ANIMAL UMBRELLA MESSENGER

Transcription

1 THE ANIMAL UMBRELLA MESSENGER JUNE 2007 Dedicated to the Rescue, Welfare and Adoption of Even the Most Unadoptable Homeless Cats Number 52 Published Quarterly by Animal Umbrella P.O. Box 2675, Acton, MA Tel AGAINST ALL ODDS: ROSEMARY S STORY Hello, my name is Rosemary, and this is my story. Ten years ago, when I was a kitten, I was adopted from a shelter as a companion cat in a home for the elderly and disabled. Unfortunately, I was rather a shy little creature, so this didn t exactly work out. But they let me stay anyway, and one or two ladies on the staff loved me dearly and took care of me. But as the years passed, new people came to work there who said that they were allergic to cats, and my days were numbered. One day in February all of my earthly possessions were packed up, and I was bundled into a carrier and taken away to a cat adoption event at a church in Arlington. Even though the ladies who loved me decorated my display cage with Valentine s Day garlands to attract attention to me, and wrote a kind letter about me, I didn t have a chance. Who was going to adopt a shy, ten-year-old cat with an oversized nose and some minor deformities of her paws? My heart was broken, and I sat hunched and immobile as a sphinx. My head drooped over my chest, and my eyes were shut tight. Nothing could console me. I felt abandoned, discarded, left to die. However, within a few minutes, a baby boomer couple happened by. The ladies from the adoption center told them my story. The couple weren t even looking for a cat, but the wife sat and gently brushed me while the husband read the letter about me aloud. He thought that I was silently crying because my nose was dripping. Well, the short of it is that they took me to their sunny, three-story home where they dote on me and think of me as me their little princess. It turns out that they used to visit the elderly at my old home as volunteers from their church. They even think that they may have seen me there once or twice, roaming along the corridors. I am now happy and able to purr loudly once again. Even though I love my new couple, I will always love and be grateful to those who cared for me at my old home, too. P.S. Thank you, Animal Umbrella, for giving me a second chance. And thank you, God, for looking out for me. With our very best wishes, Patricia Rosemary, very happpy and plump in here new home. Rosemary the day of her surrender EDITORIAL NOTE For weeks, our volunteer Linda had been following Rosemary s ordeal online. The kind people who cared for her were looking for a place. Because of her age and handicaps, it was nearly impossible to surrender her to another no kill shelter. We finally decided to give her a second chance. The day she was brought to the Calvary Methodist Church in Arlington during our adoptathon, she looked so deeply sad. It brought tears to our eyes. But that same day, Patricia and Stephen, two very kind animal lovers took pity on this poor abandoned cat and decided to give her a home. It was so incredible and we could not count our blessings enough. We are deeply grateful to them for the wonderful care and love they are giving to her and we would also like to thank the sweet people who cared for her over the years. Rosemary is indeed a survivor against all odds. Compassion is alive and well all around us.

2 Animal Umbrella PAGE 2 Mission Founded in 1985, Animal Umbrella is a strictly no-kill volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue, care and adoption of abandoned cats and kittens. We believe in rehabilitation not destruction and make a special effort to find special homes even for highly unadoptable animals because of handicap, injury, age, behavior, feral status (after being socialized) and FIV or FELV positive. ANIMAL UMBRELLA STREET CATS SHELTER ADOPTIONS Every Saturday 3 to 5 p.m. Please call to set up special appointments. We have relocated to 320B Charger Street, Revere. We are located on the second floor of Paws Here. Call for directions. MAIL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2675 Acton, MA Tel: (617) WEB: THE ANIMAL UMBRELLA MESSENGER, the official newsletter of Animal Umbrella, Inc. is published quarterly. Managing Editor: Annamarie Taylor Contributors: Names vary from issue to issue Typesetter: Hope Berndt Printer: Copyland, Acton, MA Robert Grant (508) Phone 37 Waverly Street Route 135 on the Natick Town Line Framingham, MA HELPFUL SUMMER TIPS Summer is finally coming and it is helpful to remember a few things. Indoors - Keep your cat(s) in cool ventilated rooms, possibly in the shade. Make sure window screens are tightly secured. Change wet food and fresh water twice a day. Outdoors - Do not let your cat(s) lay in the grass especially on a freshly sprayed lawn with chemicals as they are deadly to pets. Look for fleas and ticks. Do not leave your cat unattended outdoors as there are many wildlife predators coming close to homes in the summer. Please never leave your cat in the car not even for a few minutes as temperatures in a carrier inside a car can easily reach well over 100 degrees. If your cat starts to hyperventilate, take it to a cool place immediately and if necessary place a wet towel on their head and body to help cool him down. Do it repeatedly until the cat is breathing normally again. If your cat is severely overheated please rush him to a veterinarian immediately. Have a wonderful Summer with your cat(s)! ANIMAL UMBRELLA JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTER

