We named her after Murphy's Law, also famously known from our favorite movie–Interstellar.

On Jan 18th, 2020, we visited ARF for the 4th time. We had just moved to Walnut Creek 3 months prior, and ARF happened to be en route to every grocery-shopping trip. This time we spontaneously decided to apply for a pet match. It was a popular adoption day, and it was near closing time. There were less than ten cats left ready for their forever homes. Just as we thought all the good cats are gone, a beautiful gray, chubby cat caught our eyes. She sweetly stared at us as we walked by her corner suite, and we decided to meet her! The friendly staff said she has just come from a foster family in El Paso, Texas. Murphy was a bit shy but very curious, and her first impression checked all the boxes–mellow, sociable, and quiet. Knowing that she will be on mobile adoption the next day, we quickly decided to bring her home. She is our very first pet. The staff thoroughly gave us all the info as we picked up everything Murphy needs in her new home.

After merely 1-2 days of being in her safe room, Murphy's curiosity and sweet meowing sounds have given her permission to roam around the house. She settled down very quickly. We started to learn and understand every demeanor and meow of hers. In return, she learned how to sit and shake. She made our new, unfamiliar house feels like home.

Little did we know that Covid-19 are going to hit us two months later, and we have been happily spending so much time with Murphy. She has become our quarantine queen, our WFH micromanager, and our warm cuddler.

As Murphy's law states, "Anything that can happen will happen," but one thing we know certainly is that we will never live without an adopted cat again.

Huge thanks to her previous foster family, who has nurtured her to be a well-behaved companion, and ARF for their guidance for new pet owners like us.

– Miri & Alvin

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As I sit her on my couch watching my incredibly adorable Penny-Pennelope (formerly Sweet Tea) sleep cuddled in a blanket, I am overwhelmed by the gratitude I have towards ARF for connecting me with her 6 years ago. I met Penny when she aas being fostered by a close friend. Penny was 18 months old and had been pulled from the Merced Shelter. We took one look at eachother and knew it was meant to be. I had just lost my 12 year old lab mix to cancer the month before.

Penny needed knee surgery, so I applied to be her foster and picked her up the day after her surgery from ARF. She saw me through the crate door and shook the crate with her tail wagging, less than 24 hours after her surgery!

Penny has been a Godsend. She is my anti-anxiety medicine, by stress relief, and my constant companion. I cannot thank you enough for saving her from the shelter and bringing her to me.

- Sarah

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We got Wrigley from ARF on 6/22/18. My father in law just passed away 5 days earlier on Father's Day. We had been looking for a dog. I randomly got online to look at ARF website and then randomly Word with Friends Word of the day popped up on my phone, it was CANINE!!! The whole family ran to the car on a Friday at 4 pm. A staff member at ARF told us about Wrigley as she was not in the windows. Wrigley came out to meet us on the grass. Shy, hesitant, so I sat on the grass, she immediately sat in my lap. My husband said, "looks like we are done" "she chose us". Wrigley went to her forever home that night. Our lives are more joyful with her in our family.

- Michelle

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I met Bear - previously known as David Gonzalez, on September 1, 2018. In his description, he was described as a big fluffy guy that loved attention and would "give paw" to get it. I chuckled at his very human-like name and sweet nature, and was immediately drawn to him and thought he was perfect!

I quickly made my way to ARF to meet him, and was constantly calling them to make sure he was still there, since I lived an hour away. Once I got there, I was met with a the sweetest, gentlest, and most needy dog I have ever seen. I fell absolutely in love with him right then and there, as he put his paws on my lap and stared at me with those puppy eyes (I know, what is this, a romcom?)

However, there was a bit of an issue. Previously, husband and I agreed to getting a medium sized dog because we lived in a one bedroom apartment. I discussed my concern with the staff at ARF, and they reassured me that he would be a perfect apartment dog, due to his calm nature and need to be right next to you at all times. That's all the convincing I needed, and I took him home that very day.

When I reached home, I opened the door and yelled, "Surprise!" My husband was unaware of my whereabouts that day, so when he saw Bear, he was very confused and asked, "Whose dog is this?" and I answered, "our dog, silly!" After the initial shock had worn off, he soon came to the realization that we had adopted a 70 pound fluff ball.

It didn't take long for Bear to become a part of our family, and we truly don't know what we did to deserve such a wonderful dog. He is the sweetest, cuddliest, and most well-mannered boy. The following year, my husband and I got married. He was included in our engagement pictures, and was the ring "Bearer" at the wedding.

I also want to mention that prior to adopting Bear, I would experience several panic attacks a month due to having anxiety issues. Since we've had him, I haven't experienced a single one. He's helped me in countless ways, I can't thank ARF enough for allowing for our paths to cross. I also want to thank the amazing staff for running such a great foundation and helping animals in need. We are so grateful to have Bear, as we've had him for 3 years now, and hope to have him for many years to come.

- Michelle 

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My husband and I adopted Matilda (now Midna) with the idea of having a sibling for our bully breed boy, Link. We could not be more thankful for finding Midna! She is such a cuddle bug and loves her brother so much! When she is not snuggled up on the couch, she is playing with her toys or going for long hikes. Our family is now complete with this adorable girl.

 - Ashley

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Oliver (then Carmel) moved in to an apartment together. My first time moving out in to the apartment and his first time in the apartment. It was as if we moved in together. Very shy at first and very quiet now is very talkative and greets me every time I come home! He greets strangers now instead of running away like he used to.

- Jesse

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Exactly one year ago today, my husband and I adopted Buck. We have always had multiple dogs, but when we got Buck, we had one Great Dane who had cancer. My husband and I could never have a dog-less household, so we were preparing for the inevitable.

Buck has been the MOST AMAZING DOG! From the moment we brought him home, he has been so affectionate, loving and fun. You described him as Mr. Personality on your website and that was completely accurate! He saved us during the loss of our other dog, I don't know what we would have done without him.

Please know that he is living his best life. He goes on three walks a day to different locations around town. He loves the car and is a great passenger. When not out and about, you can find him sprawled across our couch or bed. He gets a special dog bakery treat each night that he receives after his last walk of the day which he always looks forward to. Please know he is loved, cared for and cherished.

