Hi SF SPCA,
I just wanted to let you know how happy I am with the new member of our family.  I adopted “Mercedes” (now “Minzi”) two weeks ago.  She had been returned to you from a previous adopter after two weeks, so I felt the need to acknowledge this anniversary in our house by letting you know what a pleasure she is!

Minzi’s first two weeks included flyball practice, running at the beach, traveling numerous times in the car, and getting to know Kiza (her big sister border collie).  Minzi and Kiza are BFFs!  and enjoy rough housing, playing chase with each other, and guarding the backyard from squirrels.  Kiza is a finicky “female dog” and Minzi has figured out a way to win her over.

I just got home from spending the weekend at the Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog show, where Bay Racer flyball club performed a couple demos each day to entertain the crowd.  Minzi participated (doing recalls) in front of the packed crowd.  She did great and is now sleeping peacefully at my feet.  Minzi is a complete love bug and enjoys belly rubs as much as dinner.

To all the volunteers and employees at SF SPCA, I can’t thank you enough!
- Karen

My bf and I adopted one of your dogs named Little Mister a few months ago. I just wanted to let you guys know he’s doing great!! We did re-name him, so his name is now Charlie. We were told that it might take him a few months to get comfortable with us, but after the first day I spent with him he took to me very well and is sooo attached to me he won’t leave my side. Although it did take him a little longer to get comfortable with my bf but he’s happy to see him now every day when he comes home from work.

Charlie is such a ball of joy! He jumps around in circles of joy every time I see him. Always so happy! He is really such a character! Every time he touches the carpet or grass he drops down on his belly and drags him self across it; it’s the cutest thing ever!

He still is shy around new people but he’s doing a lot better. When we have friends come over, he usually goes up to them a little curious and might let them pet him, or he’ll give them a little kiss on their hand.

We had another dog already when we got Charlie; her name is Maia. They are the same size and she’s a few months older than he is. I remember when we went down to see him for the first time, we brought Maia with us. When we walked over to where he was, he was in a room with 4 or 5 other small dogs. They were jumping all around barking. He was the only one not barking. He had locked his eyes on Maia and couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

It took her a little bit to get used to him when we first got him, since she had been the only dog around for so long. Now she loves him just as much as we do. They are sooo adorable with each other, always playing. Chasing each other around the house. Always eating and drinking out of the same food and water bowls even though i have two each out for both of them.

They sleep next to each other a lot of the time. She wakes him up with kisses and he gives her kisses good night. Which they seem to do a lot of – kissing all the time! I’ve never seen two dogs so in love like that before. It’s the sweetest thing ever!!

Anyhoo, I really just wanted to let you guys know he’s doing really great and is such an awesome addition to our family!!  We are so happy to have him here with us!

- Shalene

I came to adopt Constantine after three years of deciding if I were to call San Francisco my home.

Well, Welcome Home!

Constantine is what some would call an old soul or senior cat (12). If you were to ask him he would say: 1. “Who are you calling old?” 2. “I’m just getting started!”

Constantine is unbelievably even-tempered. A cool customer.

I find it unsettling that he was looked over and had to wait months to find a home. The world told him, “You’re not wanted.” Don’t people know the hidden value of adopting a cat who knows him/herself and is settled in his/her ways?

Constantine has the energy of a kitten (without the litter fuss). The personality of an old man (without the long stories that start, “Back in my day, Sonny” or that old man smell). But most important, he has the WILL of a Fighter and strength of a Dragon.

Constantine, you’re wanted… and thank you for adopting me.

- LB Jones

My boyfriend Harry was shot in a robbery attempt this summer and has PTSD as a result. While he was in the hospital for two months, there was a therapy dog who visited and took to him and that always made him feel better and less focused on his physical and mental issues.

Once Harry was home, he didn’t seem to be making progress as well as he had in the hospital, so a couple of his doctors and I suggested getting a dog. He was hesitant, always found a way to avoid looking for a dog. One weekend I just got him in the car and we came over to the shelter. The room we came to had two dogs that we watched for a while, Cherokee and Sissy, who actually looked and acted similar.

We looked at all the other dogs but always were drawn back to that first room. We asked to spend a little time with Sissy. She was very shy, but once Harry sat on the floor, she came over, put her paw in his hand and looked him right in the eye with her sweetest “take me home” look.

We did, and she is now registered as an emotional assistance dog and is an amazing addition to our lives. She will stay close to Harry whenever we’re out, or if I have her on lead and he walks somewhere else, she is anxious until she can find him and watch over him.

She was so shy when we first got her and now we see what a little goofball she is, and so full of love and sweetness! She’s certainly the one for belly rubs! One of the most amazing things about her is that she never barks or whines, which is perfect for a service dog.

Chai is her new name which suits her well–she’s colored like Chai tea and is the sweetest little beast we could ever hope to have.  We’re thinking soon of getting her a playmate, so we’ll be coming back to the shelter! Thank you for taking care of her until she could come home with us.

- Jill

I’ve always wanted a pet, but with my work schedule it was always difficult to maintain one. Finally I decided to make the time commitment and start off with a cat, so when I went looking for one, I knew where to go: the SF SPCA. My girlfriend and I went in looking one day. The volunteers were great and introduced me to some cats. The possible pets were an OK match – they were nice, but there wasn’t that connection right away.

I still had in my mind that I would keep looking around. Then on my way out I met Bruce, a volunteer there. We had met before so we chatted a bit, and I told him about what I was looking for in a cat. He asked if I had met Smokey. I told him I saw him in the window, but didn’t think he was my kind of cat. Bruce said let’s go meet him. So we went back and Bruce took us in the room with Smokey, and right when I sat down, Smokey jumped in my lap and rolled on his back. At that point I felt that connection and decided to adopt him right there. I also decided to change his name from Smokey to SoCrates (pronounced Sooo Crates) — I always thought that was an awesome name.

The fun didn’t stop there. After we did the adoption paperwork they brought him out in a  cardboard carrier. He wasn’t happy being in the small cramped space. I don’t blame him; I wouldn’t want to be in a small box either. But it was the only way to take him home. Well 20 minutes into the drive home, SoCrates broke out of his carrier through the bottom. That was a big shocker. He was sticking his head through the bottom corner. Thankfully my girlfriend was able to break the rest of the carrier so he wouldn’t choke himself. Whew. SoCrates rested in her arms the rest of the way home.

After that there was still a lot of learning. I had to do a lot of reading up on cat behaviors on the SF SPCA website. Thankfully there were a lot of great tips and facts there. Especially when it came to his first night of meowing, his nipping, and other behaviors. Those are just minor things; mostly he’s been great. Curious, quiet, relaxed, and likes to watch baseball.

So a few months later SoCrates and I are doing great. He’s got a consistent feeding schedule, lots of toys, and when the Giants are playing on TV, he and I watch… usually with him laying on my chest. SoCrates has been a great addition to my life. Lots of funny times so far. Though I’m trying to figure out how he learned to give a soft meow when he was done with the litter box. But the best thing about him is how he helps me relax after a long hard day at work. With lots of purrs, headbutts and paw kneading.

- Matt