Camden County Animal Shelter

Happy Beginnings

Each year, thousands of cats and dogs are successful in finding homes with families, just like yours! Below are some of the happy beginnings animals from the Camden County Animal Shelter have found.

Interested in helping one of our animals find his or her happy beginning? Check out all of our available cats and dogs, looking for a family just like yours! Want to share your pet's Happy Beginning? Email us or send us a letter!

Send us your happy beginnings today!

Hi! This is an update, as well as a photo of Maddy. I have renamed her Olivia (Livy for short), which doesn’t seem to bother her at all! After her quick acclamation, things have only gotten better. Yesterday when I came home from work she was comfortably lounging on my bed. She is extremely affectionate and follows you around to no end. Last night my sister and two extremely rambunctious nephews visited, and not only did she not hide, she followed them around and played with all of the toys they kept making for her. She woke them up EARLY this morning (lucky me!) by rubbing against their heads. I just can’t believe how sweet and patient she is. Today she has claimed a chair in my living room as her own, and looked at me like I was insane when I suggested she come over and sit on the couch with me! I imagine that chair is where I will find her every day from now on. She I eating well, no litter box problems, and no scratching anything she’s not supposed to. She hasn’t discovered the windowsills yet – the River Line train goes right past my window and she still gets that annoyed look on her face when it goes by. (I don’t even her it anymore, so I know she’ll get used to it soon.) She’s REALLY interested in my jigsaw puzzle that I’ve been trying to finish! She thinks the helpful thing to do is lie ON the puzzle and lick the pieces!!! Thanks again for bringing Livy and I together!! Amy S. story submitted 11/3/07

Hi - I attached some photos of "Shadow" but as we call him "Wylie." I called him that cause my 5 year old didn't have any front teeth and it was hard for her to say her "s" letter plus he reminded me of Wylie Coyote from the road runner. Anyway, he is doing great - he loves his new house and him and his older brother Toby get along great. It is fun to watch them play and chase each other. Toby is always licking Wylie's head and he just falls to the ground and loves it. He is so affectionate and loves to eat. He is all around a great kitten and we are all glad we chose him out of all those others. Thank you and take care. I'll send more in the future. Thanks, Raeann M. story submitted 10/31/07

Hi - My name is Jen and I adopted a dog from CCAS in May 2007. Bailey (formerly Willie) has come a very long way in only 5 ½ months. As you can see in the attached pictures, Bailey was underweight and missing patches of hair. He constantly nibbled on his own skin and hair, he was terrified of being left alone and he seemed to be un-socialized with humans. However, now he is a wonderful, healthy, and loving guy. It took a lot of food (he gained 25 pounds in 4 months!), training and TLC but Bailey is doing great and we wanted to share that with you. Thank you for taking him in and starting off his road to recovery! Sincerely, Jen, Jon, and Bailey story submitted 10/17/07

Hello everyone! I just wanted to give you an update about Jasmine, who we have renamed Kaia (which she picked up within an hour). She is absolutely wonderful! I can not even believe how much she has progressed in just a few days! She walks wonderfully on a leash (never in front of me, always in line or behind), she even sits as soon as she sees the leash. I brought her to dinner where she could be outside with me and she was amazing. In just a day, she is crate trained. I can put her in her crate, leave for an hour or so and I come home to a dog who is relaxed and just happy to see me. I can also put her in her crate and be in the next room and there's not even a peep from her. She's amazing in the car...actually, she loves it! I just can't believe how brave she is and was during this transition. There wasn't a single moment where I felt like she was nervous or scared or even in an unfamiliar place. She acts like she's been here all of her life. I'm so happy to have such a wonderful dog who is everything I could have ever wished for and more! She's so smart! The best part is that she LOVES to cuddle! Kaia is a true dream come true! Thank you so much! We couldn't be happier... Love, Crystal and Kaia story submitted 10/21/07

Dear Everyone at CCAS: I just want to let you know how nicely Cora's settled into her new home (and her new garden!). She's a wonderful dog and a fast learner. She's also a great jogging companion and loves to follow us all over the place (when she's not lounging on "her" couch). I'm so happy I found her and I wanted to thank you all for taking such good care of her when she was with you and for listing her on Petfinder.com...she really is a gem! Thanks, Marcy story submitted 10/17/07

