Archie is doing excellent!

Archie our sweet shaved guy is in a great foster home now, with Barb and Lindy. They love him, and sent along the photos posted above. He is getting along famously with their own cats, and loves the gas fireplace.

-Sarah

A Cultured Cat

As a librarian, and a cat lover, this link especially appealed to me!
-Sarah

Jade's little family

Jade is a female cat with lovely green eyes that had been living at one of our feeding stations in North Central Regina. She was targeted early in our spring trapping blitz, as it was clear she was pregnant. However, we didn't get to her in time, and she carried her litter to full term. Thankfully, we were then able to trap her and catch the kittens, only a few days old at the time, and place the whole family in foster care with Ken. Jade is a wonderful momma, and her babies have thrived. Yesterday Michelle was able to visit with them, and get some photos of the babies, although Jade was camera shy. We had first thought that Jade was feral, and had planned on releasing her back to her territory as soon as the kittens were 4 or 5 weeks old and she was spayed. However, she has made amazing progress at Ken's, so she will remain there for a while longer, while he assesses her chances for taming down. The kittens will be available for adoption in about three weeks. All but one of them are Manx!

-Sarah

All of Molly's babies have been adopted!

We are already getting updates about the kittens in their new homes. Here are some pics of two of them, Gus and Abi, getting into trouble :)

Their new mom Michaelle says: "I thought you might enjoy a few pictures of Gus and Abi, the first picture is Gus trying to steal the mouse off their cat tree, the second pic is Abi, just teaching the mouse a lesson. I'm afraid the little "mouse" isn't going to make it through the night in one piece. The third picture is a rare one of them alone with Aaron. They needed to take little break, they've been playing all night since 6. Abi snuggled up with me for a bit earlier and had a short little nap. They're doing wonderfully, and they're so cute. "

-Sarah

The spring trapping blitz continues

The feral cat team and additional volunteers are continuing their hard work of trapping and sterilizing the many intact cats on their feeding routes. Any tame cats that are trapped are sterilized and then placed in foster care. Feral cats who are trapped are sterilized and returned to their home territories where we support them with food, water and shelter.

The photo above is of Camilla, released back into her home territory yesterday by Pat and Dona.

Many thanks to all of our donors who have sent in funds to assist us in this effort, and to all of the volunteers doing the extremely hard work of trapping!

-Sarah

Bingo volunteers still needed!

We are short of volunteers for the next Bingo, this Saturday at Fantasyland Bingo at Victoria and Park St.

We have two shifts we are trying to cover. We need two people for 11:30 to 3pm, and one person from 2:30 to 6pm.

Can you help us?
Please let me know if you can via email at badbunnygirl@hotmail.com .
Thanks so much,
Sarah

Honey the chatty girl

This past Sunday, the feral cat team succeeded in trapping two homeless female cats. One of them is a feral cat who will be released back to her home territory once she is recovered from her spay, and the other was Honey. Honey is about 11 months old, a lovely slight female orange tabby with a very long, stripey tail. Once she figured out that she was safe in my fostering room, she came out and had a great time visiting with me. I couldn't get her to sit still! Honey is recovering from her spay, and I hope to deworm and vaccinate her in the next few days. And, hopefully a foster home will open up for her soon! One more lovely cat that will not be reproducing and suffering on the streets of North Central Regina any longer.

-Sarah

We love our volunteers

Below is an excerpt (with permission) from an email I received last night from Michelle B, one of our awesome foster homes and dedicated foster home liason:

"Hey
Ok so this weekend I've
1) Picked up the Siamese kitten from Denise. No name yet... thinking angel or lilah...
2) Dropped Zach off at Kelly's.
3) Dewormed and vaccinated Billy at Mona's got a few pictures too.
4) Been in contact with Ken re Coconut... will try for 1st shot this week and get pictures of kittens.
5) Jennifer will send me some pictures of Zimmer and Nashon, booster to be done this week
6) Settled in Sabre the dog into our house.
7) checked on Friday at Leah's. Friday's off of injection pain meds, and we decided she doesn't seem in distress to need the oral ones. Talked with vet about same and will put some on hold in case she does seem in pain. Eating well, eliminating well (no visuals today lol) and overall happy and content.
8) Lucy's kittens are still a bit constipated....picked up some stuff at Metro pet store for that.... stay tuned hehe
9) Went trapping with Leanne.... no catches though :0

