Susan Daffron talks to Lori Wend from the Shelter to Home rescue in Canton, Michigan about a 2-year old brown tabby named Mimi who has been in foster care for awhile now and needs a new home. Mimi is a domestic shorthair cat with tabby markings and a cinnamon-colored tummy. She has striking green eyes and white fur on her mouth and chin. Like most cats, she likes being brushed, catnip treats, and dinner time. Mimi was pulled from the local pound after her owner dropped her off. When she arrived at Shelter to Home, Mimi was pregnant. She raised her own kittens and then acted as a foster mom for other homeless kittens as well.

All of her babies have now been adopted into permanent homes, so it's Mimi's turn to find her own forever home. Mimi is one of those cats who likes to supervise what's going on and be near you. Although she's not much of a lap cat, she's the type of social, friendly cat who will greet you when you come home and not-too-subtlely let you know when it's feeding time. Although she gets along with kids, Mimi likes being in a quiet environment and would do best in a home without small children. Mimi loves affection and being the center of attention; she'd make a great companion for someone who lives alone or an older couple.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Judy Price from Atlanta Pet Rescue about a three-year old Beagle-Pekingese mix named Dakota who is available for adoption. Atlanta Pet Rescue is a no-kill animal shelter in Georgia that often takes in animals from other shelters and animal control facilities.. Dakota came from a rural facility where her odds of being adopted were low, mostly because her back legs have badly formed knees, so she doesn't walk normally. It is a genetic defect, which will be repaired by a local vet. Because dogs need three legs to move around, Dakota needs two knee surgeries to fix the problem. Dakota has already had her first knee surgery and is doing well. Each surgery requires six weeks of rest so Dakota will be ready to be adopted to her forever home around the fourth of July (Dakota's Independence Day!).

At only 10 pounds, Dakota is a tiny, adorable dog with a pretty golden coat. She gets along with cats (even ones that are larger than she is). Because she was probably kept outside for most of her life, Dakota is somewhat shy around people, but she loves attention and will sit in your lap for as long as you let her. Her new owner will need to have a fenced yard and be extra careful with Dakota to make sure she isn't dropped accidentally. So a new home without small children would be ideal. Because of her special needs and size, Dakota doesn't require a tremendous amount of exercise, so if you are a die-hard couch potato this may be the perfect sweet little dog for you.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Mike Rueb, the Trainer and Enrichment Coordinator at Bideawee in New York about a dog named Spanky. Bideawee (pronounced Bye-Dah-Wee) is Scottish for "Stay Awhile." Founded in 1903, Bideawee is one of the oldest animal welfare organizations in the country. Spanky is a Rhodesian Ridgeback/German Shepherd mix who originally was adopted from Bideawee years ago. Bideawee works with the Town of Hempstead shelter, where Spanky was dropped off by his previous owners, so this is actually the second time Spanky has been rescued by Bideawee.

Spanky has had a bit of upheaval in his life lately, but he's readjusting and is ready to go to a new home of his own. At about 5 years old, Spanky is in the prime of his life. He's got a sweet personality and an adorable slightly crooked smile. Because he is a good-sized athletic dog, he would do best in a home where his owner is willing to take him out for walks. Because he's well beyond puppyhood and adolescence, after exercising he's perfectly content to curl up at your feet and snooze. Spanky is just a great all-around dog, who deserves a second (or even third!) chance.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Trisha Wooldridge from the Bay State Equine Rescue in Massachusetts about a horse named Bay State Breeze who is available for adoption. Breeze is a year old and was rescued as a foal along with her mother and father from an extremely neglectful situation where she was confined in an small area that wasn't cleaned. However with all the tender loving care and attention she has received at Bay State Equine Rescue, she is blossoming into a gorgeous young horse. Initially, she was afraid of people, but Breeze has learned to trust again. As you can see from the photo, she is a beautiful bay color.

