ATTICUS  “If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird   Hi, my name is Atticus and I'm so happy to meet you!  I'm a sweet, loving, smart, and trusting little guy, with a tail that wags a mile a minute. I love going out for walks, meeting new friends, and snuggling up next to you on the couch or bed or anywhere you happen to be. I was found as a stray on a busy street in Hollister.  I went to an overcrowded shelter where they kept me for two whole months ~ much longer than usual because they thought I had potential to be a wonderful best friend.  I waited hopefully, but nobody came for me. Finally, I ran out of time.  I was rescued by a vet tech who had been watching out for me. Now I am ready to find my forever family. I'm a neutered male Chihuahua, have had all my shots, and will be micro-chipped before I come home with you.  I am crate-trained, and am happiest of all when I get to spend time with you.  My friends at the shelter think I'm about 1 year old. I sure do like getting along with all kinds of folks. And I'll be very glad indeed to find a kind and loving home, with folks who will love me just as much as I will love them. GIDGET   Six months ago Gidget was adopted. This was not her first family and unfortunately her current family feels that there is a better home for this great little girl. Gidget is a sweet, 4 1/2 year old, spayed, micro-chipped, vaccinated little girl who loves to get pets and cuddles and be with her person. She doesn’t like to be picked up but is happy to jump into your lap or up beside you. She’s a great “indoor” kitty who uses her litter box and scratching post and has a “cute little mini meow”.  Gidget is happiest when she is the only feline in the home. Have you been looking for a little sweetheart to join your family? Gidget has been looking for you! HANNAH Hannah has had a very adventurous life to date. In her two years, Hannah was rescued from a hurricane in Puerto Rico, came to the US and was adopted, but it didn’t work and she was surrendered to the Peninsula Humane Society, was adopted. Her Mom feels that Hannah needs someone with more space and energy for this young, energetic, little girl. Hannah is about a 2 year old, golden retriever/lab mix, spayed female. She is up to date on her vaccinations and is micro-chipped. She enjoys people and other dogs. Hannah is looking for her “forever” family. Have you been looking for. NOIR, SHADOW & SPARKY "We've found kittens in our back yard! Now what do we do?" And that's how Noir (black), Shadow (grey), and Sparky (light) became CIW kittens. They are 3 of a litter of 7 kittens and we hope more of the litter will come to CIW. At this time (May) these little guys are too young to go to their "forever" homes yet. They need to grow up some so they can get their vaccinations, micro-chips, and be neutered. Till then, they love to play, eat, sleep and "poop"! If you are thinking of adding a kitten or two to your family, maybe you are captivated by one or more of these sweeties! Let's talk! JOSIE Here is little Josie. Three years ago, Josie was a young cat looking for her "forever" home through a local veterinary practice. Along came an older couple looking for a special kitty. The husband loved cats and the couple thought at a special kitty would help him through his Alzheimer's. He chose Josie. She would sit with him and be petted and loved and she loved her job. Her Dad passed away and she missed him terribly. Another family situation arose and now her Mom was going to be away for months at a time. She didn't want Josie to be by herself. Mom felt that Josie deserved a full time family. Josie is a healthy, vaccinated, spayed, micro-chipped, wonderfully social little girl. She is looking for her forever home where she can shine and where she can give all her love and attention to her special people. Are you her lucky family? BRISTLE Bristle’s life began in an idyllic setting, but this boy has traveled a long and winding road to his present loving foster home. Without the dedicated “Bristle Bandwagon Team” that developed as Bristle struggled to survive, his story may have ended quite abruptly. Instead, Bristle encountered “Bristle-Angels” along the path, people who saw something splendid in him, who felt it was worth giving him a chance to learn that life’s boundaries were not just the 4 walls of a crate, where he was sometimes forgotten for days on end due to the advancing Alzheimer’s of his aging owner. Bristle lived in horrid conditions inside his little crate, not by intent, but a victim of his owner’s advancing illness. Bristle learned coping behaviors—you can imagine what this boy had to learn just to move his muscles while avoiding the excrement and urine he lived in. Food? Water? Yes, on the days his owner remembered such items. Enter Bristle’s first angel, the vet who was able to have Bristol relinquished to her care. When the Vet-Angel first rescued Bristle, his