Cover Model Entries

Relaxing one night at Calabash EMS I was surprised to hear what sounded like a baby crying in the parking lot. I went in search of the sound and discovered that it was a beautiful Siamese-mix kitty. The poor thing sounded so pitiful and she appeared to be in dire need of a bath and a hot meal. Unfortunately, the only suitable food I could find at the late hour was a freezer-burnt sausage patty and a bowl of milk. "Samantha" wasn't too happy with the menu, but she was grateful, nonetheless. I took her home that night, gave her a nice bath, some REAL food, and tucked her into bed with me. She showed her appreciation by "making bread� -with her claws I might add - at the nape of my neck.

A couple of weeks later she was putting on weight and looking much better. A couple of weeks after that she was obese! We were baffled that she put on so much weight so quickly...but when her milk came in we had all of the puzzle pieces! Cat Tails found forever homes for three of the fur-babies, and Samantha, along with her baby boy, Howard, set up shop in our home. Seven months later we lost Howard to a neurological illness, but Samantha has helped us overcome the grief. She is very-much the Prissy Princess and is quick to remind us where we stand in this house if we don't complete our chores when she wants us to.

Samantha should be on your cover because she is 100% cat! She thinks that she has regal-bearing and loves the camera. Her bright-blue eyes will steal your hearts, if she decides to grace you with her presence! Things definitely are on her terms around here, but when she decided it's time for a snuggle, you better stop what you're doing! I heard someone saying in the pet shop today that owning a pet is the closest you'll come to holding a piece of heaven...God's love is unconditional, and so is the love that our pets give to us. No matter what an animal has been through, they are always quick to try again. So many of the animals found wandering the streets or in shelters have faced so much heartbreak...you'd think they would just give up on us humans, but they never do. All they want is another chance at love with a forever home, and I am so glad that Samantha chose me!

Jessica Hearn

Photos by: Dick Parrott

I adopted Lou from Carolina Boxer Rescue. He was found as a stray and came into the rescue weighing 48 pounds, at least 20 pounds under his ideal weight. He had roundworms, bilateral ear infections, a skin infection, a yeast infection on all four feet, and a fatty tumor on his neck.

The moment I saw his picture on the website I fell in love. Two weeks later I was on my way to Columbia, SC to adopt Lou. Lou�s foster mom told us how Lou was scared to walk on anything but carpet, wouldn�t walk up or down stairs but was always in a good mood.

When Lou had put on weight and was healthy enough for anesthesia we made an appointment to get him neutered and have the tumor removed. A week later the biopsy results came back, it was a mast cell tumor.

Two weeks later Lou underwent surgery to remove the margins. He had to stay in the hospital for 3 days to recuperate. I went to the hospital for a visit and they brought Lou out with a 10 inch incision from the top of his neck to under his chin. Lou was bouncing and playful, not bothered by his recent surgery.

On December 31st we got the results of the margin biopsy. The margins were clear! Lou was cancer free, I couldn�t think of a better way to start the New Year. Lou remains cancer free to this day.

Lou is the sweetest, most loving dog I have ever met. There is always this constant calm about him. He continues to get more and more confident, he now gracefully slides all over the hardwoods and leaps up and down the stairs without hesitation. I am so grateful and blessed to have Lou in my life, he is my best friend.

Robin Davis

Photos by: Dick Parrott

Suvi B, whose name means Summer Blessing, has brought more blessings into my life than ever imagined. She was adopted from a rescue organization via the internet. She was born completely blind and was up for adoption because her owner was slowly going blind herself. When I came across Suvi B�s description I wasn�t overly concerned with the fact she was blind. I figured enough love could overcome any hurdles. Little did I know, God and Suvi B had a plan all their own. Suvi B�s disability has proven to be a great ability. Her keen awareness, via her other senses, has proven to be life changing. Suvi B is so in tune with my body and needs she has become my Service Animal, which was not my intention when adopting her. When she came to be my forever furkid I took numerous pain medications each day to help function with a debilitating medical condition. With Suvi B�s �alerts� and immeasurable love I no longer take medication on a daily basis. Our bond inspired me to change my career path to one focused on animals and their welfare. Saying she has changed my life is an understatement. I can only hope I have changed hers.

Suvi B should be on your cover because I want our story to inspire and encourage others to adopt animals some would deem unadoptable. I want our story of love and hope to inspire those who may not feel very hopeful or loved. I also want anyone who is thinking of buying a pet to instead choose adoption.

There are no words to describe how much I love Suvi B. When adopting her I thought I was saving her life. Little did I know she was going to save me right back!

