Dale's Second Chance
Dale has one of those faces you don't forget. Gentle, hopeful, and always looking for his person. He spent over six months at the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center waiting for that moment.
During his stay, Dale became known for placing his paw on his kennel door every time someone walked by, asking to go for a walk. He did it so often that he injured his paw and needed veterinary care. Later, an old injury on his head turned into an abscess that required surgery. Through it all, Dale never lost his sweet spirit.
Your support made sure he didn't have to go through it alone. Donations covered his medical care, his surgery, and everything he needed while he waited. Because of you, he was able to heal, stay comfortable, and keep believing his day would come. And it did.
After months of being his lovable, slightly accident prone self, Dale finally found his forever home. Because of you, Dale got his second chance.
Ophelia and the Fine Art of Letting Dinner Come to You
Ophelia somehow mastered the art of doing absolutely nothing... and still getting exactly what she wanted. When she arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center, it didn't take long to realize she had no interest in chasing her food like a typical bearded dragon. Instead, she would simply find her favorite cozy spot, open her mouth, and wait. Patiently. Confidently. As if room service was obviously included. And honestly... she was right.
Ophelia's adorably lazy approach to life made everyone smile, but reptiles like her rely on very specific care to stay healthy. Proper heat, specialized lighting, the right enclosure, and a carefully balanced diet all matter more than most people realize. That's where you come in.
Your donations make it possible to give animals like Ophelia exactly what they need, even when their idea of “hunting” is just waiting with their mouth open. Because of you, every animal, no matter how small or scaly, gets the care they deserve.
Blue's Second Chance: Powered by Volunteers and Donors Who Never Gave Up
Blue spent more than seven months at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, the longest stay of any dog this year. Seven months is a long time for any animal to wait. The noise, the stress, the uncertainty... it can wear even the strongest spirits down. But Blue held on because he wasn't waiting alone. He had volunteers by his side.
Volunteers like Dar pour their heart and soul into animals who need extra time. They fall in love with dogs like Blue, rooting for them, comforting them on hard days, celebrating every small step forward. They walk them through their worries, teach them new skills, and give them the sense of family they desperately need while they wait for their forever one.
And behind every volunteer is a donor who makes their work possible. Donations to Friends of the Animal Center Foundation provide the enrichment supplies, training tools, and support that keep long-term animals emotionally healthy and ready for adoption.
Today, Blue is adopted, adored, and finally home. He's living the life so many people worked so hard to give him, and his story is proof that when a community comes together, miracles happen.
Tanjiro: The Little Potato With a Big Personality
Meet Tanjiro, the roundest, calmest, most unbothered guinea pig you'll ever meet. With his soft tricolor fur and perfectly pouty lips, Tanjiro has mastered the art of loafing, a professional potato, if you will. But behind that adorable expression is a little guy with big needs, just like all the small animals who come through the doors.
Tanjiro arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center in search of safety, comfort, and a full buffet of his favorite things: crisp bell peppers, leafy greens, and the occasional fruity treat. Small animals like Tanjiro depend on a special diet to stay healthy, and that means fresh produce every single day. They also need enrichment, chews, tunnels, hideouts, and toys, to keep their busy minds curious and their little hearts happy.
Thanks to generous donors, we're able to give guinea pigs like Tanjiro the care they deserve. Tanjiro is now thriving, snacking, exploring, and showing off his best loaf poses in his new home. Animals like him may be small, but their needs are big, and your donations make all the difference.
Al's Second Act
For years, Al was a rugged tomcat surviving on the streets, scrapping for meals, dodging cars, and wearing the marks of a hundred battles. When he arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he was a walking story: a face full of scars, a leg that had clearly been broken long ago and never treated, and FIV+. But even through the wear and tear, there was a softness in his eyes that hinted at the sweetheart beneath the survivor.
After a thorough exam, the vet team made a surprising decision, not to remove his injured leg. Despite its crooked appearance, Al still used it for balance, especially when sitting or grooming. He'd adapted to his body's changes, just like he'd adapted to everything else life had thrown at him.
Now safe, warm, and adored, Al is finally living the good life indoors. No more cold nights or constant battles, just cozy naps, gentle pets, and soft blankets. Al's days of surviving are over. Now, he's thriving like any cat, regardless of being FIV+. All it took was a second chance.
Finnegan's Fresh Start
When Finnegan Michael arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, his skin told a sad story: patchy fur, scabs, and itchy red bumps all over his body. At first, everyone worried it might be something contagious like ringworm, but after several tests (made possible by your donations!), we discovered Finnegan has severe allergies, possibly to food, parasites, or even just everyday things in his environment.
Thanks to generous support, we were able to get him the medical care and testing he needed to start healing. Today, Finnegan is living his best life in a loving home, where his adopter is helping manage his allergies and keep him comfortable. Through everything, he never lost his sweet, snuggly spirit, and now he finally has the second chance he always deserved.
Thank you for giving animals like Finnegan a brighter future!
Crosshair's Mission: Adoptable
When Crosshair arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he was full of energy and potential, but not a whole lot of manners. Like many dogs, he just needed a little guidance to become his best self. That's where our Paws to Train program came in.
With the help of professional trainers, Crosshair began learning essential skills like leash walking, polite greetings, and basic commands. But more than that, he built confidence, trust, and the ability to focus, traits that make a dog not just adoptable, but likely to thrive in a forever home.
