I am a university professor, and Johnny has come to school to give “doggie time” to stressed-out students. It is a blast to take him into the computer lab late at night and let the students pet him. Some of my regular students jog with him and also request “dog time” when they are feeling overwhelmed. Johnny is so calm and just loves to be petted–in fact, he insists on being petted! (That’s how we met–he came up to me and stuck his nose in my armpit.) I’m thinking about taking him to training to be a therapy dog. He really is wonderful.

Johnny is such an amazing dog, and he has brightened my life immeasurably. I am very sorry for the family that lost him, but so grateful that he is my pal now. Thank you for the work you do in taking care of animals like Johnny when circumstances beyond their control put them in difficult situations.

Mitra S.

The front desk staff said she was picked up as a stray. They knew her owner and contacted them, but said they didn’t want her anymore. I will never understand that.

Mandy moved right in and became part of the family. Our other cat Bud loves her, and Mandy even helped us raise our black Lab puppy! They still play together. Mandy mostly lives indoors, but in the summer, she loves to head outside to the garden with me where she naps all day behind the flowers. During the long winters we both watch out the windows waiting for the days to get longer and warmer to get back outside to the garden.

I enjoy sharing the story of how Mandy chose me to take her home that day in February.

Alice L.

She is such a treasure is in our lives, and we are overjoyed to have her in our life. She has brought us such joy and laughter–just what we needed after losing both our dogs to old age in ’07.

We take her everywhere, and she even comes to work with me on Fridays. I work as office manager at our church and work a half day. I only wear jeans on Fridays, and as soon as I pull out my jeans, she knows it’s her day to work, and she gets excited! It’s so adorable.

Everyone loves her–most especially us! We now live in Alexandria, MN, but still love Cedar Rapids!

Thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
Mark and Tracey A.

We asked if we could borrow the family computer to give you a look into our wonderful new lives! They said we could, as long as we didn’t clog the keyboard with our beautiful long hair… so here we go!

We’ve only been here just over a week, and we are already making ourselves at home! We always use one of the two litter boxes, are eating so well, and even have a dish of kitty grass just for us! They have a little white furball that they call a ‘pup’, but we think she’s just an active, louder version of us. We’ve played with her a few times already, and she barks loud!

There’s also this little red light that comes out of a thing they turn on for us, we like to chase it all around. Interesting how it just disappears sometimes, and only comes out for us when they are holding a little cylinder! We have many beds just for us, a catnip holder with a ball, and strings dangling with toys to bat at.

Well, it’s dinner time… so we’ll just be off to enjoy food with our new family. Thank you for picking this family for us! There’s so much love on both sides!

Spaz and Gage

Who would’ve guessed this shy guy would turn out to be quite the character! All throughout our neighborhood, children and senior citizens alike ask to pet him or give him cookies on our long daily strolls. Our garbage man always makes a stop on his route to play! Perhaps our boy entices them with his good manners and lovely prance.

Onyx (formerly named “AJ”) is very affectionate, showering us with hugs and kisses and has yet to find a person or even a fang-bearing stray cat he doesn’t like. He is the epitome of the great potential in a pit bull: loving, sociable, and majestic. Despite his extreme (at times) energy and aspirations to become a canine garbage disposal (his only fault… blame puppyhood), I am overjoyed that we found each other. I have learned about many obstacles this breed faces in our society, whether prejudice, homelessness, exploitation, etc., and it is more the reason to adore them, educate ourselves about them, and fight for them!

My once shoe-sized companion is now comparable to a baby elephant in stature, but he is still a goofy, ever-curious sweetheart who still attempts to scramble his big furry bum into my lap. He was originally named for the gemstone for his beautiful black mask, and he has turned out to be strong as a rock!

Whenever appropriate, I voice my opinion on considering adoption first, as well as pit bull advocacy. Whether due to poor circumstances, ignorance, or just sheer unawareness of the requirements to be a pit parent, it seems that this type of dog is quite populous in some shelters. Regardless, every animal there is a uniquely precious gem, just like Onyx.