Skyler was a birthday / Christmas present the first year that James and I were together. We went to 3 places, and Pender County Animal Shelter is where Skyler came into our lives, a four month old �sooner� pup that comes a dime a dozen. She was nothing but legs and scared of the world when we saw her. I must have played with 10 other dogs before her, I didn�t even play with her, and I scooped her up and didn�t put her down till we were home. She was so timid and still is. She warmed up quickly to us; we had a special bond from the very beginning.

My life has changed dramatically, in a way that I never imagined. When I come home, I always see the black and tan face pasted to window, and my heart melts. I go to sleep with her cold nose beside me, and wake up to compassionate Skyler kisses. She is absolutely the sweetest dog I have ever known. I could not imagine a day without her love. She makes the worst day the best when I see her.

I love her so much I cannot fathom of the love I will one day have for my own child. This �Mutt� is my child. I fall in love with her all over again every day. This dog was put on this earth for me. We were meant for each other. She is my heart!

Skyler should be on the cover because I want to share her love with everyone, the love she has so genuinely shown me. I want her to light up others lives like she has done for me. She deserves to be on the cover because she is just so awesome and full of life and love!!

22860000 22860000 (`@````````` 266 263 5 110185200 110185200 Kane was adopted from Onslow County Animal Shelter on September 2, 2008, just 2 days away from euthanasia. We actually had intended to adopt two dogs but the female was already adopted, so we took Kane. My husband took him straight to the vet. He was very lethargic, sick, stinky (even after several baths), skinny, and hungry. For the first few days, my husband had him hid in his barracks room, a big no-no! But that weekend, my husband met me half way in Virginia and I took Kane to Ohio with me for two weeks. I was moving from Ohio to North Carolina in two weeks and we were purchasing a house. After several vet appointments costing more than a purebred Labrador, Kane is a beautiful, loving, healthy, life of the party, overly friendly dog.

I had never had a dog until we rescued Kane, just cats. Of course, my 7 cats are wonderful but having Kane in our lives is a true blessing. He is my husband�s best friend. He sleeps with us on the bed and couch and despite being 75 pounds, he thinks he is 10 pounds and he wants to be in your lap if he can! He LOVES everyone. He is great with children, dogs and the other cats! Kane should be on the cover because he is absolutely handsome! How can you deny that face! We love him so much, and we are so thankful to have Kane in our lives for good!

If life is a wheel, we do our best not to get caught under the tires. That�s not always easy, especially for a domestic animal. Driving home on New Year's Eve, my wife spotted a kitten sitting in the middle of a turnoff lane. It was in bad shape, covered in mud and blood with a right front paw twisted at a horrible angle. I snuggled the cat in my lap for the remaining two hour drive, while my son helped her sip water from a bottle cap.

After a quick exam, the vet put her on fluids and antibiotics. Now, we had to make the hard decision. Do we commit to covering the medical expenses even though there was a very real chance she might not survive the next 48 hours? We did and left her in the vet's care.

Returning Saturday (the office was closed New Year's Day), we discovered that she was responding well enough to take the I.V. out and she came home with us, along with antibiotics, medications and special food. As I filled out more paperwork, I was confronted with a blank line labeled �name�. The Vet Tech said, �You guys are going to have good karma for helping that poor kitty.� That was good enough for me. Karma was now a part of our household.

Her recovery has been quite remarkable. She's an affectionate, scrappy kitten and has 95% use of that bad paw. She's bonded well with our other cats. Georgia, our 1-year-old cat, taught her how to clean herself. Karma has not brought us the winning lottery numbers or a new car, but she has brought love and joy into our house. Life will never be the same. I still consider Karma our Christmas miracle.

After Hurricane Katrina, I volunteered at Carolina Canines to help with displaced dogs. It turned out there were displaced cats as well. I love dogs, but I LOVE cats. So I offered to work with the cats. I don�t recall how many cats we had, but I think we had more cats than dogs.

There was a white cat with orange spots named �Sonny�, but nicknamed �Romeo� because he was so loving. Rumor had it that he was the most wonderful kitty at the shelter in Texas. The volunteers would take him out of his crate, drape him over their shoulder and take him along at feeding time. Sonny is the only cat that loves to lick you to death! He�s a great exfoliant. And his absolute love has given me happiness and peace.

Sonny should be on your cover, not only because he�s beautiful, but because he�s fabulous. When I walk in my yard, he follows me everywhere and demands to be picked up and draped over my shoulder. If I don�t pick him up, he jumps on my legs, without hurtful claws out.

I�ve had great, loving cats for 50 years. Sonny is the BEST I�ve had. His kisses, snuggles and demands to be in my lap are irresistible!

