Guardian Membership
Heartwarming Adoption Stories YOU Helped Make Possible!
October, otherwise known as Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, is just days away and we want to give you, our devoted Guardians, a sneak peek of what’s to come. SPOILER ALERT: You can expect stories that will melt your heart and remind you why you should be proud to be an ASPCA Guardian. We’ll be sharing some of our favorite “Happy Tails” throughout the month, highlighting the work we’re doing all over the country thanks to support from people like you.
Dogs like Sunshine, Kitty, Maggio and Dumplin got their second chances at happy lives because they had you by their sides. That’s why we wanted to give you an exclusive look at their stories and how you helped them find their happily ever after.
Sunshine
On November 12, 2022, an NYPD officer spotted an emaciated two-year-old pit bull-mix through the window of a seemingly abandoned house in the Bronx. After gaining access to the home, the officer brought the dog to the ASPCA for treatment where it was noted that she was emaciated, had a very dirty haircoat, long claws, worn teeth and low vitamin B12 levels.
Though she loved people, and even met celebrities during her time with us, Sunshine was reactive toward other dogs, so our Behavior team worked closely with her. After nine months of looking for the right home, Michelle M. and her teenage daughters spotted Sunshine on social media and knew they wanted to adopt her.
Sunshine now sleeps in bed next to Michelle, loves swimming in the pool and “has more toys than she knows what to do with.”
Kitty
Kitty, a black Labrador, was one of 50 dogs rescued from a hoarding situation in July of 2022. Many of the dogs rescued from the private residence were extremely fearful, Kitty included, and transferred to the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) in North Carolina. Here, Kitty spent seven weeks in treatment learning to become a more confident dog.
Once ready, Kitty went to a foster home where she met Doug and his dog Rosie while out on a walk. When Kitty and Rosie started playing together Doug immediately called his partner, Greg, and let him know he had found their new dog.
Though skittish when she first arrived home, Kitty has since turned into a sweet, playful, cheese-loving pup who is very gentle when taking treats. She loves to snuggle and burrow under the covers at night and has become best friends with Rosie.
Maggio
In April 2022, nearly 30 dogs were rescued from filthy conditions in Brooklyn, New York. The dogs were discovered in multiple areas of the building, including the backyard and in cages in the basement, many without access to food or clean water and in crates covered in feces and urine. The basement also had poor ventilation and a strong odor of ammonia.
Of the dogs rescued was a one-year-old, nearly 160 lb. Anatolian Shepherd who was later named Maggio. From the beginning, Maggio was known as a gentle giant by all our staff. Though huge in stature, Maggio just wanted to play and get pets. Due to his large size and some special needs, it took a while to find the right adopter with the space and willingness to care for Maggio. But in January 2023, Kelli M. from Massachusetts saw an email with Maggio and knew he was the one for her.
Since being adopted, Maggio has enjoyed many car rides, boat rides and all the pets he could ever want. He often goes with Kelli to visit family in New York City, where he’s even run into ASPCA staff who were ecstatic to see him!
Dumplin
When tornadoes tore through Spalding County, Georgia, in January, the ASPCA was called in to help. We established temporary shelters for unowned pets and animals displaced by the tornadoes and relocated other animals to shelters outside of the impacted communities to free up space in local shelters. More than 40 dogs were transported to the ASPCA Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Ohio. Among these animals was Dumplin, a heartworm-positive dog.
Dumplin’s hind left paw had been amputated after a previous injury that never healed properly, but she eventually needed to have her entire leg amputated. She recovered quickly and adjusted to life with three legs.
During Dumplin’s time with a CRC foster caregiver, a family spotted her online and were drawn in by her description of being a “laid-back couch potato.” Two days after her heartworm cleared, the family welcomed Dumplin’ home. She immediately bonded with their 11-year-old dog, Petey, goes on walks with the family every day and loves to snuggle.
Guardian Stories
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