What’s a “less adoptable” pet? Exactly what it sounds like: a diabetic senior dog; a kitty who’s lost an eye; a dog with trust issues that was used for fighting; a pet with a breed or colour stigma(yes, people still think this about black cats, or bully breeds!); any pet who needs a little extra help in finding a furever home. This week, we celebrate these sweet pets who need extra care and understanding, and a special pet parent to share their lives with – and you will see just how adoptable a “less adoptable pet” can be! I would like to share with you the story about how I came to know my two furbabies.. especially Jack, MY seriously awesome, "unadoptable" member of the family.
As I like to do, I picked up some supplies and brought then down to the SPCA(kitty litter, some blankets, cat pans, and some toys), and thought, Hey, while I'm here I should make a point of going in and socializing with the kitties. Yes, I know.. this can never turn out well! Went into the main cat room, sat down on the chair by the door, and this soft, big black beast with gorgeous amber green eyes jumps into my lap and stares up at me. I give him a little pet.. and he drools on me. I later find out this is one of the ways some cats show extreme ecstacy.
Now here I am, thinking to myself how I'd kill to take them all home.. Oh but we don't have room for another cat.. I heard myself say to Jordan all the time. I still believe that you do not pick the animal.. well.. not usually. The animal picks you.
So I snuggled with this huge black beast.. and poked my head outside the door to see if I could ask a bit more information about him. The nice lady at the Kelowna SPCA said that he came in as a stray, so they didn't know much about him. He did have a tattoo in his ear, but the information was old, and no one ever came looking for him. He had been there for almost 6 months. Are you kidding me? 6 MONTHS? How was this beautiful animal not scooped up the moment he arrived? Well.. he's a black cat, some people still are superstiticious.. and he's not a kitten anymore(although they estimated him at about 10-12 months ONLY). Oh yeah, and he's got a bit of a skin condition on his face.
Yup. Having some itchy skin, being born a certain colour.. being about 8 months "too old". It's true what they say though, another persons' trash is another persons' treasure.
I had gone in there on a Wednesday. On Friday I had all the paperwork done and Jack came home with me. It was the most awesome choice I could have made for both of us.
So let's see, Jack's reasons for not getting adopted before:
1) He has some itchy skin
Solution: Turns out he's allergic to catnip. We don't give him catnip, and he gets a bath whenever his skin gets itchy with an oatmeal based cat shampoo(once every 3-8 months?)
2) He's a large black cat
Solution: Well, we can't change that LOL. Although, when the sun shines on his coat.. he's actually a really dark shade of chocolate brown. Otherwise he looks like an inkblot with eyes on my kitchen floor :)
3) He was a bit too old
Solution: Can't change his age.. but it was nice this time around to have a cat that was not getting stuck under the fridge.. in the fridge.. in cabinets.. in drawers. He is litter trained, uses a scratching post, mostly well behaved(sometimes he torments his sister a bit!). I didn't have to deal with the way that kittens always have to have someone close by to supervise(LOTS of people don't realize that kittens need 24/7 attention if they don't have another kitten around). The fact that he wasn't a kitten made the transition easier for my other cat Isabella as she is approx a year older than him.
This animal is, simply put, one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I liken him to a dog trapped in a cat's body.. and for someone who likes dogs, but doesn't have the time or space for one, it's a wonderful mix. I love the fact that when I pick him up, he flattens his body against mine, puts his paws around my neck and buries his cold nose into my chest and neck. I don't know how or why he was never adopted before I got to him, but I'm sort of glad that he chose me(although he's a suck to everyone he meets).
Animals that are given a second chance at love are masters and making their way into your heart. If you are looking to adopt, consider a cat or dog that might be a bit older(or even senior.. what better to have 2 years of love and comfort at the end of your life, than to die alone in a shelter), might be missing parts(a missing eye, leg, ear doesn't make that love any less powerful), or have a medical problem of some kind(as you can see.. a little skin allergy in my case took no extra work). A lot of animals in shelters now are purebred, so even if that is the way you want to go.. consider adoption. The cost is so minimal and the return you get is just priceless. I know from my experiences that I will NEVER contribute to to pet overpopulation and I will NEVER contribute to funding horrible places like puppy mills from BUYING my animals from "breeders"(non-reputatble) or "pet stores".
Be prepared if you bring an animal into your life, to let it into your heart - because that's where these animals belong. Don't let time waste away for the animals in your local shelter.. There are lots there all the time, and some that fall into the "Less Adoptable" category for reasons they can't change.. or can't change without a little love, care, and time. THEY need YOUR help. Make sure you have the time in your schedule, and the love in your heart, and the adoption fee ready(spay and neuter comes included!) because there is animal at your shelter right NOW that needs a second chance.
Please view the links below for our area in the Okanagan to find a loving animal who deserves a second chance.
Like Titan, a sweet, but shy little girl. She came to the shelter as a stray and is still a little confused. She needs to move to a quiet home with lots of love, attention and cuddles. Titan is a young cat who probably had a rough start in life. She is spayed, de-wormed and vaccinated. She uses the litter box and grooms herself really well! She is waiting for your visit in our the Kelowna SPCA adoption room! Her Animal ID: 206246
As I like to do, I picked up some supplies and brought then down to the SPCA(kitty litter, some blankets, cat pans, and some toys), and thought, Hey, while I'm here I should make a point of going in and socializing with the kitties. Yes, I know.. this can never turn out well! Went into the main cat room, sat down on the chair by the door, and this soft, big black beast with gorgeous amber green eyes jumps into my lap and stares up at me. I give him a little pet.. and he drools on me. I later find out this is one of the ways some cats show extreme ecstacy.
