EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing series that features Burien CARES animal adoptees looking for loving homes. This edition is sponsored by Sit ‘N Stay Pet Sitting: By Cydney Moore

Tita

Tita is a sweetie. There is no debating this. Staff at CARES let me know right from the start that this lovable 10-year old baby pit-mix has a heart of gold. They werenâ€™t lying. The joyous exuberance Tita exuded in our walk could have easily convinced me she was years younger than I was told, but her temperance in behavior showed the restraint and mellow mind of a more seasoned dog; she has the energy to run and play, but doesnâ€™t push for so much as to wear you out if youâ€™re trying to keep up with her. Although she is completely deaf and at least partially blind in her left eye, this affable darling is quite receptive to directives, and is so attentive I honestly doubt I would have noticed while out on our walk together, had I not been told ahead of time. She is happy to keep a decent clip for a while if you are the power walking type, but also seemed fairly content to take a slower pace that allowed her to sniff and poke around a bit. Overall, Tita makes a very amiable walking partner – she does, however, have a stubborn streak if you start heading in a direction she has reason to disagree with. â€¨â€¨I was told before we headed out for our stroll that Tita can occasionally plant herself and refuse to budge, but initially it seemed very unlikely I was going to see that type of behavior from her, based on how easy-going she was during the first half of our walk. Things went smoothly until we started heading back to the shelter. Suddenly she decided she Was. Not. Moving. She did NOT want to go back to the shelter, and I had one heck of a time trying to convince her to move once she had made up her mind. She was intelligent enough to know when we were heading in the direction of the shelter, even when I tried to lead her through roundabout routes and side streets; she happily complied and walked in any direction that didnâ€™t lead her back there, but immediately recognized when we took a turn that would land us on that path and halted in her tracks. At one point, I sat down on the side of the road near her, waiting for her to decide to move, and signaled her to come over to me. She bounded right over into my lap, and proceeded to swarm me with cuddly pup kisses, gleefully soaking up the affection. She stayed there for several minutes, continuously trying to lick my face as I gave her hugs and scratches and tried to dodge the incoming barrage of doggy love. Eventually we headed back towards the shelter, much to our dismay; she still wasnâ€™t happy about it, but I finally managed to convince her to come (my heart slowly breaking for her the whole way there). According to the folks at CARES, walks get much easier once she knows the person and gets used to them, and judging by the precision with which she determined the directions she was and was not willing to go, I would be willing to bet that walks will be exponentially easier as soon as she realizes she has a safe home, and never has to go back to the shelter again. Tita was surrendered by her previous owner due to a change in their living situation, so with her background itâ€™s no wonder she is so hesitant to go back to the shelter. This girl needs a loving family to give her the security and comfort she deserves. Unsurprisingly, Tita is good with kids. She can be hit or miss with other dogs, but is incredibly friendly with people. She has been spayed, dewormed, treated for fleas, microchipped, and is up-to-date on all her shots. Her vet has noticed a few masses on one of her inner thighs, which they want to remove and biopsy, so news on that is pending, but one way or another, this sweetheart deserves a happy home to spend the rest of her days in. She was brought in to the shelter in early August, and is oh-so-ready to get out. Who wouldnâ€™t love to give her that chance?

Mister Whiskers

Mister Whiskers is a sweet old fellow who has spent way too much time in and out of the shelter, and is well-deserving of some long-overdue R&R. Estimated at around 12 years old, this guy has been holding his own for quite some time. He originally came to CARES in December of 2016, and was adopted out. He was picked up again as a stray in December 2017, and unfortunately was in pretty bad shape. Over time he has improved significantly, gaining weight and regrowing his coat to its full glory (and it is glorious, in all its plushy softness). He spent some time in a foster home, but now that heâ€™s come back to the shelter, itâ€™s time to end his merry-go-round search, and find this handsome boy a forever home where he can spend his golden years in comfort. Upon meeting him, it became immediately clear that dear old Mister Whiskers is quite friendly, and greatly appreciates affection. While he was not interested in being picked up (he wasnâ€™t too upset by it, just wasnâ€™t having it), and also didnâ€™t feel inclined to come out of his kennel, I spent a good length of time sitting next to him, where I could pet him as he resided in the security of his little alcove. His pointed desire for chin rubs was instantaneously displayed upon my entering the room, his cheek constantly grazing the side of his kennel door, and stayed consistent the entire time I was there. Eventually he decided to go have a snack, but besides that, he stayed right in front of me, nuzzling and encouraging me to keep the lovinâ€™ coming. Mister Whiskers may be a people person, but heâ€™s not particularly fond of other cats. Staff at CARES say he will tolerate them somewhat, but that he would probably be best off in a home where he is the only feline. He has been neutered, treated for fleas, dewormed, microchipped, and is up-to-date-on all his shots. Although his bloodwork shows he has early stage kidney failure, for the moment it is being well-managed with a kidney/urinary health diet. If you can respect this seniorâ€™s space when he wants it, but also provide a boatload of scratches behind the ears for extended periods when heâ€™s feeling lovey, you should consider bringing this fellow home. He would make a wonderful companion for someone with a quiet lifestyle and a comfortable corner (or maybe even lap) he could lounge in. His company is guaranteed to warm your heart and bring a smile to your face, and his appreciation for a cozy new home will undoubtedly come with hours upon hours of happy kitty cuddles. Let this little guy be a shining light in your life, and be the light in his. He has been waiting for far too long for the right person to come rescue him – donâ€™t make him wait any longer. To learn more about Tita or Mister Whiskers, or to find out how you can foster/adopt, please contact Burien C.A.R.E.S. at (206) 812-2737 or stop by during business hours at 909 SW 151st Street.Burien C.A.R.E.S. is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter serving the City of Burien; more info here: http://www.buriencares.org.Volunteers and donations are always welcome.ABOUT THIS WEEK’S SPONSOR:

Sit â€˜N Stay Pet Sitting, LLC Serving Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines Phone: 206.370.0169 Website: http://www.wesittheystay.com