Friends For Life Animal Shelter - Houston, TX

Hi, I’m Miss Kitty!

That’s right—when my former owner of 8 years wasn’t watching Bonanza reruns (see the Hop Sing story, told above) she was heavy into Gunsmoke. I was right there with Hop Sing years ago when we showed up at this woman’s house impersonating Mutt and Jeff. But she took onelook, named us Miss Kitty and Hop Sing and brought us inside—where we lived happily ever after until just a short time ago when the sweet old lady ended up in a nursing home and we found ourselves home alone with nowhere to go.

I’m smaller than Hop Sing, and a genuine tortoise shell girl. Super friendly, I like agood belly rub and a warm lap. PLEASE consider taking me home with you! I'm in fantastic health and have a great personality (though in truth, what Tortie doesn't?). And if you’re into Westerns, I'm all for it, so long as we can watch them together while eating junk food. But one note; while I love TV horses, I’m not much for dogs—even Lassie.

Much love,
Miss Kitty

Hi, I'm Simon!

Okay, I'm not going to come right and say that I'm in favor of animal costumes ( I wouldn't be a true cat if I did) but what I will say is that in Houston, during the holiday season, there is no snow to make a snowman. And if you put a little black top hat on me, and a little vest with some black buttons, and you gave me a corncob pipe with some really good catnip in it, I would look a little bit like a snowman, and you would have a significantly more festive experience. Maybe if my family had been more creative, they would have loved me more and they wouldn't have abandoned me when they moved away. Luckily, I was rescued and now I'm here at FFL waiting to meet you! I love all the other cats, and I love to be pet and am very social; I'm a youngish 2 years old and still have a lot of kitten in me!

Hope to see you soon!

Simon

Hi there, I’m Midnight!

Despite my life getting off to a difficult beginning (abandoned, hungry, and so emaciated when I was found, you might mistakenly assume I was named for that bleak period), I've maintained an optimistic perspective and the sense of humor unique to felines of my coloring. In fact I was named for being among the handsomest of black cats most folks have ever seen! Even though I've been graced with good looks and good humor, I'm still a little down...

You see, this nice lady took in me and my friend Molly (see her story below) when we were very young and very homeless. We lived comfortably in her at-home animal shelter. And for a long time, she took very, very good care of us. But one day she fell sick, lost her job, and finally realized she could not longer give us the good home we deserved. So luckily, Friends for Life took us in.

I love to play with cat toys, don’t mind dogs, relish a can of Purina Cat Chow, and get along well with other cats! Water and loud noises are the two things I really can’t stand, so as long as you don't live at Splashtown or Six Flags,things should work out pretty well!

See you soon!
Midnight

Hello, I’m Molly.

Hi, I'm Stella!

My siblings Ella, Bella, and Della and I were abandoned at Home Depot a couple of weeks ago, but luckily for my sister Bella & I, a nice lady is fostering us! Della and Ella have already found their new homes. I am only 3 months old and I need some puppy loving! I 'm not 100% certain, but I think I might have a little bit of pirate in my ancestry...see my eye patch? Maybe you can teach me to say "aargh, or Me Mateys, or something! I've heard it can be done. In any case, you won't need to search for chests of loot if you adopt me, because I promise to bring lifetime of treasure to your home. I love playing with toys,belly scratches & long walks into the sunset. If you think maybe we're meant to be, come and see me soon!

When does “free” mean “anything but”? Well, when you’re a little kitten like me who was locked in a rusty cage sporting a FREE KITTEN sign—and then left one night on the doorstep of a Westheimer antique store, tossed out like an old couch!

Orange and white, I’m six months old, easy on the eyes, litter box trained, gentle as a kitten (hey, I am a kitten!), and I've never met someone I didn’t like. And as for cat nip….I love the stuff! Being a Leo, I also like to explore, crawl into dark little places, and climb to the top of the tallest bureau. If you're in need of a permanent friend then I'm the little kitty for you! I want to grow old with someone I love—and be a real antique someday (something of value that’s prized and cared for by an owner who will never let me go).

Recently, I was out shopping the yard sales in Montrose, just looking for a bargain and maybe a bite to eat. When you're homeless and alone in the world, you make time for these kinds of things! Turns out I found both...a kind soul who gave me a meal, a head rub, and a careful inspection, at which point she discovered something that had been bothering me for awhile (I just didn't have anyone to talk to about it). My front legs had been terribly uncomfortable and quite disfigured for some time, making it hard to get around. Initially, it was thought that maybe I'd had them broken in an accident of some kind, and that they'd healed improperly...turned out to be a less serious form of trauma, from which I am now recovering nicely. I'm a year old, Black Lab girl, full of joy and love. I'm a hugger and a cuddler, and though some Labs may feel they aren't meant to be lap dogs, I'm not one of them!

Well, no matter your opinion on the current political matters at hand in our country, surely you can't pass on an opportunity to help clean up some collateral damage. See, my former family was in the military, and when one of them had to go to Iraq, I was left behind with no one to take good care of me. I had a fantastic life with my former folks...they raised me from puppyhood (What? You want to see a picture of me when I was a puppy? Okay!)

At any rate, I've been well socialized since I was a baby, so I am nicely accustomed to family life (translation...housetrained). At this point, I'm almost 2 years old. I am a Beagle mix, which as you know means I'm brilliant and quite the clown. I'm very friendly and affectionate, though it has been noted about my personality that I like to take my time getting to know you! I can get along with people, dogs, and cats;I love a good belly rub and to lay my head in your lap while you pet my ears and we watch T.V. together. Preferably widescreen HDTV, okay? I love to play and play, and I will thrive in a home where I get plenty of attention and activity. If this sounds good to you, come and see me soon!