We don't know what we would have done if this very special dog had not come into our lives. He had been at ARF for four months before we brought him home and a shelter in Texas prior to that. It was like he waited for us! We are so thankful for him and for ARF for bringing us together.

- Mia

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I adopted Sasha (formerly Vicky) from ARF in February 2005! She was a year old and the cutest pup in with a few other little dogs. She's had so many adventures. She's been to LA, the beach, 4th of July in Lake Tahoe. Although she's slowed down a lot Sasha is still her sweet self. She still loves her walks and patrolling the garden every afternoon. We celebrate half birthdays with her now because why not? She'll be 17.5 in a few weeks.

- Rebecca

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This story was so random but so perfect all at once. It was an early morning and my mom was on her iPad looking on Facebook and what not, and all of a sudden she said ARF has puppies!! We had to be at ARF right away because it was a first come first serve process. So we hoped in the car and headed over as fast as we legally could and made it just in time. I had my eye on one of the puppies who was black and white because she was calm and a girl. Someone ended up adopting her, but I say it was the best happening because the only other girl was the one! I really didn't know or care what size she was estimated to be because she was so perfect and a cute little baby! It all happened so quick, but now almost 4 years later I have the world's greatest friend. Her name when I adopted her was Virginia, but when I looked at her I knew it she was going to be my Honey! Since then I realize we have so many names for her its ridiculous: Hunbun, Honblonners, Blon, Googoo blon, Hinbin, Baby Blon, Blutters haha! Best decision of my life hands down. It was crazy having a puppy that was 12 pounds that ended up being a whopping 90 pounds, but I wouldn't change a single thing about her and how she came into my life. Thank you ARF for the greatest friend I could ever ask for! :]

- Shelby

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We adopted Curry in December 2017. A friend who works for ARF posted him on her social media page saying that he was having difficulty finding a home because he had a heart condition. His prognosis was grim--he was only supposed to live a year due to a hole between the chambers of his heart. We decided we could give him the best year EVER and brought him home. Due to fantastic cardiac care and life prolonging medications he has beaten all of the odds and is still with us and thriving at the age of almost 4. Not a day goes by without him eliciting laughter and smiles. We went into this to give him the best year ever, instead he has given us more joy than we could have imaged.

- Penny & Rob

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Snickers (now, Jack) is my loving companion & best friend. He is the first beautiful face I see waking up & the last before I sleep. When we first met at ARF, I instantly knew we would connect & it was meant to be. He is forever my little man & there is nothing that I would not do for him.

- Erica

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Hello! We just wanted to send some holiday cheer your way. We adopted Strawberry Surfrider back in 2018 and renamed him Gus! He now has a little sister Lena as well. He is the best dog we could have ever asked for! He is always so polite, loves being around people, and he's learning to socialize with other dogs. His favorite things to do are sunbathe and nap (typically in his sister's bed). My partner and I recently got engaged and we were lucky enough to have both our rescue pups with us! Thank you for all you do to rescue animals, our family wouldn't be complete without Gus.

- Pacific 

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We adopted Oliver (formerly Tito) in September 2020. He has transformed from a shy, timid guy to the goofiest, most loving dog. He loves digging in the sand at the beach, hiking through the woods, and rolling in the snow in Tahoe. Thank you ARF for rescuing our sweet boy! We could not imagine our life without him.

- Kaitlin

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Toffi has been a great addition to the family! She loves to play with her favorite ball and has been the best hiking buddy on the weekends. She enjoys hanging out with her doggy friends. She loves showing them how fast she can run! She is incredibly smart and picks up on training very quickly. We look forward to continue building our relationship with Toffi and giving her the loving home that she deserves! Thank you so much ARF for a fur baby!

- Christabel

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Pretty Boy is my miracle cat and is happy as can be in San Francisco. Pretty Boy was surrendered to the Broward County Humane Society in Florida before Hurricane Irma hit. I was in Florida at the time, read an article about the "Hurricats" being flown to ARF, and the rest was history. Pretty Boy stole my heart the moment I saw him at ARF :) But the stress of being surrendered and flown across the country got to him, and he refused to eat for six months. The vet could not figure out what was wrong, but I could tell he was not in pain, and I force fed him four times per day. One day was like magic, and he began to eat everything in sight. He is now happy as can be and my best friend for life!

- David

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Panna was found on the streets of Stockton, CA. She was plucked from the shelter by the wonderful folks at ARF. My husband spotted her ears on the adoption page and sent me her photo. I immediately filled out an application and we were approved later that day. Panna is a complete sweetheart and loves every single human that she meets. She is particularly fond of children though. Hoping when social distancing isn't required anymore that we can perhaps do some sort of therapy work with her and visit children and elderly folks who need some cheering up.

- Suzie

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We adopted Lady (now Tule) on 9/19/2020 and we can't imagine not having her! She is still pretty shy around strangers but it is so fun to see her start to open up and become more and more playful with us. She loves hiking in the open space and doing sprints up the hills. She is so sweet and affectionate and we love her so much!!

- Erin

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When our dog had to be put to sleep on Labor Day, I didn't think I would ever feel able to have a dog again. Two weeks later, we knew that we could not live without a dog. When Pongo (now named Bandit) was posted on the website, I applied to adopt him before his picture was even up. I just had a feeling. The next morning, the adoption liaison emailed me and asked me to read his whole medical file before she callled me. I read it, and he had some problems, but I knew that we needed him and he needed us. Then I saw his picture. He was perfect. Now that he's been with us for a couple of months, we are more in love with him every day. The heart has a big capacity for love. Bandit is a one-eyed fetching machine. He's just perfect. Thank you ARF!

- Jenni & Mitch

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We already had an ARF dog and my oldest daughter and I walked into the Adoption Center to say Hi to the pets. We saw this gorgeous black and white handsome boy and started to figure out a way to bring him home. He turned into my "mother's day' present and he is just beautiful inside an out.

- Michael & Monica

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In May of 2017, My cat passed away with an acute illness and my heart was broken. I walked into ARF and met gorgeous (he's a boy!) and decided to take him home.

