Adopted felines are triple the fun

Eleven years ago, while working in an emergency animal hospital in Virginia, I had a small fluff brought in the hospital waiting room, barely alive. She was carried by a young boy, in the palm of his hand, after finding her by the Dumpster out back.

A small female feline, under two weeks old, hardly breathing, eyes not even open, I thought she would surely die. The rest of the litter had died, whether having been abandoned by their mother or owner, and she was all that was left.

After weeks of two-hour feedings around the clock, she became my best friend. I called her Nubs, because she has no tail.

I moved back to Charleston in 2000 with Nubs right by my side. I met my soulmate in 2005, and Bill moved to Charleston in January 2006. I thought Nubs would like a playmate, as Bill and I worked long hours, and she was always alone.

We decided to go to the SPCA in April 2006, to look for a female kitten to keep her company during the day. We found a 10-week-old, black female kitten we both loved. We adopted her and the fun began!

Her name is Indy, like the Indianapolis 500. Run, jump, fly, chase. Poor Nubs was more worn out than merely having companionship.

Now to L'il Boy. In April 2008, I thought Indy might like a playmate, so Nubs could get her due rest. Bill and I called every SPCA in Charleston, Goose Creek and Summerville, looking for a female kitten. Summerville said they had one, so we hit the road from West Ashley to go see her. I had always heard males would spray, not be great with females, and not real loving like our girls.

Well, we walked in the Summerville SPCA on April 13, 2008, and I was struck. This small male, all black, was walking around like he was lost. He was very thin, constantly purring, cross-eyed, and just screamed "please take me home."

Bill and I had looked at the female kitten, but my attention was on this little guy. Bill went back to the car, thinking we were leaving, and I went out and said, "I want HIM."

Bill said fine, and we adopted him. He had been picked up off the streets the day before. He had parasites, ear mites, was underweight, cross-eyed and his upper teeth hung over his lower jaw.

I encourage everybody to go with their heart. L'il Boy has a gorgeous silk black coat now. He sleeps right next to me every night. He lets his sisters rule the house, because he never leaves our side.

When Bill gets up in the morning, L'il Boy runs to the back door to bring the morning sun in with him and be petted. He wasn't a kitten, but he was the best friend we ever adopted.

Susan Rawlings

Charleston

Lizzilou

Our "surprise" baby was Lizzilou.

Well, once we decided to make the trip to the shelter, her arrival wasn't a surprise. At the time, my husband and I lived in Savannah. Somehow I came across a website one day for an animal rescue in Pembroke, Ga., called GARD.

Pretty routinely I would peruse all of the dogs looking for homes, wishing our house was finished being built, that we had more time, etc.

All of the dogs were adorable. Then one day I saw a picture of a new dog brought to GARD needing a home that really caught my eye for some reason.

I guess it was the eyes, or the look on her face or something. For many nights in a row I would get on the website and look at this little scruffy pup.

After about a week, my husband finally said, "Do you want to go look at that little dog? You look at her picture every night." Of course, I said the whole "space, time, money" dissertation. Yet, the next day, Jan. 31, 2009, we drove to the shelter after work just to "see" the dog.

Lizzilou was brought outside and set down on the ground in front of us. She just sat there, all timid with her ears back not sure what to think. We tried to take her for a walk and she wouldn't go more than 10 feet.

Poor thing had been picked up on the streets by animal control, was estimated to be about 6 months old, recovering from mange, receiving treatment for heart worms and about 16 pounds. It was love at first sight, though.

We took her home for an overnight stay to see how the three of us would get along. Well, that overnight stay with us led to the morning of the first day of her life.

She warmed up to us so fast. Within a couple of weeks Lizzilou, aka Lou Lou, was spayed, gaining weight, well on her way to be free of heart worms and growing back her missing spots of hair.

In the past year and half, she has graduated from "home schooling" classes (a trainer came to the house once a week for several months), gained 10 pounds and gets a clean bill of health from her vet! Lizzilou, a possible Schnauzer/terrier mix, is so smart and such a fun and loyal dog.

She loves to play tug, chase her Frisbee, chase squirrels, visit family, show off tricks, such as "high-five" and "rollover" and swim at the James Island dog park. At our second home in Western North Carolina, she is off leash all the time.

She loves our family hikes there and takes off like a rocket after rabbits, never straying too far, though, so she can stay close to us.

She is a socialite and loves to visit with every man, woman, child and fellow canine she sees. Not to mention every UPS driver who crosses her path. She has an affinity for those guys.

She loves to be close to us and lays at our feet or as close as she can get. We are very lucky to have Lizzilou in our life. Lizzilou isn't a "purebred" but she has a pure heart and that's all that matters.

Tracy Dempsey

Daniel Island

Compiled by Brenda Rindge. Got a pet? Tell us about it. We want to tell your stories and run your pictures of Rover, Boots and even Ziggy on our Pets page. If it's furry, feathered or slithery, and you love it, tell us why. If it's a hero, tell us. If it's a 'character,' share the antics. Send pictures (in .jpg format via e-mail) or a hard copy by snail mail that you don't need returned). We'll publish the most interesting, the cutest and the weirdest, but please no poetry and no letters from your dog or cat! Submit by e-mail to pets@postandcourier.com or mail to Pets, The Post and Courier, 134 Columbus St., Charleston, SC 29403-4800. Always include your name, address and a daytime phone number.

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