The Best Kind of Ending

It's always a happy ending at a shelter when an animal finds their forever home, but the best endings are when lost animals are reunited with their owners. We had just that happen with a very sweet cat that we called Renni. This is her story.*

Many years ago a man named Stacy was out with his dog, Bailey, when all of a sudden something ran up Stacy's leg, climbed up his back, and clung on for dear life with very sharp claws. Stacy ran home, having no idea what was on his back. It wasn't until he took his coat off that he realized it was a cat! Although this new kitty initially didn't like Bailey, they did become very good friends and Momma, as the cat came to be known, would sleep between Bailey's legs.

Sadly, in August of 2011, Stacy had to put Bailey down. Since Momma and Bailey were very bonded by that time, she took it quite hard. Several days later she disappeared and was found on a deck just a street away during a bad storm. Momma was hungry and thirsty, and was brought to HART as a stray. Stacy tried to find Momma and was very distressed, as she was a very important part of his life. But...he just knew she wasn't dead.

At the shelter, the stray cat was named Renni, and as part of a routine surrender she received medical care, was tested for rabies and distemper, and received vaccinations. She had been spayed and obviously had been well cared for and loved.

Renni was not thrilled to be in the shelter and was quite stressed. Margaret Bussa, a HART volunteer, felt drawn to the little girl and started to spend time with her. Renni lived in the hallway where there were fewer cats. She could look out the back door and sit in the sun. Margaret would spend time with Renni, brushing her and holding her. They developed a fondness for each other. Other volunteers also fell in love with the little black girl with the attitude and very interesting meow. (I was one of them!)

In July of this year, Stacy's roommates, Sarah and Hannah, began volunteering at HART. They noticed Renni's similarity in looks and actions to Momma. A couple of weeks later, after hearing Renni meow and seeing the surrender date and location from Renni's file, they realized Renni had to be Momma. Stacy was called, and he immediately came to the shelter.

When Stacy arrived, Renni was in the hall sleeping. Several HART volunteers were anxiously waiting on the outcome of this meeting. Stacy saw this black kitty, sat down on the floor, and called "Momma." Much to everyone's amazement, Renni immediately ran to Stacy, bounded into his arms, wrapped her front legs around his neck, began kneading, giving love bites and purring. Justin like Momma had found Stacy years before on a dark, rainy night in Freeport! Momma knew her name and definitely knew her man!

Stacy kept repeating, "Oh Momma, I knew you were alive and that I would find you." Momma was hugging Stacy and rubbing up against him. There was NO doubt that these two were old friends. Stacy had tears of joy running down his face. There was not a dry eye in the building as these two were reunited after almost a year. As Carmen Girard, a volunteer and Board member who witnessed the reunion says, "You had to be there to appreciate the love and devotion the two of them had for each other."

After Momma's joyful reunion, she returned to her loving home, now to be an indoor cat. Momma is so happy to be home where she definitely rules the household! Stacy says "I am so grateful that HART is a no-kill shelter because if Momma had gone to another shelter, she most likely wouldn't have survived. I'm also thankful for the great medical care she received and wish I could repay them somehow."

I was not at the shelter the day that Renni was reunited with Stacy, but I had gotten to know her during her stay at HART and she was definitely a special cat. It makes me very happy that she was able to go home with someone that she shared such a special bond with.

* This story is excerpted from HART's annual donation appeal letter.

Pretty Little Charlene, Part Deux

Back in October I made this post about my foster cat, Charlene. She has been at my house for more than a year now, and although I still can't pet her, lots of progress has been made!

At the time of my last update, Charlene was sleeping on the opposite side of the couch from me, and I caught her once sleeping on the bed while I was still in it. She would sniff my hand if I extended it out to her, but I couldn't come any closer. She would follow me around the house so that she was in the same room as me, but still kept her distance. She attacked my feet a couple of times to get me out of bed, and she would steal socks and underwear.

So, what progress has she made?

Charlene has moved from the opposite side of the couch to sleeping as close to me as she can get without actually touching me. I can sit on the couch when she's on it without her running away, and I've even sat in front of her on it without her running away. When she's on the back of the couch next to me, I can put my face right next to her and she'll sniff me, without running away.

