Blue’s Second Chance: Powered by Volunteers and Donors Who Never Gave Up

Blue spent more than seven months at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center—the longest stay of any dog this year. Seven months is a long time for any animal to wait. The noise, the stress, the uncertainty… it can wear even the strongest spirits down. But Blue held on because he wasn’t waiting alone.

He had volunteers by his side.

Volunteers like Dar pour their heart and soul into animals who need extra time. They fall in love with dogs like Blue—rooting for them, comforting them on hard days, celebrating every small step forward. They walk them through their worries, teach them new skills, and give them the sense of family they desperately need while they wait for their forever one. For Blue, that steady love helped him stay hopeful, even when his wait stretched on and on.

And behind every volunteer is a donor who makes their work possible. Donations to Friends of the Animal Center Foundation provide the enrichment supplies, training tools, and support that keep long-term animals emotionally healthy and ready for adoption. Donors may not walk the dogs themselves, but their generosity is present in every treat, every training session, every moment of comfort a volunteer can offer.

Blue’s happy ending is the result of all of it—every act of love, every hour of volunteer time, every gift from someone who believes every animal deserves a chance.

Today, Blue is adopted, adored, and finally home. He’s living the life so many people worked so hard to give him—and his story is proof that when a community comes together, miracles happen.

Tanjiro: The Little Potato With a Big Personality

Meet Tanjiro, the roundest, calmest, most unbothered guinea pig you’ll ever meet. With his soft tricolor fur and perfectly pouty lips, Tanjiro has mastered the art of loafing—a professional potato, if you will. But behind that adorable expression is a little guy with big needs, just like all the small animals who come through the doors.

Tanjiro arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center in search of safety, comfort, and a full buffet of his favorite things: crisp bell peppers, leafy greens, and the occasional fruity treat. Small animals like Tanjiro depend on a special diet to stay healthy, and that means fresh produce every single day. They also need enrichment—chews, tunnels, hideouts, and toys—to keep their busy minds curious and their little hearts happy.

Thanks to generous donors, we’re able to give guinea pigs like Tanjiro the care they deserve. Your support helps provide:

  • Fresh fruits and veggies
  • Small-animal–safe toys and enrichment
  • Bedding, hay, and cozy hideaways
  • Specialized care for tiny friends with big personalities

Tanjiro is now thriving—snacking, exploring, and showing off his best loaf poses while he waits for his forever home. Animals like him may be small, but their needs are big, and your donations make all the difference.

Thank you for helping little lives like Tanjiro’s shine.

Al's Second Act

For years, Al was a rugged tomcat surviving on the streets—scrapping for meals, dodging cars, and wearing the marks of a hundred battles. When he arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he was a walking story: a face full of scars, a leg that had clearly been broken long ago and never treated, and FIV+. But even through the wear and tear, there was a softness in his eyes that hinted at the sweetheart beneath the survivor.

After a thorough exam, the vet team made a surprising decision—not to remove his injured leg. Despite its crooked appearance, Al still used it for balance, especially when sitting or grooming. He’d adapted to his body’s changes, just like he’d adapted to everything else life had thrown at him.

Now safe, warm, and adored, Al is finally living the good life indoors. No more cold nights or constant battles—just cozy naps, gentle pets, and soft blankets. His favorite pastime? Sitting like a little king with one paw raised, as if reminding us that he may be battle-worn, but he’s never bowed.

Al’s days of surviving are over. Now, he’s thriving like any cat, regardless of being FIV+. All it took was a second chance. 

Finnegan's Fresh Start

When Finnegan Michael arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, his skin told a sad story—patchy fur, scabs, and itchy red bumps all over his body. At first, everyone worried it might be something contagious like ringworm, but after several tests (made possible by your donations!), we discovered Finnegan has severe allergies—possibly to food, parasites, or even just everyday things in his environment.

Thanks to generous support, we were able to get him the medical care and testing he needed to start healing. Today, Finnegan is living his best life in a loving home, where his adopter is helping manage his allergies and keep him comfortable. Through everything, he never lost his sweet, snuggly spirit—and now he finally has the second chance he always deserved.

Thank you for giving animals like Finnegan a brighter future!

Crosshair’s Mission: Adoptable

When Crosshair arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he was full of energy and potential—but not a whole lot of manners. Like many dogs, he just needed a little guidance to become his best self. That’s where our Paws to Train program came in.

With the help of professional trainers, Crosshair began learning essential skills like leash walking, polite greetings, and basic commands. But more than that, he built confidence, trust, and the ability to focus—traits that make a dog not just adoptable, but likely to thrive in a forever home.

