The Humane League of Lancaster County is an independent, non-profit organization that is recognized as the area's leader in animal welfare. Our dedicated staff and volunteers provide compassion and care to nearly 11,000 animals each year through a variety of services. Our unique foster care program allows to us save even more lives while our partnerships with other rescues and shelters help us place an ever increasing number of animals in permanent and loving homes. We value our volunteers, members, and supporters as important contributors to the work that we do. Through working together, we can achieve our vision of creating a humane community where all animals are protected and wanted.

Adoption Tales

"Happily ever after" is the whimsical stuff only movies and fairy tales are made of – or is it? At the Humane League of Lancaster County we believe in happy endings. Every day we fight for and work towards making happy endings possible for each and every animal who walks in our door. It’s not always easy; they come to us to be rescued and sheltered while they recover from abuse or neglect. They need medical attention, basic vaccinations, baths, food, warm beds, toys and affection. Most of all, they need a permanent home where they are safe to be sassy, or lazy, or rambunctious, or plump, or goofy, or lethargic, or spoiled and altogether themselves. Often, the potential for a happy ending is masked by fear, hidden under a matted and dirty coat, or buried beneath a troubled past. It takes the caring actions of a community working together to unearth the possibilities of what could be. Our homeless animals are depending on us to help them find their very own "happily ever after."
 
Thank you for helping us to make happy endings a reality for the following animals.
Submit your own "happily ever after" adoption story by emailing or send your story to:
 
Attn: Becki
Humane League of Lancaster
2195 Lincoln Highway E
Lancaster, PA 17602

Roxie Adopted by the Schlinkman Family Roxie Adopted by the Schlinkman Family

Roxie is the absolute love of my life.  My husband and I adopted her from the Humane League in January of 2009.  From what we know about Roxie, she lived at a puppy mill for the first 6 years of her life before ending up at the shelter.  I had been wanting to get a dog and knew I wanted to adopt a dog rather than purchase one from someone.  I came across Roxie who had the sweetest face and such a sad story and I knew from then on, she was going to be mine.  It just so happened that Saturday afternoon when we went to go check out Roxie, she was being held so no one could see her, because she was up as the Pet of the Week on the following Sunday morning.  I was supposed to work until 10:30 that morning, so I had my husband go over to the shelter around 9 to stand at the door so we could see her first.  It just so happened that someone else had the same bright idea and beat us to it.  Many
other people started to form in line behind us, so right
as I entered I rushed to the counter to inform everyone that we were going to be the next ones to see Roxie if it didn't work out with the other family and their dog they had brang along.  It turned out their dog was not to fond of Roxie, since she is a hundred pound Mastiff/Boxer mix and this was a small Jack Russel I was not surpised.  I was so happy as soon as I got to play with Roxie.  She seemed so overjoyed to have someone give her attention. We did get to adopt Roxie and take her home with us that Sunday, and my life has become happier ever since.   Roxie has the complete opposite life as she did in her first 6 years of life at the puppy mill.  Roxie and I go on walks, we play out in our yard, she runs laps around my house and the yard, and she seems to claim everywhere comfy as her new spot to lay.  I don't blame her, since she had to live in a cage before, I'm sure my sofa and
the end of my bed is the best place in the world to
her!! Roxie missed out on her puppy years, so it's so funny to watch this & year old dog act like a little puppy at times.  I am so thankful to have my loving, protective new friend in our family! And I'm sure she is even happier than I am!-  Caitlin

Bebe and Cece Bebe and Cece

Here are pics of our girls CeCe and Bebe. We adopted them June 20, 2008 from the Humane League of Lancaster. They are doing so well and are loved so much. They now live in Dunedin FL. They have a pool to swim in and a nice yard to play in. They love sleeping in our bed with us and they get more room than us. They are such loving dogs, we are so glad we came to your shelter looking for a pet, because we found two and not pets, we found our babies.  Thank you again and the girls say, "Hi."
 
Keith and Bonnie

"Frankie & Airyan" Adopted by the DiPaolo Family

Lil' Miss Airyan and Frankie BBarkin are the perfect pair ! Like chocolate and peanut butter! They are just a joy to watch, their antics are non stop ! No matter what kind of day I am having I look at them and cannot stop myself from smiling! They have added so much to our family and I can't imagine life without them in it! 

"Muffin" Adopted by Sherie

Thank you so much for "saving" her for me, she is just too adorable
and sweet. The only problem was last week I was so busy every day
and night that I really didn't have the proper time to bond with her.
But that didn't seem to bother her, this week, we're making up for
lost time. She jumps up on my lap and sleeps on me while I'm lying
on the sofa on the laptop (since the first night she came home). She
loves sleeping under my bed (queen size sleigh bed with a skirt), it's
like a whole bedroom under there for her. She's eating and using the
the litter box just fine. She's becoming adjusted andI think feeling
secure that she's found her permanent home. I feel so lucky to have
her with me, it's really helped in dealing with the loss of my 20 year
old companion.
Thank you so much again!