According to Trisha, as Breeze gets older, she is also developing great appaloosa spots along her rump so she's going to have striking markings when she reaches maturity. Because Breeze is a yearling, she needs a new owner who understands that young horses need leadership. Breeze has a tremendous amount of potential, and her new owner will need to be firm yet patient to give Breeze the training she needs.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Lindsay Hood, the Communications Officer at the North County Humane Society & SPCA in Oceanside, California about a cat named Livi who is available for adoption. Livi was given up to the Humane Society by her owners after they had children. Unfortunately, this situation is not uncommon, and now Livi needs a new adult-only home. It's likely that Livi was particularly bonded to her former mom because she really loves women in particular.

She has an incredibly loud "purr motor" which gets into gear whenever she is around women. Because Livi has had all four paws declawed, she needs to go to a home where she will never be allowed outside. She has no bad habits to speak of and loves to play with fishing pole-type kitty toys. As you can see from the photo, she is an exceptionally beautiful long-haired cat with tabby markings and gorgeous eyes. Livi is only two years old, and she'll make a fantastic companion for a loving "cat lady" for many years to come.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Carol Verigin from Divine Pet Connections about a cat named Sapphire who is available for adoption. Divine Pet Connections is a rescue based in Redding California that serves the Shasta county area. Sapphire is a absolutely gorgeous pure white Turkish Angora cat. She has medium-length hair and the most amazing blue eyes you'll ever see (hence her name).

She was found as a stray and her kittens have now all been adopted, so now she's healthy and ready for a new home. Probably because of her difficult past, she is still quite independent, but she has blossomed into an extremely affectionate cat. She has a regal bearing and loves to sit on a high perch and be "queen of all she surveys." Sapphire would do best in a household without kids where she is the only cat and can receive all the loves she deserves.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Donna Wilhite of the RatzenMauzers RMCA Las Vegas domesticated rat and mouse rescue about a seal point Siamese rat named Wrigley. He is a one-year old rat who is off-white with brown "points" on his nose and ears. Wrigley came into rescue from a family that had dogs. One of the dogs attacked him and although Wrigley was not seriously harmed, he was extremely scared when he arrived at RatzenMauzers.

However, after spending time in rescue he's no longer afraid of humans. Wrigley has learned to trust people again, and is incredibly affectionate. In fact, Donna has even taught him a few tricks and to use a litter box. Wrigley would do best in a home without other animals or small children. Because he absolutely adores attention, his new owner should be prepared to give him lots of the love he craves.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Laura McKelvey about a dog named Garland who is available for adoption from PAWS Atlanta, a no-kill shelter located in Decatur, Georgia. Garland is a 2-3 year old female plot-hound mix with a black and brown brindle coat. She has been spayed, microchipped, and is up-to-date on her vaccinations. Plus, her future owner receives one month free ShelterCare veterinary insurance. In December of 2007, Garland was found tied to a gate at PAWS Atlanta, and she has now spent two holiday seasons at the shelter. She is a sweet girl, who is a little shy when she first meets people, but after a few minutes she rolls over on her back asking for a belly rub.

Because she's been at the shelter for a while and is so sweet, Garland spends a lot of time hanging out at the front desk as the unofficial PAWS mascot. Garland would do best in a home where she is a big part of the family and gets to spend a lot of time around people. After spending so much time at the shelter, Garland will benefit from a stable environment with someone she can trust. Ideally, her new owner would be able to spend time with her in confidence-building activities like obedience training or agility. Because she is a little shy, young kids may scare Garland, so she would do best in a family without kids or one with older kids.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Carrie Harrington from the Marin Humane Society about a dog named Rocky who is available for adoption. Rocky is an 8-year old smooth collie mix who just loves people -- all people, even little kids. It's difficult to find a dog nicer than Rocky. Although he is friendly and playful, he also is happy to settle down at your feet or next to you on the sofa for some quality snooze time. Carrie calls Rocky, "a big goofball" who just loves to play with his toys.

