Don't miss this little dog!

Winston looks worried. He's afraid that his small size will keep you from noticing him. He knows you'll be missing out on a lot of fun if you walk by without scratching him between his ears. Winston may be a seven-pound chihuahua, but he has a huge heart. As an added bonus, he's downright cute. Don't ignore this little dog. You'll miss out on a tremendous amount of fun - and a tremendous amount of love. Winston is your Adoptable Pet for the week of February 3, 2014.

This New Year's Eve, make amazing happen!

Trudy, a one-eyed beauty, found a wonderful home last weekend at the Rockwall Petco.

This New Year’s Eve, I’m reflecting on something that may seem utterly mundane to you. Every week throughout the year, a photo appears on this blog along with others in publications throughout our area. And every week throughout the year, that photo of an adoptable dog or cat results in an adoption.

But for something so subtle, it’s the culmination of a complicated process. To be precise: You make amazing happen every week.

To start at the beginning, our mission at Rockwall Pets is to stop the killing of healthy and treatable pets by municipal animal shelters. Shelter killing is the number one cause of death for healthy animals in the United States, according to the American Humane Society. When Pam and I first started working with shelters a few years ago, it irked us that our tax dollars were being used to kill innocent animals instead of “sheltering” them. 

We decided to cut through the forest of excuses in order to find solutions. When we began, over 1,500 pets lost their lives every year in the Rockwall and Royse City shelters. That number is now less than 100 each year.

How do we do it? Our preference is to lead by example, but we’ll beg, plead and fight each shelter if we have to. That’s where it begins to get complicated.

The process begins when a shelter decides it doesn’t value the life of a homeless dog or cat. Sometimes the pet has a serious illness or injury, but in the great majority of cases, the dog or cat is perfectly healthy. After one of our volunteers agrees to act as a foster home for the pet, another volunteer goes to the shelter to fill out any paperwork necessary to rescue the pet.

The pet then goes to our veterinarian, usually Dr. Keith Webb at Pet Doctor in Rockwall, for a full round of vaccinations, a medical exam, a spay/neuter surgery and a microchip. If the pet is ill or injured, we schedule a round of medications or even a major surgery. There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, from paperwork and data entry to bill paying and food management. It’s not an exaggeration to say that each pet is backed by a virtual army.

Our team of incredibly hard-working volunteers then brings each adoptable pet to weekend events at the Rockwall Petco and at fete-ish in the Bishop Arts District in Dallas. Some of the pets get extra recognition through photos on this blog and in area publications.

And then each pet goes home to make a family very happy. It’s obviously a long and complicated journey from death row to a loving home. Amazing, isn’t it?

But that’s why we can’t do it without you. We need you to adopt our pets. We need you to join our amazing team of volunteers. And we need your financial assistance. None of us gets paid to do this. We do it because we love animals and we believe in them. We don’t have a building, so we keep these pets in our homes. We don’t receive any government funding. None of us is rich (darn it). We manage to do this strictly through individual donations from caring people like you. Our dedicated volunteer team supplies lots of effort, caring, muscle, love, time, tears and good ol’ hard work. So we need you to help with the one thing we don’t have: The necessary funds to make sure each pet is healthy (nearly three-fourths of our annual budget goes to medical care for our pets).

We think we’re upholding our end of the bargain. Leading by example, we’re demonstrating an effective way to get pets off death row and into homes. We’ve increased the number of pets we’ve adopted out by 90% over last year. And we want to do a lot more. But we need your help.

When you see a weekly photo of a pet sometime during 2014, you’ll know the whole story. We need you to help us make amazing happen.

Michael Kitkoski
Executive Director

Rockwall Pets

Penny Lane is in my heart

Cuteness alert! Your New Year will never be happier when you have this adorable young dog by your side. Penny Lane is a boxer mix with a winning personality. She may look like pure sugar on the outside, but she has plenty of steely resolve inside. She suffered a broken hip, so she recently had surgery to repair it. Even though the scar is still plainly visible, Penny acts like nothing had ever happened. This brave - and cute - dog is ready to make this the happiest New Year ever! She's your Adoptable Pet for the week of December 30, 2013.

