Hank arrived to Penny’s in the spring, after spending his whole life in a shelter. We were initially worried that Hank would have a tough adjustment to normal Roo life, but he blew us away with how fast he adapted!

Hank spent a short time solo in the coops before we introduced his young wives to him.

It only took a few days for Hank to show that he was eager to meet his ladies and get on to a normal rooster life. He immediately became a good husband and protector to the flock, and has already had a baby with one of the hens! That baby was born the day of Hurricane Helene, and so she was named Helene.

Hank and his ladies free range and they provide us many eggs in return for their meals and snacks. They enjoy a fenced off portion of the property all to themselves, and spend all day hunting bugs.

Hank likes to yell at all the other roosters in the neighborhood to let them know his coop is the best coop.

His fabulous hairstyle comes from his genes; he is a Polish Crested rooster and he knows he is beautiful!

Jasper came to us in July when we scooped him up off the streets after he was dumped. Our rural area is a known dumping ground for unwanted dogs.

We could never figure out why anyone on earth would dump this dog. Jasper is PERFECT. Friendly, obedient, smart, cuddly, great with all animals and kids - he is just the things someone wants in a dog.

ECHO White German Shepherd Rescue took him into their care while Penny’s continued to foster him. In late August, he found his forever family in Michigan, and made the journey there.

Many tears were shed here, as we truly loved this dog as one of our own. But we knew this family was perfect for him, and he also will love the cooler weather of Michigan far more than the sweltering heat of Florida.

Jasper adapted quickly to his new forever home, and is living his BEST life with an amazing family!

Please visit ECHO’s website to see all the amazing work they do; this rescue left us impressed and full of admiration for all the incredible work they do to help homeless dogs find perfect homes.

Meet Miracle. We did an emergency intake on her this morning after she was rescued from a horrific situation last night by some good samaritans. She was abandoned in a back yard just BEFORE the hurricanes (so yes, she endured them outside ), and a downed tree meant she couldn’t even escape if she wanted to. All this after having been used for lots of breeding

People had to show up with a chainsaw. Luckily, the owners (who didn’t want her) were willing to release her to give her a better chance at life.

This has taken a village. A neighbor put the call out and coordinated everything. People showed up to get the dog out. An animal hospital not only let the dog spend the night, but gave her an exam, skin and ear tests, a heart worm test, fecal test, and lots of medications for free! Another Good Samaritan transferred Miracle from St. Pete to help get her up to us.

For the immediate term, she is a Penny’s Hospice resident, but we are already at max capacity. I will be spending the next couple of days trying to arrange an immediate transfer to a rescue who can get her into a foster home and any additional medical care she needs.

After everything she has been through, she is the SWEETEST and most gentle dog. It’s unbelievable how forgiving they are.

We have an Amazon Wishlist for Miracle. Please consider sending an item or two! Highest priorities for her right now are food, ear eye and skin meds, bed and harness 💕
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2H9YIE5DNAJV3?ref_=wl_share

Ernie (and his brother Bert) came to us as an emergency intake after being seized from a criminal abuse and neglect case. What the former owners did to their 20+ animals was so bad, they went to jail for it. Dogs were found all over the property, tethered to trees, and some were inside a roach-infested home. All were being neglected and hadn’t eaten for days.

A good Samaritan came and got all the dogs after the police took the former owners away. Bert and Ernie were the most senior pups, so Penny’s welcomed them with open arms.

Ernie is a 14-year old pittie bulldog mix, and he is hilarious! He is obsessed with snacks, to the point where we have had to put his favorite bed in front of the pantry door. Ernie loves plush toys almost as much as snacks. He is also very fond of plush beds, and naps. He also loves chasing lizards, butterflies, and laser toys designed for cats!

Ernie suffers from very bad arthritis, and kidney issues. He is on a special kidney diet of homemade meals, and takes medications for kidney health and arthritis. He must take daily pills for both, and has monthly injections to further help curb the arthritic pain and inflammation. Ernie also suffers from a heart murmur.

Bert (and his brother Ernie) came to us as an emergency intake after being seized from a criminal abuse and neglect case. What the former owners did to their 20+ animals was so bad, they went to jail for it. Dogs were found all over the property, tethered to trees, and some were inside a roach-infested home. All were being neglected and hadn’t eaten for days.

A good Samaritan came and got all the dogs after the police took the former owners away. Bert and Ernie were the most senior pups, so Penny’s welcomed them with open arms.

