So Happy Together
While scrolling through a post on social media for Border Collies of Florida, Daliana Mantegazza and her family came across a woman desperately seeking a new home for Ferguson. Fearing he might end up in the wrong hands, she reached out to help. “By the next morning, he’d stolen our hearts,” she says. Soon, coming home to his happy dance and silly wiggles became the highlight of the family’s day. “In the hustle and bustle of life, we often forget to slow down, but when you save an animal, time stands still,” she says. “The silent gratitude, the way they look at you with trust and appreciation — it becomes a constant reminder of what truly matters: kindness, connection, and the impact we have on other lives.”
Meant To Be
Back in 2012, Francesca Fabietti found a male Pomeranian on Petfinder in desperate need of a home. When she arrived, the dog had passed away, but there was a black female Pomeranian available. “I had to go home and think about it, but I was leaving the place, I saw her walking behind me — she climbed the fence as was looking at me,” she says. “In that moment, I decided that I would take her home, and she has been with me ever since!” She named her Baci (kiss in Italian) and eventually welcomed a second Pomeranian puppy to the family to keep her company. “Adopting from rescues is much more meaningful than purchasing from pet stores,” she says. “It’s vital to offer these animals in need a loving home that lets them thrive.”
Triple The Joy
Finding her purpose in rescuing French Bulldogs, Amanda Brooke says each of her rescues has a heartbreaking past of survival. A month after the passing of her beloved Frenchie, Choonie, she adopted Spencer Petunia (Spencie), a disabled French Bulldog; followed by Gorjana Rose (Gorgie) and Charlotte Daisy (Charlie), two mama Frenchies who had been exploited by a backyard breeder. In addition to spending lots of quality time with her rescues, she also volunteers at Miami-Dade Animal Services and the Pawventure program, taking dogs out for a day to give them a break from the shelter environment. She also supports Hurley’s Heart Bulldog Rescue, transporting dogs to and from foster homes, spay/neuter appointments and vet checkups. “Adopting and rescuing animals is about offering a second chance to those who have been through so much,” she says. “It’s a journey that requires patience, love and understanding — the bond you create is truly priceless.”
The Cat’s Meow
For nearly a decade, Flavia Glass has been fostering and volunteering with The Cat Network and SoBe Cats at Kitty Campus in Miami Beach. When she found Bella, she was in very poor condition. “She was covered in fleas, emaciated and anemic — she was skin and bones,” she says. “She jumped into my arms, begging to be safe. I asked around and learned that she was abandoned on the street by an owner who moved out the city.” After several vet visits, dental surgery, good nutrition and a lot of love, she was ready to be put up for adoption. “We couldn’t let her go — she was already at home,” she says. “Even my other cats — who are all rescues and usually hiss or even bully newcomers — never did that with her, not even once. She gained their respect right away, almost like they instinctively knew how much older she was and everything she had been through in her life.”
