2013 C.A.R.E.S. Annual Report

2013
ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Message from the President .................. page 2
C.A.R.E.S. Board of Directors .................. page 3
Our Generous Supporters ...................... page 4 - 5
Fundraising and Events .......................... page 6 - 7
Our Volunteers .…………………………..…..… page 8
20 Years of Caring ………………………........ page 9 - 10
Memory Lane .................................……. page 11 - 14
pg. 1
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
It is with great pleasure that the Board of Directors presents to you the C.A.R.E.S. 2013 Annual Report.
In 2013, we continued to make great strides in many areas due to the support of our dedicated volunteers and
financial supporters without whom we could not continue. Our dedicated volunteers contribute over 100 combined
hours per week at the shelter and at our adoption centre located in the Langley Petsmart store. Other volunteers
contribute time on fundraising, websites, newsletters and administrative duties.
Thanks to our continued partnership with Petsmart, we found wonderful new homes for 375 cats and kittens in 2013.
Our shelter staff, our volunteers and our vet, Dr. Bath of the Willowbrook Animal Hospital continue to work together
in providing loving and good care for our animals.
Our continued partnership with Royal Canin has been invaluable to us as well. Royal Canin provides our shelter with
free good quality food which saves us thousands of dollars each year. This money can be freed up to be able to help
more cats in our community. Royal Canin also provides starter food kits and coupons to new adoptive parents so that
their new kitty will continue to benefit from consuming a good quality food.
We moved into our existing shelter in December 2003, and as of 2013, had been in our premises for ten years. It was
time for some needed improvements and repairs. During the year we repainted the outside sheds and spruced up the
outside, with donated supplies and donated labour from Deloitte’s Chartered Accountants. It was wonderful to have
such a young and vibrant group to work with!
The shelter received some additional sprucing up when volunteer Tracy Lockett and her friend Tom Jones put tiling up
in the main shelter work area. In late fall, Donna Healey-Ogden, Caroll and Bill Geisbrecht and Carol and Chris Briner
spent 3 weekends laying the concrete tiles and base for the flooring of the outdoor run, and we are now happy to say
the run is complete!
In late 2012 we received $ 26,460 from the Langley Kinsmen to start a Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) program.
During 2013 we started to put that money to good use and were able to provide spays and neuters for some 128 cats.
It is estimated that there are at least 6,000 stray, abandoned and feral cats in our community. TNR is the method of
humanely trapping these cats, having them spayed or neutered and vaccinated and then returning them to their
colony/farm to live out their lives. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Kinsmen for realizing there was and need and for
helping.
Looking back, 2013 has been a great year for C.A.R.E.S. and looking ahead, we have challenges facing us but we believe
we can meet them. In the end, it is about the welfare of the cats and our ability to help the animals within our
community.
In closing, I would again like to say thank you to the staff, volunteers, donors and members for supporting our Society
and for loving the cats. It is because of all of you that we can continue our mission.
Carol Briner
President
pg. 2
Carol and Ernie
C. A.R.E.S. 2013/2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Elaine Taschuck
Carol Briner
Donna Healey-Ogden
Secretary
President & Treasurer
Vice President
Lisa MacDonald
Marian Haney
Joann Novak
Director - Foster Program
Director
Director
Clive Ellis
Lauralee Porter
Gayle Scramstad
Director
Director Intakes/Adoptions
Director - Membership
Cynthia Kereluk
Director
pg. 3
OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS
The best way to advance the rights of animals is by continuing to support animal rescue groups. These groups are
working to change hearts, minds and policies in favor of animal welfare. We cannot continue to do this without the
help of others. To this end I wish to thank those who continue to support us. In 2013, the following companies and
individuals generously helped:
Petsmart – Donated valuable retail space in their store for our adoption center.
Petsmart Charities – Donated for each adoption processed, plus donated money through fundraising events such as
the annual photos with Santa.