I'm a purebred Persian gentleman, in possession not only of a spectacular orange coat and a very distinguished expression, but also of an exceptional demeanor. Though I was abandoned to the streets of Montrose last July (and if you're not from around here, I'll let you know that July is the hottest and most humid month around these parts - not great for those of us with thick luxurious fur) I've retained my affinity for the human race. I love nothing more than a soft lap, a gentle massage, and some relaxing small talk on the subject of what a special guy I am. I lived with a foster family for several months after being rescued last summer, until my bunk was ready here at FFL. Now, I've got the run of the place, and get along smashingly with all of my roomies. My ten years of age give me the wisdom and perspective to know a good thing when I see it...so come on and show yourself, and we'll start our new lives together!

We just heard something funny, but it was puppy humor so you might not get it. It had to do with some mud and a stick and possibly one of our tails. Puppy humor standards are just not that high, if you must know. At any rate, we are two month old boys found alone on the streets. We've been cared for by the woman who found us and are eager to find our forever humans and homes. We make a fantastic pair, but if two little boy Labs sound like a handful to you, we can each go to separate homes just as easily. Montey is all black, except for the "Got Milk?" spot on his lower lip,

and I am Tulley, the tan one. We are healthy , happy, energetic babies who will make wonderful family companions and faithful, loyal, unconditionally loving friends!

Hi, I'm Big Ted!

This is me, sleeping snug as a bug in a rug at Friends for Life. You'll have to learn a little about my past to understand why this snuggling stuff is so significant for me. You see, I was homeless and malnourished, and as a result I had gotten pretty sick (in particular my skin and coat suffered the most). There were some very well-meaning people I ran into who tried to help me feel better, but they didn't have many resources either and the solution they came up with was to rub used motor-oil onto my skin. As you can imagine matters only grew worse, but ultimately I was rescued and I'm feeling much better now. I love my three meals a day (I especially love fried chicken), I love a good head or belly rub, and I'm likely to be quite vocal if too much time elapses between either of those two activities. I'm about three years old, and as my name implies I'm a good-sized guy. I would probably make the best pet in a home without dogs or other cats.

Well, if you happen to be driving by Petsmart and you want to stop in with a bucket of KFC, I'll be glad to help you finish it off!

I am a beautiful young Tortie with a long story to tell, given that I'm only just about a year and a half old. My entire family was rescued from a feral colony right about the time that we were born; we've known our names since we were 4 weeks old! Most of my siblings have already found successful homes, and as a matter of fact, our aunt is the resident cat at one of the best cat vets ever (that's a big responsibility). I lived with Friends for Life foster parents until I was about 7 months; then I went home to what I thought was my forever family. Unfortunately, they didn't take great care of me , and now I'm looking for a better home with people who understand "forever"! I'm sweet and affectionate, very fond of snuggly beds (as you can see by my picture) and planning to sleep in your bed once you come to get me . I love other cats but am very scared of dogs. I love toys and treats, and I'm so very petite I won't take up too much room! Please come to see me soon!

Hi there—I’m Kiki!

Yes, I look like an originally-all white cat that somebody started to paint black and brown before knocking off for lunch and never coming back! That makes me a “Calico-in-Progress” I guess. I was born in May of 2005 and found in a dumpster at age 7 weeks. Yuk! But then life got very, very good. I ended up at Friend for Life, then adopted into a nice home along with my BFF Paco (pictured in the next profile, and also very, very homeless!) But then life took a turn for the worst when my owner had to transfer overseas and couldn’t keep me or Paco. Lucky for us, Friends for Life took us in again—even gave us a big double kitty cubby so we wouldn’t have to be apart.

Please take me home! I’m a super cuddler, like to talk, love neck massages, pet grass, a cardboard scratch pad, laying on your chest while you watch TV, playing with the little plastic rings from milk cartons, feather toys—I sound like the perfect cat, don’t I! If you think so, take me home!

Yes, I’ve seen every Bonanza rerun twice. No, I don’t cook (so don’t get any ideas!) and I’m not Chinese—I’m Siamese, and long-haired at that! Pretty quiet, I do like to cut loose like a kitty once in a while—even though I’m around 8. And I’m a big boy, weighing in at around 19 pounds, although everyone says I’m very fit and trim and super healthy (I knew that!).

It’s been 8 years since I showed up with Miss Kitty (see below Kitty bio) at the door of my former mistress. Now she’s in a nursing home and we’re out looking for a new bunkhouse. Please take me—and Miss Kitty—in. I’m not a wanderer. I enjoy a good pat. And I’ve heard myself described as loving, kind and loyal (all true!).Please stop by. You can’t miss me. I’m the biggest cat they’ve had here since Ramona! And while I don’t like dogs, I don’t mind them framed and hanging on walls.

If you're the kind of person who sometimes finds images of Elvis on your grilled cheese, you're gonna love my miracle story. And let me just preface it by letting you know that I'm now offically running on 8 lives...So, it was a dark and stormy night in the Montrose area, and as I was crossing the street (why did the black cat cross the road? To get to the oth - oh, nevermind) I was struck by a hit-and-run driver. They'll give anyone a license in this city, I swear. I toughed it out on my own for awhile, but I had sustained a broken hind leg, which as you may imagine is quite painful. Some period of time after this accident, I found I had a need to cross the street again, and as I hobbled my way across on yet another dark, late night, dragging my broken limb along behind me, a Friends for Life volunteer out making an ice run (for her ginger-ale, of course) spotted my pitiful self and stopped her car to check on me. All she had to do was open the passenger door, and I made my way right on in. That alone should give you clear indication of what a people-guy I am. At any rate, after a series of veterinary exams, it became apparent that not only was my leg broken, but that I had developed Tetanus from the gash left by the car that ran over it (my leg that is). Tetanus, in case you haven't been to med school in awhile, is a bacterial infection that causes paralysis in the muscles among many other horrid symptoms. In my case, my broken leg became so rigid that I had to hold it straight out behind me. I was very lucky to get help when I did, because untreated Tetanus can be fatal...I also could have had other complications from my bones healing improperly.

