Captain

Hi, all – this is Captain speaking. My new family thinks that I am just the greatest dog ever, and I really love them too! Rich at the shelter was kind enough to take me to the vet on Wed, 12/23 on his day off, so I could surprise my 3 new brothers before Christmas – and boy were they surprised! (they didn’t think they’d be able to see me until after Christmas.) Santa was REALLY good to me on Christmas Day – he brought me lots of treats and stuffed animals. I like to rip up my stuffed animals and try and get the squeaker out of them. I rode up to Raleigh with my family on the day after Christmas and did great. I LOVE to ride in the car. Dad will usually come pick me up before he picks up my brothers from school, and I just LOVE IT. I also had a GREAT time playing in the snow during the Winter 2010 blizzard we had. I already knew how to “sit” when I got home, but very quickly learned how to “speak!” and “hug” and “give 5”. I am a SMART dog!! I also love to play fetch, and will bring the ball back to you and drop it at your feet (unless I am in the mood for you to chase me, which I also love.) I love, love, love to be around people and other dogs. I actually have a new girlfriend who lives next door – a black German shepherd named Sabrina. I also got crate-trained in a day and am doing really well with that. Mom & Dad pay a neighbor to come let me out at lunchtime and leave me in the backyard to play for 30 minutes (she also lets out Sabrina at the same time). I DO like to chew stuff – shoes and plastic toys are my favorite. Mom and brothers have suffered a few “shoe casualties”. But that’s okay – they know I’m still a baby. Anyway, Mom & Dad, and my 3 brothers, think I’m the greatest dog in the world, and could not be more pleased with me and the OBX SPCA for letting them adopt me. Attached are a few pictures – you can tell I’ve grown a lot just in the past month! My family is coming camping at the KOA in Hatteras on 5/14 and I’m coming too! So if we have time, I’ll swing in and say “hi!”  xoxo, Captain.

Relish

Dear OBX SPCA, Thank you for letting me stay with you until my new family came and adopted me. You knew me as "Relish", but they re-named me Carolina. I love my new family and big brother Rascal. I've made myself at home and enjoy being spoiled, playing with my new toys, and cuddling. I also tend to snoop in everything I can fit myself into, am very curious how people food tastes, and enjoy pouncing/stalking my brother. At first we were hesitant with each other, but now we chase each other around the house. He may be bigger than me, but I can still take him down. Here are some pictures of my new family and me. Love always, Carolina

Earl

My husband and I adopted a lab/chow mix puppy named Earl in March of this year. I have wanted to bring him in for a visit for quite some time now, but my husband was in a car accident in April and I have been busy caring for him and working. Earl is the most wonderful dog ever! He has brought our family so much joy (not to mention keeping my husband company while he's home). I can not say enough about him. He has an extremely outgoing and friendly personality with other animals, people and children. He is both loving and gentle, but protective of his family and anyone he deems a friend. We call him our "son" and spoil him rotten. He loves rewhide bones and any toy that squeaks. He is Kennel trained, but he sleeps with us...he is more than 70 pounds now, but he still likes to take a nap in my lap! I plan to send pictures soon, but I wanted to take a minute to say thank you to the staff for allowing me to adopt him. He dad been adopted already, but I filled out the paperwork anyway. I can't imagine why the other person/people returned him, but I don't care. Earl is the light of our lives and I want you to know he is a perfect fit for us. Thank you again for giving us our little boy! Sincerely, Amber

william

Hello Everyone; We promised Josie that we would let you all know how William is doing! He is fantastic, what a dog! He and his brother Bear play in the house and outside in the yard. When they are outside they are joined by another playmate. Riggo is a large (approx. 100 lb) three year old black lab. it is quite entertaining seeing the three of the m run and chase each other. William has had several challenges/adjustments to overcome, one of which is stairs. It only took him two days with a little coaxing, a leash and treats to find out that he can go up and down at will. On day two of his new trick, I came out of the bathroom upstairs to find that he had learned another trick. He was on my bed, looking like he had always been there. He and Bear both sleep on the bed, William gets on and off during the night. William went to the veterinarian on Friday. He weighs 38.5 lbs. Did I mention that he still will not get into a vehicle... he is solid a a rock! There were snow flurries when we went out this morning. William kept looking up but didn't seem bothered by the snow or the cold. They are calling for a few inches within the next day or so. I will get some pictures of Bear and William in the snow to sent to you. We love having William in our family... everyone except Caro the cat. The jury is still out where she is concerned. They are starting to be able to be in the same room at times without William chasing and barking at her. If you have any suggestions to help with the desensitization process it would be most appreciated. For now, she has the living room area as her safe room. We installed gates that she is able to leap over with ease and not have either of the dogs follow her. By the way, during William's doctor appointment, I was telling him how grateful and impressed I was with all of you and the care that you provide to the animal. He said that it was obvious to him from your records and William's great health that you all provide excellent care and thank you! Please feel free to keep in touch! I promise to write again soon, hopefully with pictures! Sincerely, Clarisse

Lee

For sometime I have told other pet owners that the best thing to do after you lose a pet is to get another one. This way you still have the memory of the pet you lost and the joy, which the other pet is bound to bring. Not quite ready to take my own advice, but starting to look, I came across a local web site: obxspca.org. The featured cat was a six month old female Brown Tiger Torti http://www.obxspca.rescuegroups.org/animals/detail?AnimalID=872685. Her name is Lee. We now have two Lees in this household. Brenda’s middle name is Lee. A few years ago my oldest daughter Leanore, incidentally was named after my late sister Leanora, sent us a statue. It sits in the middle of Brenda’s rose garden. I named it Tessa Lee, as Leanore’s youngest daughter, my eighth grandchild, is named Tess. My second daughter Nanette’s three children and my third daughter Melissa’s two children all call Leanore, Aunt Lee Lee. All of which bring us back to the six month old female Brown Tiger Torti cat, who needs a good home. If I am lucky enough to get her, I will probably change her name. Cats don’t seem to mind that. After some thought, how about Lee Lee Lee? Should Brenda and I eventually move to California to be near our two oldest daughters and their families, as uncertain as life is, maybe someday that Brown Tiger Torti cat will become a member of my Leanore’s household. She could known as Aunt Lee Lee’s Lee Lee Lee! Afterward Most of the time things do not go as planned. Going back to the SPCA’s web site I noticed another cat, Leo. Leo is a gray and white and about 18 months old. Leo’s face looks so much like my Sam’s; he could have been my Sam’s brother. Brenda, however, got the word, from one of her other exercise ladies, that a longhaired female black and white needed a home. So the choice was then between the black and white, the gray and white and the torti. I decided to take Leo. As an older cat he probably had the least chance to be adopted. I went out to get Leo but had to follow the shelter’s procedure first. This meant filling out some forms and paying a fee. Leo, perched on one of those carpeted cat trees, looked downright regal. As I was filling out the forms, I saw another cat. A pampered pet that the staff, two young ladies, kept in the front office, rather than in the back with the other cats. A little contented cat, who you could hear purring ten yards away, she was a six month old brown tiger torti. She turned out to be the cat that started all this, Lee. Sadly, I did not fill out the forms to take Lee. After I got home, surprisingly, the lady who had the black and white never called. When we tracked her down, we found that she changes her mind, deciding keep her black and white. Back to the shelter, this time with Brenda, we signed up to also take Lee. The ladies at the SPCA were quiet pleased. So was I.