Rascal was brought to our shelter as a stray cat in August. We fell in love with his sweet nature and his adorable bobtail. However, the longer Rascal spent in a cage, the more depressed he got. Soon we realized that Rascal was much too stressed out in a cage to show his true personality to adopters. Rascal went into foster care with a caring Petsmart employee and adoption center volunteer who fell in love with him. She reported that once in a home and out of a cage, his personality immediately returned to normal, and that he loved to snuggle and play. After just a few weeks in foster care, Rascal was adopted by Tom, who was looking for a laid-back, affectionate cat. When he heard Roe's description of Rascal, he immediately wanted to meet him. The rest is history, and now Rascal is living the good life in a home once again. Our fostering program does wonders for cats like Rascal who don't do well in a cage. Please give them a second chance! Pictured L-R: Roe (Rascal's foster), Rascal, and Tom (Rascal's adopter)

Hi everyone! It's me, Maynard! My mom told me that I'd better let all the nice people at the shelter know how I'm doing since they took care of me and helped me find such a great forever home! What a life I've had so far. Someone found me on the streets and took me to the shelter. I got adopted, but I didn't like that home at all! They kept me in a crate almost all day, and didn't pay any attention to me. Then they said that they had to get rid of me because I was doing all sorts of bad things. I was only trying to tell them that I wanted them to pay more attention to me. Luckily the lady they spoke to didn't believe them and took me. She told me that she was going to make sure I went to my forever home this time. First I went into a thing called foster care. Foster care is great! I had other dogs to play with and lots of people to love me! I had so much fun. Then one day some nice people came to visit me. They were overtaken by my charm and good looks, as well as the cute little dance I did to entice them, and they were hooked on me (hey, who can blame them?) They did some stuff called "foster paperwork" and took me home. I really liked this new foster home! They had four furry meowing things for me to play with! They introduced me to the meowing things very slowly, but I tried to show them how nice and gentle I would be. They said they were so happy that I was good with the meowing things. After awhile in this new foster home, I got the sense that I wasn't going anywhere. My foster mom and dad kept saying how much they liked me and how good I was. So they went to the shelter and when they came back, they told me that I was staying with them forever! They had adopted me! My parents say I'm such a good boy. I am crate-trained and absolutely wonderful about going in my crate. When they got me I was not potty-trained, but they said I learned quickly. I love the four meowy things - the grey and white one in my picture is my pal Lucy! My parents also foster kittens, and I love the foster kittens! If you can't adopt a great dog like me, you should think about fostering one, because fostering is good stuff. Every dog needs the chance that I got! Sending lots of licks, Maynard story submitted 10/14/07 by Maynard as dictated to his foster mom

Dear Everyone at CCAS: Here are some current pictures of Skye, whom I've had for just over a year. She's wonderful, a joy and doing fine. She is very happy and loves everyone and everything! Thanks again for this priceless gift, Stuart story submitted 9/26/07

Hello! Someone called our home regarding our adoption of Babs, so I figured I would send a email with a picture of our little girl so you can remember her beautiful smile. To update all of you on her: We have decided that she looked more like a Lucy which she seems to listen to very well much to our suprise. We also took her to the vet the day after we adopted her and he said she looks great. Lucy has transitioned REALLY well around here. She is so adored, and she seems to have fallen equally in love with us. She is always following one of the kids around, or in a lap of anyone who sits down near her. She has even adapted to our training. From the very first night she slept in her crate without any issues at all. She sleeps all night long. She loves playing out back with our kids. I spend a good deal of time out there with her in the morning having tea while she romps around chasing things that float past her in the breeze (lots of falling leaves right now). We took her out to a few family events, as well as shopping and WOW is she a crowd pleaser. You can't be in a grumpy mood and look at this little girl's smile. She just brings a smile to everyones face. We are so thankful for all of you there and for the work you do and we thank you so much for allowing us to adopt Lucy. She has already become a large part of our lives. Peace, Dawn and Bob along with our little ones Sage, Jemma and Zane story submitted 9/10/07

Hello, Here are some pictures of Bentley, now named Bubba. He is so fun and we love him like crazy! It's like he has always been a part of our family. He made a new friend this weekend, my friend's Jack Russell, and they are a trip together! We are so proud to be a part of Bubba's world. Thank you for picking us as his new family! Thanks, The Pinizzottos story submitted 9/10/07