He was friendly at ARF but very timid and shy since the car ride home. By then i understood why he was "returned" from a previous adopter as he isn't the typical friendly orange tabby.

After hiding under a book case for over a week, gorgeous (we named him Nacho), slowly came out of his shell to interact with me. In the beginning, I can tell he had very little trust and experience with human and it will take a baby steps approach for him to open up to me.

A couple months later, Nacho finally feels comfortable with human touch. He now purrs, plays, naps, and follows me around the house. He completely transformed from being a little fearful to a confident kitty! I love Nacho sooooo much!!

- Maggie

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McCarthy joined the Cruz-Vind family in June 2019. We first saw McCarthy's photo at the Oakland A's Bark at the Park and FELL IN LOVE. We rushed to ARF the following day. It was our first time visiting ARF and when we got to the glass door for the room that McCarthy was in, he ran from his bed and put his paws on the glass... we knew it was the perfect fit!

Since the adoption - McCarthy is king of the household. McCarthy absolutely loves his grandPAW and spending time with each of us. McCarthy enjoys sunbathing, playing fetch, and cheering on his Oakland A's and SF 49ers whenever they have a game. These four paws are always ready for an adventure and his two mama's love each and every moment with him. Thank you ARF for the addition to our family!

- Ashley & Roxana

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13years ago back in 2007 I went with a friend who was looking for a dog and as I stood off to the side all of these dogs barreled out of the condo, but the last one out slowly walked over to me, sat between my legs and gave me a big old kiss. I knew we were meant to be at that moment. Since that day we have had so many adventures together, we met her now dad, got married, and now has two little brothers. Everyone that meets her adores her, she is the sweetest dog.

- Stacey

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We adopted Addison (now Lacey) and Audrey (now Bella) on June 5. I picked them up from ARF in Walnut Creek on June 5th. They were born on April 5. They were very sweet right from the start and watched me all the way on the ride home. 

They loved their home right from the start. Exploring, running, sleeping, playing, purring and loving to be held and petted. Both have had very good appetites and have doubled in size already. Their follow up at VCA Encina in WC, recommended by ARF, went very well.

ARF is my favorite animal adoption place. All my counselors were very kind and helpful. ARF has an equal love of animals and people. Making my connections with them always a pleasant experience. I had contacted several animal agencies and they were not as friendly, on top of things, nor helpful and in the end it was ARF who came through! I recommend them highly! Tlhey will be my go to whenever I am looking for a pet. Even during the caronavirus-you were very organized in virtual adoption, in animal pick up and follow up!

Thank you, ARF! You are doing a great work for animals and people!

- Robin

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I adopted (now Harley) when she was 4 months old. She is now 4 years old and my best friend! She was very shy and timid when we first got her but her and I bonded instantly. She's slept in my bed every night since the day I brought her home. Since then, she's opened up and is super curious about everyone she passes by. She is a huge fan of breakfast and dinner! Alos, my sister adopted her brother, now named Tucker, from ARF! 

- Kayla

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When we went to ARF to just "look" at the kittens, I saw the most beautiful kitten! I had to have her

- Jeryn

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We adopted Joey from ARF almost two years ago. We think it's fate because we went there on a whim, "just to look around." Upon meeting Joey we had an instant connection and knew we had to bring him home. Everyone who meets Joey says he more like a human than a dog! He loves to give hugs and fit his whole 70lb body onto any open laps. He is incredibly goofing and playful, anything can be a toy and he's always making his little human brother laugh!

He's also an extremely gentle cuddle bug! We are so thankful for Joey!

- Suzie

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One year ago, almost to this exact day we adopted Bear from ARF. Our story starts off a little rocky, when we brought Bear home he had some serious anxiety issues - like eat the door frame and all the blinds when you go to the grocery store for an hour level of anxiety. Looking back we wouldn't change a thing, over time, lots of love and building trust through training Bear has become an absolute integral part of our family. When our alarm goes off in the morning he jumps into the bed to snuggle for 30 minutes while we hit snooze and then gives us kisses to wake us up when the alarm goes off a second time making us smile first thing every morning. Bear is our #1 companion when it comes to hiking, camping, band practice, skiing, family gatherings and so much more. Bear has just become our absolute best friend and brings so much light into our lives and others, he says hi to everyone and makes everyone smile - a complete 180 from the shy guy we brought home a year ago. We just love him so much and are so grateful to ARF for bringing him into our lives!

- Erin & Zach

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We didn't know we were going to leave ARF with a dog when we came in for a visit. When we met him outside he ran straight to us with a big smile and was ready to play. After a few minutes the volunteer went to put Dante away, but he didn't want to leave and stayed sitting right in between us. We absolutely love him and can't imagine life without him!!!!!!!!!!!!! He gets us walking, he is wonderful with kids, and gets along with every dog he's ever met! Forever thankful to ARF for giving us this ball of love!

- Tara

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We had been coming into ARF(probably too many times) determined to find life long fur companion. We finally went to mobile adoption in Danville around Halloween time. When we met him, we knew. Nowadays he enjoys hikes, cuddles and Marvel toys!

- Jess

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We got rosie a little over a year ago and our lives haven't been the same since. She loves snuggling and sunbathing, running and adventuring. We couldn't have asked for a better dog!

- Bethany

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We adopted Yvette (now Zia Maria) in April of 2009. When we met her at ARF she ran across the room and wrapped her front legs around me in a hug. I knew she had to come home with me.

She was so easily overwhelmed by just by about everything that we had to drop out of the obedience classes after 3 weeks. But she just needed to adjust to her new life at her own pace. And we let her go at her pace. It took weeks to get her to walk to the end of the driveway and not lay flat on the ground if something startled her. Several months later we could walk a mile to the Center of Castro Valley and back. She was loving it.

She also overcame her incredible shyness with strangers that came to the house. Now she loves everybody, and loves a party.

Zia has developed a degenerative disease of the tendons in her legs. So she can only walk short distances now. But her spirit and cheerful disposition have remained strong. After this started a few years ago, I bought a children's stroller and fitted it with a pad so we can still do our walks. She loves going out in the buggy to see the neighborhood dogs. The thing that makes her the most excited is asking her if she wants to go for a buggy ride. She will skip breakfast for a buggy ride.

