VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Clark County Council adopted a resolution this week regarding federal immigration and ICE. It expresses alarm over reported federal immigratoin enforcement tactics along the 4th Plain corridor and elsewhere throughout Vancouver and Clark County.
The resolution attempts to clarify the county’s role with federal agents for personell, services and resources. The vote was 4-1 with Councilor Michelle Belkot voting no.
The Council heard testimony for weeks on the issue before voting.
Dutch is just one of many dogs in need of a forever home, but is currently housed in the overcrowded Multnomah County Animal Services shelter in Troutdale.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR – Multnomah County Animal Services is facing an urgent need to find new homes for dogs they are housing at the Troutdale facility.
The shelter has 92 dog kennels, but is currently housing over 100 dogs on site. A spokesman says some dogs are being kept in office space.
Reportedly, since November 1, 2025, the shelter has taken in 86 dogs and puppies, 60 of whom were strays. On site or elsewhere, Animal Services is said to be caring for 128 dogs and puppies total, with over 60 dogs and puppies immediately available for adoption at the shelter or in volunteer foster homes.
“We are at a critical point where our kennels are full of wonderful dogs who are ready for their forever families,” said Erin Grahek, Director of Multnomah County Animal Services. “The single most helpful thing the community can do right now is open their homes to adoption, or spread the word to friends and family who are ready to adopt. Every adoption creates space for another dog in need.”
The shelter is also asking for those currently enrolled in the foster program to contact the shelter as soon as possible to temporarily take in a dog. They say that is the fastest way to alleviate the overcrowding problem and provide much-needed relief for the dogs as well as staff and volunteers.
Adoptions are also encouraged right now, and staff are on hand to assist potential adopters in finding the right match for their lifestyle. When possible, the shelter will be open for adoptions on weekends, but will end daily at 3:30 p.m. to allow time for processing and counseling.
The public is encouraged to visit the Multnomah County website to see dogs available for adoption, along with detailed information about their breed, size, color, personality and an estimated adoption costs.
But this time, the focus is on the pup’s health, rather than how diligently she follows mom’s orders.
“Meet Crepe – our brave little warrior,” the Greenville Humane Society said in an Oct. 21 Facebook post.
“Remember Tupelo, our infamous escape-artist mama who proudly unleashed all 13 of her puppies into our Medical Center? Each one of those little fluffballs has grown into their own unique personality – but one puppy in particular has had a tougher journey than the rest.”
And that would be Crepe, one of the mischievous little babies who once tried to crawl her way out of the shelter during the famous “midnight romp” as it was called by the shelter.
Crepe is facing a medical issue that can possibly have an effect on her as she ages. The shelter refers to her as a “bright, affectionate girl with a heart that’s both brave and fragile.”
“When Crepe was just a few weeks old, our medical team discovered she had been born with a condition called pulmonic stenosis – a congenital heart disease where the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the lungs doesn’t open all the way,” the shelter said.
“That means Crepe’s heart has to work overtime to pump blood, and as a result, her heart muscle thickens to keep up. In severe cases, this condition can lead to complications later in life,” the shelter said.
Due to Crepe’s young age, the shelter doesn’t know if or when her delicate condition will change.
“She’ll need to visit a cardiologist in 6–12 months for another echocardiogram to reassess her heart. The best-case scenario? Her condition stays stable, and she lives a normal, happy life without any medical intervention,” the shelter said. “If her heart worsens, she may need medication or even a specialized surgery.”
The shelter is calling out for potential adopters who will love and cherish Crepe no matter what and said that her personality and love will not be overshadowed by her condition.
“Despite her diagnosis, you’d never know there’s anything different about her,” the shelter said. “Crepe is a joyful, silly, snuggly pup who adores attention, plays like any other puppy, and wins over every person she meets. She’s proof that even the smallest hearts can hold the most love.”
TJ Macías is a Real-Time national sports reporter for McClatchy based out of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Formerly, TJ covered the Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers beat for numerous media outlets including 24/7 Sports and Mavs Maven (Sports Illustrated). Twitter: @TayloredSiren
In the wake of Austin Animal Center (AAC) closing intake during the busiest sheltering week of the year, Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is calling on the community to adopt or foster a pet before July 4.
“It’s an immensely hard time for shelter animals and the people caring for them in Austin right now, especially for medium to large dogs,” said APA! president and CEO Dr. Ellen Jefferson. “We wish we could take in even more animals from AAC, but our Town Lake location is also full to the brim, and we’re calling on the community to adopt or foster a shelter pet this week before the July 4th holiday!”