Plus, he's even had some obedience training and knows how to "sit" and "down" on command. Because he is an energetic 55-pound dog, he will need regular exercise. Rocky is an extremely striking dog, partly because he has handsome tan and white markings, but also because he has one brown eye and one blue eye. Even though his eyes are different colors, he doesn't have any vision or hearing problems. In fact, the folks at the Marin Humane Society did a full vet exam on him complete with blood work and he's just a healthy happy dog that would be ideal for an active family that can give him the love he deserves.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Angie Platten from the Prince William SPCA in Virginia about a cat named Mia who is available for adoption. Recently, the Prince William SPCA teamed up with the Prince William County Animal Shelter for a "Home for the Holidays" pet adoption campaign. From Thanksgiving through New Years Eve, 204 pets were adopted (94 cats and 110 dogs). Unfortunately, a beautiful cat named Mia wasn't one of them, so she is still looking for a home. Mia was dropped off because her previous owners had a new baby. The baby's constant crying was stressful for Mia, who stopped using her litter box. However, since arriving at PWSPCA, she has shown no evidence of stress at all.

In fact, she's been a complete "love bug" and wants to be petted by everyone, even Angie's 7-year old. Mia has gorgeous gray long fur that is extremely soft, which coupled with her loving nature makes her an ideal "lap cat." She adores attention and would enjoy being brushed regularly. Because she doesn't like loud noise (like crying babies), she probably would do better in a home with older kids. Because she's an adult cat, she also doesn't mind being by herself, so she might be a great cat for a professional who has to be away at the office all day, but wants to come home to an affectionate furry friend every evening.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Liz Krupinski from the Mile High Weimaraner Rescue in Colorado about a dog named Toby who is in foster care and available for adoption. MHWR places Weimaraners in homes that are within a four-hour drive of Denver. Toby is a beautiful 5-year old male Wiemaraner who came into rescue from a local area shelter. He is an extremely striking "blue" color, which is like a dark gray slate blue. MHWR didn't get much information about Toby from the shelter, but he was adopted and returned because he wasn't "playful." However, when he came into rescue he had a case of kennel cough, so he undoubtedly wasn't feeling well. (Sick dogs aren't playful.)

Toby has recovered completely from his cough and his personality is starting to bloom. His foster family is still learning about his personality because he's only been in their care for a month, but so far he's turning out to be a total "love bug" who gets along with people and dogs. In fact, he seems to be a completely well-adjusted normal dog without any bad habits. Like all Weimaraners, he will need a family that is willing to take the time to give him both the mental and physical exercise he needs. Weims are very smart, high-energy dogs, so keeping them active is important. Toby is a great example of a wonderful dog who has run into some bad luck and he'd really appreciate getting a home soon.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Sherwin Daryani from Operation Kindness in Texas about a dog named Latte. Operation Kindness was founded in 1976 and is the oldest and largest no-kill shelter in North Texas. Latte came to Operation Kindness after his owners abandoned him. He was left alone when the house he was living in was foreclosed upon. A kindly soul found him and took him to the shelter. Latte is a medium sized Labrador retriever mix with a brindle coat who weighs in at about 40 pounds. As you can see in the photo he has big brown eyes and a happy smile.

His prior home was in a rural area and he seems to get along with pretty much anybody. He loves hanging out with other dogs and would make a great companion for a family that already has a dog. This easygoing guy loves meeting new people and greets them with enthusiastic "kisses." Because he doesn't have striking markings or a flashy coat color, Latte has been somewhat overlooked at the shelter. But as soon as people take him out of his kennel, they find out what a wonderful loving personality he has, even after being abandoned. He will make a wonderful family pet for someone who takes the time to see what a nice dog he really is.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Samantha Westbrook from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter about an American Staffordshire Terrier named Bear. This dog came in as a stray and has been at the shelter since August. He's a pretty boy with a brindle coat and a happy-go-lucky smile. Even though he's been at the shelter for a while, he hasn't lost one bit of his good humor and gets along great with other dogs and people. Bear also just graduated on November 21 from obedience class.