- Steve

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I lost my sister on Christmas day in 2018, seven months later my sweet cockapoo passed away. So much pain and sorrow, it was difficult to see the joy in tomorrow. ARF posted pictures of puppies on their website. I knew when I saw her my heart filled with delight. We named her Pearl after my sister who passed, now I know the sorrow wouldn't last. Everyday I'm reminded how special animals can be, to help us through those difficult times it seems. Thank you ARF for rescuing our four legged friends, you're truly a legacy that will never end.

- Rebecca

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Sasha was retuned to ARF at least twice before we met her ??. We had her for 8+ years ... she's a bit nutty but we love her!

- Carol

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I adopted Chai (fka Zuma) in December 2018 when she was 10 weeks old. I fell in love with her at first sight and was so happy when I got to bring her home. She is a perfect blend of sweet, sassy, and playful. I'm not sure she's met a person, dog, or other creature she hasn't wanted to befriend, including neighborhood cats! She's brought out a new playful side in our older dog, Cosmo, and makes us laugh even when times are tough. She is truly a special dog and I feel so grateful to ARF for giving animals so much love and support.

- Caroline

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Sam has been a perfect fit since day one. The most friendly loving playful pup I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, and he's mine! We go on walks and play ball and he is always just so happy to be with me and LOVES meeting new people and dogs. I can't tell you enough how lucky I feel to have been connected with Sam. He's the best boy.

- Jared

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Just want to say a big thankyou for everything you have been doing whilst Shelter in Place has been in affect! We adopted Mia (formerly Carrot) from you on May 15th, We submitted a form without seeing a photo of her or meeting her due to SIP - all i had was her health records and a 2 page pdf about her temperament, which we thought were essentially the most important things. She's made me and my partner so happy! Really was such an easy process all things considered. Big thanks to all the staff for making it such a seamless transition.

- Iluka

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We had been talking about getting another dog and had waited about 5+ years after our last one has passed away. ARF had a litter from Fresno come up for adoption and we quickly put our name in for Elk and her sisters and were lucky enough be be selected via the virtual adoption. We picked her up on May 17th and she has become a big part of our lives. She potty trained with no issues, is learning to walk on leash well, and loves to play in our backyard. She is very smart and has to be one of the stubbornest dogs we ever had, but still a joy.

- Vince

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Eleanor and I met three and a half years ago at ARF. I had been looking online for about a half of a year. I saw her photo during my lunch break (I am a teacher) and it was love at first sight. She had just been rescued from Visalia and they thought she was hard of hearing, which also made her more special to me. Turns out she was not hard of hearing, just perfectly set in her own ways. She also hops and skips as she walks. Fast forward to now and I could not imagine not having her by my side every single day as we are in SIP. She sits next to me as I record all of my reading and writing lessons for the day. She listens to all of the read alouds too. She even makes a special appearance in some of the live videos!

- Andrea

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He was said to not be very friendly with dogs. He loves his new friends, little and big dogs. He loves his football still, naps on the couch and goes on about 4-5 walks a day, He's grown to be a sweet dog. He learned sit, stay, shake hands and many more tricks. He's a sweet boy, sleeps in bed with my girlfriend and I, we moved to a house to give him a big backyard. He loves sunbathing and playing with his football. He won't leave home without it, he loves car rides and goes everywhere with us. He's a certified Emotional support animal and helps me as a firefighter and my girlfriend who's a EMT unwind at the end of the day. He's a loving snuggling dog. Best dog ever. I don't know how he was left at ARF for so many months but everyone who didn't give him a chance really missed out on a great pup.

- Dyllan

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Fudge (renamed Carl) loves his new home in Oakland! I've been visiting ARF since elementary school, so I always knew I wanted to adopt from them. When shelter in place was announced, I found myself extremely anxious all the time and wanting companionship. Fudge didn't have a picture on the site, but his description was enough. He's the most loveable, friendly, and playful cat I've ever met. I feel so lucky as a first-time owner to have him!

- Lindsay

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Thank you for bringing such a loving animal to our family. It has not without a few challenges along the way. Being a young dog, she was still teething and chewed all the new base boards in the house. She was also very nervous about men. She has grown into a very loving dog who is very obedient, off leash trained and very spoiled. She has since moved to Arizona and lives a very spoiled life. It has taken close to 4 years for her to learn to play and have fun. Now she is like a puppy at 8 years old. Thank you for saving her for us.

- Frank

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On our daily walks in our Turtle Creek Park Alfie ( Barney was a 'temporary name given by ARF) is the celebrity dog every pet walking owner wants to meet each day for his joyous interaction with their dogs on leash. He is very playful, never mean and acts like a 6 month old puppy most of the time!
We are very happy with our little Alfie from ARF.

- Bruce

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We adopted Bo (ARF name Burbank) on Sat 2/8. We have had the best time with him! He has adapted very well to our household of 3 cats and 1 other dog. He loves to hike in the Sugarloaf open space with his big sister, Piglet. He also loves to wrestle and play with his friend Lola - another SIP puppy he sees a few times a week. We adore him and we can't imagine life without him! Thanks so much for all you do for these amazing animals!

- Jady

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Yukon Cornelius (previously known as Dill) has been a part of our family for 8 months. He was adopted on 9/13/20. We were told by ARF that he and his brother (Pickles) were found on the streets in Fresno. Although he was shy at first, he turned out to be the happiest, cuddliest, and most mellow dog ever. Yukon has a quiet demeanor but loves playing with our son and our other dog, going on walks, running in the mud, and just being loved. The best part of our day is seeing his goofy smile.

- Dusty

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(a letter from Ladybug) "Ladybug here, way down on earth, calling for Matisse and Ripple up there in cat heaven on cloud number nine.Why am I calling you out of the blue? You guessed it, I took up residence in your former home! I now nestle on all the soft couches and chairs, you once called your own. I roll up on laps one after the other, jump after toys, little mice and wiggly strings, bask in the sun, stretch out and dream of the birds tweeting outside in front of the window. Just like you, I was rescued by ARF from an uncertain future. With much attention and tender care my nine-year old beauty shone through once again. I know I conquered the hearts of my two guardians who cherished you once and will never forget you."