She routinely sleeps on my bed with me in it, and has even allowed me to get into bed while she was sleeping on it without running away. She happily joins my other cats on the weekend in rousing me out of bed for feedings. She comes up to me and sniffs my face while I'm laying in bed.

She follows me closely all around the house, and even though she still won't let me pet her, she gets close enough that I can sneak touches. She immediately runs off, but she comes right back too. She has gotten to be quite chatty, although her voice is very quiet. It is the most adorable thing I've ever seen/heard.

Charlene is very much a cat's cat - she loves to rub against my other cats, and bathe them. She would sleep with them if they let her. She would definitely be very happy in a house with other loving cats.

If you're interested in Charlene, please fill out an adoption application and contact HART.

Charlene is the cat closest to the camera



Also, if you haven't yet seen it, HART has a live video camera up in one of the rooms! It's really cool to watch the cats do their own thing, and it has night vision so you can see the glowing eyes at night. The username/password to log into the video is hart.

Sampson, my little buddy

A Call To Arms

Shelters are again experiencing too many animals and not enough adopters. At HART, there are about 130 cats at the shelter, around 50 kittens in foster care, and close to 20 adult cats in foster care. Overall, HART is caring for over 200 cats right now. Unfortunately this is too many. Adoptions and donations are down, but vet bills are high. HART is facing having to, once again, close its doors to taking any more animals until the population reduces.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

All our lovely cats need their forever home. If you are interested in adopting a cat, please check out our kitties on the website HARTofME or come by during open house on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Just as we need adopters, we need donations! Any donation you can make will help greatly. I've got an easy to use donation link right on this blog!

I'm not going to let you go without seeing cats of course. HART has a brand new camera setup in one of the rooms so you can see the cats, live! It even has night vision so you can see the activity at night. Please click here to view the camera. The login is hart (username) hart (password.) Please note: the Opera browser is not compatible. I've also heard reports that the video does not refresh automatically on iPads.

Please, enjoy seeing the kitties, make a donation if you can, spread the word, and help get our kitties adopted!

I maintain this blog independently of HART. My views and opinions expressed here are my own; I do not speak for the shelter.

If any kind viewer knows how I can embed the live video, I would love to hear from you.

Kittens Are So Stinkin' Cute!

One of the best things about being a volunteer at HART is that you get to play with incredibly cute cats and kittens. Today was one of those super adorable days.

If you've never been to HART (which is probably most people reading this) we have cats running around loose everywhere. There is a storage/laundry room off the lobby that several senior kitties call their home. (The lobby and the storage/laundry room that is.) These cats usually are on medications, but they're not all seniors. One such kitty is Sampson, a 6-7mo. old kitten who has been having bowel issues, URI, and I'm not even sure what else. He is so adorable, and is totally my snuggle buddy on Saturdays.

(These were taken in 5/19/2012. Sampson was not feeling well, and not impressed with having his picture taken.)

Sampson and I had our usual playtime, until he was completely tuckered out, but then, a new playmate arrived! Tiny little Fancy didn't get adopted during today's tabling event, so she came to hang out at the shelter until her foster mom was ready to go home. Sampson was delighted to have another kitten to play with, but Fancy wanted nothing to do with him. Instead, she kept running into the storage/laundry room where the much bigger, older cats were hanging out. They would try to sniff her, and she would puff up like a miniture halloween cat. It was so cute.

What does this do?

One of the older cats in particular took an immediate shine to her. His name is Lucky, a 16 yr old black cat. The first time she ran into the storage/laundry room, he jumped down from his nap on the shelf and went over and sniffed her. She sniffed back, did her halloween cat impression, and ran off out of the room. Lucky followed after her. He followed her all around the lobby, and into the conference room. What made it wicked adorable though, was if he lost sight of her, he would start crying like a mother cat would! At one point he was in the storage/laundry room crying for her, and she ran into the room, gave a little mew, he instantly stopped crying and then ran over to her. It was almost more cute than I could handle!


Fancy was full of energy and all over the place. Sampson never stopped trying to play with her though.

