Happy Tails: Fenrir and Quark

By Jamie Emming, Satellite Adoption Manager

It was the week of Christmas when I received an early morning phone call from one of our staff members, Linda. Her foster guinea pig, Zelda, who we had all suspected was pregnant when she arrived at HSSV, proved us right with three little babies appearing overnight. The little ones were up and running around right after being born, as guinea pigs, otherwise known as cavies, come out with their eyes open and fully covered in fur. Relieved the birth had gone well, we knew had 4 weeks to wait until they could be placed up for adoption. A month may seem like a short time with Mom, but guinea pigs develop very fast and females can get pregnant at just four weeks of age!

The first few times Irene and Kevin stopped by our Saratoga satellite adoption center in PETCO looking for cavies we didn’t have any available. We knew Zelda’s babies were coming up for adoption soon and set up an appointment for Irene and Kevin to meet the piglets and Mom. The first-time owners purchased a large 2X4 chloroplast enclosure for their new arrivals and began the task of choosing which two would come home with them. They decided on two little girls, which they named Fenrir (Kevin’s choice) and Quark (Irene’s pick). Since their foster Mom happened to be their adoption counselor, Kevin and Irene learned not just about guinea pig care but a full overview of the girls’ upbringing.
A few weeks after the adoption, we received an email from the new pig parents. They are enjoying watching the girls grow up and develop their own personalities. Quark is more friendly but a little slower than her clever sister. Fenrir may be more picky about who she makes friends with but both guineas have begun to bond with their people. And don’t worry about their Mom. Soon after Fenrir and Quark were adopted, Zelda and her last baby Tokyo were placed separately in wonderful homes looking to add a second pig.


Are you are looking to adopt a guinea pig? Get started by submitting an online adoption survey for pocket pets and our Satellite staff will get you started down the right path for pig parenting. For more information on how guinea pigs make great companion animals check out this PDF on guinea pig care.

(Photos provided and taken by Kevin Lee)

Clicker Training, Not Just for Dogs!

Did you know you can train rats to do all sorts of tricks just like dogs? Watch this video made by one of our rat foster parents featuring her three boys currently available for adoption at our Saratoga Satellite and see what fun you and your rat can have together.



Click here to learn more about clicker training and get started with your little ones today!

With a clicker, treats, and a little patience any animal can learn! Comment with your training story and share your experience with us.

Happy Tails: Julius

By Jamie Emming, Satellite Adoption Manager

When people enter our Saratoga Satellite Adoption Center in PETCO, and we ask if they are looking for a new addition, we often hear that they are “just looking” because they have reached their cat limit. Each person has a different number in mind before they put on the “no vacancy” sign. For some it’s that one special feline who fills their life and for others it takes many more paddling paws to feel complete.

It was Julius’s lucky day when Sean arrived looking to fill an opening in his cat-friendly home. Julius looked massive and tipped the scales at 12 pounds, but the gentle orange tabby was more fluff than substance. He may have looked like a tiger, but he had the heart of a pussycat and preferred a good chin rub to chasing toy mice.

Sean and his partner Gale had a four-cat household and were recently down to three. He had seen the striking longhaired cat online and felt he would be the perfect fit. After talking about how best to set Julius up for success in his new home, we gave Sean and Gale time to prepare a room for their new companion. As we told Sean, it’s best to start out a new cat in his own space, even if that space is a small bathroom, and then gradually begin introductions to the whole feline family. The next day Julius’s adoption was finalized and he was on his way to start his new life.

Julius’s new parents accepted that he needed to adjust on his own time. He is currently splitting his time between a guest bathroom and a back bedroom. He must be getting more comfortable as Sean tells us they found a quirky behavior we did not see at HSSV: Julius chirps as he purrs! Sean and Gale also took the next step in family ties by renaming Julius, Barry. Four is the magic number of cats for Sean and Gale, but it only took one home to make Barry’s story a happy one.

Are you looking for a new addition? Check out this PDF from our online cat behavior library about cat introductions and bring Fluffy home a friend the easy way.

Happy Tail: Dottie

By Jamie Emming, Satellite Adoption Manager

Ever so often while picking up animals for our Satellite Adoption Centers, I come across something so cute I can’t help myself and make one of those high pitched squeals of delight. The kind of noise only heard from excited little girls, not seasoned managers. At just under 2 lbs and only 2 months old, Dottie, a double dwarf rabbit we had rescued from another shelter was squeal worthy. In short, she was adorable. Even though I had only stopped in to pick up cats that day, I decided that Dottie was coming back to our Saratoga Adoption Center with me.

In just shy of a week, Dottie met Vy, who had been considering rabbits after having a hamster. As hamsters and rabbits do not have a lot in common, our adoption counselors showed the first-time rabbit parent everything from basic rabbit care and handling to the importance of keeping Dottie in the home where she could be part of the family.

It turned out Dottie’s looks and sweet disposition made her the perfect model bunny for her new Mom, who sent us photos from Dottie’s “Welcome Home” photo shoot. The new family tells us that Dottie continues to be playful and from the looks of these photos, quite the inspiration.


Looking for more animals inspired art? Celebrate the magic of the human-animal bond at our Second Annual “Animal Arts” Craft Faire this Saturday and Sunday.

All photos courtesy of and credit to Vy Hoang

Happy Tail: Patches

By Jamie Emming, Satellite Adoption Center

Patches, is an adorable 12 year-old black and white ball of fluff who came to HSSV through our Regional Rescue Program. The program routinely rescues animals in danger of being euthanized due to lack of space, time or resources at other shelters. On her fifth day up for adoption, we decided that Patches would be a great dog to feature at our Dog Adoption Day at our Satellite Adoption Center in PETCO Saratoga.

The shaggy dog no sooner arrived when she met a family who had seen the street signs advertising adoptions. Our adoption counselor started introductions out with their 8-year-old daughter. After some play and cuddles, Patches was ready to meet her greatest hurdle to her new home, their three-year-old boy! The toddler let out a shrill of joy at being released from his stroller and getting to touch the “puppy”.

After an initial moment of hesitation, Patches started to lick the little boy’s feet. Next, the family took her for a walk around the shopping center so our adoption counselor could see how Patches behaved with family members walking her. The gentle poodle was easy enough for their elementary age daughter to walk on her own. Patches never made the return trip to our Animal Community Center, as the family finalized her adoption at our Satellite. Our staff member who adopted out Patches remarked, “I think coming out to PETCO was the best thing that could have happened to Patches.”

Are you a Saratoga, Campbell, or west-side San Jose resident who would like to meet dogs closer to home? Join us this Saturday for our next Dog Adoption Day at PETCO Saratoga.