HAPPY ENDING ADOPTION STORIES

Updated October 26, 2001

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SYSCO

Just wanted to thank you for the wonderful addition to our family that we

found at TJO. We adopted "Sisco" in August 2001 when he was 7-8 weeks old.

He is a shepherd X that was found in a dumpster with his brother when they

were 5 weeks old. He is now 5 months old and is loving life. Although we

are having a little problem with housebreaking, he is no less loved. He has

a nice soft pillow to sleep on with lots of toys, friends, and a family that

loves and adores him. He is also a little dominant but we are addressing

that issue by having him take part in a puppy play group. Even though he

started out in a bad situation, he is now a very happy and loved doggie!

Thank you, again!

Melissa

SKINNY MINNIE

I rescued Skinny Minnie last year when I was contacted by cane corso rescue to see if she was one. She wasn't but I took her anyway. She is my "extra" dog as I already had two. She is still with us and I think she will stay. She got over her fear of strangers, went to basic obedience, was spayed, cleared the kennel cough(only after my other two were on medicine too), and got rid of her hookworm, and gained about 15lbs. She also now knows what toys are. Now as you can see by her pic she is very spoiled sleeping on couches in the A/C (which I leave on for the dogs during the day) There was a very nice lady who paid for her to be adopted by myself. I think her name was Michelle, but am not sure. I wanted to let her know that Skinny is doing great and is very comfortable in our home. Thanks to the lady who paid for me to get her. I hope that this message reaches her so that she knows that she did make a big difference to Minnie's life. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Regards,

Leilani Jordan

SANDY

I wanted to share a happy ending story with you and to say

thanks for the good work you all do.

. Dog #6585 was adopted by us in early January of this year. She truly was a sad little sight. Not much fur, a sagging belly from recently giving birth and a very quiet and timid disposition. She had captured my heart when I first saw her, and though two people were in line to adopt her before me, their decision to not take her became my joy -- I Little Sandy was quiet and very clingy when she came to us. She didn't make a fuss or hardly any noise and would only eat pizza crust. Slowly she began to learn that dog food was good, that chicken breast was really yummy and that a leash meant going for a walk. She even learned to growl and play fight and to shake up a toy (and what a toy was!) and that she could express any doggy emotion without fear of being scolded. Our previous dog Max was a labrador retriever, full of fun and mischief and we missed his lively spirit since losing him to cancer. -- Sandy took a while to feel confident enough to be bold and to express her terrier traits -- and now she reminds me of a miniature Golden retriever - she will even swim when we take her to the water, though she prefers to dig for rodents and frogs on the bank. It has been so wonderful to see her grow and blossom into a confident happy D*O*G. It has been truly amazing to see what good nutrition and loving care can do -- her fur has grown in as you can see from the picture, and she doesn't need to worry about puppies anymore now that she is spayed. Our vetrinarian told us that this little dog had been lucky to find us -- and I told her, and she now agrees after getting to know Sandy -- that WE are the lucky ones. She is a joy.

Thanks from Kathy, Fred and Sandy (aka Lil' Miss Queenie

Fluffernutter)

MISSY

Late last summer, we experienced a miracle. We brought home a beautiful black female cocker spaniel from Thomas J. O'Connell. We met Missy on August 21 when we went to the shelter after seeing her mentioned on a flyer at the Holyoke Petco. In the throes of the Empty Nest Syndrome, we had decided to get another dog; we already had a buff cocker and a lab mix. Missy entered our lives with a joie de vive neither of us have ever seen in a dog. She runs huge circle 8s at warp speed in our backyard. She immediately got the other two dogs off the couch and active. She demanded attention and appropriated our laps as her undisputed domain. She bewitched us with her charming attitude. It is simply not possible to resist Missy. She took over as the alpha dog, quickly whipping the lab and cocker into shape and now our household runs on Missy time. And we couldn't be happier. We got exactly the dog we were looking for, and more. Beyond our wildest dreams. To anyone contemplating adoption, we suggest doing your homework on the web and reading all the available material as to what sort of dog would be appropriate to your situation. Ultimately you must go into that shelter with a good idea of what YOUR capabilities are and with the clear cut resolve to find the right dog to fit into your life, not the one you feel sorriest for. Take your time, come back and visit again (we saw Missy 3 times before taking her home). Remember sad eyes won't overcome other problems the dog may have once you get it home and the dog must fit into YOUR life or everyone will be unhappy. Hopefully you will wind up as happy as we are with your choice.