Palka P.

I was expecting my children (Abigail and Olliver) to hide when we took them home for at least a couple days. My husband and I prepared for that and made a pact to make sure we gave them their space to warm up to our place. NOT THE CASE AT ALL!! They hid for maybe ten minutes tops! In 11 minutes, they were already coming up to us and rubbing their wet noses on us, begging for attention! To our relief, they instantly warmed up to us and felt right at home!

Ollie (Olliver) has, has, HAS to be in physical contact with us AT ALL TIMES if he is in the same room as us. He absolutely has to be sitting next to us, lying on our lap, or being petted if we are around. He loves to lie on his back and have his belly rubbed. When I walk to the bedroom, he darts past me and jumps on my bed; he instantly lies down on his back, belly exposed, ready to be petted. When I head back to the living room, again he darts to the couch and assumes the same position. You know how cats clean their faces off with their paws? Well, if you pet Olliver and give him your undivided attention, he starts getting so excited with being petted, he literally starts petting himself with his paw on his face like that! He really is the sweetest boy, and I bet their owner was absolutely heartbroken to have to put these guys up for adoption.

Abigail is perfect. Just perfect. She does this thing where she starts howling loud with a sock or toy in her mouth and when she finds us she will drop her “gift” at our feet! Sometimes they get so friendly that we have to unfortunately lock them out of our bedroom at night (not all the time though) and when we get up and open the door there will be a line of “presents” at the door! It’s the cutest thing ever! I googled what this means, and it says that cats do that to their owners to show gratitude. So we know these guys are SO grateful to have us, as we are to have them! Abigail also does this thing where when she gets super-excited to see you, she literally does a somersault! She’ll just stop in her tracks and tumble on to your feet. It’s the cutest ever!

I now feel like these guys have completed our life. They are absolutely PERFECT, and everything we’ve ever wanted! They are our children for sure and we love them so much. Thank you Cedar Valley Humane Society for giving me the last puzzle piece to make our family complete! I can’t imagine my life without them! Thank you so much for taking care of our children until we were able to find them and pick them up! Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

Jes & Adam D.

The cocker spaniel has been at Kirkwood since January 30, when the Cedar Valley Humane Society’s animal care staff transported her to the animal health technology department for an ultrasound.

“After the ultrasound confirmed that the dog was pregnant, we turned over her medical care to Kirkwood,” says Bob Citrullo, Executive Director of the Cedar Valley Humane Society. “Kirkwood is a calmer environment for her to have puppies in, and it provides a great learning opportunity for the students.”

According to Anne M. Duffy, RVT, professor and veterinary technician program coordinator at Kirkwood Community College, the puppies were born Sunday evening beginning around 8:00 p.m. One puppy is buff; the others are black. The mother dog and all the puppies are doing well. The puppies will remain at Kirkwood until they are at least eight weeks old and ready for adoption.

The Cedar Valley Humane Society is seeking monetary donations to help cover ongoing veterinary expenses of the rescued cocker spaniels. Donations can be made at www.cvhumane.org or mailed to the Cedar Valley Humane Society, 7411 Mount Vernon Road SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403.

I became the lucky one. FiFi is loving and a total joy to have around. I’m sure that FiFi and I will have many wonderful years together. Please consider “mature” cats when thinking about adoption. They can make a great addition to your family!

Jill H.

Mackenzie Paulson, DVM, prepares to examine the teeth of Reno, aka Cocker Spaniel #9.

Bob Citrullo, executive director of the Cedar Valley Humane Society, and Lyndee Fuessley, animal care supervisor, transported the 15 Cocker Spaniels from Des Moines to the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

“We’re happy to provide assistance to the ARL,” says Citrullo. “Taking in 88 animals at one time can cause a strain on resources for any organization, so when the ARL asked us if we could provide additional shelter, we were more than happy to help.” Citrullo adds that the call came at a good time for the Cedar Valley Humane Society, because the shelter currently has several open kennels.

