12-22-09

This Thanksgiving, my owner was on the computer looking at dogs, when they came across me. They said I looked like the perfect match, so they decided to go give me a look. An hour drive later, they arrived at the Humane Society of Huron Valley to see me. When they walked in, I knew they were the perfect match for me. I tried to sit up nice and straight and behave well to win them over... IT WORKED!

They decided to take me home! It was a big adjustment for me, but I am loving it! My dad decided to rename me Jake, because let's face it, there's nothing Junior about me.. I'm a BIG boy! I now have a big yard that I get to run in and explore, although I am still learning to not explore too far because I am supposed stay in my own yard. I have a lot of toys that I can play with whenever I want, and my dad even plays tug-a-war on my rope with me, and throws my ball so I can chase it! When I am really good, he gives me treats and lets me cuddle on the couch with him before bed. I am definitely living the life. Thank you so much for taking care of me while I was in the shelter, and helping me to find my perfect home. I now have a great family and couldn't ask for anything better!

Jake

12-22-09

Merry Christmas !!

This will be our first christmas with Spirit, you knew her as Bambi. She just came back from the doggie spa and I had to send you pics for xmas. Santa Pup will be visiting her soon. She has become the perfect family member in our family. We love her a lot and she always returns our love a 100 times more. Also trying to send you a pic with her ans my grandson in front of the xmas tree. Thanks for letting us adopt the most best friend I've ever had.

Happy Holidays,

Lena Flannery

12-18-09

Dear HSHV,

We adopted Gonzo from the shelter on October 31st, and he has been purring ever since we brought him home.  He's an awesome cat.  Gonzo likes sleeping in the sink, getting all cuddly, and drooling on us.  He loves getting his tummy rubbed, and gives great massages with his soft paws.  He and my pet snake have long staring sessions through the glass of the snake cage.  Gonzo is part siamese, so he provides us with running vocal commentary on all his thoughts and feelings (particularly when he wants attention).  He's a cuddle bunny, and follows us around the house just to keep us company.  We're musicians, so there's a lot of music going on in our house.  Gonzo always likes to be part of the scene, so he hangs out in the background when we're rehearsing or practicing, offering an occasional meow to the mix.  We love Gonzo and are so happy that he's our kitty!

-Mary Ann & Arie

12-18-09

Dear HSHV,
     We wanted to update you on Molly our black lab/German Shepard mix that we adopted from you in August.  We love her so much and she has been a great addition to our family.  She is very active and loves to go for walks, play with her doggie friends Jake & Emmy, chew bones,  run in huge circles in the back yard, and she especially loves to play Frisbee!   She goes through a new Frisbee every time we play!  We also learned quickly that stuffed toys are not the best for her,  she can have the stuffing and the squeaker ripped out in 20 minutes!   She loves our cats and trys to convince them to play with her everyday!  (If only the cats loved her as much as she loves them! )  Molly is a very spoiled girl, especially because she is our only dog!  She has already grown so much and is now 53 pounds! 
     We wanted to thank you so much for how helpful you were when we adopted her.  We went to the adoption center every couple of days for a few weeks until we found Molly.  Every time we were in, the staff was always so friendly and helpful.  Molly has been a perfect fit for us and we look forward to spending many more years with her!  Keep up the great work with helping to save these wonderful animals and we appreciate everything you do!

Love,
Jason & Heather Moore

12/6/09 (written by Emily Robertson)

Dear Humane Society of Huron Valley,

We got Lila on Sunday, September 27, 2009. She was ten weeks old at that time. We had gone to the humane society a couple times before but had not found a dog because my mother is very selective. We had decided to go one last time before winter came.

When we first saw her, she was sitting outside on the bed things they have in the cages. My mom said that she looked like the perfect puppy. We found out that she came from down south, the humane society had just joined a program that brings puppies up to places like the Huron Valley Humane Society that don’t have many puppies from places that have lots of puppies. She was the last of her bunch. It was just my mom and me who had gone, so we called my brother and dad. My dad and brother were very excited because we had adopted many other pet we were happy with from there. When my brother and dad got to the humane society they met her. They loved her; that is what made the adoption final. The adoption process was very easy.

We toke her home and introduced her to our other dog Oscar. Oscar was very happy to have a playmate. Oscar and Lila got along very well; the next thing we had to do is name her. Her name then was Socks. We wanted a name started L. We had thought of many names including Lulu, Daisy, and Lola. My mom came up with the idea of Delilah, but I thought of Lila. Everyone in the family liked it. When we got Lila, she weighed around nine or ten pounds. Now she weighs around 22 pounds.

We also have two cats, Lila has a little problem with chasing cats, but it is getting better. Lila loves to play. She plays with Oscar, my mom, my dad, my brother, my friends, the cats, other family members, me, and anybody else. Lila also loves walks. She loves leaf piles! She has not seen snow yet, but we are excited to see what she thinks. Lila has short fur, she might need a coat in the winter, we had to get a coat before for Audrey, but only when she was old. Oscar is long haired so he doesn’t have a problem. Lila is very small, she kind of looks like a Jake Russel terrier. Except for her coloring; she is black and white. She is very cute, her tail curls up and flops down. Lila loves to chew on bones; she can not really hold them in her mouth they are to big and heavy, especially one of Oscar’s bones! It falls right out of her mouth because it is huge, but it is the perfect size for Oscar.

Overall we are all very happy with Lila.

The Robertsons, Emily, Colin Barbara, Dan, Lila, Oscar, Lucy, Loki

12-6-09

Dear HSHV,

It has only been a week and a half since we adopted Rory and Peat (formerly Scooter and Bo), and we can't imagine life without them! Rory (the tiger and white) was especially skiddish when they first arrived, but he is blossoming into a confident, affectionate kitten. Peat has been more daring and very cuddly from the start and likes to sleep on top of my head at night.They greet all comers to our house, including visiting dogs. They are both learning the rules of the house (basically that the birds in cages are NOT toys!), that if they get too close to the bird cages, they get squirted- yuck! Fortunately they are both very smart and learn fast! Best of all, they get along wonderfully; they play and sleep together, they even share the same lap sometimes. I can tell that Bob, their foster dad, did an amazing job socialising them.

Thanks for bringing these wonderful kittens into our lives!

Sincerely,
Sara and Kathryn Angus

11-29-09

Hello HSHV,
 
We can't thank you enough for allowing us to adopt our precious Griffin/Finn, formerly "Nugent" from your center on Sunday October 4th, 2009.  He is the BEST!!!  He is soooo very playful and loving.  He truly is the perfect cat for my husband and I and our two boys (11 & 8). 

He is one of the most social, comfortable, fearless cats I've known. He eats, plays and cuddles a lot.  He LOVES to play with water and watch the washing machine run (and climb into sinks to lay).  He gets into any open basket/box he can find and curls up there.  It takes a great cat to come after our beloved 22 &1/2 year old we lost over a year ago, but Griffin is just right.
 
Thanks so much for all of the great work you do.  We can't wait to visit the newly built shelter and spend some time with the animals that need homes.
 
Sincerely,
Kristin Nicholson

11-19-09

My son and I had been visiting the humane society to find the purrrfect kitty.  We would find one, go back the next day to him/her and he/she would be gone.  We also wanted to make sure we were getting the purrrfect kitty for our family.  We went to go visit the kitties in the new shelter and went from cat room to cat room. My son pet as many as he could. On our last trip around the cat area we came across two very unique cats.  I couldn't help but laugh at one of them, his teeth stuck up out of his mouth!  We did a cat visit and it felt right.     

I had second thoughts after finding out why the cats were at the Shelter.LUCKILY as I was about to walk back I ran into their "foster" mom.  She reassured me that these cats did not have the issues stated.  She was genuine and sincere.  I am glad that I ran into her because these are the purrrrfect cats for our family. The cats have been named Rocky (gray one) and Taz (black one).  They LOVE to sleep under covers, on laps and in boxes.  Rocky and Taz are very vocal and talk to you when you talk to them.Both cats adore my daughter and even sit in my four year old son's lap!     

I really appreciate the staff at the HSHV.  Everyone was more than willing to answer my questions.  The staff was highly professional and I know that if I ever have any questions they will be willing to answer them.   

Angela, Kalen and Kymmy

11-18-09

Dear HSHV,

My husband came in the middle of October with two dogs he found in the parking lot at his work. While he was at the shelter, Snoopy (now named
Dakota) caught his eye. He was so shy, cute and had those beagle eyes!
Well unfortunately, he wasn't available for adoption yet and then there was the big move to your new shelter. That week and a half was so hard!

We had our hearts set on Dakota. The day you re-opened we came out on our lunch breaks to start the adoption process. We didn't want to miss the chance of getting Dakota!

We brought him home on October 28th and he's been great. He's getting more comfortable with his new home day by day. He's become friends with one of our cats, but still working on the other! He also has found two playmates with my sister's dogs. He enjoys going over there for visits.

