Tips for Adopting a Pet

Below is an article from Care2.com about why pets are good for you, and also things to consider when choosing  a pet:

• Fido, Snowball or Goldie–no matter the critter, study after study shows that pets are good for our health. Their unconditional love and wonderful kindness reduce our stress levels and increase our serotonin intake. Sadly, fewer than half of family pets live out their lives with their original families. That’s an estimated seven million animals entering our shelter system every year, many simply through the irresponsibility of careless owners. If you’re thinking of adopting an animal for yourself or your family, here are some tips:

• Avoid impulses “There are so many great (shelter) dogs and cats in need of a home,” says Babara Savidge, owner of Olive: Green Goods for Modern Dogs. “That said, don’t be completely swayed by a cute face. Take some time to think about what’s important to you in a pet. Make a list of what you want, what you don’t want, and what you can compromise on–before you even look. A little pre-thought will go a long way to ensuring a good fit for both parties.”

• Meet Your Match. More than 250 shelters across the U.S. use a “Meet your Match” program. The potential owners are required to fill out lengthy questionnaires stating desires and behaviors. In this way, the more knowledgeable handlers at the shelters can point the owners in the direction of a breed or animal that would suit their lifestyle well. Occasionally, owners are introduced to breeds that they never would have considered, helping “less-popular” pets find loving homes.


• Rely on the shelter workers for advice and knowledge. Many pet stores view each pet as a potential sale, while the shelter workers, often volunteers, are invested in every animal they help and want to find the placement that will work best for all parties.

• Do your research. Just because you live in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t adopt. “Several large breed dogs, older dogs and cats are well-suited to apartment life,” says Shannon Boyer of the Arizona Animal Welfare League. “These animals are pretty sedentary and are very happy and healthy with just a couple short walks each day.”

• Introduce your current pets. Many shelters will allow you to bring your current pets into the environment to ensure that everyone feels comfortable with the new addition. If your adoptee is shy, many shelters have programs that will help with training and socializing.

Remember, you are now responsible for a life so this is not a decision to be taken lightly. Consider the pros and cons. Are you ready for both the work and rewards that come with owning a pet?

-Alanna

World Spay Day

Tuesday, February 28th is World Spay Day, a day to recognize the importance of spaying and neutering pets to prevent the overpopulation problems that lead to overcrowded shelters and increased euthanization rates. 

In addition to preventing unwanted litters, sterilization can also help prevent serious health problems in cats and dogs such as reproductive cancers. Spaying and neutering benefits everyone.

Please remember to spay/neuter your pets!

-Alanna

Foster Homes Urgently Needed for Kitten, Puppy

PFA is seeking foster placements as soon as possible for two animals that need to be removed from their current foster home due to a young child's recent diagnosis of asthma.

Copper is a shy but sweet 7-month old kitten who is neutered and vaccinated. He is great with kids and other animals.  He enjoys children so we'd love to find a young family with kids for him.

Sasha is a 6-month old puppy  who is crate trained and house trained. She has had her shots and rabies vaccination and will be spayed as soon as all her baby teeth fall out.   Sasha is a well mannered puppy that with good training can be a great companion. 


If you can assist by fostering one of these wonderful animals, please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com

-Alanna

Safe From the Storm

This cute and fluffy little guy, Andi, has been hanging around stray at a feeding station in North Central for a few months now. Friendly and affectionate, we were hoping that he had a home in the area.

However, he hasn't been claimed and with a winter storm looming yesterday, Andi was scooped and taken to the vet clinic where he will be neutered and then listed for adoption.

This sweet boy is happy to be off the streets, and is looking for a new home that will give the him the love and care he deserves.

For more information on Andi, please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com

-Alanna

Spongebob the Cat

Meet Spongebob, a handsome adult male recently rescued from a PFA feeding station, intact, hungry and suffering from some serious skin wounds.

Although the wounds look quite serious, they are mostly self-inflicted due to a terrible case of ear mites that was causing Spongebob a lot of discomfort.

While he looks a bit worse for the wear, Spongebob is in great spirits and is happy to be warm and well-fed, and to have those pesky ear mites treated! He is on the mend and has proven to be a very sweet and affectionate boy who enjoys attention and adores catnip toys. You can tell how happy he is to be rescued!

Spongebob is looking for a new forever home that will love him and keep him safe so that he doesn't have to suffer ever again. He will be listed for adoption soon.

In the meantime, we would love to find a foster home for Spongebob where he can get some TLC and  recover from his wounds.

If you are interested in fostering or adopting Spongebob, please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com.

