Cover Model Entries

I had promised my 5-year-old twin girls, Isabella and Sophia, that when we settled in to our new home in Hampstead NC, they could adopt a dog. I was thinking they would like a cute little something and we would of course rescue, so we picked up PawPrints Magazine and it has changed our lives! The ad that caught our eye had a photo of a Saint Bernard named Sebastian. It said he was a 2-year-old, goofy, playful, loving Saint Bernard that had a unique ability to make people smile. It also said he had a perfect heart-shape on his left side. We read that when he was little he had been kept in a crate that was too small and could not stand up, which caused his legs to become deformed. He was named Sebastian after the crab from the Little Mermaid because of the way he walked, but his awkward gait did not stop him from running and playing. How could two little girls pass all of that up - hearts, the Little Mermaid and a big, hairy playmate!! We went to see him at his adoption event at Petco and then he came for a home visit. He jumped out of the adoption van and ran straight into the pond, then this big, wet, hairy dog did what all Saint Bernards do...he gave a BIG shake and got us all wet. He followed the girls around and they hooked up their little red wagon with jump ropes and Sebastian gave them a ride. WE WERE ALL IN LOVE.

The girls took him to Poplar Grove Plantation's Doggy Costume Contest and, when getting their award for 3rd place, Sophia took the mic and gave an unplanned speech on how they had just adopted Sebastian and that it was a good thing to do because there are lots of dogs looking for families. I was proud of her and what adopting this big, loveable dog had done was given my girls understanding and compassion for animals.

Sebastian has the title of "Farm Manager" and never misses a trip to the barn to help do chores. He watches over the girls and has come running to get me when one of them is hurt and crying on a walk in the woods. He swims with the ducks, eats hay with the horses and, most of all, he tolerates being dressed up. Usually he is wearing something pink.

Sebastian went from a dog who spent his entire life in foster homes to having a home where we believe he was supposed to end up. He changed our lives, especially the lives of two little girls who had tons of love to give and they found out that Sebastian did too. He will be, without a doubt, one of the BIGGEST parts of their childhood!

Jean Strahan

Photos by: Dick Parrott

In September of 2007, my best friend, Tiggy, succumbed to Chronic Renal Failure, just 10 days before his twentieth birthday. His death was quite sudden and completely devastating to me.

I knew, of course that there would be another cat in my life but I didn�t think it would be soon. I found myself searching the internet sites �just to look.� I saw a litter of orange Tabby cats appear in a Cat Tails listing. I�m very partial to orange Tabbies and if I�d had the space and finances to care for them, I�d have adopted them all but that wasn�t possible, so I kept watching the ad as the kittens were adopted. Finally it appeared one was left. His name was Pippin, so out to Petsmart I went.

Could I do this? Was I ready for another cat? I still missed Tiggy so much but my house was so quiet and just wasn�t a home any longer.

I went in and met Pippin and it was love at first sight. I then found out that one of his brothers was also there. Of course, I couldn�t leave a brother behind, so Poppin came home with me, too.

I�ve had 6 surgeries since their adoption and have had to spend a lot of time in bed. They have taken such good care of me! Poppin has turned into the bodyguard, helping to answer the door and not allowing anyone into my bedroom until he hears me say it�s OK. Pippin, though bigger, is still the baby, preferring to sit and nap with his Mama.

These two rascals have brought such joy into my life, when joy was needed more than ever. It�s hard to feel sorry for yourself with two purring friends in bed with you!

Nancy Cox

Photos by: Dick Parrott

Our cat, Socks, was in a life-threatening situation when she was found cuddled up against the radiator of a truck. Thankfully, someone managed to notice the kitten and notified everyone she knew via email. There were pictures of her they had taken that day. Gazing into those dark pools called eyes, this kitten said, �Help me. You're my only hope.�

My Dad knew that day she was perfect. In fact, had it not been for him, Socks would most likely have been put down, as she was due to go to the pound at 1:00pm. As an additional treat, it was the last day of school. I remember vividly my sister, only 5 at the time, saying, �Is that a robot?�

Every day, I wake up thinking how much better it is now that we have her. And at 6:15 in the morning, every morning, I get ready and she's always there, rubbing against my legs. Socks is loving and very affectionate. She used to be timid and took about a week to get used to new people. Now she�s warming up to new folks much faster, sometimes rubbing up against them!

