Protectors of Animals

Protectors of Animals Our mission is to increase the quality of life of all dogs and cats in the communities we serve. Donate securely online at www.poainc.org/donate
(470)

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”                    ~ Leonardo Da Vinci Nothing is simpler or more elegant t...
03/18/2025

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
~ Leonardo Da Vinci

Nothing is simpler or more elegant than the black cat. The black cat elevates his surroundings by his very presence. Adopt three year old Jameson and you’ll be instantly cooler.

Okay, not really. You may feel cooler, but we can’t promise that anyone else will see you that way. And Jameson is actually as much goofball as icon.

But seriously how gorgeous is he when he poses? Jameson is not a fan of other cats (and we suspect that he would not be a fan of dogs) but if you are looking for a confident, affectionate cat, who effortlessly channels Cary Grant and Idris Elba and has been known to climb into a lap, and you are willing to make him the king of your castle, you should definitely ask to meet Jameson.

To find out more or to make an appointment to meet the available cats, please start by filling out the application on our website. Our placement team will be in touch to answer your questions, tell you about our adoption process, and make you an appointment to meet the available cats and kittens. And if you aren’t in a place to adopt, you can always help by spreading the word about Jameson.

Happy St. Pitties Day from Juliet!This beautiful lass is about 1-2 years old and 55lb. She's got the personality of a po...
03/17/2025

Happy St. Pitties Day from Juliet!

This beautiful lass is about 1-2 years old and 55lb. She's got the personality of a pot o' gold. She loves walks and car rides, and of course her people! We think she'd be a grade A snuggler, too.

Juliet was found with a male dog, so she might do well with a dog sibling. No cats please!

Visit our website to apply to adopt Juliet today!

Look at this happy face! This is the face of a dog who is thriving in a foster home - so much better than being in a ken...
03/17/2025

Look at this happy face! This is the face of a dog who is thriving in a foster home - so much better than being in a kennel! It’s almost hard to believe this is the same Frieda.

Frieda is a super-mutt which makes her extra special. She doesn’t have a lot of exercise needs, though she’s happy to go for walks if you want. She mostly wants to be with her people doing whatever they are doing. She loves snuggle time but is mostly content just being near her people.

Please check out more about this special lady at https://poainc.org/adoptable-dogs/frieda-2/

Three month old Yin is a cute little tux kitten who doesn’t show well when she comes into the shelter for adoptions. Let...
03/17/2025

Three month old Yin is a cute little tux kitten who doesn’t show well when she comes into the shelter for adoptions. Let’s face it going from her cozy Foster home to the Shelter is a big change for such a little kitten. She is not aggressive in anyway, but she probably isn’t going to show you how sweet and charming she is. Yin is going to need someone who sees beyond the surface.

What is beyond the surface? Well, her foster family reports that cuddles are Yin’s favorite thing in the world- which aligns with her personal world view that sharing is caring. Whether that be your lap, your attention at all times, the water in your cup (tastes better that way), or the papers you are currently writing on (they make the best places to sit!), Yin firmly believes that sharing makes the world a better place.

Yin is a nimble kitten that enjoys jumping and climbing. Her favorite spot in her foster's house is the very top shelf of the closet. Because she is young, she doesn't always understand where she shouldn't jump- within the first couple of days in her foster home, she accidentally jumped into the toilet bowl! But in terms of energy, Yin is actually fairly laid back for a kitten. She likes wandering around at her own pace, with the occasional short bout of manic kitten energy.

Yin was introduced to a small dog while in foster. At first, she hated the idea of him- but within a week was able to comfortably sit next to him. She likely will be able to adjust to other small dogs given they are respectful and take little interest in her.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Yin’s foster family reports that she is a hard worker. She often works double shifts at the biscuit factory in her pursuit to becoming a world class chef.

Yin sounds perfect to us! But the right person for Yin will need to remember that she may not show any of that when she comes in for adoption. She will need time and reassurance, and someone who believes in her.

If that sounds like you, please start by filling out the application on the website. Our placement team will be in touch by email to answer your questions, tell you about our process, and get you an appointment. And don’t forget that you can always help by spreading the word so that Yin’s people can find her.

Happy Sunday Everyone!This week Shelter cats Carina, Merlin, Sergio, Hazel, Guinness and Dooley were adopted, along with...
03/16/2025

Happy Sunday Everyone!

This week Shelter cats Carina, Merlin, Sergio, Hazel, Guinness and Dooley were adopted, along with Café cats Wyllys, Jackson, Tofu, Felicity and Thaddeus. Congratulations to all of the adopters and the adoptees.