3 PARIS AND JOSEPH A Story of Hope, Healing and Love It is no wonder Paris was a very angry cat. She was abandoned in a hot parking lot in a small cat carrier with another cat and no food, water, or shade. Paris found a new home at the Animal Umbrella cat shelter in Revere. She hated all other cats and wasn t very fond of people. She routinely swatted and scratched the volunteers and workers at the shelter. With attitude like this it was unlikely she d ever be adopted. This is where Paris and Joe found each other. Joseph is a 14-1/2year old special needs child. Joe doesn t have many human friends because part of his disability involves an inability to read social cues. He has a good heart full of love. Since he hasn t had cats in his life for the past 9 years, he didn t really understand how to deal with them. Paris decided to teach him. I brought Joe to the shelter on a Saturday afternoon during adoption time. Joe and I planned to volunteer at the shelter. Unfortunately, Annamarie told us Joe was not old enough to be a volunteer (it s a legal matter). She said he could visit the cats while I was here. He flitted here and there in the different rooms and settled in the hallway with Paris. Annamarie was very worried and warned Joseph and I time and again about Paris (she had a very bad reputation). Joe kept reaching out to her anyway, sifting with her and showing an amazing amount of patience and tolerance. He got scratched, but didn t take it personally. He had to be dragged away that night. Joe nagged constantly to be taken to see Paris. At home she was all he talked about. I volunteered two days a week, went to pick Joe up after school and went back to the shelter so he could visit with her. On Saturdays he wanted to be with her. It was hard, because the hallway was a small place for a tall young man, a cat and the various workers at the shelter. There were many times I worried about Joe and Paris, but I trusted they d find a way to get along. I d hear her growl or hiss and Joe would appear with a new scratch or scratches. I d remind him about being careful. I d remind him about her history. His inability to read social cues kept him going back time and again to be with her. What is normally thought to be a weakness in him, has become a strength in his relationship with Paris. After a while it was clear they had bonded. No matter how many times he did something she didn t approve of and got scratched, he kept coming back. She learned that no matter how often she was bad and scratched him, he d return. If she scratched him, he d leave and go off into another room and pat some other cats. But his heart always pulled him back to Paris. So much alike neither one seemed to fit in with their respective peers. He was learning what it was like to be loved and trusted, she was learning to love and trust him. After a few weeks it was clear that the relationship needed to be taken to the next level. Paris adopted us. We brought her home. From the first step out of the carrier, she seemed a vastly different cat. Is it all roses and sweet music? No, they are still learning from each other. It will be a lifelong job for the two of them. Is it worth the scratches, hearing the growls and hisses? Yes it is. The love and joy she brings to all of us is immeasurable. The growls, hisses and scratches are almost gone now as she relaxes more and as they learn from each other. Hope now lives in our house; Paris is healing and Joe is learning. Paris has come home and she knows it. Karen ANIMAL UMBRELLA JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTER PAGE 3

4 PAGE 4 HAPPY ENDINGS Beverly & Charger They had nothing in common except that they were abandoned and rescued in the winter by Beverly and Mary, two animal lovers and rescuers. Beverly was found at the Revere racing tracks where people abandon animals. In the winter, the place is deserted and only because of the goodness of some people, strays get fed. Beverly was one of them and had a damaged hip which has healed. Charger was found near our trash bin in the shelter parking lot. Both were abused and scared. They have been adopted together by two wonderful people and in their home they are learning to trust humans again. Thank you for giving them a good life! Rosie She was a young feral rescued by a Waltham rescue group which traps, spays and releases cats. She had a mild handicap on her paw and one of the rescuers took her home to domesticate her. Later she was surrendered to us where we continued to work on Rosie and socialize her. We adopted her once but the woman s cat attacked her so she was returned. She has found another home and this time she is very happy and accepted and loved by a kind woman and her sweet cats. Thank you! The Barking Basket Pet Gift Baskets for all Occasions Treat the pets in your life with a special basket filled with toys, treats and accessories. Each basket is made with tender loving care and is a Barking Basket original - no two are exactly alike! Call Jeannie at Margo Meyer, NASM, ACE, CPT Owner, Certified Personal Trainer bolton fitness 626 Main Street, Bolton, MA ph: ww.boltonfitness.com boltonfitness@yahoo.com ANIMAL UMBRELLA JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTER

