Happy Endings

We're always overjoyed to hear that one of our animals has found a happy home. We especially love being able to share these stories with you. Below you will find just a few of the success stories that animals from our shelter have enjoyed.

If you have adopted an animal from our shelter, and would like to submit your own 'happy ending', please click here.

View stories submitted in: This Year | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

Dear Peterborough Humane Society;
This past Easter our family had to have our dog of 10 years put to sleep. It was such a difficult experience, especially for our Mom. We were a little surprised but pleased when Mom "mysteriously" found herself at the Humane Society later in the Spring. Soon, she became a regular visitor and formed a bond with Susie, a timid Briard mix. Discovering that Susie was pregnant didn't faze Mom at all - she continued to visit regularly and once Susie's puppies were born Mom seemed to go even more regularly. In fact I believe she told me that the staff knew her as "Susie's Mom." The puppies were ready for adoption, Friday, July 2nd (all spoken for) and that day Mom brought Susie home. Mom was so thrilled and it seemed that Susie was too.

Later that weekend, Mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In the last few weeks she has been through surgery and started chemotherapy. I don't think a day went while Mom was in the hospital that she didn't telephone to check on Susie. Now that Mom is home they are once again inseparable (Susie literally follows Mom everywhere). This sweet little dog already means the world to my Mom, and I know that they will be wonderful companions as Mom goes through treatment.

Thank you for allowing Mom and our family to share our life with Susie.

Best regards,
The Smith Family

SAM
On June 13th 2004 I visited the Peterborough Humane Society hoping to find a companion for our 3 year old rottewielier Jasper . While looking at all of the dogs up for adoption , I wanted to take them all home with me! We had been looking for a smaller dog to join our happy family and I immediately saw the dog I was looking for. "SAM" the 4 year beagle caught my attention and I knew he was the right dog!

Unfortunately I was not able to adopt him that day and all week I kept hoping that he would still be there the next weekend. I showed "SAM" to my husband on the internet and he admitted that he was very cute. I called the humane society to find out more information on SAM and on Saturday June 19th we took our family in to see him. It was love at first sight . SAM immediately took to our children and vice versa. Despite his background profile of destroying the house and not liking being left alone, we decided to give this loving little dog a second chance, so we adopted him that day.

The ride home was quiet for SAM, we were very pleased with his behaviour in the van! That night was very quiet too, SAM slept under our bed and there were no "accidents" as we are used to with our other dogs on the first night in a new home. We even tested him the very next day when we had to go out for a little while for father's day dinner. When we arrived home, SAM had behaved so well, nothing was chewed or destroyed, we gave him so much praise!

SAM now enjoys going to my kids soccer games and practices, and patiently waits for them to get home from school. It is so nice to not have a dog that chases cats and nighttime is so peaceful, we are not used to that! We are so happy with SAM and we know that we can give him the loving home that he needs. I am a stay at home mom so I have lots of time to take SAM out for walks on our 72 acre farm. SAM has fit right into our family and we appreciate him so very much. He constantly gets hugs and kisses from all 4 of my children.

We just wanted to let you know that SAM has found a loving family and that we will take very good care of him. Thank you for allowing us to adopt him.

Sincerely,
Trish, James, Alexis, Noah,
Rhys and Brynn Boyd and SAM,
JASPER, and our cats, CHARLIE,
ISOBELLA, BEAR, and FIREBALL!!

BUBBA
May 11th, 2004 the Anderson's welcomed a new addition to Rebel Run Farm. He was known to his friends at the Peterborough Humane Society as Beaudine, but we call him "Bubba".

It was love at first sight when I saw him the week previous. He is a large Redbone Coonhound. I have always been a sucker for a hound, the ears, the feet! He has an eye injury, which is pretty noticeable, but that did not deter me.

I phoned later that first week to enquire about him- only to find he was gone. I was told he went to live with his brother, and although I was bummed I was happy they were together again. But a nagging little voice told me to stop in at the Humane Society on the way to work. Low and behold, Bubba had been returned! I knew then he was meant to live with us.

My other canine kid, Martha just loves her new brother. The other hound, a Plott named Banjo, also thinks he is OK. He barks at him and it actually sounds like he is shouting, "REDBONE! REDBONE!" Bubba has fit in remarkably well at the farm- it has not been quite a month since he joined the family. He loves to bark at the horses, who could care less, and his favorite thing in the evenings is to crawl up on your lap and drown you in kisses. He makes a good lap dog, weighing close to 70 pounds!

