SUCCESS STORIES
January 2011
Ms. Tracy: Second Chance Sheltering Network
Ms. Tracey came to Second Chance with her kittens and proved to be a wonderful mama. Yet, this beautiful girl had had more than one roadblock thrown at her. Not only was she abandoned and left to fend for herself and her babies, she tested positive for feline leukemia.
Tracey's gentle, warm nature led to her adoption by the perfect adopter. They are now inseparable! The volunteers at Second Chance believe that the right home is out there for every helpless animal. Ms. Tracey reinforces their theory that if they look long and hard enough, they will find it.
2010 Success Story of the Year
Zelda: City of Buffalo Animal Shelter
When Jennifer Ward first saw Zelda, it was shortly before Thanksgiving on Channel 2's Daybreak Pet Connection segment. Jennifer had no intention of getting a dog of any kind, but there was something special about Zelda. When she heard Kathy from the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter say that Zelda had been with them a long time and was being overlooked because she was an older dog, it hurt Jennifer deeply. Zelda plopped herself down in the middle of the Channel 2 studio, her back legs stuck out behind her and this look of total “I know who I am and I love being me” on her face. Jennifer chuckled out loud and snapped a picture. She immediately began e-mailing everyone she knew, hoping to find Ms. Zelda a well deserved home. There were a lot of reasons why she didn’t think she could give Zelda a home – her single mother status, the fact that she worked full time, and the fact that with dogs come a lot of responsibility.
Despite this, Jennifer could not get Zelda out of her mind. She worried about her, and how she was doing at the shelter. Her friends and family assured her that Zelda was certain to find a home because most dogs that get profiled on TV all of a sudden have people jumping to adopt them. She kept stalking the City Shelter website, hoping to see that her picture had come down. Sadly, it still hadn't.
Jennifer had now become a regular Channel 2 News Daybreak viewer hoping to get an update on Zelda. Yet, each week, it was proclaimed that Zelda was still looking for a home. In the meanwhile, Jennifer's brother had actually met Zelda in the flesh at the City Shelter's Barksgiving event. Her brother told her something she had not known up to that point: that Zelda had been used as bait by a dog fighting ring. Her heart broke. Finally, Jennifer could not take it any longer. The next morning, she visited the Shelter and as soon as the Director brought Zelda out to meet Jennifer and her family, it became official. Zelda must come home with her! Her kids were immediately down on the floor with her, loving her to pieces and Zelda's tail was wagging non-stop. When Jennifer looked into those big, brown, SOULFUL eyes, she realized that she had spent the last month on a journey... a journey to Zelda.
Since adopting Zelda, Jennifer has learned a bit more about her past life. Zelda originally came to the Shelter as part of a court case and was actually held as “evidence” for about 11 months. She had been a “baby maker” for quite some time and her body bears the brunt of the litters she bore. Once Zelda couldn’t make babies anymore, it seems that her abusers thought they’d use her for “bait”. No matter the scars all over her body, her spirit came through it all completely unscatched. Zelda craves interaction, love and attention. And she gets A LOT of it.
Zelda had actually been adopted and had a home for a year and half before coming back to the shelter in June 2010. Her owner took seriously ill and could no longer care from her. She was at the City Shelter until December 16th when Jennifer came along. If it had not been for the commitment of the staff and volunteers at the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter, Zelda might have been euthanized. Zelda has changed Jennifer and her family in such positive ways. As Jennifer says "I walk home each and every day at lunchtime to take her outside and no matter what the weather, I’m walking that walk home with a huge smile on my face and in my heart because I know I’m going to see Zelda."
March 2011
Michael: Ten Lives Club
Michael was surrendered to the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter when his elderly owner died, then transferred to Ten Lives Club. He was placed up for adoption at the Pet Supplies Plus on Union Rd. where fate brought him to his new owner. She was looking for a large, easy going male cat and there was Michael: big and smooshy.
Mike has adjusted to his new home brilliantly. His owner reports that he loves to talk, to snuggle, and to lounge on the office chair. He also greets her at the door and is her constant companion.