Yesterday was also a great reminder to keep your heart open when you come in to choose a cat. The first adopters of the day came in specifically to meet Hazel. But Hazel did not choose them. And when their adoption counselor showed them Carina they immediately knew that Carina was supposed to be their cat.

Later in the day, a woman came in and met a number of the cats. She expected to leave with a large male cat, like the one she had spent the last year mourning. But Hazel leaned in to her petting hand, and rolled over to show her tummy. She met a few other cats after Hazel, but it was pretty clear that Hazel (a small female) would be going home in one giant carrier.

Even the people who did not find a match yesterday were great about it. One family with a young child said that it was important that it was right, not important that it was fast. (Pro Tip- they told their toddler that they were going to go play with cats not adopt one, so he left happy too). Another couple liked the cats we showed them, but felt that there wasn’t anyone that would work with their existing cat. So they made an appointment for next week, understanding that the needs of everyone in the household had to be considered.

And pictured here is Sergio. A member of the POA family had lost their beloved cat. They all missed him. They asked for suggestions from some of our volunteers and everyone said that Clooney was the cat for them. So they came to meet Clooney last week. And it was decidedly a “meh” interaction.

But they were open to meeting other cats. And Sergio was exactly the mix of affectionate and mischievous that they were looking for. They filled out the paperwork and made arrangements to take him home. Clooney was chosen by someone else last week (not a “meh” interaction at all.) And yesterday Sergio went home with his new family. We already received an update that he is making himself at home and purring up a storm! They are all in love.

Sometimes the cat whose photo you see is the cat you take home. But sometimes not. Maybe the gorgeous calico is just as pretty as her photo but you can’t help but be drawn to the quirky tiger chasing a ball. Maybe you didn’t think you would consider a cat on a special diet, but something about the hopeful eyes of a cat on a special diet spoke to you. Maybe the cat you thought you wanted was already adopted by the time you arrived, but we were able to show you a cat who hadn’t even made it to our website yet.

If you go through your life certain of your destination, you will miss so many adventures. Be open to happenstance. Be ready to see the quiet magic.

Now, give a kiss and a cuddle to all that you love, including those with paws, and go enjoy your day.

Tails From the ShelterRescue, like life, is sometimes about working up the courage to take that first step. Six year old...
03/15/2025

Tails From the Shelter

Rescue, like life, is sometimes about working up the courage to take that first step.

Six year old Iggy has been with us since June. Why so long? Well, he was found abandoned outside, far too thin, with severe dental disease and ear infections. He was also terrified. He spent seven months in foster homes. Four months of this time was just spent putting on enough weight that we could even start his dental treatment!

In January, Iggy came into the shelter. And hid. Never aggressive, Iggy simply closed his eyes, huddled down in his bed, and pretended we weren’t there. He would let us pet him. He would occasionally even take a bite of Churu. But there wasn’t anything we could offer him that would convince him to move one inch forward. There wasn’t anything we could do to convince him that his condo wasn’t the only safe place in the world.

Fast-forward two months. His dental treatment is complete and Iggy is out of pain for the first time in years. He is a good weight. We have discovered that he likes to watch bird videos. He will also play with a ribbon wand toy if it is quiet. He has discovered that he DOES like to be pet. You can sometimes feel him purr, even if you don’t hear it. And this week, for the first time, Iggy voluntarily stepped out of his condo onto the floor.

Now, we aren’t gonna lie- he hopped back in pretty quickly. But he took that first step. He summoned up all of his courage and faced his fears. And nothing terrible happened. He learned that his condo, with his favorite bed will still be there. The next day he stepped out again.

We have high hopes for Iggy. Maybe next week he will explore. Maybe he will make friends with another cat. Or maybe he will take a week off, and spend it watching bird videos. Progress isn’t linear. But the fact that he was able to face his fears and take that first step means that he can get there. And we will give him the time that he needs.

We all have times when we are stuck. Afraid to trust. Afraid to even let ourselves admit we want something. We all have times where we, at least metaphorically, close our eyes and hunker down. Maybe you’ve felt that way lately. But maybe you have been thinking about making a change. Maybe you have been working up the courage to move that one inch closer to something that you want but are afraid to ask for.

Maybe this is your sign to take that first step. If so, Iggy says to give it a shot. It isn’t as bad as it seems.

Are you looking for some company tonight (and every night thereafter)? Do like snuggles and little wet kisses? Snoopy ma...
03/15/2025

Are you looking for some company tonight (and every night thereafter)? Do like snuggles and little wet kisses? Snoopy may be your answer.

Snoopy is doing his best centerfold pose to try and impress. He’s not big on outdoor adventures but he’s an awesome snuggler and loves everyone.

