The AnimaLovers Companion (Fall 09 PDF)

Inside this issue:
Cat Adoption Special, Working with Emmett, BINGO with AnimaLovers
Summer
/Fall
2009
It’s a Matter of
Black or White
Emmett: A Work in Progress
L-R Mimi & Sophia
I’m a good cat. Really, I am. My foster human
says I’m the most affectionate, most wonderful kitten in
my litter and the one she’s going to miss the most when
I’m gone. But so far she hasn’t had to miss me, because I
haven’t been adopted. I don’t understand. My brothers
and sisters found their forever homes, but no one has
wanted me.
I tried hard to be good when people were looking
at us at the adoption clinic. I tried to make my mom proud
of me, because she said it was important that I find a
good family of my very own. I snuggled and purred and
patted people’s faces with my paws. I played with their
children and didn’t blink when the dogs walked by and
barked. The volunteers at clinic said I had the nicest
personality and that I was the kitten they’d choose to take
home if they were going to adopt another cat. But all the
people adopted the other kittens, not me – even though I
purred the loudest and snuggled closer than my brothers
and sisters did. My sister even hissed at somebody, but
they still took her home but not me.
I heard one of the people say my siblings are
prettier than I am. My brothers are gray tiger kittens with
white paws, and my sister is a calico, and I guess the
people thought those colors are prettier. But I have white
paws, too!! And my mom says I’m much friendlier and
better behaved than the others, and that when you take
the time to really look at me, my face is even more
beautiful than any of theirs. She says I have the most
amazing eyes that look right into her heart.
(Continued on page 2)
This sweet little guy, Emmett, was emaciated,
skittish and scrounging for food in Troy’s city streets
just over a year ago. Covered in filth, he was initially
thought to be a dark brown dog. It took two days to
pick the ticks from him and a good amount of
scrubbing to get him clean. One would have hoped this
would have been a terrific new beginning for Emmett,
but that was not to be… yet.
With a shortage of foster homes, AnimaLovers
placed Emmett in the safety of a kennel. He waited 8
months for a family to take him home. Unfortunately,
the guidance needed to turn Emmett from a scrappy
road dog to a loving companion overwhelmed his new
family. Emmett was returned almost immediately.
My husband Tim and I brought Emmett home
two months ago. He paced frenetically for days.
Hording his belongings, he took any loose object
outside for a good shredding. Because he has had to
fight for everything in life, removing items from
Emmett’s possession was something we had to work
on as a team. Tim began with a favorite bone. He’d
take it from Emmett and immediately give the bone
back to gain Emmett’s trust. In less than a week, we
could comfortably touch any of his toys.
I repeatedly placed Emmett’s toys in a bucket
and gave him the task of taking each one into the yard
(Continued on page 2)
Page 2
The AnimaLovers’ Companion
Summer/Fall 2009
(Emmett-Continued from page 1)
so he’d stop chewing things like our sofa pillows,
coffee table, slippers and $200 worth of concert tickets.
Just when I thought I could trust him, he stole my
underwear while I showered, playing a game of tug-ofwar with our otherwise well-behaved Newfoundland,
shredding them across the lawn in victory. The good
news is that, for the past two weeks and with plenty of
opportunity, Emmett has shredded nothing.
Eating habits of another sort have also
improved. In the kennel, Emmett would jump at his
food bowl, often knocking the contents to the floor
before his handler could put it down. Now, using meals
as the perfect reward, we have taught Emmett to “sit,”
“lay down” and “stay” until we release him. So eager to
please, he now lays in wait on his rug without being
asked and, although he drools like mad, he won’t
budge until we say “okay.” This is exactly the kind of
difference being in a home can make.
We are no experts in dog training and Emmett
is an extremely difficult case compared to most. We’d
be lying if we said we weren’t scratching our heads at
times, but fostering isn’t about being an expert.