Dakota loves going for car rides, walks in the park, playing with all of his toys, sleeping on his new bed and taking naps on the couch with my husband and I. He isn't much of a morning dog, but once he gets going, he has tons of energy!

Dakota has been a perfect addition to our family. Our family is now complete with Dakota and our two cats, Poncho & Snoop.

Thank you so much to everyone at the shelter. Every person that helped us through the adoption process was wonderful. I'm sure we will be back in the future to add to our family.

Thank you again,
Gary and Sarah Bowen

11-11-09

We adopted Zoey who's shelter name was Winnie in June of 2009! When I first seen her on your website I knew I wanted her! She looked just like are other dog Max. Everyone thinks they are brother and sister! I absolutely fell in love with her the minute I seen her! Her and Max get along great! She has been a wonderful addition to our family! She is very friendly and playful and has alot of energy! She loves to run around and play outside and even hops fences to play in the neighbors yard! She is getting so big, she is almost bigger then Max(who is 4). Everyone at HSHV was so wonderful with the adoption and with Zoey!

Thank you HSHV!

11-10-09

One month ago, I adopted my wonderful cat Sadie (called Marsha at HSHV.) I had been looking for a cat and saw her online. Her picture and description caught my eye and I immediately had my heart set on her. When I walked into the shelter, the first cat I saw, looking out of the window of the communal cat room, was Sadie. I spent some time checking out all of the cats and kittens, but I knew that Sadie was the one for me. Once I walked into the communal cat room and said hello to her, she licked my hand and the rest is history!
Sadie didn't take long at all to make my house her home. She spends hours every day watching the birds at the bird feeder on the deck. She is very playful and chases her catnip fish toys all around the house.

She greets me at the door each day when I come home from work and rolls over to get a bellyrub. Every night, she sleeps snuggled right up to me on the bed. She "talks" to me a lot, too! Sadie is the perfect cat for me and I am so happy to have her!

Thank you to all of the people at HSHV who made the adoption process so great.

Jennifer

11-8-09

Hi,  

My name is Fred (Angus) and I went into foster care at the end of July.  After a day or two my foster family decided that I was going to become a part of their family.  They had 4 dogs of their own and another foster from HSHV but that didn't seem to matter. 

My family tells me I was a blessing in disguise because we recently lost 2 of our older pets at the end of September and beginning of October.  I now have a big sister, JellyBean, and my big brother, Jake, who think they are dogs than I.

I just graduated from puppy school at the top of my class.  I am enjoying my new home and helping my Mom with the foster she brings home from HSHV.  We all really have fun playing with the foster puppies before they get adopted.  

Attached is a graduation photo of myself and I do say I'm very handsome.  

Yours Truly, Fred McMichael

11-9-09

From the moment I saw Edwin on Petfinder, I knew I had to meet him, his huge green eyes told me that he was the one I had been patiently searching for. I went to meet him at his foster home and fell in love instantly, I brought him home the very next day. Well now we just celebrated his third birthday and I could not imagine my life without this guy. Like most cats, he would much rather play with a string or crinkly piece of plastic over the dozens of toys around the house.

Until adopting him, I spent my life being a "dog person" but Edwin has made me realize that cats are awesome, too.

11-9-09

HI – it’s Brandy (formerly Wilma).  I’m happy and healthy and full of energy these days.  I wasn’t so feisty when I went home with my guardian(Tracy) on Tues., October 13, 2009.  I was feeling sort of puny on Friday.  I had a runny nose and found a comfortable place in a chair to snooze.  By Sunday, it was really yucky.  My human took me to a place where they poked and prodded me up on a cold table.  They said I had an upper-respiratory infection, whatever that is.  I got a cookie and left with some pills to take.  Funny, I don’t remember eating those pills, but boy did I feel much better that week.  My human couldn’t keep up with me after that. 

I like it here.  I have a chair to sleep in, a nice plush bed to cozy up in at night, and we go for lots of walks.  I have a yard to race around in, and tons of balls to chase and squeak.  That second week was a hard one though.  I had a great toy that had lots of peanut butter in it and some cookies lodged in it too.  That was fun until I realized I couldn’t get out of the room I was in.  It had a door and blocked me from going where I wanted to.  I didn’t hear any noises on the other side of the door and a radio was droning on and on. I kept scratching and scratching the floor and all this string kept coming up, but I was getting nowhere.   Later, one of my guardians lady friends came to play with me and let me out of that room.  After a while, she went home and left me more peanut butter.  That was good until I realized I was alone again in that darn room.  I found out later my human’s mom had eye surgery and they couldn’t take me with them.  Now I get to ride in the car when they both go places.  We even go into stores where there is a lot of neat things to sniff and grab.  We always go home with something new every time.

I learned to ring a bell when I want to go out.  I do it "all the time."  My guardian complains a lot, but she taught me – it’s her own fault!  I heard her say we are going to classes soon and I even heard her say I’ll be visiting a groomer for baths.  Not sure I like that idea – we’ll see. 

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I like it here.  I get into trouble here and there, but I have to test them out, see how far I can go before they stop me.  Its fun and I think I’ll stay here.  Who can complain about free meals, fun walks, great car rides and all those fun toys and chew-things.

 I even like the hugs and kisses I get, mushy but nice.   It’s great!   

11-5-09

Dear Humane Society,

About a month ago (and after longing for a cat for about eight years) I was looking through your listing of cats for adoption and for whatever reason, when I got to Clutch's profile, I just thought 'oh my god, he's the one!', and called up my friend-with-a-car. An hour later, I met the little gentleman himself, whereupon he promptly came over to the open kennel door and began head butting me and chewing on my scarf. That was pretty much the end of it - I spent the next fifteen minutes or so just petting him, knowing that my new friend and I had found each other, because there was no doubt that he was The Cat. A little while after, Clutch was home with me, exploring his new territory.

Clutch has grown quite a bit and is now named Fionn (after the legendary and clever Irish hero - my favorite hero of all), and I can't imagine my life without him. He's a huge cuddler, talkative, follows people around the house, and is just generally all-around charming and amazing company. He likes to spend a large part of the day sleeping on his special spot on the couch, and he curls up in peoples' laps while they're doing work.

When they meet him, people are amazed that he used to be feral, since he's so friendly and has perfect manners! He purrs like a chainsaw almost non-stop (though, seriously, he's got three women constantly doting on him) and is learning how to ride around on my shoulders while I walk around the house, though it's still a wobbly business!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Fionn is everything I have ever hoped for in a cat! He's perfect, and I can't express how much I love him!

LOVE,
Barbara

11-5-09

It's been over a year since she came home with us and we wanted to let you know how she is.

"Miss Moo" is now named Tia Mia. After my roommate and I lost her 13  yr. cat Jake, we knew we wanted to give a homeless cat a second chance. After a visit to HSHV we found Tia in same same cage we got our other cat, Tammy, the year before. We both knew she was the one for us. She can never take Jake's place, but she sure is trying. Her favorite things are catnip, and sitting on the window sill, looking outside. This summer we trained her to walk on a cat leash, now she loves to go outside with us when the weather is nice. We love her very
much and can't imagine life without her.

From,
Jasmine Horning and Kelly Elrod

11-2-09

On the one year anniversary of adopting Nina Simone, I thought I would send you an update.  As you'll see, the only pictures I have are of her sleeping, or cuddling.  She prefers the couch, my bed, or someones lap to her dog bed, but she does occasionally use that too.  She's a fantastic dog and we're very lucky to have her. 

I will say that being the "new shelter ground breaking dog" has stayed with her, since she loves to dig holes in the yard.  I've decided to just compromise with her.  I get to landscape the front yard, and she gets the back, that seems to be fine with her.

Thank you so much for all of the great work you do, the animal world is a better place because of it.

Stacie Dugas

11-2-09

Dear HSHV,

We love Morpheus and Bunny. They are like our children (we don't have any yet) and we love paying with them, petting them, and finding new ways to have fun and make them feel loved. Bunny is very sweet, sleek, and gentle though when she's affectionate she likes to mouth a little on our toes, which is endearing. Morpheus is extremely playful, muscular, and can be intense and times - he also gets in these moods where its like he's saying "I must be pet vigorously for the next 30 minutes, and I'm not taking no for an answer" and he purrs like a lawnmower lost in bliss. Though brother and sister, He is 5.5 lbs, and she is 4.6 lbs, both at 5 months.

Enjoy the photos!
-Rob (and Kristen) Boardman

11-1-09

After losing our two cats this past year, we decided that our home felt empty, and decided to adopt two more adult cats. We chose to search for a Purrfect Pair, since not everyone can accommodate two cats like we knew we could. After searching online and making one visit to the HSHV, we found Trouble and Tabitha. While we were there, I also fell in love with a third cat, Eve. While Trouble and Tabitha were in the community room, Eve was in a cage, and since she was a stray, we didn't know if she would get along with other cats. After waiting a week, we came back a second time only to discover that Eve had been moved to the community room with our Purrfect Pair! It was obviously meant to be. So, we adopted all three! Within two days they were all best buddies, and have been happily filling our home with all sorts of playful fun.