- Roswitha

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Macadamia joined our family in November, 2019, and we were smitten with her from the start! She is a lovable cat, who loves to play and cuddle!

- Leela

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Rudi adopted us:) After my "Grandma Jan" Costella passed away in late 2016, we also lost our family dog. Grandma Jan isn't my blood grandma, as I never got to meet her. But Jan and my grandma, Barbara, were best friends in college at UC Berkeley, and Grandma Jan became part of the family! We knew how passionate Jan was about ARF, so we decided to check it out! Not planning to adopt a dog, we were interested in a husky, Denim, but he was adopted. A few days later he was back on the website, so we drove an hour and a half back to Walnut Creek thinking it was a "sign" that we had to have Denim. By the time we got there, he had been adopted (again) but we decided to look at other dogs anyway. After not liking any of the dogs, our adoption coordinator saw a dog, Phil, who just came in that day but still had to get shots and such, so she couldn't show him to us. Without seeing him, and going off of her hunch that he was a good fit for us, we went home and drove back another hour and a half the next day to see him, and we fell in love! Turns out, he came from a kill shelter in Visalia, which is my grandma's hometown. We know that Rudi was meant to be ours, and he is the best dog we could have asked for!

- Nicole

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Sammie is an ARF rescue that immediately stole my heart. He was 6 months old when he and his 3 sisters were rescued from a field in Solano County. His love of life is contagious and his favorite thing in the world is his ball!

- Lisa

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I'll never forget the first time I saw Skywalker. I was volunteering during a cat care shift and I saw him sitting on the top of a cat tree, just like a cat topper. He had the most intense and curious stare, with the widest light blue eyes I've ever seen! I decided to sign up for a time to meet Skywalker and see if him and I were a fit. I knew Skywalker was the kitty for me when he started playing fetch during our visit. I've always loved kitties that have funny, dog-like personalities. Ever since then, Skywalker has been the best buddy I could ask for. Also, he's gotten a bigger and fluffier over time! He's really transformed into a little lion! His favorite hobbies are playing with his sister Tina, playing fetch by himself (he throws toys across the room and chases it!), watching birds from his favorite cat tree, cuddling his humans, and meowing really loudly at nothing. Thanks ARF for bringing Skywalker into my life!

- Katrina

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I knew as soon as I saw him, I had to have him! He is sweet and loving and everyone that meets him just adores him. He loves hiking, yapping at trucks, and snuggling.

- Becca

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My husband and I adopted Skylar (formerly Dottie West) about 9 years ago. We both really wanted a cat at the time and were so happy to find Skylar at ARF. She was instantly a part of our family and charms everyone she meets. She's a big ol' (sometimes sassy) love bug. Just give her a nice warm lap or ray of sunshine to sit on and she's your best friend.

- Danielle

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My fiancé and I saw a photo of Thor (Marshmallow) posted on the ARF Instagram account and immediately fell in love with him and knew we must have him as we've been searching for a kitten for quite some time. Upon our arrival at ARF, we learned that Thor had an adorable bonded sibling with an amazing personality and we couldn't bear separating them so we adopted them both! Thor came home first since Simba (Pudding) still needed to be fixed and was extremely skittish and scared of pretty much everything...He hissed at us when we came too close and for the two days we had him without Simba, he barely left the kitten house we got him. This all changed when we brought Simba (who's a very outgoing, confident kitty) home who made a huge difference in Thor's confidence level and approval of us. Now that they're almost a year old, you'd never guess that Thor had trust issues as a kitten!

Even though they don't look alike, we're 100% sure they were raised together because they rarely leave each other's side! We sometimes call them yin and yang because their personalities balance each other out incredibly well. We're so glad we made the decision to adopt them, they are wonderful companions!

- Paula

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Marshall is a sweet, talkative boy who has an incredible personality! After a sudden and devastating loss of our last cat, we found Marshall who came into our lives and added such light. He himself came from tragedy as a rescue in result of the Napa fires in 2017. Since we met Marshall through the glass paned window at ARF, it was love at first sight. We cannot imagine our lives without our little purring machine!

- Meghan

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We already had 2 cats and a tortoise, but somehow my family convinced me that a dog would be just what we needed to complete the menagerie. And somehow they found the perfect one. A dog that doesn't bark, or jump on you, or lick, or a million other things that had kept me from wanting a dog. They found Rugie (we kept the ARF name and shortened it a bit).She's the perfect dog for me and I don't know what I'd do without her. The best dog ever!

- Mark

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We adopted Tera almost 8.5 years ago and it's hard to find the words to describe how much she means to our family. In our years together she has played "mama" to our family's other 3 dogs, played countless hours of fetch, jumped in every body of water she's come across, led us on fun hikes & camping trips, and is now the sweetest "big sister" to our human baby. We couldn't imagine our lives without her.

- Christina

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My boyfriend and I had been looking for the perfect dog to rescue for months. I checked ARF's website daily and the moment I saw Tugboat I knew he was the one! I've always wanted a corgi and grew up with three border collies...and there tugboat the Borgi was - a perfect mix of the two! Even the name was perfect...we live in Benicia and see tugboats at work daily. He's the best dog and the most loyal companion. We are so lucky to have him.

- Jessica and Matt

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We adopted Harriet (now "Juno") on May 5, 2017. She was just 14 weeks old and immediately stole our hearts with her friendly personality, high energy and of course her gorgeous looks! She quickly became the center of our family's universe and provides us endless joy and entertainment. We were constantly asked, what breed is she? We finally relented and had her DNA examined and were excited to discover she was 25% Lab, 12.5% American Staffordshire Terrier, 12.5% Border Collie, 12.5 % Doberman Pinscher and a likely mix of other wonderful breeds. She's 100% loved and we can't thank ARF enough for rescuing her!!

