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More Happy Tails!!!
Stories, testimonies and tributes
to your adopted friends |
Hi,
Sammy Boy, a 10 year-old black and white PitBull, joined our family in February 2007. When I saw his sad face and frail frame at the animal shelter, I knew that I just had to take him home.
Each day Sammy Boy becomes more comfortable. He gets along great with Lexi, my 2 year-old year old PitBull and the other Sammy, my 5 year-old Dalmatian/Pit-bull mix. Our family has two dogs named Sammy because I didn’t want to change Sammy’s name after 10 years!
Sammy Boy loves to cuddle under the covers and curl up next to Lexi and me when it’s time for bed. He is starting to run around, wrestle, and play together with the other dogs. Sammy Boy is a great addition to our home.
-Karen R

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Hi, my name is Amanda and I wanted to share my happy story with the Montgomery County Humane Society and everyone who is interested in adopting a new best friend.

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In August of 2005, I went to the Montgomery County Humane Society completely unsure of what I was looking for. |
I was in college but itching to find a furry companion to call my own (my mother had adopted a dog from MCHS only a few years before). After "ooh-ing" and "ahh-ing" at all of the dogs in the upper kennel I asked if I could see the dogs in the lower kennel. I was warned that these dogs are often sick with kennel cough or other illnesses but allowed me to give them a gander. That is where I met my new best friend. Her previous name was Lizzy. She ran up to the gate and she knew as fast as I did that she would be coming home with me. I put my name on the waitlist and as I was number 3, I tried not to get my hopes up. A few weeks later, however, I got the call that she could soon be mine!
In September of 2005 I came to pick up Layla -- not knowing what I was in for. We went to Petsmart that afternoon to get all of the necessary supplies and almost immediatley she found a stuffed pink pig that she carried around the store. Obviously, I ended up buying the pig and since then we have had to replace it more than several times. She LOVES car rides, loves to howl along to "happy birthday" and loves to give kisses. She has never run away or escaped and is very fond all the children and other dogs in the neighborhood. After months of training, and constant time together, Layla and I became each other's support system. Even people who are not fond of dogs have found comfort in Layla's company and the way she can so easily touch their hearts. Now, as healthy and as active as ever, Layla and I want to thank everyone at the MCHS for bringing us together. She has brought endless amounts of happiness and laughter to not only to me but to everyone else in my life.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Amanda |
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Dear MCHS,
I just wanted to update you all on Bobby and how he has fit in with Lew and I.
What a great dog he is! When I came there with my daughter looking for a dog for her, I had no intentions of getting a dog for us, but when I saw Bobby outside, I just fell in love immediately. It's funny how an animal grabs at your heart so quickly. When I called my husband to come take a look at him, he was not to happy, but did it for me. Once he saw Bobby, then took him for a walk, he fell in love also. It was a long processes to get Bobby, but in the end, it was all worth it. He has become a member of our family.
Lew and him take a walk every day at the Croyden Creek Nature Park. They have discovered the creek, and needless to say Bobby comes home wet everyday. We just got back from the Outer Banks, and boy did Bobby have a blast at the beach. It was heartwarming to see him running and playing on the beach, to have the freedom off leash, to chase the birds, run into the ocean, and to play with the other two dogs we took with us. Needless to say he was exhausted by the end of the day and I think very unhappy to leave and come home.
I want to thank you all for Bobby. He has been and is a joy to have. The love that he gives us, the companionship, the kisses, the funny things he does to make us laugh, these are things we would not have had without your help.
Thank you.
Ellen and Lewis J |
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| Hi! Ever since we adopted Rose, our Toy Fox Terrier who is now 11 years old, our life has never been the same! Every day is a new adventure with new surprises. This was our first time getting a dog ever, and my family and I are very glad we made the decision! I have wanted a dog since the 3rd grade, and begged and begged my parents but with no luck. Finally, when Ii was going into 9th grade, my family reluctantly agreed (not knowing that it would be one of the best decisions they ever made) and we looked for dogs on the humane society website.
We instantly fell in love with a picture of a curious looking terrier that was adorable. She was perfect for all the qualities we were looking for. She was a senior dog, 10, so she was calm and not so energetic (OR SO WE THOUGHT), small, and had been house broken too! It was love at first sight. Before we knew it, she had arrived at our house. My family and I instantly fell in love with her funny qualities, her well behaved manners and her lovable personality. She was not so sure about being picked up at first, but one of the best moments of my life was when she trusted me and let me pick her up and cuddle her. NOW, I pick her up all the time and she loves it. She also loves sleeping with her favorite teddy bear.