The best part of adopting adult cats is that we had a great sense of who they were when we visited with them. We have gotten to know them each better, and they all have such unique personalities! Trouble, despite his name, is a real sweetheart, with the most gorgeous azure eyes! He likes to chase the girls around the house, but it's all in good fun. Tabitha was used to it, since they lived together before, and Eve doesn't mind either. Eve was such a wonderful surprise, and she is the most loving, cuddly cat! I can't imagine not having ever adopted her as the third cat. Our lives wouldn't be the same without any of them!

Kelly

10-7-09

Dear HSHV,

Just wanted to give an update on Stewart (now Stuart), our lovely pit bull mix, and say what a wonderful dog he's been. We adopted him about 8 months ago and he's about a year and a half now. He weighed 27 pounds when we got him and is now fully grown (we think!) at 50.

He's the first dog that my husband and I have had together, though we have two cats (also from HSHV). All three get along well?  Stu desperately wants to play with the cats, but he's very gentle. (We had him tested with cats before we adopted him and he did well.) He gets along great with all the dogs in the neighborhood, and is still extremely playful.

He lives for the dog park! He needs a lot of exercise - we walk him for an hour and 1/2 a day, and he could go for more than that!  But once we're inside, he's usually content to lounge on the couch (yes, he's spoiled).

Thanks again for all your great work. We look forward to adopting another HSHV pup soon!

Christa and Korey

10-6-09

Back in January 9,2009 I came in to look at Cirrus and Cumulus. The three of us got along so well that I ended up adopting them. I have had them for 9 months now and both of them have so much personality it is really cute.

Cirrus is a fixed male and he is all white. He likes to give me kitty kisses which means he puts his little nose to my lips. He also calls me "mama". He is a little trouble maker but then again, aren't all boys even the human ones?

Cumulus is my quiet one she just stays to herself she only meows when she wants something and she sleeps above my head. They both love to cuddle together and Cirrus likes to lay in my arms like a little baby. They are such great cats!

Thanks,

Maryanne

9-23-09

Dear HSHV,  

We just wanted to thank you for helping us to adopt these two adorable kittens into our family. They have been a joy to say the least. we have had them for about a month now, and you can really see how they have adapted. Hank and Peanut (formerly known as Relish and Cucumber) love to have fun, and try to get into everything.

They love attacking the television when there is anything on, and our feet as we walk by. Hank used to bully Peanut around, until he pushed her off the end table and we took her to the vet. Everything is fine now, and Peanut doesnt stand for anymore of Hank's nonsense. They play more nicely now, on the floor!  

Every night, hey love to climb into bed with us for some lovin', they even give us kisses! Thank you for adding to this family.  

Sincerly,
Joel and Deven

9-22-09

When we adopted “Jackie,” now named “Zorah,” at 9 weeks old on July 26th, she weighed 8 lbs. Seven weeks later, she now weighs 25 lbs and is a happy bundle of energy! You can tell by her paws, that she’s not done growing…and that she’s really good at digging. We’ve even put a pile of sand in our backyard to help satisfy that urge. Our 9 year old dog, Sydney, is a wonderful big sister, showing Zorah the ropes, wrestling or playing tug of war with her constantly. Like having kids, it really is nice to have two so they have someone to play with. Thanks to the staff at the Humane Society for all you do.

Adopting a pet is the only way to go!

Sue Booth

9-18-09

BRIDGET THE SCHNAUZER

Schnauzer Bridget (4 and a half years old)  joined her schnauzer sister Marci Marleen  on August 2.  They have been inseparable ever since that day.  Both girls are truly BFF.   Thanks to Bridget’s foster parents’ loving care,  she was able to adapt to our household very quickly.  She knows her way around the house, where to take dog-naps during the day, the best places to lie in the morning sun, and where to find her crate when it is time for bed, or when she just wants a little private time.

Bridget is a good eater and reminds us when it is time for her morning and evening meals. She has completed her de-worming regimen and the vet declares her to be cured. She has started to gain a little weight and develop some muscle mass.

Bridget loves her walks with Marci and has made many friends in the neighborhood.  She enjoys her mile walks in the morning and evening and stopping to sniff all the other doggies.  One neighbor calls Marci and Bridget the schnauzer patrol, and jokes that she feels safer on her morning walks.

Bridget’s favorite activity is going for a ride because it usually results in a trip to the park.  She and Marci run free in the fenced meadow and woods.  The dogs chase squirrels and play with each other and several other dogs.  This is the highlight of Bridget’s day.

We enjoy sharing our household with  this wonderful pair of Schnauzers  – who were meant to be together forever.  Thanks to Huron Valley and to her foster parents, Marge and Bill for making Bridget’s adoption possible.

Barb and Dennis Hurley

9-17-09

Hello Everyone,
 
Everyone here is doing perfectly well ! It will be a year in December since I adopted my two friends  - Nima and Leah. Our relationship goes beyond companionship, beyond friendship and beyond love. I do everything for them to insure their safety,health and happiness. I swear when they look at me it's like they know, like a trusted friend that you just know will be there. I want to thank everyone at HSHV for their efforts, from the volunteers to the doctors, because of you the world is a better place.
 
Tony

9-13-09

We adopted " Simba" when she was two years old. She is now nine years old. I thought a story about an older adoption was a good idea, considering we are thinking of adopting again.

Now, "Sparrow", after Capt. Jack Sparrow, even though she is a girl, my daughter decided to name her seeings how it was her cat that we adopted, didn't come with much information, one thing we did know was that she had been at the shelter for a long time. We fell in love with her the minute we saw, and held her, and she cuddled right up to us. 

We noticed that she didn't like to be touched on her head, so we assumed she had possibly been hit on the head. She will now let us pet her head but she is still very timid when you get close to it. She loves to sleep with you, right on top of your chest is where she is most comfortable. We are so lucky to have found her, and we can't wait to add to our family!
Oh and she has a sweet marking--she looks like she has eyebrows!
 
Sherri Vollmer

9-8-09

On August 17, 2009 I adopted an 8-year-old Poodle/Terrier mix named Martin. Because he is only 7 pounds he was in the puppy room, and I knew that he was the one for me as soon as I walked in.  One of your volunteers was holding him and he was enthusiastically licking her face.  He just exuded happiness and love.  Since "Martin Landau" is a well-known actor for those of us over a certain age, the name you gave him was perfect.

I didn't know how long Martin would need to adapt to his new situation, but he knew he was home from the minute he arrived, and someone must have loved him enough to train him well.  He barks and goes to the front door whenever he has to go to the bathroom, sleeps in his own bed, and thinks he's gone to heaven whenever he gets to ride in the car.  He has learned the invisible fence in no time and will soon have his run of a large yard. The biggest challenge is keeping him from licking people to death.  I think he's happiest when he's just sitting on my lap keeping me company.

It seems like Martin's been with me forever - he's everything I could have asked for in a dog.  Thank you to all of your staff and volunteers who work so hard to find loving homes for pets such as Martin.  Attached are a few pictures of my happy boy for your enjoyment.

Thank you,
Alice Landau

9-5-09

Shortly before the Ann Arbor News went out of business, they had a Pet of the Week featured in the paper. He was a pretty little blond thing who had come in as a stray and had been dubbed Uncle Wiggley. We had been keeping an eye out for possible candidates since our 17-year-old cat Hank had died six months before, but there was something about Uncle Wiggley that struck us as something special. He seemed earnest, friendly, smart, and curious.

The following week, the Ann Arbor News included a link to a video. The video clinched it. My husband went to the Humane Society to collect him. "Excuse me," he said. "I'm here to see Uncle Wiggley." "Oh, Uncle Wiggley? He'll be in the community cat room," he was told. "Or the adoption office, maybe. He's around." Clearly he was a fixture in the place! A good sign. Trustworthy. Highly sociable.

Scott found him in the community cat room, but found himself ignored while Uncle Wiggley helped himself to dinner. With his appetite whetted, he turned around, stood up against Scott, and reached a paw up as far as he could reach to say hello. That was that. Scott claimed the little guy.

Before he took him home, though, two or three people had to come out and say goodbye to Uncle Wiggley, who had lived there for over a month and had obviously made himself very popular.

He is now named Nigel. He is the king of all he surveys. Although he is supposedly already seven years old, he tears through the living room like a miniature blond cyclone. He loves his various toys, but finds that a simple bottle cap is more endlessly fascinating than a fancy store toy any day. But after all his energy is expended, he can sure get snuggly. And we love him to pieces.

A million thanks to the Humane Society of Huron Valley for nursing Nigel through hard times: his records show that he had digestive troubles and an upper respiratory infection when he arrived there, not to mention that he had to be fixed. His new vet tells us he's in fine shape now, and this little stray is now happily established in his new home. We can't imagine life without him.