Eventually Fancy stopped to eat some food, clean herself, and then take a little nap, so I attempted to snap some pictures. Enjoy the cute, and ignore the blurriness.

   

June is National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

It's been a while since I posted (shame on me!) so here are a couple of things to be aware of:

• June is National Adopt a Shelter Cat month! I'm not sure who decides these things, but I'll go with it. Shelters all across the country are having promotions to celebrate, and HART is no different.

• There is a low cost Spay/Neuter clinic for low-income households that has opened at Freeport Outlet.

I want to talk a little bit about sponsorship programs. Sponsorship programs are important to shelters because they help to provide a reliable influx of money into the shelter. While donations and adoption fees bring in more money than sponsorships do, they are unpredictable and can vary greatly from month to month. How the sponsorship money is used varies by shelter, but being able to count on a known amount coming in each month goes a long way to keeping the lights on and the animals fed.

HART, being a volunteer run shelter, uses the money it receives from the sponsorship program to pay for food, medicine, veterinary care and more for each cat sponsored. If you are interested in learning more about the sponsorship program, please contact HART.

But Mom, I want a cat now!

Over the years I've met a lot of people who treat animal shelters like a store - they expect they can just walk in, pick out their custom pet and walk out the door with it in tow. This expectation is not from callousness, but from a lack of understanding of the adoption process. Listed below are some of the common misconceptions about adopting from a shelter*.

"I'm looking for (insert purebred cat breed here)" - Shelters occasionally get purebred cats brought in to them, but this tends to be more of an exception than a rule. Shelters are not breeders - the cats they have were trapped, rescued or surrendered to them by the community. This means the shelter cannot plan what types of cats they have, and they cannot arrange to get a particular breed of cat for you.

"I'm here to get kittens" - This is two-fold. Kittens are very popular, but shelters cannot control how many kittens they have at any given time. Many times there are more adopters than there are kittens, and often this leads to a waiting list. Kittens are also kept in foster homes, not in the shelter, so if you stop in unannounced, you are unlikely to see any kittens. If you are interested in getting kittens, it is best to submit your adoption application with the knowledge that you will likely be on a waiting list, but that the kitten adoption team will work with you to find the kittens that are right for you.

"Why do I need to fill out an application, can't I just take this cat?" - Shelters have adoption processes for several reasons, but primarily we want to make sure that you are a good home for the cat, and that the cat is a good match for your home. Unfortunately there are many people out there who are cruel to animals, and we do not want to send an animal into a home where they will be abused, or worse.

"I want to let the cat outside"** - Shelters that have indoor only policies on their adoptions do so for the welfare of the cat. Cats who are let outside have reduced life expectancies, higher medical costs, and can bring disease into your home. Living in a quiet area, or out in the woods can actually increase the odds of your cat becoming sick, or being attacked/killed by another animal.

"If you don't let me take this cat, I will just get one free elsewhere" - Although getting a cat from a neighbor, friend, family, or stranger might cost less than adopting one from a shelter initially, it can actually end up costing more. Shelter cats have been spayed/neutered, are up to date on vaccinations and are in good health. A cat that you get from someone else could potentially cost you $300 or more, depending on their health and if they are spayed/neutered. A significant portion of cats surrendered to shelters also come from people who got the cat from someone else - most commonly because the cat wasn't the right fit for their home.

Just as a personal example - when I was a kid we wanted to get a kitten. My mom knew someone with a barn cat that had kittens, and they said we could have one. We got the kitten, but our older cat would have nothing to do with her, and hissed every time the kitten was near. We had the kitten for a very short time, because as it turned out, the kitten had such a bad case of intestional worms that there was nothing the vet could do to save her.

The staff at the shelter is there to care for the cats, but also to get them adopted to the right homes. If you have questions about the adoption process, please, ask!

*This is written based on my experience at HART, I cannot speak for all shelters.
** Not all shelters have an indoor only policy.



New Year's Resolutions

Every January 1st, millions of people make New Year's resolutions, the most common of which include losing weight, eating healthier and getting fit. While these goals are admirable, let's not forget about kitty!

