Tonya Stephens, executive director for Hoof & Paw, the West End’s animal rescue, told the Forum there have been several success stories as of late regarding pet adoptions.
"Pebbles" was spontaneously adopted during the West End Family Christmas. Then, Stephens was busy with the shelter and figured she take the bigger mixed breed dog to the festivities that Brock Benson had organized.
She thought Pebbles was the calmest of the dogs she had at the time and could handle it.
As it turned out, the first couple that saw the dog wanted her, but said they had cats. Stephens assured them that Pebbles got along well with felines.
Pebbles then got a photo with Santa Claus and The Grinch, only the owners of Flying Bear, Virginia Ericson and Nic Badovinac, expressed interest in Pebbles too. Stephens said the couples almost had to arm wrestle over her, but the first couple did indeed get the dog. Stephens is actually taking one of Pebbles’ siblings to meet the Flying Bear owners this week.
"Squish," too, became adopted recently, and thankfully, since the dog was mourning a deceased owner. At 8 years old, Squish became “ecstatic” to go home with someone, a woman who’s rescued from Hoof & Paw before.
Stephens herself took "Cinnamon Twist," after she and her husband lost their old dog, Layla. Their remaining dog, Chance, a boxer, was depressed after losing his canine companion. Stephens said they'd planned to wait, but Chance really needed a friend.
Within a month, Stephens was in Montrose at an adoption event with Cinnamon Twist and her siblings, who’d been at the shelter since they were seven weeks old. All of the siblings were adopted, but she was left. On the way home, Stephens decided Cinnamon Twist was “the one” for her family.
Now called “Missy,” the dog is extremely happy. Chance, at Stephens’ home, wiggled himself into fit when he met Missy.
“He’s in love with her,” Stephens said.
And, there’s "Cutie Pie," a mixed-breed large dog, who was six months old. She went to a great home recently, and Stephens is relieved.
She just worked another adoption event last Friday in Montrose at Chow Down. Then, people got to meet Rosie, a dog who’s been abused. She’d lived a life of being tied up and underfed, something that greatly upsets Stephens.
“Be ready to commit to these animals,” she agreed. “They need to be part of your family, not tied and left alone. Make them a part of your life. Treat them like that. … Would you leave yourself out in the cold? Maybe a big dog with lots of fur wants to be outside, but many don’t. … Bring them in and feed them for pity’s sake. They have feelings and wants — and need some treats too.”
She also took Ellie to Montrose, a Husky mix who’s 12 years old. Ellie tried to charm the crowd there.
Hoof & Paw will have eight Pit Bull puppies available in February. Stephens said they’re all grey in color. They need to get their spay and neuter appointments done, and then they can be adopted.
“They make the best dogs when in a loving environment,” she said. “They’re great dogs.”
Hoof & Paw has a total of eight dogs at the shelter, and eight more are waiting to be surrendered and brought in. There are also 20 cats at the shelter, with another 12 more in foster care that need a forever home.