A Happy Tail indeed!

~Maeve and Scott

9-5-09

I went to the shelter to look at another dog, and Madison (once Jazz) was in the cage next door -- she poked out her head to say hello and she went home with me an hour later...she's been with me three months so far and is turning 1 year old today!

She's really happy in her new home -- and she's getting to be known by half of Ann Arbor, she's so social! She might even be in a scene in an upcoming movie that was being filmed in Ann Arbor and the director loved her eyes and curiosity! I'll let you know if she appears in her "Hollywood debut!" In the meantime, she loves playing fetch, and goes to Doggie Day Camp once per week to socialize with friends and burn off some good energy.

I couldn't be happier that Madison adopted me as her guardian! After the passing of my older dog earlier this spring, she's brought welcome companionship and joy back into my home! Plus she LOVES having her photo taken.

Thank you,

Ronald

9-4-09

I adopted Prince, a black and tan chihuahua, on March 23, 2009. I have renamed him Elliott. I am a dog walking volunteer and was lucky enough to meet him that way. I was never a huge fan of chihuahuas, but Elliott proved me wrong. When I went into his cage to walk him, he retreated. He was very scared and was in a cage that was near three large pit mixes. He was very nervous and pathetic, but I took him for a walk anyway. He immediately bonded to me. He would sit on my lap and give me kisses nonstop. He was wearing a striped sweater to keep warm in the winter. He walked very easily on the leash behind me and was more than willing to accept me as his leader. From that moment on, I came everyday and walked him each day, even a couple of times a day. I wanted him to be my own so bad.

The second he went up for adoption I was shocked. I thought he had a couple more days to wait until he was ready for adoption. I immediately took his cage card and went to the adoption center. I explained my situation to the staff member. My husband was in the Army and would be returning from Germany the following day. This was the end of his term. The staff member suggested I put him on hold and come back with my husband so he could meet Elliott too.

My husband was never a small dog person, but has always loved animals as much as I do. He met Elliott and immediately loved him! We decided to adopt him.

We were warned that he may only bond to me and may not like men very much, as Elliott is very dominant. However, he loves my husband so much and I feel that is a great success. We take him to my parents' house to visit and he also loves my dad, mom, and sister. My sister is so obsessed with him and wishes he was her's. Elliott is very loving towards everyone. He takes a second to warm up, but as long as you pet him he will love you from there on out and will be completely loyal to you.

Elliott and I exercise a lot together with my other dog. I take them on two long walks/jogs a day. We go for an hour minimum for each walk. I could never imagine that a chihuahua could be this athletic and muscular. He is a large dog in a small package. He attended a basic training class with me at Northfield Dog Training and loved it. He walks behind me on the leash and sits before entering or exiting a door. He also knows how to sit, stay,shake, high-five, lay down, and go into his crate on command. He is 100% house trained and never has an accident. He is also very protective. He alerts me if anyone comes near, (outside of the apartment), and is very protective.

Elliott also gets along exceptionally well with my other pets. This is especially true with my bigger dog who is a golden retriever and collie mix. They are best friends and play very well together. They are both male. My larger dog is submissive to him.

Elliott is also extremely cuddly and will always sleep right next to me underneath the blankets. I give him the best of everything. I feed him only the best organic food; Blue Buffalo. I make sure he gets everything he needs.

I cannot thank you enough for accepting Elliott into your shelter. He was found as a stray and then brought in after keeping for a month. He is beyond amazing. I thank God for him everyday. He is my best friend. I love him and my other dog more than anything.

I am so lucky to be a volunteer at your shelter. I enjoy every day I am lucky enough to be there to meet many great dogs. I am so lucky you allowed me to adopt such a loving and devoted dog, such as Elliott. Thank you for all you do!!!

Marie Paul

8-24-09

Aesli's Diary (formerly Winnie)

Thursday, August 20, 2009
Finally got out of my cage for a walk. Played some ball in the pen. The people laughed at me and rubbed my belly, then took me back to my cage. I was put in a room with a cat. It just sits there and glares at me. I'm bored with it already. Oh! That's a new smell! Back to the cage, then they are putting me on a leash and taking me to another building. Next thing I know, I'm being lifted into the back of a car. It's kinda messy back here.

The people walk me into a store. They keep holding things up to me, but none of it is very interesting. They make me walk on a big, soft pillow, and I'm uncomfortable with this situation. The female keeps trying to give me treats, but I'm not tempted. I have to keep my girlish figure.

Same car, same mess in the back. We pull up at a house. There's a yard in back, and I do my business. They keep talking to me and calling me Aesli, and I realize that I should be answering to it. I find I like the name, especially when the male calls me "Aesli Paisley" and rubs my belly. There's a lot of belly rubbing. I facilitate it by rolling in the grass. I don't like that door. There's stairs there. No! I won't go in. The female walks me around the house to another door, and it's okay, I can go in here. I'm confused though, they don't seem to mind when I walk or lay on the carpet. At first I tried to avoid it, but they kept insisting. It's pretty nice carpet, so I rub my face on it. There's cats all over the place, but they are just as silly and boring as that cat I saw earlier, and I ignore them. It is clear that the one they call "Lucy" is in charge. She walks right up to me and sits, not running and hiding like the others. I respect that, but I'll still eat her food when I get a chance.

The big, soft pillow is put on the floor of the small room, where the people seem to spend most of their time. It is a very nice pillow, I don't want to get it dirty, but they insist that I can sit on it. After awhile, I lay down on it, but I'm still not sure this is proper. The pillow is so soft though...so soft...getting sleepy...was that a camera flash?...so tired...

Friday, August 21
I wake up on my pillow in the other room. The people are still sleeping. I stay where I am and don't move until the female wakes up. She takes me outside then goes back to sleep. I nap on my pillow, waiting patiently. She wakes up again, and we go outside. She throws the ball for me, and I race around to catch it and bring it back. I roll on the grass, and my belly gets rubbed, and I am in doggy bliss.

I get lifted into the car again, and all of the messy stuff is gone. There's even a blanket on the floor for me to lay on. I am convinced that the visit is over and I am going back to the loud place, so I sigh dejectedly and don't respond to pets and head rubs. It was fun while it lasted. But what's this? This isn't the loud place! This is another store filled with wonderful smells. I am walked up and down the aisles while they try to interest me in toys (boring!) and treats (fattening!), and another bed (not so soft...). Lots of people pet me, and tell me what a good girl I am, so well-behaved. I listen to my male when he tells me things, but my female is a push-over. I can use this knowledge...

Home again, and it finally occurs to me that yes, this is HOME! I wag my tail so hard that my whole body shakes, and I laugh with my new mom and dad. When they sit in their chairs, I sit on my hind legs and give them hugs with my forelegs. I get kisses on the top of my head, pets, and belly rubs. They clear out some boxes in their bedroom, and I get my very own bedroom with a brand new pad in it. I now have two beds to sleep on, and I move from bed to bed throughout the day. We have walks, and more ball-chasing, and lots of rolling in the grass and belly rubs. I sleep in my new bedroom with the door open, but I stay in there all night long. I'm a little jealous though, the cats get to sleep in the big bed.

Saturday, August 22
When mom goes back to bed after our first trip outside, I decide to take advantage of her weakness. I half-climb up on the bed, looking as adorable as possible, and lick her face. She laughs and hugs me, telling me to get down but I'm not convinced she means it. Queen Lucy is mad because I'm in her way, so she walks on top of me to get to the nightstand, and I don't mind at all, which gets me more hugs and kisses.

Not much else to report for the day. More walks, more catch, lots of belly rubs and naps on soft beds. I was not successful with my bed climbing, but I am still convinced that mom will cave in. I am hard to resist.

Sunday, August 23
Things are slipping into a routine now. Mom and dad are starting to understand when I'm telling them I need to go potty outside, and I now realize that it is a bad idea to use the same signals when I want to go out to play. Dad calls me "the girl who cried potty" and won't fall for my trickery. Mom still caves in, "just in case" she says.

Dad has a laser pointer and I watch Doctor Katz chase it around for a bit, then I join in. We race around the living room and hallway, and he always seems to catch it first, but he cheats by running underneath me to get there first.

I still do not get people food, and I'm still not allowed on the bed, but my stealthy, ninja-like moves to climb on daddy's lap on the couch are successful. I am sure he never even noticed me climbing in his lap until I rubbed my head on his chest, looking up at him adoringly. SUCCESS! I have permission to lay on the couch now! I lay between them as they watch TV, and the cats settle in around us.

I think I'm going to be happy here.