Patience, compassion and a willingness to try are most
important. In just two months, Emmett has become a
wonderfully affectionate and trusting companion who
can now relax for hours at my feet. He respectfully
bathes Kringle, our cat, scooting him across the floor
with his nose and making us laugh. With supervision
and guidance, he has also learned to play
appropriately with our Newf. Emmett does still push the
limits with houseguests, as he will with any new owner,
but he quickly remembers his manners with a “no
jumping” or “no begging” reminder from his foster
parents.
One day soon, very soon, this sweet and funny
guy will be ready to thrive in a forever home. For now,
he’s learning to enjoy his first meaningful and new
beginning, one that fulfills his emotional needs as well
as his physical needs.
If you would like to foster, please call
AnimaLovers. You too can give a dog like Emmett a
second chance.
~Kim Clune
You can find us, along with
many other great rescue groups
across the U.S. of A at
www.petfinder.org
Jenny, a beautiful black beauty
(Black or White-Continued from page 1)
I guess some people don’t see that when they
look at me because they aren’t really seeing me. They
just see my black face and think I look like all the other
black kittens. They say they don’t want me; that I’m
ordinary. They say they want a ‘special’ kitten.
Can’t they see I’m special, too? AnimaLovers
can. In recognition of the singular beauty of black and
black-and-white cats, AnimaLovers will offer special
adoption fees for these most remarkable felines.
During the entire month of September, the fee to
adopt a black or black-and-white cat or kitten will be
$50. (Note: To qualify for the reduced adoption fee,
potential adopters must mention the special fee and
where they heard about it.)
If you want to adopt a black or black-and-white
beauty, but do not find your match at our clinic at the East
Greenbush PetSmart, be sure to ask one of our
volunteers or call our phone line to get more information
about those we have awaiting adoption in foster care.
~Ronnie Lyons
The AnimaLovers’ Companion
Vol. XI No. 1
Copyright 2009 AnimaLovers
The AnimaLovers’ Companion, the newsletter of
AnimaLovers, is published 3 times a year by AnimaLovers, the
Animal Welfare League of the Greater Capital District, Inc.; P.O.
Box 6426; Albany, NY 12206-0426.
The contents of this newsletter may not be reproduced in
any form without the express consent of the authors. Please
address all editorial or other queries to The Editors, The
AnimaLovers’ Companion, at the above address.
Editing/Layout
Lisa Ruzza
AnimaLovers Board of Directors
Timothy Clune, Esq.
Sally Daggett-Jude Martin
Kathleen Murphy -Kathy Owens
Tina Roche - Lisa Ruzza
Jan Shannon -Terry Silic
Summer/Fall 2009
The AnimaLovers’ Companion
Page 3
The Struggle of Patches
and her Preemie Kittens
An exquisite, petite calico cat, Patches came to
AnimaLovers both very sick with a severe upper respiratory infection, and very pregnant. So feverish that
she went into preterm labor, Patches rapidly delivered
two kittens, one of them tragically stillborn. Then her
labor stopped. If the rest of her kittens weren't born
within 24 hours, Patches would become septic and
die. Heartbroken over the loss of one of the kittens,
AnimaLovers volunteers were determined to try to ensure that Patches and her remaining babies survived.
An emergency visit to the vet early the next
morning resulted in a C-section that delivered four additional kittens, but Patches was much too sick to care
for them. Even if she had been able to nurse, she was
so ill that she wasn’t producing any milk – and she
needed all her strength to work on her own recovery,
which was still touch-and-go.
Under the supervision of the vet, the kittens’
foster mom immediately began the painstaking, roundthe-clock process of bottle feeding the five babies, but
had to watch helplessly as two of the kittens, too premature and weak, soon died anyway. In desperation,
AnimaLovers made every possible attempt to find a
nursing momcat to feed and care for the remaining kittens, as a mother’s milk provides a natural immunity
that milk replacement formulas can’t (and nothing’s
better than a momcat’s constant love and warmth), but
without success. Luckily, with intensive, diligent, and
attentive care from their foster mom, the three kittens
survived and grew: one night, then one week, and now
almost one month. Patches, moved to another foster
home where she could receive individual care, also
continued to improve, and is now almost fully recovered.
