If you’ve ever wondered whether time really is relative, just ask Zuzu. She was running out of it at the crowded municipal shelter. Her stray hold was up when Valley Humane Society’s animal care manager noticed her round little tabby face with its cute, pert nose and observant eyes. Once she settled in our adoption center, however, Zuzu took her time…getting adopted, that is! After nearly a year in our facility, Zuzu found her forever home. But before another year had passed, she came back. Extremely stressed in the presence other cats, Zuzu objected when her guardian’s father’s cat joined the household after the gentleman passed away. Once again, time crept for Zuzu. She had plenty of visitors in her kitty condo, but continued to be passed by time and again. As she was approaching another full year at Valley Humane Society, our volunteer programs manager happened to use Zuzu as an example during her volunteer orientation of how animals remain with us until they are adopted. This piqued the interest of Ann, who wanted to see this cat who had been at the facility for so long. It was pretty much love at first sight! In no time at all, Ann filled out adoption paperwork, and Zuzu found her forever home for the second time.

The two have settled in and things are going great! Zuzu is now called Agney; she eats off a china plate and entertains herself birdwatching through the patio door. Life is nice and quiet with no other cats around, and they have all the time in the world to enjoy each other’s company.

Have you recently adopted a cat or dog from Valley Humane? Let us know how things are going! Send your cutest, clearest photos and all those adorable details about life with your new best friend to adoptions@valleyhumane.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your pet’s VHS name (if known).

Sometimes all you need is just a little patience, whether you’re waiting for water to boil, seedlings to sprout, or perhaps the confidence of a shy pup to grow. Darby was scared in the noisy surroundings at the big municipal shelter. Brought to Valley Humane Society, we wondered if the emaciated Dalmatian had ever been struck. With kindness we patiently waited for him to learn that he was safe and loved; that meals were regular, plentiful and free; that gentle hands were the only sort he would experience in our care. Still he resisted. When the Nelson family came to meet Darby, he wouldn’t even go on a walk with them. Then he met Ty. From the very first meeting with his prospective brother, Darby has been “happy to explore and walks very well on leash.”

Still, adopting Darby was a carefully considered decision. “We really appreciated the patience with which you treated us while we made our adoption decision,” the family recently wrote. And once again, that patience paid off for Darby. Adopted by the Nelsons, the shy guy has become confident and skilled, learning to climb stairs and use the dog door. Now named Stanley, he and Ty play together well, sharing toys and frolicking in the house. Afterward he is a big snuggler, turning to his human family members for love and affection. “Stanley is a wonderful addition to our family and we love him very much,” wrote the Nelsons. “We promise to give [him] a very good life.” We say take all the time you need!

Have you recently adopted a cat or dog from Valley Humane? Let us know how things are going! Send your cutest, clearest photos and all those adorable details about life with your new best friend to adoptions@valleyhumane.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your pet’s VHS name (if known).

Tiny Pop was a wide-eyed kitten of just five weeks old when Valley Humane Society received him from a large animal control shelter last September. He had been picked up as a stray, all alone on the streets and not looking so hot. Pop and Corn, another kitten found around the same time, were placed together in foster care, where they spent the Fall gaining weight and confidence, thriving in loving hands. Pop’s inner rebel soon revealed itself beneath the shy bookworm he had first been. After being neutered, he spent just a few days in our adoption center and found his new home shortly after the New Year began. Now named Bowie, he “eats like a champ” and enjoys sleeping in the family bed “even when it sometimes means he’s walking on our heads at 4 am.” He is still a bit of a rebel, cruising the kitchen table and disdaining squirt bottle attempts to curb the habit…but it’s not without a cause. The Verna family is happy with their decision and “enjoying the little rascal very much,” showing just how much Pop and his antics have worked his way into their hearts!

Have you recently adopted a cat or dog from Valley Humane? Let us know how things are going! Send your cutest, clearest photos and all those adorable details about life with your new best friend to adoptions@valleyhumane.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your pet’s VHS name (if known).

The life most dogs and cats lead before coming to Valley Humane Society is usually such a mystery. Flora, picked up as a stray, is no exception. There’s no doubt, however, that the almost four-year-old brindled Dachshund mix is living the life now! Flora was adopted by a family in Plymouth, CA and she is pioneering what it means to be a dog. From “rides” on the Kawasaki and swimming in the pool, to farming and excavation, Flora works hard and plays hard. Her busy schedule of vineyard romps, concerts, doggie dates  and keeping track of the cats has her running in and out all day long, but at night she chows down and settles in for a little TV with the family. (Yes, she sleeps in the bed.) And of course, she finds time for occasional naps in the sun with her pal, Lulu. “We love her,” writes her new family. “She’s calm, cool and collected, as well as sweet and funny!” Flora is clearly quite a character, and we’re thrilled to see this pooch living life to the fullest.

Have you recently adopted a cat or dog from Valley Humane? Let us know how things are going! Send your cutest, clearest photos and all those adorable details about life with your new best friend to adoptions@valleyhumane.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your pet’s VHS name (if known).

It was a frisky Biscuit that went home with the Naone family! The velvety gray three-year-old shorthair must have been ready and waiting; he jumped right into the cat carrier when it was time to go. At home, he came out immediately to cuddle the new family he chose for himself. “We couldn’t be happier with our sweet new family member,” writes mom Suzanne. “He’s rambunctious, loving, and has a great personality.” Biscuit gladly traded his well-used VHS cat tree for the version at the Naone’s house. He loves to perch at the top and spy on the birds and squirrels in the backyard. Come bedtime, he heads to the kid’s rooms for nightly snuggles. And even though Biscuit was rarin’ to go, the Naone family has nothing but nice things to say about their experience at VHS: “It was a pleasure to deal with the staff at VHS,” says Suzzane. “Kitty City was super nice…well done! We look forward to the many wonderful years ahead with our new family member.” That sounds like Biscuit’s plan all along!