Royal Canin – Donated all the dry food to the shelter under their shelter feeding program. They also provided each
person who adopted a cat with free food and coupons.
City and Township of Langley – Issued grants to improve the shelter.
Canadian Tire, Langley – Allowed us to be the benefactor of one month’s Canadian Tire money, donated by their
customers.
Provincial Employees Community Services Fund – Made quarterly donations to the shelter.
Langley Heritage Society – Provided our shelter facilities to us at a very reasonable rent and donated one month’s rent
back to us.
Jimy Mac’s Pub- Allowed us to hold weekly meat draws at their facility.
PMA Canada – Donated money to C.A.R.E.S. through their annual wine promotion.
Loblaw’s Canada and the Canadian Superstore – Donated money to C.A.R.E.S. on behalf of their employee’s
volunteer hours. And the staff made contributions on behalf of Muriel Chimiuk.
The following companies donated items for our various fundraising events and silent auctions:
The Keg, White Spot, The Changing Room, Starbucks, Planet Clean, Willowbrook Park Dental Centre and Champers
Hair Salon.
The following companies donated generously of behalf of their employees and their volunteer ambassador programs:
Best Buy Canada, Telus and C.I.B.C.
pg. 4
OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS continued …
I would like to extend special thanks to the staff of Deloitte Chartered Accountants. Deloitte has a program of giving
back to the community whereby they give their staff a day off to do volunteer work in the community. In 2013, 5
volunteers from Deloitte came and spent a day with us helping to paint the shelter and do some clean up work.
Individual supporters:
Cynthia Kereluk and Paul Rodgers: Cynthia and Paul pledged a large sum to the walkathon this year. They have given
tremendous support to us in the last three years and we have been truly blessed by their ongoing help.
Ruth and Ray Wesenberg: Their generous contribution allowed us to finish the outdoor runs. I am happy to report,
that the run is now complete and the kitties will be out enjoying the sun by summer 2014. Thank you Ruth and Ray!
Cynthia Kereluk and Paul Rodgers
Ruth and Ray Wesenberg
I wish to extend thanks to those individuals who continue to contribute every year on a regular basis, they are:
Cheryl Larson, Barb Sewell, Pat and Clive Ellis, Caroll and Bill Giesbrecht, Lauralee Porter, Steve Cuthill, Gordy McNeil,
Marian Haney, JoEllen Belcourt, Hans Splinter, Bonnie Tse, Marlene MacKenzie, Dr. Susan Roman, Chris Kasdorf, Tricia
Williams & W & M Pet Supplies Inc., Jim Weir and Linda Davis, Pam Nelson, Robert and Joann Novak, Kathleen Dell,
Diane Anthony, and Anne Salomon.
There are many more individual supporters and we thank you all for your help. Without you, we could not continue on
with our good work.
pg. 5
FUNDRAISING & EVENTS
Many of you will know from previous year’s reports that C.A.R.E.S. continues in its endeavor to meet an increasing
demand in our community for rescuing, sheltering and providing necessary food and medical care for the cats and
kittens in our area.
As each year passes, the number of animals that need our attention continues to grow, and consequently the need for
financial assistance from people like you grows accordingly. We cannot thank you enough for all that you do for
C.A.R.E.S.!
The Fundraising Committee's duties involve year round activities, for the most part, arranging events in various
locations in order to reach our goals
In 2013, we attended four National Adoptathon weekends which were hosted by Petsmart in their Langley location.
This is an ideal location for us due to the high volume of customers - and cat lovers - who visit the store daily.
I am pleased to note that in 2013, we found homes for 375 cats and kittens.
We held many of our usual events such as weekly meat draws, the annual fun bowling night, casino night, garage sale,
the walkathon and as well, we introduced a Pub night into the roster. All events were successful.
I am pleased to report that our Trap Neuter and Release (TNR) program is progressing well - and we are one of only a
very few shelters that offer this. The program goes a long way to control the number of feral and abandoned cats that
so sadly suffer in the wild; this remains a large part of our fundraising budget.
