I have two stories that prove why we do what we do at CVAS.
Two of our longterm residents found their forever homes recently, and it’s made everyone at the shelter incredibly happy.
Our longterm residents are animals who have spent the most time in our kennels. I tell people all the time that they are just waiting for their people. It’s difficult for us to have to be a witness to that, but it really is true.
Sometimes it takes some of our animals a little longer to find their forever homes, and that’s why we’re here. They stay with us until they do.
Well, for Cleetus and Lou, we gave them the time they needed, and they found that special place.
Lou was a tough one. He came into the shelter on Sept. 3, 2024. He’s a pitbull, and he is 74 pound of energy. He’s one sweet boy, but he could be a handful.
Well a gentleman was moving his mother into a local nursing home and found us. Actually, he found Lou. Due to circumstances, he wouldn’t be able to adopt Lou right away, but every time he came up to help his mother, he would visit Lou and build that special relationship.
Lou had started having seizures. Once we got him checked out with our vet, we got him on medication, and his new dad has no problem administering it.
Lou was adopted on Aug. 23. He was almost in our kennels for a whole year.
He now has an Instagram account and a whole lot of love.
Lou is just one of the stories of why we give our babies as much time as possible to find their homes.
Cleetus is a gray-and-white pitbull who came into the shelter on Nov. 26, 2024. He is also a big boy with a lot of energy.
Cleetus had been out and about in the county at various offsite events, but we hadn’t gotten any nibbles on him.
He did manage to have quite the sad face in his kennels. We had a feeling Cleetus was trying to hook someone for a while with that, quite literal, hang dog expression.
Well it worked.
A couple had put in an application a few days earlier, not for a specific dog, but just to have one on file. They came in just to visit, and they must have noticed Cleetus and that pitiful look and fell completely in love.
They had another dog, but he had recently passed away, and they were used to being a one-dog family. They have no children – their dogs are their kids.
Cleetus was adopted on Aug. 26 – exactly nine months after he first came in our doors.
And talk about finding the perfect spot. He will be so loved.
This is it. These two stories are just like countless others about why we do what we do at CVAS. Some days it’s incredibly difficult. There are situations that break your heart.
Other days, we get babies like Lou and Cleetus a forever home after months of living in a kennel, and we’re reminded that if we stay strong, we can see that the cup really is half full and not half empty.
The animals in our kennels are just waiting to find their people. Some of them make that connection quicker than others.
Every, single adoption means so much to all of us.
Every, single adopter is a hero to us.
We couldn’t do what we do without the people who open their hearts and homes to our babies.
To Cleetus and Lou, be happy boys. We’re so glad you’re home.
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Jennifer Vanderau is the public relations coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at [email protected]. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, readers can call the shelter at 717-263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates a thrift store in Chambersburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the store.
