Riley waited 602 days to find a home. He was surrendered to PAWS Atlanta by his previous owner, which left him shy and suspicious. He spent a lot of time hiding in cat beds and underneath anything he could find. Because of this, he was often overlooked by potential adopters in favor of more outgoing cats. However, what Riley really wanted was a loving home. He had known the warmth and comfort that was possible, and the constant change in the shelter left him feeling overwhelmed. 

Riley is only four-years-old, and he spent over a year and a half hiding in our Cat Cottage. In February of 2023, though, he finally got his second chance! His new mom and dad were drawn to his handsome tuxedo face immediately, and when they heard his story, they knew he was the cat for them. Riley (now Penguin!) took some time to relax in his new home, but he's now become very loving and a bit michievous. 

His mom says, "Penguin was scared and hid often when he first moved in, but he’s come a long way. We usually can’t spend more than a minute in the kitchen without him coming to check out the possible food situation. He often supervises me while I get ready for work and no longer fears the hair dryer. We keep the bathroom door shut at night because he likes to steal q-tips and bat them around! He spends most of the night cuddling with us until morning, when he wakes us up with his sweet meows and biscuits. Thank you to all the PAWS Atlanta team members who worked very hard to get him out of his shell. He’s such a good, sweet boy, and we’re so happy we got to be the ones to take him home!"

Every animal in our care deserves to the chance to thrive, and we want each one of them to find the loving homes they deserve. We're in it for the long haul, especially for the 37 dogs and four cats who have been at our shelter for over a year. Will you help these animals receive the care they need while they wait for their perfect family? Will you join us for the long haul? Give now.