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               Scroll down to read more about these Overlooked Pets
                                              and 
                                         Old Friends: 



        OVERLOOKED DOGS...

                                              
 
                                                  
    The volunteers and staff who know these dogs cannot understand why they have not long been adopted. Other dogs come and go but these sweethearts are still here. Is it because they are not outgoing enough or, perhaps, too eager to greet you?  Is it because they may retreat to the back of their kennels, disappointed that people are once again ignoring their pleas to be adopted? Is it because prospective owners arrive at the shelter with their minds already set on a certain type of dog... one particular breed... and they are not open-minded enough to choose a different type of friend?

      Whatever the reason is...these dogs continue to eagerly await new homes and caring owners. Please don't overlook them as they longingly hope for one more chance to be happy in their lives. Think twice before you pass by their kennels and look the other way. They will reward you in countless ways, and you will never once regret that you have chosen them to be your lifelong friends.
 

                                                            
One by one, they file past my cage
Too old, too worn, too broken, no way
Way past his time, he can't run and play
Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way

A little old man, arthritic and sore
It seems I am not wanted anymore
I once had a home, I once had a bed
A place that was warm, and where I was fed

Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn't belong
I got in their way; my attitude was wrong

Whatever excuse they made in their head
Can't justify how they left me for dead
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day
The younger dogs all get adopted away

When I had almost come to the end of my rope
You saw my face, and I finally had hope
You saw through the grey and the legs bent with age
And felt that I still had life beyond this cage

You took me home, gave me food and a bed
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head
We snuggle and play and you talk to me low
You love me so dearly, you want me to know

I may have lived most of my life with another
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger
And I promise to return all the love I can give
To you, my dear person, as long as I live

I may be with you for a week or for years
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears
And when the time comes that God deems I must leave
I know you will cry and your heart it will grieve

And when I arrive at the Bridge all brand new
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you
And I will brag to all that will hear
Of the person who made my last days oh, so dear
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OLD FRIENDS

      "Overlooked Pets" are not only those dogs who have spent a considerable amount of time in the shelter, but those who are senior dogs. When most people consider adopting a dog, they immediately think of selecting a puppy. Although puppies are cute and cuddly, they also require lots of energy, patience and time to teach them how to be acceptable in the family environment. Older dogs can also be cute and cuddly, and have numerous wonderful qualities that will take a puppy many years to achieve. It is a privilege to own a senior dog and each day becomes special as you and your "old friend" share the love, and a special understanding that grows stronger each day. And, above all, you have given this wonderful dog a second chance at life.

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                      OVERLOOKED CATS...
  All of these cats have been at the shelter too long. Please consider giving them a chance to enjoy a real home of their own where they can live comfortably for the rest of their lives.
                                               
                                     
          Ophelia            Patra              June              Cece
                                                  
     Kittens will always be popular, and most have no trouble attracting admirers. But for the abandoned, forgotten, and heartbroken adult cats, you just might be their last chance to have the love and warmth of a home where they can live out their years in comfort. When cared for properly, cats can live well into their late teens, and sometimes into their early twenties. Typically, they will remain active and playful throughout most of their lives. Some may need a little extra patience while adjusting to a new home, but once they feel safe and secure again, most will give you years of faithful companionship and unconditional love. Please consider adopting an older cat.
                              

      Ten reasons to adopt an older cat

 Have you ever considered adopting an adult cat? You may find that there are many more adult cats waiting for homes than kittens. Take a minute to think about it. You may be glad you did. Here are ten reasons why you should adopt an adult cat, instead of a kitten.

