Happy Tails: Stories of Adoption Part 2
Jessica and Apex
When Jessica and her family decided it was time to welcome a cat into their home, they began their search on Petfinder. Then Jessica saw a picture of a sweet cat named Cheese. Something immediately clicked—she knew she had found the one they were looking for.
Jessica reached out to P.A.W.S., and within minutes, they texted her back. It felt like it was meant to be.
When the family met Cheese, now lovingly named Apex, they quickly understood why. She was incredibly sweet, and after some snuggles, they knew she was the perfect fit. Apex was a little hesitant when she first came home, but she loved human interaction and soon settled into her new life. She even quickly adapted to sharing her home with the family’s German Shepherd!
Over the past year, Apex has really come out of her shell and shown her true personality. She loves lounging in her kitty trees and watching birds through the window. But her favorite pastime might be playing catch with Nerf bullets. Apex will bring them to her humans to throw—and sometimes even delivers them to the foot of the bed during the night!
One of Jessica’s favorite memories is watching Apex encounter a squirrel on the window ledge. The two stared at each other through the window while Apex chattered away, completely fascinated by her unexpected visitor.
What Jessica loves most about Apex is her perfect balance of affection and independence. She’s snuggly when she wants to be, but she’s also content doing her own thing. She is patient with the family’s children and loves cuddling with them just as much as she loves cuddling with the adults.
After a year together, Jessica says Apex has truly been the missing piece of their family. She brings so much life, love, and personality into their home.
Her message to anyone considering adoption is simple: “It’s the best thing you can do!”
Jessica is incredibly thankful to P.A.W.S. for bringing Apex into their lives—and for helping make a perfect match that was meant to be.
Flory and Wheeler
When Flory first brought Wheeler home, he was meant to be a companion for her husband, who was quite ill. A seven-year-old Whippet, Wheeler was skittish and afraid to go anywhere, but he quickly showed his sweet side—he was always a cuddler.
After Flory’s husband passed away, Wheeler became her companion, too. He began curling up in bed with her and has brought her an incredible amount of love and comfort. One of Flory’s favorite things about Wheeler is how happy he is to see her. Those warm eyes seem to look right into her soul, and he has a quirky habit of sleeping with one arm stretched straight up in the air.
Over the past year, Wheeler has become much more grounded and friendly. Once nervous around other people, he now happily loves on everyone during his regular visits to Flory’s office, the fire department, and the farmers market.
Wheeler has even proven that he’s quite the athlete. During a rainy hiking trip in the Smoky Mountains, Wheeler seemed to look back at Flory as if to say, “Really? We’re hiking in this?” But he persevered, hiking an incredible 10 miles before climbing into Flory’s lap for a well-earned nap.
For Flory, Wheeler has become so much more than a pet. He is a source of companionship, comfort, laughter, and unconditional love. What began as a companion for her husband has grown into a beautiful bond that continues to bring joy to Flory’s life every day.
Susie & Oly
Sometimes, love finds you when you least expect it. For Susie, that happened when her daughter discovered Oly (formerly Olympia) online. After losing her beloved 17-year-old cat in July 2025, Susie wasn’t sure she was ready for another kitty—but meeting Oly at a P.A.W.S. adoption event at PetSmart quickly changed her mind.
Oly’s friendly personality and beautiful coloring immediately won Susie over. Once home, Oly wasted no time making herself comfortable. Within the first half hour, she had already turned on the Roomba while exploring her new surroundings! Just a few hours later, she was curled up in Susie’s lap, giving licks and headbutts and proudly claiming her new family as her own.
Six months later, one-year-old Oly has brought plenty of kitten energy and happiness into
Susie’s home. She greets Susie at the door, sleeps with her at night, and loves playing fetch with her favorite stuffed mice. When those mice end up under the buffet or stove, Oly makes sure Susie knows it’s time to retrieve them!.
Oly has brought new life, laughter, and love into Susie’s home. Susie says the adoption process was easy and fast, and she is so glad she took that step and welcomed a new furry friend into her life. What started as an unexpected discovery turned into a perfect match—and a very happy tail.
Addison & Ayla
Sometimes, the best things in life happen when you least expect them—and for Addison, a little dogsitting adventure turned into something truly special!
For a long time, Addison had dreamed of having a Husky. When Jen Taylor, P.A.W.S.’ dog program lead, mentioned that they had some Husky puppies and needed someone to dogsit while she was out of town, the opportunity seemed too good to pass up. With permission from her parents, Addison agreed to dogsit, never knowing it would lead to finding the dog she had always hoped for. The rest is history!
When Ayla first came into Addison’s life, she was a very small and somewhat timid Husky mix. A year later, she has grown into a beautiful, fun-filled, and incredibly happy Husky girl with a spunky spirit that makes Addison smile every single day.
One of Ayla’s funniest quirks? She loves getting up on Addison’s bed but is sometimes afraid to jump back off! Despite her silly habits, Ayla has become so much more than a pet. She is Addison’s companion, her daily reason to smile, and her very best friend.
Reflecting on her adoption journey, Addison is so happy she was connected with Ayla and had the opportunity to bring home the dog she had always dreamed of. Her advice to anyone considering adoption is simple:
“Give it a try, you will be surprised how it turns out!”
Ayla’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, a little time spent caring for a dog can lead to a lifetime of love.
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