-Alanna

Adoption Fair Tomorrow!

Don't forget about the adoption fair tomorrow at the new Pet Valu store in Harbour Landing (on Gordon Road).

It is the grand opening, so there will be lots of great sales and deals to be had, in addition to the chance to check out some of our awesome and adoptable cats and kittens!

We will be featuring:

-Dario
-Rider
-Tigger
-Clara
-Jessie
-Bianco
-Reese (tentative)

We also have door prizes, so please drop by to say hello even if you aren't currently seeking a new feline friend!

-Alanna

Congrats to a Lucky Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to the Mongoli Grill tonight. We had a blast, enjoyed some good food, good fun and also had some great opportunities to win stuff!

Congratulations to our 50/50 draw winner Shawn, who won $112.50 with winning ticket # 018477.  Please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com to claim your prize!


The winning bidders for the silent auction prizes will be notified within the next 2 days with details on how to claim their prize.


Thanks again to everyone for supporting PFA! 


-Alanna

An Update on Alan (formerly Muggins)

This is Alan (formerly Muggins) a young black cat who was adopted as a kitten back in 2009. Alan's family is kind enough to keep in touch and give us updates on how he is doing. 

It's wonderful to see that Alan is regarded as a true family member in this cat-loving clan. This is their most recent update:

Alan is the light of our son Grayson's life. When our little boy (7 months now) sees Alan, his face lights up like nobody's business! He reaches out for him and poor Alan... he just sits there like a nice boy and takes all Grayson's "love" (abuse?)  Yankin' on his fur, trying to put his ears in his mouth. And when Gray doesn't feel good, there's Alan to make him feel better.



He's a big part of our happy little family. :)

-Alanna

It's Love Your Pet Day!

Today is Love Your Pet Day - a day to shower your pets with even more love and attention than you do any other day!

If you need ideas for spoiling your pet, check out Petcentric.com  for some tips!

Have fun spoiling your pet!

-Alanna

A Pretty Little (Pregnant) Kitty - Felicity!

This adorable little tabby is Felicity, a young female tabby found pregnant and abandoned, and reliant on a   PFA feeding station for food.

PFA feral team volunteers couldn't bear to leave this sweet, loving and friendly little mama cat on the streets and she is now safe and sound at a vet clinic awaiting a spay in the next day or two.

Felicity is a very sweet and affectionate little cat and we would love to find a foster home for her, rather than having her board or go to a pet store as we are very full right now.

For more info on our sweet Felicity, please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com. Thanks!

-Alanna

A Feline Scotties Fan!

With two awesome Saskatchewan teams competing in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, many Saskatchewan eyes are glued to tournament action this week-end, including those of some foster homes, AND some foster cats!

Our sweet little foster cat Bennie is caught up in the excitement and hoping hard for his team! If he proves to an accurate prognosticator, his adoption fee will go up substantially, LOL!!

-Alanna

Tickets still available for Stir-Fry Fundraiser!

Don't forget to get your tickets to our upcoming Stir-Fry Night at Mongolie Grill! It's going to be a great night. Email us at pfasask@gmail.com for tickets!

Pita and Miss Chevious Right at Home!

Sweet siblings Pita and Miss Chevious were recently fortunate to find a great new home together.  Their new family send us these pics of the girls making themselves at home.

Pita loves to hang out with her new dad at the computer, while Miss Chevious prefers to lounge in a comfy chair. This is after they finish playing the new custom built cat tree made just for them!

We are so thrilled that they were able to be adopted together, and that they are being spoiled in their home.

-Alanna

What a difference a year can make!

Last spring, we blogged about a new rescued cat, Fuzzy Wuzzy, who had spent her winter scavenging in dumpsters in North Central Regina for food. I had watched her through the cold winter, trying many times to get close to her in vain as she was surviving on the streets in and around my home. In the spring, I started my annual round of trapping to catch and sterilize local strays, and was able to get Fuzzy almost immediately.

Upon examination at the vets, we discovered that not only was this sweet girl already spayed, but she was docile and tame! Sadly, she didn't have an ear tattoo, and despite filing found reports, we were never able to find her original owners.

Fuzzy integrated beautifully into my home as a foster cat, and last fall she was adopted by Brenda. Brenda has stayed in touch with me, and last night she sent me this photo of our Fuzzy-girl, all cuddled up on the couch with her mom. It is incredibly rewarding to know that this amazing cat has gone from being horribly matted, hungry, and cold, to being a pampered and beloved pet, all in the space of one year. On freezing nights this winter, I thought back to how sad I was to see Fuzzy out in the cold last year, and was so grateful to know that she won't experience that ever again. Many thanks to Brenda for her love and care for this amazing feline, and for keeping in touch!