Curiosity may have killed a cat, but not this one! Socks pokes her head in everything. She gets on guard when we get a new appliance or piece of furniture, sniffs it, rubs it, and walks away. She loves to chase a flashlight beam and becomes puzzled when I turn the flashlight off.

Overall, Socks is the entire package. If you ever get the chance to meet her, you�ll agree. Everyone says: �She's puuurrfect!�

I adopted my first cat in 2008 on October 24th. His name is Merlin. We called him Merlin because he was gray so we thought he was wise like the character Merlin in Jack and Annie�s Magical Tree House. We adopted him from Cat Tails at our local Petsmart. Ever since I adopted Merlin my life has been so much better. The day I adopted Merlin was so exciting! He was the kitten that purred the most out of his whole litter. When I was holding him a thought arose upon me: �Are my mom and dad going to let me adopt him?� so I started crying then my mom asked me why and I said �Because I want to keep him.� That night I ended up bringing home Merlin. Ever since that night he has turned into a loving and caring cat. Whenever I come home from school Merlin is always waiting at the door to greet me. He also knows when you are upset or crying. Every time I cry he is always rubbing my knee and he always makes me feel better. My cat Merlin should be on the cover because he is very photogenic. Once you pull your camera out you won�t be able to stop. He loves to pose in all sorts of ways. He obviously loves the camera and all the attention he gets. When Merlin is on the cover of PawPrints I know readers will want to go out and adopt a pet so they can have the happy experience I have had.

When introduced, many people find Noland to be an odd cat name. Under normal circumstances, I might agree, but Noland has been an exceptionally special spot in my life since his strange beginnings.

It was my third Saturday at Petsmart in search of the perfect kitten. My only requirement was a kitten fast to my heart. On the third pass through that week's kittens, I thought that I would have to return for yet another Saturday of browsing. While walking by an end-capping kennel, I met eyes with Noland, �Bright Eyes� at the time [and later Nala] and thought, �That's the one!� After the paperwork, I took my little princess home. I changed the name from �Bright Eyes� to �Nala�.

She was immediately at home. I had never seen a kitten so comfortable so soon. I knew it was meant to be. Over the next few weeks I began to notice that my little princess seemed more a devious prince, and began to wonder whether I had been misinformed. Later that week while flipping through a new issue of PawPrints, I noticed ads for the remainder of her litter. While scanning the photos, I noticed a photo of Nala! Still up for adoption, only the name was �Spunky�. I read Spunky's bio and it was a perfect fit to Nala. �Bright Eyes� had been mistaken for Spunky, and I actually had adopted a boy. The vet then verified it, (and I got a little class on how to tell the difference). Again, I had no preference for sex, but Nala had already learned his name. I had to do something, and so as not to confuse him, Noland was born, and I loved him all the more for his unusual beginnings.

Noland and I, at our young ages, have a few exceptional stories we could tell detailing our youth, (he promised he wouldn't if I didn't). I knew when I saw him, and everyday he greets me at the door, that he's my perfect fit. And we continue to make memories!

Our cat Fraidy came to us about 6-years ago now. When he first showed up in the driveway he was so scared that he looked like a black and white streak, that's how he got the name Fraidy. Then one cold and snowy December day we opened the back door and there he sat, sneezing and with his eye swelled shut. We took him to the vet, got him some medicine and got him well. He's been ours ever since. He is the most lovey cat, he loves to snuggle. He puts his paws on both sides of your neck and cuddles. He is also very funny, he thinks the dog is his girlfriend and he loves to sit next to her and look at her with big cow eyes. The dog does not think it�s funny, she looks at us like �What is this cat doing?� Bringing Fraidy into our home has been one of the best decisions we have ever made.

Tammy Warrell

I went with my church on a mission trip to Frakes, Kentucky to work on a couple of houses in 2008. When we went to our first house, this precious little white dog came running up to us and was so happy. I told the homeowner how sweet and cute he was and she said, �I�m getting ready to take him to the pound�. Well, I was horrified. I asked if she would keep him until that Friday when our trip would be ending and she answered positively. We played with �Biscuit� the whole week and he always greeted us with a smile. He came home with us on the church van and the next morning I broke the news to my husband. He also fell in love with him and he has been with our family ever since.