8-24-09

This past July I took advantage of the "canned cat food for cats" stimulus program at the HVHS and adopted "Bunky" who is a "happy go lucky" feline. Bunky is a four year old American short-hair who was left behind after his owners moved from their apartment not far from where I currently reside. Upon rescue, it was obvious that Bunky needed urgent medical care. Upon our initial introduction, I discovered Bunky to be happy, healthy, and full of life thanks to the great care he received at the HVHS. Bunky and I bonded immediately. In fact, Bunky adjusted to my presence so quickly that he fell asleep on our car ride home from the HVHS!

I truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of the loving staff at the HVHS for making this adoption possible. Bunky is now the "head of household" and loving every minute of it.

Thank You,

Eric

8-24-09

We adopted "Harley" the 9-year-old beagle on 7/27/09. We were told he had been in HSHV for 2 months, watching prospective parents walking by him every day. We actually went there looking for a cat, but when we saw Harley, it was connection at first sight. He looked up at us and started to do his famous "Harley shuffle." We went back the next day with Helen, the almost 2-year-old beagle to fill out the adoption paperwork. We had to work with him on not marking in the house the first couple of weeks, which meant having to get rid of a fake tree in the dining room. But with treats and praises, he is now going to the bathroom outside. He also visited the vet and got his teeth cleaned, possibly for the first time in his life! Now his breath smells fresh and he is not afraid to show off his pearly whites.

He may appear cool, calm and collected, but it's all a show. He has recently figured out a way to step on the kitchen stool to see what's on the counter. Last week he stole and ate a loaf of sliced bread.If we were to describe him in one word, it would be LOVE. He is just a bundle of joy - he is gentle, affectionate, sensitive, sweet and just happy to be around us. He snores and makes random old man noises, but that's what makes him so adorable.

He is much loved and we couldn't be happier! We are truly blessed to have him.

Thank you,

Grace

8-22-09

Hello,

We got our boys Max and Buster (formerly Morgan and Armani) at the end of May 2009, and they have been such a wonderful addition to our household.  Two kittens are more than twice the fun.  Max and Buster have grown to be the best brothers... they play with each other and even snuggle up with one another.  When we come home, they run to the door to greet us and chew on our shoe laces.  They are the most affectionate kittens and always cuddle up with us in the nighttime.  Thank you to the Humane Society of Huron Valley for giving us such wonderful kitty boys.

Andy and Amy

8-18-09

Good Afternoon!

We adopted Riley(previously Baby Girl, Midget, etc) on May 10th. It has been a love affair ever since. We are always on the go and Riley is ready at the word "walk" or "run" or "bye-bye" among other trigger words. She has done extremely well with her house breaking regimine and continues to make positive strides. Riley gets along well with Zoey our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and has started to do pretty good with other dogs as well. She absolutely loves trying to climb trees when rodents or birds or racoons have managed to get cornered near the tree tops.

Thank you for allowing such an awesome dog join our family!

Justin Yates

8-14-09

WHOOOOOHOOOOOIE!!!! WE'RE GONNA PARY! Result are in! Last spring, we adopted a 6 1/2year old German Shepherd, who now goes by the name Zephyr, when he HAD heartworm. That's right! His painful and 4 month long treatment was a success! He's still gonna play it cool for awhile and remain on heartworm preventative for life, but we are thankful to the HSHV and their supporters for their care and generosity.

Thank you,

The Jurado Family

8-15-09

Hello,

We adopted Sushi (known as Loki at HSHV) in May after losing our beloved cat to leukemia in November.  He was one of the first cats we saw in the kitty communal room, and fell in love.  Although we looked at all the other cats, we kept thinking about Sushi, and after a one minute discussion, decided he was the one.  Sushi has settled in nicely, he loves to watch the birds at the bird feeder on the deck and loves to say hi to the neighbor dogs through the window screen.  He loves playing with mice that rattle, and there are probably about 30 hiding all over the house, but we have no idea wehre. You can tell by the picture that he has definitely assimilated himself into the family quite well (Go Blue!), and we couldn't be happier with him!

Andrew, Mei and Sushi

8-2-09

Hi HSHV:

I adopted Kymora, formally known as Mud Pie, 3/2009.  She has adjusted well and thoroughly enjoys her long naps in the sun. 

She has been a great addition and we are so happy that she allowed us to be her forever family!

Sincerely,

Jennifer

8-1-09

Casey's Happy Tail

I am a 12 year old mixed yellow lab. I came to the Humane Society when I was 1 ½ years old. My info said I was from California.  My family chose me from a large number of dogs that were at the shelter at the time. I had kennel cough but my mom and some medicine fixed that up. My family realized that I had been hurt in my earlier life and that I was afraid of men (especially when they were loud and had deep voices). I would stand behind my “mom” and I couldn’t help it – I just shook, I was so scared. But now I just love everyone. And you know what—everyone loves me. They love to pet me --  which I encourage.

I am old now but I can still go for our walks – I just walk a little slower. My companion dog runs and walks a lot further but she comes back to see where I am.  She’s only 5 years old.

My family is sending you a check because they say they are so lucky they found me and wanted to thank you for caring for me until they did. They want to help you care for the other animals until their new families can find them and take them home.

A Note from Casey’s family

We encourage people to consider taking an older dog to their home and heart. It has been such a joy to have Casey these past 10+ years. With patience and love, she has overcome her previous fears and is the dog our extended family is willing to watch when we need to go out of town. She is loved and has returned that a hundred times over.  Besides, older dogs are already housebroken!!  Thank you for all that you do!

7-29-09

Hi!

I adopted Oscar (formerly known as 'Rusty'), the unusually quiet beagle, back in October of 2008 and although it was a bit of a struggle at first to get him to understand that 'going to the bathroom' was an OUTSIDE affair (especially since I live in an apartment!) Oscar slowly, but surely got with the program after just a few months!

And, from the moment he was house trained, Oscar has been my official glued-to-my-shins partner in crime (jogging around the neighborhood, playing fetch, swimming in my family's pool, and just following me around everywhere I go like a lost puppy!) It's like he's a completely different beagle from when we first met at the Huron Valley Humane Society! His tail, which used to remain either between his legs or pointed towards the ground, seems alive! --wagging like it's on a mission to beat a 'Ripley's Believe it or Not' record!

He's put on about 12lbs (before he was very much underweight) and just loves playing with his toys (a sock drawer full of stuffed animals, balls, and chew toys) and curling up with me on the sofa! He's such a love and I couldn't be happier! Thank you so much, HVHS!

Most sincerely,

Valencia

7-28-09

Hello!  

I adopted Buddy just over a month ago and couldn't be happier with him.  Buddy had been abandoned in a crate with just his name.  Since his name was all he had, I decided to keep his name as "Buddy".  He's certainly lived up to his name thus far as he truly is a wonderful friend and very loyal cat.  He's so loyal, sometimes I think that he acts more like a dog than a cat.  He waits by my door for me to come home from work, he eagerly plays catch with his toys, and befriends every single guest that enters my apartment. 

Thank you for providing me with a wonderful friend.  

Many thanks! Laura

Dear Humane Society of Huron Valley,    

We adopted Jiggles and Emma at different times. They didn't get along at all to begin with. Now, however, they love each other's company & we love it too!

It is a real joy to have them here with us.

Thanks again.                                                                   

Sincerely,

The Edmond Family

7-24-09

Hello!

A few weeks ago my husband and I adopted Zeke (formerly known as Bosco) from the HSHV. Zeke, short for Ezekiel, was the first dog we took out for a walk when we arrived at the Humane Society and even though we had planned to keep looking we put a hold on him within an hour and took him home the next day!

Since he arrived in our house he's been quick to learn commands and the house rules and has been a great companion for us. He gets us out of bed for his morning walk and helps us blow off some steam after work with his evening jaunt.

He's been a terrific addition to our lives and we are so thankful that we found him!

Best,
Kate and Michael Robbins

7-20-09

This is Maynard I was going to name him Ozzy,than Shadow and I have finally decided on Diamond he is a very spoiled cat he likes being in the cupboards he doesn't like to drink water out of his bowl he likes drinking it out of the bathtub or the kitchen sink. He wakes me every morning and is very playful. I have always been a dog person so this has been a good experience having a cat and seeing the loyalty in him. We sit on the front porch together and he stays by me. I can hold him now before he would jump out of my arms but he is more trusting I love him and am so thankful he was the perfect match for me. He is not a real affectionate he follows me where ever I go and is very curious about the bathtub when I am in their he sits on the side with wonder on his face.

Thank you for having Free Feline Friday. He is also gaining weight he is eating Iams cat food and he also gets canned food. I could fill all his bones when I brought him her he is filling out and is just such a pretty cat. He's my Diamond. 

Roberta L

7-16-09

Hi There,

About a month ago my wife and I came to HSHV looking for a cat. We found Molly and fell in love with her immediately. Her big orange eyes won us over. She quickly made herself at home and became a big part of our lives. She loves to sit on our laps. Her wide range of vocalizations are endlessly amusing. She 'talks' to us all day long (when she's not sleeping!). Even though she's almost full grown and a year old, she seems to have the energy of eight kittens. She loves to play at all hours of the day and night, and runs herself to exhaustion every time. But a short break and she's ready to go! We can't imagine our lives without her after only a few weeks. Thanks for being there to take her in and care for her, and help her find her forever home.

