Another Happy Home

Hi CRARL Staff,

If you remember I came to live with the Websters last spring.  I love it here, so much.  They take me for walks on the beach and I want to go every day, so I stand at the door and cry (like a dog) until they take me out.  I won’t stay out of their laps, and breathe in their faces.  Oh! I lay on Mrs. Webster’s chest and hug her.  I know she loves me!  I can’t sleep in the bedroom at night, because they can’t get used to me sleeping on their heads – yet!!  Thank you for letting me come here to live.  Mrs. Webster is in Florida for a couple of months, I miss her lap.

God Bless Snoopy!

Love, Fred

(and Ron & Rita Webster)

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A dream come true.

Hi everyone,

My family wanted to thank you all for helping us adopt a wonderful puppy.  We have named her Zoey, and couldn’t be happier.  We had wanted a German Shepherd for many years, and the opportunity had never presented itself.  As soon as I saw her at the shelter, however, I knew it was fate.

She’s been a great addition, and although her training and walking is taking tons of our time, it’s time well spent.  The children love her and even the other animals seem to enjoy her company.  Zoey is particularly fond of our other adoptee from CRARL, our cat Bonk.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The Russillo Family

Zoey

Becky in N.H.

Hi Everyone,

We adopted “Becky” on October 5th and we are already in love!  She is doing so well and is the sweetest cat.  Thank you so much for everything.

Jennifer & Richard Cogan, Exeter, N.H.

Dakota-doing well in Vermont

To all my friends (both two and four-footed) at the Humane Society of Knox County and the Camden Rockport Animal Rescue League:

Hi all. I wanted to update you on my life since leaving the CRARL. I spent a wonderful week in Maine with my new adopted family on their Searsmont farm before heading over to the Green Mountain State. I now live with them in an apartment in Northfield, Vermont. I live in a neighborhood with lots of cats, dogs, birds, squirrels, and the occasional woodchuck and skunk. Fortunately I have not gotten too close to the latter, though some of my pals in the neighborhood have not been so lucky. Speaking of pals I have a girlfriend down the street. Her name is Addie, and she is a beautiful two-year-old Golden Retriever. Yes, I know, she is an older woman…what can I say? My family is very trainable. I have taught them to give me treats every time I do something clever, such as coming, sitting, giving paw, lying down, fetching Frisbees, and stuff like that. They have even learned some of the basic hand signals. They seem to have an unlimited supply of treats. My favorite is rawhide. I like to bury the rawhide bones and eat them later, when they are soft and covered with dirt. I had my first visit to the vet, who was very impressed at how relaxed I was for a rescue dog. She also said I had beautiful teeth. My family takes me for frequent walks on the leash, and also to an open field by a river where I can run and get wet and play with other dogs. Most of the dogs and humans around here are quite friendly, though there are some grumpy ones too, unfortunately. Sometimes I sleep in my family’s beds, and sometimes I sleep in my own bed on the floor next to them. I am glad I chose them. They are a good family. Well, that is about it. I miss all my friends back in Maine, especially Lola, but am doing quite well as you can see. Please give my regards to everyone at both shelters and tell them I hope they find good homes very soon. And thank you to all the humans who took such good care of me until I found my family.

Love, Coda

PS Oh yeah, my family shortened my name to Coda. It was easier for them to say than “Dakota.”

PPS I meant to attach a recent photo of myself, taken at a rugby game at Norwich University, where my family works. I don’t look too happy because the artillery company had just shot off a cannon, and the loud noise scared me so I jumped into the car. I will send more photos soon. Love, Coda.

Dakota

It takes time to feel at home.

Ian with his toys

Dear Folks at CRARL,

This donation is in memory of our beloved cat baby “cakey” who died last month at 21 years old.  I still miss her so sadly and deeply.

But I wanted to tell you about “Ian”.  We adopted him last January so I don’t know if you would remember him, but I was told he was at the shelter for 3 years.  He was very standoff-ish and skittish, but that was the main reason I chose him, because noone else probably would have.  And there was something about his eyes and the way he looked at me. 