Now here I am, thinking to myself how I'd kill to take them all home.. Oh but we don't have room for another cat.. I heard myself say to Jordan all the time. I still believe that you do not pick the animal.. well.. not usually. The animal picks you.
So I snuggled with this huge black beast.. and poked my head outside the door to see if I could ask a bit more information about him. The nice lady at the Kelowna SPCA said that he came in as a stray, so they didn't know much about him. He did have a tattoo in his ear, but the information was old, and no one ever came looking for him. He had been there for almost 6 months. Are you kidding me? 6 MONTHS? How was this beautiful animal not scooped up the moment he arrived? Well.. he's a black cat, some people still are superstiticious.. and he's not a kitten anymore(although they estimated him at about 10-12 months ONLY). Oh yeah, and he's got a bit of a skin condition on his face.
Yup. Having some itchy skin, being born a certain colour.. being about 8 months "too old". It's true what they say though, another persons' trash is another persons' treasure.
I had gone in there on a Wednesday. On Friday I had all the paperwork done and Jack came home with me. It was the most awesome choice I could have made for both of us.
So let's see, Jack's reasons for not getting adopted before:
1) He has some itchy skin
Solution: Turns out he's allergic to catnip. We don't give him catnip, and he gets a bath whenever his skin gets itchy with an oatmeal based cat shampoo(once every 3-8 months?)
2) He's a large black cat
Solution: Well, we can't change that LOL. Although, when the sun shines on his coat.. he's actually a really dark shade of chocolate brown. Otherwise he looks like an inkblot with eyes on my kitchen floor :)
3) He was a bit too old
Solution: Can't change his age.. but it was nice this time around to have a cat that was not getting stuck under the fridge.. in the fridge.. in cabinets.. in drawers. He is litter trained, uses a scratching post, mostly well behaved(sometimes he torments his sister a bit!). I didn't have to deal with the way that kittens always have to have someone close by to supervise(LOTS of people don't realize that kittens need 24/7 attention if they don't have another kitten around). The fact that he wasn't a kitten made the transition easier for my other cat Isabella as she is approx a year older than him.
This animal is, simply put, one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I liken him to a dog trapped in a cat's body.. and for someone who likes dogs, but doesn't have the time or space for one, it's a wonderful mix. I love the fact that when I pick him up, he flattens his body against mine, puts his paws around my neck and buries his cold nose into my chest and neck. I don't know how or why he was never adopted before I got to him, but I'm sort of glad that he chose me(although he's a suck to everyone he meets).
Animals that are given a second chance at love are masters and making their way into your heart. If you are looking to adopt, consider a cat or dog that might be a bit older(or even senior.. what better to have 2 years of love and comfort at the end of your life, than to die alone in a shelter), might be missing parts(a missing eye, leg, ear doesn't make that love any less powerful), or have a medical problem of some kind(as you can see.. a little skin allergy in my case took no extra work). A lot of animals in shelters now are purebred, so even if that is the way you want to go.. consider adoption. The cost is so minimal and the return you get is just priceless. I know from my experiences that I will NEVER contribute to to pet overpopulation and I will NEVER contribute to funding horrible places like puppy mills from BUYING my animals from "breeders"(non-reputatble) or "pet stores".
Be prepared if you bring an animal into your life, to let it into your heart - because that's where these animals belong. Don't let time waste away for the animals in your local shelter.. There are lots there all the time, and some that fall into the "Less Adoptable" category for reasons they can't change.. or can't change without a little love, care, and time. THEY need YOUR help. Make sure you have the time in your schedule, and the love in your heart, and the adoption fee ready(spay and neuter comes included!) because there is animal at your shelter right NOW that needs a second chance.
Please view the links below for our area in the Okanagan to find a loving animal who deserves a second chance.
Like Titan, a sweet, but shy little girl. She came to the shelter as a stray and is still a little confused. She needs to move to a quiet home with lots of love, attention and cuddles. Titan is a young cat who probably had a rough start in life. She is spayed, de-wormed and vaccinated. She uses the litter box and grooms herself really well! She is waiting for your visit in our the Kelowna SPCA adoption room! Her Animal ID: 206246
Email kelowna-spca@shaw.ca
Phone 250-861-7722
Address 3785 Casorso Rd, Kelowna, BC V1W 4M7
http://www.spca.bc.ca/pet-care/adoption/
http://www.spca.bc.ca/branches/kelowna/
Phone 250-861-7722
Address 3785 Casorso Rd, Kelowna, BC V1W 4M7
http://www.spca.bc.ca/pet-care/adoption/
http://www.spca.bc.ca/branches/kelowna/
OMD, what a wonderful story and such a happy ending for Jack. You are a very special person! I hope all these pets we are blogging about find their furever homes really soon.
ReplyDeleteAwww... Jack is an inkblot with eyes! I love that description.
ReplyDeleteMy next cat will be an older black cat... I hope that's what will choose me anyway. ;)