A Blessing in a Small Package:
In 2004 I adopted a Persian kitten that I saw in PawPrints. I named her Bella. She had been brought in with ringworm. She was shaved and had to go through a lot of medical treatment for many weeks.

Despite all of my efforts to love her, she was extremely shy and only wanted to stay hidden away. The vet said she was just very timid and happy in her own way. Still, I felt so sorry for her and wanted to do more.

One night, I had the idea to get her a female friend to see if that would bring her out of her shell. On one of the websites, I saw this little black and white cat. Her name was Thundercat. She was tiny, only 6 lbs., just like my Bella.

Of course, I fell in love with her on the spot! I named her Baby Girl. She acts more like a dog than a cat and she pretty much rules the house. She keeps me laughing at the messes she gets into. She drinks water from the bathroom faucet! She is a joy!

Bella is coming around. She does not stay hidden away nearly like she did. She comes out to mingle and actually eats dinner with everyone. Before, she would only eat in the bedroom by herself. Now, the two of them will hang out together and occasionally, Baby Girl will feel the need to clean Bella�s face. Bella just tolerates it. It�s really cute!

I can�t imagine my life without them. They are both tiny little blessings that make this world a better place to be. People that don�t have a pet in their life are missing so much. They give a lot and ask for so little in return.

My parents adopted Tigger from MacBeth�s Pet Village (not there any more) before I was born. He is almost 13-years-old.

I have known Tigger since the day I came home from the hospital. And he has changed my life because he is my best friend and almost always sleeps with me.

Tigger should be on the cover because he has been through so much, losing his mother in front of his eyes, having hyperthyroidism, and losing his father. He deserves a treat. And he is very photographic.

I love Tigger like a family member. He is so important to me and I would hate for anything to happen to him. I love him so much.

A friend worked at a local animal shelter that was moving to a new location. She needed volunteers to foster dogs for 6 to 8 weeks while the new shelter space was completed. I had been considering getting a dog for some time, but having never had one, I was a bit nervous! I thought this trial run was the perfect way to see if having a dog was right for me. So I volunteered and a week later picked up 11-month-old Toby. Toby was extremely timid, especially of men, as he had already been returned to the shelter 3 times! However, Toby and I bonded instantly, and to my surprise and delight, he also immediately made friends with my now husband. Within 24 hours of having Toby, we realized how badly his former owners and returns to the shelter had affected him. He had severe separation anxiety and an even more severe crate phobia. However, we had fallen head over heels in love with him, decided to adopt him, and we set to work immediately trying to help Toby regain his confidence. After a thorough vet evaluation, we began clicker training which Toby excelled at, and after 3 levels of obedience, we continued onto agility training. Now, 6 years later, we still can�t believe how lucky we are to have such a beautiful and wonderful dog. His muzzle has become gray, but he is as happy and confident as ever, and when I see him run up to a new dog or human (or even a cat!), my heart just bursts with pride at how far he has come.

Toby should be on the cover because after a very rough start to life, he worked hard to overcome his fears. Every day, you could tell he wanted to please us, no matter how scared he was to meet a new human or go somewhere new. He has shown that with a little love and caring, dogs can give us a new and amazing dimension to our lives, to which Toby is living proof. Toby travels with us, plays and cuddles with us, and poses nicely for photos (he was even in our wedding photos!), but most importantly loves us unconditionally! Toby is our best friend, our child, and we are thankful to him for choosing us to be his parents. We love you Toby!

Jennifer Metzler-Fiorino

Photos by: Dick Parrott

In the midst of an incredibly grueling week on the home front during my husband�s last deployment, I was rescued by my very own Jedi Knight (in fur armor) � Toby Wan Kanobi. He was serving as a wise 7-year-old master to all of the kittens with Cat Adoption Team in Petsmart. He�d been out of Jedi training for a while and had added a few pounds to his already Chewbacca-sized frame. He was so large, in fact, rolls of his velvety black fur bubbled over the sides of his hammock and the cage almost buckled under his weight as he was hanging there. He must have used the Force or a Jedi mind trick when I walked by because the next thing I knew, I had adopted a new fur baby!!! When I brought him home, he flopped on his back in the middle of the floor and claimed the galaxy as his very own. (Never mind the other dog and cat droids living there.)

Since that fateful day, he has loved us through the loss of our 19-year-old cat and 11-year old dog and now he�s helping me through yet another deployment! Toby is an amazing lap warmer, a tolerant big brother to his new Border Collie sister and a surprisingly agile hunter of lizards! (He doesn�t even use a light saber!)