Hi All, Just letting you know that Bello, the quiet Staffie mix that crept into everyone's hearts, is happy and healthy and loving his new life in Drexel Hill, PA. Since January 2007, he has become such a wonderful part of my life and it is a match made in heaven. When he first came home, things were a bit sketchy, but he is now a full-on house dog...no more crate, no more peeing...and we live in almost perfect harmony! He is a stubborn thing, for sure, but all in all, most of our days together are good ones. The vet has put him on anti-anxiety meds for the separation anxiety, and he's been a good patient. He now grandly strolls the neighborhood on a leash, when at first, he wouldn't leave the front doorstep. He is my best buddy and I can't imagine what my life would be like without him. I still cannot believe that someone would've abandoned such a gentle soul of a dog...but now he's all mine! I have attached a picture so you can see how awesome he really is! Thanks again for all of your support in the early months of adopting Bello - he's a keeper for sure!! You should all be so proud of your dedication and hard work keeping these animals off the streets and getting them into loving homes. Take care, Janine story submitted 9/16/07

My family and I can't tell you enough how much we already love our little Dixie! She is adjusting very well to us and is the best dog in the world! We promise to take very good care of her and are so happy that we were lucky enough to find her! Thank you, The D'Angelo Family story submitted 9/16/07

As promised, here are a few photos of Jada and Jessie that I thought you'd enjoy. They are quite a pair and we just love them. Jada is smart and she understands so much. We've had her a little over two months and she has settled in so nicely. She and Jessie are inseparable most of the time. She loves long walks and playing outside. She is such a sweet girl and so happy. She loves hugs and kisses, too! Thanks again for all that you do, Violet story submitted 9/9/07

Annie Rose is five months old and has been living with us for the past two months. I went into Petsmart to buy cat litter, and I happened to walk past the adoption area, and that was it - her little face just called out to me. I knew that she was meant to come with me and be a member of our family. Annie has three brothers: George, Shane, and Jonah. I was a little apprehensive about bringing her home, since my boys do not like change, but no worries, she definitely established herself as the queen of the household in no time. It took a few weeks, but now her brothers love her as much as I do. I did forget to buy cat litter that day. There are many wonderful kittens like Annie Rose at the Camden County Animal Shelter that need homes. Please adopt one of them. You will be in for a world of love. Sincerely, Annie Rose's Mom story submitted 10/9/07

Hi, I just wanted to share my happy beginning story with the Camden County Shelter family. Recently, my boyfriend and I adopted Sienna (formerly known as Thursday). We wanted to let you that we couldn't have adopted a better dog. She is not only sweet and affectionate, but also full of love and kisses. Some of her favorite things include her red squeaky toy (she carries it everywhere), sitting on our laps and sleeping with her head on my pillow. Sienna has filled our home with joy and laughter, with her loving personality and always smiling face. Thank you so much for blessing our lives with this beautiful dog. I've also attached pictures of our little girl. Thanks again, Sally Macaluso story submitted 8/15/07

Hi All! Just wanted to check in and say hi and to let you know that Brandi is doing fine. She is no longer underweight – loves to cuddle – just adores us and she loves to follow us around (all the time.) She does not like when you get out of her sight – she comes running!! Her favorite trick is “playing dead when we tell her its time for bed” – that means she has to get off our bed and into hers!!! She is a very smart doggie! Thanks again, Christine, Jim, Brandi & Steven story submitted 10/3/07

Hello, everyone at the Shelter! It is me, Diana! I just wanted to write to let you all know how I am doing. I just LOVE my new home and family. I have a kitty sister Moo and two doggie sisters Willow and Molly. I am kinda scared of Molly, thought because she is always chasing me, but Willow is ok. I also have a doggie brother Pluto (who also came from Camden County Animal Shelter). I have a couple of nicknames: Diana Banana, Silly Banana, Banana or Nanners. I also LOVE the computer (especially YouTube, my favorite video is the Mean Kitty Song. I love looking for the kitty in the video!) Did I tell you that I even have my own webpage???? I am on a website called Catster and I have made a lot of friends there. At bedtime, Mommy takes turns sharing the bed with me and Moo_ I get one night, Moo gets the next. Moo loves to snuggle up, get warm and sleep. I just like to explore, explore, explore! As a matter of fact, my favorite place to curl up and hide is in the armoire behind the T.V., even though Mom says it is a "No-No"! I also have lots and lots of windows to look out and I even take walks with Mommy around the yard on my new harness. Mommy is enclosing some pictures of me with this e-mail, I hope you like them. Anyway, thank you for taking such good care of me until my family came along. I will write again soon after I have some new adventures! Love and Purrs, Diana story submitted 9/18/07

Well, its been over a week now, cubby has settled in nicely. He never had an accident. And just loves everyone who comes to see him. Now more of his personality is coming out. We have taken lot of pics and as soon as I get a nice one I will forward to you. Wow what a great dog, you guys really called this one right. He is all that you described. And thanks again for choosing us to adopt. I had been looking on petfinder for months and had many highs and lows with some nuts I met up with. Some passed us by for what ever their reasons, even my vet couldn't figure it but must have been ment for us to get cubby. Thanks again, The Woortman Family story submitted 6/25/07