(On top of this I've been to Moose Jaw for dance competitions, dealing with ornery children and feeding cats, feeding dogs, cleaning up after cats, cleaning up after dogs.... feeding rabbits, should of cleaned up after rabbits (always another day) feeding kittens, cleaning up after kittens (such a mess for such little creatures!) did i mention feeding cats and cleaning up after cats? Housework.... oh wait didn't do any of that today! Also went shopping and I even got to watch Desperate Housewives tonight! hehe
That's it for now
Cheers!
Michelle

Archie all spiffed up!

And here is our beloved Archie, after his neuter. He had to be fully shaved because of the severe matting of his fur, and I was worried that he would be cold, so I put one of my dog sweaters on him for the first day. Thankfully, Archie is secure in his masculinity, and didn't mind the pink.

He is also on antibiotics for an abscessed wound on his neck from a nasty cat bite.

Archie is recovering beautifully. He gets along very well with my own cats and my small dog. He is moving to his foster home tomorrow, and I will miss him!

-Sarah

Archie

Last night my doorbell rang, and it was Leah - one of our foster homes. Leah has singlehandedly rescued countless cats and kittens in the North Central area in which she lives. She also maintains a shelter and feeding station for two feral cats that she trapped, sterilized and released with our help. There are few people in this world that I respect more than Leah.

She was carrying a large carrier with Archie inside. Leah had found him in her backyard, and it was evident that he needed help. Archie is a long haired orange male cat, not much more than a year old. He is so friendly, and loving, and gentle. However, it is clear that he has been on his own for some time. He has lost most of one ear to frostbite, has a bloody wound underneath his chin, was very hungry, and has some of the worst mats I have ever seen on a cat's fur. Poor poor boy. Another cat who was likely left homeless when he hit puberty and began to wander because he hadn't been fixed.

Archie spent the night in my bathroom, absolutely thrilled to be warm and fed and loved. I tried to cut some of the mats out, but he needs to be completely shaved. Archie loves to be held, and is a total lap cat. I am going to take him to the vet tonight after work, and tomorrow they will neuter him, shave him, test him for FIV, treat him for ear mites, and treat the wound on his chin. Once he is healthy, he is going to be an AMAZING companion for a very lucky person.

Thank goodness for Leah!

-Sarah

World's Biggest Garage Sale - Sat April 25th

People for Animals will have a booth at the upcoming sale here in Regina this weekend, so please do come out and show your support! The WBGS is being held at Evraz Place from 9am to 4pm.

Also, we are still looking for a few people to help with the tear down from 4 to 6pm on that day. Can you help? Please email Sarah at badbunnygirl@hotmail.com if you can.
Thanks so much!

Another PFA Happy Ending

We love updates from our adoptive families so we can see our rescued cats enjoying their new lives! This is Coal (now renamed Levi) , a 10-month old male who was rescued as a tiny kitten, along with his mama and siblings, struggling to survive on the streets of North Central.

Levi was initially a timid kitten who took a while to connect with the right people. He moved around between 3 PFA foster homes, but his natural charm and ability to get along other animals (especially big dogs!) easily won over his new family. Here is Levi hanging out with his new buddy, Damien.

We are very happy for him!

Alanna

Extraordinary Mothers

This television news story exemplifies the wonderful resilient spirit of rescued animals.

Close Call

This beautiful cat is Jewel, an 8 year old Siamese cat that has bounced around among several owners, none of whom gave her proper care, and complained that she didn't get along with other pets. Fortunately, Jewel was saved from being surrendered to the Humane Society by a caring PFA volunteer who was willing to give her the care she needed.

When Jewel was finally spayed at the age of 8, her uterus was swollen and full of large cysts which not only caused her discomfort, but the cysts could have burst at any time, causing her a painful death. The pain from this condition, and frequent heat cycles, also likely affected her relationships with people and other animals.