However, neither is the case...and I can now walk around as though I'd never been injured or sick at all! And my personality remains unaffected. I am a total love-bug (can I say that about myself without sound too cheesy?) and a champion lap cuddler. I've been told my green eyes are gorgeous and that I'm exceptionally intelligent. I'm under the age of two, so I'll be perfectly adaptable to any situation as long as there is plenty of love, attention, and affection to go around!

Are you familiar with the idea of a "balanced" dog? No, it doesn't mean that my head weighs the same as my behind. What it does mean is that I am one of those unique beings who is comfortable and graceful in all kinds of situations. I'm just a baby girl of about 4 months, but I know instinctually how to get along with other animals and with people alike ...I love a good massage at the hand of a kind human but equally enjoy a romp around the dog park with a four legged friend (I have yet to meet someone four-legged that I couldn't call a friend). You already know that I'm sweet ( and let's make "sweet" into a better adjective by changing it to kind, considerate, pleasant, amiable, friendly, caring, gentle, good-natured, soft-hearted, and agreeable) and that comes from the Spaniel in me. I am also curious and very bright, and that comes from the Pointer in me. I was rescued as an 8 week old puppy while wandering alone around an apartment complex...my resuer immediately got me hooked up with FFL and I've been well cared for by a foster ever since. Being taken care of has allowed me the freedom to indulge in some serious soul searching, and these are some of my discoveries...I have a deep love of rawhides, rope toys, milk bones, learning, and kisses and I have just one dislike...an empty food bowl!

Yes, I know I look a little big to be cuddled in quite this way, but I'm recovering from such a rough experience that I just need to be held, okay? There's nothing wrong with wanting your mommy! I'm a two year old male who was rescued out of a feral colony after it became clear that I wasn't welcome there. Feral cats have strict codes of conduct, and since I hooked up with them after my owners dumped me ( I had been living the good life indoors) I didn't know how to play by their rules. They really beat me up! Fortunately, a kind person tending to the feral colony recognized that I didn't belong there, and brought me to Friends For Life. Now I'm looking for a new family, who will make a forever commitment to my care and well-being. In exchange, I can bring to your home a unique feline perspective on life, love, and the pursuit of happiness!

I just wanted to take a couple minutes here and give you an update on
Goldi/Kahlua (i.e. new name). She is doing wonderfully and adjusting very
well to life with Liz and I. She comes with us everywhere we go parents
houses, friends in Fort Worth, the park and does really quite well
riding in the back of the SUV. She's always anxious to jump in the back
and go for a ride with us. The first week we had her, we had her du-
claws removed and she has been recovering nicely from that. I
think she gets her stitches out end of this week or maybe beginning of
next week. This didn't slow her down at all though. She's still
sprinting around the back yard and enjoying walks with us, and perhaps
chasing the cat too. She gets a little worked up whenever Liz or I
leave. She just wants everyone to be with her all the time and follows
one or both of us around the house constantly waiting for us to land
somewhere so she can finally relax by us. She has done remarkably well
learning her new name and learning that her space is her big green
doggie bed that's in our bedroom. I'm still working on getting her to
shake, but we'll get there. She enjoys some afternoons with Liz over at
my sister's house and their huge back yard. Liz and I love her a lot and
really enjoy relaxing with her in the evening while lying in bed. She's
a great sleeper and does a great job of staying in her bed almost all
night long. She really is a great companion for us and already feels
like part of the family.

I was found running loose in the streets, and when it came to my attention that a person wanted to rescue me, I jumped into the driver's seat of her car and wouldn't budge until she had driven us safely to her home. I wasn't taking any chances on her changing her mind! Now, my foster mom says I am precious and loveable, and she says even though I'm not a big dog I have one of the biggest dog voices she's ever heard! I am really lively and joyful all of the time (have you ever heard of Joyology?) and I'm very eager to please. I love to play and I would love to get a lot of exercise ( I have a lot of energy). On the flip side, I love to snuggle and I get to sleep in the big human bed with my foster mom (I'd like to keep that option open with my new family!). I am about six years old, and I have Shepherd in me, along with some other secret ingredients.

I can't believe someone's just standing there taking a picture when they COULD be throwing my tennis ball! What could be more fun than throwing a ball for two hours, except maybe retrieving a ball for two hours? Anyways, put the camera down...and let's get to playing!

Here's my story. I'm about 2 years old, and recently some nice folks took me in off the street in an effort to help me find a new home. They kept me in the backyard and didn't really do much but feed me (which was great and all) so then some other nice folks got involved, and they took me to their house. At the new house, the people take me for walks, play with me (that is when thay aren't making me pose for the camera), let me have lots of dog friends come over to hang out ( I just love other dogs) and they also have taken care of all my vet stuff like shots, flea prevention, and so forth. I really like these folks, but they have something called "business" that takes them away on lots of trips so they aren't home very much. That's where Friends for Life comes in...FFL is going to hook me up with the perfect new family who will have lots of time to play with me and to teach me good manners like how to walk politely on the leash and how to hold back all the kisses I love to give everyone until I'm invited to start kissing. I guess this isn't Europe! They are even going to pay formy care until a new family adopts me...that's how much they believe that I will make a fantastic pet! Did I mention that I'm very good with babies? I'm only about 32 pounds, so I don't take up a ton of space and I won't make too big of a groove in your couch with my bottom! You can meet me at the Petsmart during weekend adoption hours.

and my brother Otis (yuck, he's a boy).We are ten week old Collie mix puppies, and if you want to know what we are mixes of, you will just have to use your imagination! Suffice it to say, we are plenty cute, fuzzy, cuddly, and enthusiastic.Our mother was a stray that was rescued by our current foster family. They took her in to get her spayed and that is when they found out she was pregnant. She ended up having nine of us. When we were 5 wks old my mom was killed by a car. Since then our foster family has been able to place five of our brothers and sisters in good homes.We are extremely sweet natured and (I'll say it again) very cute. We're looking for great new families with lots of love and attention to give. We think it is safe to say that none of us will be the kind of dogs you can carry around in a purse, so we will need homes where we get the chance to work and play a lot before we eat, sleep, and love on you a lot! Please come and visit us soon.