Biscuit has really made our family whole. We had another rescue dog that we had to have euthanized after owning him for 15 years so we knew that we eventually wanted another dog. Biscuit fit right in. He does enjoy lying on our kitchen table. I consider him my centerpiece, as this is his preferred spot in the house. Last year, my husband had a heart attack and while he was in the hospital, friends took care of our �son� Biscuit. Each day when they came over to sit with him, he had a piece of my husband�s clothing, usually his boots on the table with him. This was odd behavior for him and we knew that he missed him terribly. He was so happy when he came home from the hospital.

Biscuit deserves to be on the cover because he is the most beautiful dog ever! He is also the best dog ever.

My name is Beverly French and I adopted a black lab from New Hanover County Animal Control. I adopted her on January 14, 2009. The last two years have been the best two years of my life. It was actually Chloe's birthday the day I adopted her. She is a true blessing to me every day. I take her to the park at least once a day and enjoy her snuggles every night. She is truly my best friend. I love coming home to her and taking her everywhere I can. She travels with me and loves family time. She especially loves my little nephews, Noah and Ethan. She enjoys running on the beach and around the loop at Wrightsville Beach.

The reason I think she should be on the cover is because my story can tell everyone how important it is to adopt and how it is so rewarding. For many months before I adopted, I tossed up the idea of buying a dog or going to Animal Control. The day my dad said, "You need to save a dog and when you get there, they will pick you, you won't have to pick them." He was right!!! When I walked into Animal Control two years ago, I opened the gate to see her and she licked me in the face. I knew she had picked me and I wasn't going home without her. After filling out all of the paperwork, Chloe and I headed to PetSmart for food, toys, and treats. I thank my dad daily for the wonderful advice.

I hope you will consider Chloe in the search for the Cover Model. She just turned 3 and this would be the best birthday present!!!!

Beverly French

My husband and I spotted our dog Tiesto, then named Sammy, in the January 2009 edition of PawPrints. In his little black and white photo he looked tiny and frail, and his dark eyes looked frightened. But somehow we just knew that he was our dog.

After we contacted Paws Place, Tiesto�s foster mom brought him to our home. We were delighted, but cautious too, as any new �parents� would be. Tiesto didn�t jump on us or wag his tail. He seemed to be silently and warily studying us. For several weeks he spent nearly all of his time, both sleeping and waking, huddled in a pile of fleece blankets in his crate. He sought very little attention. Then, one evening as I sat on our living room floor, Tiesto approached me, coiled himself into a little ball, and plunked down into my lap. My husband and I knew that Tiesto finally felt like he was at home, and that we had created that bond of trust that is unique to man and dog.

Now, sometimes my husband and I look at each other and ask, �What did we do before we got Tiesto?� He keeps us constantly entertained with his playful antics, as he flings his toys all over our living room. One of our favorite things is when he does what we call �torqueing,� running at top speed in circles around our yard. Tiesto is truly part of our family, and we adore his sweet, silly, affectionate nature. Now, he wags his tail so hard that his whole behind wiggles. We think that Tiesto is a perfect example of how rescue pets can be wonderful companions, and are grateful every day for how he has enriched our lives.

All I can say about �ClaraBow� is...she is a wonderful �old chiweenie lady�. She was adopted from Wayne County Animal Control and Adoption Center in Goldsboro, NC. Picked up as a stray, she was scared to the point of trembling, vomiting and diarrhea. She had extreme dental disease that was causing her to have a very unpleasant odor. Nonetheless, she won my heart as I walked by her cage. She peeked out at me from under the blanket where she was hiding. It was love at first sight. After a trip to the veterinarian, to have her teeth cleaned (some had to be extracted) and to be spayed, she was given a clean bill of health. The doctor estimated her to be approximately 10-years-old. It did not take her long to become a part of my pack and with her �old lady charm� became the queen of our home. She is a joy to live with and the greatest cuddle bug ever.

I would like to see �ClaraBow� featured as your cover model because so many times senior, homeless animals are overlooked. Older animals do make wonderful pets. She could be a testimonial that older animals are great companion pets. They have a lot of love left to give.