“The welfare of the animals is obviously our top priority,” says Citrullo. “Our immediate goal is to make them clean and comfortable and take care of whatever their medical needs are.” All of the dogs will be examined for medical issues and treated as necessary. More information will be available after the animals’ health has been assessed.

To help these dogs, the Cedar Valley Humane Society is seeking monetary to help cover their ongoing veterinary expenses. Donations can be made at www.cvhumane.org or mailed to the Cedar Valley Humane Society, 7411 Mount Vernon Road SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403.

The goal is to make the Cocker Spaniels healthy and ready for adoption when the time comes, says Citrullo. Currently there are 15 dogs already available for adoption at the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

Jeff Hamilton, president and CEO of ESP International, presents Executive Director Bob Citrullo with a check to support the homeless animals at the shelter.

At January’s staff luncheon, Jeff Hamilton, president and CEO of ESP International, presented Executive Director Bob Citrullo with a check to support the homeless animals at the shelter.

Throughout the year, the staff at ESP International held friendly competitions between departments to collect donations for the fund. They also attended several of our fundraising events. The ESP team was the top team fundraiser for Woof Walk.

ESP International has been serving the OEM market for over 40 years. ESP is a global and domestic supply chain specialist for seals, rubber products, plastics, cast and forged metal product.

We’d been without an animal friend around our house for nine months after the death of our 16-year-old Lab, and I decided it was time to remedy that. Since we’d always had dogs through the years I decided maybe we should try getting a cat for a house pet this time, so I started visiting the cat room at CVHS.

There were so many lovely fur-balls who’d poke their paw through their cages, wanting to be friends with me. I had to touch every paw extended, and I spent time holding many of them. There were so many choices, but there was one little cat who never poked her paw through at me. She turned her back to everything going on in the room and slept. This bothered me. I read her cage log; she’d come in 3 months earlier with two siblings–both of them had since been adopted.

I worried that her spirit was broken, a thought that was unacceptable to me. She’d purr when I reached in and pet her, though, and I made several trips back to the shelter to sit and rock with her. She’d snuggle against my shoulder willingly–and purr. She was an expert purr-er, and I knew I’d found the cat I’d take home.

The shelter had nicknamed her Acorn. My husband and I renamed her Lexi.

Over the past 6 years Lexi has gotten her spirit back. She plays like a wild kitty when we roll her mouse toys in “kitty marijuana” as we call it (cat nip, of course!). She lives for her bird watching duties from her perch by the kitchen window, and she loves to be outside with us (on her leash, of course) when we enjoy porch time. She is entirely too good at eating grass and hissing at the neighbor’s cat who comes over wanting to be her friend.

Lexi loves to take her naps on top of many of the stuffed animal friends in the spare bedrooms, and insists on TV-watching lap time with either my husband or me every evening.

She was meant to come into our lives.

Rebecca and Wayne G.

Ten-year-old Jordan Sanders held her second annual holiday fundraiser for to support the animals at the Cedar Valley Humane Society. Jordan baked four kinds of treats and sold them to family, friends, and co-workers. The yummy flavors and festive holiday packaging made them a huge hit! She raised more than $300 to donate to the animals. For last year’s fundraiser, Jordan designed and created Christmas tree ornaments.

Rebecca Moehn, Jesse Bevins, and Grant Beck enlisted the help of friends, family, and co-workers to collect blankets for our shelter dogs. In just two weeks, they had collected 50 fleece blankets! The blankets will help make the dogs a little cozier in 2012.

Employees at Rockwell Collins collected food, treats, toys, and other goodies to give to our shelter sweeties. They also made a thoughtful monetary donation.

A HUGE thanks to these kind folks, as well as everyone else who kept our shelter sweeties in their hearts this holiday season. Our animals surely do benefit from your generosity!

We want to thank you for all you do for the animals in our area. Also, to thank you for giving me the opportunity to adopt such wonderful dogs. Eli and Ellary are the best dogs ever and I am so happy that I chose to adopt from your shelter!

Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Stacie, Eli and Ellary M.

