The Queenie Foundation makes the following suggestions if you want to adopt a companion dog or cat:
Review the rescues in your area at
www.petfinder.com
www.adoptapet.com
www.pets911.com

You can search by species and then by breed, gender, age and zip code. You can do an extended area search to get the best results.

Credible rescues will require a vet and home check. They will call your vet to make sure that your current or previous animal(s) has/have been vaccinated and cared for. They will come to your home to make sure you live where you say you live and that your home is animal friendly and that everyone in your home is a good match for the animal you want to adopt. Also, if you live in an apartment, they will ask to review your lease to make sure that your complex is animal friendly or will request a letter from the complex manager stating that the complex is animal friendly. Contact The Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org) to get information on finding animal friendly apartment complexes in your area.

When adopting, make sure the animal has already been spayed or neutered. It should be included in your adoption fee, which is a tax deduction; the adoption organization should be a non-profit 501 (c) (3).

Dogs and cats should have their rabies vaccination, by law. Several states have relaxed the rabies requirement to every three years. Check with your vet. Dogs should have their distemper, parvo and bordatella (for kennel cough) plus if over six months, checked for heartworms. Cats should have a feline leukemia test and shots with a booster every year. Animals should have a full series of parvo/distemper (dogs/cats) by three months and feline leukemia (cats) by three months.

Please do not buy a puppy from a pet store as most of them get their puppies from puppy mills - dog breeding farms where the dogs usually live outside in dirty cages, are sometimes inbred and do not receive the care and love that dogs deserve.

You can contact The Queenie Foundation if you have questions about any of the information on this website at 860.649.4488 or queeniefound@hotmail.com.

In Memory:
Our beautiful girl Heidy was adopted and returned three times for a behavior issue. She dominated the dogs she lived with in her foster home and dominated the people who adopted her.

In November 2006, we made the decision to humanely euthanize her after she started a fight (one of several) with Baby.

We miss our beautiful girl, but know that she is no longer anxious and serenely at play.

Baby

Baby is our exceptional permanent foster who has been with us since September 2004. She was rescued from the street when I lived in Dallas and has proven to be a superior dog; great with children and adults. In the summer of 2006, we took her twice to the Manchester library for story time where she was a delight to the children. In fact, there was a little boy there who was afraid of dogs and by the time we left, he was petting her voluntarily.

She lives with me and my five dogs, has lived in several foster situations and was always good with everyone. We believe that Baby is an excellent ambassador for her breed. We would be pleased to visit your organization or school for a "hands on" Be Kind to Animals presentation.

If you would like to donate to Baby's care or make an appointment for a workshop, please call 860.649.4488 or write to queeniefound@hotmail.com.

Available for Adoption

The companion animal below is available for adoption from The Queenie Foundation in Manchester, CT. To inquire about him, write to queeniefound@hotmail.com or call 860.649.4488.

Tucker

Our boy had a rough start. First, he was abandoned at a clinic and then adopted, but his new people had to give him up because they had to move and couldn't find an apartment that allows dogs. ;-( And that's where we came in.

He gets along OK with the dogs in his foster home, but they're older and don't really want to play. He totally wants to be with you, including getting as much of himself in your lap as possible; this handsome loving boy is loaded with personality. He needs someone who will play with him, and he also needs a firm hand. We recommend that you be an experienced dog person and that he be the only dog in the house. (We can provide some coaching sessions with our Certified Pet Dog Trainer, if requested.)

Tucker is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, housetrained, crate trained, and dewormed.

Please call us at 860.649.4488 or write to us at queeniefound@hotmail.com. We require a home check, vet check, i.e., we call your vet to inquire about your past animals, and at least two references. You sign an adoption contract upon approval. Adoption fee is $250. The Queenie Foundation reserves the right to adopt an animal to a home that we feel is the best possible match. Homes with children under five may not qualify.

See Tucker online on our sites at petfinder.com, adoptapet.com and pets911.com.