Saturday, October 31, 2009

The Ones Left Behind - Scrapalina




PFA is a busy rescue group and there are always more cats that need help than there are spaces in foster care and loving adopters. For every cat that we are able to rescue and get off the street, there are many we are forced to leave behind. We can only try to care for them the best we can outside while we wait for space in foster care to open up.

This is Scrapalina's story.

There's only one item on this humble little girl's wish list: She wants a home with someone to love her and take care of her - forever this time.

Scrapalina's story saddens us a lot. She was essentially evicted from the home she once knew. In an area where many residents have more cats than they have room for or food for, their houses often literally overflow with cats. Scrapalina came from such a place. Someone in the home decided there were too many cats in his house and demanded that some of them be gone. Sweet little Scrapalina was one of the unlucky ones. Imagine her confusion when the door was slammed in her face as she peered up at it day after day for many months wondering why she couldn't go in anymore. Kicked out (probably literally too) to live her life on the street.

Her street is not a pretty place. Strewn with garbage and junk, it is a filthy, depressing scene. Angry residents or neighbourhood kids often yell at the alley cats and chase them or throw things at them. Cars rip down the street or alley, frightening and often narrowly missing them as they dash for cover. Off-leash dogs chase and threaten to severely injure or kill them. It is noisy, dirty, scary, and highly stressful.

And that's in summer. Just fathom adding to that the fight to survive the snow, the intense cold, and the biting winds. The closest thing Scrapalina will have to a cushy bed, and her only hope of staying warm this winter, is a straw-lined styrofoam cooler inside the feeding station.

Please don't let Scrapalina's name fool you. (She is not a scrapper, more likely that she lived on scraps.) She is a sweet-natured, loving, affectionate cat who melts to human touch and whose tractor purr starts if you simply grace her with a glance in her direction. Already spayed and in good health despite all her challenges, this cat is not likely to find a home via our adoption system anytime soon, and her chances of even getting off the street before winter sets in are slim as PFA foster homes are all full to capacity already, and with waiting lists.

Scrapalina seems to get along well with other cats. She shares a primitive shelter and feeding station - and a number of junk piles - with several other area cats, mostly feral in nature.

Then there's Scrapalina. She is so affectionate, it just kills the daily feeders to drive away each day and leave her behind. When we drive up she comes running towards our cars to greet us, and when we leave she looks longingly at us from her post on top of the dumpster or her rickety fence rail. At times she even follows our vehicles as we pull away. It is heartbreaking so we sometimes avoid that last glance in the rear-view mirrror.

We just say a prayer that she'll still be okay - that she'll still be there - the next time we go to feed.

So far, Scrapalina has continued to be there each day. But we know that anything could happen, and at any time. This incredible, wonderful, beautiful cat desperately needs a real home to go to where she will be safe and loved. If any cat deserves that, it's Scrapalina.

If you would like to meet this sweet girl, visitation can be arranged in short order. Scrapalina would graciously welcome you to do so, on site, at her very humble "home". No need to dress up for the occasion for you'd be quite out of place. And no need to bring flowers. Sardines will suffice, they're Scrapalina's favourite. :>)

If you can offer Scrapalina a home, even a temporary one, off the street as winter sets in, she (and People for Animals) would be incredibly grateful. For more information, please e-mail Alanna at abanana71@gmail.com.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

National Cat Day!

Get ready - Thursday, October 29th is National Cat Day! Yes, our furry friends have an entire day devoted to celebrating the fabulousness of felines.

What a great day to donate to an animal rescue group, adopt a rescued cat and of course give your own cat(s) extra snuggles.

To learn more about National Cat Day, visit: http://nationalcatday.com/

Cats know how to obtain food without labour, shelter without confinement and love without penalties.
-W. L. George
-Alanna

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Fun With Felines!

As if cats aren't fun and entertaining enough all on their own, there is a new book out featuring cats in crazy wigs called Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs by Julie Jackson. Click here for some chuckles.