"Smudge" Adopted by the Tracey-Lynd Family

I just wanted to thank you for letting us adopt Spot ( now Smudge ).  I've never considered myself a cat person but my son absolutely loves them.  I decided to adopt an older cat since they have less of a chance to get adopted.  Let's just say this cat doesn't act like he's 16.  He's been a wonderful addition to the family and things just wouldn't be the same without him.

"Mallory & Jasmine" Adopted by Marissa

It's been almost two years since I spotted my cat Mallory on the HLLC website, and decided to go and see her.  I didn't know exactly what to expect with cat ownership as I had never owned a cat before, but when I met with her in the meeting room I just knew I needed to adopt her.  Now, I usually call her "Buddy" because she follows me around, sleeps by my feet, and literally is my best buddy.  Mallory is very playful, and a few months after I got her I decided I should have gotten two so she would have a playmate.  So I went back to the HLLC and adopted my second cat, Jasmine (renamed from Poppy).  Both cats play together all the time and Jasmine even loves to sleep cuddled up next to my Shiba Inu dog.  I feel like I have adopted the two best cats in the world and am now a totally obsessed cat owner! 

"Buddy" Adopted by the Gallello Family

About 6 months ago, my husband and I adopted the cutest and most wonderful little puppy from the H.L. and I just wanted to send you an update and a picture so that you knew he was doing well.  (I know there were a couple of the ladies in the dog adoption center that were particularly fond of him!!)  I hope they enjoy this email.We adopted PorkChop....we changed his name to Buddy when we adopted him.  (Named after Buddy Rich...famous jazz drummer)  Anyways, he is just the sweetest, most loving puppy.  He does really well with our 2 cats...(well...sometimes he wants to play...and they don't...but it works out!!)  It took him a little while to master housetraining...but he's got the hang of it now!!  He is so smart....he knows sit, stay, down, up, roll over...and many many more tricks!!He was just over 4 lbs when we adopted him...he now weighs in @ 11.5lbs!!  Our vet just raves about him...can't get enough of him.  He had to spend 1 day with the vet to have some of his baby teeth extracted...and they almost wouldn't give him back to me b/c they loved him so much!!  When we first adopted him, he had very little fur on his back and none on his underbelly.  Now is just one big furball and needs to be brushed everyday!!  :)  (He's starting to enjoy the brush.  Lol)  He has been extremely happy and healthy and we are so thankful for the opportunity to bring him into our home!!

"Nala" Adopted by Paul & Sherri

Since cominig home with from the Humane League, Nala has really come into her own. She enjoys playing with the neighborhood dogs and just being herself. We brought her home to be friends with our Dobie...unfortunately, he succombed to cancer 4 days after  her arrival. She is an angel in disguise. Well, maybe not in disguise. Just one look at her and you can tell how sweet she is. We have been letting her go to work with me to visit the residents at a nursing facility. She shows sucha gentle nature when being petted. She has also learned some new tricks. We didn't know how quickly she would steal our hearts.She keeps us smiling with her playful antics.

"Mia" Adopted by the Alison Family

Again we would like to thank you guys for giving us yet another  
amazing addition to our family! In August we adopted our Baby Bella (originally Janie)... Now she has a sister! Momma Mia (we just call her Mia) is such a snuggler... She has the most sweet disposition and loves to play with Baby! They love to romp around in the park and then come home and crash on the sofa together. Pit bulls have been given such a terrible reputation... Our girls have definitely defied that reputation and have become the most incredible blessings in our lives. Thank you again for the opportunity to adopt these wonderful "little" girls!

"Winston" Adopted by the George Family

"Hi, I would like to thank everyone at the Humane Society! After losing my Amity, my 10yr old corgi mix, (who I also adopted), I went to donate her things and thought I'd take a peek. What do you know? On his first day out, there was Winston (previously Levans) a small little blond corgi mix, with a tail almost as long as him. It was love at first sight! We are both so happy together. Winston is enjoying his new home and chewies. He follows me everywhere, takes naps on my lap, and loves going on walks. We both can't thank the people at the Humane League enough for taking care of Winston and putting us together."

"Philly and Jazz"

This note is long overdue.  Thank you very much for taking care of our "girls", Philly and Jazz (previously something with a "G" and Patty), while they were at the shelter.  We adopted them a little over 2 years ago from the Humane League of Lancaster and they have been the best thing to happen to us.  The rewards of being a pet owner are endless.  We hope that others come to this realization and open their homes to them, especially with the Holidays right around the corner.  These animals do nothing but give constant unconditional love. Jazz was ill when we initially adopted her, but thanks to your fine staff, she was able to get the medical attention needed and is now a very healthy cat.  J We cannot imagine what you must see on a daily basis and all of your efforts to protect, help and care for these animals are appreciated.  Keep up the fabulous work! Our "babies" also thank you!  We truly cannot imagine what our life would be like without their furry little faces.    