- Sam

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Queen (aka Queen Sugar) was one of my ARF fosters who captured our hearts with her sweet, loving nature. While a guest in our home, she communicated clearly guidelines for living your best life which I am sure carry timeless lessons for all:

• Begin each day cuddling/snuggling/snuffling the people you love for as long as they will be still and allow you to love them.
• Be curious even with that which, at first, seems scary, acquiring new understanding and building confidence.
• Investigate (sniff) everything, even if it appears mundane. You might be surprised when unexpected treasures are reveled.
• If something is especially good smelling jump as high as you can then run in a big circle at top speed. In this way you notify the world of your wondrous find.
• Take your image seriously. When someone points a camera in your direction be dignified, look stoic, your image must portray confidence, you never know where it might be posted.
• Lay on your family's feet, lean into them, rest your head in their lap. People like to feel connected, important, loved.

Relevant truths from a beautiful soul!

- Susan

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Hollywood (now Ryder) is a big old fluffy Great Pyrenees. My family and I adopted him from arf 3 years ago and since has become the love of all our lives. His kind heart and lovable personality brings joy to everyone he meets! He's the biggest cuddle bug and has become a great companion for every family member. We love this boy so much and are so happy that we were able to bring him into our family. We didn't rescue him, he definitely rescued us!

- Hunter

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I adopted Zoey 8.5 years ago from ARF and knew immediately that she and I were a good fit. Because of her sweet, mellow, and loving personality I also knew she'd be a great therapy dog, so we took the CGC course and have been in the Pet Hug Pack for 5 years. Zo loves people, so as soon as the yellow vest goes on, Zoey does her "happy dance" and is beyond excited. She loves her visits, tummy rubs, and stuffed animals and is a wonderful agility dog! Lily is about 7 years old and she and Zoey are buddies, tho It wasn't so much that way at the beginning! Often they groom each other and "kiss".

- Deb

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I had been searching for a doggie to love again, and had been watching the ARF website in November 2016. When I saw "Apple Pie" (now Finnegan) I knew I had to come in for a meet and greet. I loved him at first sight. Today my precious Finnegan is happy, thriving, and each day scours the streets of San Francisco for new smells and a possible food bonus or two (when I am not looking). Finnegan is my loveable pup, enjoying sun bathing when visiting friends, climbing on to my lap to cuddle and burrowing into his "blankie" for comfort and warmth. We are truly BFF's furever??

- Michele

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We were blessed to welcome McDuff as part of our family on June 15, 2018. The story of how it all came to be is pretty incredible! We had seen McDuff's ARF spotlight pet video on Instagram, & we knew he was the pup for us! We decided to go the very next day to meet him with the goal of adopting him. I called to confirm he was still there & was so excited to hear he was! We (my husband, 2 daughters, & myself) drove over to ARF anxious & excited to meet this wonderful pup. But when we got there, we were too late-another family had adopted McDuff, our hearts sank, & although we met some other wonderful doggies, we decided to hold off as we were too sad that we had missed McDuff. The next day we left on a previously planned vacation, but all the while we talked about how adorable McDuff was & how lucky the family that adopted him was. When we came home, 4 days later, we were talking-what if for some reason McDuff was back at ARF-& as we talked, we received a text from a friend, a text that would change everything! As fate would have it, McDuff was back! We couldn't believe it!! We had a second chance!! The next morning, we were at ARF as soon as they opened to add our name to the list of potential adopters. We came back at adoption time & we met our sweet boy. It was love! And as they say-the rest is history! McDuff has filled our life with so much love & happiness & since his Gotcha Day, our family has gotten better & better! McDuff has become a playful, snuggly, silly pup that makes our hearts full! And he's become a real social butterfly-everyone who meets him, person or pup, falls in love! We always knew having a dog would be special, but we could've never imagined just how wonderful it would truly be!

- Marla

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We adopted Bran Flake from ARF and renamed him Oswald, or Ozzy. He was the best little brown dog you ever met. From day one he was perfect and grateful and brought us all together as a family. No matter what, we all agreed on Ozzy. We would leave him with friends for vacations and almost always he convinced them they were dog people and could definitely give a rescue dog a home, too. We miss him so much and we are so lucky we had for as long as we did.

- Allison

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We adopted Willa, renamed Lucy, in August 2012 from ARF. She was in an adoption room with her four sisters. We picked Lucy because she looked back at us through the window! I won't forget that look! When Lucy is really happy, she squints her eyes. Here she is at the beach feeling her happiest.

- Krista

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I adopted Klover in 2015 from ARF through the Maddie's Fund event. I saw him on the ARF website and knew he was the one for me. He turned out to be the best dog i could of asked for. He travels with me everywhere and is in love with the beach. Klover is hands down the weirdest dog i've ever met but that's what makes him perfect. He loves all the little adventures we go on and he always draws so much attention anywhere we go. I love photography and is loves modeling for me.

- Emily

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Our dog Luna is a 9 yr old ARF rescue. She was chosen by our, then, 16 yr old daughter as a birthday gift. Since our daughter moved away 2 years ago, Luna has become my scruffy muffy. She's calm and wacky and loves long walks and following me everywhere. Her ARF rescue "brother" died a year ago and so she now gets lots of extra attention and treats.

- Lana

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This cute little baby boy has brought so much love and joy to our lives. We hadn't thought of adopting a puppy but one day while looking on Instagram, a post came up about a cute puppy that was adopted. This prompted me to check out ARF's webpage. When I saw Chico's cute face I couldn't resist. I saw that he was going to be at La Veranda the next day and decided to go meet him. The minute my son held him, he took both our hearts. We brought him home and the rest is blissful history! We love this baby boy so much! Thank you ARF for rescuing him for us.

- Isabel

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Miss Muffet, known now as Kala is a sweet and kind cat. My husband and I wanted to look for a cat to be part of our family, where she can have some quiet time. When we sent the application for Kala and got connected with Kala, we felt she fit right into our home. Kala is curious and sweet, we are lucky we were able to adopt her because she brought lots of joy to my family.

- Tamara

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We had had been going threw a rough patch for a while and had been talking about getting a cat. I kept looking on all the websites and saw honor. Some how We knew right away she was meant to be with us so we rushed down to ARF and instantly fell in love she brings us so much love and kindness and completes our little family. I don't know what we or I would do without her she has already gotten me threw some very difficult times. We love her with all our hearts ??