ears were almost transparent because his body had used up every available smidgen of itself that it could just to hang onto life. The first task was to begin to allow Bristle’s body to gain sorely needed weight. After a time, the Vet-Angel again evaluated Bristle’s physical condition and his behaviors as well. She felt the need to enroll another angel, the Behaviorist-angel, whose task it was to help Bristle adapt behaviorally to the real world, the world beyond the 4 walls of a crate—or even the confines of a dog run. Today, Bristle is a handsome almost-6-year-old, but if placed in a run, he reverts to the anxious circling and barking that were the consequences of the first three years of life as he knew it at the time. Because food was uncertain and sparse, he may be food-protective. Despite his early years confined in a crate, he will still go in and sleep in a crate. Bristle is a Special-Needs altered wirehair, one who needs to live freely in the house with his devoted person. A serene environment would be best, one in which a low activity level is the norm. He honors fences in the yard, and would love to have his own person sit on the patio while he himself investigates interesting items and takes care of his business. It would be best if Bristle were the only dog. Cats may be okay. This breed has a very high prey drive and without supervision GWP’s may hunt them. Food rewards are a great motivator for Bristle! He loves to hear what great accomplishments he’s just achieved, coupled with a special tidbit! A very special environment is needed for this Special-Needs boy. LOLA & PATCHES Hi we’re Lola and Patches.  Our Dad, Victor, is ill. As a result he can’t take care of us any more. He is very sad that we can’t be with him and so are we. He wants to make sure that we find a good home. His friends are helping. We are staying with them so we don’t have to go to the Human Society. They love us but they have too many dogs already. We have good house manners. But would enjoy a game if you want to play. Tell us when to stop and we’ll settle down right away. We never met a person we didn’t like. Just give us a hug and you're our friend for life. We get along with adults, cats, kids and dogs. Little children might not be a good match for us because of our size. Twelve year olds and older would be great if they like dogs. Believe it or not we don’t eat much. Give us a happy, safe, caring home and you will receive a lot of love in return, plus a lot of fun, too. Call 650 712-9962 or 650 438-7345 or Companions In Waiting Lola (black and tan) is about 6; Patches (brown), Lola’s mother, is about 8. These sweet girls are young at heart and have lots of life left. Both girls are current with some of their vaccinations. They are getting ready to be spayed, micro chipped and get their rabies vaccination. Are you ready for lots of lovin'?  HARLEY & MINNIE PEARL Four kittens were trapped at an apartment complex in '07. Mom is a young feral cat and the kittens future looked as if they would be scrounging for food as feral cats just like Mom but not any more! One of the kittens has found her “forever home. Now it is one year old, Harley and Davy with their rumbling purrs, and Minnie Pearl with her beautiful grey coat, to fin their "forever families". They have tested negative for felv/fiv, are current with their vaccinations, are spayed and neutered and micro-chipped. They are ready for their forever home and to give all their love to “their humans”. Although shy, they would love a quiet home where they could give their humans all their love. Will your home be one? JOSE Hola Jose! A young (2 year old) male chihuahua was found along side a road in San Jose. His pelvis was broken. We can only assume he had been hit by a car. He was taken to the San Jose Animal Shelter and when no one came looking for him, he was rescued and taken to Adobe Hospital for care. He received wonderful care by many of the doctors and the technicians and is literally back on his feet! He loves to have another dog to play with for his physical therapy and he doesn't mind a cat buddy. Jose's pelvis has healed and he has regained the use of his back legs. Damage to nerves in his lower spine caused some incontinence but acupuncture and chiropractic treatments continue to help. He is neutered, up to date on his vaccinations, heartworm negative and micro chipped. This happy little fella is looking for his forever family. Is yours his special family? DAPHNE Hello Daphne! This gorgeous dilute tortoiseshell little lady turned up in a feral cat colony. The gal who monitors and feeds the colony recognized immediately that Daphne was not feral. CIW was able to help. 5 - 6 year old Daphne is now given a clean bill of health, leukemia negative, current on her vaccinations, spayed and ready to cuddle and purr in your arms or on your lap. What lucky family will have Daphne join them to make their family complete?