Below is a note I sent you on 5/1/07 right after I adopted Jeremy, I renamed him Jackie. Hello, This past April 15th I adopted a cat from the new Pet Smart in Sicklerville. I was in the store on Friday the 13th and on a whim I filled out an application for this beautiful little orange (more of a cream color) cat named Jeremy. He looked so shy and needy when his eyes looked into mine and I was hooked. Actually, I didn't need another animal, I already had two dogs ( a Greyhound and a Poodle) and two cats. One of my cats was an old man (17 years) and the other was an adopted older cat too (she's 8). So after filling out the application, I started having second thoughts about taking in another cat, but I got a call the next day informing me I had been approved. After giving it some more thought, I picked him up on Sunday and brought him home. As it turned out, he was he definitely wasn't shy and needy....he's playful and very ornery....trying to become the head honcho around here. We renamed him Jackie and he's settling into his new home. On Saturday, I had to take my old cat to the vet, he hadn't been looking well for a couple of weeks. Yesterday we had to put him down, he was in extreme kidney failure. My heart is broken, I had Tommy for 17 years and I loved him so very much, losing him one of the hardest things I ever had to go through and I'm 62 years old. Maybe getting Jackie was a blessing in disguise, I put the application in on a whim and was very hesitant about adopting him, however I think things have a way of working them selves out. Jackie is definitely my cat, he loves me and seems to take to me more than any of the other family members. He's helping through the grieving I'm going through with the loss of Tommy....although Jackie doesn't know it, but his craziness is bringing me joy. I wanted to let you know how well he's doing, what an ornery little devil he is and how much comfort and joy he has brought me in just the two weeks I've had him. Attached is a picture of him, he's a happy little fella and he has made himself quite at home. Thanks for giving the opportunity to adopt him. Madeline D Fred is the best thing that's come into Jackie's life....they're best buds. Nothing will ever take my beloved Tommy's place, but these two are coming real close....they're a joy be watch and be around. Thanks again for giving me the opportunity to adopt Jackie. As these last couple of months have passed by, Jackie has taken a particular fondness to my son. But we all love them both very much. Aren't they the cutest???? What a pleasure these creatures called cats are....can't imagine my life without a cat in it. The best to you all of you and keep up the good work you all do. Madeline D. story submitted 6/22/07

Boogie is about 6 months old now. We are so proud of her. She loves people and kids. Shes great with other dogs. NO agression toward anything.. She loves to run along side the bike every night and now she is enjoying her new pool and sun bathing. Instead of playing dead, she faints..lol inclosed is a pic of it. Now that she is older and dont have to kennel up at night..she loves to get up in the middle of the night and snack with Dad. We are enjoying her so much. Thanks Doreen for doing such a great job. She has a great home and is loved by everyone. Jim and Lois story submitted 6/11/07

Hello everyone! I hope all is well! To remind you who I am. My name is Beth, and I adopted Ceasar, the enormous yellow Labrador about 8 1/2 years ago. Ceasar was the love of my life, and a wonderful friend. 5 years ago, we moved to a beautiful house at the beach, and Ceasar spent many days chasing the sea gulls into the waves! We gave him a baby (human) brother and then a baby (human) sister, whom he adored! and they adore him! even at his old age, he would lay on the floor while they climbed Mount Ceasar! I swear my daughter will be a dentist! Ceasar would let her inspect every corner of his mouth.. all without uttering a word. he was our "old man", and a dear member of the family. I am very very sad to say, that on Sunday, Ceasar died! we are all terribly heart broken. He went into kidney failure, and our vet helped him and us say a very sad goodbye, where my son assures me, our old lab tasha, our cat sammy and grandpa are waiting for him in heaven! what a kid! I am grateful to you and your staff for the wonderful friend! we had a long time together, and he will be in our hearts forever. I fell in love with a great older dog, and he was a wonderful addition to our family. He lived to the ripe old age of 16! Im glad I took the "chance" with him! I was looking for a pup! and if it wasn't for your site, and Pet finder, we Never would hve met. thanks again for such a dear friend. Sincerely, Beth H. story submitted 5/30/07

Hello everyone, I know someone called tonight and we missed the call but just wanted you all to knw Champ (Salt) is doing awesome. He gets along with our other dog great and the kids too. His vet appointment is June 7th. attached is a picture of him after his first day at home. Thank You All so much! The Kolp Family story submitted 5/29/07

