What does being loved feel like?

Guy is very timid and sensitive.  He shows signs of never being loved, as he has no self-esteem and worries that every new person he meets will start screaming at him. 

His previous owner said the reason he surrendered him was: "Can't stand him".  Guy was made to live outdoors, apparently without toys.

But this handsome young Chocolate Labrador Retriever is about to have a grand awakening!  Gentle care and patience will help him reach his full loving potential.  

Guy is 18 months young, neutered, and debuting for adoption today at Nevada SPCA.

Why did they mess with perfection?

Wisteria was naturally perfect, the way God intended her, yet someone dyed her ears and tail purple. It's a real shame because it will take months for the dye to come out. 

Worse, her previous owner was breeding her for puppies and she was found with no sign of responsible ownership (no tags or microchip ID). 

Wisteria deserves better, and with your help we'll find her an amazing home. 

Wisteria is a Maltese & Shih-Tzu mix, spayed girl, about 4 years of age, good with dogs, debuting for adoption today at Nevada SPCA.

Melody's amazing recovery & survival from an attempted beheading.

We are so proud of this baby girl, who we named Melody, and the foster mom who heroically helped save her.   

Melody delights in crawling up on your chest and nuzzling your face gently.  She is a sleek shorthair, now 5 months of age, spayed, and debuting for adoption today at Nevada SPCA.   

At the time of rescue, we thought someone had tried to behead her, as she had an enormous open wound around her entire neck.  She had a tight rubber band around her neck -- cruelty her veterinarian said was one of the worst he had ever seen. 

After we had the rubber band carefully and entirely removed at a veterinary hospital, Marcia, who was Melody’s foster mom, kept warm compresses on her neck and cleaned the wound twice daily.  Now, the blue stitches you see in the picture are Melody’s stitches from having the wound closed up.  She is healing beautifully and ready for a bright, loving future with someone who will cherish her every day and keep her safe.

Marcia and the other foster parents are heroes for animals.  They volunteer their time and talents to help those most in need, like Melody, and give them the tender loving care they need to be saved and to restore their faith in humans.

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!

Bisco deserved better!

A veterinarian witnessed someone throwing this gorgeous boy out of a car behind a veterinary clinic. 

Fortunately, he was not injured, and he joined us at Nevada SPCA to find someone who will love and cherish him, and never discard him again. 

We named him Bisco and he is a Lynx Point Siamese with crossed blue eyes, and he is now about 18 months young and neutered. 

Bisco prefers to be the only cat, so please be sure to ask for Bisco by name when you visit.

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.

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.

Cassie is a baby girl who survived being hurled into a lake.

It is profoundly depressing that in 2011 the worst of humans are still drowning kittens. 

Cassie was heroically saved by a man who witnessed her and her sibling being thrown into a lake.  The rescuer was able to save Cassie, but her sibling could not be found. 

Cassie is now 3 months of age, an orange tabby with an angelic and playful temperament, spayed, debuting for adoption today at Nevada SPCA.

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.

Doogie -- before & after

Doogie - before, bed sores

Doogie - before, bed sores

Doogie on April 14

What a valiant, inspirational recovery this boy has made!

At the time of rescue Doogie was a matted mess of skin and bones.  When we shaved away the filthy knots, we discovered large, painful bed sores on both of his hips.  He was so weak he could barely stand up or lift his head.

Fast-forward three months, and thanks to tender loving care, Doogie is now a robust, playful, affectionate little guy ready for adoption into a loving home.

He is a Poodle mix, neutered, 5-6 years of age, compatible with other dogs, and he adores people.

His soulful eyes speak volumes.  Please help us ensure he never sees the reckless, cruel side of human nature again.

3 sets of Before & After pictures

Arabella - before

Arabella - after

Bernadette - before

Bernadette - after

Gabriella - before

Gabriella - after

These three gentle girls suffered years of unconscionable neglect in their previous home.  They were surrendered to us for rescue only upon imminent fear of prosecution for animal cruelty.

Previously unloved, they arrived with dimmed spirits and no hope of ever having much human contact.  We shaved them down and had them professionally groomed, revealing the little angels under the filth and knots in their old coats.

