Roxy has soulful, amber eyes, eyes that focus on faces and seem to understand the messages they send. The spayed, four-year-old American Foxhound’s mannerisms show that she’s lived closely with someone, someone Roxy wanted to please. So, she became perfectly housebroken and beautifully walks on a leash. She, unlike some of her breed, also lives in ladylike silence.

Those wonderful behaviors, along with Roxy’s sweet, gentle ways should have guaranteed her a home for life. However, when she was found wandering, Roxy not only was homeless, she was also very hungry. Her ribs showed through her sleek, rose-gold-colored coat.

In the shelter, Roxy has shown her gratitude for every meal. She’s that sort of dog. And she’s gained five pounds and reclaimed her natural beauty.

At just nine weeks old, little Bronco has lived a wild-west-style adventure. Just like humans on a wagon train, the puppy and his mamma traveled from place to place, hoping for a home. At night, like those on a wagon train, the little family camped. This family slept on the porch of the empty house where they’d lived.

They had lived there with people, but the people carried everything out of the house, stepping over the puppy as they went. They didn’t leave anything but the canine family behind, not even any dog food. When neighbors saw Bronco’s family traveling from place to place, they contacted the Shelter.

But Bronco wasn’t abandoned with absolutely nothing. Someone in his former family taught him to love humans.

Ten-year-old, neutered, well-mannered, house-trained Rufus has spent his life making everyone feel loved and appreciated. First it was his human mom and dad. Then it was a new addition to the family, a puppy named Harley, a pup who this older gentleman trained to be just as nice as he was. Rufus expected to live his life being comforter and companion.

But, within weeks of each other, both of Rufus’s people died. Rufus and Harley were left in the house. Rufus, the wise, older one, tried to be brave, for the youngster Harley, but nothing in the past prepared him for their situation or his sadness.

Finally, the sweet dogs made it to the shelter. There, they’ve shown the new people how grateful they are.

Ava is one of those pups who puzzle the staff. The 11-month-old, Border Collie-sized Australian Shepherd, seems to have been schooled. The tri-colored pup is housebroken, leash-trained and even knows commands. Still, someone who should have treasured her let her go, or even forced her to go. The friendly girl was wandering.

Of course, Australian Shepherds are so intelligent that Ava may have almost trained herself in all those housedog skills. They’re dogs who read the expressions of someone they love and try to please. In only a few trials, they often figure it out.

In the shelter, there isn’t the time to test how quickly Ava would learn. But this pretty pup seems to have the potential to be amazing, with a kind teacher.

Tiana is a spayed, two-year-old Norwegian Forest Cat, a breed known for its kindness and soul-deep loyalty. These are cats who sit by windows watching for their owner, the most important part of their world, to come home. Tiana would count the moments until she could be beside her person.

Most pet-loving people would appreciate Tiana. In fact, even dog-oriented people usually enjoy life with a Norwegian Forest Cat, a cat who, many say, has the qualities people admire in pups, the desire to be close and intuitive understanding.

However, even though people appreciated her in her previous home, Tiana couldn’t win the heart of, or even develop a live-and-let-live attitude in, the feisty cat who was there first. So, last-in Tiana was first out.