There�s A LOT of Toby to love and we love Toby A LOT. I believe if others knew his story, they might see how amazing it is to adopt an older cat like we did.

I send PawPrints to my husband in Afghanistan and he would be SO proud to see his son (all 16 pounds of him) as the (plus-sized) cover model!

To quote Yoda, �Put Toby Wan on the cover, you must!�

Jennifer Meyers

Photos by: Dick Parrott

I walked out of Wal-mart one day three years ago, and since that trip my life has changed. Being the perceptive person I am, I noticed the little orange ball of fluff right away. He was wandering around in the parking lot, lost and lonely. I was surprised that he hadn't gotten hit. I picked him up and noticed one of his eyes was crusted closed. That is how he acquired his name, Toxie after the Toxic Avenger, an old cult-classic. He was so small he could fit in the palm of my hand. I knew I had to take him.

I am so glad I did. My house is even more exciting, since that one trip to Wal-mart. I wake up to his deep loud moan in the morning. When I turn on the sink or the faucet, he is right there waiting to drink the water, or just paw at it. It is so cute watching him run around the house with a fake mouse in his little mouth. I call him my scraggly little guy because all his faults make him even more endearing. No matter how many times he is brushed he still looks clumpy and he just has this strange personality. He just grows on you.

He should be on the cover of PawPrints because he is one of a kind. He sings and he is a water baby. There is just something special about this furry orange cat.

I can hardly believe that this little ball of fluff that could fit in the palm of my hand is the big, furry strange cat he is today. Especially since he was just left, wandering the streets of Wal-mart. He certainly found a good home, in my heart as well as my house.

After my last bad experience with cats 24 years ago, I decided I would never have another one. They were aloof, temperamental, and destructive, and, frankly, I didn�t understand them. Then, last Fall, I entered my home after work to find a large gray tub sitting on the dining room table. My daughter had brought home a whole litter of 3-day-old kittens. She was babysitting them for a real estate agent from her office, who had discovered them abandoned at a house she was listing. They needed to be weaned which meant feeding them multiple times a day and the agent had a second job she had to go to. For weeks on and off, she helped take care of the kittens at work. The litter slowly shrunk as homes were found, but the agent still had three left and she couldn�t take care of all of them anymore. The agent spent 2-weeks looking for a place to take them, but the most reliable shelters were already overrun with cats and they weren�t taking anymore. My daughter knew my feelings about cats and that I was concerned about our bird, but her reasoning for adopting one pulled at my heartstrings. I couldn�t let a defenseless animal be left without a home, so I told her to pick one. She picked a dark gray kitten that she named Baxter. He and our dog immediately took to each other. I just didn�t realize he would take to me, too...and I to him. He slept in my room. Every night, he would sweetly cuddle up next to me and purr, and soon this gray little kitten had grown into a black, handsome kitty with a great personality that I couldn�t help bragging about. He changed this old woman�s opinion about cats and for that reason I think he should be on PawPrints Magazine�s cover.

Blessings galore were in store for me when I visited the New Hanover County Humane Society on Friday, January 7, 1994 in search of a new feline friend to adopt. Two gorgeous red tabby sisters, 8-months-old, were waiting patiently for me to take them home, sweet, home. It was an Olympic year, so I named them after my favorite figure skaters, Kristi Yamaguchi and Nancy Kerrigan. My husband and I were immediately enriched by their graceful presence in our lives. They were loving toward each other and us, cuddly, good-natured, great company, and they enjoyed life to the fullest. Sadly, Kristi got her angel wings on September 21, 1996, hit by a car.

We will celebrate the 16^th birthday of our beloved Nancy on May 1, 2009, and it would be a fitting honor for this magnificent creature to be honored as the 2009 cover cat for PawPrints Magazine. Not only is Nancy stunningly beautiful, she is brilliant, funny, loyal, stoic, quietly modest and perfect in every way. A true family member for 15-years, she is my best friend and constant companion. I�m a writer, so she routinely volunteers as a place to rest my notes while I�m typing. She�s also a great paperweight. Having survived the tragic loss of her sister, plus two mast cell tumors and radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism, she, thankfully, enjoys excellent health. I

love her as much as any human can love an animal. Every day I remind her that she is the goddess of all of the cats in all of the universe and that I could never live without her. It would be a tremendous pleasure to share Nancy with the community via this special distinction. Just say the word and she is your cover girl.

