Fall at the Sanctuary

Fall has arrived in the New York Catskills and all the kitties at Love and Hope are sensing a change in the weather. The days are still beautiful and filled with sunshine so everyone can bask in the sun and lounge on the catios. However, they all sense a change in the air and the coming of winter and know when the temperature drops and the snow falls they will be warm, safe and secure.

 

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The Fab Four

A few weeks ago we were delighted to receive pictures of Portia’s four babies from their adopters. These darlings are now a year old and were super blessed to all be adopted by the same couple. We’re so pleased to be able to share these with you as a further depiction of the miracle that is our Portia.
We understand that Sparky rules the house, Lady Day is refined and lady like, Lola is the adventurer and Valentino the “goofball”. The couple that adopted this precious and rambunctious bundle are truly extraordinary human beings who have not only provided them with a fabulous and loving home but they have also provided a special and miraculous chapter in Portia’s tale.

 

GOOD NEWS!!!

Many of you followed “Our Heroine” Portia’s journey since last year and know all about her difficult beginning and subsequent recovery from three leg surgeries that were the result of a terrible raccoon bite while she was giving birth. (You can read Portia’s past stories by clicking HERE; her stories can be found on the dates of 9/19/12, 1/26/13, 2/16/13, 2/25/13, 3/4/13 and 3/11/13.)

You cheered her on as she selflessly cared for her newborns despite a raging infection and the pain caused by multiple breaks to her leg.

You were with her through three leg surgeries performed in the hope of saving her leg.

You voted for her in Petfinder.com’s Luckiest Pet Contest and while she didn’t win that contest, she is certainly a winner in everyone’s heart.

Her third surgery was in January, and she recently had the six month follow up x-ray to determine what more, if anything, needed to be done. It was necessary to assess her leg’s current bone density so that the vet could decide whether or not some of the hardware needed to be removed from her leg. (I know it sounds strange, but if she was developing osteoporosis some of the hardware would have had to be removed to “destabilize” the leg and hopefully increase her bone density). 

Her leg is GREAT! No osteoporosis or bone thinning. No more surgery necessary for this valiant girl!!! Yeah! Portia!

A Tribute to Toezy

Our delightful Toezy left this world on Thursday and crossed over Rainbow Bridge. Toezy was adored and loved by everyone here at the Sanctuary. He was affectionately also known as “The Toe Man” and “Miracle Boy”. The seven toes on each of his paws inspired his name.

 

For me, he was and will always be my “Miracle Boy”. Seven years ago, he was brought to the Sanctuary, having been found by a young woman who worked here. He was about 8 weeks old, affectionate, playful, loving and delicious. He was healthy and energetic, full of life and curiosity. So when I took him to the vet, I was stunned when he tested positive for both FeLV and FIV. 

 

The Sanctuary was only one year old and we did not have a separate room for FeLV kitties. I had not given a great deal of thought to providing a place for FeLV kitties within the Sanctuary. We were very young and only the first building was completed. There was no special room for Toezy. 

 

I appropriated a very small room in the office area that could be isolated and this became Toezy’s home. He was full of life and wanted to play, so I contacted several vets in the area and let it be known that I was looking for a companion for him. Along came Payton, a beautiful orange girl about the same age as Toezy. They adored each other and for almost a year were inseparable. 

 

When they were about one year old, Payton became very sick and died. The FeLV curse had claimed its first victim here at the Sanctuary. Toezy was grieving and although we all played with and comforted him, it just wasn’t quite enough. I made the decision to offer a permanent home to as many of these FeLV kitties as we could, and a room was set aside in our new building just for them.

 

When news of this room reached the vets in the community,  Toezy quickly had many friends and playmates. He delighted in being the host who introduced newcomers and made sure that they settled in and were happy. He continued as the Master of Ceremonies for seven wonderful years. 

 

If were not for Toezy, this room might not have come into existence when it did. Caring for FeLV kittens and cats might not have become one of the most rewarding things that we do. For all of us it also is one that too often brings sadness and loss and tears. Almost all the kittens fulfill the prediction; fifty percent die by the age of one year and eighty percent by the age of two. 

