! We took this photo of him after he had his first "summer cut"!

Thanks so much!
Lesley, Mark, Norman & Walter

July 12, 2011

Hi,
I just wanted to update you on Olive Oil's (new name Madra) progress this past month since we adopted her.

The first two weeks of Madra's stay with us was tough on her. She was pretty much confined to her sanctuary room (which is a small closet) and would not leave the box in which she came in or from underneath her THS safety blanket. Thankfully us being the patient people that we are, let Madra take all the time she needed to get use to us and her new home.

She slowly started to come out of the closet every so often to explore, first during the night and then during the day. She especially loved to chase after her toy mouse which we would pull around the house for her. She would bounce out of the closet with excitement to chase after it, realize she was out the closet, and run back in. This would last for another week.

Thankfully, this past week, Madra has decided that underneath the drying rack is a much better fit for her. I took a photo of her recently sleeping like the beauty she is (attached), safety blanket tucked away.

This morning for the first time Madra sat in front of me and looked up at me in anticipation for her morning meal. She still gets frightened if we get too close, but she's slowly starting to realize that we will love her for the rest of her life!

She is such a smart cat and so curious to discover new things. When I was pulling the mouse on the string, for instance, she just kept looking at the string and following it to see where it was attached. I feel just by looking into her eyes that she's so much more than just a cat. She has indeed melting our hearts!

Thank you,
Maria and Conor

July 02, 2011

Thought you’d like an update on Dexter. We adopted Dexter on June 13th and he’s been such a joy. He’s settled in immediately and is happy in his new home. Dexter has met many new friends at the dog park and enjoys walking through the forest and visiting friends with ponds (that’s the Labrador in him)….just loves to play in the water. He’s turned into such a wonderful companion not to mention a very smart boy.
I also wanted to extend a great big thanks to all at the staff at the THS for making sure that Dexter was the right fit for us (although we came in for another dog), they were extremely open about all of their dogs that were up for adoption and we certainly found the right dog for us.

We’d be happy to update you from time to time.
Ann & Andrew

July 04, 2011

Last September (2010) my fiance and I adopted June from THS. We first saw June on the THS website and knew she was "our perfect match". THS made the adoption process a great experience for us, and we were very appreciative, seeing that we had never adopted a pet before. And now almost a year later, we couldn't see our lives without her in it. June brings so much joy and happiness into both our lives, and she completes our family. Thank you again THS!

Daniel Alison & June

July 02, 2011

Hello, I wanted to send an update on "Sally", my wonderful tuxedo cat that I adopted in January 2010. When I came to the River Street site last year, I brought my boyfriend with me to take a look at cats as I had been planning to adopt one for a while. We went to the humane society just to look around, but once I got there, I knew I would not leave without bringing a cat home. When I first spotted Sally, she was one of the the only cats in the room that was playing with the toys in her cage, as many of them were sleeping. She immediately came to the front of the cage and purred the loudest I have ever heard a cat. Although she appeared to be a kitten as she was very small and skinny, the worker told us that Sally was actually a year old, and had been waiting for a few months to be adopted. I immediately decided that Sally was the cat for me, and asked if I could adopt her.

That night, we brought Sally home. She was a little nervous at first, and hid under my bed for about an hour. However, once she realized she was safe, she began running around back and forth between rooms to stretch her legs. Sally appeared to be so happy to have a new home. As time went on, I realized how friendly and active Sally really is. I have had her for the past year, and her favourite activities include playing catch with her fake mice (yes she plays catch), staring out of the windows, running around the house and chasing me around the home. Sally loves being near people, and family members always tell me how adorable it is that she follows me around the house, and seems to always need to sit nearby, purring loudly when she is spoken to and given attention. Adopting Sally was one of the best decisions I have ever made because she brings so much joy to myself, and those around me.

When I first adopted Sally, she was one year old but weighed less than 5lbs, within a week, I noticed that Sally started eating a lot, and she was already beginning to gain weight. She is now a healthy 9lbs and loves to eat her cat food as well as treats. The vet tells me that Sally is one of the most gentle and loving cats they have seen, and she is very healthy! She is also very courageous, and was the first cat that decided to run out of the examination room at the vets office in order to explore the rest of the building!

I would like to thank all staff at the Humane Society for the great care they give to the animals that they have in their care, waiting for a good home. Upon bringing Sally home it was clear that she was well cared for as her personality and interactions with people show that someone was there along the way, helping to train and care for her.

Thanks again,

Karri and Sally

July 02, 2011

We adopted Switters (renamed him Mossimo) in December, 2 weeks before Christmas as we had been thinking about saving a pet for a long time. As well, our 7 year old kitty (Bella) needed a friend.

It took 4 people from the humane society to put Mossimo in to the cat carrying box for us to take him to his new home. Poor kitty had rough start in life and was emotionally challenged, he needed patience, love and understanding.

Initially, Mossimo hissed anytime we tried to go near him and for the first 2 weeks, he did not leave his sanctuary room. He would only eat in the night when we were asleep. When he did emerge, again, only in the middle of the night did he trust to venture outside of his sanctuary.

I would approach him slowly and let him smell me before slowly extending my hand to pat him. Initially, he hissed and cowered when he would see your hand and he would hide when anyone stood up in a room...

With lots of love, patience and understanding, I am happy to say that he has gained a lot of confidence, a few pounds (he loves his treats!) and has learned to trust his new, forever mom, dad and sister.

Our proudest moment was about 2 months after we brought him home; Mossimo was stretched out in from of the fireplace and did not budge when we stepped over him.

He is a very good kitty and easy to train. He is eager to be a good boy, loves to chase his string and snuggle. I captured this picture of him one day when he was stretched out on the pillow on our sofa. What a handsome boy!

Tammy Gillingwater

July 01, 2011

We just wanted to say "Hi" to all the people at THS who looked after us before we found our new home. Twix and I are doing great!!! We're totally spoiled and have become so at home and relaxed.

Barb has made us toys and plays with us all the time. Twix and I call out to her after our nap and she picks us up and cuddles until we're ready to go and play again!!!

Although I was the 'shy' one when we were there I've come out of my shell and put Twix to shame. He was the one who played with Barb when we were at THS, but I am the one who is a hugs hog now.

We're always chasing each other, napping together and we share our food... but the treats are a different story. We get our treats and tend to play with them before we eat them - it's so much fun!!!

Please let everyone there know that we miss them . We hope all our friends have found homes that are just as much, if not more, fun than ours!

I've asked Barb to attach these photos so you can see how we live now!

Love to everyone,

Hurshey Bear (aka Marley) and Twix (also Punkin)

June 29, 2011

Hi there,

It's been about 9 months since Bandet -- or Bubbles as we call him -- came home. At 12, he's still full of energy and love; he's a wonderful boy who adores his walks and the occasional treat (and, of course, he isn't opposed to a more frequent treat schedule!). He was the perfect addition to our family.

Thank you so much for taking such great care of him and most of all for introducing us!

Spencer, Sim & Bandet

June 29, 2011

I adopted a kitten named Herbie with FIV at the Toronto Humane Society and it was the best decision I ever made. I recently discovered that Herbie is part Maine Coon, lucky me! He is beautiful and extremely affectionate.

He is not shy and he's friendly to all people. Because he is considered FIV he is not allowed around other cats but he gets along great with dogs :) I have him on a very healthy diet and he's not sick at all. He's full of energy, and is extremely comical, he is also very appreciative and acts much like a dog by following me around and always full of affection.

Needless to say I'm in love with my 12 week old kitten and want to say thank you for letting me adopt him! I have had cats all of my life and I can honestly say adopting one with FIV really isn't any trouble at all, Herbie is just like any other cat, actually he's more special because he is so full of affection, not aloof at all, he's completely worth it and deserves the best of everything in my opinion :)

Jennifer Davidson

June 28, 2011

Hi there,

My husband and I adopted 'Jimmy' almost a month ago, and even after this short time, we couldn't imagine our lives without him. He brings great joy to our lives and, if my feline mind-reading skills are up to par, loves us and his new life a great deal too.

He loves to play with his toys (his favorites are a mouse that makes real squeaking sounds and a bright orange stuffy named 'Dave'), sleep on top of his 'cat condo' (the special sleep/play/scratch area my husband made for him the day before we brought him home), and get lots of cuddles in the evening before what we affectionately refer to as 'crazy hour'.

We've even started him on a harness so that we can take him into our private garden on ground level. With no dogs allowed, and a completely fenced surround, Jimmy loves to walk on his leash and explore this new environment.

We are enjoying watching him grow, learn, and play. He is one of the smartest animals we have ever known, and he completely has our hearts.

Thank you so much for bringing him into our lives.

Tanya and Tony Ross

June 24, 2011

Although Suzie Q arrived at THS in June 2009, I did not meet her until January 2010, when she began to be featured as a THS Cat of the Week. As a cat volunteer, I began to include Suzie Q was on the list of cats I visited each week. She was such a doll - whenever I sat in her cage, she would crawl onto my lap and just enjoy being petted non-stop for the entire duration of my visit. I could not understand why someone would not jump at the chance to bring this precious gal home.

In March, I decided that Suzie Q needed a forever home, and my home would be it. If she had any anxiety about her new surroundings, I did not see it. Within 20 minutes, she had used her litter box for the first time and within an hour, she knew where to find food and water.

It has been amazing to watch the transitions in her behaviour over the last 3 months. Initially, she would only sleep on my bed; however, she soon discovered that in the afternoons, the best spots of sunshine are in the guest room on the other side of the house. Just in the last two weeks, she has discovered that dining room chairs are also suitable as loungers. Similarly, when she first arrived, whenever I was unlocking the door to come into the house, I would see her peering cautiously down the stairs to see who was coming in the door. Now, while the key is still in the lock, she is already at the door, waiting to greet me.

Now, I'm not saying she's perfect. Who knew such a little thing could snore??? But, believe you me, when I am awoken every morning by her little Suzie Q kisses, I am more than happy that she is part of my family.

My sincerest thanks to all of the cat adoption staff (in particular, Mitch) who loved and cared for Suzie Q in the many months that she resided at the THS.

