(THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM)
I’m Dusty and I came to the shelter in December 2009. I am an excitable little guy so I tended to act really crazy when potential adopters came to visit. I was bored and lonely. When people came to visit, I started barking and spinning and jumping up and down.
Everyone thought I was very cute, but that I would be too hard to handle because of my craziness. The longer I was at the shelter, the worse I got. I was so stressed that I could not control myself.
In April, one of the volunteers started visiting me for an hour or two every day. We worked on practicing being calm and basic obedience. Pretty soon, I started feeling better. He became my friend and advocate, and then worked out an experimental plan with Jolene to let me leave the shelter on field trips.
When out of the shelter I behaved well enough that my friend started to foster care me. Pretty soon a lot of my crazy behavior started to go away. I decided to adopt my friend and he agreed.
Unfortunately, in early June, I got kennel cough. One of my friend’s other dogs got very sick and had to be kept away from other animals (so he didn’t catch anything). It seemed my adoption was off.
Then, on June 21, my friend’s best human friends came to the rescue deciding they would take care of me until I could go to my permanent home. So, with the approval of the Society, for now I live with them in Port Hueneme. My friend comes to visit all the way from Ojai every few days. My new temporary parents say I am very well behaved, and not so crazy after all.
My little story has a lesson in it. Dogs at the shelter are not always what they seem. It’s very stressful here and many of us are lonely and scared. We don’t understand why we are here. Frequently we are separated from families and homes where we felt safe. Now we are here in a place where, though well cared for, it is different from what we are used to. Some of us act withdrawn and scared, some become aggressive, and some act crazy (like I did) just trying to get attention. I was lucky and my friend saw through my crazy act. It will be a while before I am completely sane, but with patience and help, I will get there.
Remember; please don’t judge us by first impression. If you see us and think you might like us, come back and visit us a few times. Spend some time with us in the playpens and talk to the staff about us. Most of the time, we are not what we first seem…we’re better!
My name is Rafiki and I came to the Humane Society in June of 2011. I am an 11 year young blue point Showshoe. I am one of the most affectionate cats you will ever meet. I love to cuddle in your lap and lounge in the sun in the outside cat enclosure in Cat Haven. To live a long, happy and healthy life I would like to go to a home where I could be an indoor only cat.
My name is Fu Manchu and I came to the shelter back in February of 2011. I am a smooth coated Chihuahua mix. My family at the shelter doesn’t understand why I am still here. I am sweet, housebroken and love to be around all different types of people. I enjoy going for walks with the volunteers and playing with my other Chihuahua friends. I would make a great companion dog!
Hello, my name is Magoo and I am a 7 year old Pomeranian. My family at the shelter say that I am very loving fun to be around. I like other animals, children and adults alike. I am housebroken and like to curl up on your lap. However, I do like to chase cats so a home with cats might not be the best fit.
Hi, my name is Harvey and I am a 7 year young Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix. I am very playful, loving, housebroken and full of spunk. I would do great in a house with other animals or with someone who could spend some time with me.
My name is Kitty and I am an 11 year young Maine Coon. I love spending my days basking in the sun at the Humane society and snuggling up in the blankets on colder days. I am an aloof kitty that seeks out attention when the world around me is quite. I would do great in household with seniors and my adoption fee is only $75.