I am writing to enter my kitty Tinkerbell for consideration as a cover model. She is highly qualified as she has experience. You see, she was on the cover of the June 2004 issue. But that wasn�t what prompted me to adopt her. I went to New Hanover County Animal Control where it was love at first sight! While filling out the adoption forms the clerk told me Tinker was going to be on the cover of the next month�s PawPrints. When I finally saw it I was delighted! She looked so adorable pushing that little shopping cart! I�ve saved that issue ever since.

Nowadays everyone comments on what a beautiful kitty she is. You might think all the attention would go to her head and she�d be a total Diva. Far from it, though. Rather, she acts more like a watch dog, constantly making her �rounds�, going out one door, surveying our property, and back in the other door. I tell everyone she is my �guard cat�. I sleep very well knowing that the ever vigilant Tinker is on duty!

My 10-year-old granddaughter, Chloe, also loves her dearly, and is so proud of her that she shows Tinker�s cover to all her friends. Tinker even lets Chloe dress her up in doll clothes and push her in a toy stroller. Not many cats would put up with that. She�s an exceptional cat!

For all of these reasons I think you should choose Tinkerbell as a cover model. I hope you agree with me. (It would really be cute if you can track down the gray kitty and pose them together again for a reunion cover!)

It sure was a lucky day when I opened my garage door to find Elvis lying outside. As you can see from his �Before� picture, taken the day he arrived, he was in pretty rough shape. With the help of Burgaw Veterinary Hospital, he is now a healthy and happy boy.

Elvis has quite a few scars on his face and is missing a little piece of his lip, but I tell him he�s beautiful! He is so sweet and becoming a house dog was an adventure. Did you know you�re not supposed to pee on the fireplace??

He is also an avid reader. We had to reimburse the library for the first book he read. Who knew a few pages were that important? Elvis also tries to help with the bills. I wish it were as simple as tearing them up and leaving them all over the living room!

If you lean over Elvis to pet him, he will slowly sink to the floor and roll over so you can see his pink tummy with freckles - the cutest tummy ever. It�s really okay if you feel like giving a belly rub.

Elvis has three brothers - Johnson, Boomer, and Chip. I would not trade my dogs for anything in the world. In the beginning, Elvis had a little bit of wanderlust. The woods and the deer were calling to him. I think he decided that being served two meals a day and a warm place to sleep (not to mention lots of hugs and kisses) was much better than life on the road.

I hope people will keep their minds open about adopting former hunting dogs. They are so sweet and loving, and they make a great addition to a home.

If you look at the Before and After pictures of Elvis, you will see a perfect example of how great it is to adopt a dog who needs a home. Elvis would be a great cover model and true representative of PawPrints� mission!

I was heartbroken the day I lost my Golden Retriever of 14-years. I knew I didn�t want to get another dog for a while, but was curious where someone might find Golden Retrievers in North Carolina. I ended up on a pet adoption site where I came across a video of a playful two-year-old Yellow Lab/Border Collie mix. He wasn�t the type of dog I was looking for, but I couldn�t help but fall in love with his beautiful spots and spunky personality. He was due for euthanasia two days later, so I knew I had to make a quick decision. The next day, I traveled to Whiteville Animal Shelter and adopted him. He was timid and scared, and I could tell from the way he responded to me that he had been beaten. The day after he came home, he started to get sick. I took him in for a check-up and shots. It turned out he had Parvo and needed to be admitted to the veterinary hospital immediately. I had to come up with $900 I didn�t have or he would die. So, my mother and I pawned jewelry, family heirlooms, and other items to raise the money. By the end of his treatment, my $13 dog had turned into a $1200 one, but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn�t change a thing. He has been an absolute joy in my life. He makes me laugh and cuddles with me when I need it the most. It was a long, hard struggle for Buddy, but he is a perfect example of how worthwhile rescue animals are. I think Buddy deserves to be on the cover of PawPrints Magazine.

I adopted �Trooper�, whom I later re-named �Lucky�, at the New Hanover County Animal Shelter on January 18, 2008. In my mind�s eye, I could picture my future dog: a medium-sized black lab girl. Looking at the dogs, I didn�t see my black Lab but was reminded of how important it was for the dog to pick me (black Lab or not). I was drawn to the one dog that seemingly paid me no attention, unlike the other dogs. He was listed as a St. Bernard/Collie mix and was definitely not my black lab girl. I took him out to test our rapport and that was it: he had picked me. We both knew. Lucky taught me a very important lesson the very first day I met him: that sometimes you don�t know that what you are looking for is not what you really want or need�and being open to that is the trick. So, I re-named him �Lucky� for the �lucky fin� in Finding Nemo.