I mentioned that fundraising is an ongoing process. At the shelter, all of us realize only too well the demands that
each of us have on our pocketbooks and it makes it increasingly hard for people to help charities like C.A.R.E.S. None
of us at C.A.R.E.S. can thank you enough - the volunteers, the donors, the sponsors who all give continually of their
time, their money and their caring!
The need for all animal care, especially cats, grows at an increasingly fast rate each year and we could not meet this
demand without your support. With your help, we can continue to grow and help more and more cats.
Once again, I must say a big "Thank You" to our Fundraising Committee who tirelessly contribute their ideas, time and
unbounded support for C.A.R.E.S. They are: Carol and Chris Briner, Allison Burton, Carroll Giesbrecht, Clive Ellis,
Marian Haney, Donna Healey-Ogden and Joann Novak. With their dedication and hard work, the shelter will continue
to succeed and be able to care for more animals - those that need us so very much.
Submitted by,
Clive Ellis
Fundraising Chair - 2013
pg. 6
FUNDRAISING & EVENTS continued …
2013 Walkathon
Deloitte 2013 Impact Day
Santa Claws 2013
pg. 7
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. They give in excess of 8000 hours of their time each year. It has been
said that an organization is only as strong as its volunteers and we are so fortunate in having so many people who are
dedicated to helping the animals within our community.
We have a Board of Directors handling administration, a fundraising and events committee, volunteers who are
cleaning and caring for the cats at the shelter, volunteers who are fostering cats and kittens in their homes, volunteers
who are handling communications via our website and newsletters and volunteers who work in the adoption center
finding homes for the cats.
I would like to pay a final tribute to our volunteer, Muriel Chimiuk, whose life
was tragically cut short in December, 2013. Muriel, along with her three cats
and dog, died when their home caught fire. Several of us worked with Muriel
at the shelter and were able to attend the memorial service held for her. We
were touched by the many stories that family members, friends and
colleagues shared about her love of animals and her efforts to assist to make
their world a better place. We learned that Muriel was a devoted wife to her
husband, Walter, and that she and her husband would always open their
home to help others in need. We learned about what a hard worker she
always was. We learned that she was an avid reader. We also learned more
about what we already knew about Muriel, that she was a dedicated animal
lover. Before Muriel started volunteering with C.A.R.E.S. in 2008, she had
previously volunteered for a number of years with SARS (Small Animal Rescue
Rest in Peace Muriel
Society). She also privately helped
out a number of animals. We heard
a number of stories about feeding
birds, raccoons, stray cats, and even helping out a skunk in need! There was
no end to Muriel’s compassion to help any animal in need be it domestic or
wild.
I was asked to speak at the service on behalf of C.A.R.E.S. I shared how
Muriel ended up at C.A.R.E.S. and also how she adopted her 3rd cat from us.
I told the following story:
I had personally known Muriel as a client of mine for several years before
she came to C.A.R.E.S. When she informed me one day that she would no
longer be volunteering at SARS, she wondered out loud what she would do
next. Knowing Muriel had a couple of cats, I told her all about C.A.R.E.S. and the good work being done. She lit up at
this news and in no time was signing on as a volunteer. My best find yet! Muriel was a great worker and could clean
circles around many of us, myself included!
Muriel’s beloved “Trouble”
As a tribute to Muriel, her fellow workers at the Langley Canadian Superstore recognized her, by making a $500.00
donation. This was matched by the company and the total we received was $ 1000.00. I am sure Muriel would have
been pleased as it greatly helps the animals she so loved.
Submitted by
Carol Briner
pg. 8
20 YEARS OF CARING
In 1993, a man named Wilf Longfoot, along with other caring individuals began to help out at an existing cat shelter on
240th Street in Langley. Having differing opinions on the level of care being provided for the cats, Wilf and a few
others broke away and started up their own shelter. In 1994, Wilf applied for charity status for the shelter and
C.A.R.E.S. was born.