Bert is a 12-year old pittie, and he is the most affectionate boy we’ve ever met! He is constantly glued to the humans here, and hates to be alone. Bert’s favorite hobby is licking legs and cuddling up on the couch. He also likes to stand at the gate and scare the delivery drivers senseless - lol!

For his age, Bert is in very good health. He runs, jumps, plays, and has no real signs of being a 12-year old boy.

Five new dogs showed up in less than 10 days!

Henry came to us as a fospice, just like Penny. He arrived in January 2024 with a host of mysterious health conditions - bladder stones, kidney infections, skin issues, missing hair, ear infections, stomach problems, and tumors. After a long time, he was finally diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease, and pancreatitis.

Cushing’s causes all sorts of chronic issues if left untreated. Now, Henry receives daily medications and prescription food to keep him comfortable and healthy. He is thriving! Henry is a senior boy who likely never lived in a home before arriving at Penny’s. We had a lengthy adjustment period, but Henry is now an important member of the pack, and spends all his time lounging on couches and beds.

Henry is OBSESSED with toys, and we must keep a large supply on-hand to fulfill him. His favorite pastimes are toys, snacks, and naps in the garden. Also, naps on the couch.

Henry requires lots of care, extra supplies, and medical attention - but he is worth every single bit of that. The love he shows us is incredible.

Henry’s medical care is split between Penny’s and Runaways Animal Rescue. Please consider giving them a donation as a thanks for saving Henry from the high-kill county shelter he originally wound up in.

Domino came to us as an emergency, temporary foster. Members of the community captured Domino and her young kittens, who were living outside. The nearby animal shelter agreed to take the 4-week old kittens, but refused to take Domino. A home was not easy to find for her, as Domino does not like humans - like, not at all. We have never been able to pet her or sit near her. And that’s okay.

Domino became fast friends with Joseph, who is also a bit of a scaredy cat. Together they hide and nap and cuddle, and trade conspiracy theories about why the human overlords have captured them. We have an agreement; the humans feed her and leave her alone, and Domino abstains from violence - LOL.

Domino is now a permanent resident here at the sanctuary. She is happy here, and we are happy that she is comfortable and stress-free.

Jet and Oliver are two older kitties who arrived here in March of 2024 when their owner was being displaced and couldn’t bear to place them in a shelter. Penny’s was happy to take them in so they can continue living a happy life.

They are very shy boys, but Jet likes to seek affection from the humans. Oliver prefers the company of the cats, especially those who are timid like him.

They are adjusting very well, and have made fast friends with most of the other feline residents - and with the snack drawer!

We gained some and lost a lot here at Penny’s in April.

Pickles is the oldest resident here at the sanctuary, as well as the guy with the longest tenure. He is 20 years old and has been with us for 15 years.

Pickles came to us from death row at a high-volume shelter in Chicago, where he was scheduled to be put down for having a cold.

Pickles is the one who always welcomes every new foster and adopted resident, be they cat, dog or ferret, and makes them feel totally welcome. He shows them around, and is always there to cuddle with them when they feel anxious.

He also loves ALL people, and makes fast friends even with those who say they don’t like cats!

In his twilight years, Pickles struggles with hyperthyroidism and pancreatitis. He is on a strict diet and gentle medications for these issues. Sponsor Pickles here! <LINK>

Charlotte is the queen of the household, and she lets everyone know it! Seriously, she’s pretty sure she descended from royalty - as her profile pic demonstrates.

Charlotte came to us in 2015, after living outside in an abandoned barn with feral cats for 3 years. When Charlotte found herself in -25 degree winter weather, she came down with a deadly cold and was found almost deceased out in the barn. Charlotte let it be known that she is an indoor cat and always had been.

Charlotte bosses everyone around and maintains order with all the residents. They all know she is in charge and they do not cross her. This is impressive, since she is by far the smallest cat at the sanctuary! Charlotte guards her humans as a dog would, and cuddles fiercely.

Over the years, this precious property manager has managed to lose all her teeth, and she still gets a leaky nose from that respiratory infection she suffered all those years ago.

Charlotte’s favorite pastime is practicing witchcraft and trying to curse all the dogs (whom she refers to as “beasts who ought to pay more taxes”).

Freya came to us in 2020. She was found running around the streets of Miami, very pregnant. The high-volume shelter she wound up at was going to wait until her babies were born, and then euthanize her AND her puppies! Horrifying.