APA! is working on long-term solutions to fix the space crisis in our city for good, but as those plans are in process, the nonprofit is imploring our community members to come to APA! or AAC today to help prevent an even bigger animal sheltering crisis from unfolding over a weekend known for lost dogs entering the shelter system in record numbers.
“There are hundreds of lovable dogs (and cats) at both APA! and AAC who can be immediately placed into homes,” Jefferson said. “People might not realize this because we help animals throughout Texas, but the majority of the dogs at our shelter today came from AAC. More pets leaving APA!’s Town Lake location will allow us space to help AAC even more after July 4th.”
APA! is offering a 50% discount on all adoptions through July 3rd, and all adoption fees at AAC are waived completely.
Across the nation Austinites have a reputation for their commitment to keeping Austin the safest city in America for shelter pets. Jefferson is asking the community to rally together now like they’ve been known to do time and time again.
“Austin has rallied together through various crises. Community members are directly responsible for helping to make Austin the largest No Kill community in the nation, have created lines around our building and down the road when our facility was flooding, came in droves to support our Hurricane Harvey Activation, jumped in when the whole world was turned upside down due to the pandemic,” she said. “Let’s keep it going, Austin, and ensure dogs and cats get the love and homes they deserve.
In addition to fostering or adopting now, here are some additional ways community members can help:
Thirty-five dogs were rescued in a hoarding case in New Mexico, officials say.
Screengrab from Española Humane’s Instagram page
On a day that would have otherwise been a day off, Española Humane staff in New Mexico received an urgent call for help.
Thirty-five mini and micro Australian shepherds were found in extremely poor conditions on a property north of Albuquerque, officials said. Law enforcement and animal control had a court order to move the pack to safety. The humane society said it joined the effort, rushing to the property where the dozens of dogs were being kept.
“Conditions were egregious,” Animal Incident Management said in a Feb. 20 post about the rescue.
Several of the dogs needed urgent medical care, officials said.
“Several are healthy (just thin and scared),” Española Humane said of the survivors in a post on Facebook.
And due to improper breeding, “one of the puppies is both blind and deaf and another is deaf but can see,” the shelter said.
Española Humane is not a massive shelter, and an influx of 35 dogs was not in the cards. Staff took the group anyway, immediately posting about the rescue on social media. All 35 of these pups needed homes urgently. And people responded — in a big way.
Within days, the organization posted a happy update:
“Due to a huge waiting list, we have stopped taking applications except for Skylar (deaf and blind male 2mo puppy) and Symphony (likely deaf female 2mo puppy).”
Julia Daye is a national real-time reporter for McClatchy. She has written for numerous local and national outlets and holds a degree from Columbia Journalism School.
Going to a shelter should be and can be the last option for an animal whose family is having to make the tough decision to say goodbye to their furry family member.
Romeo and Juliet’s luck took a turn after more than 1,000 days of waiting for a home, a North Carolina shelter said.
Screengrab from the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society on Facebook
Two “canine lovebirds” spent more than 1,000 days in a shelter — and now, they have a new home together.
The long-awaited adoption brought the “most perfect” ending to the week of Valentine’s Day, according to the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society in North Carolina.
“Romeo & Juliet now have an awesome mom and dad and a loving forever home,” the shelter wrote Feb. 18 on Facebook.
The aptly-named dogs finally got new owners more than three years after they were rescued as strays in December 2020. Early on, the humane society tried to separate them since it can be tougher to find a home for two dogs.
“Juliet was fine, she was really more into human affection and didn’t seem too bothered by not being with Romeo,” a shelter spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email. “He, on the other hand, was completely shut down without her. We knew pretty quickly that in order for him to have any quality of life, he would need to stay with her.”
As the years passed, the dogs became some of the shelter’s longest residents and were known for adoring one another. The shelter hoped Romeo, a bluetick coonhound mix, and Juliet, a redbone coonhound mix, would continue their close bond.
“Romeo and Juliet MUST BE ADOPTED TOGETHER as they deserve a forever home that has room for both,” the shelter wrote on Facebook in June.
Then after 1,154 days of waiting, the “sweet” dogs started their next chapter with a familiar person. A shelter volunteer and her husband are now the “new pet parents for one of the strongest-bonded pairs of dogs we have ever had the honor of caring for,” the animal organization wrote.