20 years and over 7000 cats later, C.A.R.E.S. continues to fulfill its mission which is to rescue, shelter and find loving
homes for stray, abandoned and unwanted cats.
The building up of this organization has been an on-going labour of love from a core group of dedicated individuals
who have donated their time, money, resources and ideas.
Over the years we have been fortunate to have built up a solid volunteer and
member base, and these individuals have all contributed their time and money
and we are grateful to every one of them for their support.
Since 1998, we have enjoyed a partnership with Petsmart which has been
invaluable to C.A.R.E.S. The space donated by Petsmart in their store for
C.A.R.E.S. to use as an adoption centre has enabled us to find more good
homes for cats and kittens so that they are not just sitting in the shelter. We
have also partnered with Royal Canin who donate thousands of dollars worth of
kibbles each year to our shelter. They also provide starter food kits and
coupons to give to each adoptive parent so that their new kitty has a great start
with good quality food. In 2007, C.A.R.E.S. was fortunate to be discovered by
Dr. Gurpreet Bath who was opening up his new clinic, the Willowbrook Animal
Hosptial. Dr. Bath cares deeply about animal welfare and thanks to the
charitable rates he offers to C.A.R.E.S., more cats and kittens can be helped
each year. It is though the support of individuals and companies alike, that
C.A.R.E.S. has been able to continue its good work.
Wilf Longfoot
But the road to success has been long and has not been without its bumps along the way. In 2003, C.A.R.E.S. was given
notice by the landlord that the barn we had been renting since 1998
would no longer be available and the 65 cats in our care would have no
place to stay. A plea was put out to the Township of Langley for help, and
thankfully Mayor Kurt Alberts was able to partner C.A.R.E.S. with the
Langley Heritage Society. The Heritage Society had a property available on
Glover Road which had an old house and outbuildings on it. The Society
not only helped to renovate the buildings to fit our needs, but they also
funded the renovations too! On December 13, 2003, C.A.R.E.S. and its 65
furry charges moved into our existing shelter. The Heritage Society
became our landlord and very generously each year, they have donated a
month’s rent back to C.A.R.E.S.
Our first shelter
In 2004, we struggled terribly with a shortage of volunteers. Skelton crews
would come in each day to feed the cats and clean the shelter. We would
be lucky to have 2 volunteers show up each day to care for over 60 cats. It
was a heavy load for the small numbers of helpers and we actively
pg. 9
20 YEARS OF CARING continued...
campaigned whenever and wherever we could to recruit more volunteers. It took a few years of doing, and we are
very thankful to now have enough volunteers to help with the care of the cats. The volunteers are precious and we
cannot do the good work we do without them.
2005 was another challenging year when our finances were nearly depleted and the shelter was in peril of having to
close its doors forever. It was also the year that our founder and benefactor Wilf Longfoot passed away. Things looked
very grim for a time and we wondered if we would make it through. Thanks to some hard efforts in budgeting, active
fundraising and one volunteer offering to take the place of the part time paid employee who had to be laid off, we
slowly but surely swung the ship around and avoided a shipwreck. Again, it took a few years of doing, but with the
combination of budgeting and continued fundraising efforts, we pulled ourselves out of the red and into the black.
With the implementation of the C.A.R.E.S. website and Facebook sites, with attending community events, with sending
out more correspondence such as newsletters and with the continued partnership with Petsmart, the C.A.R.E.S. name
began to spread and more and more people in the Langley community and beyond were hearing and learning about
our organization.
Groups like the Kinsmen Foundation discovered C.A.R.E.S. and as a result, a grant was obtained though them to help
start a TNR (trap/neuter/release) program. Individuals like Ruth and Ray Wesenberg of West Vancouver heard about
C.A.R.E.S. and made generous donations to help with shelter improvements. Celebrities Paul Rodgers and Cynthia
Kereluk heard about C.A.R.E.S. and also have made generous donations to help the Society.