During the day she sleeps, but once we come home, she knows it's time to go for a walk and socialize. She can even run TWO MILES!!! For a 10 yr old dog thats AMAZING! And she loves to do it too. Rose has many doggie friends, who come as a big group at the park. She is quite the social butterfly, and she loves her best friend Buddy. She loves going on road trips with us and enjoys doing things with the whole family. She is a senior dog now, and so we decided these were her golden years and she needed a loving, caring family who expects nothing from her but unconditional love. (Maybe a couple of tricks here and there, her favorite is shaking paws.)
We have had her for a year now, and we hope there will be many more years to enjoy with her. We love our dog, and hope that all your adoption experiences are as good as ours or even better! If you cant decide whether to get a lovable pet or not, just DO IT! Its worth it completely!
- the M family
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December 2008
Dear MCHS,
We wanted to send you an update on our handsome boys, Tank and Roscoe (aka "the boys"). They are two boxers that we adopted in April 2008. We cannot thank you enough for making the adoption process as easy as it was, not to mention how genuine everyone is at MCHS truly wanting the best for the animals.
When we first brought the boys home they were very dependant on each other. I am happy to report that they have settled in quite nicely and are becoming more independent by the day. They both have their own personalities, Tank being the more timid one and Roscoe the more adventurous one. They love to run around in the back yard and play chasing each other and other friends that come over to play. They graduated this spring from the Montgomery County dog obedience class and have mastered the commands.
Tank and Roscoe are wonderful with children and have such an easy temperament. We had a few puppy hurdles at first that we needed to get over (i.e fence jumping and chewing) but all and all they are the perfect addition to our little family and are our great protectors.
Thank you for all that you do MCHS!
The D family, Silver Spring MD |
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| December 29, 2008
Hello everyone!
We now have Abby for about two weeks. We thought we had found the perfect dogs for us ... and she turned out to be even "more perfect", exceeding all our expectations. She is so loving, good, obedient, energetic, fun, sweet, incredibly smart, perfectly healthy .... and, of course, absolutely beautiful, isn't she? ... ;)
All the very best and thank you!!!!!
Anne and Thorsten |
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So I was browsing the MCHS website as I sometimes do and decided it was time to tell you all how a coincidence turned out to be destiny.

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On July 4th, 2006 I had to do the hardest thing I had ever imagined in the scope of my life to that point. My childhood dog (my beloved Dalmatian, Spot) had to be put down after 13 years with me. He had suffered from severe urinary tract infections and after having his ailments in check for about a year, his symptoms came back ten-fold, and he had lost hearing in one ear and gone blind. I thought it best that no longer retaining quality of life it was best to let him let go of his pain and suffering. I thought that I was done with dogs for the rest of my life. Just seeing his collar made me weepy and I had to steer clear of the pet care aisle at the grocery store for a while. All I could remember was seeing him as a puppy with a big red bow around his head on my tenth birthday.
About a week later, my roommate discovered that her mischievous cat had broke through the screen in her window and run away, so I came with her to MCHS to see if we could find Eddie. He wasn't there, but when I heard the barking of the dogs, curiousity got the best of me and I had to take a stroll through the kennel. That's when I came upon a very eager beagle and thought any dog with this much energy could use some air, so I decided to visit with him. He was nice but not the dog for me. (he also had 5 applications ahead of me and I didn't want to lose another dog before bringing him home.)
I asked the attendant at the counter if any of the dogs had no applications and in a twist of fate she said "you should visit with Mason, he's a real sweet boy." Mason (as luck would have it) was the beagle's kennel mate that Ii hadn't even noticed. His coat was a little matted and a little dirty, but as soon as we got outside he showed me the biggest smile I thought a dog was capable of, and then burped in my face. I looked into his careworn eyes and knew that this apologetically crass fellow was waiting just for me. It felt like fate and so some time later I brought him home.
He was afraid of stairs, terrified of cars, and unwilling to be left in a room without me (traits that he no longer possesses), but as soon as we walked into my bedroom he jumped right onto my bed and went to sleep (a spot that to this day he rarely parts from). He is a sweet, sensitive boy; friend to children and cats and dearly loved by his family. He quickly got a new haircut and a new name, Mr. Bojangles (BoBo for short).
In the end I thought I wasn't ready for a new dog, but it turns out I just hadn't met the right one. I say this because as much as I miss Spot, when you adopt a pet and focus on the fact that your new furry friend needs you and depends on you, it gets easier. The truth is I needed BoBo as much as he needed me, I just didn't know it. I rehabilitated a dog left behind; and he rehabilitated me, an owner left behind; and now we are a pair that couldn't be more thankful.
We both appreciate the wonderful staff at MCHS for all the work they did to bring two pals together. We've been together for two years now and celebrated a few milestones including BoBo's third birthday (we didn't know the date so we picked Halloween because BoBo loves children and pumpkins.) Also, in April, BoBo got a little sister; Molly the hyperactive Cocker Spaniel. All in all we couldn't be happier and we have MCHS to thank. We give you all two thumbs, and two paws up!