Cats need exercise just as we do, and an overweight kitty can lead to the same health risks as it can in people:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• cardiovascular disease
• osteoarthritis
• respiratory problems
• non-allergic skin conditions
• lower urinary tract disease
• hepatic lipidosis

 Now, just because your kitty weighs 14 lbs or more doesn't mean he/she is overweight - some kitties are just big. How to tell if your kitty is overweight:

If you have any doubt, consult with your veterinarian.

If you have an overweight kitty, make it one of your New Year's resolutions to get kitty fit again! There is a wonderful pdf file here with tips for getting your precious kitty to lose weight. It's very basic really:

• exercise
• diet change
• portion control

Let's all get in shape this New Year together :)

(Please consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your cat's diet.)

Tis the Season

It's the holiday season, when everywhere you turn everyone is wanting your money. It's also the season of giving, and in that spirit, HART has a new promotion for December:

For every regular can of cat food that you bring to the shelter, you will receive $1 off the adoption fee of a cat! How is that for saving money :)

Also, we have a very generous anonymous donor who is going to match every donation HART receives before December 31st, up to $10,000!

Please pass the word along to all your friends and family. Happy Holidays everyone!

Why Keep Your Cat Indoors?

HART has an indoor only policy with their cats, and sometimes people ask why. Below are 5 reasons why cats should be kept indoors:

1. Humans. People can have a huge impact on an animal's life. A good samaritan may think your cat is a stray or lost, and take the cat home or to a shelter. Cats crossing roads can be hit by cars, and cars swerving to avoid a cat can lead to fatal car accidents. There are also (unfortunately) many people out there who are cruel to animals and could get their hands on your cat for any number of reasons, including to use as bait for training fighting dogs.

2. Animals. Living in Maine especially, there are a lot of animals out there that could potentially kill your cat, including other cats. If you live in a city, don't think you're exempt from these animals being around. Ever see a moose in Portland? I have. Fishers, coyotes, foxes, lynxes, bobcats, birds of prey, and dogs are just some of the animals that would think your cat is a tasty meal.

3. Disease. Even with vaccinations, cats can pick up a variety of diseases including rabies, feline leukemia, FIV, and cytauxzoonosis. They can pick up fleas and ticks and bring them into your home. If they get into a fight they could receive injuries resulting in the need for costly medical care.

4. Domestication. There is a reason why your cat is a "domestic ____ hair." Your cat, despite its wild cat instincts, has been bred to live with and be cared for by people. A cat that has been indoors all its life and is suddenly left outdoors has a poor chance of survival unless found by a good samaritan. Letting a cat outside when it is young to "get used" to being outdoors is not any better - young cats have not fully developed their skills and are even better prey for other animals and diseases. If you have let your cat outside before you have probably noticed that the birds and small mammals it kills get brought to you - not eaten. A domestic cat has the wild cat instinct to go after and kill the small animals, but its domestic instinct is to bring its kill to you for a reward. This is not survival behavior, and can seriously impact the food chain in your area.

5. Life expectancy. An indoor cat can live 12 - 18 years (many times even longer than that!), but an outdoor cat typically only lives 4 - 5 years. Wouldn't you rather have 18 wonderful years with your pet?

Pretty Little Charlene

I'd like to take a moment to tell you about my foster cat, Charlene, because she is awesome.



When Charlene first came to HART, it was thought that she was an older kitten, due to her size. A visit to the vet however revealed that she is actually a couple of years old. She was not really approachable, and very timid, so she was added to the quietest room at the shelter. It was in this room that I first met her - if you tried to approach her, she would run and hide with other cats. She was always with other cats, never off by herself. She always looked terrified at the sight of a person. I decided if there was any hope for her to learn to trust people, she needed to be in a home. Thus, Charlene became my foster.

She hid for the first day, which I expected. It really didn't take very long though, for her to make herself at home and appear (ever so cautiously) when I was in the room. It took her even less time to find the box filled with cat toys, and I learned that Charlene LOVES to play. She not only loves to play with all the toys, she also likes to play with my two cats, and with my feet!