From its humble beginnings 20 years ago, C.A.R.E.S. has built a solid foundation and has been able to continue helping
cats and people in the Langley community and beyond. The extent of caring has spread and in the last few years,
C.A.R.E.S. has been able to help cats in smaller communities such as Bella Bella, Keremeous, Merrit and most recently,
Terrace.
We can look back with pride with what has been accomplished in the past 20 years and we can look ahead to many
more years of “caring”!
Submitted by,
Lauralee Porter
Director
pg. 10
MEMORY LANE
In the 20 years that C.A.R.E.S. has been in operation, over 7000 cats and kittens have been housed, re-homed or
helped in some way. 7000 cats, each with their own story and we have loved and cared for them all. Over the years, a
few of our furry friends have left their lasting paw prints on our hearts and minds. Some of them happily found homes,
while others crossed over the Rainbow Bridge while still in our care. They have left us but are not forgotten. I’d like to
take a little walk down memory lane and remember a few of these dear souls that touched our lives.
Angel – That face, that face, that beautiful face. I don’t think I will ever forget my first encounter with this girl. In 2006,
we got a desperate call from some residents of North Vancouver that they needed help with a year old feral cat living
in their apartment. They were at their wits end with what to do with a
cat they had bought from what they thought was a good breeder. When
they received the cat, they quickly realized that this cat was not
socialized and was terrified of everything and everyone. The cat spent
every day either hiding or darting away from them. They were at the
point of thinking their only choice was to put the cat down. We said we
could help and Lisa and I drove out to North Vancouver equipped with
nets, gloves, towels and a big carrier. The small apartment was crowded
with stuff and it made it more difficult to catch the cat. There were lots
of places to hide or perch up high on to escape our efforts in catching
Angel
her. Finally after several minutes of trying, Lisa managed to flush Angel
out and as she leapt through the air off of her high perch, I managed to
stick my net out and catch her in mid-flight! Angel lived at the shelter for
several years. She was so adorable, and she could have been adopted several times over just on her looks, but sadly,
she was too timid for most people’s liking. Many volunteers worked with this girl and over time gained her trust and
were able to pet her. Finally, in 2012, a retired couple from White Rock saw Angel’s picture on our website and
wanted to come and meet her. They loved her at first sight and were willing to give her a try. Angel was sent out with
the Crokers on a foster to adopt plan. We had no idea how she would be and thought it best to start as a foster. Well,
suffice it to say that Angel never came back and the adoption was made official in February 2013!
Clancy - This gorgeous boy came to our shelter in August 2012 after he was
caught running around stray on the property of the Critter Care Wildlife
Society. He was very scared and shy and although you could pet him, he
would flatten himself and cringe when you touched him. It was almost as if
he thought you might want to harm him. It didn’t help Clancy either that
only one month after his arrival, our shelter was hit with a contagious
ringworm virus that spread throughout the whole shelter. Clancy was
unfortunate enough to get it too and over the next few month’s his main
contact with people was when he was given his medications. As the
ringworm virus subsided, we put Clancy in with a friendly mom and her
older kittens (see Pixie’s story) and this seemed to help him a lot. Clancy
started to relax a little more and we would actually see him amusing himself
and romping around and playing with toys. In September 2013, Clancy got
Clancy
his first chance to be seen at our adoption centre in the Langley Petsmart
store. Not long after his arrival there, a nice lady from Langley came by and
fell in love with Clancy. He too seemed to respond well to her. It was the
perfect home for Clancy. Nice and quiet, and with someone who had lots of time to spend with him. Clancy and his
mom Lois keep in touch with us a lot and we are always overjoyed to see the wonderful pictures of him looking happy
and content in his new home.
pg. 11
MEMORY LANE continued...