A wonderful rescue named Animals & Humans United scooped her up at the last minute. Freya and her babies were fostered here. Her babies found homes when they were old enough, and Freya stole our heart and stayed here. Freya and Penny were great friends!

Freya is the most gentle, sweet and goofy pitbull you’ve ever met! She is afraid of almost everything, but she absolutely loves playing fetch with a tennis ball. She is OBSESSED with toys. We joke that she never wants to work, and only wants to party - because it’s true.

Freya wants to be best friends with all the animals, and it hurts her feelings a little when some of the cats reject her friendship (lol).

Molly came to us in 2013 when she was found being chased by drunk people near a group of pubs and bars. She was hungry, cold, and scared. After determining that no owner was looking for her, Molly was made a permanent resident.

Molly is a sassy, beautiful and affectionate cat. We call her our little Marilyn Monroe, because she knows how pretty she is and she has the attitude to back it up!

Molly’s favorite activities are window hunting of neighborhood birds, interruption of TV shows, and nibbling people’s noses to show her love.

Opie was adopted in 2015 in Ohio. He joined the sanctuary family when his dad found the woman who is now Opie’s mom.

Opie is best friends with Freya. His favorite things to do are play tug of war with his best dog friend, make new friends at the dog park, and make new human friends wherever he goes.

In his senior years, Opie struggles with allergies and eat infections, which he receives regular treatment for.

Opie brings joy and laughter to everyone at the sanctuary, and everyone loves him!

Joseph Wolfgang, aka Sweet Fluff, came to us in 2016 as a feral kitten found living in a barn. Deemed unadoptable due to being very shy, we were given 3 options: euthanize him, throw him back outside in the middle of winter, or keep him forever. Obviously, we chose to keep him forever.

While he is still shy and he will always be nervous, Joseph is an incredibly affectionate cat who loves to cuddle and sing loud songs all throughout the home and give humans head butts and slow blinks!

Joseph took our most frightened cat Domino under his wing and has become her best friend at the sanctuary. They love to take cuddle naps together and hide out together.

Piglet, aka Muffin Head, aka Tiny Squirrel Warrior, is pure dynamite - because big things come in small packages!

We found Piglet running around in a bad neighborhood, looking completely neglected. She had mats that had turned into dreadlocks and hung to the ground, and was caked in her own filth. She was terrified, and screamed out at night in her sleep. Whatever she endured before we found her that night, we will never know, but we are sure it was heartbreaking. A photo of her from that night is below.

Nowadays, this little dog has a huge lease on life. She is fiercely loyal and protective of her mom, and makes it known to everyone that she’s not only the boss of this household, but the boss of the entire neighborhood.

Her arch nemeses are SQUIRRELS! Her favorite hobby is finding new trees to stare up into and scream obscenities at all the squirrels who live up there. Piglet is awaiting her place in Squirrel Valhalla.

Gregory came to us when we got the call that his former family found neighborhood kids trying to stick him in a MICROWAVE. The owner concluded that because these children would continue to come into the home and pose a threat to the ferret, he needed a new home asap. We agreed to foster him.

Well within one week, we knew Gregory would be with us forever. He fits in perfectly with all the cats and dogs, and he made best friends with Jerry the kitten. Gregory and Jerry have professional wrestling matches all over the house around 7:00AM each morning.

Gregory is a senior now, but he is still a highly mischievous and very lovable boy. He steals and hides our spoons, and has little lairs of hidden treasures he finds from under the couch or in drawers. He is also a kleptomaniac when it comes to shoes. We adore Gregory!

Jerry came to the sanctuary when he was found abandoned outside, and in need of immediate help. A family who had him as a kitten was moving, and their neighbors saw them toss poor Jerry outside as they drove away in the U-Haul. Jerry immediately came to Penny’s.

Jerry is definitely the youngest member of the sanctuary by a long shot. He enjoys terrorizing all the residents, but he is best friends with Gregory the ferret! ‪‪❤︎‬ They have wrestling matches every morning at 6AM.

We have rescued and rehabilitated 5 orphaned baby squirrels, and will continue to help more baby squirrels in the very near future!

We nurse these little crazy babies inside, using special formula, until they are about 4 months old. They then graduate to nuts, fruits and veg. Around 5-6 months old, they get gradually released into the wild. Each squirrel chooses how close they remain to us humans, but at least one continues to get all her breakfast and dinner from us. The others enjoy a mix of our supply and their forages.

The squirrels have all build their nests on the property and will live out their lives here.