The boys are completely settled in their new home (about from the moment they arrived actually) and I don’t think Zander has stopped purring since we got him in the car last Thursday. Anyways they had a fun weekend getting to know us and the house. I think Spike has even grown since he’s been with us! Zander, we've discovered, loves to be under things (blankets,pillows etc.) and he likes warm places (as you’ll see by one of the pictures). Spike's the lounger and they both really love to cuddle, they curl up with me while I am watching TV almost every evening. They are still trying to push some limits, trying to steal food off dinner plates and jumping up on the kitchen counter while I make dinner. But that’s about the only “trouble” they get into, so far….

Hi!We're Spike &Zander!

Someone has obviously mistaken me for some kind of a puppet, but I am quite capable of reaching the ceiling on my own, thank you very much. Anyways, my brother Spike, myself, and all our other siblings were found abandoned under a tree by a bus stop a few months ago. We love Friends for Life, because we get to have our own multi-level kitty condo and can raise all kinds of commotion for as long as we want, and they still love us! Our brothers and sisters have all found their forever homes, and we two boys are still just waiting for the perfect people to come along and snatch us up!

Do you have anything to eat? I have a bad case of the munchies, man. I must have hit the catnip a little too hard! Just kidding. This photo simply happens to have caught me in one of my two states of mind... relaxed, and more relaxed.

You can see the other state in the picture to the right.Tuxedo kitties are well known to be mellow, but I've really raised the bar. I'm a seven month old girl whose whole family was abandoned under a house, but luckily we were rescued and brought to Friends for Life several months ago. My brothers have already been adopted, and now I just enjoy the good life here at the PetSmart, waiting patiently for you! See ya soon....

Probably the point I am making in the photo above is very clear to you, but just in case...my bowl is empty!

Anyways, I was born in April in a cat colony. I lived there with my mom and my brothers and sisters, but when I was just a few weeks old, my family was attacked and killed. Only my brother and I survived, and we were rescued by a nice lady and we've lived inside ever since!

Now, I'm a well-behaved, playful, healthy, and lovable older kitten. I love people and cats alike, and it will never be said of me that I am shy!

Because I live with my foster mom and not at Friends for Life, you can come and meet me during Saturday adoption hours at Petsmart!See ya soon,love, Dylan

I was found at an abandoned house when I was just 3 months old. I was rescued and taken to the hospital where they discovered that I had been side-swiped by a car ( I really didn't want to complain about that to the nice lady who rescued me). In fact, my foreleg was broken and I was missing a toe (still am)- hence I was christened Digit! I've healed very well, and I run and play just like a normal youngster. I really love to play with other dogs. I'm crate trained (love my crate), and potty trained. I've been in a foster home, where they've spent a ton of time socializing me, and I'm sure they'll tell you all about may favorite trick which is picking up a balled Kleenex or paper towel from the floor and prancing around with it like it is a highly prized treat.

The trouble is, my wonderful foster family has their own family matters to attend to and can no longer keep me until I find my forever home. I'm about one year now, very sweet, have all my important doggy shots, and most importantly I can't wait to meet you!

I’m an eleven year old girl and have my share of stories to tell. I am healthyjust been through a lot and hope that there is someone out there who knows what that's like who'll want to share stories with me. I love to be brushed and will press my head into your hand for petting. I'll share my secrets if you share yours.
I love my cardboard scratching box and do the most adorable (they tell me) little dance on it. (I didn't know they were looking...) Other shelters said I was not adoptable--I say to that if we all looked alike what a dull world it would be! Those shelters should take the time to know me because I'm going to make someone a great, loving cat. I know you're out there.

And I know when you see me; you will see how beautiful I am.

I am a sweet, loving, cuddly baby girl...just four month old! I was found tied up and abandoned outside City Hall (so much for justice for all) by a very nice couple. They have taken me into their home while I wait to meet my new family...but they tell me since they're expecting their own human baby any day now, I better have my bags packed and ready to go, 'cause pretty soon their house will be too full to keep me! So here's what else you should know...I'm a Collie and Lab mix, which means I am made up of the two most popular breeds in the entire world!

Labs and Collies are both renowned for their intelligence, loyalty, personalities, and trainability. How can you go wrong? You can meet me during adoption hours at Petsmart, and I can't wait to see ya soon!

Sylvester T. Cat, that is. When one is constantly attired in black tie, one tends to speak formally, you see. At any rate, why don't you sit back, relax, and let me tell you a tale...The way I appear to you in this photograph (suave, sophisticated, even a bit come hither, the James Bond of the cat world) is a far cry from the the sorry state I was in just last February. At that time, I had been struggling to survive on my own for some time and had finally surrended my feline pride with the acknowledgement that I could no longer make it alone. I'd had my eye on a particular house for awhile, and threw myself at the mercy of the woman who lived there (melodramatic? What's that?). I was starving, emaciated, sick, and scared to death, but she took me in and began to provide me with the necessary nourishment and care that I so desparately needed. It took me a long time to show her my appreciation because of how terrified I was, but now that she has earned my trust I share all kinds of affection and even conversation with her! She has explained to me that I will be finding a new home of my very own, and that I will meet another very special person to fall in love with.

