| Amanda is approx. 10 yrs. old and was literally rescued off
of death row. We got to her right before she was sent off to be destroyed
in Feb 2002. Grandpa died in fall of 2001, Grandma was sent to a rest
home in Jan 2002. Family members moved into the family home. The
younger children were abusing Amanda and she snapped at one of the kids.
Our director just happened to be at Animal Services waiting for a meeting
with the director when the grandson (in his 20's) walked in with
Amanda and was paying to have her put down. She looked at our director
with those big brown eyes, very sad, and very timid. She had a bad
skin condition and her entire rear was balding. She had never been
spayed. She had been with the old folks since she was a pup and the
family just threw her away when the older people were gone. It happens
daily. The grandson turned her over to the director, pretended to care,
took her card and said he would try and get the family to make a donation.
Never heard from him again. |
Amanda |
|
Kima |
Kima came to live with us in
Sep 2001. Her person had suffered a stroke, was diagnosed with cancer, and
had just fallen and had broken her leg. She was going into a rest home and
could no longer care for her. Kima is a 14 yr old Siberian, spayed female,
had never stayed indoors--now she hardly gets off the couch! |
| This is Mac, approx 5 yrs
old, neutered male. He was so happy to see Santa, he knocked Santa
down and was licking Santa's face. Mac came to stay with us in Dec 2001.
His 45 yr old guardian was diagnosed with cancer in summer of 2001 and
died in November. She used to do rescue in Calaveras County and when
she died she had 2 dozen dogs and several ferals living on her property.
Her family and friends were able to find homes for the small dogs, and
some of the larger dogs went to rescue groups in various parts of the
state. We took the remaining 4 dogs that no one wanted because they
were older, had cancer, because of their breed, etc. Mac is a Pit and is
one of the sweetest dogs. He is very typical of the breed, good with
people, highly intelligent and easily trained. |
Mac and Santa |
|
Patrick |
Patrick is an 11-yr old neutered male feline. He was part
of a feral litter of 4. The person who rescued the mama cat and kittens
11 yrs ago had everyone altered and provided for them at her home (her
own managed colony). She had to sell her home last year when she had to
move into a residential home due to failing health. Someone helped
her catch the 'kittens' and mama cat and relocated them down here.
Even though they live indoors, they don't like to be touched.
|
| From left to right, Flash, Shadow (in Santa's lap) and
Lady (up on Santa's shoulder). |
|
|
Grandpa Kitty |
Grandpa Kitty was part of a feral colony that a rescue group
had been working with.
They had trapped him, had him altered, tested, vaccinated, etc. He
turned
out to be very tame. Evidently someone had dumped him and he just moved
into
this feral colony. All the cats were doing well, it was safe place for them
to
live at a residential retirement home. New management took over and
they
proceeded to trap and get the cats destroyed! Grandpa was one of the
kitties the group was able to save. He is a sweetie and lives indoors with us at
the Sanctuary. |
Freddie is on
the left. He is under 1 yr old, was rescued from
streets with his sister as a young kitten; his mom was very ill and
eventually died of FIP. Even though Freddie tests negative and shows no
sign of the illness, we hesitate to adopt him out since we have run into problems with FIP in the
past. (We have his sister, Ethel, also; she didn't want her pic
taken.)
Oscar was the first kitty we trapped in a colony that tested FIV+.
You could tell he had been around for a while. We tamed him down,
somewhat, but he still can be very grouchy at times. He is not
showing any symptoms of the disease. He isn't a candidate for
adoption because of his demeanor. We can't even find homes for the most
loving cats in this area never mind the ones who don't want to be bothered
with. He is a special boy to us though; we don't think that every
cat needs to fit into that cuddly mold. |
Freddie and Oscar |
|
Patch |
This cat's name was Buster when he was living on the streets;
now we call him Patch. He was living in a colony in a very unsafe part of
town where people poison cats. He is a huge boy. Sometimes he'll let us
pet him then he remembers he is supposed to be
feral. He lives indoors.
|