It took Charlene awhile to stop going around the very outer edge of the room in order to get around me; now she just dashes behind my chair and is on her way. She is still pretty cautious when I approach, and I can't pet her, but she will come up and sniff my hand if I extend it out to her. She gets up on my bed while I'm in it, and will tackle my feet. She's even slept at my feet for a few minutes. She has come close to my head a couple of times, but usually will run off if she thinks I'm even marginally alive. Despite her nervousness, she follows me all around the house, and sleeps on the couch next to me.

I love watching Charlene, she provides hours of entertainment. It helps that she is just too cute! She doesn't meow, but I have heard her chirp at birds, and I've seen her mouth open in a silent cry at me when she wants to be fed. I've discovered that she is an undergarment thief as well - if socks or other garments are on the floor and I turn my back, she'll run in and grab them, take them into another room and roll around on them! She's really well behaved though - I only had to speak to her a couple of times to get her to stay off my counter, and she doesn't scratch my furniture.

If you're interested in adopting Charlene, come into HART and fill out an application.

Update: On November 6th I woke up to find all 3 cats sleeping on my bed - including Charlene! She woke when I moved to take a picture, but instead of running, she decided to take a bath. Didn't she pose so pretty for the picture?

When Danger Strikes

I used to have this sticker that I kept in my apartment window advising firemen that I had cats. Then I thought I was "cool" and put up this sign (with an "S" added to Cat with black marker):

Truthfully though, I never had a real plan for what to do with my cats in the event of an emergency or disaster. I can't imagine what it was like for people who had to leaves their homes due to Irene, or Katrina (just to name a few.)

Thankfully, FEMA is out to help.

Plan for Pet Disaster Needs

• Identifying shelter. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Find out which motels and hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to allow pets -- well in advance of needing them. There are also a number of guides that list hotels/motels that permit pets and could serve as a starting point. Include your local animal shelter's number in your list of emergency numbers -- they might be able to provide information concerning pets during a disaster.
  
• Take pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, can opener, food dishes, first aid kit and other supplies with you in case they're not available later. While the sun is still shining, consider packing a "pet survival" kit which could be easily deployed if disaster hits.
  
• Make sure identification tags are up to date and securely fastened to your pet's collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. If your pet gets lost, his tag is his ticket home. Make sure you have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes.
  
• Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can't escape.
  
• Animals in Emergencies for Owners This video, developed by the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) /FEMA, is intended to help pet and livestock owners prepare to protect their animals during emergencies.

Prepare to Shelter Your Pet

• Call your local emergency management office, animal shelter, or animal control office to get advice and information.
  
• If you are unable to return to your home right away, you may need to board your pet. Find out where pet boarding facilities are located. Be sure to research some outside your local area in case local facilities close.
  
• Most boarding kennels, veterinarians and animal shelters will need your pet's medical records to make sure all vaccinations are current. Include copies in your "pet survival" kit along with a photo of your pet.
  
• NOTE: Some animal shelters will provide temporary foster care for owned pets in times of disaster, but this should be considered only as a last resort.
  
• If you have no alternative but to leave your pet at home, there are some precautions you must take, but remember that leaving your pet at home alone can place your animal in great danger! Confine your pet to a safe area inside -- NEVER leave your pet chained outside! Leave them loose inside your home with food and plenty of water.  Remove the toilet tank lid, raise the seat and brace the bathroom door open so they can drink. Place a notice outside in a visible area, advising what pets are in the house and where they are located. Provide a phone number where you or a contact can be reached as well as the name and number of your vet.

During a Disaster

• Bring your pets inside immediately.
  
• Have newspapers on hand for sanitary purposes. Feed the animals moist or canned food so they will need less water to drink.
  
• Animals have instincts about severe weather changes and will often isolate themselves if they are afraid. Bringing them inside early can stop them from running away. Never leave a pet outside or tied up during a storm.
  
• Separate dogs and cats. Even if your dogs and cats normally get along, the anxiety of an emergency situation can cause pets to act irrationally. Keep small pets away from cats and dogs.
  
• In an emergency, you may have to take your birds with you. Talk with your veterinarian or local pet store about special food dispensers that regulate the amount of food a bird is given. Make sure that the bird is caged and the cage is covered by a thin cloth or sheet to provide security and filtered light.

