The return of optimism.

It has been wonderful to watch the hope and sparkle return to this older boy's eyes.

At the time of rescue Rusty had just survived some sort of trauma and his spirit was muted in despair.

Rusty is a sweet senior, good with dogs, and reportedly housetrained.

He needs an adult-only home because he can reportedly get moody and become intolerant of strangers.

These fantastic portraits of Rusty are courtesy of Pet'ographique.

Jazzy's dark days are over and he is ready for a loving, bright future.

Jazzy sparkles with joy and dazzles us with his amazing smile.  We love his sunny personality. 

He is a Yellow Labrador Retriever mix, about 7 years of age, neutered, great with dogs and people, debuting for adoption today at Nevada SPCA. 

He is recovering beautifully from a horrific past.  He was one of the two dogs living in deplorable conditions at an abandoned home who had been the victim of tazering, as featured on 8 News Now TV on January 12th.  He was transferred to us from another shelter to address his medical needs (and the other dog was also transferred to a reputable rescue group). 

Jazzy is ready to experience what a loving home feels like!

Leo's beautiful emotional recovery!

Leo's more light-hearted nature is celebrated in this brand new portrait from Pet'ographique. 

We are so proud of this little guy for trusting us and becoming more affectionate, despite a past full of cruelty and neglect.  Volunteers and staff have been helping him recover emotionally for months, and now he is triumphantly ready for adoption at Nevada SPCA.

Leo is a handsome Chihuahua, neutered boy, about 5 years of age, and he gets along beautifully with other dogs.

Elroy's Triumph!

"My suitcase is packed and I am very ready for a forever home!" 

This amazing portrait from Pet'ographique is really a celebration of Elroy's triumph over abuse.  At the time of rescue he was a wounded soul, nipping at people for getting close to him. 

Now, Elroy leaps into your arms with his dazzling smile and gives you doggie kisses.  Staff and volunteers, over many months, helped him realize that people can be worth loving and trusting. 

Elroy is a sunny Chihuahua, about 4 years of age, neutered, and awaiting adoption at Nevada SPCA.

Rebel - with a cause.

Rebel's eyes say it all, don't they? The victim of abuse and neglect, his trust has been violated and he is not at all sure about the human race. But yet, he yearns to be loved and to share his devotion if he can find just the right, gentle person. 

Rebel is a Shih-Tzu mix, neutered boy, 2 years young, debuting for adoption today at Nevada SPCA. He is great with other dogs and needs regular grooming (note: we shaved away his knots and tangles, so his coat will grow long again).

I am beginning to experience joy for life!

Look who is starting to see pleasure in life! 

We are so proud of how far Juan has come, thanks to loving attention from staff and volunteers. 

You may remember this boy being rescued some months ago with a broken heart and numerous, mysterious cuts all over his body. 

Physically and emotionally, Juan is healing beautifully.  He is an attractive Chihuahua, neutered boy, 18 months of age, pining for a hero to adopt him from Nevada SPCA.

Portraits courtesy of Pet'ographique.

Tasha, a Yorkie awakening to human kindness.

Tasha - BEFORE

Tasha - AFTER

Besides serious neglect, we know that Tasha was frequently screamed at, and violence against her included a kick to her face so brutal that she lost a tooth.

But thanks to the heroic efforts of a local animal activist, Tasha is now in the safety of Nevada SPCA and awakening to human kindness through peaceful nurturing.

It is a wonder this sweet little girl wants anything at all to do with people.  Yet she craves being reassured and spoken to in gentle tones.

Tasha is a Yorkshire Terrier, spayed, 6 years of age, now ready to continue her progress in a loving, forever home with a very caring person or couple. 

Please budget and plan properly for regular professional grooming so that she never has to become a dirty, tangled mess again.

She will need your guidance and patience to learn to eat proper dog food.  Her previous owner reportedly only gave her leftover table scraps.

Sweet girl who survived terrible horror.

A monster exploited Moonbeam's unconditional devotion for evil purposes, using her for dog-fighting. 

At the time of rescue she was a bloody mess from numerous injuries, including a large and deep gash on her right cheek. 

Her countless physical scars on her neck and chest and front legs won't heal.  But in time, her heart will mend.  She is already giving us doggie kisses in gratitude. 

Moonbeam is a Bully mix, spayed girl, 4 years of age, ready to continue her progress and bloom in a loving, forever, gentle home.

I am ready to be your very own little superstar!

Look who loves the camera!  Bobo relished the attention of being in the spotlight at Pet'ographique's portrait studio to take these photographs to help him find a forever home.