Paws to Train doesn’t stop when the adoption papers are signed. Thanks to donor support, families receive follow-up training to help dogs like Crosshair settle in and stay for the long haul. It’s one of the many ways your donations set animals up for long-term success.

Crosshair graduated from training and found the loving home he deserves. He’s now on his next mission: being a very good boy.

TicTac’s Time to Heal

When TicTac arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he looked like any other cheerful pup—bright eyes, wagging tail, and a love for treats. But beneath that happy exterior was a serious health issue: advanced heartworm disease.

Heartworm is a dangerous and potentially deadly condition caused by parasites that live in the heart and lungs. Treating it is expensive—more than $1,000—and incredibly tough on a dog’s body. For nearly six months, TicTac endured a rigorous treatment plan, including painful injections and months of strict kennel rest. During recovery, dogs like TicTac can’t run, play, or even get too excited. Overexertion can cause the dying worms to shift and cause life-threatening complications.

Thanks to generous donors, TicTac received the life-saving care he needed. While it was a long, quiet journey of healing, he kept his spirit up with slow walks, gentle pets, and lots of peanut butter. Today, TicTac is heartworm-free and finally ready for a fresh start in a loving home.

Because of supporters like you, dogs like TicTac get a second chance—not just to survive, but to thrive.

Healing Fried Rice:
One Purr at a Time

Fried Rice is finally free!!! Poor Fried Rice came to the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center several months ago in rough shape. She arrived with severe stomatitis, which required surgery to remove all her teeth. She was also full of fleas and lice and suffered from a bad case of feline herpes—a respiratory disease in cats. Just when she made it through all those issues, Fried Rice contracted ringworm and lost all the hair on her ear!

The Animal Center has been running at full capacity for months, so Fried Rice couldn’t be quarantined at the shelter, and all the foster homes already had cats (some also with ringworm). In the end, we decided to keep Fried Rice in the FACF office, hoping a foster home would open up. Unfortunately, the foster homes continued to fill with other sick or infected cats, so she stayed here with us while receiving her treatments and medications. (She stayed in a cat haven in a closed room because we also had a set of foster kittens in the office!)

We can’t thank our donors enough for supporting cats like Fried Rice. To be honest, she was quite the mess—no teeth, sick, covered in bugs—yet she still received the treatment she deserved. After $2,500+ in medical care and months in quarantine, she’s FINALLY ready to find a home of her own. We can’t express in words how sweet this cat is. She loves life and wants nothing more than to be loved and petted. It was heart-wrenching to visit her only to clean and medicate her, knowing she just wanted to be held and loved.

UPDATE!

Fried Rice is thriving in her forever home! Her adopter says she’s the “absolute best” and has settled in beautifully. She spends her days lounging on her window perch, playing with her new feline friend Soda, and chasing her favorite toys—especially ice cubes slid across the floor. She even carries her toy mice around in her mouth! It’s clear this sweet girl is finally living the happy, love-filled life she deserves.

Choo Choo’s Road to Recovery

Choo Choo was found abandoned in a county road ditch, scared, underweight, and badly in need of grooming.

Thankfully, a compassionate foster family took him in and has been caring for him over the past several weeks. Because of your generous donations, Choo Choo received a much-needed haircut, nutritious food to help him gain weight, and veterinary care to ensure he’s healthy and comfortable.

Your support provides everything he needs while he heals in a safe and loving foster home—thank you for giving animals like Choo Choo a second chance. 

Ruffly's Road to Recovery

When Ruffly arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he was nearly unrecognizable. Rescued from a heartbreaking puppy mill case in Iowa County, Ruffly was one of more than 50 dogs found crammed into stacked rabbit cages. Many of the dogs were suffering from heartworm, untreated infections, and years of neglect.

Ruffly’s fur was so matted it had formed tight knots that tore into his skin, leaving him with open, painful wounds. He had likely never known a soft bed, clean water, or a gentle touch.

Thanks to your support, Ruffly got the urgent medical care he needed. He was sedated for a full grooming, and veterinarians treated his wounds and began heartworm prevention. With each passing day, Ruffly grew stronger—and sweeter.

Today, Ruffly is safe, clean, and loved. He has found a forever home where he’s finally being treated the way he always deserved.

Your donations gave Ruffly the chance to heal and start again. Thank you for making his rescue possible.

Barn Cats Need Heroes Too

Not every cat wants to curl up on a couch—some prefer the great outdoors. That’s where our barn cat program comes in, giving independent, outdoor-loving cats a second chance at life.

