Our longest stay cat, Pinhead, finally found a home!

We are so happy to report that our longest-stay cat of four years, Pinhead, has finally been adopted! You may be thinking, four years is way too long for a cat to be in the shelter. Don’t worry, Pinhead had a devoted foster who cared for him for the better part of those four years.

Pinhead was found as a kitten, he was sick with a cold and had diarrhea, which our medical team treated routinely. While we were able to get Pinhead’s respiratory problems under control, his digestive problems continued for months despite treatment. Our staff was perplexed but continued to search for a resolution. Finally, four months later, our medical team discovered Pinhead had megaesophagus. Megaesophagus is a condition that makes it difficult to get food down to the stomach.

This diagnosis is what kept him in our care for so long. At the beginning of his foster journey, he was on a liquid diet and needed to be fed at an angle until he was able to swallow. It took a lot of trial and error before he was healthy enough to be adopted, and after all that time, his foster couldn’t dream of bringing him back to the shelter. He was a second choice for many people, until this week.

A sweet girl saw him on our page and reached out. She got to meet him and speak with his foster, and she fell in love. After one more meeting to get them acquainted, she took him home last Tuesday.

Pinhead has come so far, and is practically eating like a normal cat! He still needs a soft diet and a stool to eat, but his new mom is prepared and willing to take on whatever’s to come. We are so grateful for Pinhead’s foster for caring for him for all those years, and his new adopter.

If this story speaks to you, and you want to help a kitty with megaesophagus, we have another one! Mouthra who’s also been waiting in foster for years, is ready for her happy ending. Just email [email protected] today.

Pets that were adopted September 23rd through September 29th.

Cats that were adopted:

Agatha, Archie Ray, Atticus, Bahama, Biscuit, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Cordelia, Dawn, Fitch, Honeydew, Izzy, Laffy Taffy, Marks, Mila, Perry the Platypus, Petunia, Pinhead, Rhaenys, and Rocky Balboa.

Dogs that were adopted:

Akira, Atlas, Avery, BamBam, Barney, Benji, Clarice, Elliot, Leo, Magenta, Poseidon, Socrates, and Stormy.

Our long-stay kitty Mayo finally found his match this week, and so did 50 other pets!

Mayo was adopted from us in 2017 and returned in 2023 when the adopter said they no longer had time for him. Since then Mayo has proven that he is not a high-maintenance cat. He is mellow, shy, and loves to snuggle with other cats and people-watch. Mayo was declawed when he was returned to us which we believe, is the reason for his shyness.

Many people don’t notice Mayo since he’s not always the first to come out of hiding when customers enter his room. Mayo takes a bit longer to warm up than other cats, but despite his initially shy reactions to strangers, Mayo still craves affection, and is incredibly sweet. Luckily, someone finally saw this in him. Last week, a sweet lady came in and chose Mayo to be her newest kitty.

We are so grateful to Mayo’s adopter, as well as this month’s sponsors Jeff & Cary Sims, Realtors for making adoptions like these possible!

Pets that were adopted September 16th through September 22nd.

Cats that were adopted:

Amaranth, Anthony, Baby Face, Boba, Bright Heart, Dewey, Dimitra, Faraday, Gary, Haze, Hiccup, Iya, Lavender, LJ, Marley, Marshmallow, Mayo, McLovin, Ophelia, Pear, Sauerkraut, Tay, Vincent.

Dogs that were adopted:

Baebae, Bubba, Candy Apple, Coco, Cookie, Cotton Candy, Demure, Funnel Cake, Hazel, Jenga, Lily, Maeve, Marlow, Mindful, Momo, Nesquik, Ovaltine, Philadelphia, Pipsqueak, Snow Cone, Sweetness, Swiss Miss, Wavy, Yoo-hoo, Zeus, Zigzag.

50 pets found happiness this week including TV star Lexus!

You may recognize this week’s feature from one of Living in the Heart of Virginia-LHOV ‘s ‘Furry Friend’ spotlights. Lexus appeared on air a few weeks ago after we relaunched the program. Lexus is a sweet 3 month old Manx kitten born without a tail. Lexus is the most loving natured and affectionate cat, but she went through a lot before landing herself this amazing new home. Lexus was suffering from a mild prolapse that progressed the longer she stayed in the shelter. Our medical team was able to keep it under control, and help her stay healthy and clean, but a home was the true remedy to Lexus’ problem.

Thankfully, a few weeks later the young lady you see above, came in and met Lexus. She decided to take her home, and we are so excited for their future together. Thank you to Lexus’ adopter, and thank you Jeff & Cary Sims, Realtors for being our adoption banner sponsor this month and helping pets like Lexus Find Happiness!

Pets that were adopted September 9th through September 15th.

Cats that were adopted:

Amala, Bluey, Brie, Buoy, Coconut, Cruiser, Cyber, Dahlia, Doja Cat, Eloise, Gooey, Horatio, Jasper, Jubilee, Jude, Juicy, Kate, Lexus, Monterey, Radioshack, Ramin, S’mores, Sal, Salem, Sammi Jo, Sir Phillip, Suey, Toby, Twinkle Toes, Vanderbilt, Vegas, Visalia, Wolverine, Worcestershire, Ziba

Dogs that were adopted:

Albus, Charles, Charlie, Clarice, Domino, Dublin, Duchess, Maple, Nyx, Pop Tart, Pound Cake, Reeves, Solo, Zolla

Yay, Lorenzo and 58 other adopted pets this week!

This is Lorenzo, and you would not believe the progress this boy has made! When Lorenzo first arrived he had severe dental disease, and fleas that had taken a toll on his little body. He was in rough shape but with the help of our medical team, he made a full recovery. He had surgery to remove the majority of his infected teeth, and his infected skin slowly recovered. He was with us for a few months, but the wait was worth it because last week someone came in to meet him and he finally found that amazing home he was looking for! We’re so excited that Lorenzo finally found happiness!

Thank you so much to this month’s sponsors Jeff & Cary Sims, Realtors for supporting the pets at LHS!

Pets that were adopted August 26th through September 1st.

Cats that were adopted:

Ash, Bakugo, Benson, Billie Jean, Blackberry, Blockbuster, Bobby McGee, Brownie Batter, Cedrick, Chaz, Chief, English Muffin, Felicity, Flip-Flop, Flora, Franklin, Frito, Ginger Root, Hamlet, Josie, Kakashi, Kassandra, Lady Bird, Landon, Little Mac, Lorenzo, Marble, Max, Maxwell, Monty, Morticia, Mrs. Stripey, Natalie, Palutena, Pecan, Philanthropy, Prince Akeem, Ryu, Samus Aran, Sandy, Savannah, Slippers, Squid, Tabasco, Texas Pete, Thunder, Tig Notaro, Tilly, Tuna.

Dogs that were adopted:

August, Ethel, Florence, Harlem, Hoagie, Igor, Kendall, Oak, Starr, Talulah, Tracy.