Max

7-14-09

Last September I adopted a little black kitten now named Finnegan, and an older cat now named Gertie to keep me company while I was spending more time at home recovering from an illness. My fiance Kyle tried to "put his foot down" and said no cats, but upon the advice of my mother, his mother, and all my friends, I adopted them anyway. Well, let's just say he's no longer "anti-cat" - little Finnegan managed to convert him to a cat liker, if not lover, with head-butts and cute kitten antics. There's nothing better than a nice furry friend (or two) to cuddle with and keep you company when you aren't feeling well.

I had some hopes that Gertie and Finnegan might play, but alas, no luck, Gertie prefers to sleep. So, this spring, we adopted a young cat, Riley (formerly Valentine), from his foster home, with Laura and family. (This time Kyle had given the go-ahead). Apparently Riley was doing poorly at the shelter and was very scared, but Laura did a great job! When we brought him home he was curious and friendly - he loves meeting new people when they come over. It took a few days, but now he and Finnegan are good buddies, and love to chase each other around the house and up and down the cat tree. Even Gertie lets Riley sleep by her; I've attached a couple pictures of the cats napping together.

We are such a happy little family. Thanks so much HSHV, you are all wonderful!

Jessica, Kyle, Gertie, Finnegan, and Riley

7-13-09

Hello,

My wife and I came in on July 3rd to look at the different dogs, and immediately saw that Alex was the dog for us.   When we approached his crate to talk, he just craned his neck sideways and stared.  Once we took him out to walk, we saw he had the sweetest demeanor and happiest beagle face.  

After a week, it's safe to say that Alex really loves his new home.  He even loves our Cat, Maya, even though she's unsure if she loves him!   Alex gets miles of walking per day, and as I type this is going to town on a Kong.  

We couldn't be happier with him! 

The Stepping Family

7-13-09

Syd, previously known as Rascal, has made a perfect new addition to our family. He knows how to come, sit, and we are working on stay. He is great on a leash, and he doesnt bark/growl at any other dogs, all he wants to do is play with them. He also doesnt bark when the door bell is rang.

He likes to sleep....ALOT, but he will go with you outside, on walks or play. A great thing about Syd is he follows you EVERYWHERE, so you know he's not getting into something.   He loves his toys. He always has his platapus sqeaker toy with him, i think that's his favriot. He also likes to wade into water, but he doesnt like taking a bath.

Sometimes, when he is asleep if you get up and start to run he'll chase after you, and sometimes in the mornings we have races up and down the stairs.  

Thank you for everything!

The Winchesters

7-13-09

We adopted our wonderful kitten Jasper (Ernie when we got him) from HVHS 5/16/09.

Thanks HVHS!!!

Love,

Aneesa, Matt, and Jasper :)

7-13-09

Dear Animal Lovers:

Here is our beautiful new kitten, named by your staff as Senorita Bonita and adopted by Barbara, Jonathan, Michaela, Natalie, Sophia, and Peppie (the Cairn Terrier) on July 10, Friday.

She LOVES her new home as much as we love her. Her new name is "Cricket"...thank you for all the work you do to place such beautiful friends with families looking for additional babies to love!

The Martin Family

PS: Cricket says Meowww! Hola!!

7-10-09

Shenzi previously known as Sasha has made a wonderful new addition to our family.  After just two days of being home she already knew the commands "sit" and "shake".  She is very good on the leash and she rarely barks. The only time she will ever bark is when she wants to play.  

She loves water. As soon as we brought her home we put a bowl of water down for her and after two laps of water she reared up and put both of her front paws in the water bowl.  We had to put her water up on a chair to she could reach it with her mouth, but not with her feet to avoid a watery mess.  

She loves playing fetch, but when she gets bored of fetch she would much rather play chase. After chasing her around and her chasing me she is usually ready for a nap. She has made the perfect puppy for us.

Thanks for bringing us together Humane Society of Huron Valley.  

Stephanie Smith

7-10-09

I decided in January of 2009 that for my 21st birthday, I would adopt a cat. I couldn't be happier with Jessica. She is the most adorable and loving cat - even better than anything I could ever have hoped for!

I've only had her since April, but I have only grown to love her more and more every day. I am so thankful to have such a wonderfully amazing pet in my life. Thank you so much for making it possible.

Sincerely,
Molly Roth

7-6-09

I just knew when I met Garfield on Friday May 29, 2009 that he was very special. Sure I looked at other cats, but I was on a mission to find a special orange male cat. I already had three cats at home, yet I always wanted an orange one.

When I read the note on his cage and held him in my arms I knew that we had made a connection. The note I am referring to was a hand written message by the HSHV staff Vet Dr. Meredith Mallory.  

It read:  

Garfield is such a lively and personable boy. He was very sick and had to have feeding tube. During his recovery he was very playful and always came to be near the people. He is such a cuddle bug and loves curling up in your arm or right beside you for a nap. He was an absolute joy to have at home. Now he is all better and ready to find a happy home with you :)

Dr. Mallory.  

When I held Garfield he had the loudest purr I have ever heard. Most people would overlook him because of his age (7 years old). His neck had been shaven, he was skinny, with crooked teeth and he had scars of his medical treatment. To me these things made him even more special.   Yet, I had to know more about him. I spoke with so many staff members including one of the Vet Techs, Adoption counselors and volunteers. Everyone there knew Garfield. I found out that his owner had passed away and a family member took him in. Unfortunately they were caring for 16 cats. So they turned in 9 cats to the HSHV. One of them being Garfield. He developed a respiratory infection while at the shelter ( a very normal condition of shelter animals). He was not reacting to treatment and he needed to be treated at home by Dr Mallory herself. After adopting Garfield I went to the shelter clinic to meet with Dr. Mallory in person to thank her for taking such good care of him. She told me that he was a very special cat and she was very happy that he got a good home. My opinion of the HSHV staff and volunteers has been fantastic.

I have worked with volunteers on the phone with the behavior hotline regarding my other cats. They have followed up after the adoption to check to see how everything is going with Garfield twice. Garfield's hair around his neck has grown back now and he is putting on a little weight. My adoption experience was fantastic with the HSHV.

Tony & Pam Guy

7/5/2009

Dear HSHV:

Thank you for my precious Snickers! I adopted her a month ago, and she makes me smile every day. When I brought her home, she looked around the apartment for a few minutes, and then she wanted food, and then she wanted pets. She’s not just a “tip-over” kitty – she’s a FLIP-over kitty; she flips and rolls on the carpet wanting to be petted everywhere at once. She’s almost three years old, but she’s definitely in touch with her “inner kitten.” She’s a little love sponge who’s full of beans.

When I give her wet food, she does what I’ve dubbed “meerkat on alert” – she actually stands on her hind legs at full attention. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get a photo of this, but it’s a sight to see. It makes me laugh every time.

It’s wonderful to have her to come home to, to cuddle with, and to listen to her purr. It’s been an absolute delight to have her become part of my life, and I look forward to many more years with her. Thanks again to HSHV and Snickers’ great foster mom.

Sincerely,

Teri Booth

6-26-09

Dear HVHS,

We adopted a 10 year-old terrier/Shih Tzu mix, “Coco,” on May 22, 2009.He jumped right into our car when we picked him up at the shelter, and has adjusted very well to our household (at first, he was a bit quiet and reserved but he had just been neutered and had 7 teeth extracted so that is understandable!). We changed his name to “Barnaby” and he seems to be very pleased and responds well to this new moniker.

Best of all, he totally ignores our 3 cats and their litter boxes. (The cat test at HVHS was very accurate! Thanks to our brave cat tester and volunteer!) Our cats remain aloof of this new addition but they all enjoy a peaceful coexistence.

Barnaby was given a clean bill of health by our great vet in Plymouth, Dr. Roose, and is now a happy, lively, smiling little guy, always ready for a walk, a romp, or a ride in the car, but just as content to lie at our feet and snooze.

He knows he is in his forever home and we believe that we did not adopt him, but he adopted us. He is the perfect dog for us. Thank you so much, HVHS for your great work.

Sincerely,

Barry, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Hayley Hoffman

6-24-09

THE PERFECT BEAGLE

I had been scanning the many websites in the area looking for the perfect Beagle. Just four weeks prior I had lost my Rotti mix to cancer and three weeks before that my little beagle girl to kidney failure..I was an emotional wreck as was my husband and my son. So there was this photo of a beagle mix named Mrs. Chips. Mrs. Chips had the most interesting pair of eyes…they were like the eyes of an old soul…and then there were the spots..lots and lots of spots. The more I looked at this photo the more I was getting the feeling that I wanted this little girl, so I called the shelter….