These cats often come from tough backgrounds. They may be undersocialized or simply prefer to live on their own terms. But thanks to your donations, they’re still given the care they deserve. Every dollar helps cover the cost of spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, and their adoption fee—making sure they’re healthy, safe, and ready for life as a working cat.

Your support gives them a purpose and a place to belong—whether it’s a barn, shop, or outbuilding. With your help, these resilient cats get to live the life they want, while keeping rodents in check for their new humans.

Because of you, barn cats aren’t forgotten—they’re valued. Thank you for giving them the chance to thrive. 

Stitch’s Story: The Tiny Fighter Who Refused to Give Up

When Stitch arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center, he was impossibly small—but his spirit was impossibly big. The tiny kitten had suffered a serious chin avulsion injury after seeking warmth inside a car engine. He needed immediate surgery, careful monitoring, and round-the-clock support just to have a chance.

Stitch, however, had other plans.

Despite a successful first surgery, this little troublemaker quickly pulled out his stitches—clearly unaware of the vet’s orders. Back he went for surgery number two, this time fitted with a specially designed chin “guard,” a stitched-on tube meant to keep everything protected while he healed.

It lasted six days.

In true Stitch fashion, he managed to free himself from that, too. But thanks to patient medical care and the unwavering generosity of donors, Stitch was given the second—and third—chance he needed. And this time, it worked. His chin healed, his sass returned, and his bright personality shined through stronger than ever.

Today, Stitch is fully recovered and has officially been adopted into a loving forever home—a place where his spirited antics and brave little heart are celebrated every day.

Stories like Stitch’s are only possible because of supporters who believe in giving animals the time, treatment, and chances they deserve. Your donations fund lifesaving surgeries, specialized care, and the second chances that turn injured, frightened animals into thriving family pets.

Because of you, a tiny kitten with a stitched-on chin guard now has a whole life ahead of him. And to him—and to us—that means everything.

A Safe Place to Land: A Foster Tale of a New Momma and Her Baby

When a very pregnant stray cat arrived at the shelter, staff knew she needed more than just a warm place to sleep—she needed safety, peace, and time. The shelter, no matter how caring, is loud and full of risks for vulnerable newborns. That’s why, thanks to your support, this sweet mama was placed into foster care just in time.

Shortly after settling in, she gave birth to one tiny, perfect kitten.

Now, nestled in the quiet comfort of a loving foster home, mom and baby have everything they need: nutritious food, soft blankets, clean litter, and regular vet checkups. But most importantly, they have the peace and protection that gives little ones like this the best possible start in life.

Foster homes are more than a temporary stop—they are a lifeline. And your donations make that lifeline possible.

Thank you for giving this new family a safe place to grow. Because of you, they’re not just surviving—they’re thriving.

From Starvation to Safety:
Arlo & Isis's Story

Arlo and Isis came to the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center in heartbreaking condition. Alongside their parents and a sibling, they were rescued from a case of extreme neglect — all of them dangerously starved. Tragically, one of the puppies didn’t survive. It’s a sobering reminder of how urgent and serious animal neglect cases can be.

Thanks to your support, Arlo, Isis, and their parents were given the second chance they so desperately needed. They were placed with a loving foster family — including one of our board members, who is also a medical doctor. With specialized experience in refeeding both human and animal patients, this foster home was uniquely equipped to handle the delicate care these dogs required.

What many people don’t know is that the Iowa City Animal Center is more than a place for adoptions. As part of the city’s Animal Services team under the Iowa City Police Department, they also play a direct role in investigating and helping prosecute cases of animal cruelty and neglect. These dogs were not only rescued — their suffering will not go unanswered.

Arlo and Isis are now thriving, playful, and growing stronger every day. While we mourn the life lost, we celebrate the ones saved — and we thank you for making that possible.

Why the 2025 Addition Matters:
Cat Hoarding Rescue

14 cats were brought to the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center from a heartbreaking hoarding situation. Many of them arrived severely ill—suffering from upper respiratory infections, parasites, and untreated medical conditions. To protect the rest of the shelter’s cat population, the cats had to be quarantined immediately.

Cases like this are not rare—and they push the shelter’s space and resources to the limit. With limited isolation space, every intake like this puts incredible pressure on shelter staff, volunteers, and most importantly, the animals.

That’s why the 2025 addition is so critical. This planned expansion can be used as a dedicated quarantine area to house large numbers of animals in emergencies, such as hoarding cases or disease outbreaks. It will have its own HVAC system and can be completely sealed off from the rest of the shelter, keeping all animals safer and reducing the spread of illness.

