A photo essay about John Gannon's Animal Resort Pet Adoption Day highlighting the pets up for adoption.

1. Second Class Animals Make
First Class Pets
A Photo Essay By
Alexia Bohnenkamper

2. Raffiki pounces into his
cheetah print cat tube as he
chases after a mouse toy that
was thrown in. Adopted from
an animal shelter about a
year ago at the age of 1, he
came into his new home with
fear of everything. However,
after his owners had worked
with him, Raffiki blossomed
into a new cat. His owners
even say, “If you had seen
him a year ago, you wouldn’t
believe it was him!”

3. Raffiki’s owner takes him for a walk along the outside of the house.
Although it may seem strange to walk a cat on a leash, it is for his own
safety to ensure he does not run away. Because Raffiki was adopted, he must
be watched over with a little more attention. His owners adopted him from
and event similar to the one at Johns Gannon’s Pet Resort.

4. Cars cram into the parking lot and line up and down the road to attend the John
Gannon’s Pet Resort Animal Adoption Day on November 9th, 2014. Just like
Raffiki, many animals have the potential to be adopted and brought into loving
homes. Although from the outside it appears to be peaceful, inside the event there
is utter chaos with over 80 cats and dogs awaiting their adoption.

5. Inside the John Gannon’s
pet adoption, there are
two rooms; one with dogs
and one with cats. In the
dog room, the animals
are more free. They run
around on leashes and
play in pens where
potential adoptees’ can
interact with them.
However, in the cat room
they are put into cages.

6. Although Pumpkin (Right) and Sadie (Left) appear to not be the
happiest, when taken out of the cage they come to life. Kittens like
theses two need homes where they can run free and play.

7. Kristen (center) talks to potential owners as they look at the kittens in front of
them. Kristen fosters all the cats and kittens at her own home. She has about
16 and brings them to events like this one. However, she says that she can no
longer take cats into her home to foster unless people start adopting them.
This problem of overcrowding is also happening in a lot of other kennels.

8. Many animals that are
up for adoption have
not been treated
properly. Dotie, this
beautiful wide-eye cat
was found on the side of
the road. He clearly had
signs of abuse and was
very malnourished. Just
as Raffiki, Kristen says
that he was terrified
during human
interaction. However,
when given the proper
love, he became one of
her friendliest cats.

9. Even Dotie’s name tag says he is very friendly
regardless of what he has gone through.

10. During the adoption event, people gathered around Lily (Left) and Boo (Right) to
hear their amazing story and watch over them as they sleep. Theses two angels were
found outside chained to a fence with no shelter. Their bodies still show signs of
scars and Lilies ears are torn apart. However, someone got inspired by their story
and decided to adopt them both. They no longer have to worry about their past, but
now can enjoy their new home and live as happily as a dog can.

11. There is also the case that an
animal up for adoption is
disabled. Sophie had to have
both of her eyes removed due
to infection when she was
just a puppy and she is now
waiting near the door for her
new family that can give her
the attention she needs, to
walk in. Although she is being
fostered, there are also other
dogs in the household. She
needs to be part of a family
that she is the main attention
of. However, just because
Sophie is disabled does not
mean she cannot be a loving
pet! She walks right up to
people and plays with them
just as a normal dog would.

12. Sadly, not all stories have a happy ending. Sometimes an animal has not found their
match with an owner. Its important that any potential owners go to events such as
this one. Their perfect match for a pet may be there and may need their help.
Although Oreo (center) was not abused or disabled, he was not adopted. He seemed
very eager to get out of the pen and jumped towards anyone that walked by begging
to be picked up.

13. Oreos brothers are also
full of energy and could
not stop playing with the
tennis ball for a second so
a picture could be taken.
They plan on attending
another event next week
and hopefully there they
are able to find homes
that fit their needs. Even if
owners want a animal, in
order to adopt them they
must fill out applications
to ensure that the pet’s
personality matches the
adopters. Some even
require home visits and
random check ups to
ensure the safety of the
adopted pets.

14. When an animal is matched up
with an owner that is a perfect
match for them, the animal is no
longer just an animal. The animal
is now a pet. The pet is given a
second chance to be loved, and
the owner will have a loyal
companion that could never
thank them enough or leave their
side. Janice sits on the floor
hugging Coco who she just
adopted. Janice says that the
second she had seen him she
knew he was the one. Many other
animals that were not
appreciated before, found their
owners at the Jon Gannon’s Pet
Resort Adoption Day. However,
there are many others that still
need to be adopted. Second hand
animals make first class pets,
they just need to be given a
chance.