Putting on an act

Don't be fooled! Buttons will put on an act and pretend to be scared out of her wits when she first meets you. But she's as sweet and loving as they come. She's easy on the eyes as well! Buttons is declawed on her front paws, so she must be an indoor-only kitty. But you'll want her next to you at all times once you discover how incredibly wonderful she is! Meet her today at the Rockwall Petco. Buttons is your Adoptable Pet for the week of December 9, 2013.

Mr. Dependable

Meet Mr. Dependable. There's not a whole lot that bothers Rusty. He's a six-month-old with a sunny outlook on life. He's so accommodating that he doesn't mind fitting in with any activity or lifestyle. And his happy personality is simply infectious. With such a confident air at this young age, Rusty is going to grow up to be an intelligent, well-rounded and handsome adult dog. He's your Adoptable Pet for the week of October 28, 2013.

A true joy of living

Now this is a positive attitude! Kate comes by her sunny disposition naturally. She was apparently hit by a car and suffered lacerations on both rear legs. In fact, her left hind leg is still pretty sore. But that doesn't stop this adorable dog from smiling constantly. Her joy of living is positively infectious. Her only fault? She wants you to adore her as much as possible. But once you see that smiling face, you won't have any trouble giving Kate all the love and attention she deserves. She's your Adoptable Pet for the week of October 14, 2013.

Adoption events at Rockwall Petco begin fourth year

Jenny prepared to go home with the Terrill family from the Rockwall Petco.

A single trip to the Petco store in Rockwall changed Jenny’s life. The red dachshund/basset hound mix had been at risk of being put down at an area animal shelter because she had ringworm. Rockwall Pets, a nonprofit No Kill advocacy organization, rescued her and treated the fungus.

It took only one appearance at Petco for Jenny to find a new home with the Terrill family.

It was all part of an adoption program originated by Rockwall Pets volunteers three years earlier. Weekly in-store adoptions began on June 18, 2010, when Rockwall Pets took dogs and cats from the Rockwall animal shelter to Petco in the hopes of finding them new homes.

The nonprofit was the first group to attempt weekly adoption events at the Rockwall store.

Nicole Nickel admires a kitten during the first Rockwall Pets adoption event on June 18, 2010.

Three years later, the store often has as many as four shelters and rescue groups offering pets for adoption on weekend afternoons. Rockwall Pets just began its fourth consecutive year at the Rockwall Petco and now hosts adoption events every Saturday from 1-5pm and every Sunday from 1-4pm.

Several recent surveys indicate that many Americans avoid going to animal shelters because they find the facilities too depressing or too overwhelming. Rockwall Pets discovered that hosting adoption events in a friendly retail environment - “taking the pets to the people” - fostered a more positive interaction between the pets and potential adopting families.

Rockwall Pets has now adopted out hundreds of pets from the local Petco store. The adoption totals were so impressive that Petco’s corporate offices chose the Rockwall store as a host for its new cat habitat, which was installed in November 2011.

Paul the kitten checks the sign outside his kennel in the cat habitat at the Rockwall Petco.

Cats and kittens from Rockwall Pets are now available for adoption on a daily basis at Petco.

Not all pets are as fortunate as Jenny to find loving homes on their first attempt. But thanks to the partnership between Rockwall Pets and the local Petco, hundreds of dogs and cats will be snuggling with their new families by the end of this year.

He's a rock star! Check the crowd reaction!

You can hear the crowd chanting: "STEE-VIE! STEE-VIE! STEE-VIE!" And this little dog deserves all the adulation. Stevie is friendly, intelligent and eager to please. He's a three-year-old schnauzer mix who's always ready to take the stage. A little grooming will transform him into a true rock star! Stevie is your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of November 5, 2012.

"It was meant to be"

This is our favorite story from this weekend: Debbie Carroll said "it was meant to be." She couldn't explain what impulse brought her to the Rockwall Petco. She didn't have a pet, wasn't looking for one and didn't need to buy anything. But once she was in the store, she fell in love with Pepe and adopted him. We're so happy she trusted her intuition, and so is Pepe!

A huge heart in a small package

This gorgeous kitty is a little on the small side. Saffron is very petite but extremely sweet. She may weigh only five pounds, but she has one of the biggest hearts we've ever seen. You won't believe how enjoyable this little kitty can be! Saffron is currently available for adoption at the Rockwall Petco. She's your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of July 30, 2012.

We celebrate an anniversary

Two years ago this week, a dream became reality.

Our web site, rockwallpets.com, launched on June 8, 2010. It began simply as a showcase for the adoptable animals at the Rockwall shelter. About a week later, on June 18, 2010, two Rockwall Pets volunteers hosted their first weekly offsite adoption event at the Rockwall Petco.