This Happy Story was forwarded to us from the rescue that saved Rosetta before she found her forever home. It took Rosie a few hours to stop panting. She was very nervous at first but has settled down nicely. She is very well behaved and responds nicely to sit, stay and down. She is wonderful with Nicholas and as you can see from the pictures Nick is ecstatic. He even gave her his dinosaur as a gift when we got her home. Nick can come and ago without phasing her. Me however she follows from room to room. I tried to sneak and tip toe so I don't wake her but she hears me. She is absolutely wonderful. Thank you for rescuing her and giving her the opportunity to find a family. We are so happy to have her in our lives. I will send updates every now and again. Tell the girls in Camden she seems very happy. She really likes the very loud squeaky ball :-) Thank you again, Kim D. story submitted 5/25/07

To all at the shelter, We just wanted to say thank you. Since our last boxer passed in January we have had an empty space in our hearts that we couldn’t fill. We brought Clay (now Bosco) home yesterday and he adjusted to our home immediately. He is such a sweet heart. In a few months when he has grown up a bit we’ll send you some more pictures with an update. Thank you for helping to make our house feel like a home again, The Marshalls story submitted 5/17/07

We just wanted to drop a line and let everyone know how perfect Anika fit into our home. Shortly after we brought Anika home our kids re-named her Maxie. She is a wonderful dog, she knows all of her basic commands and has not had any accidents in our home. She is very calm near our children and walks great on a leash. We have three acres and she stays on our property without any concern. Maxie walks around the property like she has been here forever and loves to lay in the sun. Maxie sleeps in her crate at night and when no one is home. She is such a great dog no one believes that we got her from a shelter. My wife was very hesitant about a dog from the shelter especially a Pit Bull. She is very comfortable with Maxie and can't believe how great Maxie is with the kids. Thank you, Jay, Robin, Andrew and Zachary story submitted 5/15/07

Hey there! In March, I adopted Cooper from your shelter. One of your staff asked me to send pictures, and I've since lost their e-mail address, but I thought I'd send you some pictures anyway. :-) Cooper is getting along wonderfully with his new brother Good Dog Carl, and is the love of my life. He is such a total sweetheart, well-manned, obedient, and soooo willing to please. He is the biggest mush ever. I can't say how happy I am to have brought him home. I'm considering getting him into agility classes, because he'd have such a blast doing it, and I'm thinking about having him certified as a therapy dog because he loves people so very much. So here are a few pictures, and thanks! Jesse story submitted 5/12/07

Dear Camden County Animal Shelter, I'd just like to take the time to tell you thank you so much for our new pet! His name was "Flag" the spaniel who came in the end of February with his brother. He had been abused when we got him and he was very scared at first. But now the scars have healed beautifully and he's starting to get used to his new home. His new name is Toby, or we call him Toab for short. He is still a little frightened at men who speak loud, but its getting better. We had some issuses when we first got him because he would pee all over, especially when he was scared. But now he doesn't pee inside unless it's an accident. It's hard to imagine why somebody would put those horrible scars on sucha cute face. He has a very nice personality, he's soo friendly and ALWAYS happy, ready to play. Sometimes we think he's still a little puppy, he's sooo energetic. Toby and our other dog, Bailey are just like brothers. They do everyting together..even get into trouble! They can both be stubborn at times, but we love them anyway! I am including a few photos from when we first got him untill now. I hope you enjoy them and keep up the good work! We're soo happy we saved a dog's life. Sincerely, The Russo Family and Toby story submitted 5/8/07

We adopted David from your shelter in January 2007. He had a few minor health issues, but now that he is back on track he now weighs 100 LBS!!! As you can see David just loves his new sister and she loves him. He loves to play with his cuddle buddies and is always up to having someone play with him. He even hugs them at night in front of the warm fireplace. Spoiled!! He loves his walks, car rides, we have to run out of the house or he'll try to go too, and of course loves to eat! He's nothing more than a couch potato really. He's loved everywhere he goes, people just walk up to him because he is such a cutie. We are so happy to have found him, he's such a sweet dog that I couldn't imagine who would have given up this little cuddle buddy. We couldn't have asked for better friend for our little girl, she just adores him, and he allows it. Thank you so much for all that you have done for David and all the other animals at the shelter. story submitted 4/16/07

Red and Louie were adopted from the Shelter in August and September '06. Their family loves them and they are the best of friends! story submitted 4/11/07

We just wanted to forward you some photos of Kaiser whom we adopted in late August. He will be six months old in another week, is a healthy 28 lbs, and has a wonderful demeanor. We couldn't have found a better dog! He loves his long walks, we attend Puppy Classes weekly ( he is SO smart!) and he gets plenty of loving from us all! Thank you for helping bring him into our family! Happy holidays! The Casavant Family story submitted 12/18/06