The cats look surprisingly cool in their colourful wigs, but I figure they must be some seriously laid-back kitties because I know either I would be shredded, or the wig would be, if I tried that with my cats!

- Alanna

Little Survivor Needs New Home (Again)









These two pretty and sweet cats are Mannie and Tigger, beloved pets of a kind lady who is currently terminally ill with cancer at the young age of 43. None of her family or friends will take in her pets so they are now desperately seeking new homes.

Little Mannie, the grey tabby, survived the horrific abuse she suffered as a kitten when she was deliberately hit with a hammer. She is only 2 years old and we want to give her a chance at a 2nd loving forever home. She is currently in PFA foster care.

Poor Tigger is 8 years old and is faced with losing the only home he's known. He is a beautiful boy with lovely markings. We do not have any foster space available for him at this time as we continue to be overwhelmed with rescued cats, loss of foster homes and slow adoptions.

Both cats are available for adoption, although Tigger's fate is uncertain at this point. If you are interested in adopting either of these cats or fostering Tigger, please contact us right away at saskpeopleforanimals@gmail.com.

-Alanna




PFA Has 2 Perfect Little Polydactyls!




Meet Thumbs and Bigfoot, 3-month old polydactyl kittens recently rescued from the cold, crying and hungry, by a PFA volunteer.

Thumbs is the fluffy grey guy with 6 toes on each of his front paws. He is laid-back and snuggly. Bigfoot is the little black fellow - he has 7 toes on one of his front paws, 6 on the other and all 4 paws are polydactyl! He is also very calm and likes to be held.

Both kittens are litter box trained and are great with kids and other cats. They are also slowly getting used to the dogs in their foster home. And, of course, they are available for adoption! Contact us at saskpeopleforanimals@gmail.com for more info!

-Alanna

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Two Teeny Rescued Kittens!


Check out these adorable babies, each rescued hungy and cold from different locations on the PFA feral feeding route last week-end.

These little kittens are too young to be without their mama, let alone fending for themselves on the street!

Luckily, they were quickly placed into a safe and sound PFA foster home, and we have just learned that their foster home has nowtheir permanent home.

Hooray for these 2 little kitten survivors!




-Alanna

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Busting the "Crazy Cat Lady" Myth!

Any single woman who lives with more than one furry feline friend has probably been teased about being a crazy cat lady at some point. Funny how you never hear the term "crazy cat couple" or "crazy dog lady"!

This article on canada.com seeks to dispel some of the common myths and misconceptions about women who have more than one cat. As the article shows, many multiple cat owners are articulate, professional, and very fastidious about their homes. You can have cats and a neat and tidy home!

And, after all, what is so crazy about having pets that are loyal, affectionate, smart, playful, sensitive, entertaining and excellent lap-warmers / snugglers?

-Alanna


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Winter is Here!



Winter has arrived early in Regina and as we all know there are many cats who have no choice but to fend for themselves out in the cold.

PFA volunteers do what we can to make sure our feral cat shelters are as sound as they can be and that the cats have access to food and fresh water in addition to a reasonably warm spot in which to hunker down. But, food and water freeze fast in sub-zero temps!

To that end, we could really use some new or used winter supplies, including:
  • heated water bowls
  • extra-long extension cords (so we can plug in the heated water bowls)
  • straw / hay bales
  • Canadian Tire $$
If you have any of these items to donate, please let us know at saskpeopleforanimals@gmail.com.

Thanks!

-Alanna

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Kitty in a Cast!




This is our sweet foster cat, Sunshine. Sunshine is a spunky girl who was a bit too spunky for her own good and ended up with a broken leg after playing in the rafters of her former foster home!

Sunshine had to go to a new foster home once the original foster mom became to busy with work travel to foster any more. But, neither the move nor the cast have slowed this girl down. She continues to be active and playful despite a clunky cast - that probably weighs almost what she does! The upside is that she spends more time cuddling with her foster mom since playing is rafters isn't an option.