Ginny and Jim

This photo of Nickey is really cute. Look at how his fur has come in!

He said he really loves smelling the flowers!

Lil Bit & Nickey.......Do you think we could get some more of those

pupperoni's from Bev?

CONNOR # 1

HI

My name is Connor, Named after TJ Oconnor shelter. I ended up there when I

was found scared and hungry and very shy St. Patricks day 2001. I was there

till for a while because I had an attitude. I was scared and not so

friendly. The lady who found me came daily to visit and bring me treats and

just talk to me .One day she came with another lady and they took me out on a

leash and Things were starting to be normal for me again. The next day they

came back and they took me out and I was brought to a vet and given a

complete check up. It was the rescue group that saved my life and I now am

very happy and my attitude is gone I am happy in my new home. Im thankful to

all those who gave me a second chance in life

AMY

Hi! I just wanted to share our happy adoption story!

We adopted Amy, the black dog, in March 1996. We went to Thomas J. O'Connor in the hopes of finding a wonderful puppy and we sure did! In a pen with 3 other pups was our Amy. The minute our eyes met, it was true love! Amy was not available to be adopted for 5 more days, so we visited her every day and on adoption day, we got to TJO ridiculously early so that we could be first in line. Amy went from a feisty, scruffy puppy to a sweet, kind dog. We say that she's a rottweiler/shephard mix who is really a kitten inside! She loves to lay on the recliner and chase her brother, Jake, who we adopted 6 months later, in her large fenced yard. Her all time favorite activities are playing with her dog friends here at her house and swimming with dog-friends at the dog-gathering area in our town. She is such a treasure!

Thanks for your wonderful work! Sarah and Kristin

JAKE

I wanted to tell you about our dog Jake we found at the pound. Our family loves him so much we are now looking for a playmate for him. We were at first worried about adopting from the pound as we have children and we did not want to get a dog that would turn and hurt them. Well let me be the first to tell you we could not have found a better dog anywhere. The children and Jake spend their afternoons outside in the yard playing together and for that matter they sneak him up to their bedrooms so they can take turns sneeking him into their rooms to sleep with.

Thank you,

The Heroux Family

BUSTER

We want to thank everyone at T. J. O'Connor for our new addition to the family. We adopted Buster the day after Thanksgiving at 9 weeks, she is a Boxer/Pit Bull mix and is loved by everyone in our family including her new sister Jasmine a 2.5 year old Doberman Pinscher. They enjoy playing and rough housing all day long and when they finally poop out they will lie down together. She is doing great in her puppy socialization class - a real social butterfly and she loves the other dogs. We will be starting Basic Obedience in two weeks and then on from there.I hope more people take a good look at the great dogs there are at TJO and open their hearts and homes to one. Thanks again!

HANNAH

I just wanted to let you know how much we love our puppy, Hannah. She is a boxer that we got at TJ Oconnor's the day before Thanksgiving. When we got her she was 9 weeks old, now she is alot bigger, and has made a wonderful additon to our home. Hannah is loved by everyone, myself, my 2 1/2 year old daughter, and especially by my boyfriend who is her very best friend. We love her so much that she sleeps right in the middle of my waterbed. She is the biggest love in the whole world and doesn't know when to stop giving kisses. So on behalf of my family we would like to thank you for our beautiful puppy!!