Sunny Florida is great…warm, cozy places to curl up and sleep at every window. (Of course, my home has constant climate control!!) Sometimes I get to go for rides–which I love! Another favorite is jumping in a bathtub with a couple of inches of water to play in! Very unusual…guess I act like a dog! They laugh at me splashing around!

Happy Holidays! Sent with kitty cat love,
Noah

Our family is very excited for the season and all the joy it brings. Zeus, in particular, is one of the chief sources of happiness that we currently have. He is a continuous supply of love, affection and exuberance in our lives and we couldn’t imagine life without him.

On October 2, we celebrated one year of bringing Zeus home with us. Since we don’t know for sure what his actual birthday is, we decided it would be this date. He had a fabulous day playing with his two best Golden Retriever friends, Lilly and Daisy (Cathy’s parents’ dogs), and eating Frosty Paws Ice Cream treats (Zeus’ favorite)! Talk about a happy boy!

The three of us have gotten along wonderfully over the last year. Zeus fit in so quickly; it felt like we had had him forever. Our first few months were spent trying to get Zeus to trust us as his new family. This little guy had some abandonment issues. Whenever we would try to leave the house, Zeus would cry, shake, and shred things. So, to help him ease into his role as a pampered pup, he started spending the day with Cathy’s mom and her two Golden Retrievers. This helped tremendously! After a few months, Zeus began to trust us and now, we’re happy to report, Zeus is totally fine with staying home alone. Of course, he would rather be with people, and we never leave him alone for long periods of time, but now he is comfortable enough to simply sleep through our absence. YAY!

Zeus is also a very active boy, which means that he and Cathy have a lot in common. They are constantly taking walks at the park, visiting friends and going for car rides. Zeus goes everywhere with his mom! We are currently training for a 5K in the spring which Zeus will run with us. We are convinced training is his faviorite part of the day, as Zeus is quite the runner. We tucker out long before he does!

Zeus is such a blessing in our lives, and we want to thank you so much for choosing us to be his forever home. We couldn’t be happier with him and love him very much!

Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Sincerely,
Cathy and Casey M.

Sincerely,
Happy, Vanessa, and Rick H.

Let’s see. I have a big yard to run in, and I do. My food dish is never empty. That might be why I weigh 20 pounds. (I did get the ham bone at Thanksgiving.) My water dish is always full and changed three times a day. (Not that stuff out of the faucet–it’s out the the refrigerator. With ice!)

I have four new toys. I can’t wait until Christmas to see what’s in my packages!

I like my new vet in Monticello. Becky, my groomer, cut my nails. They feel so much better. I get four different treats: dog bones in gravy, rawhides, beef strips, dental chips, and pepperoni sticks. (Wait…that’s five.)

I get to lay on the back of the couch in the sun. When I ride in the car (which I love) I get my own blanket. Grampa plays with me. I sit on his lap and he scratches me all over. He tries to give me table food, but Mom catches him and says “no.” (So close!) Gramma loves my eyes, but everybody does.

Mom loves me most. She gets me doggie ice cream from Schwan’s. Beef flavor. So-o-o-o-o go-o-o-ood!

Mom says I am taller now that I have stopped cowering. I play fetch, but then I run around like I am happy-crazy, too. I have a closed porch to play on. I am sure there is more, but Mom says “bedtime.”

Thank you for my new family!

My favorite time of the day is when my mom gets home from work. That is when she takes Seger and me to the hayfield out back where we run around like crazy. I am very fast! I like to sneak up on Seger when he’s not looking and pounce on him! Seger is nine now, but Mom says I keep him young.

People who come to visit say I am spoiled (whatever that means). I just know I am happy here and I wanted to let you know. Plus, I wanted to say thank you for taking such good care of me ubtil my forever family could adopt me.

Here are some pictures of me to enjoy. See that twinkle in my eyes…you helped put it there!

Gizmo (now named Sassy…by my son, who did not care that the cat was a boy!) is the most wonderful gift we could’ve given ourselves. We call him the “catdog.” Sassy is very affectionate, friendly, clean, and healthy.

