Friends of Orange County Animal Shelter
P.O. 9652 Chapel Hill, N.C. 27515-9652 --
919-942-2503
  


Welcometo FOCAS

Forever Families


FOREVER . . . that's a long time! A lifetime -- the lifetime of a cat or dog who needs to be loved by a family; and the lifetime of a family who needs to be loved by a pet.

This section of the FOCAS website is devoted to these forever families. We want photos and stories--of pets whose lives have been saved by their "Forever Families." Send us your pictures and stories of your adopted pets: adopted from the Orange County shelter, any other shelter, a rescue group, puppy mill, or backyard breeder. Pets who were given back their lives when they were adopted or rescued.

Send your pictures and stories to the FOCAS webmaster.

Peanut & Buttercup Mauney, 9 years old, and 17-1/2 Years


1999, Puppy Mill somewhere in Georgia: I'll tell you a little secret: rescued pets are GRATEFUL for their families--they know . . . what might have been! Take a look at these 2 rescued dogs; the littlest one has the biggest smile on his face. He smiles because he knows what he just narrowly escaped; he knows he's finally safe, warm, well-fed, and much loved!

Peanut was rescued from a puppy mill where he had to live under a house and fight larger dogs for food. The puppy mill owner had decided Peanut was to be put to sleep--the owner's definition of "euthanasia" was to take the dog into the woods, let the dog go, and then shoot the dog when he ran. Sometimes the owner's aim wasn't very good, and he had to chase the wounded dog and shoot it several times before the dog died a miserable death. This was Peanut's destiny, perhaps due to his small size, or the limp in his right leg, or his malnutrition: for whatever reason, Peanut knew he was destined to a short, miserable, hungry life, until the rescue group found him and took him to a foster home, then finally to a new "forever" home with a human mom and a chihuahua sister; with his own food bowl that was "all his" and not intended to be shared; with a warm bed to snuggle up in and wrap up like a little burrito and stay warm; with a mom to hold him on her lap and tell him how much she loved him; with medicine every day that took the pain away from his right leg. This is why Peanut displays such a huge smile on his little face. He knows . . .

Buttercup Mauney, 1990--2008, 17-1/2 Years Old
"Buttercup Went to the Rainbow Bridge Yesterday:
She'll Be Waiting for Me There"
"Dearest Buttercup: Remember your family loves you and we all miss you so very much -- We know you're happily awaiting the time when we'll all be together again!"


1992 -- Orange County Animal Shelter: She looked so forlorn and terrified. Where was her mom? Mom left Buttercup in this smelly, noisy, HORRIBLE place, kissed her goodbye and said that she just didn't have time for Buttercup anymore. A little mite of a thing: 5 pounds soaking wet, beautiful 18-month old chihuahua. Buttercup wants her Mom, she wants to go home to sleep in her own bed Mom gave her, she wants to say goodbye at the front door when Mom goes to work, she wants to say "Welcome home" when Mom returns from work. All Buttercup wants is to love her forever. Buttercup doesn't know what bad thing she did to make her mom leave her here; but if her mom will come take her back and tell her about the bad thing, she won't ever do it again. "I promise, mom--I'll be a good dog forever!"

But Mom was too busy to be loved by Buttercup, so Buttercup ended up in this scary place. What will happen to me? Buttercup asks. So many strange people I don't know coming in and out--they'll hurt me, they'll keep me locked in this cage, they'll stick needles in me, they'll scare and hurt me, they'll starve me. then . . . "euthanasia!" Nobody wants a scared little dog who's not big enough to protect her family, or help around the house. I know--I'll play "tough guy" and growl and snarl at everyone, I'll bite them and scare them--then they'll see I'm good for something and take me home with them.


And that's who Maggie met at the shelter: growly, snarly, nasty Buttercup. Snapping at Maggie as she sits in front of the cage, Buttercup pushes herself into a corner, snapping and biting at Maggie, trying to scare her off. But Maggie kept saying: "Oh, Buttercup--You don't scare me! I plan to be your new Mom, and love you forever!" And she DID--15 years ago. Buttercup's family is larger now; she has 3 brothers now: Peanut, Maus, and Reese, our newest puppy. All three of these little men were also rescues; they are so wonderfully healthy and happy compared to their condition at the time of rescue: abandoned, mistreated, tied outside forever in the cold, snow, rain, heat; beaten and starved: I marvel at how they can forgive and forget. But they do forgive, and with more love and forgiveness than even we humans are capable of, they are grateful to the same species who caused them so much discomfort--they love and obey and forgive humans who will give them homes, respect, and love.

And they've all 4 given Maggie so much more than they've received. They were there, full of love when Maggie lost her job--no judgments, no blaming; when Maggie was so crabby no one could get near her, her furkids loved her and never abandoned her; when Maggie had 3 heart attacks and needed watching over, they loved and watched and stayed with her. Now, Maggie has created this "Forever Family" section to encourage all of you to adopt a pet from your local shelter. You'll be forever glad you did!

September 26, 2007:

The adoption schedule was full on this day, and our adoptions room was stuffed with smiles and joy that day. This is my most favorite volunteer activity: What a wonderful chance to witness the results of much work, worry, and many tears, seeing an animal in the shelter being loved and adopted, going to their new "forever" families, proud to know that as a volunteer, my efforts and caring helped get this animal adopted. I saved a precious life!

"Bring Lots of Love to Your Life: Adopt a Pet from your local Shelter!"

I plan to add more and more pictures of adopted shelter animals and their new families. On a day when you're feeling blue, when you feel defeated and fed up with life, visit this "forever" family page and see all the smiles and love, then go get some for yourself. A perfect, healthy cure for disgust, frustration, loneliness, depression: all the maladies that plague us humans. Loving an animal is a healthy cure for "life's ills."

Pets Who Found "Forever" Families



A Pet's Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep.
The king-size bed is soft and deep.
I sleep right in the center groove.
My human being can hardly move.
I've trapped her legs, she is tucked in tight.
And here is where I pass the night.
No one disturbs me or dares intrude
Till morning comes and I want food!
I sneak up slowly and it begins,
My nudgings on my human's chin.
She wakes up slowly and smiles and shouts,
"You precious pest....5 more minutes, now cut it out!"
But morning's here and it's time to play.
I always seem to get my way.
So thank you, Lord, for giving me
This human person that I see.
The one who hugs and holds me tight
And shares her bed with me at night.

-- author unknown --









Rosie: black lab mix, adopted by Lisa Wolff from the Orange County Animal Shelter. Rosie: "You lucky dog. What a delightful smile you've brought to your new mom's face!"
Toby: black lab mix puppy, adopted by Nora Warshawsky from the Orange County Animal Shelter. "Toby: you lucky dog! What a great mom you've found." And "Nora: Dear little Toby will enhance your life so very much!"
"Oscar": Adorable little kitten. Adopted by Michelle Fenton at the Orange County Animal Shelter. "Oscar: You bring such a huge smile to your mom's face!"
"Simba:" Adorable little kitten. Adopted by Jacob Sinkiewicz family from the Orange County Animal Shelter. "Simba: You've made your family so very happy. You'll be a much loved family member."
"Baby Girl" (not yet named). Adorable little kitten, adopted by Molly Brown from the Orange County Animal Shelter. "Baby Girl:" You lucky baby. What a great mom you've found!