Sometimes people trust the wrong friend. Good dogs, like two-year-old Gamma, usually trust everyone. The person who said that he wanted a dog must have realized that he was getting a great one, in elegant, interested, ready-to-adore Gamma. So, everyone involved would have been smiling, or wagging, as the new person led the Dutch Shepherd mix away.

Two weeks later Gamma was alone, on a rural road, hungry, frightened and in danger of dying. The shelter staff tracked down Gamma’s original owners, people who had, once upon a time, loved her enough to have her spayed and vaccinated.

They said that their lives were changing. They didn’t want Gamma back. Now the shelter staff are looking for someone worthy of this wonderful, under-appreciated dog’s trust.

The older couple saw the fluffy, huggable, snowball of a puppy. They, like anyone with a heart would be, were smitten. The white, Husky-mix puppy grew, in affection, energy and, finally, size. Now the seven-month-old pup, named Snow, weighs 50 pounds. That’s not a large size, unless someone is older and isn’t prepared for a Husky’s energy level.

Husky’s can run 20 to 40 miles in a day, without stopping. Older humans can’t keep up with activity needs like that, even when the pup is very good. Yet, they could, and did, teach Snow to love people and want to please.

Someone a bit younger could share a wonderful, active life with Snow. For years to come Snow could be his exercise machine with fur.

The Shelter director says that Speaker, a beautiful creation of Mother Nature, a seven-month-old, multi-colored Tabico kitten, is the friendliest feline in the Shelter. Unfortunately, now, Speaker is also the loneliest. The little lady, who loved to meow to her sisters and visitors, doesn’t have anyone to talk to lately.

Speaker sat quietly, after visitors scooped up first one sister, then the other. She heard her quieter sisters purring. Speaker saw that they were happy, as people carried them out the cat room door. She thought that she’d understand more, when they came back.

But Speaker’s litter mates never came back. And no humans have come for Speaker to charm. Even this sparkling, optimistic kitten is becoming sad. The Shelter feels lonely, not fun anymore.

 Athena recognizes the expression on the shelter staff’s faces. She saw similar expressions on faces that visited her beloved owner, before her owner died. It’s a different expression than her shelter friends had when they met the sweet, quietly affectionate chocolate Labrador Retriever, two months ago, right after death made her homeless.

Then, the staff believed the eight-year-old, spayed, well-trained pup would go to a new home soon. That hasn’t happened. Although Athena’s just 49 years old, in human years, people, even ones older than 49 themselves, are attracted to bouncy youngsters.

Eager-to-please Athena has regained a lot of her bounce in the shelter, thanks to walks with kind volunteers. Yet, no one has noticed. And with the shelter full, Athena can’t stay much longer.

At only six months old, Betty the Basset Hound mix’s life is just beginning. Unfortunately, one crucial person in Betty’s formerly happy human family has a life that’s ending. Someone who mattered to Betty, and her future, is terminally ill.

In a pup’s unconditionally loving, self-sacrificing way, Betty would have stayed to comfort the person. She would have skipped her playful puppy phase and been quietly supportive. But the people who wanted the best for Betty knew that she needed to move into her new life.

Betty’s endearing, wrinkled Basset forehead shows that she’s puzzled. Yet, Betty loves and appreciates everyone, humans of all ages, other dogs and even cats, so she’ll adjust. Still, young Betty needs someone to help her mend a broken heart.