The kittens’ foster mom, dedicated to making
sure “her” babies continue to thrive, is still bottle feeding these wonderful kittens, and will do so until they’re
big enough and strong enough to be weaned. Although
they’re still months away from being available for adop-
L-R-Perry and Penelope at five-weeks
tion, if you’re interested in waiting for a very special,
very courageous kitten, feel free to call AnimaLovers at
(518) 448-5468 or email us at
animalovers@empireone.net to learn more about these
little ones and their adoption status. Or, if you’d prefer
to offer a home to a beautiful momcat who’s endured a
lot and survived it all, Patches will also be available for
adoption as soon as her recuperation is complete.
~Ronnie Lyons
LET’S PLAY
B I NG O
Support AnimaLovers on
Monday, October 26th
Games start at 7 PM
Donate your car to AnimaLovers.
The dogs and cats will love it!
http://www.donateacar.com/charity/animalovers.html
Atrium Bingo
49 4th Street
Troy, NY!
Page 4
The AnimaLovers’ Companion
Summer/Fall 2009
Tail Tales
Now that the summer is coming to an end and you will soon be back to school, start thinking about how to
carve out some time in your busy “back to school” schedule for your pets. They probably had you and your
family around more during the summer and are going to be a little lonely if they are left by themselves during
the day. Here are some ideas:
 Schedule time to take your dog on a family walk after dinner or in the morning before you leave for school.
 If your dog enjoys being around lots of kids, ask an adult family member to walk him/her to the bus stop
with you either when you leave for school or to greet you when you come home.
 Plan playtime with your cat or dog while you are getting ready for school or while you are waiting for other
family members to get ready to leave the house.
 Cuddle with your dog or cat as you are taking your time waking up in the morning or pet him/her for a little
while before you go to bed. Petting an animal is relaxing for both of you.
 Take time to visit with your cat or dog and give him/her attention when you are feeding him/her their breakfast or dinner (with adult help) instead of rushing through the event.
 Most importantly, make certain that all of your pet’s needs are met and that he/she will be safe and comfortable if you have to leave her alone for parts of the day.
FALL WORD FIND:
Circle the following words related to pet behavior in the puzzle below (words can be backwards, forwards, or
diagonal): run, sleep, howl, bark, jump, meow, scratch, purr, wash, eat
T
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~Abbe Hahn-Hook
Summer/Fall 2009
The AnimaLovers’ Companion
Page 5
Home is Where the Heart is
These kind-hearted AnimaLovers animals are looking for love, attention and a forever home with a
person like you to fill their hearts. Read their journey to us. They are searching for the next chapter of their
happy ending ‘tail.’ For more information on any of the cats or dogs, please call (518) 448-5468 or E-mail:
animalovers@empireone.net.
Penny
Maybelline
Maybelline is approximately
three years old and looking for
her forever home. She is a shy
girl and needs a family to help
bring her out of her shell.
Penny is a mature and
loyal, small dog looking
for an understanding
family with whom she
can spend her twilight
years
Maurice
Brady
I have a very sad story. I spent
months and months in a cage. I
love animals and people! I'm a
little shy because I'm mostly
black, no one took me home.
Suddenly, I didn't feel so happy
any more. Now, I'm in a foster
home and hoping someone is
willing to give me a chance.
At about 6 years old, Brady
knows he may not appeal to
all those people who want
tiny little kittens. But this
great, gentle guy can offer
love, affection, and great appreciation to the family who
is lucky enough to give him a
home
The AnimaLovers’ Mission
Mix it Up
Cooking
with
AnimaLovers
Vegetarian Recipes
from our Families &
Friends
•
•
•
•
Help support the continuing rescue of needy cats
& dogs in the Capital District and get a great cookbook
filled with people & animal treats as well. It's yours for a
donation of $10 (or more, of course). They make great
gifts for your animal loving friends as well.
Cookbooks are currently available at:
• AnimaLovers’ Adoption Center in the East Greenbush
PetsMart (during clinic hours)
• Our great cat fostering shop, TATTERED PAGES Used
Books, located in Glenmont Center Square.