This cute and resilient cat is an excellent companion and is available for adoption through PFA. Cheers to this spunky girl!

-Alanna

A Poor Pup Who Lost His Home!



This is Boxer, a sweet 9-month old German Shepherd cross currently in PFA foster care. It's been over 10 months since we took a new dog into foster care. Dogs just aren't abandoned and stray to anywhere near the same extent as cats.

But, when we heard Boxer's story we couldn't turn away. This poor boy lost his home due to a tragic house fire. In the aftermath of the fire, his owners were in transition and Boxer was moved around between a number of temporary homes and boarding kennels, becoming more and more stressed and scared with each move. A kind family friend finally contacted us for help and one of our awesome dog foster homes, Tanya and Tracy, took in Boxer.

Boxer is a sweet, friendly dog who is quite content and well-behaved - as long as people are around. But, he suffers from severe separation anxiety and is terrified, and destructive, when left alone for any length of time.

We are doing our best to help rehabilitate this poor guy, but it is a big challenge. We may have no choice but seek professional help for him if he can't get over his anxiety soon. Please keep your fingers crossed and send good wishes Boxer's way!

Oh - and please don't forget your pets when it comes to emergency planning for your family. It is important to have a plan in place for animal care in the event of an emergency such as a house fire. Be it family, friends, or a trusted kennel or boarding facility, have a place lined up that is stable and trustworthy for your pet to go to until you are able to take him back.

-Alanna

Friday, October 9, 2009

Rescued Cats Enjoying New Forever Home





Last spring we wrote about pretty Molly, a sweet cat who was found pregnant and in distress near the Sedley seed plant. Kind workers there took her in and care for her and her little family and contacted PFA to ensure that Molly and the babies had a safe place to thrive until forever homes could be found. All have been successfully adopted.

These were our first rescued kittens of 2009 and they went fast! Here are 2 of them, Abi and Gus, frolicking and having fun in their forever home!

This is a wonderful happy ending for these rescued kittens. Special thanks to their foster mama Sandy for this update and for caring for them until they were adopted to loving homes.

-Alanna

Giving Credit Where It Is Due!




Phew! Animal rescue work is busy and stressful and definitely not for the faint of heart. This week, in addition to adoptions and regular rescue challenges, we have dealt with some stressful and heart-wrenching situations:
  • A german shepherd X puppy who lost his home (and family) due to a house fire. While sweet and well-behaved with his new foster family, he suffers from severe separation anxiety and is very destructive if left alone for short periods of time
  • A number of new kitten rescues, including a 2-month old baby found living in a box in a 7-11 parking lot surviving on scraps (adopted as of this morning)
  • An alarming e-mail from a concerned citizen feeding several strays, who turned out to be 3 cats that we thought were safe and sound in foster care, but who were actually being neglected and fending for themselves outdoors!
For me, it takes a strong support network to enable me to volunteer effectively on an ongoing basis. This network includes my precious rescued cats, who serve as companions, snugglebugs, therapists, confidants, entertainment and amusement, and the inspiration to keep going!

There is Ella (tabby with white), my baby and BFF, who I adopted through RHS and is the first to tuck herself under my chin to comfort me when I am stressed and saddened by rescue work. Then, there is my beautiful Malley (white), a sweet and loving girl who I adopted through PFA and who triggered my involvement with animal rescue. My most recent addition, Beckham (grey tabby), is a fun, funny and very charismatic little guy who I fostered after his adoption fell through due to his illness after a declaw surgery. The lady didn't want him once he got sick with an infection from the surgery. He wasn't a foster cat for long as I fell in love and adopted him.

These marvelous little critters help keep me going and I wanted to recognize them after a pretty rough week.

-Alanna

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

PFA Annual Fall project

With winter coming PFA is scrambling to find new foster homes so we can trap as many cats as possible to avoid them from living in another cold Regina winter. Unfortunately, there are many cats that are still left behind and we try our best to set up winterized shelters and sterilize those we catch to prevent more litters in the spring.