I spoke to an adoption counselor who told me that Mrs. Chips was 5 years old, came in as a stray and that she had recently went into foster care. Then I was told all the things that you don’t want to hear. They said she was destructive and that she wasn’t potty trained and that she had been adopted three times and brought back, So I’m hearing this and thinking about it, trying to decide what to do. So I asked if I could speak to the foster mother who described a different dog than what the shelter had .. I thought it was worth setting up a time to meet the infamous Mrs. Chips.

……to make a long story short, this was five weeks ago. We gave Mrs. Chips a new name, we call her Bitsy, Sweetie, and other endearing names. She and my 14 year old lab are totally in love with each other. They have redefined the term “Spooning”. True, Bitsy didn’t have the whole potty thing worked out but she is getting the hang of it. She isn’t destructive because she has an endless supply of rawhides and she is learning what is hers to chew on..and I might add that Bitsy is a VERY smart girl. Since she came to the shelter as a stray and no one knew her history it’s a day by day thing trying to figure her out. I can tell you this, she is sweet, affectionate, funny, and sensitive. If you recall at the beginning of the little story I told you she was 5 years old. She sure has the behavior of a puppy. Everything is new to her. We took her to our Vet for her first check up and our Vet seems to think she is more like a 1 year old….it doesn’t mater…she is our little girl, we love her so much…and she is most definitely and finally with her family.

Andy, Susan, Shaun, Sherlock and Bitsy Bonkowski

6-20-09

Hi:

We adopted Lucy in late February, just as she turned 9. When we saw her at the Humane Society, she was so despondent. She had major skin and ear problems, but we could also tell that she was very sweet. We introduced her to our old lab Belle, and they did great together. So we brought her home and she she settled right in. We learned within a couple days that she also suffers from separation anxiety, and can get very panicked when we leave the house, even for a few minutes. So, we put her on anxiety drugs, and began working closely with her to improve her confidence. Meanwhile her sweet, obedient disposition stole our hearts.

She LOVES to swim and run, and play with her squeakies. And she is very affectionate. Her former family taught her a lot. She traveled with me and Belle back east for a month and did very well in a number of different situations. It's been 3.5 half months and we are happy to report that Lucy no longer needs anxiety meds. Her skin and ear problems are under control and she's lost about 5 pounds!

We love her very much. Thanks, Humane Society folks, for giving us the
opportunity to give Lucy a second chance!

Rebecca and Gary

6-19-09

Furley, previously known as Hennessy, joined our family in May, 2009.

What a delight he has been! A bit over a year old, he understands "sit", "down", "off" , and "no". Of course there is a difference between understanding and following through, and a treat or two has a miraculous effect. Hennessy is as playful as a young puppy and delights in tug-of-war with a rope and chasing a tennis ball, but his all consuming passion is to run, chase and be chased, and wrestle, seemingly without end, another like-minded dog. In the yard or in the house he has the miraculous ability to sense the presence of another dog strolling by the house. This incites a chain of yelps that translate to "Come over and play". Such a play session can easily go on for an hour and is invariably followed by a long nap.

Furley certainly has hound ancestors. On a walk, his path is a very squiggly line executed at high speed with nose to the ground, and this is only interrupted by the end of the leash or sighting of another dog.

In the house he is a friendly and loving creature and a wonderful companion.

Les & Ann Rogers

P.S.

We both wish to acknowledge the dedication and helpfulness of the HVHS staff and volunteers. Their obvious love of the animals they are caring for is heartwarming, and their knowledge about the animals up for adoption makes it much easier to make the right selection. Our hats off to you, thank you so much!

6-12-09

Copper is home!!!!
Though we've only had Copper home for a day and a half he's made his way into our hearts. He's doing very well with our 6yo german shorthair we had and doesnt really mind the cat (she's not his biggest fan though) everyone is doing well. He answers to his name and is potty trained. Loves my boys and is already defending his yard. Baying is one of the funniest things we're getting used to. He has a forever home with us and our family is complete now. Thanks so much!

The Egnor Family
Ypsilanti,MI

P.S. The pics are from the day he came home. We let our sons run through the sprinkler while we had Copper on a lead, he had a fit until we let him off the lead. He wanted to run through the sprinkler too. My oldest said, "He's our dog mom, he loves the sprinkler as much as us!

6-12-09

Hello!

I adopted Nelson, a medium-haired black cat, in early June 2009. I have since named him Durden (like Tyler Durden from the movie "Fight Club"). Though I was apprehensive about bringing another cat into my home-- imagning a feline edition of the Project Mayhem that occured in "Fight Club"-- having Durden has been such a treat! He's such a sweetheart, and him and Doodle have become fast friends. They're nearly inseperable, and are always at the door to greet me together whenever I come home from work. They particularly love rolling around on the floor, cuddling in the windows in the kitchen, and nibbling on their cat nip plant together. Durden is snuggly and sweet, giving kisses to me and Doodle as much as he can manage. A big thanks goes to the Humane Society of Huron Valley for allowing me to give such a wonderful cat a forever home!

Love,
Nadia (and Doodle and Durden)

6-10-09

My boyfriend and I adopted our kitty Kai in October(2008). He was only 8 weeks old and we fell in love with him because of of his beautiful orange color and because he was so sweet and calm when we held him. It did not take him long at all to get comfortable in our apartment. He is very curious and loves exploring. He slept in the bed we bought for him the very first night we brought him home and loves napping in it to this day. Kai is also incredibly friendly and loves playing with anyone (person or cat) that comes by. Although he loves his bed, in the past couple of months he has started sleeping with us in ours. I love that he can be fun and playful but also someone you can cuddle up with at the end of the day. He is a wonderful cat and we are both very glad we were able to adopt him.

 
Thanks HSHV!
- Lucie and Mike

6-9-09

An Adopted Miracle

On 10/21/08 my sister and I received the bad news that her first round of chemotherapy had not done it’s job and there were still active cancer cells in her Lymph system.  It was a kick in the stomach of our emotions and that meant another, more aggressive round of chemo would have to be given.  We were devastated at the bad news.

Driving home from the hospital we took a drive to look at the color in the trees and wound up at the Humane Society to just look around to see if we needed to adopt a new baby for her to cuddle.  She quickly spotted a red Pomeranian that had been given up for adoption and we

instantly fell in love with him.  The worker that had been taking care of him was reluctant to let us adopt him since he was so “aloof.”  He was such a shy little fellow.  I quickly drove back home to pick up our other two little dogs to meet the new boy.  He was not impressed with the other dogs, but no aggression was seen from any of them so the expert decided to allow us to adopt the Pom.

He had been called Yogi, was 8 months old and we quickly changed his name to Kalie.  He is so precious and a real lover.  That gave Julie a new baby to cuddle and think about rather than concentrate on her next round of treatment.  Kalie and the rest of the family settled in wonderfully together.  He gave her lots of love and worked the miracle I’d hoped for.  She was concentrating on him rather than the up coming chemo.

We took Kalie to our veterinarian for a well puppy check and to get him established with her and she pronounced him sound and a true keeper.  She also said that it’s amazing what an impact these little fuzzy kids have on all of us and have been proven to be a great aid in regaining health.

Julie came home from her 20 day stay at the hospital yesterday and she is through with the chemotherapy now.  She said that while all the massive chemicals were flooding her blood stream that the thought of coming home to Kalie got her through the ordeal.  As I type they are both cuddled up on the couch and so happy to be together again.

We both wanted to thank you for the good work you do in getting new homes for these precious little animals and to let you know this adoption worked out most wonderfully.  Kalie gets along well with his two brothers, a Yorkie and a Katrina survivor rescue mutt.  It is a happy family and the boys play all day and cuddle all night.  We are such lucky people to have them in our lives.

Thank you for letting us adopt this wonderful little boy.

Sincerely,

Joyce Bush

6-8-09

Stoli

Hi,

In February my wife and I adopted "Victoria" a little pit bull puppy. She was still a little wobbly on her puppy feet so we thought the name "Stoli" would be appropriate.

Stoli is the best dog I have ever owned. She is very sweet and loves to play. She shares a home with our cats and has picked up a few of their qualities. She rubs against furniture and people's legs like a kitty and when she plays with other dogs the first thing she does is swat them in the face with her paw. She tries to get all of the dogs she sees to play with her and wants everyone to love her.
When she is not tearing up her stuffed animals she is usually crashed out in her bean bag chair or snoozing in the sunshine on the porch.
She is now 30 pounds and growing faster each day.

Thank you for letting us bring her into our family.

Brian and Jessica

6-5-09

Apollo

Hi,

I adopted Apollo last summer.  I went with a friend to look at a new kitty for her, but when I saw this cutie in his cage and he looked at me with those big eyes it was instant love.  A couple of days later, I came in and adopted him.  We had quite a ride home.  Less than a mile down the road, Apollo busted through the cardboard carrier and joined me up front on the passenger seat!  Thankfully, we didn't have far to go until Apollo was at his new home.  Apollo is a great companion. He helped me get through studying for the bar last summer, and continues to entertain me with his emotional meowing.  He is a true emo-cat. 