We are pet people. After the death of my husband, we recently sold our home with a yard and went condo. Empty without a pet. After several trips to the Cedar Valley Humane Society to visit the pets, we waited to choose the right one. I guess Sassy chose us.

After chatting with the volunteer who was sitting petting the cats one day said, “There is your sign,” we left and came back another day and adopted “our sign.” I knew that I had fallen in love with this cat when one day when I was crying, he came up to me, wrapped his paws around my neck, and licked my tears away, letting me know he was here and it was going to be okay. Or maybe he was thanking me. Needless to say, I am sorry for the person who found no time for such a loving creature, and happy that we found him. My four-year-old son always says, “Mom, Sassy loves me!”

Janet B.

They love to play together, even though they have a slight age difference. They are both as playful as kittens and show no signs of slowing down! They act like brothers and love each other so much! I love to see how much they grow and open up everyday!

I am so happy about my decision to adopt, and I am even happier that I got the opportunity! Thank you so much, Cedar Valley Humane Society!

Kathryn S.

When we get up again, Mom takes me on a run. We LOVE to run together, but Mom is a little slow. Then Mom eats and works a little, while I lay on the couch. Then Mom calls me, and we go to the car and head out to my FAVORITE place! Mom calls it a dog park; I call it a BLAST! There are always new friends to meet… and new smells!!!

After a few hours there, we head home and Mom works some more while I take a nap. (I get REAL tired when I run a lot.) When Mom’s done we go for yet ANOTHER walk and play FRISBEE! Then Mom gives me dinner and makes some for her and Dad.

When Dad gets home I am SOOOO excited! My whole body wiggles as I go greet him. He gives me lots of pets, and I give him lots of kisses. Then they sit down to eat. I lay under the table, and if I’m being a good little girl (which I usually am) they pet me with their feet. I LOVE pets!

If it’s Thursday, we go to my other FAVORITE place. I run and play tug and get to go for a ball! Mom and Dad call it “flyball.” I’m working on being a part of a team!

When I go to sleep FINALLY I sometimes still have nightmares of my life before I was found. Mom or Dad usually wake me up and give me lots of pets and kisses. They remind me that I am safe and loved and will NEVER be hurt or lost again…not if they can help it.

Mom and Dad would like to thank the Cedar Valley Humane Society for giving me to them, and I have to thank them, too!

Zoe is a lover and always wants to please those around her. She shares lots of kisses with the family and her animal pals. But be careful when you take a shower and leave your clothes on the bathroom floor! Zoe loves to steal your clothes and run off with them!

Zoe has been a wonderful addition to our family! We can’t imagine life without her!

Lori and Payton W.

Broady came to us as a stray at the end of September. He is a very shy boy who warms up to you once he gets to know you. Broady likes people a lot, but he hasn’t been exposed to a lot of different situations. He is very sweet with a mild disposition. This quiet boy would be a great addition to any family!

Breed Note: Many of these pets are mixes. In these cases, the breed listed is the one that best matches their looks and personality. Also, some of the pets presumed to be mixes may be purebred.

All these years later, Richy is very healthy and happy. He is between 11 and 12 years old, but he still has plenty of energy. He receives good health reviews at his regular check-ups. He has been a treasured companion full of life, warmth, and still has some serious feistiness and playfulness to his personality. He is also a constant, wonderful memory of my father.

Bruce C.

Citrullo relocated from Baton Rouge, LA, where he was executive director of Cat Haven, a nonprofit feline shelter. Since retiring from the U.S. Army, Citrullo held leadership positions at the Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport; the Arizona Humane Society in Phoenix; Boggs Mountain Humane Shelter in Clayton, GA; and the Ruth Steinert SPCA in Schuylkill County, PA. He also successfully operated his own dog boarding and grooming facility in Pine Grove, PA, for seven years.

“We are extremely pleased to have Bob Citrullo at the helm. The breadth and depth of his experience will be invaluable in continuing the forward momentum of this organization,” says Bernie Lettington, president of the Cedar Valley Humane Society’s board of directors.

