These homeless pets have been at shelters the longest in Fond du Lac, Oshkosh and Appleton

There’s no one reason why some homeless pets linger in animal shelters longer than others.

Sometimes, it’s a medical problem or behavioral issue.

Or it could be the age of a pet, or even how they look — black cats and dogs often get a bum rap because of the color of their fur, said Cheryl Rosenthal, communication/education coordinator at Oshkosh Area Humane Society.

Other pets have their guard up when it comes to meeting strangers and their trust has to be earned. A shelter environment can cause them to withdraw and be on the defensive.

For shelter workers, it's hard to see pets come and go while others remain in cages and kennels, waiting for just the right person to come along.

"There are animals who come in with a history and it may take them a little longer to adjust to a new way of life," Rosenthal said. "I tell people, if you can hang in there, it will be worth the wait. There is always that special someone out there for every pet."

Charlie and Rosita

Take Charlie, for example, a feline tortoiseshell beauty who finally went to her forever home on Saturday after coming to the Oshkosh shelter on June 23, 2016.

"She came to us when her owner went to prison, and it was apparent this owner had played very rough with her and abused her because she has a thing about hands," Rosenthal said.

Everyone who saw Charlie would fall in love with her, but when they tried to touch her, she lashed out, swatting and biting to defend herself.

Still, the cat showed an exuberance for life — the way she played on her own. There was something about her personality that proved she had potential.

It took a lot of patience to change Charlie's way of thinking, Rosenthal said. Shelter staff learned how to approach her the right way, and taught her that hands are not for hitting, but for petting.

"She now asks for attention, and though she is not perfect, by any means, we found a person who accepts her just the way she is," Rosenthal said.

Still waiting for that special someone to come along is Rosita, a 14-year-old black, domestic short hair who has been at the shelter since October 2018. She is one of the humane society's greeter cats, Rosenthal said, and she roams about on her own because she is good with all kinds of people.

"She's a sweet old gal who loves to be petted and brushed and the occasional catnip session," she said. "She needs a quiet home and she might need to be an only pet in the household."

At one point in time Rosita was adopted out, but then she returned to the shelter because of litter box issues. Rosenthal thinks there may have been other pets in the house that bothered the elderly cat, because she has faithfully used her litter box since coming to the shelter.

Those interested in adopting Rosita can visit her at the Oshkosh Area Humane Society, 1925 Shelter Court. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

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Gigi and Achilles

A 3-year-old boxer mix is currently the longest running guest at the Fond du Lac Humane Society.

Gigi, who is spayed and micro-chipped, arrived at the shelter on Dec. 4, 2018. She is described as a strong, active girl with a sweet attitude.

Shelter manager Riley Benz said this dog loves to have fun with squeaky toys and stuffed Kongs, and will play fetch for a short time.

"We've worked with her on how not to jump on people by encouraging her to sit, as well as playing a floor game we call 'stick four paws on the floor,'" she said. "Gigi can be difficult to walk — especially if she is on a standard collar — because she is all muscle and will take you where she wants to go."

Gigi is looking for a home with large breed experience and would not be a good fit for the first time adopter. She also needs to be the only pet in the home with no small children — preferably with a fenced-in yard so she can safely run off leash.

Pets that come with restrictions, as in Gigi's case, are often the hardest to place, Benz said, but they are done in the best interest of the animal and the potential adopter.

"It is our responsibility, to the animals in our care and the community, to make sure the animal is a good fit for its new home," Benz said. "While it could take longer to find that animal a forever match, in our experience, these animals rarely if ever end up coming back to the shelter."

Another special shelter dog, Achilles, is also ready for adoption. The pit bull made headlines back in September 2019, when he was found abandoned in an apartment, emaciated and barely able to stand. He was enclosed inside a small, feces-filled room, apparently left there to die by the previous owner.

At the time of his rescue, Achilles was down to 29 pounds — half the weight he should be.

Now, after lots of care and attention from shelter staff, Achilles weighs in at 60 pounds and would make a great companion, Benz said.

Gigi and Achilles can be viewed at the Fond du Lac Humane Society, 652 Triangle Road. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Cucumber and Nala

Pets who can't live with other pets or small children make for a tough situation, because lots of times families already have both, said Andrea Sword, lead adoption specialist at Fox Valley Humane Association.

“It takes a special kind of adopter to give a pet a home to themselves,” Sword said.

Cucumber, a 3-year-old, large terrier-mix, came into the shelter as a stray on July 31, 2019. Playful and full of energy, he will need someone who can spend time training him to become a good, household dog.

He does not get along with other dogs or cats, and any children in the home should be at least 15 years old, Sword said, as Cucumber can be “mouthy” when he plays.

Cucumber is a bit of a leaner when he wants to be petted and loves tennis balls.

“We think he will bond closely with and be a great dog for someone who can give him the time he needs to adjust to a home,” Sword said.

Nala, a 4 ½-year-old orange tabby, was surrendered to the shelter on June 14 last year. Her owners said they could no longer afford to keep her.

She tends to be more reserved and was stressed out living within the confines of a cage at the shelter, so the staff decided to make her an office cat and let her roam free to give her some space, Sword said.

“She doesn’t like to be picked up or taken from her secure place, which made people think she was unfriendly,” Sword said. “She takes a while to warm up but she does like attention.”

The shelter is recommending Nala be the only pet in a quiet home, because she tends to get stressed out when there is a lot going on.

Cucumber and Nala can be viewed at Fox Valley Humane Association, N115 2 Mile Road, Appleton. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Contact Sharon Roznik at 920-907-7936 or sroznik@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/reporterroz/

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