A peek inside successful adoption stories.

A Home for Hanky

“When we were looking for a dog to join our home, our adoption counselor suggested we meet Hanky. He was very shy and skittish, so we were told to ignore him at first and let him come to us. It was hard because he was so sweet, but he slowly came over, accepted treats, and let us pet him. Then he sat right on my lap! We all decided it was a sign. He is absolutely part of our family now, and it’s a wonderful feeling knowing his silly, smiling face will be waiting for me at home.” —Jamie Klages

Wiley’s Happy Ending

“When Wiley (formerly Flynn) first arrived at the shelter as a 2-pound, 8-week-old puppy with trauma to his muzzle, I assisted in caring for him. I offered to foster him to help his socialization and instantly fell in love with his quirky personality. Although Wiley had a rough start to life, he doesn’t let that slow him down. He faces everything with a permanent smile and wagging tail.” —Kat Tarnowski

Made for TV

“When I adopted my beautiful blue-eyed Romeow from San Diego Humane Society, he chose me. I went into a room with several cats and before I knew it, he was on my lap with one of the loudest purrs I’d ever heard. When I realized I could use my exposure as a television personality to help find homes for adoptable cats, I simply called to see if I could visit on a regular basis, have my picture taken with two or three cats, and post them on my Facebook page. It seems like such a small thing to help a shelter cat find a loving home, but it’s really a big thing. If I can help, I feel like I’m making a difference, too.” —Pat Brown

SHARE YOUR STORY: If you have an adoption story you’d like to share, email us at casey@sandiegopetsmagazine.com with a photo of your pet for possible inclusion in a future issue.