My life has changed in that he has taught me about a higher level of responsibility, generosity, and selflessness. I enjoy taking care of him, of making sure he is comfortable and happy, and letting him share everything that I have. Lucky has caused me to feel like a true, happy, and proud parent. Lucky should be on the cover of PawPrints because he is so good and loyal. I feel this is apparent when anyone sees him. I feel that his special spirit and energy will be infectious to your readers when they see his smile and twinkling eyes on your cover.

I love Lucky very much. I love taking him for walks and taking him on vacation with me and my parents. I have been �lucky� enough to take him to Williamsburg for Thanksgiving, Walt Disney World, and Hilton Head and have loved the challenge of searching for special pet friendly options. I love sharing my life with him and want him to be happy. When I remember how he picked me, it overwhelms me with love and affection for my �lucky� dog.

Hello, my name is Amy and I would like to tell you about my dog Chance. She is a 7-year-old Pitbull and she is simply adorable and I am not kidding. You have to meet her to understand why.

I found her as a 3-month-old puppy. It was January 2002 during a winter snowfall. She weighed 8 pounds soak-n-wet. She was frost bit on her ears and every rib was showing. Her feet even looked like chicken feet due to no muscle tone in her legs. I knew she needed help soon or she would die. So I took her in and got her to a vet ASAP. He stated she would not have survived another day had I not found her. After a few trips to the vet we discovered she had an auto-immune deficiency that would not allow her to gain any weight. She needed medication and I�m proud to say she is now a 45 pound happy dog who loves everyone. I believe because of this medical problem she was abandoned, but that is ok because they do not know what a great dog she was and has become. It wasn't easy that is for sure - major separation anxiety and it took much time to get her through this. If you have seen the movie Marley and Me that is the story of my dog "Chance."

I really believe that the breed needs to be reborn again for the name has gotten so bad�and that is sad to me because there are so many of them and so many are good dogs. I think we should expose them more in a positive way and I think this would be a excellent way for everyone to see how great they can be. So I hope you will consider Chance as a cover model...and P.S...she is very photogenic!

I rescued �Smokey� on December 28, 2007 at New Hanover Animal Control. His tag said he was 4-years-old and he was turned in �over the counter because of too many animals.� My heart ached as I intuitively searched that �kitty room� for that special cat who would be a compatible friend to my 6-year-old rescued Greyhound named Sassy. My 15-year-old cat had just passed away in November and all of those beautiful cats deserved �forever homes.� How would I make the right choice?

Smokey was the last kitty I handled since he was quietly sitting in a corner cage just staring at me. His body language said �I dare you to take me home.� He was so different from all the other cats whose paws through the cages pleaded �Pick me.� I took Smokey to the floor and amazingly, he rolled over on his belly for a rub. That was the magic moment; I knew he was �the one.� Lo and behold, my vet concluded he was 2-years-old; he miraculously gained two instant years of life!

I renamed him �Sherman�. His new name reflects his cool character as he plows along like a little Sherman tank, attempting to swat my Greyhound�s tail as we all watch �American Idol� together.

Sherman deserves to be the �cover boy� of PawPrints because he had such an unfortunate beginning in his early life. He had fleas, abandonment issues, and a hopeless attitude. Now he is a handsome, healthy boy with a zest for life. His musical �meow� says �Thank you, I love you.� He has energized my life with a new passion. It feels so good to be �in love again��

Sheryl Keiper

Photos by: Dick Parrott

This December, I adopted a handsome little Dachshund boy who I named Scout. I had been looking for several months at shelters and rescue groups for a companion for my 4-year-old Dachshund, Lucky. When I saw Scout's picture and biography on the Coast-to-Coast Dachshund Rescue website, I fell in love. Scout, then named Rocky, is a 7-year-old long hair Dachshund. Before the C2C got a hold of him, he had a terrible life. He lived in a puppy mill and was forced to breed puppies for profit in terrible conditions. As a result of no vet care, he has had to have almost all of his teeth extracted and has several other minor health problems. He also had never been socialized properly as a young dog, so he was fearful of people. However, knowing this made me want to adopt Scout even more. I know how difficult it is for senior dogs to get adopted, and adoption is even more unlikely for those with health or behavioral problems. I wanted to offer this little senior boy a life that he had never had - loving parent, a fur brother to play with, a warm bed to sleep in, proper medical care, and all of the treats and toys that he knew nothing about in his life as a puppy mill breeder. It has taken a little work to get Scout used to life as a pet, but it is amazing what love can do for a dog! Scout has become a wonderful addition to our little family. He is a great big brother to Lucky. Lucky has taught him how to ride in a buggy at Petsmart, bark at the neighborhood cats, and work mom for extra treats, and he has taught Lucky how to share his toys, his bed, and his mommy. Scout's favorite things are wrestling with his brother, sleeping in the big bed, and demolishing chew toys (even though he only has a few teeth!) It makes my heart so happy when he looks up at me with his big goofy grin and gives me a slobbery lick. I think Scout would be a wonderful cover model because he is a true example of what a difference a loving family can make in the life of a little senior dog.