- Anya & Kyle

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I adopted Bear in early February after falling in love with his face on the website. My husband passed in early January after a long illness. The previous November, we had to put down our Main Coon. We had always had cats, but deep down I am a dog person. I decided it was time to adopt a friend.

Bear has been the BEST little companion and buddy! He is smart, well-behaved, playful, and snugly - all wrapped up in one handsome and hugable 14lb. package. He follows me everywhere, loves belly rubs, has a great time on our walks, and sleeps on the bed with me at night. He is funny and full of personality, and makes me laugh daily!

Thank you ARF for all you do to save the animals and their people! I'm looking forward to a long and happy partnership with my little Bear boy.

- Cindy (Mama Bear)

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My now husband and I adopted Murray (now Rocket) in April 2008. Rocket was found wandering the streets of Hayward, for that fateful weekend he was at ARF instead of a county shelter.

Since adopting Rocket he now has two children who love him very much, an ARF brother Ernie (now Buster), they've been together since August 2008.

Last June we moved from Contra Costa County to England, of course Rocket and Buster came with us. We now live by the sea and the boys spend their silver years taking long seaside walks!
I can't remember life without Rocket and Buster, I hope they're with us for another 12 years, breaking all longevity records!

- the Wright Family

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We went to ARF to look at a batch of puppies. They were taken before we got there. I see this dog sitting so upright and looking right at me from his glass room, all alone. Giving me the perfect "adopt me" face. I told my mom, "why not him"? We met him, introduced him to our other dog (who was waiting in the car), and took him home. We had no idea what we were getting in to -- Juno (formally Spring) is a Basenji mix, and boy does he have a personality.

- Dylan

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We fell in love with Boston the minute we saw him on the computer. We drove to arf that day and picked him up. Boston is 12 years old and we've had him for 10 years. We are so in love with him. He loves to hike and run on the beach.

- Meredith

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My partner and I have been blessed by the presence of our sweet dog Molly. We can't express how much we love her and how greatful we are to ARF for what they do! Now that we have Molly, we can't image our lives without her! I would encourage everyone to adopt if they can. My partner was on the fence about me adopting, but now he is in love with Molly and thanks me for bringing her into our home. He says that he never knew he could love a creature so much!

- Shantha

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We adopted Zoey (aka Lombard) from ARF exactly 3 weeks ago. My husband had been begging for a German Shepherd for over a year. We wanted a buddy for our English Cream Golden Retriever, Titus. We had recently started to consider the reality of another puppy coming into our home and how much it would change the dynamics of our house. We hesitated for a bit, and said we would wait until Summer 2020 to really dive into getting a new puppy. We knew whatever happened, we'd love our new baby! On Friday, February 7, I was scrolling thru my Facebook page and another adorable ARF adoptee popped up. It was Lombard. Everything about her was perfect. I knew at that moment she was ours. I was ready to do whatever it took to get her. She was going to be available at 12 noon on the following day. I planned to wake up early and head over there in hopes to be the first person in line. The next day, I woke up and headed to ARF at 9 am. I was the first one there, and so excited. Only question left was weather she'd love us as much as we loved her already. Others started to arrive at 11:15 to form the adoption line outside. Another person showed up for the same reason as I did, to adopt Lombard. Once we got our #1 sign, the reality set in. We were so excited and couldn't keep ourselves together. We met her, she was perfect!! Her story was perfect, everything was perfect. She was OURS!!!! Since then, she has been the light in our home. She sleeps with us (I know, bad habits), but she loves to just be with her family, so what's the harm, right? She sleeps all night, wakes up early, and then comes and snuggles with us. She melts our hearts. She has a funny personality, loves her brother Tutus, and still learning to play with the cat. She does all the cute and adorable things that puppies do. I can go on and on about how perfect she is and how lucky our family is that we found her, but I would need more room on this essay to describe all the wonderful things about her. So I will keep it short and sweet.

- Robyn

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We adopted Stan-changed his name to Django after the Gypsy guitarist- 3 and1/2 years ago at one years old. He is a wonderful dog! He loves everyone and is kind to our old cat. He has never barked once since we got him,we don't know why. Django is very sensitive and when we first brought him home and for several weeks after he would twirl if something upset him. He was not interested in walks and my husband had to carry him for a block, but would wait for people and especially children to come by and pet him. He was very easy to train and is the most polite dog we have ever had. H e does not jump up on visitors and waits to be petted. My young grandchildren adore him. Django has had many medical problems including surgery and allergies and is on several medications. But he remains a loving soul. We know that he is lucky to live with people who love him unconditionally and continue to pay his vet bills. But we also know that we are very fortunate to have such a lovely dog.

- Nancy

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My husband and I adopted Abe (aka Vivio) in Dec 2018. Abe had been at ARF for a couple of months. Abe is deaf, which is why it took longer to be adopted. I admit that I had some doubts about adopting a deaf dog. However, Abe easily integrated into our home learning quickly from other two dogs.

Fast forward two years later, Abe is living a full life. He loves wrestling with his big brother, Oreo, who is also an ARF dog. Abe also hikes off-leash with me and Oreo in the lovely surrounding open spaces.

In working with a trainer, she recommended Abe try Agility to boost his confidence. Here's a video of Abe and me at his recent Agility class.

I'm so proud of the dog that Abe has become. We love both of our ARF dogs. Thanks for enriching our lives!

- Nicole

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Adopting Max (aka Mars) from ARF has been such a rewarding experience, we can't imagine being without him now. He fit right in immediately. We have had him since December 3rd, 2019. Max is a four year old spaniel mix. He loves his daily walk, his stuffed fish (see pic), and playing fetch with his favorite ball. He loves car rides too! He's so loving and affectionate, we're thrilled he's part of our family now. Thank you ARF!

