Merial and Petfinder.com Working Together
Merial is working with Petfinder.com as its exclusive
animal health sponsor, supporting the extensive Petfinder.com network
of animal shelters. Petfinder.com is the largest homeless pet database
on the web and represents over 180,000 animals at any one time in more
than 9,000 shelters and rescue groups across the United States and Canada. |
| Minnie - Tracy B.- Highland Park, NJ |
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I found Minnie on Petfinder.com. Her name was originally BigCat. Saw she was an adult cat, which tend to be less adoptable. She caught my attention because she just looked so sad in the photo. I went to the Edison Municipal pet shelter and was told that BigCat had been there the longest of any cat. The volunteer said she was scared and never came out from behind the newspapers she hid under. He opened the cage, I softly called her name, and she came right up and nuzzled into me. The volunteer was shocked and said, “That has never happened!” That was it, love at first sight! It was a Wednesday. I had no supplies, so asked if I might return on Saturday to pick her up. He said that they had just found 15 new kittens that day, so BigCat would not be around by Saturday, as they "needed space.” That was the delicate way of saying she would be euthanized. So I came home with her that very night, and it has been a love story ever since. I re-named her Minnie because she is black and white like Minnie Mouse, and I thought BigCat was an insult to this gorgeous feline. She thinks she is a dog, following me everywhere. She'll get up from napping to follow me into another room. She is such a blessing!
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| Lucky - Debbie Gibson - Mt. Gilead, OH |
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I spotted Lucky on Petfinder.com, and it said URGENT next to his picture. I called the shelter, and the lady told me he was going to be euthanized because of a lack of room. I already have three beagles but could not let this happen to Lucky. She explained to me that he was a stray, he was sick, and they thought he was about four or five years old. I told her I was interested in adopting him. When I got off work the next day, I drove an hour one way to pick him up. He was so sick when I picked him up that I took him straight to the vet. The vet informed me that the dog had pneumonia. He took an x-ray to confirm it and found that the dog had been shot twice. He has two pellets inside him. This is where he got his name, Lucky. He is very lucky to be alive in more ways than one. Lucky is very healthy now and gets along great with my other three beagles. We are so glad to have him in our family, and I think he is glad to be with us, too. He truly has a happy tail now. It is always up.
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| Annie - Victoria Goatcher - Sierra Vista, AZ |
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I saw her picture on Petfinder.com and she had a certain look about her that reminded me of a 14-year-old cocker spaniel I had just lost. This little girl had been injured and needed someone with the experience of taking care of a special needs pet. I knew that I was the one she needed. I flew from Arizona, where I live, to South Carolina, where she was, and back in one day. Annie Mae is doing great and loves her big sister (another Petfinder.com pet). She is gaining weight and running around so happy, even when she tips over. Her broken hip has healed, but left nerve damage. She is so CUTE!
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| Princess - Theresa Mega-Norlander - Duluth, MN |
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Our dog died in September and, after a couple of weeks in a home with no dog, I started looking at dogs on Petfinder.com. I was just going to look, be very picky, and see what was out there. On about the third day, I found Princess, a two-year-old Rottweiler. There was something about her picture; maybe it was her eyes. I told my family about her that evening after work, and my husband gave a resounding "No." He would not have a Rottweiler with our 11-year-old and 22-month-old kids. After three months of visiting her on Petfinder.com every day, emailing the shelter and forwarding the replies to him, my husband finally broke down, and we went to "just meet" her. She had been abandoned and then spent a year in a no-kill shelter, waiting for a family. When I finally saw her in person, I thought, "Oh no, she's huge," but my husband was in love. We brought her home that same day. We got a clown, a friend and a wonderful pet that is loving and sweet with our entire family. She has a constant smile on her face – I believe because she's happy she finally got her own home and people. They say you don't pick the dog, the dog picks you. Though she was miles away, the only reason I can think of as to why I pined for her for three months, wrote to the shelter and finally convinced my husband to meet her, is we were lucky enough to have her pick us to be her family. This dog didn't deserve to be in a shelter; she's a great dog. Why would anyone get rid of her? It makes me think, how many other great dogs are sitting in shelters waiting for the family they picked to notice them?
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| Sky - Leah Maguire - Albuquerque, NM |
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Sky was brought to the local animal shelter because someone in the family was allergic to him. Watermelon Mountain Ranch-Sandia Chapter picked him up and found him a foster home. In the meantime, I was looking for an Australian Shepherd to add to the family. One day while surfing Petfinder.com (an everyday occurrence back then), I saw his picture and fell in love. My mom and I went to meet him and brought him home a week or so later (he had to be neutered). Since that awesome day, Sky and I have been training for Obedience, Agility (our favorite!), and Junior Showmanship. We hope to start competing soon! Adopting Sky was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I am so glad for Petfinder.com. Without it, I wouldn't have a puppy sitting on my lap right now!
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| Dudley - Dawn McCutcheon - Sammamish, WA |
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Dudley came into our lives a little over a year ago. It was truly meant to be. We were not looking for a dog, I was recovering from some major surgery and was bored during the night and started checking out Petfinder.com. Within a few minutes, Dudley jumped out at me. I showed him to my seven year old and three year old and by the next morning, we had ganged up on dad to at least meet the dog that had been lost in Oregon but had found his way to a foster home near us. When we met him, it was love at first sight. We surprised our daughter at the bus stop, and he has been my constant shadow ever since. I lost my dad suddenly this year and have been suffering. I feel like Dudley has held our family together, because you can't be sad when a cute dog like him just loves you so much that he can't stand to be in a different room without you.
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| MJ - Ann Miller - Dayton, OH |
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MJ was orphaned after his owner was admitted into a nursing home. Sadly, he went for a year and a half in the Humane Society's adoption system, where he endured pneumonia and was saved a couple of times from euthanasia. Thank goodness we found him on Petfinder.com! MJ has made himself right at home with us and has become a loving and VERY playful part of our family! We feel so lucky to have him with us. I cannot imagine ever getting a new pet any way other than through adoption. A million thanks to Petfinder.com, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton and Wags Inn (where he was fostered and given LOTS of love) for making this past Christmas such a special one for us, especially for MJ. I cannot imagine ever bringing another pet into our home any way other than through adoption. We are all so happy, thanks to you all!
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