Paws to Train doesn't stop when the adoption papers are signed. Thanks to donor support, families receive follow-up training to help dogs like Crosshair settle in and stay for the long haul. Crosshair graduated from training and found the loving home he deserves. He's now on his next mission: being a very good boy.
TicTac's Time to Heal
When TicTac arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he looked like any other cheerful pup: bright eyes, wagging tail, and a love for treats. But beneath that happy exterior was a serious health issue: advanced heartworm disease.
Heartworm is a dangerous and potentially deadly condition caused by parasites that live in the heart and lungs. Treating it is expensive, more than $1,000, and incredibly tough on a dog's body. For nearly six months, TicTac endured a rigorous treatment plan, including painful injections and months of strict kennel rest.
Thanks to generous donors, TicTac received the life-saving care he needed. While it was a long, quiet journey of healing, he kept his spirit up with slow walks, gentle pets, and lots of peanut butter. Today, TicTac is heartworm-free and finally ready for a fresh start in a loving home. Because of supporters like you, dogs like TicTac get a second chance, not just to survive, but to thrive.
Healing Fried Rice: One Purr at a Time
Fried Rice is finally free!!! Poor Fried Rice came to the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center several months ago in rough shape. She arrived with severe stomatitis, which required surgery to remove all her teeth. She was also full of fleas and lice and suffered from a bad case of feline herpes, a respiratory disease in cats. Just when she made it through all those issues, Fried Rice contracted ringworm and lost all the hair on her ear!
The Animal Center has been running at full capacity for months, so Fried Rice couldn't be quarantined at the shelter, and all the foster homes already had cats. In the end, we decided to keep Fried Rice in the FACF office, hoping a foster home would open up. She stayed here with us while receiving her treatments and medications.
We can't thank our donors enough for supporting cats like Fried Rice. After $2,500+ in medical care and months in quarantine, she's FINALLY ready to find a home of her own. We can't express in words how sweet this cat is. She loves life and wants nothing more than to be loved and petted.
UPDATE! Fried Rice is thriving in her forever home! Her adopter says she's the “absolute best” and has settled in beautifully. She spends her days lounging on her window perch, playing with her new feline friend Soda, and chasing her favorite toys, especially ice cubes slid across the floor. It's clear this sweet girl is finally living the happy, love-filled life she deserves.
Choo Choo's Road to Recovery
Choo Choo was found abandoned in a county road ditch, scared, underweight, and badly in need of grooming.
Thankfully, a compassionate foster family took him in and has been caring for him over the past several weeks. Because of your generous donations, Choo Choo received a much-needed haircut, nutritious food to help him gain weight, and veterinary care to ensure he's healthy and comfortable.
Your support provides everything he needs while he heals in a safe and loving foster home. Thank you for giving animals like Choo Choo a second chance.
Ruffly's Road to Recovery
When Ruffly arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he was nearly unrecognizable. Rescued from a heartbreaking puppy mill case in Iowa County, Ruffly was one of more than 50 dogs found crammed into stacked rabbit cages. Many of the dogs were suffering from heartworm, untreated infections, and years of neglect.
Ruffly's fur was so matted it had formed tight knots that tore into his skin, leaving him with open, painful wounds. He had likely never known a soft bed, clean water, or a gentle touch.
Thanks to your support, Ruffly got the urgent medical care he needed. He was sedated for a full grooming, and veterinarians treated his wounds and began heartworm prevention. With each passing day, Ruffly grew stronger, and sweeter.
Today, Ruffly is safe, clean, and loved. He has found a forever home where he's finally being treated the way he always deserved. Your donations gave Ruffly the chance to heal and start again. Thank you for making his rescue possible.
Three Tiny Kittens. One Big Fight to Survive.
They arrived fragile and completely dependent on care, at an age where they need constant feeding, warmth, and medical support just to make it through each day. Kittens this young go through an incredible amount of supplies, from formula and bottles to heating pads, blankets, and constant cleaning. They are also some of the most medically vulnerable, often needing medications, extra veterinary care, and close monitoring as they grow.
These little ones will stay in foster care until they are about 12 to 15 weeks old, where they can receive the round the clock care they need to survive and thrive. That's where you come in.
Your donations provide everything that makes this possible, from lifesaving supplies to the medical care that gives them a real chance. Because of you, little lives like these are given the time, care, and support they need to grow stronger each day and one day find a home of their own. Your generosity makes all of it possible.
Stitch's Story: The Tiny Fighter Who Refused to Give Up
When Stitch arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he was impossibly small, but his spirit was impossibly big. The tiny kitten had suffered a serious chin avulsion injury after seeking warmth inside a car engine. He needed immediate surgery, careful monitoring, and round-the-clock support just to have a chance. Stitch, however, had other plans.
Despite a successful first surgery, this little troublemaker quickly pulled out his stitches, clearly unaware of the vet's orders. Back he went for surgery number two, this time fitted with a specially designed chin “guard,” a stitched-on tube meant to keep everything protected while he healed. It lasted six days.
In true Stitch fashion, he managed to free himself from that, too. But thanks to patient medical care and the unwavering generosity of donors, Stitch was given the second, and third, chance he needed. And this time, it worked. His chin healed, his sass returned, and his bright personality shined through stronger than ever.
Today, Stitch is fully recovered and has officially been adopted into a loving forever home, a place where his spirited antics and brave little heart are celebrated every day. Your donations fund lifesaving surgeries, specialized care, and the second chances that turn injured, frightened animals into thriving family pets.