Bobo is a parti-colored shorthair, cute as can be, neutered boy, 5 years of age.

He wsa rescued from an abusive home.  Quick movements still alarm him, but his progress has been remarkable.

Please ask for Bobo by name in Nevada SPCA's free-roaming Cat Condo playrooms.

I have decided to give humans another chance.

Months of loving care from staff and volunteers have helped persuade little TJ that people are capable of kindness after all.

A victim of abuse, at the time of rescue he did not want much to do with any of us.  But now, TJ warms to those he trusts, even flipping over on his back for belly rubs. 

He responds best to soft-spoken, gentle people.  An experienced, adult-only home is needed for him.

TJ is a Chihuahua, neutered boy, about 6 years of age.

He gets along very well with other dogs, and we believe he will do best in a home with another dog (or two) to bond with.

Very special thanks to Arica at Pet'ographique for this portrait which captures TJ's new sense of hope and curiosity, and to volunteers Bobbi, John, and Marlene who escort the animals to her studio each week for professional portraits.

Why did they want to cut my ears off?

Update: Wee Willy has been adopted!

Wee Willy is a 5-pound lovebug.

He could hardly be any cuter, that's for sure.  But some fool out there tried to "crop" his ears, nicking off the top of his right ear and severely maiming his left ear.

This home-style cropping of ears is gruesomely painful and tortuous.  The victims are usually the Bully breeds, in a sick effort to make them look mean, and it is absolute cruelty, using ice and scissors.

Wee Willy though still believes in people.  He melts into your arms when you hold and comfort him.

He is a Teacup Chihuahua, neutered boy, about 2 years young.

Wee Willy gets along very well with other sweet dogs.

He gave me a violent goodbye. But I am rebounding emotionally.

A witness saw someone shaking a blanket out of a second-story window of an apartment complex, and out with the dust, intentionally, flew this gorgeous little girl.

The witness scooped her up, worried she had broken bones, and brought her to us.

We named her Goldie and a veterinarian evaluated her and determined that though traumatized, she was not physically injured from the ordeal.

Goldie still believes in people and she is drawn to kind, gentle humans for affection and reassurance.

Goldie is a golden brown tabby, medium-hair feline, spayed, about 3 years of age.

Please adopt her, speak softly to her, and make sure she never experiences human cruelty again.

I am a flowering rose.

We are so proud of Faith and the immense improvements she is making, thanks to loving care and attention from volunteers and staff.

At the time of rescue she was gruesomely injured from being used as "bait" by some human monster to train his dog to fight.  Her leg was severely broken and she had head wounds.

Physically, Faith healed long ago.  Emotionally and psychologically, she is still a beautiful work in progress, though her strides are so tremendous that her fear is less of people -- she LOVES people! -- but fear of new situations.  So, an experienced, patient new owner is needed for her.

Faith is a unique Heinz 57 (blend of breeds) with Bully.  She is spayed, 2-3 years of age, and very hopeful someone will see her potential and help her realize it.

Please ask for Faith by name and spend time with her in our adoption courtyard.  She is very energetic and athletic, so an active lifestyle (or semi-active) is a necessity.

Very special thanks to Pet'ographique for this lovely portrait of Faith on a bed of roses to help her find a forever home.

I trusted and loved them, but they threw me away.

Cars on a busy street where whizzing by an abandoned crate.  Most probably did not know that an innocent little life, terrified and in fear of being crushed, was literally locked inside.

Someone finally stopped and brought the crate to us, we pried the lock and brought him into the safety of Nevada SPCA.

Chachito is understandably wary of people, temperamental as some dogs become when people have failed them and the dogs decide they will no longer tolerate any further abuse.

But he has loving potential, and in an experienced, adult-only home, we believe he will bloom again. 

Chachito is a good-looking fellow, chocolate tri-color Chihuahua, neutered about 4 years of age, compatible with other dogs.  He aches for kindness and stability and he will do best in a gentle home environment.

I am confused why people get angry with me.

Update: Mauricio was adopted on January 31st!

A sensitive youngster who yearns for kindness and understanding, Mauricio's fear of new people is heartbreaking.

We strongly suspect his previous owner screamed and raged at him, melodramatically cursing instead of giving a puppy the patience and good guidance needed in a gentle manner.

Mauricio still believes in people though, and he is eager to share his heart with someone with a tender touch.

He is a Miniature Poodle with stunning good looks, neutered, about 2 years of age.  We rescued him from a government-funded shelter that ran out of space to keep him.

Mauricio enjoys other dogs and needs regular professional grooming care.