Hi Everyone, My name is "Mr." Wiggles, formerly Wiggles. Many of you didn't get to see much of me because I was hit by a car and left to die on the road. I was brought into the shelter by some men that picked me up. I don't remember much about that but I do remember that some really nice lady at the shelter sent me to a doctor with another nice lady who took me home with her. She took me to the doctors a few times and helped me heal and then I went with another nice man and lady for a few days (they even got me groomed to go to my new parents - I said thank you but I'm not quite sure they understood me). And then, I traveled far away to my "forever" home. Now I'm a "southern" dog - all the way down here in Atlanta, Georgia. It's pretty nice here. This is a picture of me with my two new sisters, Angel (the cute little one next to me) and Sweetie Pie (the scared looking one in the corner by Santa's head). She had to have mommy hold her because she is scared of Santa. I don't know why - you see how brave my sister and I were. We really liked Santa. Well, I just wanted to write to say thank you to everyone at the Camden County Animal Shelter who helped me along the way. I am very happy, growing, behaving most of the time, potty trained except for the occasion oops! And getting bigger. My mommy said she didn't know I was going to be this big but she doesn't care. My mom and dad really love me a lot and my new sisters play with me now. We have fun. We go on walks in the park (and they even have a place there where I can run free with the big dogs) and run at the tennis court. I get lots to eat, (the chews and treats are great and I never saw so many toys) and we have a pretty Christmas tree. I also wanted everyone to know that you can save a dog's life and that dog can be very happy instead of sitting in a shelter, lonely and scared (even though the people at the shelter are great, it's no fun). All you have to do is open your heart and let a pup in. I'm one of the lucky ones. So please open your heart and share your life with one of us - we'd forever thank you. Love, "Mr." Wiggles, Atlanta, Georgia story submitted 12/16/06

On September 11th, we adopted Cali (she was named Calliope prior to being a part of our family) after looking at adopting Daisy (another pit bull) who did not pass the cat test while at the Camden County Animal shelter. We were very happy with our experience at CCAS cause they showed genuine concern that the animals find their forever homes and they do their best to find the right homes for the animals in their care and continued to help us after the adoption. They really listened to our situation and needs. Cali has been a challenging but wonderful dog. Cali has been great with the kids and every person she has met since we took her home. She is a sweetheart and her favorite thing to do is sit on our laps even though she is 50lbs! However, when we first brought her home, she was aggressive towards our boxer/pit and cats even though she did fine at the shelter with Nikki and with the cats there. We've had to spend a lot of time getting her to trust the other pets in our house, especially Nikki. It seems that Cali had a lot of fear of other dogs, and that led to her being aggressive toward Nikki. Cali would bark and growl at Nikki. And she would chase our cats every second she could. We contacted the shelter about our situation and with lots of help and encouragement from the volunteers in addition to getting training help, Cali has really come around. She no longer is aggressive toward Nikki. They even snuggle together on the couch and play with each other when we go for walks. She also gets along with our cats very well and if she does get excited around them she listens very quickly to our verbal correction. Cali was very jealous of us paying attention to the other pets, now we no longer have that problem. Now that Cali has been a member of our family for awhile now, she is really fitting in and has adjusted to her role in our pack. She is the sweetest dog ever and just loves to snuggle with us and play with her toys and us! We are very happy with Cali and how everything has turned out. While not without challenges, she has turned out to be a wonderful addition to our family. Christy H. story submitted 12/10/06

Andrew and I brought Tutu and Belle home from the shelter on November 18, 2006, and they have adjusted better than we could ever have hoped...to each other, us, and to their new surroundings. It took them a while to tell us their "real" names. Tutu is now Sailor. He is so chill he just sails through life. Belle is now Beacon. All we see in the pitch black of night is the white top of his tail making its way across the room. Their favorite toys are fuzzy balls and cat dancer but I think they have the most fun chasing each other, before poofing out in their catbeds. Thank you Stephanie, Amy, Michelle, and all of the volunteers at CCAS for these two very precious little gifts. Cricket would have approved! Linda M. story submitted 12/07/06

Hi everybody, I just wanted to let you know that Evee (now Jenny), is doing great. It has been 1 week since we brought her home and she has been fantastic. She did great at the Vet, and was the best behaved dog there. They loved her too. Her and Rex take long walks several times per day and she is doing well following commands and even hand signals. This weekend we will start clicker training. She is an unbelievable appetite for affection and cuddling and fortunately we always have someone around to love her. She still sleeps in her crate at night but she has been so good that we will get her into her own bed in our room next week. We really love her and Rex adores her. I have included some pictures for you..Thanks to all of you for tolerating my repeat visits and finding Jenny for us. Morris E. story submitted 12/06/06