Stephanie Sellers

Photos by: Dick Parrott

Five and a half years ago when I was searching for a companion for my female Chow, I did not expect to bring home a 100 pound, male Akita. Koal was in the Onslow County Animal Shelter when I first met him. Found as a stray, he appeared to be an older dog, and was scheduled to be euthanized the next morning. He also had heartworms. I agreed to foster him for an Akita rescue. He even had his picture taken for this magazine as an adoptable pet.

Within 2-weeks of bringing him home, our entire family knew Koal was there to stay. He is the most gentle, tolerant dog we have ever had. He was so gentle; my 3-year-old niece could walk him with ease. He and our Chow became fast friends. He lays down to play with our Chihuahua. He ignores the cats. It was as though he had always lived with us. He changed our lives by allowing us to see that an older dog can become a cherished family member. I wanted to share his story so other families considering adopting a new pet will not rule out the older ones. Or heartworm positive dogs. He was successfully treated for heartworms.

Koal is very old now and we are dealing with needs unique to an older pet. Each year that you have the cover model search, I wanted to tell Koal's story. I think this is the last year I will be able to. But as you can see by his picture, he still stands tall and regal. We think that Koal should be the cover model because he is an example of what can happen when you keep an open mind. We have no regrets about adopting an older pet with heartworms. Everybody loves Koal.

Our life with Elvis began almost 2�-years ago when the Cape Fear Golden Retriever Rescue saved his very pregnant mother just a day before a shelter was to euthanize her. We committed ourselves to fostering this mom and her impending little bundles of joy until they could be adopted. Elvis was one of five boys in the litter of seemingly healthy puppies. As the puppies starting walking, we noticed that little Elvis was not getting around like the others. He tended to �rock and roll� everywhere but he was persistent enough that he managed to get to where he wanted to go. Soon after the rest of his littermates were adopted, Elvis was diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia, a neurological disorder that causes him to stagger and fall. Although we had three senior dogs, he already had our hearts, so we decided to adopt him.

Life with Elvis has been a big adjustment for our seniors as he is still pretty exuberant but he has brought renewed energy to them. Elvis goes to work with us and the rest of the crew every day. We have a saying that Elvis is �high on life� as he is probably the happiest dog we�ve ever had. He doesn�t suspect anything is wrong with him and when he does stumble and fall, he gets back up on his feet, shakes off and keeps going. He is a reminder to us that when life gets tough we should do the same. We adore him and can�t imagine our lives without him.

Please consider Elvis to be your 2008 cover model. There are so many dogs with disabilities that can bring joy into our lives, they just need to be given the chance to love and be loved.

I first saw Stella on the Petfinder website. I was not looking for another dog, but simply browsing the site to see who needed a home. The site described her as an approximately 7-month-old Dalmatian mix, very loving and friendly and needs room to run. The description left out the fact that she is deaf. Stella was so adept at following the behaviors of the other dogs in the shelter that no one realized that she could not hear. I realized that she was deaf a couple of days after I got her home. My four other dogs were barking frantically at a foreign dog intruder outside our glass sliding doors. Stella was sleeping peacefully within a yard of the yelping dogs. She did not awaken until I touched her. Thus began my love affair with my deaf Dalmatian.

Stella quickly fit into our family. I took Stella to obedience training and she did very well. She enjoyed the agility part of the class, so I enrolled her in a beginner�s agility. She was top in the class and all with hand signals. We seem to have such a bond that she knows what I want her to do. She always wants to please me so once she gets the concept she will do anything. In fact, the instructor was so amazed with her success that the local newspaper did a feature story on the deaf agility dog.

I think Stella should be on the cover of PawPrints to get the word out about how wonderful rescue dogs can be. She had been returned twice to the shelter and I am so glad that I discovered her. I just wish she could hear me tell her how much I love her.