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.

What a positive attitude!

This youngster is a happy boy. Shaggy prefers to look on the bright side of things. Want to go for a walk? Want to play? Want to take a nap? He'll be more than happy to participate. You can tell from his smiling face that his goal is to enjoy life. Shaggy is one of five terrier mixes recently abandoned at a Dallas apartment complex. Read their story at Blue Ribbon News. If you're one who always tries to maintain a positive attitude, meet your perfect companion. It's especially amazing considering what Shaggy has been through! He's your Adoptable Pet for the week of September 16, 2013.

Have a Lovely day

Perfect name. Take one look at this precious puppy, and you’ll think she’s Lovely too. She’s always happy and friendly, which means she’ll fit in well with any family. And she’s already showing signs of great intelligence, which means she’s easily trainable. Start your morning by looking at that cute face, and you’ll know it’s a Lovely day. Lovely is your Adoptable Pet for the week of August 12, 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.

Batter up!

With baseball season in full swing, your team could use some shoring up in the fielding department. Chewy is ready to take the field. There's no way a ground ball is going to make it past him. And he even handles fly balls with ease. He's the perfect teammate, because he's so easy-going and agreeable. Your games will enjoy an increase in attendance, because his face is a big draw. Add Chewy to your team, and you'll be playing in the big leagues! This team player is your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of June 24, 2013.

Describe Harry in one word

You can easily get to know Harry in just a few words: Affectionate. Friendly. Happy. Active. Intelligent. Charming. Loyal. At five years old, he's well past the puppy stage. He's ready to be the most incredible family dog you've ever seen. Once you've met Harry, you'll be able to describe your feelings in one word: Love. He's your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of May 27, 2013.

Your adventure begins here

This adorable dog is ready to explore the fastest way to your heart. Since Cousteau is eight years old, he knows how to be a loving family companion. If you're a schnauzer fanatic, you know exactly what you're getting with this adorable dog: He's friendly, loving and energetic. If you've been on your own expedition for a wonderful family dog, you'll feel like you've struck gold with Cousteau. He's your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of May 13, 2013.

On a course for love

All aboard for the Love Boat! This Captain is ready to set sail on a direct course for your lap. There will be no wavering from the route, because this little cutie is on a journey for love. One look at this happy dog, and you'll be making sure that the two of you are the only ones on this voyage. Go ahead. Keep him to yourself. Captain will make sure you're always pointed directly to a destination of love. He's your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of May 6, 2013.

Looking ahead to 2013

Bear was one of the first pets rescued by Rockwall Pets in 2013.
The heartworm-positive shepherd mix was rescued from the Dallas shelter on January 2.

This interview with Michael Kitkoski of Rockwall Pets appeared in the January 4, 2013 edition of neighborsgo in the Dallas Morning News.

What are the greatest challenges and opportunities you anticipate for animal shelters in 2013?

The most critical concern for any retail-like business is location. That puts most animal shelters at a disadvantage, since they're generally located in out-of-the-way areas. We've proven in Rockwall, Seagoville, Austin and the other 200-plus no-kill cities and towns across the nation that taking the pets to the people - by doing adoption events at places like Petco and PetSmart - increases pet adoptions.

How will 2013 differ from 2012?

Most Americans are now aware that the facilities they thought of as "shelters" kill a lot of healthy and adoptable pets. Shelter killing is the No. 1 cause of death for healthy dogs and cats in America. In a recent AP poll, three-fourths of Americans said they didn't want their tax dollars used to kill healthy pets in shelters. So the mindset is changing. The Dallas shelter, for instance, has been making tremendous progress under the leadership of Jody Jones. If Dallas continues to improve during 2013, it won't be long before it's the largest no-kill city in the nation.

What are some goals for your organization this upcoming year?

We have an ambitious goal: To double the number of adoptions we did this year. Since nearly every pet rescued by Rockwall Pets was in danger of being killed at an area shelter, that means we're doubling the number of lives saved. Our mission is to save every life we possibly can.