Social media users were fans of the update, including several who congratulated the “canine lovebirds” on their new family.
The dogs were adopted in the Sapphire area, roughly 55 miles southwest of the popular mountain town of Asheville.
Simone Jasper is a reporter covering breaking stories for The News & Observer and real-time news in the Carolinas.
After winding up in a shelter in December 2021, this dog has spent the last two years hoping that one day he will find his forever home. Finally, his wish has come true this holiday season as he’s been adopted just in time for Christmas.
The lovable pit bull mix found his world turned upside down when he ended up in a shelter just four days before Christmas in 2021, as his owner sadly died. The staff at Associated Human Societies (AHS) in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, were devastated for the poor pup, who would no longer be enjoying scraps of turkey or opening presents with his owner.
Despite his heartbreaking experience, Mack continued smiling and brightening people’s days at the shelter. Sandy Hickman, the media coordinator for the AHS Popcorn Park Shelter, told Newsweek that “to know Mack is to love him.”
Staff spent the subsequent two years trying to find a home for Mack so he could live the rest of his years in peace and happiness. It may have taken longer than planned, but that day finally came in November 2023, and this Christmas looks a whole lot brighter for Mack.
Mack the pit bull mix at an adoption event before his adoption in November 2023. Mack wound up in a New Jersey shelter on December 21, 2021 when his owner sadly passed away. Associated Humane Popcorn Park Shelter
Hickman continued: “Mack was very big, happy, and healthy when he came to our shelter. He received lots of attention from our staff and volunteers who walked him and spent time with him on a regular basis. He attended several adoption events as well.
“His adopter loved him immediately, and she came in several times to spend time with him so she could get to know him prior to taking him home for good.”
While Mack’s story ends on a happier note, that isn’t true for every shelter animal. With an estimated 6.3 million companion animals winding up in shelters across the country each year, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals believes that only 4.1 million of those eventually get adopted.
With such an influx of animals in need of a home, around 3.1 million are thought to be dogs, there’s little surprise that shelters are struggling to cope with the intake. As Newsweek has previously reported, many shelters are way over capacity and seeing a substantial drop in adoptions. It’s thought that this is in part due to expensive living costs and unethical breeding.
After seeing one of their long-term residents finally find a home, the shelter shared pictures of Mack smiling gleefully on Facebook, showing that he’s now “living his very best life.” The post warmed many hearts and generated more than 1,600 reactions and 170 comments in a matter of days.
While so many people were delighted by the news that Mack has a home for the holidays, the shelter has many more dogs waiting for their day to come.
Mack is a pit bull mix who had to wait two years before finding a forever home. Mack received plenty of interest while at the shelter, but not enough to finally get adopted until November 2023. Associated Humane Popcorn Park Shelter
“All three of our AHS shelters in New Jersey have so many wonderful dogs like Mack, who have been waiting for so long to be noticed,” Hickman said. “Mack is one of so many pit bull-types in shelters and we feel that there is a stigma attached to the breed, which negatively impacts their chances for adoption.
“They are all unique in their own way and we ask that potential adopters keep an open mind, meet the ones that are a little older or a little shy. You would be surprised at what you find when you spend some time with a shelter dog outside of the kennel environment and not judge them based solely on age or breed.”
Among the delighted comments on the post, one Facebook user wrote: “OMG awesome news! Happy life Mack!”
Another person responded: “So happy for Mack.”
While one person commented: “I love these adoption stories. You can just see the happiness on the dog’s face.”
Do you have any amazing rescue or adoption stories you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
After being abandoned by her previous owners, and struggling with a painful health condition, this cat might never have expected to find another loving home. She had been taken in by a shelter, and may have thought that was all she’d ever know.
Thankfully for Elsie, 3, her story touched many hearts in 2021, including that of Sam Doyle, who didn’t think twice about adopting her. Since then, Elsie has discovered the love of a happy home, as Doyle told Newsweek: “It always warms my heart how loving and trusting she is with us, even though she was abandoned.”
Doyle admits that, although her three cats spend most of their time inside her home in South Yorkshire, U.K, occasionally she has to go outside to check on them as they can be very mischievous at times. Even when she just steps into the yard momentarily to see where the cats are, Elsie doesn’t hesitate to show her affection for Doyle.
“My cats are all indoor with access to a catproof garden, so I’d let them out and was just checking on them all to see what they were up to. I thought Elsie had escaped as I couldn’t find her, but she was hiding at the side of the conservatory,” Doyle continued.
