In the mood for some positive thoughts? (Who isn't these days?) Then check out our Thanksgiving Happy Tail contest. We asked readers to submit stories about how their pets changed their lives. We picked our favorites, and now you can vote for yours through Dec. 19. The winner gets a BISSELL Pet Clean-Up package. You can vote once a day, every day. Spread the word (and some holiday cheer!). Cast your vote here.
Finalist #1 - Carbon
from Sharon Legrand of Silverdale, WA
I've just moved to the U.S. from India. I'm a Navy wife, and three months after my arrival, my husband was due to be deployed. I was miserable and homesick. I didn't know anyone, and I was terrified of being alone in a new country without my husband.
I visited the Kitsap Humane Society, where I met Carbon. He wasn't young, and was a stray, but I loved him. I brought him home, and my life just turned around. My husband left soon after.
Carbon has made sure that I'm never lonely. He loves me and hugs me and does all those things that just makes my life complete. If it wasn't for him, I probably would have just turned around and gone home to India. He is the first wonderful thing that has happened to me in the U.S., and I love him for it.
Carbon was adopted from Kitsap Humane Society in Silverdale, WA.
Finalist #2 - Luke
from Sarah Matthews of Houston, TX
My daughter was diagnosed as being bi-polar five years ago. She hadn't smiled in a long time. Her peers made fun of her because she was socially immature when compared to other girls her age.
I promised her a long time ago that when we bought a house, we would get a pet. That finally happened. We went to the shelter right before one of her doctor's appointments and visited with a few dogs. We left to make our decision and when we returned that evening, our choices had been adopted.
I talked her into looking at the dogs again. She saw Luke, and she wanted to visit with him. We took him outside and they chased each other around. She laughed more than I could ever remember, and ever since, they have been chasing each other around our backyard with her laughing and giggling the whole time.
Luke was adopted from the Houston SPCA in Texas.
Finalist #3 - Mochaccino and Dakota
from Kimberly Mockler of Port Washington, NY
Mochaccino and Dakota are my rescue dogs. They both know American Sign Language (Dakota also knows touch signals since she is deaf and blind).
Mocha and Dakota both passed their CGCs and participate in agility, fly-ball and little rally. They have also won several Halloween costume contests.
Mocha is also a Delta therapy dog and will be working with the deaf and deaf/blind population.
Since Dakota is a special needs dog, she has inspired me to help out with rescuing other deaf and deaf/blind double merle dogs. She is an inspiration -- she can do anything except hear and see!
Rescue dogs are the BEST and Mocha and Dakota have just helped to make my life so much better and so much more FUN! :)
Mocchaccino and Dakota were adopted from Wing and A Prayer Dog Rescue And Referral Inc., in Binghamton, NY.
Finalist #4 - Carmyne
from Lonnie Gerbracht of La Center, WA
Carmyne, a little Chihuahua, belongs to my disabled daughter. He is the best thing that has happened for her. We found out that he can tell when she is about to have a seizure migraine, and he tells her to take her medication and go to bed. He also helps her overcome her social phobia. And he has had NO training for this!
Not only has he helped her emotionally, but he has exactly the same hair color that she does! When he curls up on her shoulder you can't tell the difference between her hair and his! He is as attached to her as she is to him, and he means the world to her! Thank you Second Chance Companions! You made it possible for my daughter to live on her own in spite of her disability!
Carmyne was adopted from Second Chance Companions in Battle Ground, WA.
Finalist #5 - Casey
from Jennifer Clouse of Springfield, IL
I have been recently diagnosed with bi-polar 1 mixed disorder. It's been months since being diagnosed, and I still have a hard time with my life.
I adopted Casey after being in the hospital in January. He came with medical problems, like problems with his eyes and Lyme disease, but every day we are glad that we adopted him.
He knows when I have my bad days because he will not leave my side. He is 70 pounds, but he will jump on my lap so that I can hug him until I stop crying. Even on my better days I can count on him being right next to me, looking into my eyes as if to say, "I will always be here for you."
Adopted from Menominee Animal Shelter Inc. in Menominee, MI.
Finalist #1 - Carbonfrom Sharon Legrand of Silverdale, WA
I've just moved to the U.S. from India. I'm a Navy wife, and three months after my arrival, my husband was due to be deployed. I was miserable and homesick. I didn't know anyone, and I was terrified of being alone in a new country without my husband.
I visited the Kitsap Humane Society, where I met Carbon. He wasn't young, and was a stray, but I loved him. I brought him home, and my life just turned around. My husband left soon after.
Carbon has made sure that I'm never lonely. He loves me and hugs me and does all those things that just makes my life complete. If it wasn't for him, I probably would have just turned around and gone home to India. He is the first wonderful thing that has happened to me in the U.S., and I love him for it.
Carbon was adopted from Kitsap Humane Society in Silverdale, WA.
Finalist #2 - Luke from Sarah Matthews of Houston, TX
My daughter was diagnosed as being bi-polar five years ago. She hadn't smiled in a long time. Her peers made fun of her because she was socially immature when compared to other girls her age.