Paivi

June 24, 2011

My daughter (13) and I visited the THS 3 days in a row before deciding that “Whitby” (who we have renamed Smash) was the girl for us. We have always been a two-cat household and after losing our beloved Heidi (the 13 year old daughter of a kitten we adopted from the THS 15 years ago), we were feeling like an incomplete family but knew that a new addition would have to be just the right fit.

Enter Smash!
She is so full of love and energy and is such a sweet girl.

She has made herself right at home and has been playing, eating well and cuddling on our laps since the moment she got here. She even woke me up one morning with a little lick on my face!

Our older cat (12 years) Patchy has not been quite as taken with Smash’s charms just yet, but she’s slowly coming around.

We love her so much and she has helped fill our hearts back up after losing our special girl, Heidi. Thank you so much to everyone at the THS. Everyone was so helpful and patient with us while we made our decision. The entire experience, from beginning to end, was one that we would highly recommend to anyone interested in adopting a pet.

Kathy

June 22, 2011

Hello,

Baru & I clicked from the moment I met him. As I walked into the THS six weeks ago, he was the 1st animal that was genuinely drawn to me. I'm so grateful that we met that day because he's been a joy to be around ever since and will continue to be for a lifetime! Baru (formerly named Chong) was returned to the THS not once but twice for "aggression" issues. Well, I can safely say that these issues are no longer. Having been an avid pet owner from a young age, I didn't see any true aggression in this dog from day 1 and as I read the reports on his previous homes, I truly believed it was "owner error". This has turned out to be accurate. He plays at the dog park with other dogs & people 3 times a day and is very gentle with children. I went through an extensive 3 day screening process to adopt Baru which I believe in retrospect to be extremely positive. The THS simply wanted to find a good home for my boy and this has definitely happened. Here's the clincher, his brother, Cheech (who's now Shep) was adopted by a family a couple of blocks from me. Therefore, Baru gets to play with his brother on a weekly basis! What an affirmation that this was the right situation for both dogs and owners.

Many thanks to the THS and their great staff for assisting with the process. Baru misses you but is even happier with his permanent home!

Milton

June 22, 2011

Hello! I was adopted 2 months ago from the THS by my mum and dad. I was known as Tiny - I've now been renamed Max (or Maximilian if I've been misbehaving!!)

I have been settling in really well to my new home. I have a 3 year old sister called Rikku, who mum and dad adopted from the THS 2 years ago (she has her own 'success story' on December the 19th 2010!)

I love my new family, and especially enjoy chasing my sister around the house. She was a bit wary at first but has accepted my excitable behaviour now and will in turn chase me too! If I'm very lucky she will even give me a wash....although I get bored pretty easily and end up chewing on her ear :)

My mum and dad think I'm wonderful and pick me up all the time for cuddles...which I'm quite fond of and generally fall asleep either around their shoulders or on their chests - I like to stay close to them you see.

I wanted to give a big thank you to all the THS staff for looking after me and letting me go home with my new family. There was a particular girl who interviewed my mum and dad who was just great - she was so nice and kind :)

Big meeps and purrs,
Max and Rikku (....and Sarah and Ross!)

June 21, 2011

Hi, I adopted Rufus (formerly Spock) from the Human Society in October 2007. I was told he was thirteen years old. That would make him at least sixteen years old today, and besides being slightly arthritic he is a healthy and happy dog who still loves long walks. Rufus is one of the many Shepherd X breed dogs that Shelter's are filled with. These dogs are extremely obedient and even tempered. And talk about hybrid vigour! Purebred large dogs are not spry at 16. I could not have hoped for a more loyal companion. He was already housebroken and trained to heel while walking off leash (stopping until my say so to cross the street) when I brought him home. You could say Rufus trained me. He loves to cuddle, to walk to High Park and sniff around in the woods. It is a joy to adopt an older dog because they have cultivated a personality already. He doesn't bark, but he "talks" communicating excitement with a hilarious vocabulary of grunts and yelps.

When I visited the pound to look for a dog, I was told I should not adopt Rufus because he had been seized from a panhandler in my neighbourhood a few months earlier. A week later I came back because I couldn't forget him. Rufus' former owner had actually passed away but that man's roomate, who had tried to take care of him eventually did introduce himself when I was walking Rufus. He was thrilled that his roomate's dog had found a good home and that he would have the opportunity to say hello now and again.

I can't thank-you enough for giving me the best dog ever! If anyone is reading this site looking to adopt a dog and is not certain that they are able to be home every four hours to housetrain a puppy, I would highly recommend adopting a relaxed older mutt.

Madeleine

June 21, 2011

Hi there, I wanted to send some photos and an update on little Robert, the mini pin that came to THS in December 2010 at 1 month old.

I was a dog walker with THS from January- May. I fell in love with Robert and his heart-warming story. I was so lucky to adopt Robert in April and brought him to his forever home. Robert is now 8 months old and full of energy and spunk. He doesn’t let his disability stop him from anything.

He’s the best behaved puppy and everyone just adores him. He’s brought so much joy and happiness to me and my 8 yr old Yorkie Daisy and everyday is more amazing with him. He’s a happy healthy little guy and my house and our lives are so much better with him in it.

Here are some pictures of the little man now. I hope you will use his story in your success stories.

Here’s the link when he was ready to leave (I saved it)- http://www.torontohumanesociety.com/newsstories/mar18_2011_1.htm

Thanks & Regards, Stephanie Sinden

June 13, 2011

Aloha,

I am always smiling now, and its thanks to our new member of the family, Azra ( previously Putsie). My boyfriend Brandon and I adore animals and wanted to own a pet of our own…That’s when we decided to visit the Toronto Humane Society.

It was so exciting to see all the beaming eyes and whiskers of love seeking cats and kittens. We initially wanted to take them all home, but agreed on Azra. She is sweet, cuddly and adventurous…she absolutely adores her forever home. When we get home we usually find her curled up sleepy soundly in the corner of the couch. We love Azra very much and are very grateful to the THS and all the wonderful endearing staff. Azra has truly made our lives better and we will do our best to return the favour.

Thanks Again !!!!!
Sheridan, Brandon and Azra

June 06, 2011

Hello,

It’s Dave the Dachshund, I know I made a lasting impression on you during my stay at the humane society because I have made that same impression on my new family. I now have a brother named Kaufman, he’s a little bigger than me, he’s a Boston/Jack Russell terrier mix, but my best friend none the less. I spend most of my days playing, barking and just hanging out with Kaufman. My mom and dad have taken me to the dog park, long walks down by the lake, and to a giant pet store for my summer attire. They force me to wear sunglasses in the car, but it’s cool, Kaufman has to wear them too. They talk a lot about camping and swimming, I guess that’s why they bought me a life jacket. My days are filled with big adventures and great company. I am a perfect fit for my new family, thank you.

Regards,

Craig, Brianna, Kaufman and Dave

June 04, 2011

When we arrived at the shelter we knew right away that Mr. Tim Miggins (nee Lucretius) was the kitty for us. Little did we know how much we would fall in love with him! He is the friendliest cat, and loves to follow us around the apartment and inspect everything that's going on around him.

For about 2 hours each morning and again at night he is "hyper-cat" and runs at lightning speed like a horse from room to room chasing or being chased by invisible creatures that only he can see. His favourite game is fetch with his bouncy ball, and he will drop it at your feet when he lets you know its time to play. He has a basket that he naps in, and loves to sit across the top of the armchair when people are sitting in it, swatting your face with his tail. At night he sleeps at our feet on the bed and wakes us up every morning wanting to play.

We love him so much and are so thankful to the Toronto Humane Society for introducing us to our new best friend!

Mary & Andy

June 04, 2011

This is my baby. It has been eight years now. Brooklyn arrived at THS as an emaciated stray covered in open sores. She had been tossed out like garbage in the middle of winter. Her sorrowful past only makes me love her more. She is incredibly loyal, almost to a fault. I cannot leave her at a kennel, as she thinks she is being abandoned again. When I get her home, she sleeps for twenty four hours. She won't even get up to go for a walk! My next door neighbor is a trusted and loving friend who Brooklyn adores. Brooklyn won't go for a walk with her either. Brooklyn refuses to leave my side. In spite of her maligned breed, Brooklyn is a sweet and gentle girl. She is my best companion. My love for her grows every day.

Patricia King

June 02, 2011

Dear Humane Society,

I am writing today to tell you what a pleasure it's been to adopt one of the cats from THS. We have adopted a cat named Jedi 7 years ago, when he was 4 months old. He was small, scared, and a little anti-social at first. He was also sick, so I had to feed him food through a special syringe, given to me by the local veterinarian. Jedi cooperated and healed very quickly! Within the few first months of his life with us, he grew very attached to us.

Today, Jedi is a very loving cat. He is very sensitive, sweet, and kind. He senses when any one of us is upset and likes to comfort us by sitting on our lap and licking our faces! He also loves to sleep curled up next to someone's side. In the morning, he wakes me up by purring in my ear and sitting on my arm.

I could not have asked for a better cat. He is definitely an amazing family member for us!!! Thank you, Human Society!

Sincerely,
Tatyana K.

May 30, 2011

Hey guys!

I know how excited everyone was that Batman finally found a home, so I didn't want to keep you waiting too long before letting you know how things are going.

The short answer: it's going awesome!

Batman is an adventurous little guy. I got him home yesterday and opened the carrier so he could come out, and he immediately started walking around the room, checking things out. Then, he wandered out into the rest of the apartment, paying little mind to my other cat, King, who was following him around curious as can be regarding the new presence in the apartment.

It didn't take long for Batman to become very comfortable in his new Batcave and was laying beside me purring up a storm while I gave him chin rubs. He and King are becoming fast friends, as you can see in a couple of the pictures I've attached. They love to bird watch out the back door together!

You'll definitely hear more from me again soon, I just wanted to let everyone know how happy I am that I adopted Batman, and how happy he seems to be about the whole thing too!