If you want some loving companionship, swipe right (or left, I don’t know) to make a date with Snoopy. (Ok really just click on the link in the first comment)

Casper wants to know how many bakers does it take to make a pie? Cassie answered, 3.14 🎉!! Happy National Pi day from th...
03/14/2025

Casper wants to know how many bakers does it take to make a pie? Cassie answered, 3.14 🎉!! Happy National Pi day from these two cutie pies. These terrific terrier two year olds are a bonded pair and want to make your life double the fun with double the love. To learn more about these adorable littles, go to https://poainc.org/adoptable-dogs/callie_and_casper/ and fill out an application at poainc.org 🐾🐾

POA was so excited to have Mayor Connor Martin  of Town of East Hartford, CT – Government and his Chief of Staff , Kate ...
03/14/2025

POA was so excited to have Mayor Connor Martin of Town of East Hartford, CT – Government and his Chief of Staff , Kate Tchelidze visit our shelter and POA SPAY clinic this week. We talked about the many ways that we are able to connect with the community in addition to having our main locations in East Hartford. Volunteers and clinic staff were on hand to talk about spay/neuter, pet pantry, pet adoption, events , community collaborations and so much more. Obviously there was also kitten holding and we introduced Mayor Connor to one of our new residents, named Connor in his honor!

Meet two year old Smokey (although her foster mom likes to call her Mama Beans), a charming and affectionate cat looking...
03/14/2025

Meet two year old Smokey (although her foster mom likes to call her Mama Beans), a charming and affectionate cat looking for a loving forever home!

Smokey is a cozy cat with a gentle personality who loves nothing more than curling up for naps in the sun. She loves to be brushed and will lay down and show you her tummy while you brush her. Don’t fall for the trap and try and rub her belly! But she will purr forever if you rub her ears and chin. And she loves climbing into your lap for a little cuddle time.

Now this doesn’t mean that Smokey doesn’t have her energetic side. She adores time spent playing with her favorite toys (pretty much anything that moves and wiggles). She also loves hiding and jumping out at her interactive toys or laying with a toy mouse between her paws and kicking it with her back paws. In fact, Smokey is the perfect combination of silly and sweet.

Smokey was quite shy when she arrived at her foster mom's house but within a day she wanted nothing more than to explore the house that awaited her. Once she started exploring, she was like a whole new cat! She was playful and curious and was purring and sitting in her foster mom's lap by day 2. She does not like to be cooped up and would rather roam and explore her new surroundings. She loves the freedom!

Smokey is in a foster home currently and has never been around other cats before so she may do better as an only cat or with a slow introduced with a respectful cat. She will need a little love, patience, and time to adjust to her new surroundings if there is another cat in the home. But with her soft, long coat and expressive dreamy eyes, Smokey is sure to steal your heart.

To find out more or to make an appointment to meet the available cats, please start by filling out the application on our website and be sure to mention Smokey as she is not currently in the shelter and special arrangements will need to be made. Our placement team will reach back out to you by email to answer your questions, tell you about our adoption process, and make an appointment. And if you are not able to adopt right now, you can still help by spreading the word about Smokey.

How about a giant round of thanks to this awesome group of kids from Bolton Congregational Church, UCC !!  The Pancake B...
03/13/2025

How about a giant round of thanks to this awesome group of kids from Bolton Congregational Church, UCC !! The Pancake Breakfast held by the Youth Lent Mission raised over $1000 for Protectors of Animals last Sunday and will continue to collect donations until the end of Lent. Several POA Volunteers attended and we can say that the service was impeccable and the pancakes were delicious. We love it when kids wear their empathy for pets in need on their sleeves..or in this case their server aprons! Community connection at it's best!!

Morning Volunteers Needed at Our Old Wethersfield Dog Shelter! 🐾We're still looking for dedicated dog lovers to help wit...
03/13/2025

Morning Volunteers Needed at Our Old Wethersfield Dog Shelter! 🐾

We're still looking for dedicated dog lovers to help with our morning shift at the shelter! This shift is so important for our pups 🐶 it starts their day with food, care, and enrichment.

🗓️ Openings: Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday
⏰ Flexible start time: Between 7-10am
⌛️ Shift length: 30-60 minutes
✅Training provided!

Duties include:
•Feeding the dogs
•Administering medications (if needed)
•Providing enrichment activities

Even just one morning a week can make a huge difference in their quality of life! 💚 Ready to help? Fill out a volunteer application at https://poainc.org/volunteer/application-to-volunteer/ and join our amazing team of people who want to make a better world for the dogs in our care. Please share to help us spread the word! 🐕

Kitten season is starting. That means that community cats outside are having kittens and people are coming upon kittens....
03/13/2025

Kitten season is starting. That means that community cats outside are having kittens and people are coming upon kittens. People want to help. Especially people who see one or two week old kittens and no mom present. But mom may have gone off to hunt and the kittens may be fine. And removing days or weeks old kittens from mom may actually hurt their chances of surviving.