I promised her a long time ago that when we bought a house, we would get a pet. That finally happened. We went to the shelter right before one of her doctor's appointments and visited with a few dogs. We left to make our decision and when we returned that evening, our choices had been adopted.
I talked her into looking at the dogs again. She saw Luke, and she wanted to visit with him. We took him outside and they chased each other around. She laughed more than I could ever remember, and ever since, they have been chasing each other around our backyard with her laughing and giggling the whole time.
Luke was adopted from the Houston SPCA in Texas.
Finalist #3 - Mochaccino and Dakotafrom Kimberly Mockler of Port Washington, NY
Mochaccino and Dakota are my rescue dogs. They both know American Sign Language (Dakota also knows touch signals since she is deaf and blind).
Mocha and Dakota both passed their CGCs and participate in agility, fly-ball and little rally. They have also won several Halloween costume contests.
Mocha is also a Delta therapy dog and will be working with the deaf and deaf/blind population.
Since Dakota is a special needs dog, she has inspired me to help out with rescuing other deaf and deaf/blind double merle dogs. She is an inspiration -- she can do anything except hear and see!
Rescue dogs are the BEST and Mocha and Dakota have just helped to make my life so much better and so much more FUN! :)
Mocchaccino and Dakota were adopted from Wing and A Prayer Dog Rescue And Referral Inc., in Binghamton, NY.
Finalist #4 - Carmyne
from Lonnie Gerbracht of La Center, WA
Carmyne, a little Chihuahua, belongs to my disabled daughter. He is the best thing that has happened for her. We found out that he can tell when she is about to have a seizure migraine, and he tells her to take her medication and go to bed. He also helps her overcome her social phobia. And he has had NO training for this!
Not only has he helped her emotionally, but he has exactly the same hair color that she does! When he curls up on her shoulder you can't tell the difference between her hair and his! He is as attached to her as she is to him, and he means the world to her! Thank you Second Chance Companions! You made it possible for my daughter to live on her own in spite of her disability!
Carmyne was adopted from Second Chance Companions in Battle Ground, WA.
Finalist #5 - Casey
from Jennifer Clouse of Springfield, IL
I have been recently diagnosed with bi-polar 1 mixed disorder. It's been months since being diagnosed, and I still have a hard time with my life.
I adopted Casey after being in the hospital in January. He came with medical problems, like problems with his eyes and Lyme disease, but every day we are glad that we adopted him.
He knows when I have my bad days because he will not leave my side. He is 70 pounds, but he will jump on my lap so that I can hug him until I stop crying. Even on my better days I can count on him being right next to me, looking into my eyes as if to say, "I will always be here for you."
Adopted from Menominee Animal Shelter Inc. in Menominee, MI.
What a great story! Sometimes adopting can take a little more effort than buying from a pet store, but you are proof that it's worth it. Thanks for sharing and congratulations to you and your new addition on finding each other. Happy Holidays!
Hi!,
I am here on this website for a second time. Now to give some information on a dog, A Cocker Spaiel that I have adopted and rescued from an animal shelter rectley. I have adopted this dog
for my Beagle who was depresewd after losing my other Cocker Spaniel back in the Spring.
. ISeconly, I needed to cheer us both up. Now we are back in place with a new family member who just made himself right at home and I had to make a transitional adjustment in food for him, as the food the shelter gave me was bad, as it coused diarrhea for the dog. Now I have transitioned the food to Hill Science Diet Nature's Best the Chicken/Rice and the dog is better now and is happy to share my bed with me, as being switched from shelter to shelter over the past month,
Tracked the dog down and now made sure the application was with the shelter that I adopted from. Donated on-line for a Special Needs Dog also, and finally recieved a call for this dog that I followed on-line to locate where the dog was now and I did. Cjeck with Pet Finder. com and also with a shelter called St. Francis Community Animal Resue andd Shelter in Anna, Il. is where the dog I adopted started out from there. I talked to Beth and went through some questions with her on the phone, since I didn't have an application on line with them as I was unable to access this function on their website.
Well after all of this and trying to get to a Petco stoter where the dog supposidly was, I didn't get there till the next day. By the time I got there in the morning the dog was transfered out of the Petco with other dogs to where I din't know at the time. Did locate where this dog had landed up and called that shelter, got my application on-line with them and Bingo! I
Now have this wonderful loving dog thet I have rescued from the shelter where he landed up 100 miles way from where I live. My husband bought him for me for Christmas this year. The dog is happy and has a nice home here with me and the other dog of ours that we took with us to meet the dog who reminds me of the dog ai lost in th Spring. We are happy to have found him just in time. Merry Christmas to all those dog lovers out there. Adopt now at your local or other shelter that may have a perfect friend for you. Please check with Petfinder.Com and go for it. There are many dogs that need a good home ou there and the adoption process is overwhelming to see what a dog can do for one's spirit, especially around the holidays. Have a doggone Great Chrismas. Adopt a Dog, cat or whatever and you will be blessed. Thank you for reading my posting. Adopt Now!