Have a great weekend all!
James

May 20, 2011

Hi,

We just wanted to send our thanks and an update for Caesar. We adopted Caesar mid April 2011. He has turned our lives upside down in the best possible way. He is so sweet and loving, he is a 65 lb lap dog. He loves to sit on my boyfriends lap and watch tv. Where Wes is so is Caesar, they are joined at the hip. He is so energetic...he loves to run, and we have started taking him hiking on weekends so he can play. We are working on learning to play fetch, but he loves tug-a-war and can play for hours. Everyday he learns something new, and finally learned his name last week ( he was found wandering so he didn’t know it when we adopted him). He loves to have his belly rubbed and he hugs when we walk in the door. He loves to ride in the car and when he doesn’t get his own way, he gets this “pitiful puppy” look on his face and drops his chin on your lap and just stares. It makes me laugh every time. The cats still aren’t sure what to make of him but everyday gets better and a little easier.

I didn’t think it was possible to completely change everything we do so quickly, but I find myself looking for things for us to do with Caesar, places to take him so he can run around. He truly is a joy and we are so grateful to have found him.

Thanks so much,

Natalie Wes and Caesar

May 19, 2011

Hello friends at the THS! It’s me, Ravi!

I just wanted to send you a quick hello to let you know that I’m doing great over here at my new house! My humans tell me how much they love me every day. They say that I make them so happy and give me so many hugs and kisses. I LOVE hearing what a good girl I am – so much so that I start to purr all to myself! I’ve even taken to acting like a human these days. When my human Mommy comes home from work, I jump up from my bed and run circles around her feet until she picks me up and gives me a hug. I really hug too! With one paw on each of her shoulders, I give her l little kisses and snuggle in.

My vet says that I am such a sweet little girl and that I am very healthy too.

I really want to thank everyone over there for taking such good care of me and keeping me safe. I hope my humans get me a little sister or brother some day, and when they do – I will come by to say hello and teach you my new hugging trick!

Lots of love,
Ravi-Olie

May 17, 2011

Hey there!

My boyfriend Matt, and I moved to the city in early February, and decided within the first week of living in our new home that we wanted to adopt a cat from the Toronto Humane Society.

We arrived at the THS, and I immediately spoke to a wonderful, and extremely helpful volunteer on the kind of cat we were after. I knew we would be happy with any cat, but it was important to me to adopt a cat that was older, and who had been at the shelter for an extended period of time. The THS volunteer had many cats in mind that would be a perfect fit, and Billie (formerly known as Gwenevere) was one of them.

Billie had been born on the streets, and had been picked up by animal control services many times. She had been adopted at one point, only to be abandoned, and picked up by animal control services once again. To add insult to injury- she was missing half a tail that had most likely been taken off by another animal. Despite her rough life, she is the sweetest cat we have ever met.

When we took Billie home, she opened up to us immediately and fit in perfectly. She loves her belly rubs, treats (as you can tell from her belly!) and laying in the sunshine. I’ve also discovered that she has a strange obsession with my bobby pins, and I am constantly finding them around our apartment from where she hides them!

She is an absolute doll, and we couldn’t have imagined a better cat for us. I encourage anyone who is considering adopting a pet to check out the Toronto Humane Society. Once we move into a bigger place, we will absolutely be back to get Billie a friend!

Sincerely,

Katherine Palumbo, and Matt Proctor.

May 13, 2011

Hello,

We are writing today to let you know how wonderful our adopted German Shepherd Bea (Dishka her new name) has turned out to be! We knew she had not had a very nice life before she got to the THS but you would be amazed at what a wonderful dog Dishka has turned out to be.  She loves running on the endless trails we have up north and LOVES to play fetch with sticks, she is so fast!  She is doing very well and really likes playing with her brother, a chocolate lab named Jake, when we visit Toronto.  Our girl has so much energy and gets along so well with all people and other dogs we even had to connect our yard and our neighbours so her an her best friend Marley, a King Shepherd,  could hang out more and have more room to chase each other!  She has almost grown into her ears now and we can’t take her for a walk without getting at least a dozen compliments on how beautiful she is!  Dishka has come such a long way from when we adopted her in December.  

Thanks to everyone at the THS for letting us bring our girl home and for taking such great care of her before she found her furever home!

Adam, Kelsey and Dishka!

May 07, 2011

I came to the Toronto Humane Society April 18th, to look at cats as I graduated from school and am home for good. When I arrived Ginger was the first kitty I saw. She was so vocal and rubbed up against her cage to get my attention. I just knew she had to come home with me. It had taken her a couple day to get used to everyone in my family, as it seemed she was nervous around men.

Now Ginger is the biggest cuddle bug we have ever had. She knows I'm her "Mama" and she enjoys sleeping with me at night. She usually sleeps above my head on a pillow. Ginger is very loving and evergetic. Everyone who meets her falls in love with her. She also does really well with my two nieces, who are 7 and 4. I couldn't have asked for a better addition to my family! Thank you THS and thank you Lynn for helping me through the adoption process.

Savannah

May 04, 2011

On March 22, 2011, I adopted a cat named Tigger. Now that Tigger is in my home I know that she is the head of the house! I am sending you pictures to let you know how much she has adopted me as her owner. Tigger is a cat that is her own person and I am thankful that she has come into my home to bless me with her energy, humour and pure silliness; I love her everyday more and more. I would like to take this time to thank everyone at The Toronto Humane Society for all of their help in adopting Tigger.

Yours,
Gwen and Tigger Kidd

May 2, 2011

I adopted Zoey back in October of 2008 from the THS after I had moved out on my own and missed having the company of a family cat. There were so many cats there is was hard to know which was the right one until I saw Zoey. She had come right up to the front of the cage and stuck her paw out towards me and that was it, I started the adoption process and a couple days later took her home. She was a tiny little kitten and a few days after I brought her home she had gotten really sick with a respiratory infection. I was worried she wasn't going to pull through but being the feisty cat she is, she recovered and three years later she is happy, healthy and full of energy.

She has a very distinct personality and curious about everything and I often times find myself laughing at her quirkiness. She loves attention and follows me around wherever I am in the house and greets me at the front door when I come home. Definitely can't imagine not having her around!

May 2, 2011

Huron (snuggle bunny on the left) lost his partner Annie and he was very sad and lonely ... until I brought home Tansy from the THS just a few months ago! She was abandoned in an apartment laundry room so no one knew her history. She was skittish but also curious and spirited when we first met. It was a quick and easy bonding process (not an easy feat with rabbits!) and after just 3 weeks Tansy and Huron were living together and loving each other. She's funny, feisty, a huge explorer and has an insatiable appetite! She's taught Huron to explore more and not be so lazy! Now the two are inseparable.

Thanks THS!
Marni, Huron & Tansy

April 21, 2011

The minute my husband saw Oreo in his cage he knew he was our dog. He had a medical condition report on his cage for his ear and he seemed so sad. I was sent in right after as we had the twins with us in the stroller at the time. I didnt hesitate. I loved him too. Getting him home and settled in was a challege for him as he was used to a farm rather suburban living. He has done well and is definitely part of my family.  A good boy he is. :) 
His previous owners did send a note with him and unfortunately I was to send pictures to them. If they ever get to see this part of the website. He is in good hands with a loving family and we Thank You.

April 21, 2011

Hello,

We adopted Bridget (now, Rita) from the Toronto Humane Society on March 26, 2011. It took her just a couple of days to get used to her new home and family. Rita is with us just for three weeks, but we feel like she has been with us forever. The whole family is absolutely in love with her. Rita is very affectionate kitten, she loves playing with her toys and with us. Rita is very energetic - she can play for hours without being tired. We are so happy that we have a new family member – thanks to the THS!

Julia

April 21, 2011

We wanted to update you on "Tank", the most handsome german shepherd in the GTA!  We already had a 7 year old shepherd and a 4 year old lab, but when we saw Tank's sweet little face on the THS website, we knew we had to meet him.  It was love at first sight!

Tank arrived at the THS with a broken leg after having been hit by a car and underwent emergency surgery and he had a long rehabilitation. Our vet is very impressed with the quality of Tank's surgery by THS vets, and how well he has recovered. You would never know Tank has a plate in his leg the way he runs and plays. He was a little timid and shy when he first arrived home with us, but he has really grown into a confident and self-assured boy. He loves his doggy siblings and his best friend is his cat sister Roz. The first thing Tank does when he gets up in the morning is check on Roz, greeting her with a big sloppy kiss, which she seems to actually enjoy! He is such a sweet and affectionate boy, he insists on sleeping next to one of us and is inseparable from his lab sister Dolce. Thank you for taking such good care of our boy until he found his forever home with us.  We just cannot thank you enough for the good work that everyone at the THS does for animals in need in our community.

Thank You,

Alicia and Emad

April 21, 2011

We adopted Rudy from the Toronto Humane Society in April, 2009, when he was 11 months old. His original name was Trouble. This might have put some people off – but not us.  When we had our meet and greet with “Trouble”, he ran up to us with his tail wagging and promptly sat down at our feet, his big brown eyes full of excitement. That’s when we knew he would be our dog. 

Rudy has enriched our world in so many ways.  He is loving, loyal, inquisitive and fun-loving. Although it has required some small adjustments, Rudy has fit into our lives very well. When we get home from work, he is so excited to see us his whole body wags.  When my husband is away, Rudy is on high alert – “protecting” me from “danger”. Rudy has also become an active participant in our annual canoe trip – at first he was scared of the canoe – but now he’s quick to jump on board and he leads the way fearlessly through the bush during our portages.

Rudy has introduced us to many new parks in the city.  He loves to play fetch and will spend hours swimming, running, investigating and frolicking. We spend much more time outside than we ever have before and we are getting to know our community in a new way.

I am so happy that we made the decision to adopt Rudy. If Rudy could talk, I’m sure he’d say thanks for looking after him until he found his forever home. He’s a pretty happy pup – and we feel very lucky to have found him.

April 21, 2011

We adopted Scarlet many years ago when she was 11 months old. She was a stray that the Humane Society picked up in downtown Toronto. She is now 15 years old. She is a wonderful part of the family. She is always my alarm if our autistic son decided to run down the driveway. She's my little tattletale and always protecting. She tolerates the additional animals to our family and even taught our newer dog the ropes. Now she is much slower and is hard of hearing but still a wonderful member of our family. She has been with us through all our moves and now is relaxing in the country since we bought a rural property in Tottenham Ontario.