Have you recently adopted a cat or dog from Valley Humane? Let us know how things are going! Send your cutest, clearest photos and all those adorable details about life with your new best friend to adoptions@valleyhumane.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your pet’s VHS name (if known).

McGruff’s life before he was picked up by animal control is a mystery. We have no clue how he came to be wandering the streets as a stray, but his condition was criminal! An injured paw, kennel cough, and dirty, matted hair: he was a Lhasa Apso mix disguised as a walking mop! Fortunately McGruff’s trail led him to Valley Humane Society where he was cleaned up and cared for.

When McGruff was discovered by the Telles family, they suspected he’d make the perfect canine companion. A retired couple with a fondness for quick getaways in their motor home, the Telles’ were looking for a pup to partner with. McGruff went home with the pair, where his polite interest in their feline family member and his acceptance of their 5-year-old grandson proved his compatibility. “We are loving having a dog again,” they wrote. “McGruff LOVES to play fetch, and his hair is growing out well. It’s curly!” McGruff has also adjusted well to the traveling life, accompanying the couple on camping trips and other adventures. With such a find ending, we pronounce The Case of the Dog Who Needed a Home to be forever closed!

Have you recently adopted a cat or dog from Valley Humane? Let us know how things are going! Send your cutest, clearest photos and all those adorable details about life with your new best friend to adoptions@valleyhumane.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your pet’s VHS name (if known).

When the Garcia family lost both their longtime kitty companions within a few months of each other, there was no question that they would adopt again right away…nor where they would go to adopt. “We had been long time supporters of VHS, aware of the miracles you work on a daily basis,” writes Karla. Their attention was drawn to Olivia, a young adult calico doing her best to drive everyone away. Olivia wanted to be “the only cat on the planet,” preferring to spend time by herself (outdoors if possible) and rewarded attempted kisses with smackdowns. The Garcias were willing to accommodate all of that, but wondered whether Olivia would be able to travel with them to their second home in the Sierras, as their previous companions had done. As it turns out, that was the perfect life for adventurous Olivia! “She transitioned immediately to the car rides,” writes Karla. At home in the mountains, where the property is completely fenced for her security and safety, Olivia chases “all things that move,” though she’s a bit perturbed the squirrels, who are nearly her size. She plays in the snow, but is more likely found in front of a roaring blaze at the hearth. Once standoffish, Olivia, now named Bichette (French for doe or small deer), snuggles up at movie time and takes over the bed at bedtime…no more paws to the face over kisses. “When something scares her (like deer!), she runs to us for safety, and it’s wonderful and rewarding,” writes Karla. “She is proof that with patience and mutual trust, all animals have so much love to give and joy to bring into our hearts.” And we agree: they all deserve that chance at happiness and love.

Have you recently adopted a cat or dog from Valley Humane? Let us know how things are going! Send your cutest, clearest photos and all those adorable details about life with your new best friend to adoptions@valleyhumane.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your pet’s VHS name (if known).

Buttercup was just a few months old when she arrived at Valley Humane Society. She had run out of time at the crowded municipal shelter where she had been taken as a stray, but the adorable shepherd mix puppy clearly had the better part of her life yet to live. Buttercup was top of the second-chances list that day

Within just a couple of weeks, Buttercup found herself replanted once more! “She is a great fit for our family,” writes her new guardian. “She is energetic, smart and mischievous, and absolutely loves children.” Good thing her new family has a couple of them to love her back! Buttercup has already learned her new name, Zoey, and knows several commands. She is growing like a weed and recently made her first visit to the dog park. Things are so sunny for this sweet pup, her roots are sure to grow deep this time!

Have you recently adopted a cat or dog from Valley Humane? Let us know how things are going! Send your cutest, clearest photos and all those adorable details about life with your new best friend to adoptions@valleyhumane.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your pet’s VHS name (if known).

Day in and day out, the two little brown tabbies jumped and ran and tumbled across the big floor in Valley Humane Society’s Kitty City cat run. Though they looked similar enough to be brothers, Ron and Frit had come from different litters. Left behind long after their littermates were adopted, the amiable kittens had grown enough to integrate into the adult cat habitat, where they became the best of friends.

Then along came the Roster family, who reached out across the Internet to express their desire to adopt a pair of kittens. Their previous cat, Mazie, had been adopted from VHS 17 years earlier. After reviewing staff recommendations online, the whole family came for a visit. They had in mind to bring home two friendly, outgoing young cats, and Ron and Frit fit the bill perfectly.

Now the pair, “our teenage boys,” as Carol calls them provide endless hours of entertainment. “I’m so grateful to the entire team,” writes Carol. “We wanted a friendly, bonded pair for our family, and these two were recommended immediately. We LOVE our boys! We are bursting with joy!” The Rosters decided that Ron “looked like a Ron,” so he kept his name, but Frit has become Schooner, named for Carol’s favorite restaurant in Monterey. The two are happy and playful and are finally real brothers in a forever family.

Have you recently adopted a cat or dog from Valley Humane? Let us know how things are going! Send your cutest, clearest photos and all those adorable details about life with your new best friend to adoptions@valleyhumane.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your pet’s VHS name (if known).