Bailey is doing wonderfully! We love our doggie. Today I bought him reindeer ears and a Christmas stocking. He is so sweet. I wrote a happy beginning for him: My boyfriend and I started out as foster parents, eager to help dogs get adopted. We enjoyed the process so much, helping save lives and learning about what type of dogs we would want. When we were given Sparky to foster, we were immediately taken by how friendly he was! This little boy needed to be constantly hugged and petted. Neither of us believed that he saw so long and patiently for his family to find him! Freddie and I fell in love with Sparky and knew it would be hard to give him up. We adopted him and renamed him Bailey and now he is our friend for life. Freddie has said that his favorite part of the day is coming home and being greeted by an excited Bailey. I love snuggling up with Bailey on the couch. He is like a giant teddy bear and he is always happy. I am so happy that being foster parents allowed us to find a perfect companion to call our own! It just goes to show that you never know what is in store for you! Faith story submitted 11/22/06

Hi, I just wanted to update you on Bruno. He is doing great! All of his hair has come back. He is doing well on his heartworm preventative. He was neutered on Saturday by the Ace of Spays and They did a fabulous job. He is up and about and trying to play with my Boxer, Cider. My cats love him and he loves them. We are working on his food aggression and he is doing much better. He is very energenic for a bulldog and is loving the yard and other animals to play with. Thank you so much for him! Keep up the good work! Angelina B. story submitted 11/15/06

Hi! I adopted a dog from the shelter in May. Her name is Tinkerbell and she is a minature Dachshund. She is the love of my life. She is a great dog aand loves to snuggle and give kisses. The people at the shelter were so nice to me and so good with Tink. I am thankful Tink came into my life and glad I was able to rescue her. Thank you for letting me adopt her. Ida story submitted 09/08/06

Brit is such a sweet dog---she's fit right in here and seems to be very comfortable and content in her new home. She receives so much love and attention I'm a little afraid that we are spoiling her but we all just cherish her so. She is starting to warm up more to me and my oldest son---she still favors my wife and daughter and youngest son though. I know its just a matter of time before she fully trusts us all and knows she is not in any harms way with us at all. She is really making the effort to embrace us all and it is very heart warming indeed. She slept with us in our bedroom, on the floor next to "mommy" of course, but did make the effort to greet me in the morning as she came around the other side of the bed to check me out. We wanted to say thanks again and for all to know that we feel very sincerely that this adoption was the right thing for us to do and thankfully, Brit gets to be in a loving family environment for the rest of her life. Marc G. story submitted 09/04/06

Skye is doing great and is adorable. She needs some training but she's receptive & easy to control. Everyone loves her. A little maturity coupled w/ her smarts will make a wonderful PB because she has every one of the good traits, just like my late Maddy. Really friendly, loves other dogs. A pleasure, a total sweetie, gentle as a kitten, lives to kiss. Non-territorial w/ Moby, the eleven year old non-dominant male I've had for a month. They get along terrifically. Stuart story submitted 09/02/06

This is Dobbie formally known as Tyler so named by the kind people at the Camden County Animal Shelter. After our two other dogs passed on in 1994 I started looking for another dog. In January 2005 I fell in love with his picture on the website but passed by his kennel several times because he barked so much that he seemed mean. I didn't think it was the same dog. I asked about the dog that I had found on the website and sure enough he was the barker in the kennel. When they brought him out to the play yard I fell in love with him. He has turned out to be such a wonderful addition to our family. If you are looking for a new addition to your family please don't pass by the ones that might be a little louder because they are trying a little harder to get your attention because they know how wonderful they are. Jannette B. story submitted 08/29/06

The dog that the shelter came to know as Barksy has now been with me since Sunday afternoon. He has been a pure joy. He loves everyone and everything. Far too many times, I have heard people leaving the shelter saying "It's a shame this shelter doesn't have any good dogs." No good dogs? My first trip down the kennel, I noticed that the majority of the dogs were pits, terriers, and bull mixes. I guess to much of the world, they aren't considered "good dogs". I guess this means that I have adopted a "bad dog", but for the life of me, I can't see how he is bad. He licks everything. He has zero agression. My 20 month old daughter has leaned on him. He has ran around with the bigger kids. Last night he slept quietly by my side and asked very nicely to be let out for a potty break in the morning. I have got him to sit and lay down on command with using treats as reward. He is super smart and eager to learn. I have news for those misinformed people. The shelter has great dogs and I got to take one of the best home. Attached are a couple pics. Sincerely, Mandy T. story submitted 08/29/06