We love her very much.

Lee

April 20, 2011

Hi Everyone at Toronto Humane Society!

It's Koko and BigFoot just checking in with all you folks that looked after
us until you found us a new Mom and Dad! Thank you so very much! And thank
you so much for keeping us together. We don't know what we would have done
without each other. Our new parents are glad THS has this adoption policy!

Well, we've decided that we're going to keep these new parents. You should
see all the room we have to play. We can watch all the birds and squirrels
from all the windows. Holy cow man....we discover a new corner or place in
this house every day! (It's me, BigFoot, I don't like all the stairs in
this house though. It means I have to get some exercise going up and down
to my food and litter box! Geez!) These new parents keep telling us that
when both of us purrrrr the windows in the house rattle.

We went to see the new Dr. yesterday at Richview Animal Hospital. Dr. Porch
said we're in good health but both of us need to lose a little bit of
poundage....especially me, BigFoot. I know all these stairs are going to
help out and I'm getting better at going up and down. (You know I have a few
extra toes to carry around with me.....so cut me some slack!)

We have a favour to ask you....can you let our old parents know we've given
our new parents the 'seal of approval' and not to worry about us. We miss
them and hope the new baby is doing well. Our new parents said we were
brought up really well and were loved and it's obvious these new ones are
going to do the same!

Well anyway, it's about noon and writing this letter to all of you is
exhausting and cutting into our afternoon nap so we're going to sign off.

Take care and thanks once again!

Koko and BigFoot

April 18, 2011

Hey there!

My boyfriend Matt, and I moved to the city in early February, and decided within the first week of living in our new home that we wanted to adopt a cat from the Toronto Humane Society. We arrived at the THS, and I immediately spoke to a wonderful, and extremely helpful volunteer on the kind of cat we were after. I knew we would be happy with any cat, but it was important to me to adopt a cat that was older, and who had been at the shelter for an extended period of time. The THS volunteer had many cats in mind that would be a perfect fit, and Billie (formerly known as Gwenevere) was one of them.

Billie had been born on the streets, and had been picked up by animal control services many times. She had been adopted at one point, only to be abandoned, and picked up by animal control services once again. To add insult to injury - she was missing half a tail that had most likely been taken off by another animal. Despite her rough life, she is the sweetest cat we have ever met. When we took Billie home, she opened up to us immediately and fit in perfectly. She loves her belly rubs, treats (as you can tell from her belly!) and laying in the sunshine. I’ve also discovered that she has a strange obsession with my bobby pins, and I am constantly finding them around our apartment from where she hides them! She is an absolute doll, and we couldn’t have imagined a better cat for us. I encourage anyone who is considering adopting a pet to check out the Toronto Humane Society. Once we move into a bigger place, we will absolutely be back to get Billie a friend!

Sincerely,
Katherine Palumbo, and Matt Proctor.

April 15, 2011

Hello,

My girlfriend Amy and I adopted Ollie on Saturday April 2, 2011. We had been thinking about adopting a cat for some time to provide company for our cat Koda, who found herself alone most days until we got home from work. We took our time and did a bit of research in the attempt to find the perfect cat. We had come across Ollie on the Toronto Humane Society (THS) website and made arrangements to come down to Toronto and see him. Upon arrival, we determined quickly that he would be the cat coming home with us. His temperament was great as was his personality. We learned from THS staff that Ollie had been at the shelter for some time. Ollie had some prior health issues making most potential foster parents reluctant to take him home. Amy and I were very thankful to THS staff for giving us full disclosure on his health profile. They explained in detail how we could enrich Ollie's life through diet and how to ensure he was a healthy and happy cat. Volunteer staff at the THS also were especially nice, going out of their way to share their experiences with Ollie. Ollie came home with us that afternoon and has settled into a comfortable little routine at his new place of abode. Ollie likes having his run of the apartment and often can be found curled up on the edge of our living room sectional. Ollie and Koda are becoming friends and they both enjoy playing and admiring the fish in our fish tank. Ollie is very talkative and quick to greet you at the door when you arrive home. We are very happy to have him as part of our family and thank everyone at THS for helping us in the experience!

Jason, Amy, Koda and Ollie.

April 15, 2011

I picked out Fluffy in early 2010. I had just moved into an apartment on my own and knew that it wouldn’t feel like a home without an animal.

I read Fluff’s bio and knew that I had to take her home – it was her second time in the Human Society, she had been there for almost 6 months, and was 15 years old. Kittens are adorable, but older cats need homes too!

Fluff quickly made herself comfortable. She spends most of her day following the sun around, snoring, and stealing pancakes whenever she gets the chance. Getting her was honestly the best decision I’ve ever made – she’s brightened up my life and made me a happier person.

Whenever I’m ready for another animal, I will defiantly go back to the Human Society!

Kathryn.

April 15, 2011

When my husband and I got settled in our new house we decided it was time to get a cat.  My mother went to the THS with my husband because I knew that if I went I would have brought home every animal in the shelter.  My instructions to them were to simply find the kitty that needed me the most.

When they went in to see the cats they saw many lovely and deserving ones who were all friendly and coming to the front of the cages to allow the visitors to pet them.  Then they saw the other cat.  In one cage there was a small, meek, furry little girl who was at the very back of the cage, shoved right into the corner and facing away from everyone.  The staff told them that she was a very timid cat who had been treated very badly over the first two years of her life.  Both my mother and husband knew right away that she was the cat for me. 

When Plaidy (as she was then called) came out of the box at my house my first thought was that she was so gorgeous with her long white fur with just a touch of tortoise around her face and tail.  Then before I could get a good look at her she was off!  Hours later I finally found her, hiding in the store room in a tiny little nook behind all the suitcases.  If I lay on the floor I could just spot her face in the dark, all the way back against the wall.  And there she stayed (at least when we were awake) for about two weeks.  I came down often to lie on the floor and say hello and to leave her treats.  I renamed her Malaika (it means Angel in Swahili) because I didn’t want her to have any memories of her past unhappy life.  She must have come out to eat and use the litter box but never when we were around. 

It took about six weeks in total for us to really meet our little Malaika.  During that time she had one or two accidents on our carpet, which prompted my husband to call her the Phantom Piddler, and her name has since been changed to Malaika-Piddles.  Now almost 4 years later Piddles is a happy, playful, and very sucky cat.  She has gained so much confidence that she is even happy to beg for attention from our friends who come to visit.  She is not quite as fond of our new baby but they are slowly becoming friends too. 

Evyn

April 15, 2011

I adopted Lina from the Toronto Humane Society in January 2011. Lina was a quite cat with a stress licking problem and didn't eat a lot while she was in the shelter. Lina went through a hard time when her owner passed away and growing up with small children. We knew that Lina wouldn't warm up to us right away and she would be a very independent cat. and we were ready for that, she was just to beautiful to give up.

Once arriving at home she hid under my bed for a while and slowly crept around the house looking at everything. But to our surprise Lina has been the most cuddly, talkative cat I have ever met and she has totally stolen my heart. She sleeps in bed with me every night, talks all day and night, greets all of our visitors so warmly and cuddles the best.

Lina has also stopped her stress licking and has no problem eating. Although she is still a little nervous at times it is totally normal seeing how she has only been with me a few months. All she needed was a loving home and were so happy to have her with us.

Evyn

April 15, 2011

We adopted Ross (now named Tony) back in February 2009. We walked in to see this tiny 10 week old orange sweetie sitting at the front of his cage looking for attention. We saw that he had a medical work-up due to his heart murmur and right away I knew he'd be the perfect fit into our family. I (Megan) work as a veterinary technician and knew I'd be able to take care of his needs. We right away filled out the paper work and took him home. We fell in love immediately and he fit in the second we walked in the door. He is the apple of our dogs eye and they cuddle and play together all the time. He is a bundle of joy. His heart has never acted up and runs around like a little kitten for two years.

Thank you for taking Tony in and giving him the workup he needed. He love every minute we get with him.

Megan and Steve

April 11, 2011

Hello,

Just wanted to drop in to let you know that since adopting Oreo in August 2008, all is well. His transition from being on a farm to suburban living went well and he absolutely loves his feline friend Sammy and his new baby friends (our then newborn twin daughters).

We have always have been fond of your organization and have adopted from you prior to adopting Oreo. In 1993,we adopted Ferguson and beautiful,gentle Australian Sheppard who we loved dearly right from the start. We believe he was two when we adopted him. He lived till he was 15 years old and passed away on May 28, 2008. If everyone could open their hearts and home and see that all should be given and safe and happy home this world would be a better place.

Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.
The Young Family

April 03, 2011

We recently adopted a dog named Henry from the Toronto Humaine Society. When we made the adoption they gave us your email to give you an update on how he is doing. We have changed his name to Carter and he is doing great.

Carter and our cat Stitch have become great friends and love playing together and taking naps together. We live in the Beach so Carter loves going for walks on the Boardwalk and playing with his favourite ball in the park. He is getting lots of exercise in our backyard and going for many walks and is putting on weight nicely. Carter is happy and healthy and he has brought great joy to our lives. Carter is enjoying his forever home.

Take care
Katherine and James

March 27, 2011

When I got my first kitten from a rescue group in 2008 I struggled between 2 names - Achilles and Apollo. I settled on Achilles. Sadly it wasn't meant to be and at 3 months of age, Achilles left me.

A year later, in September 2009, I was looking on the THS website for a new little kitten I could call my own. That's when I found Apollo. He was at the Victoria Park location and I knew he was meant to be mine - he looked exactly like Achilles had and had already been named with the 2nd name I had considered a year ago.

I went down and adopted Apollo right away. I was told he was semi-feral, so I made sure to give him lots of room to get to know his new home. It didn't take him long before he was calling the shots.