After 9 months of rest and recuperation, the vet has pronounced me fit as a fiddle, and I can wear my tuxedo with dignity once more. I'm 7, and should live to see 18 withno trouble at all. I give excellent paws-wrapped-around-the-neck hugs and enjoy staring deeply into the eyes of my companion...

Forgive the quiet voice I'll use to tell you my story, for you see my heart's been broken. I was happily involved in a very long-term, commited relationship (12 years) to the best human dad a cat would ever want. Slowly though, we both began to notice something inevitable ( it will even happen to you): we were getting old! We promised to take care of each other no matter what might happen, and in fact when the time came for my companion to move on, he provided for my futurewithout him by paying someone he trusted a large sum of money to care for me, and to see that I could still enjoy the good life I'd grown to know. That person proved to be the opposite of trustworthy. She pocketed all the money, and dumped me off at a shelter without a backward glance. Now, Friends for Life has intervened on my behalf, and they assure me that another happy home awaits me...somewhere. It's hard to imagine, I must admit. They talk about how sweet, beautiful and loving I am, and they tell me to be patient and to relax and that good things will happen. I hope they are right.

I'll let you in on a little secret...my name has the following meanings; precious, peaceful, calm, and protected ( and I happen to possess all of these attributes, if I do say so myself)!

Certainly someone's looking out for me, as I was rescued off a busy street during rush hour (and I'm just a tiny girl not all intended for fighting traffic). When the nice lady who saved me stopped her car for me I jumped right in with no hesitation, as if I'd been riding there all along. So that covers calm and protected...precious you can see is accurate just by looking at me. I'm cute as a button, about three years old, and am part Chihuahua, part mystery. I also have a special dance, called the "more porridge please" and I will teach it to you once you come and meet me. It's all the rage, I promise!And peaceful?

That's easy. I love to cuddle quietly in your lap with my stuffedmoose, I'm already potty and crate trained, and I love going for nice quiet walks on my leash (which I am demonstrating here to the right).I doubt you could dream up a more perfect package, unless of course you are looking for a hamster and not a dog. I hope you are looking for a dog however, and Ihope to meet you very soon!

If I hadn't been a part of it, I wouldn't believe my own life story! Even though I'm just over a year old, I've experienced some extraordinary karmic twists, leading me to believe I'm destined to find the perfect family for me. First I landed at a shelter in another part of Texas where I'm told my days were numbered. Fortunately, a staff person there saw fit to save me, but I had to stay in a boarding facility for awhile which was full of ...gasp...dogs. This is a good time for me to tell you, I am terrified of dogs. I couldn't eat for three days after that experience ( too bad I wasn't trying to get ready for a red-carpet event at the time). Ultimately I've made my way to Houston and even better, to Friends for Life. Now that I'm a year old I've mastered the art of showing off my fully developed and very charming personality. There's nothing I adore more than one-on-one attention from the volunteers except maybe my big stuffed bunny; I love to flop on my back, roll around, and be brushed and petted. So what's in it for you? Well, I'll eat cookies out of your hand, which is nice because my whiskers will tickle you, I'm very soft,I like to hold hands, and I'm a pleasant conversationalist (and by that I mean, I'll talk and you listen). Let's see, did I mention I'll flop on my back so you can pet my belly? Oh, I did mention that already? Well, hurry up and try it, it's really excellent fun!

You know when you're a kid and you like to make faces or cross your eyes, and some goody two-shoes type of person tells you to stop or your face might stay that way? Well, I didn't know it was true! No, no, not really. I'm a Flame-Point Siamese, that's why my eyes look a little crossed. It's actually very prestigious and a sign of regal breeding contrary to how it might look! I guess my eyes go a little extra crossed when I get a really outstanding chin scratch like you see in my photo. I'm a young guy with an incredibly sweet personality (yeah, I realize every cat on this page has made the same claim in their bios, but in my case it's a really exceptional sweetness). I was found alone outside, and I am MUCH happier in the company of people now that I live at FFL. I just can't get enough one-on-one attention! See ya soon!

We are two super-sweet young guys who were abandoned on the doorstep of a lady with a reputation for saving cats. Actually, we did not originally come as a pair, but we are pretty attached to each other now that we've spent so much time together. I am much more outgoing than Sherlock..he's got kind of a zen meditation thing going on in his picture (doesn't that make you want to take a nap?) and he's a little shy with new people. Really we're both affection hogs though, once you get to know us. We lived with our foster mom for several months while we waited for space at FFL, and she cares about us so much that she still comes to visit once a week! We will make a great addition to any home...come and see us soon!

and I am one VERY clever canine! You may have heard that Great Danes are all brawn, no brain (and maybe it's the Rottweiler mixed in that makes me so smart) but I have plenty of brains to go with all my brawn. Here's proof... I was very hungry, very lonely, very sick, and very broke just a few months ago. So where do you think I went to get help? Why, the FFL organization headquarters of course! Cut out the middleman and go directly to the top if you need help fast is what I always say (well, it's what I would always say if anyone asked). So, I got all fixed up, got a nice full belly and a few bucks in my wallet, and now I'm all ready for my new home! I get along with everyone...two and four- legged alike, and I have a long bright future ahead. Come and see me soon!

Yes, it is hard to communiciate when your tongue is bigger than your entire head; let's just get that awkward fact right on out in the open! However, I only have to pant for half the time to get refreshed, and you know what that means...less doggy drool on the backseat of your car or on your shoes.

I'm a four month old girl, and if you think I look pretty big for my age, it's the Boxer in me ( I also have a little Pit Bull Terrier). So I'll be everything a dog lover could ask for...loyal, a comedian, enthusuastic, and intelligent! I've already gotten my most important veterinary care out of the way and am ready and waiting to find my new family!

"Merhaba, Istanbul, Turkiyeden taa buralara sizlerde yuva bulmaya geldik!"