After a Disaster

• If after a disaster you have to leave town, take your pets with you. Pets are unlikely to survive on their own.
  
• In the first few days after the disaster, leash your pets when they go outside. Always maintain close contact. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and your pet may become confused and lost. Also, snakes and other dangerous animals may be brought into the area with flood areas. Downed power lines are a hazard.
  
• The behavior of your pets may change after an emergency. Normally quiet and friendly pets may become aggressive or defensive. Watch animals closely. Leash dogs and place them in a fenced yard with access to shelter and water.

Too Many Kittens!

Wow, I never thought I'd see the day when HART has too many kittens, and they're not getting adopted! Everyone loves kittens! We have so many kittens that need homes, we're having TWO tabling events this weekend (October 8th):

Kittens 12 weeks and over will be at HART from 11 to 2 (302 Range Road, Cumberland)

 

Kittens under 12 weeks will be at Pet Life in Portland-Northgate Shopping Plaza from 10 to 1

 

 

 

Long Live the Kitty Mafia

I first became a HART volunteer when I was in college, but after awhile life got in the way and I stopped volunteering. I started volunteering again because of the Kitty Mafia.

What's the Kitty Mafia? If you own cats, you are probably living with the Kitty Mafia yourself. Let me explain...

When I was 11 years old my Christmas present was an adorable little calico kitten I named Holly (short for Holly Berry, since I found her playing in the Christmas tree.) When I graduated college and got my first apartment, I brought Holly to live with me.

The only problem was, I spent very little time at home, due to my work hours and commute. At the time I was still volunteering at HART, so I decided to adopt a kitty to keep Holly company. Thus Cleo (short for Cleopatra) entered my life.

At least 6 months went by before I realized that I was living with the Kitty Mafia. The realization came to me as I lay in bed one Saturday morning, attempting to sleep in but being completely thwarted by the cats, as was usual.

I am not a morning person. If I had my way I'd be up until 1 or 2 in the morning and then sleep until 10 or 11. So the weekends are my chance to do just that. Unfortunately, just as the sun would start rising at some far edge of the planet, Cleo would climb on top of me and start purring, kneading, and licking my face. This of course would instantly wake me up, and I'd have to fend her off with the blanket until she would finally settle down next to me. Grumbling, I would go back to sleep.

As soon as I would return to dreamland, Cleo would get up and search around the room for any bit of plastic or other noisy items that should could rustle. Again, I would wake instantly. Stubbornly keeping my eyes shut, I would yell at Cleo to go away. The rustling would stop for a minute, then start up again. This would continue in a loop until I would fumble around on my nightstand for an empty water bottle or chapstick that I could throw in the general direction of the sound. Ah, peace at last!

Not.

Cleo would return to my bed, to purr, knead and lick again, this time joined by Holly. Holly never messed around - she would just sit right on my head until I was forced to get up. The cats always won.

You may be wondering how this lead me to the realization of the Kitty Mafia...

One sleepless night I woke early, before the cats. I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. As the sun started to come up at some far edge of the planet, Holly rose, stretched, hit Cleo on the head, and then left the room. Cleo, having been woken by Holly, got up as well, and left the room. She didn't make it out of the doorway before I heard an hiss and glimpsed Holly's paw reaching out to smack Cleo again. Cleo ducked her head and came back into the room. She jumped on the bed, came over to me and started purring, kneading and licking. I fended her off with the blanket until she settled down. I waited, and heard soft growling coming from the doorway. Cleo got up and jumped off the bed again. She searched around the room to find something to rustle. I was completely dumbstruck as the lightbulb went off in my head.

Since that morning, I watched their interactions more closely, and found that Cleo deferred to Holly in everything. She wouldn't even eat food until Holly had finished. Holly was the Kitty Mafia boss, and Cleo was her soldier.

I enjoyed my Kitty Mafia, but sadly the mafia boss became old and sick, and eventually passed away. I adopted another cat from HART, Danu, and she joined with Cleo to form the Kitty Assassins! (They vowed on Holly's deathbed that they would spend every day trying to kill me, in honor of her memory. They're very good at it. Danu has needles of death (i.e. very sharp claws!))

What has the Kitty Mafia done in your house?