Apollo is full of energy and keeps me laughing non-stop. He climbs into the bathroom sink and turns on the tap to give himself a bath (but never turns it off!) and has even opened the fridge a few times. He makes sure I get up in time for work, getting on my back to meow in my ear if he has to. He greats me at the door and lectures me if I have been gone too long for his liking. He tells me when he wants food, treats, cuddles or if the litter box needs to be cleaned and we fight, several times a day, over the desk chair. He has even won my parents over, who had never been cat people, and delights in tormenting their Border Collie during visits.

I am very very happy to have found Apollo at the THS - he is happy and healthy and has brought a little ray of sunshine into my life. The story of how he came into my life has even become my first publishing success, so without him I wouldn't have achienved my greatest dream.

Thank you for all you do, THS, and thank you for helping to bring this sweet, yet mischivious, kitten into my life.

Tara & Apollo

March 22, 2011

Just wanted to drop a line to update you on how our two THS dogs are doing today. We adopted Carla, and Australian Kelpie (formerly Roxy) and Hooch (an akita) about a month apart from THS in late 2007. Both were red level dogs with some behavior issues, but with training and patience and a lot of TLC, they came around really quickly to being great dogs. We've since adopted two other dogs privately and all 4 get along great and spend the day running around the farm and playing. I remember a volunteer coming up to us when we took Hooch home, she was in tears, thanking us for taking him because she thought nobody would given all his behavior issues, she loved him and was happy for him, but also sad to see him go. I hope she sees this and knows that he is very much loved and appreciated with us and is a wonderful dog.

I'm attaching some photos of them playing on the farm and resting on the back deck after a long day of playing.

Kelli Edwards,

Cookstown Ontario

March 22, 2011

I had seen Scruffy on the Toronto Humane Society website, and knew immediately that I HAD to have him. I went to adopt him, but unfortunately I was not approved for the adoption! I went home upset, thinking I would go back in the next few days with the other member of my household. When I called to see if Scruffy was still there, he was on hold! I figured I would never get him, but, lo and behold, he was off hold and I went to adopt him the next morning! It was meant to be!

I had been told that Scruffy was a bit of a mischievous, rambunctious, agressive dog...not a bit, but a WHOLE LOT. I loved him anyways. Even though I've only had him for two weeks, he is fitting right in, and is the perfect dog! He had few problems, such as digging a hole in the wall (how ridiculous, you'd think he was digging a hole to China, the hole was so deep!), but since then he now has a crate which he can stay in while I'm out, which he seems to love! Scruffy has finally found his forever home.

Thank you, Toronto Humane Society!
Julie-Anne

March 19, 2011

Hi!
I was just browsing your site and thought I'd add another success story!

I adopted Princess (Then Sully) in 2008. He was nervous to start and insisted on my sleeping on my head for the first few weeks! Since then he's become quite a character and very talkative! He's made the last few years great and I look forward to the warm greeting I receive every evening on my return from work.

He and I both love dogs and are hoping we find the perfect # 3 for our household soon.

Thank you to the staff member that led me to him!

March 18, 2011

hi I got my cat Yuki (then named Natalie) from the toronto humane society years ago in 2008 when she was only a year old. She stole my heart when i saw her. Yuki is definetly a one person cat, she wil follow me around my home and dosent like be left by herself.
She is doing well and I wouldnt know what to do with out her.

Christa

March 18, 2011

When my boyfriend and I came to look at cats at THS it was overwhelming. Almost one of the last cats we saw was Kenobi. She was sticking her paws through the cage and begging to play. We instantly knew that we wanted to take her home. We were told about her past which was so sad. She came to the shelter very young (around 1) and pregnant. She had four kittens and none of them survived because she was sick. When she was taken to the THS her eye was clouded from an eye infection that was left untreated too long.

It's been 2 years an Kenobi has become a completely new girl! She's no longer shy and she loves to be around people and having some pets on her belly. We couldn't be happier with Kenobi and we feel so lucky that we got to bring her home.

Mandie

March 13, 2011

My daughter and I melted over Pudge the moment we saw him sleeping away in his cage!

Liz was a great help in preparing us to welcome him into our home.

Pudge immediately started exploring the minute we opened the box and was not shy about "saying" that he was happy. He is independent, yet loving, and we love him So much already!

Please see the attached picture of Pudge having a nap with his new "Mommy"!

Thank you!
Amanda

February 25, 2011

We adopted Rocky, a 12-year-old poodle-basset mix, back in October. The poor guy had been at the shelter for a few months - he had a perfectly good temperament but I think people were put off by his age. I just wanted to let you know that Roger (as he is now known!) has adapted without any trouble whatsoever. He is healthy, energetic, trainable and loves to go for a walk; he's cuddly and playful and fits right in with our much smaller 2-year-old Maltese-poodle mix, Eric. In fact, they play together almost constantly.

Here's Roger wearing a snow-beard. He loves to plow through it face-first!

Adopting a senior dog has turned out to be a wonderful decision. Thanks THS!

Allison

February 25, 2011

Yoshi (also known as Charlotte by THS) did not take long at all to adjust into the new environment after adopting her from Toronto’s Humane Society on October 3rd 2010. Yoshi is still as fun,cute and playful as when we first met her. As the day goes by we could all see that Yoshi is getting quite big, but no way does her size stop her from jumping around everywhere all the time. One of the things I love about her is that she so friendly and is always using what we call "soft" paws to play with others.Which means she never claws you.

My whole family is absolutely in love with Yoshi and we just can’t get enough of her. Here's a few photos of her so you guys can get a slight idea of how big she's grown.

Shauna

February 25, 2011

Jamie is doing just Great ! She is the most effectionate cat we've ever had or seen. From the very first day she explored her new home to that night on Val's lap, She has made her self right at home and us feel so good. Our son originally wanted a dog, but instantly changed his mind the first time she laid on his legs while he did home work on his bed.(Pretty much a nightly ritual).

Her favourite toy is a boot lace and will litterly spend hours playing with it. Jamie was to our vet Jan 28th for an exam and the FVRCP shot. Everything was good. She has healed fine from the broken upper left tooth she had removed at your facility. Jamie is a real joy ! We look forward to many wonderful years together.Please feel free to let everyone know of the wonder experence we've had with the Torono Humane Society Family.

Best regards,
Brad,Val and Tyler

February 25, 2011

It did not take long for us to fall in love with Cooper's loving and gentle personality, especially when we heard his loud purr. He has adapted extremely well into our household and daily routine, often ending his day with snuggles on the couch. Cooper has added so much to our lives, we already can't imagine what life would be like without him, even though it has only been two weeks since we first picked him out.

Thanks to everyone on the cat adoption staff for uniting the three of us together!

Tracy & Pat

February 25, 2011

Just wanted to send you an email to let you know how well Emme was doing. She has taken over the condo and has adjusted very well. When we brought her home she was very timid and shy. By the second day she was running around and playing like a regular kitten. She loves playing with her balls and toys. Her favorite thing is to have her belly rubbed.

Warren

February 25, 2011

Attached is a photo of our kitten Paddington who we just adopted a couple of weeks ago from the Toronto Humane Society and our dog Molly who we adopted as a puppy a couple of years ago from the Toronto Humane Society.

Molly came to us a very frightened and emaciated puppy. She is now the most wonderful dog anyone could ever imagine. She is extremely loving and just perfect.

Paddington has adjusted well to Molly and our other cat. He nows sleeps attached to Molly. They are best friends and love to play together.

Thank you for allowing both to enter our lives.

the Johns family

February 21, 2011

Back in early January I noticed a cat on your website named “Kugel”. I was really taken with her and her spunky demeanour. When I went to meet her, she was pretty subdued after being at the THS for nearly six months. With all of the background and advice provided by Jenny at the THS, I decided to take a chance on her and bring her home. She immediately began to explore and check out my home. She has perked right up and is enjoying relaxing in sunbeams and having the run of the house. She also likes to sit on my desk and keep me company while I’m working and gives me the occasional head butt so I don’t forget she’s there.  She has a great appetite too and will even chase treats, which helps to give her some exercise. I did change her name to “Dougal” and she has been responding to that well.

So thank you all, and especially Jenny, for all your help in and for matching me up with Kugel/Dougal.

 All the best,

Nancy   

February 21, 2011

We wanted to send along a note of thanks, from Jason and me, for the time each of you took helping holly to come home. We understand it is early but Holly seems to have taken to her new surroundings quite well. She immediately found her bed and her toys with which she is very pleased and seems indefatigable in her amusement (solitary and shared) with them. She particularly loves sinking her teeth into her new squeaky toy. She is a sweet sweet sweet girl.

She ate well last night – though a little ravenously – and again this morning and we were happy this morning to see her take a bit more time and enjoy her food. She seems to like the fact that she can see us at all times – we live in a loft – and I was amazed when after explaining to her where the kitchen was she respected the no food rule and went to lie on her bed where she could chew her bone and watch me cook.
(A special thanks to all of you that worked with her on her manners – we keep looking for signs of "problem dog" and all we get is perfect dog.)

Every moment with her is a pleasure. In that she is so very loving and willing to please. And something more is witnessing this beautiful creature find her feet. All four of them. She has but had loving words and actions from us – and that is what we get in return – unconditional love.

James

February 20, 2011

Greetings THS staff and volunteers!

My name is Tooner, and I was adopted from the Toronto Humane Society back in June of 1998. I am still an active puppy, although I'm technically a grown up now. I will be 14 years young this summer.

I love to catch my frisbee in mid air (the here-to-for unknown verb "to friz"), and I love to sniff my way around the off leash dog park. My forever family has turned into just that - forever. We moved to Saskatchewan from Toronto in 2002 and I can't believe all the space out here! I'm not hearing so well anymore, but that's turned into more of a blessing than a curse as I have a two year old human sister who revels in testing her voice's limits. My little puppy brother just has to tolerate the sound, but I am happily oblivious.

I wanted to say thanks for my time at the Toronto Humane Society - my parents are so thankful they found me and I am so thankful I found them! We're a match!