Lacey was adopted from the New Hanover County Humane Society one hot afternoon in August 2003. I had dropped my husband off at the airport and decided to stop by the shelter �just to look�. I saw that precious scruffy face and I knew she had been waiting for me to rescue her. Lacey loves to travel by boat and car; she doesn�t know where she is going, but is always ready to go. Some of her other favorite things to do are chasing squirrels, patrolling her yard and giving plenty of kisses, as well as getting tummy rubs. We are currently waiting on results from a DNA test that will tell us exactly what our girl is made of, which will give us a better understanding of her breed history and will help us to develop appropriate care and well-being plans for her. Lacey will make a great cover model with that beautiful face and wonderful smile that could warm anyone�s heart. It will show others that there are plenty of loving dogs waiting to be adopted that would bring joy and love to the families they join. We love her with all of our hearts and we hope we give her as much happiness as she gives us. Lacey is a sweet, gentle soul who �PAWStively� helps make our house a home!!

You may not think it to look at her, but this little princess is a product of the mean streets. The toughest young kitten in her feral colony, she was undoubtedly well on her way to becoming an unloved alley cat if not for the kindly actions of a concerned citizen. This good Samaritan managed to capture the spirited kitty and bring her (in a cardboard box) to the veterinary clinic where I worked. It was soon discovered that she had a fish hook protruding from the side of her cheek, and the doctors determined from her feistiness that she must already have devoured the fisherman and his boat.

Her ice-blue eyes and beautiful white fur lured me to her, but it was her fearlessness and zest that truly reeled me in. And when her wounds were healed, her spay complete, and her vaccinations up to date, I brought her home as the newest member of my four-legged family. After a few months' adjustment, her feistiness turned to playfulness and she proved to be quite the "catch"! That fish hook was just a hint of Kallisti's mischievous nature. Over the past years she has provided our home with thousands of mysteries, calamities, and laughs, and has become a loving, graceful cat. We could not imagine our lives without her! Kallisti is the perfect cover model for PawPrints because, as the translation of her Greek name implies, she is indeed "the prettiest one".

Our daughter-in-law, April, rescued this tiny little kitten from a bush at her mother�s. Apparently, some animal had dropped the kitten after taking her away from her mother. April brought the kitten to us. She was obviously hungry but not in bad shape though she did have a wound on the back of one leg. We took her in that night and made an appointment with the vet for Monday morning. We then treated and fed her, and was she ever hungry! As soon as she came in, she started eating and didn't stop except to sleep for the whole weekend. That night she was covered in fleas and was sneezy, and every time she sneezed the fleas would fly off. Poor little girl! When she went to the vet he checked and weighed her (she was 1.4 lbs, and we think the .4 was from all she�d eaten that weekend). She had been treated roughly and had a cold. She sneezed in the vet�s face five times that day, and he felt that was plenty. The vet gave her lots of medicine to get well and get rid of the fleas, and she didn�t like any of it!
We named her Charli Chaplin because she was like the little tramp when we found her. Charli should be on the cover because she is a very photogenic and beautiful girl, and she has a solemn little mouth that everyone should see. Charli has shown us that birds outside are to be talked to; that bugs inside are to be chased; that red dots on the wall might come out to play if you hop up on Daddy�s dresser; and that there�s nothing sweeter than cuddling beside her when she joins you on the couch.

We found Sophie in the woods during a cookout at a friend's house in rural Pennsylvania in November 2006. It was raining and she was huddled in some leaves shivering, trying to keep warm. She would occasionally come down to look for food left on people's plates. She was riddled with ticks but was friendly, allowing us to pet her. She also had an endearing nick out of her left ear. We had to give her a home! We bundled her in the car with us (which she didn't really enjoy) and took her home to meet the rest of the family (2 dogs and 1 cat). Sophie has changed our life by adding her sweetness and silliness. She has an endearing meow that is unlike that of any other cat - we say it is more of a goat's bleat than a meow. But she is always there to purr and rub on you and cheer you up. Sophie should be featured on your cover because she is a purr-fect example of how a homeless pet can bring so much joy and pleasure to your life. She brightens ours every day.

Have you ever adopted a closet kitten? Well, I have. The day after Labor Day, my dad came home from work and said, �Guess what�s in my closet?� You guessed it. Kittens! There were five in all, each a different color. Biscuit (his mom) put them in my dad�s office closet to keep them safe.

I visited them a lot. Then on my birthday my parents gave me a card saying I could choose one to keep. It was so hard to pick just one. I decided to get the orange one and name him Pumpkin. Now, his mother has been spayed. He has changed my life by teaching me responsibility: as in taking care of him by brushing, feeding, cleaning his litterbox and cleaning up behind his antics.

I also make sure he is okay when he�s too curious. I enjoy his companionship, friendship and love. Next to me, his best friend is Trixie, our dog which we adopted from Brunswick County Animal Shelter. I think he should be on the cover because he is cute and might attract people to pick up your magazine. After they read how I got my kitten they might decide to adopt a stray. too. I love him as much as flowers love rain.