Because PFA rescues so many cats and kittens off the street, we often focus on the importance of spaying/neutering to prevent unwanted litters. However, it is also very important for the overall wellbeing of the animal, including the prevention of tumours and certain cancers.

We can't emphasize this enough - sterilize your pets!

Alanna

Mickey having a rough day

Mickey was a long time resident of our feeding station in North Central, and we were finally able to catch him about three months ago. When we found him, Mickey was just skin and bones, suffering from frostbite and ear mites.

Now, Mickey's foster mom Mona has realized that she can't part with him, and she is adopting him. What a great ending for this spunky cat!

-Sarah

Billy the cat

This spring we have been simply inundated with calls from community members about male cats that have been sheltering under their decks, sheds, and vehicles over the winter who clearly need some help. Billy was another one of those sweet lost boys.

Bonnie contacted us about him, and with her help we have been able to neuter him, get his earmites treated, and now he is in loving foster care with Mona. Yay for Billy!

-Sarah

One more cat rescued on our spring trapping blitz - Skyler

Most of the cats that our feral team is trapping to sterilize are feral, and they are spayed or neutered, and returned to their home territory. However, once in a while they trap a tame cat that has been living at one of our colonies or feeding stations. Tonight they trapped two of them. One is already at the vet waiting to be spayed, and Skyler is in my fostering room. She is an absolute delight - friendly and trusting. This sweet girl was living on the streets of North Central, at risk of pregnancy, hunger, and disease. We'll book her in for a spay next week, and hopefully move her into a foster home ASAP.
-Sarah

Our cat Friday

On Good Friday, this little cat was found on the side of the highway after being hit by a car. Her rescuer, Leah, scooped her up and took her home. Leah quickly realized that Friday needed more assistance than just some TLC could provide, and she didn't have the resources to pay for veterinary care. She called her neighbour Michelle, who is one of our foster home liasons, as well as a foster home herself. Friday was eating and drinking, but she was unable to walk, dragging her body around with her two front legs.

We took Friday in to the Victoria Vet Clinic at the beginning of this week. They stabilized her with pain killers, and did an x-ray to get a better idea of her injuries. Dr Shtuka concluded that Friday's pelvis was shattered. She told us that while some cats are able to heal from this injury given time, if the break is too severe, they need surgery so that a metal plate can connect all of the broken pieces. Surgery would cost at least $1000, and likely more. Dr S wasn't sure what avenue would be best, so she consulted with another experienced vet in the city. We were so hopeful that they would conclude together that Friday stood a chance of healing on her own, with support, as we knew that PFA didn't have the resources to pay for surgery, and if she needed it, Friday would have to be euthanized.

Yesterday we heard back from Dr S, and they have concluded that our little girl has a good chance of healing on her own. Friday is now back at Leah's, in a confined space where she can spend the next few weeks healing. She is having painkillers by injection twice a day to keep her comfortable. She is also only eating when hand fed right now. Friday will not be able to have kittens, as her pelvis will be too small when it is healed, but that will certainly not be an issue. As soon as she is well enough we will have her spayed, as we estimate that she is 8-10 months old right now. More updates to come on this little furry survivor!

-Sarah

More photos of Lola's babies!

We can't get enough of these wonderful little kittens! Two of them have already been spoken for. They will all be available for adoption at the end of this month.

-Sarah

Angel is doing awesome!

Another update from her foster mom, Cherilyn:
"Angel is doing wonderful ! She got her stitches out on Thursday. One was really bad to take out as it had grown into the skin a bit so she howled a little and cuddled right up to me. The vet tech was laughing as she said you're her protector, she cuddles right up to you so I can't get her. Since then she is just a kitten. Her and Grace got really close and play together and now that she is better her and Mitzy started playing together as Mitzy is a bit rougher. But nothing hurts her now - so now she attacks Mitzy. Quite the change . She has this little cloth ball which is her favorite so she carries it all over the place. Hope we do not lose that one! I do not know what we would do. That little tail of hers she has adjusted to really well. Once the stitches were out she forgot all about it, it sure needs to grow more hair on it and it will look cute, now it just looks like a cut off tail. Once the hair is back it will look so much better. Angel - our miracle girl, she is simply amazing this little one!"

Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month

April is Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month! Now is the perfect time to donate to an animal shelter or rescue group, adopt a rescued animal, or promote compassionate and humane treatment for animals.

Please click here to access downloadable posters to promote Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. For more info, visit http://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-april/.

Alanna

Monty has been adopted!

Just a quick note to tell our regular readers that Monty, our sweet black and white guy who had to be shaved, was adopted this past weekend. He has gone to live in Moose Jaw with a lovely young couple and one other young female cat. Monty's new family fell in love with him as soon as they met him. He clambered onto their laps within minutes, and I have every confidence that he will have a safe and contented life going forward.
-Sarah

Some new pics of Lola and her kittens

Last week we wrote about the rescue of sweet Lola and her five kittens. They are all now being fostered with Denise, who is doing a wonderful job rehabilitating Lola, who had suffered from clear neglect. The kittens are thriving, and will be ready to be adopted in a week or so.

Lola has already been adopted - and once the kittens are weaned will be going to live with Denise's daughter Nicole - after her spay, of course.

-Sarah

Baby looks like both of his parents!

This is a photo of Coconut and Bugsy's son - the one kitten that we were able to grab first, on his own, before the other three. He is the one that my neighbours fostered and then adopted. We originally thought he was a girl, and named "her" Frost, but eventually figured out our error! He is a big boy now, with HUGE paws, and is named "Baby". Baby is completely deaf, but it doesn't slow him down at all. He is neutered now, and completely happy. He tells the giant black lab dog that he lives with what to do - and the other cat too! It is so wonderful to know that Baby is a true success story. Left in that horrible garage with his siblings, he would have contributed to the cat overpopulation problem on the streets of Regina, and his deafness would have likely hindered him in trying to survive.
-Sarah

A Plea for Help

People for Animals has been busy these past few weeks, working to trap and sterilize the many cats that we feed and shelter on our feral cat routes in the inner city. We have already succeeded in trapping 25 cats, but we know that there are so many more left to do, and we fear the repercussions of the many unwanted pregnancies that will result without intervention. Because one female cat can have as many as four litters per year, a single sterilization can prevent an average of twenty unwanted kittens.

We are committed to this trap/neuter/release process to decrease the excess population of stray cats in Regina. It works! However, each sterilization that we undertake costs money, and our current efforts have been so successful that we have already exhausted the funds that we had set aside for this spring effort. Without added funds, we will be forced to stop this spring trapping and sterilization blitz, which will result in many kittens being born on the street. We know that there are still at least 20 to 30 more cats that we could easily trap and sterilize with enough funds.

Can you help us? The average neuter costs $100, and the average spay costs $130. Contributions of every size will help make a difference, and decrease the feline suffering, homelessness and unwanted reproduction that is happening in our city.

Donations can be made in the following ways:

*via paypal on our website: www.people4animals.ca

*by mail, to our PO Box: People for Animals, PO Box 33066, Regina, SK, S4T 7X2.

*In person by contacting Sarah at badbunnygirl@hotmail.com or 565.1860

*In person, by making a donation directly to our account at either the Animal Clinic of Regina or the Victoria Veterinary Clinic.

Thanks so much for your past and continued support.
Sarah Pump
Director of Fundraising
People for Animals of Saskatchewan Inc.

Volunteers needed

PFA has two upcoming fundraising events, and we are still looking for volunteers:

1. Bingo, Sun April 19th, Fantasyland Bingo (corner of Park St and Victoria Ave)
Volunteers needed to work from 8:30pm to Midnight

2. World's Biggest Garage Sale, Sat April 25th, Evraz Place
Volunteers needed to work 2 hour shifts at the sale between 8am and 6pm.
We are also looking for a volunteer with a truck or van to help with cleanup at the end of the day.

Can you pitch in?
Please email Sarah at badbunnygirl@hotmail.com
Thanks!