Thanks!
Cody S (owner) |
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Dear MCHS,
Buddy was a stray that came to MCHS along with another male and a female, clearly from the same litter. They appeared to be about 6 months old at the time. His sister had been adopted already when we first came across Buddy and his brother at the shelter. Both of the dogs had several names on the list of prospective adoptive families interested in adopting them. Despite that, we added our name to both lists in hopes that one of the dogs would be available. Luckily, we were called a few days later and shortly after that, Buddy joined our family. Our new addition turned out to be a fun loving, sweet dog with a great sense of humor. Each day since Buddy joined our family has been more joyful for all of us because of his presence, and we thank MCHS for that.
This year, for the second year in a row, I organized some charitable activities in my workplace to coincide with the winter holidays. We just wrapped up four simultaneous collections benefiting several organizations, both local and international. Like last year, one of the organizations we selected to be a recipient of our efforts was MCHS. We were able to sell 10 All Pets Allowed calendars, and collect 32 wish list items for the shelter. More importantly, our efforts help raise awareness among the staff where I work about what MCHS and other similar organizations do. I hope that knowing the plight of so many homeless pets and the hard work of organizations like MCHS will help people make informed choices when they consider buying vs. adopting pets in the future.
Julie B |


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Hello,
I adopted Katie and JoJo last March after losing Smoke, my other cat of 18.5 years. I was heartbroken. I contacted the Humane Society and told them that I wanted a sibling pair. They suggested that I contact a foster parent who had a litter about the age I wanted. This was perfect for me because any good social worker would adopt a pet.
After my first home visit I decided on JoJo (formerly Chicory) who was very much like my Smoke -- gray and white, very vocal, and affectionate. I asked the foster mom whom should I pair him with? I was told that Katie (formerly Clover) would be a good match and even though she was a bit aloof, I took both.
Surprise! Katie became very social and affectionate over time while JoJo took forever to come out from under the bed! Now, they are both funny and active. I love hearing the rumbles of the "chase" throughout my house. They play, cuddle, groom and sleep together. How cute! Thanks so much!
Robin S
Silver Spring, Maryland |
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February 9, 2008
Hello –
In October, I adopted my cat, Tux, from the Montgomery County animal shelter. (This cat was formerly named PROVO when living at the shelter.)
Tux has become a wonderful addition to my apartment! She is a wonderful pet. She loves to be held, brushed, and she follows me around all day long!
To me, this is an adoption success story. When I first visited with Tux/ Provo she had just been released from quarantine for scratching/biting. I don't know what would have happened to her had she not been adopted.
Thank goodness that the animal shelter worker who was volunteering that day introduced me to my cat and took the time to explain her situation.
My only guess is that the scratching incident was a “flook”, or that she was just scared when she first came to the shelter, because Tux is one of the most loveable animals that I have ever met!
I appreciate all of your help in adopting my cat, Tux.
Sincerely,
Lisa R |
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Hi,
Early this morning, I dug a grave for the most precious little rabbit I ever had. I melted the first time I saw him at MCHS back in March of 1998, cowering in the corner of his cage. He was deemed "unadoptable" because of alleged biting and other bad habits.
Someone had to act, and I was more than willing. I held him like a newborn so he could feel my heartbeat, and I could feel his. Within minutes, he melted into a puddle in my arms. "Unadoptable?" I said. “You have to be kidding -- he's just terrified and upset because he was abandoned. He'll be fine -- I'm adopting him.”
It took several months for fear and feelings of abandonment to leave, but when they did the warmest, sweetest little bunny emerged. For the past eight years and four months, he was the love and joy of my life, filling our home with sunshine and goodness. We surmounted medical challenges, which only drew me closer to him. I couldn't kiss, hug, and cuddle him enough, and he deserved every bit of attention.
Last night, he seemed listless and out of sorts. Before I went to bed, I covered his face and ears in kisses, and polished his ears and back with my hand. This morning, he was gone -- back in God's arms. I will miss this precious little angel every day for the rest of my life.
When I am ready, I will visit MCHS and adopt the most needy bunny you have.
All the best,
Jeffrey Y
Bethesda, MD
Update: Jeffrey is now a “bunny parent” again! He adopted Bellows, now named Enya, who lost sight in her left eye because of a puncture wound that left scar tissue in her pupil. Enya was at MCHS for over two months with no adoption applications. Jeffrey writes: “People aren't perfect, so how can one demand that a pet be? How sad and shallow that sort of thinking is.” Enya is now home with Jeffrey and his wife. “This beautiful girl will be loved and cherished for the rest of her life. Her new life has begun!”
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This page last updated 4-12-11
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