Chance

My name is Chance. I'm what was called a "Lhasa Mix" at TJO , but my mom thinks it's more like Terrier with something else thrown it to fool everyone! I was rescued from TJO in the summer of 99. My mother, Lisa, was helping some dogs find new homes, as she is part of North East Shih Tzu Rescue. Michele said the fact I have a little flea allergy and some hair loss....I was labeled "unadoptable" . As I sat in the back of my cage, Lisa came to the door and said without any hesitation, "I'll take him and find him a good home...He deserves to live" I barked non stop for two days....I didn't like being separated from Lisa, or the other dogs. I was very protective of her, and didn't like the sound of men's voices. Stephen changed that...he was so nice to me!! ! He lives with Lisa on a large farm in NH now...we all moved up there, and have since added to our family...two rescue Shih Tzu, Dolly and China, both owner surrenders and from the Northampton area. I live with two show dogs, Josie and Johnnie...I'm glad I don't need that many baths and brushings! But I do love laps! Lisa decided to keep me, either that, or I refused to leave!!! LOL ....I guess I made a place for myself as the guard dog of the farm!!! No one comes mily!!! I love my life on the farm in NH...sure beats the streets of Holyoke!!

TIPPI

On behalf of all the

wonderful people and all the great dogs adopted from TJO I wish everyone a

very Happy, Healthy and a good Adoption Year. Let's ring in the New Year with More

adoptions, spay/neuter and may all of you be as happy as I am in with my new adopted

family. Love, tippi

and HAPPY TAILS TO YOU IN 2001.....Tippi & her family

SUSIE 

Merry Christmas everybody!

My name is Susie and I am such a good girl that Santa came early and placed me in a wonderful home with a couple of little friends to play with. My Mom & Pop are so good to me. I was very thin when I arrived but in a short time I have gained some weight, also had my snaggle tooth removed and spayed. Move over "Eddie" I am headed for the Hollywood Lights!. All I ever wanted was someone to love me and to let me prove to them how sweet I really am!

Love, Susie

Zen was the saddest looking little dog I'd ever seen. I didn't even notice her the first few times I visited the kennel, because she was tucked all the way back in the cage. But from the moment I saw her, she seemed like she was meant to live with me. Still, it was rough riding for a while and I even considered bringing her back. She had some health problems and growled at other dogs. But after a few weeks, she completely relaxed. Now, three and a half years later, people can't believe she is the same dog. Love and a safe home really brought out the best in her. I can't believe I ever

lived without her.

SASSY

MY NAME IS SASSY I WAS ADOPTED FROM THE THOMAS J. OCONNOR SHELTER A YEAR AGO LABOR DAY. AT THE TIME I WAS 3 MONTHS OLD AND VERY SCARED. MY DAD LEE CAME IN TO LOOK AND HE STOPPED AT MY CAGE AND I LICKED HIS HAND THAT'S ALL IT TOOK HE FELL IN LOVE WITH ME. HIM AND MY MOM KAREN TOOK ME HOME TO MEET MY BROTHER SHADOW WHO IS A 2YR OLD RETRIVER/SHEPARD WE STARTED TO PLAY RIGHT AWAY AND NOW WE ARE THE BEST OF FRIENDS WHEN IT TIME TO GO FOR A WALK OR IN THE CAR SHADOW GETS MY LEASH FIRST HE WANT TO MAKE SURE I GO TOO. I LOVE MY DAD VERY MUCH AND I NEVER LET HIM LEAVE MY SIGHT I FOLLOW HIM EVERYWHERE HE GOES. I HAVE GROWN UP NOW BUT IM STILL A SMALL DOG AT NITE WHEN ITS TIME TO GO TO BED I CRAWL IN RIGHT IN BETWEEN MOM AND DAD. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THESE PEOPLE FOR ADOPTING ME AND IM LIVING A VERY HAPPY LIFE. THIS PIC IS OF ME.

MEATHEAD

Cheyenne

Hi! My name is Cheyenne. I'm the good-looking girl with the beautiful black and white coat on. The other one in the picture is my new mom.I was her mother's day present this year from her other kids. They're Murphey's parents. When they found out that Mom needed a new dog, they came down and put me on hold the day I might have been put to sleep. Boy was that a close call! Now I live down here in Cape Cod, and I love it. I even have my own wading pool in the back yard. Every day I give my mom and dad lots of kisses so that they know how much they mean to me. I have even learned to sit and lie down on hand commands already, just like my best friend Murphey. Well, I just wanted everyone to know that I am doing so well, and that I appreciate everything that was done for me. Oh, and Murphey just told me to say thank you for him, too. We have to go now before our parents found out we're the ones that got dirt in the keyboard. Bye!

Cheyenne