It's been almost exactly one year since we adopted Rowdy from the CCAS. We have been laughing every day since. He loves adventures and teaching people about how wonderful pitbulls can be! He gets along great with our other dogs, cats and other small furries that live here. We truly have a happy beginning! Thank you for caring about pitbulls and other misunderstood breeds. Karen G. story submitted 08/28/06

Please let your staff know that Antonio is now Grayson. He is adjusting to his new home and family very well. I have never met a sweeter cat. He already has two favorite places-one on the top of a couch looking out a wall of windows into our yard (no surprise) and the other under the workbench in the basement! You have to beware if his face is anywhere near yours because he likes to smash into you to rub your nose. Your staff was instrumental in matching this cat to me. I am forever grateful after having the awful experiencing of putting our 17 year old cat to sleep 3 weeks ago and unbelievably having to put our 13 year old cat to sleep 2 weeks later when she went into congestive heart failure. I know that my small donation will be put to good use. Thanks again. Tammy F. story submitted 08/27/06

You probably do not remember me, but I met you on the memorable night that I adopted my adored black male lab from the Camden Country Animal Shelter. You were testing him for aggression, etc. I asked you to judge us as possible "mates," and you thought we were perfect for each other. And so we have been. It has been a memorable two weeks. I took "Topper" to the vet the very next morning for a thorough checkup and heartworm meds, flea meds, and any shots that were not listed on the Shelter's forms. I got him a brand new collar and leash. At first, he would not eat unless I was in the kitchen with him. He would take one bite and then fearfully look around and back up, then another bite and same behavior. So I would turn my back and do dishes or pretend to do dishes (my counters are sparkling!). Now, however, he scarfs up his food like any "normal" lab and I am proud to say that he has become sure enough of himself to drag a dog food can or two out of the recycling bin, like his sainted big sister before him. We have many "play dates" with a Jack Russell terrier in our neighborhood, in that dog's yard, and to see the two dogs run flat out until they finally finally wear themselves out (and hit the communal water bowl) is a joy to see. You were so wonderful the night I adopted Topper, you gave me great joy. Best, Wendy the Labrador Lover story submitted 08/24/06

[To the right] is a picture of my Lucy who we adopted from your shelter in November 2004 at 4 months of age. At first, I was very nervous and overwhelmed being that she was my first dog ever in my life and a puppy, but together we learned patience, understanding and the correct behaviors. She gets along with everyone - people, other dogs and she adores my 2 cats. I couldn't picture my world without her, she lights up my life! I just wanted to say thank you for all that you do and taking care of my LUCY until we found each other. Melissa G. story submitted 08/21/06

Hello, I just wanted to give you a quick update on Shelby (aka Winston) who we adopted a few weeks ago. She is doing wonderful... so very happy to have a home!! We are so happy that we found her because she is such a great dog... smart, playful and full of licks and love. She is getting along very well with our cat Hobbes and everyone she meets just adores her. Shelby loves to play soccer, have her belly rubbed, go camping, and give kisses to any face she can reach! Thank you again for all of your help... she really is the perfect match for us and we feel so lucky to have found her!! Sarah P. story submitted 07/31/06

Hello to everyone at the shelter. It will be 2 months on the 26th of August that I have found my forever home. I think I am pretty much housebroken now, haven't had any more accidents. I know the command sit, and I give paw. I am now working on catching a frisbee with my mom. That is so much fun. I have a fenced in yard that I run around and play in and two great kids for me to love and play with. This is the family for me. I will love and protect them for many years to come. I get in to a little mischief , but that's all part of still being a puppy. Thank you again for finding me my forever home. Love and kisses, Duke (aka Rocco) story submitted 07/24/06

My name is Star. I was adopted on 6.27.05 from your shelter. I just wanted to say that I am doing well and love my new home. My Mommy and Daddy are great and even let me sleep in bed with them. I get lots of hugs, kisses and treats. I have a big brother who loves me even though at times I follow him around too much. I wanted to say thank you to all of you who took care of me. I am doing well and am loved very much. I have a big yard and I even get to go on my parents big boat. They get these slimy things they call fish and I just love it. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A WONDERFUL HOME. YOU ARE GREAT. My mommy is sending you a picture of me and my brother, Saint. I am the one on the left in a red collar. Thank you, Star story submitted 09/06/05