Rescuing Animals in Need, by Pat Cuviello

If there’s an animal in trouble and my wife and I can help, we take them in. We currently have 5 dogs and 4 cats, all residing happily under one roof. Whether we find them or they find us, it’s always a journey of growth, compassion, and discovery. The challenges are real, but so is the love and joy they bring into our lives.

Buddy’s Rescue and Transformation

When we rescued Buddy in January 2026, he was in very bad shape. About 16 years old and found on a busy road in East Palo Alto, we saw his story on NextDoor and decided we had to help.

His eyes were caked over, skin irritated and red, hairless in some places, ears infected, some bad teeth, and mostly blind. We started at Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG), where he got an assessment and the initial care he needed. The local community on NextDoor was also very supportive and generous ─ helping with some of the costs for his care.

As soon as he was given the “all clear” for contagious diseases, we began integrating him with our other dogs and cats. Integration can sometimes be a challenge, but with Buddy it was a breeze. All our dogs and cats seemed to know Buddy came from a bad situation and accepted him right away. And of course, it didn’t hurt that he is literally the nicest dog in the world!

With all of his health issues resolved, Buddy is very good-natured, friendly with other dogs and cats, and always happy to meet new people. And while he was so quiet when he first joined our family, he now joins in the joyous barking chorus as we prepare for meals and neighborhood walks.

Marjie Learns the House Rules

Marjie came to us about a year after her person passed away, and we were in the process of adopting her before we got Buddy. Only 3 years old, we introduced her to our family through repeated visits prior to adoption to minimize any introduction issues.

She is very loving, curious, and friendly but had some fear and reactive behaviors left over from her previous life, so we always go slow and easy with her, and that’s helped her settle in nicely.

Most of our animals sleep on the bed with us. As they move around, Marjie occasionally growls at one of the other dogs, but we just say, “off the bed” and she jumps right down. Over time, she’s learned to self-check herself. Now when she starts growling, she gets off the bed on her own and then comes back when she’s ready to coexist peacefully with the rest of her family.

Chloe

Just prior to getting Buddy, we fostered to adopt Chloe from Pink Paws for the Cause cat rescue.

Chloe was a homeless cat who had been attacked by another cat. She was treated for her wounds and healed nicely. We kept her in my office at first to give her time to get used to people and being touched. She has that “don’t mess with me” look, but she’s a very affectionate cat and has integrated nicely into the house with the dogs and our other two rescued resident cats, Rocky and Goldie.

Spunky’s Zest for Life

My wife volunteers to help homeless people in RWC and recently met a woman with a 14-year-old long haired Chihuahua who was missing hair on his tail and back, was super thin and lethargic, only had a few teeth, and was just generally in bad shape. The woman said that Spunky was her sister’s dog, but she had left the area.

My wife realized right away that this little dog needed help and offered to take him. When asked if my wife would return him if her sister wanted him back, my wife reluctantly agreed, but obviously she had misgivings. Fortunately, both sisters now acknowledge that he is getting the care and life he deserves and have agreed to let him be ours forever.

Spunky has a real zest for life (hence his name). All the fur kids have been nice to him. His hair has grown back, and he’s at a normal weight again. And he lets us know in so many ways that he absolutely loves his new life.

Rex, Our Senior Citizen

Our oldest rescued dog Rex is 17½  years old and has been with us for 15 years. He has recently lost most of his sight, which has been difficult for him.

Spunky has decided to attack Rex from time to time, but since he doesn’t have any front teeth, he can’t do much harm. We think he might be jealous of Rex because Rex is my wife’s favorite.

And of course, we’re teaching Spunky not to do that.

Sandy, Our Picky Eater

About 9 years old, Sandy was found hiding under a big shipping container in an industrial area of Burlingame.

We think she was about 10 months of age when we got her. She has a delicate stomach, so my wife cooks special meals for her (and for Rex as well). The other dogs get healthy canned food with fresh potatoes, rice, and broccoli along with some kibble.

I always say they don’t come any cuter than Sandy.

Samantha Comes Inside

About six months ago, a feral cat ambled into our backyard. I started putting food down and eventually she came over to me. She was super friendly. Goldie (our senior cat) also goes out in the backyard, and although there was tension at first, under my supervision they developed a peaceful coexistence.

Our backyard is set up with native plants to attract wildlife, and one day we saw Samantha going after a quail’s nest, so we decided to bring her inside. She’s currently in our guest bedroom with a gate that allows her to see activities in the hallway as she gets used to being indoors. She was fine with our dogs when they were all in the backyard together, but we need to get our other cats to accept her when the time is right.

One Big Happy Family

A multi dog and cat family is always a work in progress. While getting everyone to live peacefully together is one of the hardest things we do, it also brings a lot of joy and satisfaction when we can make that difference.

Whenever you get an animal from someone else, they always have issues. They could have been abused in a way that makes them fearful, or not socialized well with people or other animals. It’s just a matter of working through that adjustment period, letting them know they’re safe and loved. We communicate with them and they communicate with us. We let each other know our expectations and desires. And we are all pretty responsive to each other’s messages, modifying our behavior to create a peaceful loving coexistence.

Making a Difference

My wife and I love animals. When we see an animal in need, we feel compelled to help if we can. It’s not always easy but for the rescued animal it means the world. We always find that in the end, we are the real beneficiaries, as they enrich our lives in so many ways.