Thanks,

Rose

6-5-09

Hello!

Remember me, Quincey?

Well, I have a new home now and I really like it here.  I basically can do and go wherever I want, when I want! Which, for me means I sleep in various locations of the house.  I really liked the closet at first because there was already a beach towel for me to sleep on.  It turns out that it was for the other cat at my house, so technically I stole it, but I didn't know. Gosh!  The other cat at my house is named Tigi and she was kinda mean to me at first, but now is really nice to me and wants to play alot too!  I play sometimes, mainly in the mornings and late at night, but I usually like to take it easy.
   

The humans at my new home are quite nice to me, even though they tease me about my feet.  They call them teddy bear paws (or TBP's for short) and they say it's hard to take me seriously sometimes, but I don't mind.  It's cool.  I like to sleep with them at night even though they always put their lips on my face!  They call them 'smoochies' and they said I should probably get used to them because I'm gonna get them alot. I'm starting to not mind them as much though.  Also, they call me all sorts of different names like Prince Quince, Quincetafur, Q-Money, Quincey Morgan, Morgan Freeman, Dommy, Domiano, even Quincess! Where do they get this stuff from?
   

Well, I gotta get going now because it's time for another nap, but thanks for taking care of me and finding me a good home!

Love,
Quincey Morgan Freeman Junior Carlson

6-5-09

Sadie

Sadie (or Scooter in your records) is doing great...we absolutely love her to pieces!! We've had her now for just over 6 weeks and she's really adjusted quite well. She's gotten used to our routine and seems really happy...has even gained some weight as she has no trouble eating!!

I did take her to the free behavioral class (Helen was there) in early May and she could use some more work in that area. I plan to sign her up for an 8-week class at Pet Smart the end of July. We wanted her to get familiar with us first before we tackled the training.

I've attached a picture of Sadie with the boys . . . as you can see, they are thrilled to have her as a part of our family.

Thanks again for all your help!!

Jennifer

6-3-09

Indigo

My Mom decided that she would like to get a cat and I volunteered to buy her one for her birthday. We, along with my 15 yr old son, came to the shelter this past May 26th 2009 to look. Needless to say, and unfortunately, there were many to choose from. You want to take them all! My son gravitated towards "Indigo" right away and indicated to my mom that "this was the one". Indigo was a little bit of an older cat at 4 years of age, which gave my mom a small amount of concern, but my mom decided to take a chance that my son was right. Well he was. Indigo fits in just like she's lived with my parents for years.

She is sweet natured, likes to be part of the family and never ruins anything or makes messes. She doesn't even try and jump on the furniture. She loves my mom and dad, they love her, and when we come over she's so happy to see everyone. The first night my son slept over at my parents house, after getting Indigo, the cat slept with him. She's no dummy. She knows who saved her. Whoever said cats are independent has never had a cat. Our advice; cats are great companions. Take a chance with whatever cat you gravitate towards. Don't worry about their age (they grow fast anyway) or condition. You met on that day for a reason.

Thank you,

Carrie

6-1-09

Simon

My husband and I adopted Simon on May 18th, 2009. When we came to HVHS we weren't sure what type of dog we were looking for but Simon found us! The first week was a bit rough as we believe he was trained to use the bathroom in the bathroom only but now he is going outside. He is such a smart and loving dog!

Our favorite moments are not only when he cuddles with us on the couch but playing with him- he carries one toy in his mouth and bats his ball down the hall like he's playing soccer!   He loves car rides and baths - he's even jumped into the shower while I was in there! We will be getting Simon his own little pool for the backyard. He is a wonderful addition to our family and could not have asked for a better dog. Thank you so much for taking care of our boy and letting him come to his new home.  

Thomas, Lisa, and Simon Caldwell

5-31-09

Mogli

Hi,

I adopted Mogli (formally Jordan) from HSHV about two months ago.  Although still a puppy, his manners and obedience skills are outstanding!  But above all, he is the most loving and loyal dog I have ever met.  Each day we have enjoyed long walks and runs and afterwards relax out in the sun.  Mogli's favorite activity is chasing squirrels up trees (he will actually try to climb the tree) and chasing his tail (he still doesn't know that it is a part of him).  Simple things like climbing stairs and hearing my printer go off still scare him, but we are working on it.  All the neighbor children love taking Mogli out to play soccer and baseball; he is so gentle with all of them.  Adotpting a pet is one of the most rewarding things you can do for yourself as well as for the animal.  Mogli shows me how much he cares everyday by waiting at the window for me to come home, crawling up on my lap when we watch TV and giving me kisses when he knows I'm sad.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect and affectionate friend.

Thank you HSHV,

Ashley

5-29-09

Sesi

Hello All,    

A little while ago my boyfriend and I stopped by the Humane Society for fun. We both love animals and just want to hang out with some for the afternoon. After walking a couple dogs and petting a few cats we were ready to go. On the way out my boyfriend noticed a dog. He was cute and friendly but not what I wanted. My boyfriend complained and I began to look around. While I was waiting for my boyfriend to say his good byes to the dog, the most beautiful animal stepped outside. Before knowing anything about it I said "I wanted this one". There she stood. The blue eyed beauty. We got her on a leash and and walked her. She was calm, friendly and cuddly. I wanted to take her home. We got back from out walk and went into the adoption center. After a couple of hours it was offical. Sesi was ours.    

On our way home we stopped at the pet store to pick up some necessaties.  After the pet store we showed her off. Everyone loved her. We finally got her home. She was checking everything out and after about 5 minutes she jumped up on the sofa and laid down. When it was time for bed she came into our room and laid right in her little bed we made her. The next day it was time for work and time to put Sesi in her kennel. She was not liking that. So the only option was to leave her in our BRAND NEW house running free. I was nervous but had no other options. All day long I was freaking out at working thinking about what she could possible destroy. After work I rushed home. When I stepped inside I couldnt find her. I looked all over. I finally found her on OUR bed!!! She was so excited and so was I. She didn't mess up anything.   It has been over a month and Sesi is wonderful. She has gained almost all of her weight back and is healthier than ever. Bringing her into our home was the best decision we have ever made.

She is so much fun and I thank everyone at HSHV for letting us bring her into our home.  

Thanks, Natasha, Jamie and Sesi

5-23-09

Lucky

Hello all!

Here with news on Lucky, a cat I adopted back on August 5th, 2008. She is doing very well. I went in looking for a kitten and this one caght my eye and when I spent time with her she curled up in my arms and I knew she was the one. She warmed up very quickly. She had a minor infection in her eye when I got her, but we fixed her up real quick and she's been fine since. She is very active, and isn't shy to let you know in the morning it's feeding time. Usually if I sleep in late she'll hop up on the bed and meow. She has turned out to be a wonderful investment and I have enjoyed every single second of it since bringing her home! Lucky sends her well wishes and thanks for the time she spent at the HVHS and is very thankful for taking care of her. She is very happy that I came along and that you guys let me take her home.

We both thank you very much!

5-21-09

Monkey

My husband and I adopted Monkey (originally named Lilith) back in December of 2007 when she was 2 ½ years old. She was a stray but we joke that she slipped on a cloud and fell from heaven.

From the moment we saw her at the shelter there was a connection-she let us pick her up right away. She still enjoys being picked up and held and enjoys lounging and being brushed and chasing after the laser pointer. She is the softest creature ever and we love her so much.  Thank you Huron Valley Humane Society!

Sincerely,

Elena and Carey Chesney

5-20-09

Sayah Jane

Just thought we would give you an update on Sayah ..she is doing great,still playes ball all the time we are finding out we need to buy a kid pool couse she dicovered the cooler full of water,and she loves to swim.  We will be bringing her in for a check up and shots soon so look at her picture - you can see how happy she truely is, thanks.

Thank you,

The Medlen Family

5-14-09

TINO

If you remember this guy, you would remember him as Cuddley.  My fiance brought him home for me as a Valentine's Day present.  I had been to the shelter the day before and helped  my friend pick out a cat and I fell in love too.  So, the next day, my third child (I mean cat) came home to me.  We decided to rename him Valentino (Tino) because of the day or his arrival at home.  Tino is most definitely deaf but he responds really well to vibrations and hand motions (sign language) and luckily, he's got a sister (Stella) who he follows around (or chases if the mood is right).  We tell Tino all of the time that he has voice modulation problems because well... he can't hear himself talk... but we can... and its really funny. I was really upset when shortly after he came home, I found out that he had heart disease.  But, he's on medication and seems to be doing really well.  He has adjusted well to his new home and headbutts and purrs when he's getting attention paid to him.  He's the sweetest and coolest cat on the planet and I am thrilled to have him (as are his two siblings).  

Lauren, Ed, Tino, Stella and Murphy