In case your Turkish is not so good:

"Hello, we have come all the way from Istanbul, Turkey to find our home here with you!"

Our names are Sarman (aka:Tommy) (Sarman means 'ginger cat' in Turkish--guess which one is me...)

and Evren(aka: Chicco) (Evren means 'universe' in Turkish). We flew in on Lufthansa a little while ago (and boy, are our paws tired!)

We both lived on the street in Istanbul --which is a very beautiful city with a rich history but not that great if you are a stray cat. We had been very brutally injured and needed some extensive care. Someone hit me in the head and broke a lot of bones and injured my eye. Now I can just see out of my left eye. Evren had his paw badly hurt and will always walk with a bit of a limp. I think he plays it up when there are cute girl cats around.

They rescuer who found us and took care of us actually got beaten up for caring for us. Can you imagine? She arranged for Friends For Life to help find us good homes here in America and she put us on a plane. We flew first to Frankfurt, then Munich then on to Houston. She stitched Turkish good luck charms onto our carriers and kissed us goodbye. It was hard for her because we had all been through so much together. But she knew we'd find a better life here.

When we arrived, we were just fine despite our 12 hour ride. We went directly to Dr. Caroline Oeben, The Cat Doctor to be checked out. She was so nice! Her staff set up a suite for us and we had toys, great food, climbing posts and very snuggly beds. Even though it was 11pm in Istanbul, they called our rescuer like she'd asked to let her hear us purr in contentment. Talk about your long distance purr! Our rescuer said it was more than she could have ever dreamed for us to be here in America and have such a chance at a great life. She was crying on the phone and thanking everyone over and over. We hung out with Dr. Oeben and her great staff for the first couple of days we were here. We loved it! She gave us a clean bill of health and now we are at the Petsmart adoption center waiting to meet you.

Here are some pictures of our former home city:

Umariz yakinda bulusuruz! (Hope we meet soon!) Love, Sarman (writing for Evren who doesn't really have the attention span for it!)

I'm just going to start out my story with the really sad part first, because there's just no easy way to tell it. Me and my friend Hope were found beside the Trinity River after she'd been shot in the face and through the shoulder, and I'd been hit in the head by something like a hatchet. A witness observed us being attacked, but couldn't get across the river quick enough to stop those people from trying to kill us. I ran and ran after them to try and ask why they wanted to hurt us, but I was so badly injured that eventually I couldn't run any more, and I never got the chance to find out...anyways, after all of that, Hope has been rehabilitated and found her new home. My own head injury healed without any problems, and they tell me I won't have any bad after-effects from it ( 2 +2 is 5, right?).

Now I live with a foster family of cats and dogs, and I love them all! I also love outings to the dog park, going for jogs, and hanging around in the kitchen with my pals. I'm only about a year and a half old, and I've had all my other vet needs taken care of so I've got a long, happy life ahead of me and I promise to make you a great companion!

P.S. This is me enjoying a Sunday afternoon of football with my foster mom. I hope your couch is this comfortable!

I am one of the kitties who came over after our homes were lost in Katrina. We spent almost a year in another rescue that is really dog-centered. When we got to Friends For Life a couple weeks ago, they asked our names and we didn't have any.

So we got our new names and a kind of new lease on life. My sister Ivy has been adopted and Im hoping to be next ! I have that feisty calico personality and love tummy rubs (but you know how we are--always on cat terms !) Im curious and rave and keep my house very neat (yikes ..sounds like a Boy Scout pledge...).

I love being talked to and will listen intently...doesn't mean I'll do what you say (would lose my cat membership card). I talk too--

I'd love to be your only cat...I will be your only princess. Im not wild about other cats....could I be your one and only ? I promise I'll make you a great kitty ! So ask for me by name ---!!!!

If I look a little bewildered, please forgive me. Life's been quite a ride so far! Originally I was brought to Friends for Life as a tiny kitten with all of my brothers and sisters, and eventually we all found wonderful homes. My new home was full of people who loved me a lot, but unfortunately the cat they already had did not love me even a little! It would be fair to say that she hated my guts, which she wanted to pull out of me and eat (at least that's what she told me when we were alone). After she tried to do this a few times, my new family decided it wasn't safe for me to stay with them anymore, so they brought me back to Friends for Life so I could get another chance to find the right home for me.(Let me take a moment to praise those people for loving their first cat enough to respect his wishes, and also to thank them for returning me to a place that really will find me a new, even better home). So anyways, here I am. I'm under a year old, have all my important vetting in hand, and best of all, I'm a sweet, loving cuddle-bug. I get along really well with other animals (except that one) but because I am so sweet natured, very dominating cats and dogs can sometimes scare me! Well, I'm here waiting for you, so hurry up!

I really miss my old life. One day, my owner just never woke up ( it was no ordinary cat nap) and then a bunch of other people came to my house and started taking all my belongings, and then they threw me outside and left in some big noisy machine. It happened so quickly I never did understand what had happened. All I knew was that my life had changed dramatically for the worse and that I had to fend for myself if I wanted to stay alive. The best I can say of the whole experience is that I survived it, though I suffered some permanent nerve damage to my back legs from a serious injury. Fortunately, another person saw that I was a life worth saving (aren't they all?) and got me hooked up with Friends for Life. I'm a sweet, cautious boy ( I'm 5, by the way) with lots of love to give. Come by and see me sometime!

Veronica's doing great and got a clean bill of health from the vet! Thanks for asking. She's the queen of the townhome and is still full of kisses and cuddles! Veronica sleeps right next to me everynight and every now and again she even lets the dog share the bed with her to take a nap (on the other side of the bed of course)! I'm so glad things worked out and I can't imagine not having her Here are some pics of Veronica being sweet!