He was terrified of course when we brought him home.  I put him in a quiet room as I know you should when they first come home.  He hid under a bookshelf for a week.  For the first 36 hours he wouldn’t even touch his food.  After that he would cautiously come out but when I opened the door I saw a tail darting back under the bookcase.  I would get down on the floor and talk softly to him under there.  Sometimes I would get discouraged and wonder if he would ever come out.  But I know I must be patient.  The first week went by and it was time to finalize the adoption, so I came in and signed the papers.  That evening, he came out from under the bookcase, flopped down when I reached to pet him, and just started purring and rolling around.  He would put his head down and roll like a somersault.  Since then, there’s been nothing but progress.  He is so loving.  It took a long while for him to even get used to all the strange sounds of a household, like the furnace, even t.v. or music.  He still tends to have a skittish side if he feels like he’s cornered or something, and he still won’t let me pick him up, but I couldn’t ask for a swweter boy.  He likes to push his face against me and into my long hair, and he follows me into bed every night.

It breaks my heart when I hear of people who adopt cats then bring them back because they “won’t come out”.  They don’t even give them a chance.

I have enclosed two pictures of Ian, one is him with his buddy Gizmo.

Thank you for everything you do,

Genevieve Flanders

Buddies.

My Friend Liam

Hello:

Liam graciously accepted my invitation to come home with me around Christimas time 2008. I had been volunteering at the shelter for a few months and fell in love with this senior kitty that had so much grace. He was 16 at the time I adopted him. He had been at the shelter for 2 years, losing his brother during that time. He had come from a sad situation (by the records). Liam was such a gentleman from the time he set foot in my door. My other kitties, Whisper, Winner (Whisper’s daughter) and Mickey were not too sure but he settled right in after going from room to room twice and then settling on the sofa to live his days in the sun coming in the window and insisting on my sitting down if I was too busy with his Siamese howl. He was in the early stages of kidney failure then and I was hoping he would make it to another Christimas with me but he was too ill and he went peacefully on Friday, September 18. My goal was to give him the best in his last few years and I believe I accomplished that. Everyone that met Liam thought he was such a gentleman, almost regal. I will miss him. Here’s to Liam, my graceful kitty that touched my heart.

Liam and Mikey

Nadine Micoleau

Collin has found his place!

Hi CRARL Staff,

 So far I am doing fine.   My new parents like me a lot, and I have decided that I like sitting on the couch with them while they watch the Patriots and the Red Sox.  NASCAR seems to be fun, but I can’t catch any of the cars.   Do you remember how much I like to climb?  Well, you should see this house, I can get on top of the kitchen cabinets, and the entertainment center, and I really want to get into the back yard and catch some of the chipmunks and birds and squirrels……but they keep catching me before I get up enough nerve to leave the deck out back.

Chance and I are getting along really well, we don’t fight, and we take turns sleeping in the small bed.

I made a boo boo in the cage soon after we left the shelter, and I had to have a bath (not real fun) as soon as I got home, but that was my last mistake.

I have a wellness exam in 20 minutes, so I can get new prescriptions. 

I miss you all, and I’ll send some pictures soon I promise.

Me, at the shelter, waiting for my family.

Love,

Collin.

Second chance for feral kittens

Beauty in fur!

I just wanted to send you a few photos of Nokomis, who I adopted in December 2006 after my 6-month internship with CRARL. She came in with her sister, Nova, in September 2006. I think they were strays from Islesboro, and were semi-socialized thanks to their feeder. If my memory serves me correctly, Nova (the braver of the two) was adopted along with a lovely all black kitten named Fauna. Nokomis was a very shy, skittish, hissy little kitten. Luckily she was young enough to adjust to life as a house cat. Though she is still afraid of strangers and loud noises, she seems very happy with her life as an indoor cat and loves to cuddle and be carried around. She seems to have a genetic pre-disposition to oral issues (FORLs), but successfully underwent dental surgery this past June. Her mouth is doing much better now, though she is unhappy with my attempts to brush her teeth!

 Thanks for giving a semi-feral kitten a chance. I couldn’t imagine life without her! She is my other half (in feline form!). I’ve been working as an Adoption Counselor for the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society (in Leverett, MA) since April 2008 and I continue to have a soft spot for the “scaredy cats”.

Best,

 -kate sheely

Home Sweet Home

Mims, formerly "Cher" getting comfy in her new home.

“Just a few photos to show you how well Mims has adjusted to her new home. She has 2 favorite spots ‘her’ chair and the living room window.
She gets along well with her 2 feline brothers and her 2 canine sisters. She is well loved and happy.”
The Lary Family

New Family Spirit

Dear Staff of the Camden-Rockport Animal Rescue League,
We want to thank you so much for allowing us to adopt “Sassy” (we renamed her “Spirit”) so quickly, even before she was spayed. She is a wonderful dog and we are having a wonderful time getting to know her and falling in love with her. Thank you for all the great work you do!
Sincerely,
Sonia Shah & Adam Boardman
Waltham, Massachusetts