Elsie, 3, the rescue cat, walking towards her owner outside. As soon as Elsie seems her owner, Sam Doyle, she never hesitates to show her love and affection. @ragdollcrazy / TikTok
“She’s the cheeky one out of our three cats and seems to think she can escape a lot of the time.”
Now that she’s found her feet in her forever home, Elsie is always so glad for every minute she gets to spend with her new family, even if it’s when Doyle is checking she’s not misbehaving.
According to data from the UK-based Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), more than 22,000 cats were rescued throughout the year 2018, with more than 150,000 calls to its helpline.
It says that the UK is facing a cat overpopulation crisis because there are so may felines in need of a home, but there simply aren’t enough people to take them on.
When Doyle rescued Elsie in December 2021, she was told that the previous owners “left her behind when they moved away.” The shelter that took her in discovered that she had a condition called intussusception, which is when part of the intestine folds over itself or moves out of place, according to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
After having surgery to correct the obstruction, Elsie is now thriving, and Doyle loves sharing videos of her on social media. On November 9, she posted a video showing Elsie’s “little face” when she sees her owner, and she instantly walks towards her.
The video showing Elsie’s adoration for her owner has melted many hearts online, with more than 3,700 views and 230 likes already.
“I’ve had messages saying how cute she is, and people wanting to know what breed of cat she is,” Doyle continued. “She is a ragdoll cat, so she is very laid back and loving, but does have a mischievous side. She loves to play with her toys, but also loves to snuggle under the duvet when it’s cold.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Check out BT in his tiny aviator costume! That’s what this sweet guy wore to celebrate sitting shotgun next to the pilot, on his rescue flight from Texas to Massachusetts.
BT could easily have not made this journey. He is diabetic, and has a disease called feline leukemia (FeLV)—a virus that affects a cat’s immune system.,. In many shelters, cats with FeLV are euthanized as a matter of course. This is largely based on the unfounded belief that people won’t want to adopt cats with the illness because it affects the animal’s life span.
But APA! has proven this is not the case. wWe’ve shown that not only can cats with FeLV live long, healthy lives, but many adopters even seek these cats out. them out, but because so many FeLV cats are euthanized in shelters, it can be hard to find one who is available.
That’s what happened with BT, whose adopters were in Massachusetts. sThey loved him from the moment they saw his photo, and so we caught him a transport flight to his new home, on a plane that was otherwise full of dogs.
APA!’s Transport Program means thousands of adoptable pets facing euthanasia in crowded Texas shelters are able to reach in communities where they are welcomed into new homes. Transport can also mean aviator suits on kitties who don’t normally get to live, in the current sheltering system. But when they do, when they do, they are so special, so wanted, and so loved, that people will move mountains—and airplanes—to get them to home.
Since the inaugural season in 2021, Austin FC and Austin Pets Alive! have partnered up to showcase eligible dogs as honorary Austin FC mascots at each regular-season home match.
The first-of-its-kind partnership features APA! dogs through social media outreach and in-venue activations during each match at Q2 Stadium, all in support of Austin’s status as the country’s largest “no-kill” city and the promotion of APA!’s rescue, adoption, foster, and volunteerism efforts through this unique community platform. Last year, all 18 of the honorary mascots were adopted into loving homes, and many more will be adopted this year!
Quinn – ADOPTED
Quinn and his siblings came to Austin Pets Alive! when they were just three months old. They had been in the care of another Texas shelter, where Quinn tested positive for parvovirus. Quinn and his siblings were transported to Austin Pets Alive! because their first shelter did not treat puppies with parvovirus. National statistics show a 90% death rate for parvo positive puppies, if left untreated. Fortunately, Quinn and his siblings were treated in our Parvo Puppy ICU. Quinn was quickly adopted and lived in a home for about five years but was returned last month to the nonprofit animal shelter because his owner was moving. We are happy to report that following Quinn’s appearance as an Honorary Mascot, he was adopted!
Introducing the Honorary Mascot of the Match: Jennifer! Jennifer is a senior lady (8.5 years old) who loves people. As much as she enjoys taking walks and playing in the yard, she also enjoys snuggling up on the couch. Her former foster calls her a ‘marshmallow’ and she is a staff favorite at APA!.Jennifer came to APA! from Austin Animal Center back in 2017. She prefers people to other pets and would like to be the only pet in your home.