I'm a 6 year old girl, and I'm sure you see by looking at my picture why they call me "Velvet."

I have a plush, beautiful fur coat that was made for stroking ( you know how some boots are made for walking?) and quite frankly I've been having to take matters into my own paws lately to get a good head scratch! My Mom and Dad used to take care of these things for me, but then my Dad got something called the "C" word, and my Mom had to spend all her time taking care of him while he was in and out of the hospital, so she just couldn't give me the care and attention I was accustomed to. She knew that Friends For Life would take really good care of me while they helped me find a new family, so here I am! I'm sweet, loving, and very personable. I do have pretty high expectations about the amount of time your hands should be in contact with my head, back, or tummy, but as long as you're okay with that, we should get along just swell!

People tell me I look just like Kate Bosworth ( which I'm totally fine with now that she is not so skinny) because we share beautiful blond hair and different colored eyes. I think the resemblance probably stops there, though. She was the only good thing about the remake of Superman, that's for sure. Anyways, enough about Kate; let's get back to Georgia! I'm a sweet 1 year old Husky mix who was found wandering around alone in a local neighborhood. One of the dog guardian angels who lives there noticed me and brought me to Friends for Life. She could tell right away I was a family pet just missing a small piece of the puzzle...my family! So this is where you come in...will you be my new family? I'll need a home with lots of love, energy, and attention to spare because I'm a very social girl by nature, and of course Huskies are known for their interest in hard work and for their conversational skills. That's right...we can talk! So come on down and let's get to know each other better!

Single, mature female ISO loving, dedicated family for long-term, monogamous relationship...

Hi, I'm Lady, and if I could run a personal ad for finding my new family, that's how it would begin!

See, my former family, whom I lived with for 12 years (yep, that makes me 12 years old) abandoned me at a kill shelter when they had to move to a different state (at the time, we lived in Anchorage). So there I was, perfectly domesticated and experiencing the prime of life in cat years when suddenly I found myself on death's doorstep, literally. Fortunately I was rescued from a near-euthanization, and now I'm active on the singles scene here in Houston! My old family had me completely declawed, so if you have fancy furniture that was deterring you from adopting a cat in the past, your worries are over! Another neat thing about me? I have extra toes...and you know what they say about a black cat with extra toes. I'm just kidding, I don't think there's really a saying about that. But anyways, I'm a super sweet and cuddly girl, and I'll prove it to you just as soon as you come down here to see me!

I'm a beautiful one-year old Oriental Short-Hair girl, recently rescued from a dumpster where I was trying to make a home. You know the old saying about one man's trash being another man's treasure? It's just not always true I guess. I'd like to find a real place to live now, complete with family, window seats for bird watching, plenty of toys, attention, and wet food. I'm a tiny little cat, in fact often mistaken for a kitten, so I won't take up too much space! I have a sweet, curious nature and I'll make a wonderful companion.

I have the kind of story that would make for a really good country ballad...you know the kind. I thought I'd found true love with a great owner, I'd almost saved up enough to get my very own Stetson, life was good! But whammy, my owner's cheatin' heart got the best of him and he dumped me for somebody new. I got shipped off to another home but I always played cinderella to the stepsister cats who already lived there; I just wasn't used to having company. From that bad situation things only grew more Patsy Cline-ish. I guess folks figured that since I didn't like to live with other cats, I would probably REALLY enjoy living with twoGreat Pyrenees dogs. Have you seen a Great Pyrenees? They are roughly the size of an Abominable Snowman and as far as I'm concerned about as fun to be around. My point is, talk about setting a feline up to fail!

In spite of it all, my ballad will have a happy ending because I've remained a sweet, well-adjusted, loving, beautiful cat, ISOL (that means In Search of Lap for those of you who aren't up on your personal ad acronyms).

So, if you are a one-cat kind of household, and you've been noticing thatyour lap is sadly without cat at present, come on over and meet me!

Hello everyone from across the pond!

(ok, it is the pond at a local park...)

We are Kensington (I'm the handsome blonde on the left) and Prince William (the black/tan beauty on the right named for a certain Prince who I personally think should just go ahead and ask Kate to marry him. Heck, I'm pretty sure you can make that downpayment on that little starter castle you've had your eye on... ) We are Corgi mix guys full grown at around 16lbs. We were living in, shall we say, less than royal circumstances at a park when a very nice serf picked us up and took us in. We have been fully vetted (a bit annoying I must confess, with all the poking and prodding) and have an appointment to be something that sounds like "tutored" but it is so difficult to make out this American version of what you call English. That notwithstanding, we are happy-go-lucky guys and are sure we'll enjoy whatever it turns out to be.
Though we have lived most of our lives outdoors (unlike certain British cousinswho currently live at Buckingham--and we don't mean Lindsey..) we are longing to have the comfort of an indoor home. We are tired of being cold in the winter and very, very hot in the summer. Mostly, we look forward to not being hungry. They tell us that when we first go home with our new family we'll do really well with something they call crate training. That's ok by us. We'll try anything!
We really like each other but do not necessarily have to live together from here on out. For now, let's meet and have a little tea. (and by tea we do mean let's have lots of yummy biscuits)!

Ta,
Kensi and Wills

Or if you like to have fun with phonetics, OhMyHerKnee. Either way I'll be one of the sweetest Tortoiseshells you'll ever meet. We get such a bad rap for having kitty attitudes, but in my case, I'm just a little shy. My sisters Twinkle & Sprinkle got adopted together right away when we were all brought to Friends for Life a few months ago, but I am still waiting for my special someone. I will be a great kitty for someone with a quiet lifestyle...maybe someone who loves curling up on the sofa with a good book (perhaps a J.K. Rowling work?) or a movie(Order of the Phoenix maybe?) I'll probably always be a little girl (I'm already 5 months old), and I've had all of my important vetting taken care of. I hope you'll come and spend some time with me very soon!