Arabella and Gabriella are most likely Poodle & Terrier mixes, ages 5 and 3, respectively.  Bernadette is a Wheaton Terrier mix, 5 years of age.  All three girls are now spayed and ready for adoption.

We seek loving, forever homes where they will know every day that they are cherished and adored.

We are proud of all three girls.  They are building trust and the sparkles are beginning to return to their eyes.

They can be adopted and we believe they will do best with a big brother or big sister dog to help them adjust. 

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.

I did everything I could to try and keep my babies alive.

Update: Daisy was adopted on February 25th!

The plight of this angel ripped our hearts out.  We are blessed to have her (and her surviving pups) here at Nevada SPCA, safe now, and ever-after (once adopted into a loving forever home), so she (and the pups too) can be shown the kinder side of human nature.

Daisy is a Maltese mix with ethereal hazel eyes, spayed girl, about 18 months of age.

At the time of rescue she was in a filthy, wet backyard with her 4 newborn puppies.  Forced to live outside, she had dug a large hole in the ground to try and keep her puppies warm.  But her previous owner said 3 of her original 7 babies had "froze to death".  When questioned why he had acted so cruelly and neglectfully, he said he "didn't want no babies" and that when he took Daisy from a friend he did not know she was pregnant.

Daisy's babies are doing well here and they will be available for adoption in the weeks to come.  Now that Daisy has been spayed she is ready for adoption.

Daisy longs for loving attention and reassurance.  Please plan on regular professional grooming care to keep her looking and feeling good.

For a whole year we waited in vain for them to return for us.

Chloe

Coco

We recently learned about the plight of Chloe and Coco through an email rescue network.  Their previous owners abandoned them in the backyard of the foreclosed home.  For an entire year neighbors had been bringing them scraps of food and bowls of water, but they were living on dirt and without anything but minimal human contact. 

These social angels are now in the safety and loving environment of Nevada SPCA and they no longer have to wonder if any meals will be forgotten.  Both are ready for adoption into loving homes.

Chloe is lovely Heinz 57 (blend of breeds) with Retriever and she has soulful eyes.  She is spayed and about 7 years of age.

Coco is an easy-going, affectionate Cocker Spaniel who gives kisses.  He is neutered and about 5 years of age.  Please plan on regular professional grooming care for him.

They can be adopted separately, but please consider keeping them together.  For the past year all they have had is each other and the kindness of strangers.

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.

My self-esteem is blossoming.

Update: Flash was adopted on February 11th!

At the time of rescue Flash was horrendously matted and filthy.  We could not see his face because of the knots.  Only extremely severe neglect for at least an entire year could have resulted in such a condition.  (His previous owner, if found, would surely be subject to cruelty charges.)

Flash's transformation is going beautifully!  He has been groomed and neutered, his nails have been trimmed, he is eating nutritious premium food, bonding with people and dogs, and awakening to the realization that his future will be one full of love.

He is a Poodle & Schnauzer mix, approximately 3 years young, and he triumphantly debuts for adoption today.

Flash is understandably reserved, at least initially with new people, but his eyes are beginning to sparkle.

Please budget for regular professional grooming care and please be patient with him as he adjusts to living predominantly indoors as a cherished member of the family.  Most of all, let's only show him the best of human nature from now on.

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.

From Rags to Riches.

Update: Breeze was adopted on February 4th!

Every day we wonder how some people can be so cruel to innocent life.  This little treasure was abandoned by a dumpster behind a veterinary clinic in the middle of a cold winter night, stuffed inside a small crate along with 5 kittens and 2 adult cats.

We rescued all 6 animals and, fortunately, all survived that miserable ordeal.  The cats are still receiving care in preparation for adoption and Breeze, a pretty Chihuahua mix, is now spayed and debuting for adoption today.

Breeze is an exceptionally sweet youngster, humble and warm.  She is just a year of age, great with other animals, and blooming beautifully (hence the flower-like frilly scarf).

We seek a caring home for her where she will never again have to face ultimate rejection and disposal, instead being cherished as a princess for the rest of her life.