Success Stories
Hattie the Happy Hound
Hattie came to our shelter as an owner surrender several months ago. Like many of the hounds here, her kennel behavior was less than desirable; she growled at the staff, her hackles were up, and she would cower to the back side of her kennel when anyone tried to approach her, especially men.
One of our staff members felt that underneath all of these behaviors, she was really just a fearful dog who deserved a chance at a good home. So…she took her home to help her with these behaviors and to teach her how to trust again.
After a couple of months, Hattie was a new dog. She would come to work with Kristin almost daily so that she could get some exposure and have a chance at being adopted. She was still a bit fearful in the kennel, but once she was out, her true colors would shine through.
A hound savvy family of seven came to visit the shelter one day and Kristin introduced them to Hattie. Hattie loved the family immediately, especially the five children. She even took to the father rather quickly. It was a perfect match.
Today, Hattie happily resides with the Bean family, and has three canine companions as well. Two of her three “sisters” are also former resident hounds of the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society. Hattie and her family hunt together on a regular basis, which is exactly what these hounds were bred to do.
Stanley
My name is Stanley. I arrived at the shelter in October 2009. It was not your typical stray arrival or a surrender due to behavior story. I had actually gone missing for about ten days from my previous home and returned a little skinnier and missing my front right leg. I was not a pretty sight and what needed to be done was beyond the scope of what my previous family could perceive doing, so I was brought to the shelter with very little hope. Needless to say, I was given that second chance. As horrifying as I looked when the shelter staff took me in, I was never left to feel helpless. I was seen by the vet immediately and scheduled for surgery on the very next day. The infection was severe and it was surprising that I still had some life left in me, but I reached way down deep and found the strength to hold out just one more night. The very morning of my surgery I was cuddled by staff and was prepped to have my entire leg (right up to the shoulder) amputated. This can be a difficult decision as the front exrtremities are necessary for ease when traveling, running and playing, but I was bound and determined not to let any of this change the fact that I am indeed a cat. Three legs or none. I am going to live out those nine lives that were promised to me.
Today, I find great comfort on the couch of my new adopters who have since moved to Brooklyn, NY and have taken me along so we can start our new life over looking the great city. I am king of the window sill and take great pride in being a three legged cat. I can still do all that I want and it even comes in handy when I want to play "pathetic" and get that extra bite of salmon at the dinner table. I aks that you go to the shelter and adopt your success story. It's great being famous.
Senior "Taco"
Meet Taco, this senior citizen Chihuahua was a stray from New Gloucester. If there is such a thing as a stray, all dogs have an owner some where. Well, Taco was found wandering the roads looking for his owner. The local animal control picked him up and transported him to the shelter on October 13. We were sure someone would be claiming him. Ads were placed in the paper and the animal control keep checking for an owner. No one came forward to claim him, now we needed to decide what we were going to do with him. The Veterinarian estimated his age as very old. He had only three rotten teeth to his name and the front of his lower jaw was missing. The staff knew he would make a great companion for someone, only if they could find the right person to adopt him. We placed his picture on our web page and he appeared in our monthly full page ad in the local newspaper, we were so happy when an excellent prospect filled out an application for him. On October 26 he visited Turner Vet Service and had pre surgery blood test to make sure he would handle the anesthesia, his blood work came back normal. He was in great shape for surgery, so that afternoon he had his three remaining teeth removed. He recovery was quick and was placed into his new home on October 27.
“Xena” is our hero
She was just as cute and brave as she could be. The little Shih Tzu was hit by a car near her home. Luckily, the driver stopped, and the injured dog was taken to the Lewiston Veterinary Hospital. Once there, it was quickly determined that she would need extensive surgery by an orthopedic specialist. She was given emergency care, stabilized, and the Animal Control Officer called the Animal Shelter to see if we could help. It seemed the dog’s owner was in the process of finding a new home for her and could not afford the expensive treatment.
At this point, the shelter Operations Manager saw an excellent opportunity to help "Xena" and call attention to the other animals in the shelter. We made the decision to pay for the surgery and appeal to the public for both a new home for the dog and help in paying for the surgery. Todd Gauger, DVM of the Norway Veterinary Hospital, performed the surgery and pronounced Xena a great patient with a bright prognosis. Dr. Gauger was most generous in discounting his fees to help us out.
The dog lovers of the area did not disappoint us. We quickly received many applications for adoption and offers to help pay her bills. We collected enough money to pay all of the expenses and still have $443.00 left for the next medical emergency.
This story has a happy ending. On Christmas Eve, "Xena" went to a wonderful new home with people who would give her the attention and pampering she needed. She is now recovering very well from her surgery.