Love Tooner

February 15, 2011

We adopted Serena, now called Holly, just before Christmas. 20 lbs of mischief but was house trained and crate trained in days. Had to work really hard with her as she could be nippy and found it hard to trust. We now take her to the leash free dog park and she is very well behaved and socializes very well with all other dogs. She now shows affection and likes to be petted. We adopted a second dog and after two weeks they are best of friends. Next week her shots are done and we can take them up to the park together for the first time. Thanks to the Toronto Humane Society. It was great to see her sister found a home too.

Brian Duffield

February 5, 2011

Hi there, I was just reading through your success stories and thought I would send in my own.

I adopted Midnight (now Calvin) and his littermate Shadow (now Hobbes) during one of your adopt-a-thons in June of 2000. I just wanted to let you know that they are still doing well, still the loves of my life. In the last 10 years I have moved several times, changed jobs, boyfriends have come and gone, but these two have always been with me. I can't thank you enough for allowing me to bring these two beautiful souls home with me.

Katie

February 1, 2011

I’m such a proud parent I wanted to share our adoption success story. We adopted “Arthur” in March 2009 (we changed his name to Ted Baxter or Baxter for short) and while our first schnoodle Charlie (on the bottom in the picture) wasn’t completely ecstatic about the idea at the time, as you can see they’re now inseparable and the very best of friends! They do everything together, and do not even want to be separated to be examined individually by the vet!

We are so delighted to have been selected to give Ted Baxter his forever home and are so appreciative of the work of the Toronto Humane Society. I can’t imagine why anyone gave this adorable dog up for adoption, but he is definitely appreciated and loved to bits where he is now.

Steven and Jennifer Taran

January 29, 2011

Dear Toronto Humane Society

We adopted Elsie and Perry in early December 2010 – we were still recovering from the loss of our beloved rabbit Nina (previously known as Siam) who we had adopted from the THS in 2003. Elsie and Perry are wonderful – Elsie is a good big sister and looks out for Perry, who is just a little bit slower and more apprehensive at trying new things. It is so amazing to watch a bonded pair of rabbits share everything – they never quarrel and always seem to figure out how to make 1 baby carrot feed both of them. It is funny to watch them learn new tricks – Elsie was positively smirking when she first leaped up on a bed and looked around! There is usually a great deal of commotion and binkying going on in the house and then they will both settle in for a long rest.

Elsie and Perry have settled in well to their new home and they are free-range bunnies when we are home. They love to be out and about and getting into mischief – we have already had to replace 2 phone cords and 1 TV cable cord. Several magazines have also met a bad end. Here is a picture of them in the magazine basket, having some fun.

Thank you THS and thank you to the wonderful worker in the rabbit room when we came for Perry and Elsie. Our house is full of rabbits again and we could not be happier.

Ann, Liam and Katie

January 26, 2011

Hi Liz, It's been more than 5 months since we brought Rose, now known as Rogue, home from the THS on August 14, 2010. Rogue came to the THS by way of Toronto Cat Rescue and we were told at that time she was one of the cats who had been at THS the longest. She seemed to be depressed as well because she wasn't eating as much and she was extremely shy when we met her. Despite her first impressions, we decided she was the one for us and took her home.

It didn't take Rogue long to get used to her new life with us. She quickly identifed her favourite places in the house to lounge and sleep, including the foot of our bed at night. Her appetite fully recovered and she comes running when we get out her cat treats. She likes to be with us wherever in the house we are and we love her companionship. She has fun playing with her toys but her favourite game is hunting the laser pointer light as it dances across the carpet.

Rogue has figured out our daily routines and escorts us around the kitchen and washroom as we get ready for the day. She particularly loves sitting in the washroom sink and doesn't mind the occasional splash of water. She doesn't quite understand the concept of sleeping in on the weekends and has a number of very creative ways to wake me up without actually meowing, including rattling the closet doors and body slamming.

Rogue has gained confidence in her new home and has really blossomed into a wonderful and fun companion. We're very grateful that we didn't pass her by. Thanks to Jenny at the THS for advising us and showing us what a great cat Rogue was for us.

Please feel free to share Rogue's story.
Charlotte and Jan Shalla

January 21, 2011

Hi THS!

I just wanted to give you an update on Ellie, whom we adopted back in 2005. She was 6 months old when she came to us, a dog completely unaccustomed to being a dog (she didn't like the leash or know how to "do her business" outside). She's opened up over the years, especially in the dog park, where she runs straight for the long grass and deep bushes to look for mice, snakes, and ducks.

She makes a great cuddling pillow and loves to snuggle. She's very protective of her younger brother, Rocky, also an adopted dog (but not from the THS). We love Ellie with all our hearts, and we were very upset when she tore both rear knee ligaments last year. With some TLC, she recuperated perfectly and is almost back to normal. We can't imagine life without her. Thank you for giving us many wonderful memories with Ellie, and many more to come! Here's a picture of her enjoying her favourite past time; lounging around outside.

Sincerely, Kasia Szymanek

January 18, 2011

I adopted Tiger almost two weeks ago after seeing him on the THS website and falling in love with him. I couldn’t stop thinking about this sweet little guy and I wanted to give him the forever home he so badly needed.

Tiger’s previous owners surrendered him for house soiling and aggression, and described him as a fearful cat. I have seen no evidence of any of these behaviours. Tiger previously had problems with his urinary tract, but he’s now back on his prescription diet and has used his boxes consistently since we got him. He has never been aggressive with my mum or me; in fact, he’s quite a gentle little kitty with us. He even liked his new vet and was calm throughout his examination. As for being fearful, we expected him to be shy at first. Surprisingly, he didn’t want to stay in his sanctuary room during his first night; he preferred to be in the living room with us instead. When I went to bed that night, he decided to join me.

Since then, Tiger has settled in beautifully. Now that he knows we’re not going to disappear, he’s more confident about going off on his own to explore, look out a window, or have a nap. He loves to be petted and brushed, and he loves to play. His favourite toy is a straw. At first, Tiger liked to sit between us on the couch, but lately he’s found a favourite chair to curl up in when we watch TV.

I’m so glad that Tiger is part of our family now. He’s the most adorable little fellow and has brightened our lives immensely. I like to think we’ve made him as happy as he’s made us. Thanks so much to Debbie and the rest of the THS staff for letting us give Tiger the home he deserves.

Allison

January 17, 2011

Hi there,

We wanted to thank you for helping us to adopt the cat "Trouble" from you. He is an awesome pet - quite nutty at times but definitely lovely and adorable.

Rose and Neil

January 16, 2011

Cricket (now Nyx) was adopted July 20, 2010. She is now eight months old and thriving. There were some early issues with our elderly alpha-cat and her second but Nyx has integrated well, she is even learning to respect the rabbit.

Nyx is an outgoing, snuggly little girl who loves to play and help out around the house. Current interests include keeping the toy mouse population in line, unpacking groceries, filling sneakers with paper balls and stealing tape measures.

I would like to thank everyone at the THS for the love and care they gave this little kitty.

Judy

January 12, 2011

Hey guys, it's me, Annabel! (née Mandy)

Thanks for finding me a loving new home with a big backyard! I'm really happy that there's lots of fresh snow for me to tunnel around in like Bugs Bunny. My new favourite past times are watching TV, chewing bones, getting tummy rubs, playing with my fur-friends at the dog park and most of all hanging out with my new best friends. I miss all of my friends at the Humane Society, but don't worry about me, I'm a very happy pup with plenty of socks to chew!

Sending you lots of wet kisses,
Annabel

January 10, 2011

Just updating the THS Staff at the River Street location. I know you have a lot of dogs going in and out of the shelter but the staff really seemed to like Ozzie (Newfoundland/Retriever), he was brought in from Timmins, Ontario. When I saw this gently giant, I knew he was for me. At 10 months old he was pretty big, but he had an even bigger heart.

We brought him home and changed his name to Berrin (Bear Like). He fit in very well with the family, very sociable, gentle and very handsome.

Anyway, I got Berrin a sister. Her name is Pheonix and they're like two peas in a pod. She's a Great Pyreness. He watches out for her, they play and sleep together, it's so wonderful to watch. I've never laughed so hard and my heart is filled with love and joy.

Thanks,
Gabriela

January 10, 2011

Hi!

Just wanted to share a success story. I adopted "Tilly", (originally named Mathilda by the THS) from the River St. facility on Thanksgiving 2010.

After a couple of months of adapting to her new "penthouse lifestyle", Tilly has blossomed into an incredible pet. She's relaxed, well behaved, easily trainable, great with dogs and people, and couldn't be a more perfect companion. She even sits quietly in the elevator no matter how many people are in it with us! (usually...unless someone has dog treats in their pocket!)

I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of her and giving me the opportunity to provide her forever home. We've already created more memories together than I can count, and I'm looking forward to many years more to come!

And if you choose to publish this, I'd like to send the message to anyone reading to please please adopt, don't buy. THS and other humane societies have great animals just like Tilly and you can help save a life!

All the best,

Dan

January 7, 2011

We adopted this fluffy, 5-pound, nameless, 2 year old girl in June 2009 and named her Dolce, because she was just so sweet. Since that day, she has become a dear member of our family.

She is one of the most social bunnies I have ever met and LOVES being center of attention. She always greets guests by sniffing them and jumping on them when they sit on the couch to try and get to know them better. She just loves to be petted and treated.

Originally, we were going to adopt a smaller rabbit, because Dolce looked very large and we weren't sure if we could accomodate her with a large enough pen. But due to her amazing non-chewing behaviour and litter-training we now allow her to roam free in our apartment.

I cannot even imagine our household without her and I am so lucky to have met her. She just makes my day with her clumsy binkies.

Alona

December 28, 2010

Riza (AKA Foxy Cleopatra) came home with me in early November. She adjusted to her home extremely quickly and within minutes was doing binkies around my apartment.

She stayed in her own cage for only about two weeks and then was moved into her new husband's cage. Shino (her new husband) still tries to be the dominant rabbit but it looks pretty clear that Riza is running the show. While they still enjoy doing their own things they have started doing almost everything together. They eat together, groom together, play together, even beg for food together.

Shino's attitude had changed greatly since Riza's arrival, he is more playful, much more calm and as a whole seems happier. Riza has affected me in such a way too. I cannot remember life before this wonderful joy came home with me. Thank you for giving this loving, happy rabbit a second chance.

