Dan Rosenstrauch/Contra Costa Times
Instead, the traumatic experience created a special bond between the three animals, with Leonardo instantly cheering up when he saw the kitten again during pet therapy sessions. But he was not out of danger just yet. After several months in a county shelter, the kitten and chihuahua were both adopted, but lovable Leo had yet to find a family, and was scheduled to be put down. That's when the local Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) stepped in to give him another chance.
After ARF made his story public, they received a record number of calls about adopting Leonardo. A local couple gave him a comfortable new home last weekend, while the interest raised by the story had the shelter adopting twice as many animals as usual – a much-deserved happy ending for everyone involved.
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Well i would have took him in a minute! I hope they catch these people that let all those animals suffer and die! It doesnt matter tho they wont do anything to them! They give them a slap on the rist and they dont have to suffer like these poor animals did!!
Brenda, I agree with you. This country needs tougher animal abuse laws. And with all the pet overpopulation, why in the world can't we pass laws to stop the over breeding. I know it would be easier said than done, but something would be better than nothing. We got our Shih Tzus at a "breeder" in Ohio and they had so many puppies it was horrible. This elderly couple is breeding dogs at an alarming rate for profit. They have been doing it for many years. The pups are in terrible shape and have many problems. But we love them and accept them as they are with all their quirks. When they get too many dogs, they start selling them at a reduced rate or at a "2 fer" rate.It's shameful. I turned them in to the AKC, CKC, humane society anyone who would listen. But they are still in business. The dogs have jaw, ear, and facial problems. Also infested with worms. We have had them almost 2 years and they are our babies.
I agree with Brenda - there are no real penalities for animal abuse. My husband and I are owned by a white boxer that was also abandoned in an empty house for several weeks. She was very shy and would cringe if we walked into the room with any object in our hands. I can't bear to think what happened to this sweet little dog. She has now been with us for slightly over a year and has become a great friend and companion - braver too!
brenda i agree with you completely we do need tougher animal abuse laws i am only 13 and even i know this and you are also right about him being cute!
I live in Maine and they are trying and I think with success (there has been ALOT of support behind it) make any form of Animal abuse a FELONY not just a misdemeanor like it is in most states. I hope to God this passes and all the other states follow our lead and make them pay for their crimes, a misdemeaner is not going to stop them, they get what a $500 fine and hardly if any jail time! Write to your state Represenatives, Senators, Governors who ever will listen, keep on them and let them know it won't be tolerated and hopefully they will also pass the law making it a felony as animal abusers generally go on to commit more violent crimes against humans, it is a FACT!!!!!
Those poor chihuahuas!
Ugh I hope Leonard finds a loving family very soon and they punish those people who did such a horribly cruel thing. I'm disgusted.
Ohhhhhhhhhh, so glad Leo got a home. I just wish the three of them could've stayed together. And the little Chihuahua's that didn't make it, RIP little ones. Join my pets that are waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge. Sorry you got placed with the wrong human{s}. Leo is beautiful. He looks like a Bordeaux mixed with a Shar-Pei. Very exotic looking=) Was anyone ever caught?
Anyone who has room to save an animal should not wait for a story like this one to adopt.....poor animals are euthanized each and every day in this country. If you have a heart save one today!!!!
Thank God for the good people of this world that do care about animals!!!!
Susan, I agree with you, as well as Brenda in this case. People shouldn't be waiting for fascinating stories to adopt an animal, or even help out....More animals have to be put down every year because no one is adopting them...Which brings me to tears...those poor creatures deserve a loving family... And to Brenda, I once tried to talk to a member of the House to pass a bill for rights of animals... but they never wrote me back. :( But luckily... the ASPCA and SPCA of different states are helping out to stop Animal Cruelty...
I agree with Brenda. People that do this to animals need severe punishment. It seems like to many people are getting away with animal abuse and it makes me sick. I get so upset when I read stories like this I just cry.
i am so glad there are animal rescue foundations they give animals (like leo) a second chance! i am only 10 and i have 2 dogs.
i have rescued hundreds of cats from my area and found them good loving homes and the ones i couldn't find a home for i kept. i am currently on cat number 10. my house is a zoo but i wouldn't change it for the world.
Anyone who abandons a pet should suffer the same fate and see how much these irresponsible people like it by dropping them off in the hot desert miles away from the nearest town or lock them up inside an abandoned house. If they live to tell their tale then they deserve 1 year in jail, a heavy fine and community service for 2 years in a sewage plant. A poor defensless animal how cowardly!
All my three dogs are recued pets. Little Twinkles, A miniture poodle left to fend for himself in the imperial valley of CA. He was dirty, dehydrated, and malnurished until I happen to see him trotting in 112 degree heat as I was leaving a nearby restaurant. I was at a red light when I spotted what I thought was a rodent turned out to be a little poodle. He looked right at me as he trotted away. I pulled over and took him home. After the Vet no one claimed him so he found a new home with me. Unfortunatley, he died two and a half years later of enlarged heart disease. I spent $4,000.00 on medical bills and medication until he passed away. In my eye's, he went from a nothing to become a millionaire. I spoiled him silly.They were the best two years that little guy gave me and to this day I don't regret it:) My second dog, a small cockapoo (Trisquit) was left in the high desert in california near cyotes because the people who had him couldn't afford him. They kept him with grown german sheperds and was attacked when I found him out in the middle of nowhere. My third dog, A small white terrier (Trixie) was thown out of a moving car in EL Centro CA and was found running inside hospital corridors unit she was cornered. They were going to call the pound but I decided to take her in too. To this day, both little Trisquit and Trixie still live with me. Little Twinkles ashes are in a small Glass and Cherry wood box inside a huge china cabinet surrounded by crystal pieces along with a photo of him sleeping in front of a fire place. Trisquit tells me when to go to bed by pacing infront of me or if I'm watching TV he'll stand there in the hallway whinning until I give in. Trixie is very protective of him but she is a devious little prankster. If it wasn't for these little lugs I would have gone nuts!
Boy that's a really horrible story of how the tiny dogs were starved and how the threesome were separated as only a family shouldn't be
Ray! You the man! Why can't all men be like you- God bless you with health monies and etc