- John and Vicky

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We found little 5# "Solstice" running the streets a few weeks before Christmas between rainstorms.
Our local shelter happened to be closed that day, so we bathed him, fed him, snuggled & absolutely fell in love with him! We pursued adopting the little guy, calling the shelter every day.
After 10 days of waiting & calling, we were heartbroken to find he had been transferred out of our town, over an hour and a helf away. Thankfully, he was in the loving care of A.R.F. when we tracked him down. This was our first exposure to this amazing facility. The caring staff was so compassionate toward our plight to finally bring him home. We were overjoyed to finally bring him home on Christmas Eve Day. It TRULY was a WONDERFUL Christmas!
Thank you A.R.F. for the compassion you showed our sweet boy and our family!
We appreciate your daily mission of mercy & your devotion to all the furry friends you help each and every day.

- The Strom Family

P.s. "Solstice" now has a new home, a new name "Sulley" (Sullivan). He's a healthy 6.4#, has 2 rescue dog siblings, a couple bunnies he loves & an adoring family. He's living the good life!

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Spritz, formerly known as Hazelnut, was a stray from Sonoma who had ringworm before she got to ARF. As an ARF volunteer, I was part of the team taking care of Spritz, who was in isolation with her 2 brothers. Spritz completely stole my heart! She still loves to jump up on everyone's shoulders, a habit she had in isolation.
Special thank you to the in-house medical clinic, who did an amazing job getting the kittens back to normal.

- Candace

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Our family fell in love with Zoey (FKA Pignoli) when we first saw her picture on your website. We were nervous on our drive up from Stockton to meet her because we thought for sure she'd be adopted. Luckily, we were able to adopt her and she is above and beyond what we expected. She has already been ingrained into our hearts. She is the PERFECT dog for us. Thank you ARF!!

- James

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We adopted Dylan in June 2019, and he has made my family happier than we could've ever imagined. He has so much personality, absolutely adores to snuggle, loves exploring on walks, and makes everyone he meets fall in love. My family is so, so grateful to ARF for connecting us with such a special dog, and we love him so much!

- Charlotte

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We have numerous friends who have adopted dogs and cats from ARF and always loved the experience so we knew we wanted to adopt from here as well, even after we moved from the Bay Area.

A friend volunteers here and met our perfect cat so we drove to Walnut Creek overnight to make sure that we could scoop her up first thing. We loved working with ARF and were happy to rescue Cassie, who was a rescue from one of the Bay Area fires in 2018. We also loved that ARF made a point of spending months looking for her original owners and making sure that she was ok before finally putting her up for adoption. We couldn't love our adorable fluff monster more, thanks ARF!

- Michelle

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I asked my mom for a dog my whole life. When she finally said yes I knew I wanted a rescue. I wasn't looking for a puppy but I fell in love with Penny Lane and her cute eyebrows. We just celebrated her adoption day!

- Delaney

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We initially went to ARF with our hearts set on a different dog, but my youngest saw Madison and fell in love. Madison is the perfect dog for our family. It took her a few days to feel comfortable and learn the rhythm of the house, but now she loves playing, walking, sleeping, and getting lots of love.

- Linda

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We had been wanting a cat for a few months and finally decided to come in and meet a few at ARF. The first one we met was our dream kitty! He started purring immediately and let us pick him right up like a baby. And over the next few months his hair grew out and now he has so much FLOOF! He spends his days cuddled up on the couch with us, chasing the dog around the house, and napping in the windowsill. We're so glad we brought Earl home!

- Rachel and Cole

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Blue Topia was a foster fail! We were only supposed to have her for about 1-2 weeks and the moment I saw her, I knew I was going to want to keep her. She was very shut down, didn't know how to play with toys, and wasn't very affectionate but she was the sweetest and most well behaved dog! We fell in love very fast and ended up adopting her on March 1st, 2018. Since then, she has become a completely different dog - she is now VERY affectionate (a total cuddle bug), LOVES toys (but is particular!), and has continued to be the best addition to our family!

- Caitlin

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Adopting our cats, Amber & Jaco, from ARF was a great experience. We were guided thoughtfully through the entire process, from looking for our cats to taking them home completely set up and up-to-date with their shots, etc. We couldn't recommend ARF more highly.

- Marilyn

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13 1/2 years ago my parents found me at ARF! I was standing in the grass, so my parents didn't notice at first how short my legs were, but when I got on the cement they knew I was the dog for them! (Because my mom is so darn short) Now, I have a nice quite life with daily meanders outside, and logging in many many couch and pets hours. Now that I am 14, in honor of my birthday mom started volunteering at ARF, and she loves it!

- Terri

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We brought Jammie home with us a month ago and we couldn't be happier with our snuggle bug! Thank you!!

- Angela

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I was not in a good place in life and really wanted a dog, being that I'm a huge animal lover. So I moved to a place where I could have a dog and walked into ARF one day just to look (isn't that what we all say). Addison was with another family at the table next to me and they decided to think about it. She walked over to me and looked into my eyes. I was done! She has seriously changed my life forever. After about a year Addison decided she wanted a sibling so we went back to ARF and she chose Arya. They are inseparable and I love them both with all my heart. I now volunteer at ARF doing dog walks and I foster dogs and cats. The girls are so good with all the fosters and help them come out of their shell. They have also inspired me to start a new business that will help raise money for rescue organizations like ARF. We are a happy ARF family!

- Christy

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We had been looking for the perfect dog for our family and a friend of ours who works for ARF thought she'd found us THE one. So my family went in on an adoption day to meet this sweet little cinnamon roll. Two years later and she is still the light of our lives, she protects our girls and is convinced she's another one of our human children.

- Nicole

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We adopted 9 month old Bulgur, now named Frodo this past January 2nd. What a joy he is! Over the past 11 months Frodo has made his mark in our family. He has a lot of energy which is great because I love to walk. The ball is his obsession. He's never without it. All he wants is for you to play ball with him. When he settles for the night, he is a total snuggle bug. We couldn't be happier with Frodo. I'm so happy we found each other! Thank you ARF!

- Wendy

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Just a quick note to let you know that Walter (formerly Cappuccino) is doing great. We've had a couple discussions about what he can scratch, and what he can't, but otherwise he's fitting right in. Turns out, he loves people. BTW, I really enjoyed the adoption process. You folks did a great job.

- Dane

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