Dos – FOSTER TO ADOPT HOME
Dos is a mixed breed pup, but his foster is pretty sure he’s at least 50% North American Snugglehound. “He is the snuggliest boy ever. He’s loyal to his friends and never wants to let them out of his sight,” says his foster. He loves to cozy up next to you with his head on your lap or doze on your feet. If you’re not quite ready to get up when the alarm goes off in the morning, Dos is happy to keep you company for some extra cuddles. Dos knows his basic commands and enjoys training because it means treats! He’s smart and playful. walks nicely on a leash (no barking or chasing squirrels!), and is fully house-trained. He is currently in a foster home.
Batty – ADOPTED
Batty was named for his bat-like ears. This perfect pup was abandoned and hit by a car in a parking lot in Houston. Three shelters said they would euthanize him so the person who found him raised funds so Batty could have surgery on his pelvis. He was taken to Austin Pets Alive! to meet his future adopter. We are happy to share that Batty has been adopted!
Mindy was hit by a car when she was brought into Austin Animal Center. The municipal shelter asked us if we could help Mindy and she now has a team of friends who help her with her wheelchair and take her to playgroup! Mindy is a 3 1/2 year old labrador retriever. She is ready to meet her adopter and people can apply to adopt her here.
Apollo, Atlas, Hoku, Nyx and Supernova – ADOPTED
These seven week old siblings are the perfect Austin FC Honorary Mascots! Their good looks are only matched by their superstar personalities. Apollo, Atlas, Hoku, Nyx and Supernova have all found their new homes!
Ikea – FOSTER TO ADOPT HOME
Austin FC and presenting sponsor StoryBuilt introduce the one thing every home needs: Ikea! This pocket pittie is two and a half years old and loves people. She is looking for someone to adopt her from Austin Pets Alive!…could that be you? This best part about this Ikea…no assembly required! You can apply now to take her home tomorrow: austinpetsalive.org.
This sunny pit bull mix dog is 3 1/2 years old and was found by an animal protection officer. Austin Pets Alive!’s lifesaving clinic has taken great care of her and now Solterra is ready to be adopted! If you are looking for a snuggly pup, this could be the dog for you! You can find out how to adopt Solterra at austinpetsalive.org.
Margie came to APA! pregnant and was a great mom to her puppies. This girl is so smart and curious and affectionate. She’s ready for a foster or adopter to take her home and show her the good life. Interested in fostering or adopting Margie? Apply here.
May – ADOPTED
May is thrilled to be selected as the Austin FC Honorary Mascot. Another Texas shelter did not have room for May and her siblings, so Austin Pets Alive! took them in and they have been cared for in a foster home. May was adopted after the Austin FC match and she’s hoping everyone who met her at the Q2 Stadium will consider adopting, fostering volunteering or donating to their local animal shelter!
Tonight at the Q2 Stadium, Austin FC, StoryBuilt and Austin Pets Alive! introduce four adoptable puppies sharing names with some of the most iconic characters from the Apple TV show, Ted Lasso! Here, tonight, we introduce eight week old shepherd mix puppies: Ted Lasso, Rebecca Welton, Roy Kent and Jamie Tartt This litter of puppies was born in the shelter’s care and just like the famous characters, they are resilient and WE BELIEVE they will be the perfect pets in the homes of the Austin FC fans! If you would like to adopt one of these puppies from the nonprofit animal shelter, go to their website, austinpetsalive.org.
With temperatures soaring to ranges of 105-110 degrees and the possibility of rolling blackouts, our shelter is at great risk of losing power and we need your help! We’re calling on members of our community to foster a dog or cat for a minimum of 1 week starting now. Temperatures this high severely strain our facility making conditions dangerous for the most vulnerable animals in our care, even with our hot weather protocols in place. Willing to help?
Come to our Town Lake Center location today or tomorrow between noon and 6 p.m. to let us know if you can foster a dog or cat. No need to fill out paperwork in advance. We are also facilitating adoptions at this time. Not able to foster or adopt at this time? Please help us get the word out to others by sharing this post or tagging a friend.
Protection for Community Pets
As we continue through the Texas summer, we want to help keep your dogs safe too. Temperatures this high are dangerous for you, and even more dangerous for your dogs because they are 10 times more likely to die of heatstroke than people.
Limit outdoor activity for your dog and watch for the signs of heatstroke. We’ve put together some heat safety tips for you. Click here and share!
Forever After Adoptions, the leader in web design and search engine marketing and optimization for adoption professionals, has unleashed new technology that allows families that seek to adopt to connect with potential birth mothers via a licensed professional.