• All of AnimaLovers upcoming events, so watch our website
for more information, www.animalovers.org
To provide housing, veterinary care, and
adoption for unwanted, abandoned, injured, or
stray dogs and cats;
To educate adopters, as well as the general
public, about the health and training needs of our
companion animals;
To promote spaying and neutering as an efficient
and humane means of animal population control;
To advocate for legislation which will prevent
cruelty to animals.
Page 6
The AnimaLovers’ Companion
Summer/Fall 2009
Against the Odds: Joey’s Story
JoBeth’s future did not look good. It was almost impossible to imagine
any kind of happy ending for the 9-year-old tiger that had lived for many
months in a shelter. Blind in one eye and quiet, JoBeth did not have much of a
chance for adoption. Who would want such a cat when there were so many
younger, prettier, more charismatic cats waiting for adoption?
The course of JoBeth’s story was about to take an unexpected turn:
One of AnimaLover's volunteers was looking for a quiet, older cat for her
mother, Ruth, who had just moved from her home to an independent living
residence. She had been lonely since her husband had passed away a couple
of years ago and, since moving from her home of 50 years, was bordering on
depression.
AnimaLovers agreed to take JoBeth and set up the adoption with
Ruth. As usual, AnimaLovers first scheduled an appointment with a veterinarian for a check-up and spaying. The news from the vet was not good—JoBeth
needed to have the sightless eye removed and major dental work. “And, by
the way,” said the vet, “JoBeth is a male!” Both surgeries were very expensive.
How could the necessary work be completed? The seemingly doomed cat,
now named Joey, could not live long without the surgeries.
By this time, all who came in contact with Joey fell in love with him. He was the sweetest boy; all he wanted
was someone to love him. He asked to so little, and he had so much love to give back in return.
Several AnimaLovers volunteers and friends offered to donate money for the cause. It was still not enough to pay
for both surgeries until the AnimaLovers organization stepped in and was able to make up the difference between
the donations and the cost. Joey had the surgeries performed in June and he was off to his new forever home!
In the final chapter of this story, we find Joey in love with his human and his human in love with him! In addition to being blind in one eye, it was discovered that he is also deaf. However, from Joey’s perspective, he is living in the perfect home—an “only cat” with an “only human”—both having a lot of love to give and receive! While
Joey can’t hear, he is very vocal and charms his “mom” with “talking” that sounds like “hi” and “thank you”.
Sometimes, there IS a happy ending—sometimes, against all odds!
~Sally Daggett
Bark in the Park
Saturday, September 12th
10am-2pm
At The Crossings in Colonie
Dog & Cat Adoption Clinic
Basket Raffles
Blessing of the Animals (noon)
In the Gazebo, Albany-Shaker Road;
Colonie, NY 12205
For more information, visit:
www.animalovers.org
Help AnimaLovers with the TU!
You can help AnimaLovers raise funds just by subscribing to the
Times Union---and you’ll receive a bonus also! It’s easy—just follow these
steps:
*Call the Times Union at 454-5454 and sign up for a 10-week
Thursday to Sunday subscription for $20 (you must be a new subscriber, or
anyone who has not been a subscriber in the past 30 days)
*Tell your representative that you want your donation to go to
AnimaLovers, by using the Code ALOV
*You, the subscriber, will receive a $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card!
And AnimaLovers will automatically receive a $15 donation from the TU—if
you use the ALOV code!
Already a subscriber to the TU? Call 454-5454 to convert to Easy
Pay and you will receive a $10 Dunkin Donuts card, a TU Source card, and
AnimaLovers receives a $7.50 donation. You must still use the ALOV code
when converting to Easy Pay.
It’s that easy to help us raise funds. So spread the word--tell your
friends, neighbors, and co-workers to subscribe by using our code, and you’ll
continue to help the dogs and cats in the Capital Region that are in need of
our services.
