Vada is in her second favorite place in her current world, her cat bed. The pretty copper-colored tabby’s favorite place is on a friendly person’s lap. However, laps are hard to access in the shelter. So Vada settles for a place that almost feels happy.

Of course, Vada’s used to settling for almost, almost happy, almost safe, almost loved. Veda’s sweet personality and longing to cuddle show that she was a pet, before someone forced her to be a stray.

The word “stray” usually indicates that a creature wandered accidentally. Yet, 11-month-old, spayed, vaccinated Vada adores people so much that she never would have left them willingly. Veda was forced to stray. Now she longs to be allowed to stay home, with someone she loves.

Pillar is a perfect, pretty, 10-week-old miracle. The little girl is rare because she’s golden. Most golden cats are male. But that’s not why she’s miraculous. Pillar and her brother Timmy survived alone in the belly of a mobile home, after their mama was taken away. For a week, the nursing babies waited for mama to return.

People had noticed their mama, Stormy, probably because she was desperate to find food. Stormy was starving yet trying to feed her hidden kittens. The people grabbed Stormy and took her to the shelter.

Seven days later they found the kittens. Somehow, they lived. They’re even healthy and friendly and happy to be with Mama. Still, it’s time for the kittens to move to their safe, forever home.

When Raja hears, “I’ll be home for Christmas”, the easy-to-love, 18-month-old, beautifully brindled, Boxer-mix pup thinks of the Shelter. That’s partially because she’s been there since September, nearly one-fourth of her life. But it’s also because the shelter is the only place where Raja has been safe, warm, fed and, most importantly, loved. The people Raja sees each day actually seem to like her.

No one knows about Raja’s earlier life. But the shelter staff knows that the 39-pound, short-haired, vulnerable pup was abandoned to die. Raja was alone outdoors in Hurricane Helene.

Raja can’t explain how she survived or, equally amazingly, how she can still love and trust humans completely. Yet she does. Raja deserves a real forever home and a real forever friend.

Frank has classic Border Collie good looks: beautiful black and white coat, ears perked, alert and interested, and eyes sparkling with intelligence. However, when someone moved close to get his photo, Frank couldn’t stop smiling, showing his willingness to adore a friend. Making friends, pleasing people, belonging are the 11-month-old pup’s goals in life.

Those seem like goals that any owner would appreciate and value. But Frank’s owner evidently didn’t. The sweet pup was found straying. And, even though Frank is house broken, leash trained and completely charming, no one has come for him.

Yet, that hasn’t made Frank like people any less. During his precious time to run freely in the yard, Frank chose to peek through the window and smile in at humans.

Their owner went to a care facility. Someone was to care for the man’s beloved Australian Shepherds, Jack and Mack. That person said that, even though the dogs were left in an empty home, someone had fed them. That was hard to believe when the shelter staff saw the emaciated Australian Shepherds.

It was impossible to believe after the dogs’ systems expelled what they had been eating, trash, including aluminum foil. Very empty stomachs hurt horribly. Animals eat anything to try to stop the pain. However, their bodies can’t handle everything. Poor Mack died before the staff could get him vet care.

Now red-coated, housebroken, intelligent, friendly, five-year-old Jack is recovering, but he’s grieving for his owner and companion Mack. Jack desperately needs a friend.