Please contact us to help with our fall project by providing warm shelters to those that are left behind or if you are able to foster a cat this fall.



This is Spooky. He's been living on 20 blk Atkinson St for approx 3 years! He is an example of a cat living on the streets. He would never interact with humans and thought to be feral until this past spring when trapped and neutered. However, he was super unhappy to be kenneled at the vets and PFA had no foster homes available, so he was released back to his home colony. He has come along way since then and loves to jump in my lap for a nap when I am out on my deck and purrs away. He allows the other neighbours to pet him too! Everyone in the neighbourhood is astonished this is the same "unfriendly" cat. I think he wants to be an indoor cat and is always looking in my windows and sometimes cries at the door. When encouraged to come in, he sees all the felines ( 12 in total) and cries to get back out!
He comes running whenever he hears someone leaving the house or takes naps on the deck chairs waiting for more soft food! Spooky needs to be in a 1 cat home where he can rule the roost.
If unable to foster him out, PFA will provide a winterized shelter for him and Spooky will continue to live outside for the 4th winter in a row.


This is Lady Jane. Found Tuesday Oct 6th.
Little "Lady Jane" is quiet, shy and very sweet. She is approximately 2 months old and just wants to be loved. Cuddle her and she'll stay on your lap and purr all day. A lady named 
Faye, a former a foster home for PFA, borrowed a trap and rescued this little dear from 7-11 off of Dewdney today, where she was living in a box and eating scraps that she could find.
Lets Work together and find this little soul a home!
Zach Junior

Lucy
Hello everyone!

Alanna sent this quote and I thought it was Blog worthy.

"With the qualities of cleanliness, discretion, affection, patience, dignity, and courage that cats have, how many of us, I ask you, would be capable of being cats?" - Fernand Mery

The following are pictures of our cats that were in foster care and now have their very own home! A reminder of those we've saved.
Keep up the good work!
Tiger Frankie
Cali

- Michelle

Saturday, October 3, 2009

New cats awaiting adoption


Batman

Twiggy

Tiger

These are some of the new fosters we have that are looking for a forever home.
First is Batman, a solid black 5 month old male with his 1st shots. He is a stunning black cat that came into foster care with many siblings, born to a feral momma and was very timid. He has now come to trust people and will come running to his name with a loud purr and loves to snuggle.

2nd is Twiggy. She is about 9 months and spayed. She also has her 1st shots. She was living in a home in the north central area when her family moved and left her behind! When the new renters moved in she was always trying to get back into the house. Luckily the new renters took pity on her and moved her indoors. She was in heat and was lucky to be rescued and spayed before she had kittens on the street. She is a beautiful girl who is friendly and full of love.

Last is little Tiger. He is only 4 months and found wondering aimlessly outside cold and hungry. After being rescued and with no one claiming him, he now resides in a wonderful foster home and has adapted nicely as an indoor cat and companion to 7 other felines and 2 dogs! However he would like a permanent home of his own.

Please take a closer look at these beautiful little souls who were all left to fend for themselves. They now have a warm bed, full bellies but no one to call their own.

Michelle

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Rescued Cats Living the Good Life in Foster Care






These cute cats are KissKiss, Coco and Jojo. All were rescued from a bizarre hoarding situation in early August. KissKiss and Coco are lifelong companions who were kept inside a windowless room for several years. Jojo was a stray who was taken in by the elderly hoarder and confined to a bathroom for several months.

All these cats are now thriving and enjoying life in foster care where they have the freedom to roam the house, play and interact with people and other pets.

KissKiss and Coco are 4 years old and the best of friends. We don't have the heart to split them up, even though it would be easier to find them homes. They are sweet and affectionate boys - KissKiss lives up to his name!

Jojo is a beautiful tortoiseshell who has really thrived since being rescued. She started out timid but has blossomed into a friendly, playful and affectionate young cat who loves being with people.
A little foster home TLC works wonders for rescued cats! Now, they just need loving forever homes.
Alanna