Summer/Fall 2009
The AnimaLovers’ Companion
Page 7
Pets Helping Pets
PETS HELPING PETS is a unique opportunity for you to make a donation in your animal’s name to help provide
necessary medical and emergency care for animals in need. Animals who need medical care often suffer needlessly or are
euthanized because their families cannot afford the necessary veterinary services. We want to give these animals a chance at a
healthy life with the folks who love them.
Additionally, the Winston Norek Memorial Fund provides senior pet owners with help in shouldering the cost of
veterinary expenses. Meryl Norek, an AnimaLovers volunteer, conceived of the fund as a lasting memorial to her beloved
feline companion of 17 years, Winston. Ms. Norek has generously committed an annual donation to the fund to ensure
Winston’s loving legacy is passed on to companion animals in need in our community, but with your donation added we can
help even more.
All donations made to PETS HELPING PETS are maintained in a separate fund and will be used only for the purpose
of providing needed veterinary care for animals. Your donation - in the name of your companion animal - will be recognized
in the next issue of AnimaLovers’ newsletter. What a great gift for the cat or dog who has everything! What a lovely way to
remember a beloved companion! And most importantly, what a great way to help other animals...
Since our last issue, the following have given donations to the Winston Norek fund
Ruth Norek ♥Alfred & Meryl Norek ♥ Kathy Owens ♥ Nadine & Neal Kramer
John Robitzeik ♥ Patricia Shearer ♥ Joan Virgil
Ora Joan Schepps♥ Margaret St Onge ♥ Meryl Norek
Eric & Kara Wohlleber ♥ Jon & Laura Hungerschafer♥
And memorial contributions have been made in memory of:
Jessica♥ Maggie Wolf ♥ Jack♥ Maggie♥ Johnah♥ Lindy♥ Rainwater
Lucky♥ Smokey♥ Murdock & Stubby ♥ Max Landes♥ David Fischer ♥
Dolan & Hillje Family ♥ Gloria Perrotto ♥
Kathleen & Robert Luria ♥ Ambrose ♥
This contribution to AnimaLovers’ PETS HELPING PETS program (please check one)
___ is made in the name of:
___ is in memory of:
(your companion animal’s name/names as you would like them recognized in our newsletter)
Please mail this coupon, along with your contribution, to:
AnimaLovers
Please check one:
P.O. Box 6426
___ General PHP Fund
Albany, NY 12206-0426
___ Winston Norek Fund for Seniors
Join AnimaLovers Now!
Name:_______________________________________
Address: _____________________________________
_____________________________________________
City: __________________ St:____ Zip: __________
Home: (___)___________ Work: (___)____________
Email: _______________________________________
Please circle one: New Renewal
Please circle your membership level:
Individual ($15) Family ($25) Patron ($75)
Senior ($5) Student ($5)
Please circle your volunteering interests, if any:
Cat Fostering Dog Fostering Fund Raising
Cat Adoption Center Dog Adoption Clinics
Telephone Volunteer Humane Education
AnimaLovers’ membership year is from September
through August. Please send your completed coupon and
check (payable to AnimaLovers) to: AnimaLovers, P.O. Box
6426, Albany, NY 12206-0426.
For more information call 448-5468 or email
animalovers@empireone.net.
AnimaLovers Information
Phone: 448-5468
E-Mail: animalovers@empireone.net
Web: www.animalovers.org
Postal: P.O. Box 6426, Albany, NY 12206
Dog Adoption Clinics
Please check our web site or call for dog adoption
clinic locations and information.
Cat Adoption Clinics
Luv-A-Pet Center - PETsMART, East Greenbush
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings
6 to 8 PM
Saturday & Sunday - 12:30- AM to 4:30- PM
AnimaLovers is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization and is
registered with the New York State Charities Registration Bureau. All
contributions are deductible to the fullest extent of the law. A copy of our
latest annual report may be obtained upon request from AnimaLovers,
or from the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120
Broadway, New York, New York, 10271.
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
The Animal Welfare League of the Greater Capital District, Inc.
P.O. Box 6426
Albany, NY 12206-0426
NONPROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE
PAID
ALBANY, NY
PERMIT NO. 844
Summer/Fall 2009
The AnimaLovers’ Companion
Page 9