Drew - We met 12 year old Drew at the Willowbrook vet after his owner
had brought him in to be euthanized. The vet was told that it was because
the cat was peeing outside his box and it was thought he was stressed with
the baby in the house. Dr. Bath does not believe in euthanizing a healthy
animal and convinced the owner to let C.A.R.E.S. take him. A few months
later, it was discovered that Drew had an undiagnosed hyperthyroid issue
which may have been the real cause of his issues at home. Drew was put on
the necessary medication and given a good quality diet at the shelter. Over
time, Drew began to put on some weight and his fur shined up. He enjoyed
a quality life with improved health and attention from the volunteers. Drew
was a really affectionate sweetie and he would go limp in your arms when
you picked him up. He also loved to snuggle his head under your chin and
would purr in contentment. Drew became a favourite of many volunteers.
Sadly, in early March 2012, Drew’s health took a turn for the worse, the
medications were no longer helping him and he had lost a lot of weight. It
didn’t matter how much he would eat, the weight would not stay on him.
By the end of that month he became quite weak and after three years with
us, we said goodbye to this precious soul. He melted many hearts and we
felt privileged and glad to have known him.
Drew
Lady and Scamper – For some of us who have been around for a few years, the names Lady and Scamper bring back
fond and interesting memories. In 2004, Lady was rescued by a kind landscaper, who while servicing a home, could see
that the resident cat was in sad shape and being neglected. She talked the owners into letting her take the cat and
brought her back home to nurse her back to health and then hopefully find a permanent home for her. Lady was
almost skeletal when rescued and unbeknownst to her rescuer, she was actually pregnant. When Lady began to
quickly put on weight, her rescuer attributed it to the all the good food she was feeding her. But then one day when
she came into the barn to see Lady, there she was with her four newborn kittens. Well she hadn’t counted on this!
Sadly, one kitten was sickly and didn’t survive. A second kitten (Scamper) appeared to have some neurological
problems. When he would try to walk, he would actually flop from
side to side. The thing is, Scamper didn’t seem to realize he had a
problem and he just carried on and would romp and play with his
siblings. Lady’s rescuer knew she needed more help now that there
was a whole family involved so she found C.A.R.E.S. and asked if we
could take this little family on. We were more than happy to help
this beautiful girl and her babes. Mom cat Lady was not only
beautiful, but she also had a wonderful temperament which she
passed on to all her kids. Scamper was a real character, not daunted
Lady and Scamper
in the least by his affliction. We would watch him in amazement as
he “scampered” along. When the time came for them all to be
adopted, brother and sister, Licker and Suzie found a home together
and so did Lady and Scamper. We thought that was the happy ending to that story, but not so. This whole family
seemed to have the worst luck. Every single one of them ended up back at the shelter more than once! We wondered
if people had adopted them in haste as they were such beautiful cats, or perhaps they felt sorry for Scamper but didn’t
think of keeping them long term. This went on for a couple of years where we would see one or more of them back
with us. Finally all seemed to get settled in different homes. Lady and Scamper still managed to be homed together
and once again, we thought all was well. That is, until we received a call from the Surrey SPCA. Thanks to Scamper’s
tattoo we received a call that he was turned in after being found by the road. How could this be? He was supposed to
be an indoor cat due to his neurological issues. We called the home and discovered that Scamper was being let
outside! Passers-by must have thought he was injured and he ended up being turned into the SPCA. Reluctantly,
pg. 12
MEMORY LANE continued...
Scamper was returned to the home on the promise that he would be kept indoors.
But when Scamper turned up a second time at the SPCA, it was decided that he
would be returned to C.A.R.E.S. Thankfully after this whole ordeal, Scamper finally
found his permanent home with a trusted animal loving employee of Petsmart. As
of this writing, he is still alive and well and living with three other cats.
