Get 9 lives for $9

Star may have the natural beauty of a Hollywood movie idol. But she certainly doesn't have that personality. She's a quiet, unassuming kitty who may be a little timid when she first meets you. She may not act like it at first, but she craves your loving touch. She'll be happy to sit patiently for hours while you stroke her soft fur. And you'll want to spend that much time with her, because it's easy to find yourself addicted to her gorgeous eyes. And the time to adopt is now! Our 9 Lives for $9 sale runs from June 14-22. Adopt any kitty 9 months old or older - like Star - for only $9. That's only a dollar per life! Star is your Adoptable Pet for the week of June 9, 2014.

Memorial Day 2014

Top o' the morning to you!

Happy New Year!

Our 2014 promise to you:

We'll make this the best year ever for the homeless pets of north Texas.

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.

No tricks. Just treats.

Just in time for the season, you'll receive a bounty of goodness if you make Tasha a member of your family. There's nothing scary about this loving kitty. In fact, it often works in reverse with Tasha. She may be a little cautious when she first meets you. But she's telling you that she wants you to protect her from all those ghosts and goblins. You'll get many more treats than tricks once you fall in love with Tasha. She's your Adoptable Pet for the week of October 21, 2013.

Happy Fourth of July!

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.

Hannah is a work of art!

Are you ready to unleash your inner creativity? Hannah is prepared to be your inspiration. After all, tortoiseshell cats are nature's idea of modern art. But Hannah is much more than a pretty face. Her loving personality is a work of art. And her calm demeanor will keep you on an even keel to make sure those creative juices keep flowing. You'll be able to admire your own masterpiece every day when Hannah follows you around your house. She's your Rockwall Adoptable Pet for the week of June 17, 2013.

Today marks one full year of lifesaving!

Thanks to you, we're celebrating! Here's Brooklyn standing outside the Royse City animal shelter on April 2, 2012. We rescued four dogs and two cats that day, completing our transition from a shelter volunteer/advocacy group to a full-fledged No Kill rescue. Your support over the past year allowed us to save the lives of nearly 450 pets, and we're on track to double that this year. Thank you!

Happy Easter!

Thank you, Culver's!

Culver's in Rockwall has added a new feature to help homeless pets find loving homes. Store manager Michelle Hamilton has installed a board that displays photos of adoptable pets. The cats and dogs of Rockwall Pets will be clearly visible to anyone approaching the counter at Culver's.

It all started when Michelle adopted a cat named Cole from Rockwall Pets nearly a year ago. Since that time, Culver's has been a staunch supporter of Rockwall Pets and its No Kill mission. Adopters regularly receive discounts from Culver's in their adoption packets.

For the dogs and cats of Rockwall Pets, finding a home will be that much easier thanks to the new display board at Culver's. Thank you to everyone at Culver's for their continued support!


In the photo is the Culver's management team. From left, Michelle Hamilton, Kelly Meyer, Bailey Nelson, Matthew Lambourne, Ashley Studzinski and Becca Bothwell are accompanied by Rockwall Pets dogs Ashley, Bronson and Tessa.

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.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Eve poem from your Rockwall pets

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.

Thank you to Farmers Electric Cooperative

Thank you to everyone at Farmers Electric Cooperative for their generous sponsorship donation to help your Rockwall Pets. They also donated some ultra-comfy blankets that the rescue dogs already adore!

Happy Fourth of July!

We bow before the warrior princess!

Xena! Such a big name for a tiny kitten! She came to the Rockwall shelter this week in pitiful condition. She was coated in an oily substance, covered with hundreds of fleas, and she was unable to walk. It turns out she had a huge abscess on her stomach. We've patched her up, cleaned her up and gotten rid of all the fleas. Someone said she fought through all this like a warrior, so Xena was born! She'll be ready for adoption soon!