We have already received several calls and some tiny kittens. So we thought it was a good time of the year to post some advice. Follow these guidelines if you come across a litter.

1. Respect mom! When you see newborn kittens, resist the urge to pick them up and rescue them unless they are in immediate danger based on their surroundings. Kittens less than four weeks old should not be separated from their mothers. Like human babies, newborn kittens need a mother’s care and the antibodies from her milk to create a stronger immune system.

2. Observe. Unless the kittens are dirty, cold, in imminent danger from wildlife or covered in parasites, wait a few hours for mom's return, watching the kittens from a distance of over 35 feet. Remember, she will need to leave her litter for brief periods of time to find food for herself. If the kittens are clean and quiet, mom is most likely away simply finding food. Intervening at this point or even being close to the kittens might keep mom from returning. But this is a good time for you to start making calls to see if there is a place to bring the kittens IF you need to intervene.

3. Mom's back? Great! Leave them be! As cute and fragile as they may appear, never interfere with the kittens as long as the mother is around. This could cause her to get stressed and abandon the litter. You may feed and hydrate mom by placing containers at a distance.

4. Watch them grow! When kittens are eating on their own, you can intervene. During this waiting time you can help by feeding mom and you can start making plans. Make calls to area rescues and shelters to see if they can help when the kittens are ready. You may even be able to find out if mom is friendly and can also go to a rescue or if mom is more likely to be feral and would be happiest being spayed and left in the community (perhaps with a shelter and you as a dedicated feeder).

5. What if mom doesn't come back? If you find kittens who are dirty, crying, and cold - chances are mom is not around. If you are absolutely sure she is gone, contact local shelters, rescues, veterinarians and/or animal control to see if someone can help. You may be tempted to intervene on your own, but please do not do that without expert advice unless there are no other options.

Kittens this young are extraordinarily fragile. They may need an incubator or supplemental oxygen. They may need medical intervention. They will need feeding (possibly even tube feeding) every few hours. Kittens who are days or weeks old who are separated from mom may not survive even if everything is done right. But their best chances of survival if mom is gone is with another nursing mother or an experienced bottle baby foster.

Want to learn more about kitten season and how to foster? We are having an open house to recruit potential foster homes for Protectors of Animals on March 30 from 11 to 2 at the adoption center 144 Main St. E., Hartford, Unit O. This is a great opportunity to learn about fostering. We are looking for individuals who may want to foster cats, older kittens, pregnant moms, and moms with babies. And we are always looking for people with experience bottlefeeding for these kind of emergencies.

A huge thank you to everyone who made our meet & greet/adoption event this past Saturday a success! From those who atten...
03/12/2025

A huge thank you to everyone who made our meet & greet/adoption event this past Saturday a success! From those who attended, donated, and volunteered ❤️ your support means everything. A special shoutout to Portland Library for graciously hosting this event for Protectors of Animals for the second year in a row!

We were thrilled to have 8 dogs and 5 kittens at the event, including:
🐶 Honey, Dee Dee, Snoopy, Butch, Leila, Callie, Casper, & Mr. Bean
🐱 5 tiny foster kittens (not quite ready for adoption!)

It was a busy day with lots of families, kids, and a few potential adoptions in the works! A HUGE thank you to the local restaurants that donated gift cards for our pizza fundraiser raffle:
🍕 Melilli's Cafe & Grill, Primavera Pizzeria, Tommy's Pizza Palace, Fabian's Pizza, Giovanni's Brickoven Pizza, Pizzeria DaVinci, Village Pizza Restaurant, and Olympic Pizza

We raffled off 8 pizza gift cards, collected a car full of pet supplies & donations, and saw incredible generosity at our donation jar. Thank you all for supporting our rescue efforts and helping these animals find their forever homes! If you like to find out more about our adoptable animals, becoming a foster, or volunteering, go to poainc.org 🐾

UPDATE: AdoptedFour year old Carina was abandoned when her family moved away and left her. Since she had never been spay...
03/12/2025

UPDATE: Adopted

Four year old Carina was abandoned when her family moved away and left her. Since she had never been spayed, Carina was not only struggling to survive, she was soon pregnant. Luckily, a neighbor saw her plight and got her to Protectors of Animals.