1. What you see is what you get. When you adopt an adult cat, you know what you are getting. Sure, kittens are cute, but you never know what the future holds. An adorable kitten could grow up to be a really ugly puss. This is a big risk. Go for the sure thing. Take a sweet-faced old Tabby.
2. High mileage cats still run great. Used cats aren’t like used cars. They aren’t at a shelter because they are defective or worn out. They may have simply outlived their former owners or been unable to join them at a hospital, nursing home, or new apartment. Some cats get lost and end up at a shelter. And many are brought to a shelter after a family member develops allergies, or an aversion to the family cat. (In those cases, it is the previous owner that is defective, not the cat.)
3. Adult cats aren’t as “chewsy”. Kittens are like human children: everything goes in their mouths. Whether teething or just exploring bits of the world around them, kittens can be very destructive little bundles of fur. Kittens chew on shoes, the corners of books, ear lobes, carpet tassels, electrical cords, drapery strings, plants, and much, much more. Adult cats typically chew less, if at all. They tend to save their energy for more important activities, like tormenting the neighbor’s Terrier.
4. Kittens stumble in blindly, where adult cats fear to tread. Two well-known clichés about cats are: “curiosity killed the cat” and “cats have nine lives.” And curiosity usually leads to the loss of about eight of a kitten’s lives in its first year. Kittens tend to get into much more trouble resulting in accidents and injuries (see, for example, the reference to “chewing electrical cords” above). Kittens eat things they shouldn’t, fall from high places, unsuccessfully attempt to make friends with the neighbor’s tormented Terrier, and generally worry you half to death.
5. Kittens are lacking when it comes to licking. Few kittens have mastered the fine art of self-grooming. While adult cats may spend up to half their waking hours licking fur, kittens are just too busy enjoying life to clean themselves properly. When you consider that kittens are really just dust-mops with legs, and that they often display marginal litter box etiquette, you might want to master the somewhat dangerous art of cat-bathing.
6. Einstein knew the truth about cats. The genius scientist Albert Einstein discovered an important relationship between mass and energy. He described it using the mathematical equation E=(MC)2. This equation means that your Energy level (E) is proportional to the Mass (M) of your Cat^©, twice over. The equation basically shows that if you adopt a cat with more Mass, like an adult cat, your Energy level will be much higher than if you adopt a cat with a low Mass, such as a kitten. This is true because adult cats sleep more, play less, require less supervision, break fewer lamps, and don’t try to bite your toes through the blankets in the middle of the night. With an adult cat, you will sleep better, relax more, make fewer claims on your homeowner’s policy, and enjoy more Energy. There you have it. Are you going to argue with Albert Einstein?
7. Kittens and children don’t mix. Children can be rough on both cats and kittens, even when they mean no real harm. It can’t be helped. It’s just how kids are. When you tell a child that “cats always land on their feet,” the first thing the child will do is drop one from your rooftop to see if it’s true. Adult cats are better equipped to deal with pesky kids. They can generally escape from them, hide, and then contemplate revenge by moonlight.
8. You don’t need to teach an old cat new tricks. Actually, you don’t need to teach a kitten tricks either, because the truth is that neither cats nor kittens allow you to teach them anything anyway. But new parents usually feel the need to try. Inevitably, they end up feeling guilt or failure when the kitten disregards them, jumps on the counters, unrolls the toilet paper, and engages in other acts of feline mayhem. If you adopt an older cat, you avoid all this emotional turmoil. Since you didn’t raise the cat, you don’t have to take responsibility for the cat’s shortcomings. Instead, you can blame the former owner and play the role of victim and saint for tolerating it all.
9. Adult cats don’t “litter” as much. Kittens play, sunbathe, build sandcastles, and even sleep in their litter boxes. And then there’s a game called “poo-hockey,” where a piece of dried waste is removed from the box and batted around the floor until it disappears under a major appliance or piece of furniture. People who adopt older cats happily miss this stage of feline development. Adult cats understand the purpose of a litter box and will usually cooperate with your efforts to keep theirs tidy. But the most important reason to adopt an older cat is:
10. It might be their last chance. Many adult cats end up in shelters due to no fault of their own. Separated from their loved ones, surrounded by other strange cats, confined, confused, and sometimes frightened, many are emotionally devastated by their misfortune. Sadly for adult cats, most people who adopt gravitate toward the adorable, bouncy, big-eyed kittens. Older cats sit by and watch, as one loving family after another passes them over for a cute kitten from this season’s litter.

                                                                  Kevin Davis ... ‘Ten Reasons to Adopt an Adult Cat Instead of a Kitten’