Laurie – Oldest C.A.R.E.S. cat on record. Laurie came to C.A.R.E.S. in 2006, when
she was about 18 + years old. For years she had lived in the barns at the Cloverdale
race track. One of C.A.R.E.S. volunteers, Donna, who worked at the track started to
notice that Laurie was having some mobility issues and became concerned that
barn life was not a suitable situation
any more for this senior girl. Donna
Lady
convinced Laurie’s caregivers to
allow her to take the cat to
C.A.R.E.S. where she could live out her years in some comfort. They
agreed and Laurie was admitted to C.A.R.E.S. After a good check over by
Dr. Bath, Laurie was deemed in good general health. Her only problem,
in fact, was that she had arthritis. So each month Laurie received a
monthly cartrophen injection which greatly helped her. Laurie started
to thrive well at the shelter. She was put on good food and it made a lot
of difference for her. Her coat began to look healthier and she put on a
little weight. This deserving old girl received special treatment and at
one time was one of the free roaming cats in the shelter hospital. Life
Laurie
went on in this manner for about three years and then a miracle
happened for Laurie. Volunteer Linda Bell and her family decided to
take Laurie home on a long term foster. They continued with her health
care and visits to the vet and Laurie enjoyed the last three years of her life in a very loving home. When Laurie passed
away in August 2012, she was a good 24 to 25 years old.
Pixie – A.K.A. Little Munchkin. They say that good things come in small packages and this certainly was the case with
our Pixie. We first met this little one when she, her mom Holly, and four brothers came to the shelter in August 2012.
The family had been found abandoned in a cat carrier in a back stairwell of a Surrey apartment building. They were
hungry, covered in urine, ringworm, and were all catching colds. Pixie was the runt of the litter and as her brothers
grew, she did not. At one point, when sick with upper respiratory, she did not
appear to be thriving at all and we were concerned we might lose this girl. But this
little one had will to live and over time gained strength and began to put a little
weight on and grow. We all adored this little girl. Everyone just wanted to pick her
up and cuddle her. It seemed to take forever for her to be rid of the ringworm, and
there was a line up of people who wanted to adopt her when she was ready. Finally
she seemed to be clear of it and went to the vet for spay. A short time afterward,
volunteer Joanna took her home and we were all thrilled. But unfortunately the
excitement was short lived as Pixie broke out in ringworm again and passed it on to
Joanna, her kids, the family dog and a few of her kid’s friends. Poor Joanna and our
poor Pixie as she had to be returned to the shelter and put back on another round
of medication. Another few months later, Pixie was ready to go home again. This
time, volunteer Angela was waiting to take her home. Angela just loves Pixie and
she is spoiling her rotten as she so deserves!
Pixie (Munchkin) and
Mom
pg. 13
MEMORY LANE continued...
Stanley – Mr. Incorrigible. There are still a few of us old timers around who will never forget the incorrigible Stanley. In
2002, this absolutely stunning cat was left abandoned in an apartment after his owners moved out. We soon learned
why he may have been left behind. Stanley had the most unpredictable personality any of us had ever seen in a cat.
One minute, he would be ever so charming and lull you into thinking what a nice cat this was… and then…SLASH…you
were heading to the first aid kit to stop the bleeding on your arm or leg. Poor Stanley had to be kept segregated most
of the time, as most of the other cats were afraid of him and a few volunteers too! There was one report where
kamikaze Stanley had been perched on high and came flying through the air and landed on a volunteer’s back!
Fortunately for her, she was wearing a jacket and he was unable to keep hold. We finally got Stanley put on a drug
called Amitriptyline to help keep him “level”. It did help him a little and we all felt a bit safer from then on. Being the
way he was, we never thought this boy would get adopted. But amazingly enough, a lady named Vanessa saw his
picture on our old brochure and called about him. We told her his story and of his quirks and she still wanted to come
and meet him. She said she was not afraid of “crazy” cats and that she had one before. So when Vanessa was invited
to come and meet Stanley, she loved him! He seemed to like her too. Stanley was adopted and moved in with
Vanessa, her dog, and her other cat Olivia whom she had
also adopted from C.A.R.E.S. and they all lived happily ever
after!
Submitted by
Lauralee Porter
Stanley
pg. 14