Kelly Stallings dedicated the better part of her life to improving the lives of animals. She believed in the deep
connection we have with animals and the power they hold to uplift the human spirit. After Kelly passed away last year, her family wanted to honor her unconditional love and commitment to animals with a gift that would continue to help those in need. Cape Ann Animal Aid is honored to accept this generous gift in her name as a Foundation Sponsor for a Dog Meet and Greet Area in our shelter.

​“Kelly was a kind, gentle and loving person who shared her entire life with animals and who put animals first. Kelly contributed to improving animal lives as a veterinarian technician, animal shelter adoption counselor and kennel technician, and an animal hospital radiology technician. Kelly also volunteered at animal shelters and she fostered cats and dogs,” says her husband, Eric.

To know her is to love her. Or, at least to try! Sissy came to Cape Ann Animal Aid as a pregnant mom-to-be, and stole the hearts of many at the shelter. But, she was timid, nervous, and not quick to trust. Today, we are sharing the story of her journey that started in Texas and ended in her forever home! We're so glad that stories like theirs can have a new beginning thanks to the support of the Petco Foundation. Because of their generous investment in our live saving work, we can continue to provide homes for animals like Sissy and her babies despite all that is going on in the world around us.

Sissy initially came to us from Texas, through our rescue partner Chances Dog Rescue and Relocation. Tiffany Menard, Director of Chances, shares with us the story of how she came to them: 

"She came to us via the Animal Control Officer (ACO) in a rural county outside of southwest Houston.  He was called to the property by the authorities (the sheriff, I believe), and he found many, many, many dogs.  It was clearly a hoarding case, but there are also clear signs of neglect.  None of the dogs were inside, none we altered, none were licensed, and no rabies information could be found on any of them.  No food, water or outdoor shelter was available to the dogs either. In all, 16 dogs were seized from the property that day.  2 were humanely euthanized due to medical issues, and the rest were taken in by the ACO. 

There were 2 adults - Sissy and Henry (the black pup who appears next to her in at least one of the pictures) and 2 litters of puppies.  Henry stayed with the ACO, but a foster took in Sissy and the puppies since it was clear they needed some more TLC. 

Sissy was transferred in to CAAA on December 17th. Just 5 days later, on December 22nd,  she gave birth to her two puppies, a boy and a girl. 

Sissy was sweet and calm in the shelter, but hesitant. It was clear she wasn't sure whether or not to trust anyone. Shortly after giving birth, right after the new year, Sissy and her two puppies, Buddy and Minnie, went into foster with a staff member. 

Once in foster, it became obvious to all that Sissy was going to need a special home to adopt her. She was very nervous in the home, especially around men. She would growl and bark at the man in the house, and wouldn't even walk by him. Mindy, Sissy's foster mom, wrote:

"She would stay in the foster dog room with her pups even when her pups would come out of the room she would only come out with me. It was very hard on Kevin to see how scared she was of him. But he would talk to her even when she would bark at him.. such a kind soul he is.."

Sissy, Minnie, and Buddy all stayed with Mindy and Kevin until the puppies reached 8 weeks of age, at which point they returned to the shelter. Minnie and Buddy were subsequently adopted out to their own forever homes, while Sissy waited in the shelter for her own Spay surgery.

In the shelter, Sissy began to slowly open up, though she continued to be very wary of visitors and would hide from and bark at anyone who would walk by the office. A dog who clearly loved and cherished "her people", she bonded well with several staff members that she saw on a regular basis, though it did require patience. 
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Around other dogs, however, staff began to see her really shine. With puppies, she was playful and excitable. It became apparent that Sissy would thrive most in a home with a companion of her own to bring her out of her shell. 

Sissy's puppies had their own happy endings! Minnie, now Nova, found her forever home with some new friends of her own! Her adopter writes:

"We had no plans to get another dog. We already had 10 year old Kermit, the best behaved Boston Terrier around.
When I saw a picture of Nova, I thought “that’s exactly the kind of dog I would get if I was looking for one” then not another thought about it.  When I heard that she was the only dog waiting for foster still in the shelter I convinced Kevin we could take her just for a week or two until she was adopted. She was so cute I knew she would be snatched up soon. Kevin was out of work due to Covid, so no excuses, he could be home with her.

So we met “Minnie”, she was a happy pup and she and Kermit got along great.

Those first few days everything she did was not only adorable but also hilarious. She is so clumsy and lovable. Her and my grandson play and snuggle a lot. We fell in love and decided to adopt.
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She has brought us so much joy over the last month. She is a reason to get up and get moving, all that puppy energy needs to go somewhere. She is such a snuggler and she is a quick learner. Her and Kermit have become best friends."