Lindsay

Boris had a dramatic few weeks before I adopted him but he's adapted quite well. He is a noisy guy, greeting me everytime I come home. Boris likes to play with his toys, especially his ball of yarn, and I have to play with him every morning and night to get rid of his energy. He's incredibly strong and really gets into his playing - I have a couple of scratches as proof. His other favourite toy is his toy mouse, which squeaks like a mouse when it's moved; he plays with it around 4AM.

He can be pushy around food, and isn't shy about begging and trying to jump on my chair, meowing loudly. However, I make him wait.

Boris is a cuddly guy, although he doesn't like to be held. He loves being talked to and petted and follows me around wherever I go. Overall, I'd say he's quite happy.

Adam

December 19, 2010

Hello,

Myself and my boyfriend adopted our cat, Rikku, over a year ago now from the THS.
We remember walking around and looking at all the lovely animals - but it was love at first sight when we walked past Rikku's cage and she put her little paw out on my boyfriend's arm and miaowed!

So that was it, we had to have her.

She was very small when we took her home, she had recently had kittens and was so skinny, at only 1 year old.
However, I am pleased to report that she is now a very well pampered puss!!! She settled in so well, and according to our vet, is the perfect size and is in great health!

She is the most wonderful addition to our family, it was the best decision we have ever made to adopt her - and we couldn't imagine life without her!

Sarah

December 16, 2010

We adopted 2 month old Calypso (re-named Chloe) from the THS in August of 2010. She has adapted well to her new home and we love her very much. Chloe is a very fearless kitty – we could tell right away when drove home with her from the THS. She did not meow, but instead, curiously looked out the window. When we got home, she bravely inspected all her new surroundings. The first night, she did not sleep and kept running around and attacking everything (including our feet). She was so tiny and cute.

For the first month, she was not very vocal – instead she meowed without a sound by just opening her mouth, which we thought was adorable! Now Chloe loves to talk. You should see her when we throw her favourite ball down the hallway and she chases it. When we come home, she always greets us with a long hello.

Every morning, Chloe gets up with us. She loves to hop quickly into the shower to get drenched and quickly run out. After her “shower”, she sits on the bathroom counter waiting to be picked up and held as we go about our morning routine. We’ve never seen a cat who loves water and to be held so much!

We’re very happy to have adopted Chloe and can’t wait to see her grow up.

Daniel & Edita

December 14, 2010

I adopted Estelle back in November, 2009. I had always wanted a pet but my parents wouldn't allow it, so one week after getting the keys to my new house and finishing up some renovations, I made the trip, along with my boyfriend to the THS. I was completely overwhelmed with the amount of cats that were there and my heart broke for each one of them. I came across Estelle and she paid me absolutely no attention. She was half awake, half asleep and looked at me like, ugh, go away. I decided her face was too cute to ignore and adopted her.

Her first few days at my house were a bit rough since she needed to see a groomer as she had a bit of a problem around her bottom area. It was a saturday night and I couldn't find a groomer open until Monday so she had to reside in my basement (fully finished, warm and spacious) until I could get her sorted.

I took her there Monday and went off to work having arranged with my mom to pick her up and put her back in my basement until I got home as I didn't want her being overwhelmed without me to introduce her to her surroundings. I came home Monday after work and opened the door to the basement and called her name, but then I just waited in the living room so she could come at her own pace. A few moments later she was exploring her new surroundings and even snuggled with me that night on the couch, purring her little heart out.

She is now the Queen of the castle. She greets me, cuddles with me and follows me around, but still acts aloof enough to remind me that she is the cat and I am simply her companion.

I love her and I'm so glad she had a safe place in the THS to call home until I could come and make her a part of mine.

Sonia

December 2, 2010

Colt is doing extremely well. He had no issues in the car coming home!! No anxiety since the first night. He sleeps throughout the night. Takes turns which room he sleeps in.

It is like he has been with us for years. He is eating and drinking well. Loves the kids, playing ball, really loves his walks and car rides. He has a couple dog friends from his many walks and knows where his home is already. He gets really excited when he gets close to the house. Brings his leash to one of us. Has about 4 to 5 walks a day, runs in the backyard and can already play football!!

The only downfall is he is now addicted to his and my Tim Horton's coffee runs. I told him he is too young for coffee but I admit I do pass him a small piece of my donut. Lol.

He is truly a great addition/gift to our family.

Thanks for believing that our family would take great care of him.

Yes and I forgot to mention he wasn't really responding to Gage so we have changed his name to "Colt". Which funny enough responds to really really well. Truly an amazing pup!

-Debi, Dane, Kyle, Austin, Mackenzie and Colt Gentles

December 1, 2010

Just over a year ago I was adopted and since then I’ve had a great time with my new owners. I live close to a park and every day I take a slow (after all I am 11 years old) but “sniffingly” good walk. The park is shared by a school and I have made lots of friends with the kids (who love to pat me and play football with me!!) the teachers and of course my other tail wagging friends.

In the last year I have travelled to Florida twice and spent about 4 months there… lots of parks and squirrels to chase , although at my age they are much faster than me.

I have been given this new lease of life thanks to all my friends at the Toronto Humane Society, who looked after me for 6 months and advertised me in the Sun newspaper where my new owners saw me.

Thank you, Thank you… woof woof, woof

My owners love me so much and are thankful to your efforts that they are sending a donation by mail to help you help other animals so they can also enjoy life at, and after the T.H.S.

Happy holidays to you all

Julia

December 1, 2010

I just wanted to let you know that Max is doing well and settling in with his new family. He tolerates our other dog Chewie and is allowing Chewie to sleep next to him. We bought a bed big enough for two. Max walks very nicely, our six year old often hold his leash when we go out. He has some difficulty managing stairs so we carry him. He is so sweet! I'm impressed with how good he is about getting the eye drops put in. He does not care for the dog food you gave us. Is it the same food he was eating there? I found a low protein dog food recipe online and I made that for him and he ate it. I would have eaten it.

It has always been easy for us to feel compassion for an old or disabled animal. It just wasn't so easy to take the step to adopt one. We are very glad we did. It feels good to act on that compassion, to live it, not just talk about it. We understand that his health will continue to decline but we hope to give him a really good time for as long as we can. As parents of two special needs kids we have faced many challenges but the rewards have always been greater. That played a large part in our decision to adopt Max. Thanks for saying yes to us. We'll keep you posted. Beth and Bill Edwards

December 1, 2010

Sending THS an update about Teeka, who we adopted November 13.  Teeka is doing great, she has fit in perfectly with our family and we love her so much.  She loves going for her walks on the beach everyday - she's great with other dogs and loves chasing seagulls and leaves all over the beach.  I have included some pictures of the past week, enjoy!  Please share this with anyone at THS that knows her and feel free to share Teeka's success story.

-Kirsten and Chris

December 1, 2010

I adopted Shiloh (formerly Lola) from THS in October 2008. She was in the 'special needs' room, where I found her hiding in a carpet covered kitty nook. She was very thin and I could tell immediately that she had not been eating well; mainly because she was the smallest in a room full of big angry cats and her fur was looking very matted and dry. I was told she was feral and that it would take time before I could pet her, if at all. She came with a letter from her previous owner/foster home that painted her to look like a very angry and scared kitty. I didn't care. Her big green eyes made my heart melt the moment I saw her.

Presently, it is November 2010 and Shiloh is doing very well. She has gained some weight (around 8lbs now) and she has grown significantly in the last 2 years. The bond that her and I share is incredible. She does still get anxious around people she doesn't know, but those who she knows she loves dearly. She loves her blankie and chasing her toys around my house. She is the sweetest cat in the world, and having known what she has been through you would think she is a different cat all together.

-Siobhan

December 1, 2010

I adopted a cat named Julia last week. Julia is just over a year old and was taken to the shelter with nine kittens at the end of August. All of her kittens were adopted and when I went to the Humane Society I fell in love with her as she was so friendly and loved having her face scratched. Julia has adapted very well in my home and gets a long wonderfully with my two roommates. Her favourite hiding spot is under my roommates bed and she also loves sitting on the window ledge. I have actually renamed Julia – Remy as I thought it fit her personality better. She has a lot of energy, which is great  because she also loves eating. She enjoys being around people, but still is a little skidish. She also loves giving kisses and handled, although she does not like to be picked up just yet.

Remy is a perfect fit and she is very loved and I am thrilled to have her as a pet. I want to thank Mitch and Debbie and the rest of the Toronto Humane Society for giving me the opportunity to care for such a precious soul.

Regards,

Sarah

November 24, 2010

I recently adopted Singer (now Lola) back in October at 5 Months. She is doing quite well settling into her new home and family. She has a very outgoing personality and loves to play anytime of the day! She has brought so much happiness and joy to me and my mom, and we will continue to give her the best forever home.

I am extremely happy because although I have gained a new feline friend & have given her a home, she has given me so much more in return. Thank you to the Toronto Humane Society for being an outstanding agency.

-Sarah & Lola

November 16, 2010

Kiki and Socks are still here and just doing excellent in the barn. We have had them going on 2 years now. So here are a few pics from this summer. They love their home here with the horses.

Sue

November 15, 2010

Tasha was adopted from the THS in June 2002. Unfortunately, when her original owners moved, they left her behind, alone in a basement apartment. It was the kind heartedness of the superintendent who took her in. However, as she didn't mix well with children, she was brought to the Toronto Humane Society.

Today, Tasha is thriving. She is affectionate beyond any cat lover's expectations. She follows me everywhere and as I write this, she is hugging my keyboard!

Thank you to the superintendent who found and cared for her and the Toronto Humane Society for connecting us.

Mary

November 15, 2010

Smartypants (now Netty) is a delightful kitty - she has adapted very well to her new environment, and was accepted fairly easily by our alpha-cat (another successful adoption from THS, in 2002).

She plays like a kitten, loves being brushed and petted, and we're working towards making her a lap cat.

We'd like to thank the adoption counsellor for her advice on getting Netty, this little panther is a perfect fit in our family.