"Nellie" Adopted by Jackie and Jason

"Dear People Who Are Nice to Animals,

It's been almost a year since I took that amazing car ride to my forever home. My name is "Nellie," (although I was called "Rugbie" at the Humane League), and I'm an excitable Australian cattle dog/Jack Russell mix. It was the cold month of January when I was  found wandering in East Hempfield Township. But despite my lonely time on the street, I love all kinds of people and couldn't contain my enthusiasm when visitors stopped in front of my cage in the shelter. And one such couple, Jackie and Jason, couldn't contain their enthusiasm either when they saw me--first on the league's website, and then in person at the shelter. After getting spayed and micro-chipped, I went home with them a week later. Now we go on daily walks where I can check all my familiar sniffing places and wag my tail as we meet people on the sidewalk. I graduated from dog obedience class as the most improved student, and sit patiently at every street crossing and can lie down on command. I still tend to jump on people when I I greet them, but I promise to get better. More chew bones might help (hint... hint). My never-ending war with squirrels and motorcycles is ongoing, but Jackie and Jason hope that I will calm down as I get a little older (fat chance - the squirrels and Harleys will never win!). I get along with other dogs, too, and enjoy visiting the dog park. My favorite activity, however, is to stretch out and sleep wherever there are bright spots of sunshine on the floor. Thank you Humane League of Lancaster County for giving me the chance to find my forever home and enjoy my hyperactive, sun-splashed life. And if you have any ideas on how we can defeat the Squirrel Empire, please let me know."

"Buster" Adopted by the Milman Family

In December of 2008 our family decided it was time to find a new family member.  It had been a year since our lovable dalmatian had passed and we all felt as if something was missing.  We traveled to the Humane League to just look and ended up finding Buster aka Rommel.  We all fell in love with him.  At first his size was a little overwhelming, but his gentle and loving nature won us over.  It has almost been a year and we all feel it was the best thing we ever did.  Buster is a fast learner, he loves to play with the kids and thinks he is one himself.  He thinks the bed is his and that he should be allowed on it at all times. He gets so much attention that he will hide from our 4 year old just for some peace.  Buster tends to be a very curious pup and found himself in some trouble with a skunk and a trip to the doggie ER.  After 14 stitches and a much needed skunk bath, Buster healed in no time and was back to his ususal self!  We are so glad for Buster we would not trade him for the world.  Each day is better just because we have Buster.  We are truly thankful and blessed to have him.  Thank you all so much!

"Ava and Ruby" Adopted by the Lombardi Family

The minute I saw Ava's face on Petfiinder I knew it was love at first site. I called my husband, put a blanket in the back of the truck (since I knew we weren't going to leave without her) and headed out to get her. I called the Humane League about 3 times en route to make sure she was still there! What an excited dog to be out and about! She jumped right into the back of our truck and looked at us like 'What took you so long?' She is our perfect girl - gentle, loving and the light of our lives (not to mention the world's most persistent beggar!) Unfortunately, we discovered about 4 weeks after bringing her home that she has a seizure disorder. This was most likely the reason someone gave her up. Thankfully, with testing and medication, her seizures are a non-issue. With such good luck with Ava, why not adopt again? I found our Ruby about 5 weeks later - a spunky little Cairn Terrier. She was given up because she ran outside every time the door was opened. No big deal. With a little training, we solved that problem. She fills our lives with such joy and a fair bit of excitement - she attempted to attack the weed whacker, has gotten skunked, has been known to lick frogs and loves her laser. She is also the best little snuggler and friend we could ever ask for. Ava and Ruby are the children we never had and I am so happy every morning to awake to the sounds of their tales wagging in anticipation of another great day. Thank you for providing such a wonderful service!

"Blueberry and Susan" adopted by the Shrader Family

We adopted Blueberry and Susanin October 2009. They are shown here with the other cats we have adopted in the past. Abbott and JoAsh find it very entertaining to watch the kittens play and sometimes join in. We alllove having our new additions to the family. They are great kittens! Blueberry loves to play and tends to be mischievous, while Susan comes and sits at the table every night waiting for supper just like she belongs in that seat. If she behaves,she usually just sits there and looks around, we give her a small piece of food!

"Faron" Adopted

Just to let you know that Faron has really settled in nicely. He has been a Great addition to our house hold. He is very friendly and affectionate to all who comes here. I have attached a picture of one of his daily rituals... he waits patiently for me to get up in the morning so he can go out with me and down to the barn to feed the horses. He waits in the upper part for me to finish. The other day we took the dogs for a walk and he and another cat joined us. The neighbor was laughing at us. When I first brought him home my husband was shaking his head like... "we really need another cat here"! If you only knew how many times he picks Faron up and placed him on his lap. I just laugh at him. Thanks again!

"Kasie" Adopted by the Hoopes Family

We adopted Kasie back in October and we couldn't be happier. She is such a joy to come home to every day! I don't know how anyone could give this little girl up. Her hair around her neck has grown back (from previous situation) and she is a lot healthier now! She is 100% a daddy's girl and refuses to sleep anywhere but beside her daddy. If you can't tell from the picture we love to put her in little sweaters! (Ok her daddy doesn't like that part) But she is just so cute and puts them on herself!!
 
Thank You for completing our family!
Address: 2195 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602 :: Phone: (717) 393-6551 :: Email Us
Shelter Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 3:00pm - 8:00pm; Wednesday Closed; Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12:00pm - 5:00pm
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