Another great Angel update from her foster mom

"I just wanted to let you know Angel is doing fine. The cone finally came off her head - it took awhile. I took it off a little at a time and then would follow her around and tell her no every time she went after her tail. She is pretty smart though as she would try to hide where she would go at that tail when I walked around the corner she would look up at me and stop. She has been without it for 3 days now. Her stitches will come out on Thursday and Dr Shtuka is going to check her over also. Her feet are slowly getting better. Once her tail get some hair back on it will look really cute. The waggytail kitty just like a little dog. I think she will be ready quite soon to find her forever home. She has went through so much this little one and when you see her now playing and her little eyes sparkling up at you and to see her getting healthy it makes one feel good to know she was given this opportunity. She is a sweet little girl who is really easy to love."

Thanks so much to Cherilyn, Angel's foster mom, and to Amanda and Jacyntha who rescued her. Also many thanks to Victoria Vet Clinic, who did so much to help Angel recover from her injuries.
-Sarah

Molly with her babies

New photos of Molly's kittens

Thanks so much to foster mom Sandy for such amazing photos!

The kittens are about 6 weeks old now, and will be ready for adoption by about the third week of April. Four of them are already spoken for, and will go in pairs to fantastic forever homes. The only kitten that is left is the little sweet orange guy pictured above, named Tuffy. And of course Momma Molly, who will be spayed and listed for adoption once the kittens are weaned and adopted out!

-Sarah

Foster home found!

Lola and her babies are happily ensconced with Denise, one of our wonderful volunteers and foster homes. Denise tells me that they are doing well, and promises a video of the kittens climbing her wicker chair soon!
-Sarah

A video of Lola and the babies

Another momma cat and kittens in need

Some of our long time readers and volunteers will remember the first case of dumpster kittens, last fall. Since then, we had developed our suspicions about where the kittens had come from, and who had dumped them, until we were relatively certain that we knew who and where it was. However, with no concrete proof, there was no way we could make a report to animal protection. With kitten season upon us, several of us in pet rescue couldn't bear to think that this same home likely still had an intact female cat who would be having more kittens who might suffer the same fate.

Today, Pat, our intrepid President and head of Pet Rescue, took things into her capable hands and dropped by the home in question. She came right out and asked if they had any kittens, and did they want help with them. She left with the momma cat (who they called "useless") and five kittens, about 5 weeks old. There is no question, looking at her and these babies, that she is also the momma of the sweet kittens that Carol rescued last October.

Everyone seems to be in relatively good health. We have named the momma "Lola". She is an incredibly attentive mother to her babies. Once they are old enough to be weaned and adopted out she will be spayed, and listed for adoption. Never again will she be called "useless" and forced to bear litter after litter of unwanted kittens.

And, once again, I have kittens and a momma cat in my bathroom who need a foster home. I have three fosters of my own, on top of my 6 cats and my dog. And my mother arrives for a visit on Thursday! Can anyone help? The kittens will be old enough to be adopted in two weeks or so. If you can, please email me directly at badbunnygirl@hotmail.com
-Sarah

Rocky and Caramel - Best of friends

Brittany is one of our amazing hardworking Pet Rescue volunteers, and these are her two cats! Rocky is the flame point, and Brittany rescued him as a tiny kitten in a back alley. Caramel was a PFA rescue, found by the side of the higway just outside of town. They are both spoiled and adored now.

Lucky felines!

-Sarah

Part Two, Lucy and her two week old babies

Lucy and the babies, now 2 weeks old.

More foster homes needed for rescued dogs

Currently, we are looking for more foster homes for dogs. All dogs over the age of 6 months are sterilized, and we cover all veterinary bills. We advertise and screen for all adoptions. We can also provide supplies if needed.

Do you have a fenced yard and a stable loving home to offer a dog?

Please contact Sarah at badbunnygirl@hotmail.com

Update and photos on Lucy and the babies

Here are some new photos of lovely Lucy and her four babies, now almost two weeks old!!!

Lucy was rescued outdoors in North Central Regina, to sick and cold to properly care for her kittens. Now, everyone is thriving.

Thanks so much to foster mom Michelle, who is doing such a wonderful job in caring for this little family.

-Sarah