It’s About Time! ……..for these guys to get adopted.

It’s About Love!.........unconditional love from them to you and you to them.

It’s About Feeling Good! ……because it feels good to give and to do a good deed.

 

 

A trip to TJO today would reveal a motley crew of furry friends hoping and waiting for their forever homes. Among these adoptable furry friends; some may need a little extra care, some may need you to overlook a flaw, some just haven’t been chosen yet, and some just need you to be open minded about their age. Each one of these innocent animals deserves love, care, and a home. None of these animals will object to your age, your medical condition, or your appearance – they will just be happy you picked them. It’s a beautiful thing, really. I think there is something extra special about picking an animal that no one else has picked…yet. I can come up with two reasons why I think this; the year I talked my family into the Charlie Brown Christmas tree and my own pet adoption story.

 

It was the scrawniest, ugliest tree on the lot and I felt bad for it. I told my parents we had to get it because no one else would. It was always fun to bring a tree inside and decorate it and look at it for a few weeks but the year we got the Charlie Brown tree was extra special because we went above and beyond and picked a tree no one else would and it made us all feel good…and in my child’s mind I hoped it made the tree feel good too.

 

About five years ago we went to TJO wanting a grey long-haired kitten. And then I saw him. He was huge and like no other cat I had ever seen. He was also three years old and had been there for three months. He was definitely not a grey kitten. When we asked to be with him in the visiting room we were told that his long stay at the shelter was starting to affect his personality and that he might soon be unadoptable. His behavior was strange and distant in the visiting room and he actually attacked my arm and it wasn’t pretty. But I was already in love with him. We decided that we were his only hope. Clearly anyone with children or an older person wasn’t going to take a strange vicious fifteen pound cat home with them. I couldn’t bear the thought of him spending even one more day in a cage.  It was a little rough at first but now I can say he is an awesome cat for us and I am over the moon happy I picked a cat that no one else did or probably would.

 

Even if you aren’t able to provide a forever home there are other ways to help these animals. Perhaps you can financially contribute to the medical care that some animals arriving at TJO need. There are several cats who currently need a veterinarian administered dental treatment to clean and possibly remove teeth as needed. Additionally,there are a couple of cats that could benefit from having an echocardiogram performed to find the cause of heart murmurs to determine the best possible treatment needed if any. Financial contributions help the animal, help TJO, and help the forever families taking these cared for animals home.

Update: We have been adopted!!

Nicole and Lucille are two fine senior citizen female felines.  Nicole is a ten year old Siamese and healthy. Lucille, who came in with a litter of kittens, is a thirteen year old who has a pretty severe case of dental disease and needs a veterinarian treatment to clean and perhaps remove some teeth.

Update: I have been adopted!!

Formerly neglected Nonnie came in completely covered in feces and matted hair. Everyone thought he had black hair until he was thoroughly cleaned and groomed and it was revealed that he was actually grey and white underneath it all. He is twelve years old and is ready to go home with someone.

Update: I have been adopted!!

Poppy is known around TJO as the before and after poodle. Poppy came in a disheveled matted dirty mess (the before) and is now a well groomed handsome poodle (after).  Take her home and keep her gorgeous please.

Update: We have been Adopted!!

Squeak and Ritz are a couple of older dogs. Squeak is a ten to fifteen year old Pomeranian who has dental and heart issues. Ritz is well, just old.

Update: I have been Adopted!!

Quackers is a beautiful long hair grey cat with big front paws. When I walked near his cage he started to purr and roll up near the front of the cage and that always gets me. He is so ready to show someone how grateful he is for their love and care. Quackers is FIV+ and spent several months living outside in Chicopee before being brought to TJO. I lived and loved an FIV+ cat for years named Captain and if I didn’t currently have a cat at home I’d scoop up Quackers in a second. Because he is FIV+ he should be the only cat in the home.

Update: I have been Adopted!!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Tillman and yet for unknown reasons to me and to him he hasn’t found a home yet. Tillman is a cute healthy black cat at the shelter since May 19^th.  Please someone make his day and give him a good home.

Update: I have been Adopted!!

Bogart has bandaged legs at the moment. This guy came in with some infected cuts on his legs but has been treated and will be dancing and gorgeous in no time at all.

Update: I have been Adopted!!

Fig looked a little freaky arriving at TJO. Fig was born with a rear leg deformity where the leg stuck out behind her body and parallel to the ground. TJO has determined that her deformed leg should be removed and has plans to do just that. Fig has been getting around just fine her whole life without the use of that leg and will continue to do so. Someone out there wants to give a three legged cat a home.

Update: I have been Adopted!!

DC is the last cat at TJO brought in from the streets during the aftermath of the June 1^st tornadoes. Her family was unable to bring her back home due to their own difficulties. DC has survived and is ready to thrive in a new home. DC has made a friend at the shelter. Ideally, DC and Meeno could go home together. If you love younger black and white cats these two friends look like siblings and are ready to bring their love, friendship, affection, and gratitude to your house.

Update: Winky has been adopted! Her new mom thinks that she is the lucky one having adopted this very special kitty!

Having volunteered at TJO for a couple of months now, I have come into contact with a few stories that make me question if some people in the general public are human and thankfully some stories that are compassionate, heroic, and amazing. This grey tabby kitten’s story strikes me as amazing. Amazing to me because this little guy has gotten a chance to go on and live a happy life because of TJO’s mission of helping whenever possible. I can’t help but think about what this kitten has already gone through in life in just a couple months of living.  It reminds me and maybe all of us not to give up when things look bleak.  I love that TJO didn’t give up on this tiny being.  A frightened feral (wild) half pound kitten comes to TJO with a severely protruding eye thought to be the result of an untreated upper respiratory infection. This two month old half pound kitten, imagine him in the palm of your hand, underwent surgery to remove his eye and save his life thanks to TJO staff.  He is currently in a foster home placement recovering but is available to live as a grateful one-eyed indoor cat to a loving forever family looking to make this story a happy ending for all.

Update: Sheila has been adopted!! Best wishes to Sheila and her new Family!

I'm Sheila the Rottweiler and I came to TJO severely underweight and suffering with an infection in my uterus called pyometra. Quick action is needed in cases of pyometra because it can be fatal fairly rapidly. Thankfully TJO arranged for an emergency surgery to save my life that would have been cost prohibitive for most people - about $3,000. I have recovered nicely and put some weight back on.  Now that I'm feeling better, I've become a shelter favorite. Staff think I am so cute carrying my toys in my mouth around here and have noticed what a sweetheart I am. I've lived with cats, dogs, and kids with ease but I should probably go to a home with kids over ten years old just because I'm big. My adoption fee is a little higher than normal to help cover the costs of my surgery but I am worth it. Thanks TJO and my future forever home for caring about me.

 

She likes YOU!

 

You don’t have to hold this Buttercup under your chin to know she likes you! Buttercup is a one year old female brought to T.J. O’Connor hungry, thin, scared, and miserable with a severe case of mange.  Her skin was red hot and itchy – poor thing. With the proper veterinarian care of Dr. Atkins and the loving attention of shelter staff, Buttercup is blossoming into the active young sweet pup she was meant to be. She is eager to go home to a foster family while she recovers or better yet her forever family. Buttercup will need to come back to T.J. every other week for a little while to follow-up on her medical care. Buttercup shows her gratitude for the T.J.O. staff, volunteers, and donors that have given her a new and improved life with a flurry of tail wags when you visit her.

Please help the animals in our care by making a donation here online or by phone or mail. more details

Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center, 627 Cottage Street, Springfield, MA 01104
phone:413.781.1484   Email:info@tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com