Fairy Tail Endings
When a once lonely and forgotten pet finds a permanent, loving home, that’s when FOCAS’ job, and a household, are finally complete.
FOCAS volunteers, staff, community partners and donors have been working together for more than 20 years to give shelter animals a chance to survive and thrive. Thousands of animals have been saved and placed in wonderful forever homes that may, otherwise, may have never gotten a second chance to be the perfect pet for a loving home.
Here are some success stories of animals that have been rehabilitated and are now healthy, happy and have a place to call home. FOCAS wishes these newly formed families a long and loving life together!
Flinn
A letter from a FOCAS adopter:
When we stopped to look at the cats in the FOCAS Adoption Center at the Point Loma PetSmart, we had no intention of actually adopting, just looking. We always looked; my dog drooled at the windows every time we would walk by just waiting for a kitty playmate.
We had thought that if we ever got a cat, we would get a kitten but after seeing Flinn in his kennel and seeing how calm and curious he was about Brewster through the window, I knew that even though it wasn't our intention to adopt an 8 year old cat, it was meant to be.
Flinn has been in our home now for just under a year but it seems like he and Brewster have been together forever. They are the best of friends. We catch Flinn cuddling on the couch with Brewster, giving Brewster a bath, drinking from the same water bowl, and sleeping on the bed together. They are a perfect match for each other - both lazy, slightly neurotic, eager for our attention, and bed hogs that love a good snack and a feisty play session at 4am.
We are thankful to all the staff at FOCAS for helping us find our perfect match!
Sailor (a.k.a. Little Joe)
A letter from a FOCAS adopter:
The day I made the call to FOCAS regarding a little white dog (named Little Joe) that I saw advertised, is a day I will forever be thankful. The story of how this dog was found laying on the side of the road by the highway patrol last Valentine’s Day drove me to tears. Little Joe had been viciously attacked by coyotes and suffered multiple wounds on his legs and neck and was unable to walk. His foster mom assured me that he had bounced back from his ordeal and was now ready for a forever home.
I couldn’t wait to meet this little guy as he seemed to possess all the characteristics I was seeking: good with cats and likes other dogs. We arranged a meeting with myself and my 10 year old dog, Sylvie, as she would have final veto power. When this little bundle of energy popped out of the car, Sylvie and I instantly liked him. He seemed to have excellent social skills and he and Sylvie wanted to play right away. Foster mom Cyndi and I brought them to a big grassy area so we could watch them and both of us felt great that this would be a good match. I adopted him that day and couldn’t be happier!
Sylvie and Sailor (formerly Little Joe) are best of friends. Sailor is a great playmate and has also restored Sylvie's confidence in other dogs after surviving a dog attack over a year ago. Sailor has an amazing spirit. He's full of confidence, smart as a whip, and charms every person and dog that crosses his path. I was told about all of the things to expect with this new dog: his need to be housetrained, the fact that he may be leery of men, and the potential that he may chew, so I felt well-prepared to take him on. What I was not prepared for, however, was how much I would love him, and how he would brighten up every single day of my existence. Thank you to FOCAS for all the hard work they do in helping to give animals a second chance. There are so many incredible personalities just waiting to blossom as they wait to be placed in a safe, secure, and loving home. If you don't believe me, just ask Sailor.
Clark and Kent
FOCAS is proud of all the animals it saves each year, but we are especially pleased when we are able to give seniors a second chance at a loving home. Life partners Clark and Kent are a wonderful example. These two, very bonded 12-year-old felines came to the shelter after their owner sadly passed away.
Their three-month stay in FOCAS' cat adoption program was a physically tough one as they battled upper respiratory infections, ringworm and diarrhea. They purred throughout their ordeal and greeted any one looked their way. Happily, they were adopted into a wonderful home with a family who adores them.
Their adopter recently wrote to FOCAS to let us know how they are doing:
We had watched Clark and Kent for a couple of months at the store.
One day, we just decided that they deserved to spend their later years in the quiet comfort of a loving home. They have been in the house now for almost a month. There were some brief adjustments (nothing more than some hissing) for both sets of cats. The dogs were initially a bit too curious for Clark and Kent. I am happy to report that everyone is settled in, there have been no recurrent health problems, the diarrhea issue resolved about 24 hours after their arrival.
They are very devoted to each other, sleeping in an old chair in the study together. They go into the spare bedroom around 4 a.m. daily and TALK TO EACH OTHER. In all of my years with cats, I have never seen anything like this. At first, I thought they were about to get into it. I looked in the room and they were as calm as could be, just meowing, talking.
I have enclosed a photo of them, for the staff to see. They are loved and they love their home.
Many thanks to the fine staff of FOCAS, who provide such noble services to San Diego and the pet community.
Grady
Grady was brought to the shelter by a Good Samaritan who found him wandering the streets all by himself. Severely malnourished and with over 200 foxtails lodged in his mouth and nose, this poor Boxer looked as though he was not going to make it. Worse yet, it soon became apparent that Grady also suffered from an untreated gunshot wound in his hip, which was rendering his leg almost useless.
The shelter staff was amazed at Grady’s exceptional demeanor given all of the pain he was in. They were even able to pull out all of the foxtails without Grady making a fuss. Incredibly, Grady wiggled his little tail during medical treatment and tried to throw in a few kisses to anyone who came near.
The FOCAS adoption counselor assigned to the shelter was aware of Grady’s plight and, soon, a rescue plan was in the works. Thanks to the generosity of the Lauren Foundation, FOCAS was able to provide Grady with the medical attention that he needed including surgery to repair his wounded hip in an effort to save his leg. Grady was then placed in the capable and caring hands of a foster mother at Boxer Rescue where he was able to recuperate from his injuries while waiting patiently to for his new forever home.
Because of the caring, collaborative efforts of these people and organizations, Grady’s life was saved and he has been adopted by a family who truly appreciates him for the love bug that he is. His new family (photo above) reports that his physical therapy sessions have been going well, that he now almost has full use of his leg, and that he has gained 10 much-needed pounds.