Press Release –
updated: Feb 9, 2018
Portland, Oregon, February 9, 2018 (Newswire.com)
– Forever After Adoptions is a community based service available to all private and state operated licensed adoption agencies attorneys and legitimate facilitators. There are times when there is a need for a family for a child that the adoption service may not have available. Forever After Adoptions will post those situations on their behalf, with contact information in the hopes that the many home study approved families that have access to our site are able to contact them directly for more information . There is no fee for this service for either the professional nor for the adopting family. Some of the most respected attorneys and licensed agencies in the country have successfully taken advantage of this service.Forever After Adoptions believes that adoption is a great option for those parents that are unable to meet the needs of their child at this time, and promotes open adoption so that the child can maintain knowledge of his/her birth parents.
In addition, Forever After Adoptions offers free written “how to” advice for those that are just beginning the adoption process, with step by step directions that can save families time and resources.
San Diego, United States, June 29, 2017 (Newswire.com)
– San Diego adoption attorney Quincy Braxton knows very well about the process of adoption. He has 11 siblings. There are 8 biological half brothers and sisters, his father has 4 and his mother has 4 and, additionally his mother adopted three.
“When people would ask my mother which ones were adopted she would say, ‘I can’t remember. You’ll have to ask them.’ She felt that it was a personal question, and whoever felt like giving out that information could, and if not, that was their choice. She didn’t want them to feel like they were any different than the rest of us,” says Braxton.
“I know it sounds crazy, people finding their child to adopt through the internet. But the internet has changed everything. People find their spouse online. They find their home online, you can even be seen by a doctor in some states online. Now there is a site where you can find your son or daughter to adopt online.”
Quincy Braxton, Adoption Attorney
Braxton’s mother, Jenna, Ryan owns and operates an advertising service for attorneys and licensed adoption agencies called Forever After Adoptions. She is a web designer and search engine optimization expert. She has been operating for 10 years and says that she has close to 100 websites. Sites like adoptionagencycalifornia.com and adoptionagencytexas.com allow her to be pulled up organically when people are searching for an adoption service. When Braxton graduated from Pepperdine Law School, he asked if he could become one of her clients and she was thrilled to have him on board.
Because he is African-American, he made the decision to specialize in working with African American families nationwide as well as birth mothers that are seeking to place their children for adoption. “It has been very rewarding,” he states. “I know that there are a lot of adoption services that are going out of business these days, but with the scale of advertising that we have access to, I have had to take on a partner to keep up with it.” Although his focus is with black birth mothers and families, he says that the majority of people that he works with are Caucasian. “That is just because, I believe, that there are more white people seeking to adopt privately.”
Braxton explains that he operates very differently than any other adoption service in the country. Because Forever After Adoptions appears organically when families are seeking to adopt a child, hundreds of prospective adoptive families find their site monthly. Braxton states that when he is working with a birth mother that is seeking to give her child up, he and other attorneys and agencies will post a brief description on the site of http://foreverafteradoptions.com/available-adoption-situations. Forever After Adoptions does not require that those that post on their site be their own clients. They allow all licensed agencies and attorneys to post but have a disclaimer as to the quality of the situation.
Families that are approved by their state and home study ready can send in a profile which he will forward to the woman. He said that he had heard that a recent posting, made by an adoption facilitator from California for available twins received almost 100 families within 3 days that were interested. He said that he checks with all state laws to make sure that everything is done legally prior to allowing the family to commit, and refers only to attorneys that are members of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, as he feels that they are by far the most knowledgeable and experienced lawyers available.
Unlike other services, Braxton will not take any money from a family until after they have been chosen by a birth mother to adopt their child. He says that he wants people to have access to their finances in case they find a situation elsewhere. Most of the people that contact him have already paid another service, which often times they don’t even end up needing. “Make sure that they have a good refund policy before signing on with anyone in case you end up not needing their services. A lot of these places don’t give refunds, and your money is gone whether you need them or not,” he explains. He further explains that he and his partner have an outstanding refund policy, and that is one of the reasons, he believes, that he has been so successful. “People just don’t have near as much to lose when they work with us.”
“I know it sounds crazy, people finding their child to adopt through the internet,” he states. “But the internet has changed everything. People find their spouse online. They find their home online, you can even be seen by a doctor in some states online. Now there is a site where you can find your son or daughter to adopt online.” Attorney Quincy Braxton can be reached at (619) 866-2765 and is available as a speaker for African American events.
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