5 FUNDRAISING ANNOUNCEMENT The Animal Umbrella Cat Shelter invites you to Our huge flea market and sale of handcrafted gifts for people and for pets. SATURDAY, JUNE 23rd 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CALVARY CHURCH United Methodist 300 Mass Ave, Arlington Come and join the fun. SEE YOU THERE! Handsome & Melanie Handsome belonged to a woman who was letting him out all the time. She moved and surrendered him to us. He was so depressed he stopped eating and nearly died. His teeth were also in a bad shape. We took care of him and brought him back to good health. Melanie, another abandoned cat wondering in the streets was rescued by a caring woman and brought to us. Both cats have now been adopted together and are very loved. How wonderful they have good home! Handsome NEW ENGLAND TEAM TENNIS BUILDING WELL-ROUNDED THROUGH TENNIS INDIVIDUALS Eric Meyer/Director 99 Squire Shaler Lane Lancaster, MA nettmeyer@hotmail.com Melanie ANIMAL UMBRELLA JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTER PAGE 5

6 RESCUES Angel It was late in the afternoon a few Saturdays ago. A woman brought a kitten that was a few days old (eyes still closed) and told us she had found him in the trash. She did not know what to do. We opened the box and this tiny creature was crying. It was hungry and restless. Luckily, Samantha, one of our volunteers was there and was just about to leave. She saw the kitten and decided to take him home to see if her nursing cat would feed him. We were very apprehensive about this because some cats reject kittens which are not their own. Well, Angel was not rejected and the nursing mother fed her immediately. She is growing in size and strength and looks wonderful. What a lucky kitten. Thank you so much Samantha for generously offering to save Angel. GREAT NEWS Samantha has decided to adopt Angel and now she has a permanent home! Three shelter cats which are alive because of your continued support. Thank you! Tuesday Boy Henry Socks PAGE 6 ANIMAL UMBRELLA JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTER

7 ANIMAL UMBRELLA SPRING 2007 RAFFLE Try your luck to win one of the three valuable prizes below! NO KILL CAT SHELTER MAILING ADDRESS: LOCATED AT: P.O. Box B Charger Street, Revere, MA Acton, MA Web Address: FIRST PRIZE - Wave Music System A bold new standard in audio performance from a tabletop system as elegant as it is easy to use.reproduces one-half octave lower musical notes than the original Wave radio/cd. SECOND PRIZE - Bose in-ear headphones. New standards for performance and fit. High-quality audio from a comfortable in-ear headphone design. Full, rich sound with distinct clarity and warmth. Soft silicone tips provide gentle, accurate fit. THIRD PRIZE -Polaroid 7" Portable DVD Player. Plays all DVD and music CDs. Built in stereo speakers. Rechargeable battery, AC adapter, and car bag included. Prizes were donated by Animal Umbrella volunteers! Proceeds will help us continue to rescue, care for and find homes for abandoned cats. Winners will be announced in our ANIMAL UMBRELLA Fall 2007 Newsletter and our website animalumbrella.org. Raffle ticket donation $6.00 per entry. If you mail the entry, please send your check made payable to Animal Umbrella, P.O. Box 2675, Acton, MA Animal Umbrella is a statewide volunteer non-profit organization founded in Your donations are tax deductible! Call us at if you have any questions.

8 The Animal Umbrella Streets Cat Shelter is located at: 320B Charger Street (on the second floor of Paws Here) Revere, MA Animal Umbrella is a statewide volunteer non-profit organization, dedicated to the rescue, welfare and adoption of even the most unadoptable homeless cats. Monthly Contributor $25 Annual Member $35 Supporter $50 Save a Stray $75 Contributor $100 Sponsor $250 Other Animal Umbrella contributions are tax deductible. Animal Umbrella meetings are held regularly. Please call us for dates and times. Name Street City State/Zip Phone Do you currently receive our newsletter? How did you hear about Animal Umbrella? MAIL TO: ANIMAL UMBRELLA P.O. BOX 2675 ACTON, MA TEL: (617) WEB ADDRESS: ANIMAL UMBRELLA P.O. BOX 2675 ACTON, MA