In his previous positions, Citrullo established a variety of programs to educate and promote responsible pet ownership, spaying and neutering of pets, adoptions of animals and reduce the need for euthanasia in the community.

“While at the Arizona Humane Society, I was responsible for placing over 23,000 animals with adoptive families each year,” says Citrullo. “I’m very excited to be using my shelter management and animal welfare knowledge to benefit the homeless, abused, and neglected animals of Linn County. Together, with the members of this community, we will be able to make a positive and sustainable difference in the lives of these animals.”

Citrullo holds a nursing degree as part of his military service. He is a member of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators and the American Humane Association. He and his wife, Debbie, share their home with two Basset Hounds, Gunner and Ivy.

Missy transferred into our care at the end of September. With all her energy, she would make a fabulous jogging partner! Missy knows basic commands, but she needs someone to reinforce them and make sure she does what she’s supposed to. She tends to be dominant, so if you’re trying to find a companion for your pup, it would only work if your dog is submissive. Missy does not get along with cats at all!

Breed Note: Many of these pets are mixes. In these cases, the breed listed is the one that best matches their looks and personality. Also, some of the pets presumed to be mixes may be purebred.

Wess came to us from another shelter at the end of September. He would make a great family dog, as he is awesome with kids and other dogs. This big galoot is very gentle and social. Stop in and meet Wess today!

Breed Note: Many of these pets are mixes. In these cases, the breed listed is the one that best matches their looks and personality. Also, some of the pets presumed to be mixes may be purebred.

Skip came to us from another shelter in Iowa at the end of September. He is a happy kiddo with a lot of energy, typical of the breed. Skip can be rather vocal, and he’s not a big fan of crates. Skip does like other dogs, though, so if you’re looking for a canine companion, Skip might be your boy!

Breed Note: Many of these pets are mixes. In these cases, the breed listed is the one that best matches their looks and personality. Also, some of the pets presumed to be mixes may be purebred.

Lacy came into our care from another shelter in mid-September. She is a very happy girl who would benefit from some obedience training and lots of exercise. We recommend she go to a home with kids older than 10, since she tends to jump. Be warned: she likes to hoard rawhides, so keep plenty on hand! You’ll be finding them under sofa cushions…in your shoes…tucked into blankets….

Breed Note: Many of these pets are mixes. In these cases, the breed listed is the one that best matches their looks and personality. Also, some of the pets presumed to be mixes may be purebred.

Rachel Tabron of Ambroja Photography receives the Governor's Volunteer Award from Governor Branstad.

Rachel Tabron of Ambroja Photography was honored on June 24, 2011, with the Governor’s Volunteer Award for her volunteer work with the Cedar Valley Humane Society and other animal welfare organizations across Iowa.

Rachel dedicates countless hours each month to capturing the personalities of our shelter sweeties with her camera. Her gorgeous photographs help us get homeless animals into forever homes just that much faster! Hats off to you, Rachel, for being so generous with your time and talent!

Mount Vernon Middle School students Kyli, Cale, and Kristen deliver donations to Jan Clarke, Communications Director of the Cedar Valley Humane Society. (Not pictured: Sarah)

A small-but-mighty group of Mount Vernon Middle School students collected donations for the Cedar Valley Humane Society. Not only did Kyli, Cale, Kristen, and Sarah go around town collecting items like blankets, food, treats, collars, and toys, they held a challenge between classrooms at school. The winning classroom got an ice cream party! In addition to the donated goods, the students raised more than $400 to help homeless animals in our care. Way to go!

Julie Hiemstra of Alliance Claims Solutions (left) presents donation to Jan Clarke, Communications Director of the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

Alliance Claims Solutions held a couple of fundraisers this summer to raise money to donate to the Cedar Valley Humane Society! Employees paid to wear jeans the entire month of June, plus they held a cookout. All this brought in $900 to help purchase food and medicine for the homeless animals in our care. Thanks, Alliance Claims Solutions!