Carina arrived at one of our amazing foster homes very heavily pregnant and appearing to be due soon. She immediately was affectionate and trusting of her humans and spent most of her time watching the birds and squirrels outside her window. She would explore the room and play with her cat nip scented toys as she just grew bigger and bigger. Soon all she could do was nap with her huge belly. Her foster family had fostered many soon to be moms but never one who grew to this size!

We soon learned why. Carina had a litter of nine (tying the shelter record!). Though overwhelmed, her sweet and affectionate personality was evident in her role as mama. She kept careful track of her nine and only would sneak away for food if all nine were napping. Carina was named after the constellation “Carina” where the stars represent the keel of a ship. And just like a keel, she kept her little ones safe and steady as they grew. (All of her kittens are also named after constellations just like their mama.)

After her kittens were safely weaned, Carina was spayed and came into the shelter where she is stealing hearts left and right. She is a tiny beauty, with colorful markings and a unique tail that is bushy at the end but looks thin at the base. She’s loves the company of humans and can’t wait to find her forever home.

Carina is both outgoing and easygoing, and mothering nine has made her even more able to go with the flow. She hopes there will be cat nip toys with her new family and lots of wet food with extra gravy (she loves her gravy!) as well as lots of places to perch and look out the window. If you are looking for a cheerful, confident cat who loves to hang out with her humans Carina is the perfect fit.

To find out more or to make an appointment to meet the available cats, please start by filling out the application on our website. Our placement team will be in touch by email to answer your questions, tell you about our process, and get you an appointment to meet the cats. And if you aren’t in the position to adopt right now, you can still help by spreading the word about Carina.

UPDATE: Adopted Dennis the Menace?  Not according to our volunteers. We aren’t exactly sure what the opposite of a menac...
03/11/2025

UPDATE: Adopted

Dennis the Menace? Not according to our volunteers. We aren’t exactly sure what the opposite of a menace is, but our Dennis, aged 2, is one of those!

Found as a stray, Dennis is outgoing and attentive with people. He loves company and cuddles- almost as much as he loves playing. That said, Dennis is a young and active cat and is going to get into some mischief between taking naps in the sunshine.

There isn’t an ounce of aggression in Dennis when comes to people. He just sometimes cannot control his enthusiasm, and may bounce, pounce, and tumble. He is chock full of good cheer, but if you have a priceless collection of blown glass, Dennis may not be the cat for you. Those looking for a couch potato might be better off asking to meet Hazel.

With cats, Dennis is more of an enigma right now. We are still in the process of assessing him, but he has been described by our Socialization team as “cat selective”. That means that Dennis likes some cats… others not so much. So far what we can say is that we think Dennis would be very happy as a one and only cat with lots of dedicated playtime. He might also do great with another friendly (non-aggressive) cat and a slow introduction. He would likely not do well in a home with numerous other cats or with a bossy cat.

We can also say that Dennis is gorgeous, with thise golden eyes and his dapper tuxedo. He has loved every human he has met so far, and will even reach a paw out try and grab you as you go by to ask for a little attention. Dennis is a lovely boy with good manners and a sweet disposition. A menace? Not a chance!

To find out more or to make an appointment to meet the available cats please start by filling out the application on our website. Our placement team will be in touch by email to answer your questions, walk you through our process, and make you an appointment to meet the cats. And if you aren’t looking to adopt right now, you can still help by spreading the word about Dennis so that he can find his perfect home.

Good boy Tobi is still looking for his furever home! Tobi is about 3 years old and a German Shepherd mix. He's a big boy...
03/10/2025

Good boy Tobi is still looking for his furever home!

Tobi is about 3 years old and a German Shepherd mix. He's a big boy at about 98lbs. He's a fluffy goofball who loves people, belly rubs and snuggles. He's house-trained and crate-trained.

Tobi is ready to start his new life and go on adventures. If you want to join him, visit our website today and fill out an application!

Do you want to expand your canine social circle? Do you love spending time with dogs who crave attention (and food)? Do ...
03/10/2025

Do you want to expand your canine social circle? Do you love spending time with dogs who crave attention (and food)? Do you get a feeling of accomplishment when you clean? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you might be a great candidate to volunteer at our East Hampton dog shelter!

We desperately need volunteers for the following shifts:
Tuesdays 730a-930a
Thursdays 430p-630p
Saturdays 430p-630p

If you are interested in joining our awesome team of volunteers, please fill out the form at https://poainc.org/volunteer/application-to-volunteer/ or email [email protected].
(And by the way, the pics are two of the dogs waiting to greet you! Links in pics)

Address

144 Main Street
East Hartford, CT
06118

Telephone

+18605690722

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Protectors of Animals posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Protectors of Animals:

Videos

Share

Category