Sharing Adoption Stories for Shelter Pet Day

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is celebrated each year on April 30. The day serves as a reminder of the critical need for pet adoption—especially from overcrowded shelters where animals face the highest risk of euthanasia. Adopting from these shelters saves two lives: the one you adopted, and the one you make room for.

In honor of this special day, SU News shares a few adoption stories from the University community:

Christina M. Papaleo, Learning and Development Specialist, Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Aslan

During the 2020 lockdown, Papaleo was newly employed at the University and isolated away from family and friends, so she decided she needed a companion. Although she considered herself more of a dog person, encouragement from colleagues led her to adopt a cat.

When she met Aslan (formerly “Hobo”), he immediately climbed into her lap, and she knew he was meant to be hers. Named after the noble lion from “The Chronicles of Narnia,” Aslan has been Papaleo’s steady source of love and support ever since.

Elisabeth Dwyer  ’06

Elisabeth Dwyer and her dog Zoey inside the JMA Wireless Dome

Dwyer and her husband Benjamin Taylor adopted Zoey, a 7-year-old lab mix, from Helping Hounds in 2018. Despite her age and anxiety, Zoey quickly became a beloved part of their family. One of their favorite memories was taking her to Syracuse Women’s Basketball’s Dog Day, where she proudly wore her Orange gear among fellow fans. Now 14, Zoey continues to bring joy to their home, traveling with them to Long Island, the Adirondacks and beyond.

“Adopting gives animals a second chance at the life they deserve. When you adopt, you’re not only changing their life, but they often end up changing yours too,” Dwyer says. “We decided to adopt an older dog as they are not always a first choice for families and wanted to help a dog that was still looking for a home.”

Jessica Youngman, Content Manager, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Ruby

Youngman’s family welcomed Buddy, a rescue pup from Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue in Texas, in August 2023. After the heartbreaking loss of their elderly dog, Youngman secretly arranged Buddy’s adoption as a surprise for her son Max, just before he left for his freshman year at Syracuse. Meeting Buddy—handed straight out of the transport van—was an unforgettable moment filled with happy tears.

Buddy has since grown into a giant but remains Max’s loyal companion whenever he returns home.

Youngman also shared the story of Ruby, their 12-year-old coonhound adopted in 2016 after surviving a cruelty investigation. Ruby’s story of resilience is a reminder us how powerful second chances can be.

Buddy making the transport up from Texas with Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue

Adoption Transforms Lives

Then 13-year-old Eli enjoying the sun. Rescue life is good!

Coming from a family of lifelong rescue pet owners and owning three rescue dogs now, I’ve seen firsthand how adoption transforms lives (these are just some of the stories):

• Toby, once terrified after abuse at a kill shelter, learned to trust again—especially with help from our next rescue, Scrappy, a pit bull mix.
• Eli, a senior dog with just four teeth, brought us three and a half wonderful years of love and reminded us that older pets have so much life to give.
• Magic, a black cat from an overcrowded shelter, was a beloved pet, shattering myths about black cats being “unlucky.”
• In 2009, my sister rescued Bob, a dachshund left untreated after being hit by a car. After surgery, he lived a legendary life with my brother—traveling cross-country and inspiring everyone he met until nearly 20 years old.
• Today, my rescue dog Nola—blind in one eye—has become a social media star, proving that rescue pets have an unmatched zest for life.
  

  Nothing could hold Bob back—not even a disability—from experiencing the magic of Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

Finding a Second Chance Pet

Rescue pets may come from tough beginnings, but with a second chance, they often become the most loyal companions. It’s also important to remember that shelters and rescues often have purebred pets, puppies and kittens. So, if you’re looking for a specific breed, check local adoption services—you might find exactly what you’re hoping for.

Rescues play a vital role, often pulling animals from shelters just before their time runs out. According to Animal Shelters Count, over 5.7 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues nationwide, with 748,000 of those having non-live outcomes (euthanasia or died in care).

Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters, says if just 6% more people chose adoption over buying their pets, we could end the euthanasia of dogs and cats in shelters across the country.

There is a misconception that “kill shelters” should not be supported, but these open-admission shelters need help the most. They often take in every animal regardless of space, funding or resources, making adoptions essential. Certain groups—like seniors, black cats and dogs, bully breeds, animals with special needs or illnesses, and scared and abused pets—face even steeper odds of adoption, making it even more challenging to find them homes.

Vanessa Marquette G’19, media relations specialist with University Communications, is a volunteer with the Best Friends Animal Society and advocates for rescue animals through digital platforms highlighting her rescue dog Nola.