 

But there must be an exception to every rule, and that was my Toezy. He lived for seven joyful and playful years. He loved and was deeply loved by all.

 

I have no doubt that the universe sent Toezy to me as a guide and inspiration in the decision to care for and include FeLV kitties in our Sanctuary. His spirit will never leave Love and Hope. We all will carry “The Toe Man” in our hearts. His living for seven years is indeed a miracle but because of the legacy he helped create, all of our FeLV kitties have had a chance to live and play and bask in the sun because of him; this is the true miracle. 

 

WELL DONE! Life well lived my precious Miracle Boy!

Spring is Here!

The spring is when each of our 200+ cats begins to receive their yearly physical. Every cat is examined thoroughly by our wonderful Vet, Dr. Bridget Barry. As all of our cats are group-housed in a cage free environment, for the health of all of our cats, it is necessary to ensure that their vaccinations and deworming are current. Their teeth are cleaned, and any needed dental work is done. As a final step, their ears are checked and each receives a bath followed by a mani/pedi (kitty spa time). 

It takes several months to accomplish this task and this level of care is expensive. Please consider a donation to us by Clicking Here! Every $20 donated to Love and Hope helps two of our feline friends receive their yearly check-ups. Please help us help them stay healthy.

Time is Running Out…

One week left! Voting is over March 18th 2013. Click Here to go directly to Portia’s voting page. If you are not a Petfinder member, when you click on “Vote for This Pet” you can register. Once you are registered, you can vote for Portia once a day during this time period.

Please Vote Portia The Country’s Luckiest Pet!

Kitty Kat Power

Two weeks of voting left until March 18th 2013. Click Here to go directly to Portia’s voting page. If you are not a Petfinder member, when you click on “Vote for This Pet” you can register. Once you are registered, you can vote for Portia once a day during this time period.

Please Vote Portia The Country’s Luckiest Pet!

Vote EVERY Day!

Voting continues through March 18th 2013. Click Here to go directly to Portia’s voting page. If you are not a Petfinder member, when you click on “Vote for This Pet” you can register. Once you are registered, you can vote for Portia once a day during this time period.

Please Vote Portia The Country’s Luckiest Pet!

Our Valentine’s Day Present

In our Christmas 2012 Newsletter we told you about “A Tail of Two Kitties” (Click Here –http://conta.cc/Y5HMy2 to read the entire article, skip to the second story).

Duney retested negative on Valentine’s Day! A perfect present for all of us here at the Sanctuary.

Vote for Portia!!!

Petfinder is sponsoring a contest to elect the luckiest pet in the country. We have submitted Portia as a candidate as we believe she certainly deserves to win. If Portia wins, she will receive $500 worth of goodies from Petco and Love and Hope will receive a cash prize of $5,000 from Petfinder. We could really use this money to help us care for all of our kitties and to continue to pay for Portia’s surgeries (she has another one scheduled in a few months).

Portia really needs your help to win. In order to vote you must be a member of Petfinder, a really great organization that has done so much to help all animals. It is very easy to join. To register Click Here and navigate down to the Petfinder Visitor Registration, where you’re prompted for a User Name, Password, E-Mail Address, and Birth Date to register.

Voting begins on February 21st and continues through March 18th 2013. Once you are registered you can vote for Portia once a day during this time period. To locate Portia in the Luckiest Pet Contest Click Here and search for Portia in the search box.

So far there are nearly 4000 Luckiest Pet entries. Portia needs you to register now and vote as often as you can (hopefully everyday) beginning February 21st and continuing through March 18th.

If you could share this request and contest with friends, Portia may be able to gain the title that she so rightfully deserves,
The Country’s Luckiest Pet!

If you are not familiar with Portia’s Journey you can follow her from the beginning to the present time. To read more about Portia visit https://loveandhopeforanimals.wordpress.com/ Look for her Sept 2012 stories as well as her most recent video.