Cristina & Martin

November 15, 2010

Sid is doing wonderfully! He's taken over my apartment and made himself comfortable everywhere, from the ledge of my headboard to the top of my couch. His favourite place to hang out, though, is my bed. He's even begun sleeping with me.

He doesn't like to be held, much, but does require a good twenty minutes of sitting in my lap and being stroked. He has a weird habit of watching TV more intently than any animal I've ever encountered. He divides his time between that and sleeping or playing. His most treasured toy is - believe it or not - a bottle cap. He absolutely LOVES to bat it across the floor then go chasing after it. I now have a collection, so when he looses one I can replace it.

He's very particular about his environment. Anything new that's introduced needs to be inspected carefully, for at least a day, before it's accepted. I had to leave his brush on the floor for sixteen hours before I could get it near him. =)

Oh, and Sid's a champion purr-er. It's really loud, and the only vocalization he makes other than the occasional meow.

Tina

November 8, 2010

I adopted Eddie in July 2009 after getting to know him while volunteering as a dog walker at THS.  Eddie had been in THS for three years prior to me taking him home and appeared to be dog aggressive.  He has become a wonderful pet and gets along with everyone, people and dogs alike.  He is a real cuddle muffin.  Although he is 8 years old, most people take him for about 4 or 5.  He loves to run in the park and swims in the lake almost every day.  Life is very good for both of us.

Jeanette

November 2, 2010

We just wanted to give you an update on Leopard, the 12 year cat we adopted 2 weeks ago.

We were told that she had complicated needs such as kidney and heart problems, arthritis and dental disease. We also quickly discovered that she is deaf. However, we found Leopard to be extremely loving, gentle, inquisitive and adores being brushed.

She settled in within minutes and has secured her place and role in our apartment. We are delighted to have such a beautiful companion in our lives.

Keep up the good work.

Jeff and Gary

October 18, 2010

I adopted Sarah on Oct 11th, and was asked to send a picture or two and let you know how she is.

I renamed her Inks. She is a happy and affectionate kitten who seems to look up to my older cat, Baphs (who I also adopted from THS.) Inks likes to do everything Baphs does, such as sit in her spots, drink from her bowl (though Inks was given her own) and follow her around. Baphs is slightly unimpressed with her territory being invaded, but she seems to be warming up to her. I caught them playing tag on a couple occasions, already! Inks is cute, loves to play and demands attention. I'm happy to have brought her home.

Thank you.

Jenn

October 04, 2010

I first met this little guy 2 years ago. While I had originally intended to "just visit", as soon as I reached Sushi, I was hooked. The minute we met eyes, it was love. I always say "He picked me": he pranced about his cage, purring and staring at me with his beautiful eyes. I later found out that he came to the shelter as a worn down a stray and that he was a special needs cat who had spent most of his life in a cage waiting to be adopted. I filled out the adoption papers and came back as soon as I could the next day. Cage-free, I have watched him blossom, as he learned, in his awkward little way, how to climb, jump, cuddle and explore. He is a such a lovely fellow, peaceful and calm, sweet and loving with many quirks, including a love for hummus. He is not a "fashionable" cat, due to his genetic skin condition which means his skin doesn't quite "fit" and it tears very easily. He often needs extra attention to keep healthy and sore-free. It is well worth the time for the joy he brings to me everyday. Everyone who meets him comments on his extraordinary personality and infallible cuteness. I encourage anyone adopting an animal to consider taking in one with special needs, especially those who are not as "adoptable". I feel honored everyday to share my life with such a lovely little fellow and I hope you too can find the same joy.

Kelsey

September 28, 2010

Oliver was  right at home with us and it felt like he had always been around us! He chose Kevin's sock shelf as his favourite spot and it has become since, his little place wheneer we look for him.

He was a little shy at the beginning since we have another 2 cats and 1 dog, but within a day he was playing with all of them. He loves to be pet and will now come around the house to demand more  affection or just to cuddle...

We are so happy to have him in our life. I would tell everybody to choose an older animal because they are really much more calm than kitttens and have already their personality, which allows you to know quickly how to deal with them.

Thank you for helping us with finding Oliver, we are so happy to have him around in our lives.

-Anne-Laure and Kevin

September 14, 2010

Just thought I would drop you and the THS a quick note to let you know how Tripod (aka Yvonne) is doing!

My boyfriend Mike and I had the pleasure of adopting Tripod on August 24, 2010 from the THS.

When we found Tripod at the THS she had just had surgery to remove her back right leg and was very timid. I am happy to report that after a few days of hiding under our bed she became very adventurous, exploring the house and becoming familiar with her 6 year old big brother (our other cat - Forrest - also adopted from the THS). She is very playful, full of spirit and cuddles. She also has a big soft spot for Forrest who she follows around like a shadow.

Forrest initially had a difficult time with the new "situation" but only took a few weeks to be totally convinced of Tripod's cuteness.

They now spend hours cuddling on the the couch together as well as chasing each other around the house in their own version of Cat & Cat (aka Cat & Mouse).

Thank you so much for taking care of Tripod before she came to her new home.

She is already a cherished part of our family.

I have attached some pictures and would be a happy for you to share them and our story on the THS website.

With many thanks,

-Paige & Mike

September 7, 2010

It has been one year since my fiancé and I have adopted Pinky and Daisy.

I still remember the day when we were walking down the halls and I felt Pinky’s little paw hit my arm for my attention! We intended to get one cat that day but didn’t have the heart to separate the two sisters. Getting Pinky and Daisy was the best decision we ever made, these two are the most affectionate, playful cats I’ve ever come across. We never go to bed or sit on our couch without one of them trying to cuddle with us.

Thank you THS  for bringing us together with our little darlings.

-Monica

September 5, 2010

I adopted a beautiful 3 month old Belgium Shepard in March of 2007 as a birthday gift for my 7 yr old son. We named him Sygone and call him Sy. He was shell shocked when we first got him. Having never been outside other than come to the centre with his 2 sisters. Everything spooked him, sounds, people, cars and most specially stairs. For the first few days I had to carry him up and downstairs to take him outside (no easy task as he was a very large puppy) 50.8lbs by 6 months. It took him over a year to grow into his over sized ears and paws. Sygone has become the best new addition to my family since my son was born. Thanks.

-Karen

"I saw that you guys like to hear the stories of successful homing of newly adopted pets and I felt like I want to share my story!

I adopted Duffy, now renamed François, last weekend and he's doing amazing. As we speak he is playing with his toys and causing all the kitten ruckus he can. It didn't take him long to adjust and he's already a very laid back kitten when his energy is on recharge after a good time running around and playing. He's so relaxed that he even let me clean his ears, no problems. He just laid there until I was done. I am very pleased with my experience with the THS as I feel I have a new best friend. I'm glad you guys are doing what you're doing and I want to wish you all good luck on that mission. I'm glad to have helped out in some way!

Here is a picture of him just lounging on my bed after a fun time of dancing which is the follow two pictures."

Dillon

"Just wanted to let you know, as we approach the 1 yr anniversary of the adoption of Lauralie and her foster kitten (named onyx), that everything is still going well.
 
they've fit into the new house (we moved in the day we adopted them so they and our older cat - also a ths adoptee - would all be on equal footing to start) and fit in perfectly with our family (the 2 of them, me, hubby, other cat Noelle, parrot, and reef-tank).    The kitten onyx is now taller and longer than either Lauralie or noelle (though noelle is overweight, so still weighs substantially more than onyx (who's at the ideal weight for her size and age).   Lauralie is still a little bit thin, due to her food allergies.  my vets and i are working on a way to either be able to let her (but not the other 2) free-feed on hypo-allergenic food, or to find a food that she doesn't react to.    Her granuloma (fat lip) is still usually flared up, and a few times she's also become itchy enough to lick bare patches, but luckily that doesn't happen often.   I'm sure we'll eventually find a way (even if it ends up being meds) to fatten her up a bit and not aggravate the allergies.   Despite the ongoing allergy battle, she's as happy, friendly and social as always.  

The 3 girls (what we call the cats) all love looking out the patio door or screen doors together, and Lauralie and onyx also spend hours watching the fish in our 90 gal tank.  we even leave a stool in front of it so that they can sit and watch.   the 2 tank-bred clown fish even like to swim over in front of them and hang out right in front of them (i think the clowns hope that all movement outside of the tank will result in getting fed, and since they're tank-bred they've never known any predator so have no fear of anything).  I'm CONVINCED i've seen the fish and cats playing with each other through the tank-glass (as opposed to the cats "chasing" the fish, as usually happens with cats and tanks), since the clowns often swim TOWARDS where the cats' feet and heads are on the other side of the glass, stay in the vicinity of where the cats are sitting, and don't dart off to hide when the girls "pounce" onto the glass sides of the tank.
 
The attached is not the best picture, but it does show how big onyx has become (we've nicknamed her "monster" because of her size, and because of her way of trying (but not succeeding) to look fierce during kitten-play.
 
the other pic shows the girls snoozing on our bed.  noelle has become "auntie" to onyx - she grooms the kitten, plays with her, helped to teach her house-rules like not jumping on counters etc.... she'll even share a food dish with onyx, lol (and for chubby noelle, that's a REALLY big deal).  Lauralie and noelle occasionally have hissing matches, but there's never been a real scrap of any kind, and i've seen them snuggled and grooming each other several times, so i know they get along even if they sometimes have disagreements.
 
Just wanted to let you know they are all doing well, and we love each one of them to bits."  
 
Ginine

August 2nd, 2010

"We are following up with you on our adoption of our cat, Alex!  We have also attached a picture of him in his bed.  As you can see, he likes to hang out a bit!  You have our permission to post our story if you are interested in doing so.

We adopted Alex 10 days ago and he is definitely the cat for us.  He is a real 'talker' and replies to us all the time when we talk to him.  He slept in his new bed the first night after his adoption, eats well, and responds to both my husband and myself in a friendly, positive manner.  He always uses his litter box also.  He loves roaming around our house as we have three levels.  He has fit into our household in a positive and wonderful way.  We are very thankful to all the Staff at the Toronto Humane Society for all that they did to help us find "our cat"!"

Carolyn & Robert