What are the main needs your organization will face in 2013, and how can community members help?

Until we can purchase our own facility, we always need more foster homes and volunteers. As we expand, we're also looking for more local businesses that are willing to host adoption events on a regular basis. And donations, of course, are always needed and welcome. If a fundraising expert wanted to volunteer to help us, it would be a festive occasion!

What growth and development would you like to see in the animal shelter community in the coming year?

The old shelter business model, which was based on the killing of healthy pets to make space, is gradually giving way to the more compassionate lifesaving model. It's about time, since the old method has been in place for about 150 years! The Dallas shelter has nearly doubled its save rate in one year; it was 26% in September 2011 and 43% this year. There's still a long way to go, but they're making substantial progress. It's time for other North Texas shelters to follow that lead.

What important pet- or animal-related issues should residents be most aware of in the coming year?

Forbes magazine recently documented that the pet business is now one of the largest industries in the United States. Americans spent $50 billion on our pets during 2011, which is more than movies, music and video games combined. It's obvious that Americans love our pets.

What factors are most important to consider for those who want to adopt an animal in 2013, and during the winter months?

Consider adopting instead of buying a pet. When someone adopts a pet from Rockwall Pets, they're not only saving a life, they're getting a pet who's had full veterinary care, including spay/neuter, vaccinations and testing. Puppy mills and backyard breeders, on the other hand, often keep their pets in deplorable conditions. Nearly 17 million American families are looking for a new pet each year, while four million adoptable pets are killed in shelters annually. Do the math. If only a fourth of those families would adopt a shelter dog or a rescue cat instead of buying from a puppy mill, we would end shelter killing. And that would mean a happy New Year for all of us.

"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!

Need an ego boost?

Do you need a little boost to your self esteem? Do you need to feel loved? Sadie to the rescue! This beautiful girl is a lover! She's happy to lick you, to cuddle with you and to make you feel like a million bucks. Sadie is very intelligent and picks up on training commands in a hurry. Give your ego a big boost by making Sadie your personal assistant! She's your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of August 6, 2012.

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.

Cuteness alert!

It's that time of year! We call it Kitten Season, when momma cats begin giving birth to litters of adorable youngsters. Since our kittens are finally old enough to be fully vaccinated and altered, this weekend will mark their adoption debut. We have little ones of all shapes, colors and sizes. And, of course, they're all impossibly cute. Suffice it to say that our adoption events this weekend will be under a full-fledged cuteness warning! The kittens are your Rockwall Adoptable Pets for the week of June 4, 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.

They're free for the holidays!

Every pet deserves a home for the holidays. That's why any pet who's been in the Rockwall shelter for two months or longer can be adopted for free through Christmas Eve. Just use your Red Collar Sale coupon, and Rockwall Pets pays the rest of your adoption fee. You still get all the goodies too: free training DVD, Petco coupon book and Iams Welcome Home Kit. Happy Holidays from all of us at Rockwall Pets! Find out more at rockwallpets.com.

Top Ten Holiday Hints

How can you give your Rockwall shelter pets the happiest of holidays? Here are ten helpful hints:

10. Adopt a Rockwall shelter cat at the Rockwall Petco and contribute to the Tree of Hope.

9. Buy a Rockwall Pets sweatshirt.

8. Donate in honor of friends or family (we make them personalized Christmas cards).

7. Thank the Rockwall City Council for their No Kill vote. Send them a Christmas card!

6. Rehabilitate a sick or injured dog by contributing to Rosie's Fund.

5. Foster a Rockwall shelter pet during the holidays.

4. Buy a Chevy from Lakeside Chevrolet.

3. Stuff the stockings with gift certificates for a Rockwall shelter pet (the gift certificates are good for an entire year).

2. Chip In to help us give heartworm positive dogs their Health for the Holidays.

1. Adopt a Rockwall shelter pet!


Your Rockwall shelter pets wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! By making Rockwall a No Kill Community, you've already given the pets the gift of life.