The West LA Animal Shelter works with the k9 Connection program, which pairs at-risk teens with dogs that are available for adoption. The kids train homeless shelter dogs in basic obedience and help the dogs develop the skills to become more adoptable You can even see Bear's graduation photo on the Program Participant page -- check out "Bear 2" at the top of the (he's Bear 2, since another dog named Bear was in the program). Now that Bear has completed his training, he's more than ready for the next phase of his life to begin. If you're looking for a sweet, loving dog that's already had basic obedience training, check out Bear.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Rhona Melsky from Wildhorse Ranch Rescue in Gilbert, Arizona about a horse named Maddy that is available for adoption. Maddy is a gorgeous black quarterhorse who was saved at auction by volunteers from the rescue who outbid a kill buyer. After a bit of research it was determined that Maddy probably was a brood mare who had 9 foals. Unfortunately, at some point she was also abused, so Maddy is fearful of people. She needs an experienced owner who will be able to help her learn to trust again.

At the rescue, some of the expert handlers can get a halter on her and do Parelli games with her in the round pen, but she is not the right horse for someone who does not have experience with difficult or frightened horses. Although Maddy does now come up to people occasionally and nuzzle, for the most part she tends to walk away from humans and requires a sedative to have her hooves trimmed. The fact that Maddy has started to reach out at all shows that with time, love, and patience, the right person can offer this horse a wonderful life that's far better than what she had to go through in her younger days.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Jody Chiquoine from North East Pyr Rescue (NEPR) about two Great Pyrenees named Shady Girl and Grizzly that are available for adoption. Shady Girl is a beautiful spayed female purebred Pyr. Jody says that they are thinking of changing her name to Lady Bug because there is nothing "shady" about this sweetheart. She is only about 2 years old and seems to love everyone (kids, dogs, and even cats). Unfortunately, Shady Girl is a dog who has been affected by the economic downturn. To make ends meet, her previous owners had to get multiple jobs and didn't feel like they could spend enough time with Shady Girl because they were too busy working. So they brought Shady Girl to NEPR and asked them to find her a new home.

Grizzly is a male senior Pyr whose owners moved and couldn't take him with them. Both he and Shady Girl have absolutely no bad habits to speak of; they are just wonderful dogs who have had some bad luck. Now these dogs need new homes with a forever family. North East Pyr Rescue coordinates with many other Great Pyrenees rescue groups, but only adopts dogs in their local area, which includes New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine. The group screens applicants carefully, does home checks, and makes sure that prospective adopters understand the needs of this particular breed. Because Great Pyrenees are a "giant" dog breed, it's important for prospective adopters to meet the dog first. Great Pyrenees really are big, after all. But so very beautiful and loving too!

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.

Susan Daffron talks to Steve Mitchell who is a fostering a dog named Minnie for the Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Virginia. Minnie is a mixed Doberman (maybe), but is much smaller than a dobie at only 35 pounds. She is an upbeat and loving dog, who loves nothing more than to snuggle up with you after a rousing game of retrieving tennis balls. In fact, Minnie's adoration of tennis balls makes her extremely easy to train because as Steve says, "she'll do almost anything for a tennis ball." Because Minnie is such a smart dog, Steve has already taught her a bunch of commands.

She knows the basics like sit and heel, and even a few fun ones like "high five," dance, and the ultimate challenge: "stay." Steve says she is so good about "stay" now that he can throw the ball and Minnie won't run after it until he gives the release word. (Any dog owner can tell you, that's an impressive feat!) Because Minnie hasn't had much experience around other dogs, she doesn't have the greatest doggie social skills, so it can take her a while to warm up to some dogs. She'd do best with active owners who will enjoy playing with and taking great care of this wonderful dog.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.