That small beginning has blossomed into a No Kill effort that’s spreading across North Texas just two years later.

The Rockwall shelter was killing over 40% of the animals it received two years ago today. For the last six months, between 98-99% of the animals got out of the shelter alive.

What began as Find-a-Friend Fridays two years ago has grown into multiple offsite events every weekend. And what began as a two-person operation a couple of years ago has turned into a growing nonprofit rescue group that is on its way toward making all of Rockwall County a No Kill zone.

And that’s not all. Our sister organization, Dallas Pets Alive!, is about to begin saving lives in a big way over in Big D.

We couldn’t have done any of this without you. Your donations, your volunteer hours and your love of your foster pets is the lifeblood of Rockwall Pets. And we would be remiss in failing to recognize two City of Rockwall employees who were instrumental in making their facility No Kill. Sadly, Jeffrey Widmer and Juan Hernandez are no longer at the shelter, but the animals are still benefiting from their contributions.

We’re proud to look back over the past two years to see what’s been accomplished. But we’re humbled by the mountain that’s left to climb. We will not rest until all of the United States achieves No Kill. We have no doubt that it will happen in our lifetime.

Keep donating. Keep volunteering. Keep fostering. Keep these wonderful pets alive.

Photo: Nicole Nickel looks at a kitten during the first Rockwall Pets offsite adoption event on June 18, 2010.

Hark, lover boy!

Wherefore art thou, Romeo? This handsome cat is serenading you beneath your balcony, asking you to take him into your heart. And what a lover he is! You'll feel like the star of the show when this friendly kitty begins showering you with affection. Romeo tested as FiV positive, which means he needs to be an indoor cat - and probably an only cat (unless you have other cats with FiV). That means you won't have to share his love with anyone else...and that's a happy ending! Romeo is your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of May 28, 2012.

A pretty Persian

This beautiful Persian is a joy to be around. Nicole is a relatively small kitty, but that makes it easy to pick her up and snuggle with her. She's gorgeous, very gentle and extremely fastidious. Nicole is the cat of your dreams, if you spend your time thinking about a kitty who's beautiful, kind and very loving. She's available for adoption at the Rockwall Petco. Nicole is your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of April 23, 2012.

Black Friday!

The Rockwall Animal Adoption Center may be closed on Friday, but that doesn't deter your Rockwall shelter pets. They'll be hitting the streets with their very own Black Friday specials. Look for them in the mobile adoption unit outside the Rockwall Petco on Friday from 9am-3pm.

Get ready for Thanksgiving

Make your Thanksgiving even more special by adopting a Rockwall shelter pet. There's nothing better than sharing family memories with a warm and fuzzy companion. The shelter is open until 5pm today, plus we'll be at the Rockwall Petco from noon-3pm.

Trick or Treat!

Wear your costume and bring your trick or treat bag, because we'll be celebrating Halloween at all our weekend events! We'll be at the Firewheel Petco in Garland this evening from 4-7pm. We'll be at Ponderosa Pet Resort with Dog Star Pit Bull Rescue tomorrow from 9am-1pm. We'll also be at the Rockwall Petco tomorrow from noon-3pm. And, of course, we'll be having our weekly Tail-Gate Party at the shelter on Sunday from noon-4pm. Join us for some spooky fun!

A great day!

It was a two-fer at Find-a-Friend at the Rockwall Petco! The Hietbrink family adopted both Jasper the min pin and Buffy the nine-year-old beagle. Thanks for another busy day, Rockwall!

More locations! More convenience!

Your Rockwall shelter pets - like Mr. Briggs (pictured here) - are here for you! More locations! More convenience! In addition to Find-a-Friend every Saturday at the Rockwall Petco, the shelter pets will be at the Rockwall Farmers Market twice each month beginning this Saturday. And they'll be at the Mesquite Petco (next to Town East Mall) on Sunday afternoons beginning July 31. Even more locations coming soon!

Sweet Abby finds some friends

Here's Abby about to go home from the Rockwall Petco with Meredith and Wendel Bowen. Abby was one of four pets adopted yesterday during Find-a-Friend.

Go green this weekend!

Are you ready to go green this weekend? http://rockwallpets.com

Percy goes home

One of our personal favorites found a great home yesterday during Find-a-Friend Friday at the Rockwall Petco. The Lynch family came in to adopt Percy.

Bojangles falls in love

Bojangles obviously loves his new family, April and Eduardo Wilkinson. They adopted him during Find-a-Friend Friday on April 22 at the Rockwall Petco.

True love!

Kari Holmes fell in love and adopted this puppy today during Find-a-Friend Friday at the Rockwall Petco. We'll be at Petco again tomorrow afternoon for National Adoption Weekend.