Her favorite game/toy is her mouse that squeaks and her cat charmer. She repeatedly “captures” the mouse and leaves it in front of our door on the rug and sits next to it waiting for us to tell her what a “good kitty” she is! She also sits in her own chair at the table during dinner and sits pretty patiently. She also cries when the kids stop playing or no one is looking at or talking to her. We LOVE her and we want to thank you so much for taking care of her until she came “home.” Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Love,
Cassie M. and family

Jack is a stray who came into our care at the beginning of September. He is a calm, watchful dog whose temperament more closely matches a Shepherd’s than a Lab’s. Jack seems to think about things before he does them, trying to make the right choice! (If only people were more like Jack!) This sweet boy still has plenty of play in him, so stop in and meet him today.

Breed Note: Many of these pets are mixes. In these cases, the breed listed is the one that best matches their looks and personality. Also, some of the pets presumed to be mixes may be purebred.

Tanner is a very shy boy who wants nothing more than to be your lap dog! It takes a little while for this sweet kiddo to warm up to you, but when he does–look out!–he LOVES to give doggie kisses! He gets along well with other dogs, so if you’re looking for a companion for your canine, Tanner might be a good choice. Tanner came to us as a stray in mid-August.

Breed Note: Many of these pets are mixes. In these cases, the breed listed is the one that best matches their looks and personality. Also, some of the pets presumed to be mixes may be purebred.

Karma (aka Toffee) came to us as a stray in mid-August. She is a very sweet girl with a cute little underbite. Karma is a very playful pup who can get a little rough at times, but she seems to be good with children. She is currently learning some manners from our volunteer certified trainer, but you should plan to continue her obedience training because she is a very muscular girl with a strong chase instinct! Stop in and watch Karma wiggle with happy excitement at the sight of you! She’s got a lot of love to give!

Breed Note: Many of these pets are mixes. In these cases, the breed listed is the one that best matches their looks and personality. Also, some of the pets presumed to be mixes may be purebred.

When five-week-old Chloe, a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix, arrived at the Cedar Valley Humane Society, we agreed to foster her until she was old enough to be put up for adoption. One day was all it took for this adorable little bundle to capture our hearts and insert herself into our lives. Her name is now Dazie. We renamed her after just one day, as we knew she would have to be part of our lives from then on. The day she turned eight weeks old we signed the adoption papers and made her a part of our family. She is the center of our world. Our children are all grown, and she was EXACTLY what we needed. My husband, Tracy, is obviously her “person,” but Dazie is more than willing to spend time with Momma, too.

We now host puppy parties and everyone has a good time, puppies and people alike. The puppies (and older dogs too) keep everyone in stitches with their antics!

Dazie is definitely a perfect fit for our family, and we are so grateful that we were lucky enough to have her come into our lives. We could NOT love her more!

Deb L.

If there is one thing I would recommend to potential adoptive parents it would be to research the breed. We did so and knew exactly what to expect with the JRT, and Jill did not disappoint in any of those areas. She truly is a 150-pound dog in an 11-pound body!!!!

This puppy has been, and will continue to be, everything we could possibly want in a companion. She is smart and adorable, and in the words of our vet, she has a really BIG personality!

I know there were several prospective adoptees for this puppy, and we were lucky enough to get her. But I really think that the Cedar Valley Humane Society did a good job of understanding that we happened to live in a perfect environment for this type of dog, we were at the right place in our lives (my husband had recently retired and could commit the kind of time to this dog that was needed), and we had done extensive research and knew this was the breed we were committed to adopting/buying anyway.

Jill could not have fulfilled all of our expectations any better. She is absolutely WONDERFUL!!!! Thanks so much for your attention to adopting those pets!

Jim & Cindy G.

Jovie came in as a stray in early August. He is a very happy boy who just LOVES to play! Be prepared to give him plenty of attention and exercise. (He IS a Lab mix, after all!) Jovie will need a yard with a tall fence, because he does tend to climb. Stop in and meet this fun-loving kiddo today!

Breed Note: Many of these pets are mixes. In these cases, the breed listed is the one that best matches their looks and personality. Also, some of the pets presumed to be mixes may be purebred.