If I look frustrated in this picture, it's due to the fact that my kennel is conveniently located next to all this dog food...and I can't get to it! Other than this minor irritation, I am a cheerful 5 year old chocolate lab girl! I know all kinds of fun tricks, which include but aren't limited to sitting, speaking, and shaking. I hope my new family will teach me some new stuff, because I'm very, very intelligent and eager to learn! I'm here because my former Dad has had to make a change in his life( his new girlfriend is allergic to dogs) and so now he's helping me to meet a my new future family by bringing me to adoption hours at Friends for Life. A tip? If you want to come by and meet me, offer me a treat and ask to see one of my tricks! I'm shy around new people, but I can tell you're one of the good ones if you come bearing cookies.

I was rescued by a particularly kind and generous individual about 10 weeks ago. She doesn't know it, but I spotted her a mile away and really prepared myself to lay on the charm! I was sick and tired of struggling alone on the streets so I stashed my collar, sucked in my tummy until my ribs were showing, puckered up, and planted a wet one right on her (she was a goner). Actually, I'm bluffing a little; I was pretty scared to get close in the beginning, but she had really good cookies with her. Now I am nicely accustomed to the benefits of having people, and I have quite a resume! I am liberal with kisses, particularly when I want to let you know I've missed you, I love to go for walks, I love to play soccer (go, Dynamo) as well as old-fashioned games of catch. I enjoy sitting on my human, but as I now weigh 71 pounds I'm often asked to settle for sitting close by instead. I love other dogs, especially girls ( how do they always manage to smell so nice?) and I don't mind boy dogs either as long as A). they also smell nice, and B). they are neutered. In this day and age there's just no excuse not to be fixed, right guys? I mean, let's face it...who has the pockets to carry protection?

Say, are you wondering why I'm looking for a home if I'm as wonderful as all this? The person who rescued me did so knowing that she would be unable to offer me a permanent residence; she's made an even greater sacrifice by getting me on my feet and fostering me until that perfect, permanent family comes a'callin. Together, we hope that I can find an active young household, as I am so social and so good with children. I have all my basic dog pre-requisites out of the way, such as housetraining,shots, neutering (obviously), heartworm testing and so forth. I am very smart so additional training should be pretty fun. The only other thing you should know about me is that I talk in my sleep, which is always a hilarious experience to observe!

I am the happiest dog you'll ever meet! I'm like 99 % wagging tail and 1 % something else... If you were interviewing me for a job and you asked me to say whether I was an introvert or an extrovert, I would definitely say EXTROVERT! I love people and I love lots of company at all times. You know how some folks talk about needing "alone time"? Not me! In fact, if you allow me to, I'll just pretty much lean against you or sit in your lap as often as possible. I also love other dogs, though it does take me some time to find my "place in the pack" so to speak. What that means is that during the secret communications that occur among dogs, I may strut my stuff a little, just to show 'em what I'm made of. I love tennis balls and you'll hardly ever see me without one in my mouth. I even place it in my food bowl and eat around it ( do they have a 12-step program for this do you think?). Aside from having to eat around my ball, I'm not a picky eater at all and will be grateful for what you put in front of me. I'm really strong and love to play, but if you've got the a/c running I will happily lay around like a couch potato all day. I'm looking forward to learning how to walk politely on the leash; apparently on my report card they said I could improve in that area. I'm very smart, so I should be fun to teach!

I'm a lovely three and a half year old Calico girl; what might interest you about that is the fact that my coloration is thought to bring good luck (according to folklore in many cultures)! I have had some bad luck recently myself, because my family left me behind when they moved away. They didn't say why...I hought things were going great! I'm a sweetheart, I love to cuddle, purr and be petted, and sleeping next to me is like having the softest, cuddliest real live teddy bear. At any rate, now I can be your good luck charm, so come and meet me soon!

I could almost skip the forthcoming autobiography since my picture pretty much tells you everything you need to know about me! I mean, look at these eyes! Look at that tail...see how it's blurry? That's because I'm wagging it so fast, it almost couldn't be captured on film! Look at that grin! Look at those big floppy ears! You get the idea. I'm a bundle of girly, puppy-dog fun and energy. I'm a great communicator, and I promise to include you in all the games and antics I plan to enjoy at your house. I love all people, other animals, and all treats and meals. I'm just over a year old, so that means I haven't learned any bad habits yet and will be a joy to train, plus everyone says I'm very smart! I can't wait to get started on our new life together, so come by and see me soon!

I'm a beautiful Tortoiseshell baby, about eight weeks old. I was saved out of a dumpster at only 1 week old, after my mom had to leave in a great big hurry and never made it back to finish raising me. As such, I've been hand-nursed by a loving foster dad who is quite skilled with raising kitties, and here I must say that life among humans is absolutely where it's at! I've been to all my doctor's appointments (though they tell me a few more are to come) and am successfully eating big-girl food now that I have my very own big-girl teeth ( I love nothing more than testing these out each morning by sinking them into my foster-dad's feet).

That's one way to get faster service when you're waiting for your breakfast! I also love zooming around the house as fast as I can possibly go and trying to get the other (older) cats to play with me. I sure hope I never have to get older; it seems boring!

Right now you can meet me every Tuesday night during adoption hours when I get to come for my play-date at the adoption center, but pretty soon I will be living there full time.

We're four 4 month old Russian Blue kitties and boy did we have a close call! We were rescued from a shooting range where our owner was about to shoot us for target practice. I know this is Texas, and you pretty much get a gun permit once you get out of Kindergarten, but come on! Hadn't that guy ever heard of clay pidgeons? Anyways, we are sweet, snuggly kitties (if you read about our breed online, you will find that we are known to make great pets). We love wet food, snuggly beds, and all pro gun control legislation.