-Sarah



Terrific Teddy on the Move...

We have received the sad news that one of our favourite rescues of all time, Teddy, is in need of a new home.

Teddy (Tedster) was rescued as a sickly, scraggly stray tom in the fall of 2010. He was assumed to be feral, but once we got him trapped and in to a clinic for neutering, he quickly demonstrated his sweet, gentle and loving ways and we were hooked!

Teddy soon attracted a home with a great couple who doted on him and ensured he had the best of care while he recovered from his lengthy time on the street, and who adore him with all their hearts. He has come a long way from his initial rescue, as these pics of a shiny, healthy cat demonstrate.

Unfortunately, the pair is in a state of flux right now while one is completing her education and is assigned to 5 different practicum locations over the next year - definitely no life for a cat!

So we are looking for a new loving home for our beautiful survivor, Teddy. He is ok with other cats but he loves attention and thrives on his own. He has been on a raw food diet as well, so we are hoping his new family will continue that special care.

the old teddy, pre-rescue

Please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com for more info about adopting our sweet Teddy.

-Alanna

Marvelous Marta!

This petite little lady is Marta, a young female who was found huddled in the window well of a central Regina home during the cold snap last week, trying desperately to get warm.

The homeowner took pity on the poor frozen cat and took her inside. She has multiple pets already, so she contacted us for help in finding Marta a new home.

Marta is a lovely, fine-boned cat with big, glowing yellow eyes and a very sweet and affectionate personality.  She is now in a foster home where she will hopefully put on some weight, make some new feline friends and find a new home where she will be cared for and loved forever.

For more information on Marta, please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com

-Alanna

Black cat happily ever after

Recently we heard from Garrett, who had adopted both Inka and Onyx from us as kittens last summer.

"Inka and Onyx are doing great. I couldn't be happier having them around.  Both of them are healthy and lively and have adapted really well to their new environment. 

I tend to spoil them with new toys and treats, the newest present was some little vinyl tunnels for them to run and play in, which they love.  Hoping to build them a new cat tower soon as well!  Its hard to get good pictures of Onyx, as soon as he sees me with the phone out he either flees or sticks his face right in it to see what it is, haha... Inka is more patient in that regard."

Thanks so much to Garrett for keeping in touch with us, and for providing such a fantastic home for these two deserving cats!

-Sarah

Happy Days are Here for Dexter!

Dexter is one of several cats PFA rescued in the spring of 2011 after a small town passed a by-law strictly limiting pet ownership to 2 animals per home, and leaving one kind woman who rescued local strays in urgent need of help to find homes for her cats.

Dexter's unique markings and friendly, affectionate nature helped him find a home quickly. One look at his sweet face on Facebook and his future family was hooked.  When they met him in person, his friendly and loving personality made them love him even more.

Here is what they said about Dexter in a recent update:

Dexter is  doing great! He has been such a great addition to our family and we just love, love, LOVE him! He's the only one of all our kitties that loves to be picked up and/or cuddled at any given moment. Dex is happy, healthy, and gets so much love and attention. We just couldn't imagine life without him! :)

We are so happy that Dexter landed in such a great home! 

-Alanna

Adoption Fair - Pet Valu

PFA is hosting another adoption fair on Saturday, February 25th at the Pet Valu store in Harbour Landing.

We will have some of our cutest cats and kittens on hand - like little Clara, hoping to find new furr-ever homes. Please come visit us there, and find your new BFF (best feline friend)!

-Alanna

In From the Cold!

Winter has returned and it's chilly out there! The cold weather makes it tough on homeless cats, and little Roger is no exception.

Roger, a likely victim of abandonment, has been hanging out at a PFA feeding station recently and caught the eye of one of our volunteers because he is so very sweet and friendly.

With the onset of the frigid temperatures, he was heard crying at the doorstep of a nearby home, trying to get in and out of the cold.

Thankfully, Roger was picked up by one of our volunteers today and is now safe and sound at a vet clinic, waiting to be neutered and listed for adoption.

This adorable guy is cute, cuddly and every so happy to be warm and fed.  For more info on Roger, please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com.

-Alanna

Razzle-Zazzles!

Meet our sweet tuxedo guy, Zazzles! This sweet baby boy was found out in the cold in the wee hours of the morning a few weeks ago by a shift worker who notified us.

Zazzles is 5.5 months old, neutered and vaccinated and available for adoption. He is very happy to be off the streets.

Please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com for more info on Zazzles.

-Alanna