This is more than just extra space—it’s a lifeline for animals in crisis. With your support, we can be ready for the next time the unexpected arrives.

Run, Lieutenant Dani, Run!

Lieutenant Dani arrived at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center with a badly injured leg—an old wound left untreated for far too long. By the time she reached the Animal Center, her leg couldn’t be saved. The only option was amputation.

Surgery was just the first step. Recovery takes time, patience, and a whole lot of love. Over the next several weeks, Dani received specialized care, including pain management, physical therapy, and gentle encouragement as she learned to navigate the world on three legs. Every day, she got a little stronger—wobbling at first, then walking, and finally bounding forward with confidence.

Thanks to donations, Dani got everything she needed to heal—medical care, enrichment, and a soft place to land. Today, she’s thriving, proof that resilience comes in all shapes (and leg counts). She may be missing a limb, but she’s full of heart.

Because of you, dogs like Lieutenant Dani get to write new chapters filled with hope and healing.

The Tooth, the Whole Tooth, and Nothing But Fate

Fate came to the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center with a beautiful spirit—but a mouth full of pain. She was suffering from a severe case of stomatitis, a painful dental disease that left her unable to eat comfortably or groom herself. Her gums were so inflamed that almost all of her teeth had to be removed—only four could be saved.

It was a tough road. Fate needed surgery, antibiotics, and strong pain medication to manage the constant discomfort. But thanks to donor support, she received the expert care she needed and was surrounded by love every step of the way.

At the Iowa City Animal Center, every animal deserves a fear-free, pain-free life—and donations help make that possible. Today, Fate is finally comfortable, purring again, and enjoying a life without pain.

Her name is Fate—but thanks to you, her future is full of hope.

Scruffy's Start: A Tiny Fighter’s Journey

Scruffy was just a few hours old when he was brought to the animal shelter—tiny, fragile, and clinging to life. He was found with his mother, but sadly, she wasn’t producing milk. Without the nourishment he needed, Scruffy was quickly fading.

Thanks to your donations, Scruffy had a lifeline. He was placed into foster care right away, where he was bottle fed every few hours, kept warm with heating pads and snuggly blankets, and closely monitored to make sure he stayed strong. The formula, medical supplies, and around-the-clock care were all made possible because of you.

For 10 weeks, Scruffy grew under the loving care of his foster. He opened his eyes, learned to walk, and started to play—hitting all his milestones like a tiny champion.
Because of your generosity, Scruffy got the start every kitten deserves. Now, he’s a healthy, playful kitten with a bright future ahead. Thank you for giving him the gift of life. 

Charlotte' Second Chance

When Charlotte arrived at the shelter, it was clear she had been suffering for far too long. Her back leg was severely injured—damaged beyond repair. The pain she had endured was unimaginable, and sadly, the injury had been left untreated for so long that amputation was the only option.

But thanks to your donations, Charlotte’s story didn’t end in heartbreak—it became one of hope.

Because of your support, Charlotte received the emergency surgery she desperately needed. Her medical bills, pain management, and post-op care were all made possible by kindhearted donors like you. After surgery, she quickly began to heal—not just physically, but emotionally too. Her tail started to wag again. Her eyes lit up. She was finally able to move without pain.

Today, Charlotte is thriving. She’s learning to run and play on three legs, proving every day that she’s strong, resilient, and full of love.

Your donations didn’t just save Charlotte’s leg—they saved her life. Thank you for giving her the happy future she deserves. 

A Purrfect Place to Soak Up the Sun: The New Catio

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the cats at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center now have something truly special—a catio! This outdoor space was built just for them, giving our feline friends a safe and stimulating environment where they can bask in the sunshine, sniff the fresh air, and watch the world go by.

For cats who spend their days indoors at the shelter, the catio provides much-needed enrichment. Whether they’re lounging on the shelves, bird-watching from the platforms, or enjoying the breeze through their whiskers, this space gives them the freedom to be curious and calm—just like cats are meant to be.

Our incredible volunteers took things a step further by planting a sensory garden all around the catio. Full of flowers and plants that attract butterflies, bees, and birds, the garden brings nature right to the cats’ paws. Every flutter, chirp, and rustle outside the fence sparks joy and engagement for the shelter cats.

This project was made possible by a donor who wanted to remain anonymous but made a huge impact on the lives of the animals. We are so grateful for their support, and for everyone who helped bring this idea to life. Because of them, our cats now have a little piece of outdoor paradise while they wait for their forever homes.