As for the eye injury, we trust our wonderful small animal vets at Peterborough Pet Hospital. They have extensive training in canine opthamology. It looks like enucleation is probably the best solution, and we have started saving up for that. But it isn't the outside that makes us love Bubba, it's the sweet personality. Okay, and the ears :-)

- Janet Anderson

BECKETT
We adopted Beckett one year ago in May. He was the first dog I looked at when I came to the Humane Society after losing my ten-year old hound cross. He looked very awkward, tall, and had the largest and most expressive EARS I'd ever seen. I stopped, and he seemed very anxious to get my attention. We walked past, and looked at the other dogs for adoption; for some reason, Beckett was not the number one choice at first. I decided on another dog; however, after talking to someone about her, I was informed that she was not the best choice, so I had to return and pick another dog. Beckett was the first dog I came back to. I took him outside, and the 1 and a half year old seemed very rambunctious, but friendly, and full of personality. Boy was I right!

One year later, Beckett has proved to be the nicest, most energetic and CUTE dog I've ever come in contact with. The greyhound/lab cross loves to run on our 134 acre property, and loves playing when we walk with him. He also LOVES playing with our stray cat that we adopted, and our ferret, who has the run of the house. I have never seen a dog, who is so LARGE, interact the way he does with a cat. The two are honestly in love with each other.

Beckett is the sweetest animal, and I dare say he has become my shadow. The two of us are very close, and I can't imagine how I could have lived without him! His nickname is "Pony", and he enjoys resting his head on our kitchen table during dinner (and every other time there is food on the table). It's hard to believe that he was at the Humane Society for a whole month! Thank you for such a beautiful friend; I have recommended adoption to everyone I know because of my wonderful experience with my very best friend, Beckett.

Thank you!
Christina and Beckett

INDI
As we approach our two year anniversary (March 27, 2004), I couldn’t be enjoying my adopted pal Indi any more than I am today. It has been an eventful couple of years, and we have come along way together. As Indi approaches age three, he is maturing faster than ever into an awesome companion and a very cool dog.

Indi was the first dog I saw when I made my initial trip to the Peterborough Humane Society. His insistence on me shaking each of his paws 10 times before I left won my heart, and I came back to rescue him the next day!

When I first got Indi, he was 8 months old and he was nervous to get in my car, afraid of the stairs in my house, not quite sure of his crate, the leash or even other dogs. He knew what he did like though; eating, wrestling and chewing on rawhide bones. So we worked with that. I am sure that anyone who met Indi in his puppy phase will never be getting a dog of their own. He was so wild and crazy! I soon figured out that he just required an above average amount of exercise to tire him out, and it was not long after that discovery that we started to get invited places again!

Today, Indi has lots of friends in Peterborough, across the country, and from around the world too! When his social calendar permits, Indi is often out for a walk with a Trent student who misses their dog or one of the neighborhood kids who just thinks he’s fun to play with.

Over the past two years, Indi has become quite the dog, and we have both had an adventure getting there. He loves canoeing, and has paddled many lakes throughout eastern Canada and the Maritimes, carrying his own little pack the whole way. Kayaking too! From Georgian Bay to white water on the Ottawa River, where apparently no boat is required if you do it his way! He enjoys fishing, swimming, jogging, snowmobiling, sea-doing, skiing, hanging out with friends at the park, long walks in the woods and hogging the bed. But of all these things, it’s the simple stuff in life that Indi really appreciates. Like used tennis balls, cookies and a friend to play fetch with. Thanks to Indi, over the past few years, those have certainly become my favorite things too.

- Melanie Sedge

GUINESS
I adopted/rescued Guiness, a beagle, out of your shelter on February 26 and on March 6 I had him tested for the East Central Therapy Dog Program, which he passed with flying colours. Once he is neutered and has his needles he will be able to start visiting. I have already tested Guiness at the nursing home and he just loves the residences.

Guiness has made himself right at home with my two sons and I. He was just what our little family needed to round us out. My boys and I love him a lot and he returns our love 10 fold.

Thank you again for allowing me to rescue Guiness from your shelter.

- Karen Vitarelli