What a relief!

Tags

animal shelter, Billy Bob, cats, HOKAFI, Holly, Katarina, Rascal, senior cats, Sox, special needs, volunteer

Almost everyone was grouchy and grumpy this morning when I arrived (well, except for Billy Bob… what a precious love he is.)  Chris suggested that the changing weather and the fact that the sun porch had been closed to them the past two days, because of the drop in temperatures, had affected their moods.  Rascal had a few rounds with Katarina.  Lucky was striking out at Sox.  Tiara was picking fights with everyone (which seemed very uncharacteristic to me).  When things were on the verge of getting out of hand , I leapt to the porch door and swung it open wide. Ahhhhhh, relief!  Everyone raced out, including Holly, who instantly senses the fresh air.

Fortunately, before the rains came in the afternoon, we had a good long dose of warm sunshine, and everyone was feeling much better.  Look at these sunbathing beauties.

Lucky

Dixie

Tiara

Take it from the kitties in Special Needs #1, a little time to stretch out in the sun makes  it all feel better.

All Tucked In

Tags

animal shelter, cats, HOKAFI, senior cats, Sox, volunteer

Hi, everyone:

This will be my quickest, fastest post EVER! I’m on my way out of town after spending the morning with the kitties in SP#1. All is well.  Everyone had a great morning.  I just wanted to send out a picture of sweet Sox all cuddled up with his most favorite mouse (this one really is his favorite; it’s like his favorite stuffed animal).  What a cutie!

I’ll look forward to catching up with everyone’s posts when I get back! Thanks to all for your support! I’m very, very grateful!

Lemony

Pike

Tags

animal shelter, cats, HOKAFI, Pike, special needs, volunteer

I entered SP#1 today in my usual cheerful manner, showering all of the kitties with big doses of love and “lemony squeezes.” Then, I noticed the quiet voices on the sun porch of SP#2.  I had read the medical log before going up and had seen a note about Pike, one of the residents of Special Needs #2.  I figured the voices must be tending to that sweet one next door, and they were.

It was Pike’s last today. She had a stroke.  As Chris said as I left in the early afternoon, Pike received lots of good loving before she died, and I know it’s true.  She received the best of care, not only in her final hours, but in the four years she was at HOKAFI.

For me, her care, and the care that all the animals at HOKAFI receive, was enfolded in one tender gesture I witnessed soon after my arrival today. I spoke briefly to Chris through the screen on the porch, once I realized what was happening, and as we spoke, Chris was leaning down to place Pike and her little bed in the sunshine while they waited for her appointment with the vet.  That gesture of giving Pike just a few more moments of warmth and sunlight was such an expression of humanity and compassion.

Thank you, Chris, for offering Pike that comfort and care in her final hours.  Thank you, too, to Linda, who was also there in Pike’s hour of need (as she always is for all of the animals), and to Karen, Julie, and everyone else who helped Pike on her final day of life.  I am in awe of the work you do and the big-heartedness with which you do it.

I tried to find a photograph of Pike to post tonight, but after going through hundreds of unlabeled jpgs that I off-loaded onto my back-up drive (that’s a lesson learned about labeling), I could only find this ID photo of her, which is actually a nice way to remember her because it’s a nice image of her, but unfortunately I’m not sure to whom I should credit the photo within my photo (maybe Kim will know).

Here it is, in memory of Pike:

Dasha!

Tags

aging cat, animal shelter, Billy Bob, cats, Dasha, HOKAFI, senior cats, special needs, volunteer

Hi, everyone! I’d like to introduce you to a new resident of Special Needs #1.  Meet Dasha!

She is super sweet and may even be the new friend that Billy Bob has been waiting for. They were rubbing foreheads today (and we know Billy Bob has been desperate to find a forehead-bumping-buddy!)

Dasha seems to have settled in very quickly to the room and enjoyed some time on the porch today in the sun (the weather in our area was fantastic, so ALL of the cats had a nice dose of sunshine today).

Also, everyone had a turn with the famous “butterfly” that Pedro sent, including Dasha, so it was really a great day today.

I want to apologize to everyone for my delay in visits to their blogs of late.  My schedule has been somewhat irregular in the last several weeks, but  I hope to catch up in the coming days. I’ll be stopping by soon!

Lemony squeezes to all!

Mail Delivery!

Tags

animal shelter, Care Package, cats, HOKAFI, Pedro, Sox, special needs

Well, everyone, we already know what a wonderful cat Pedro is, but now the kitties of HOKAFI know what a great friend he is (and, actually, we already knew that, too!).  Check out this video to see what Pedro did for the cats at the Helen Krause shelter, and in particular for Sox, who recently had surgery to remove one of his eyes.  Pedro felt bad that Sox was so depressed about the protective cone (collar) he had to wear around his head after the surgery (a second procedure was necessary after the sutures came out the first time).  Pedro wanted to send Sox some toys to cheer him up during his recovery.  Not only did he send Sox some really great and thoughtful toys, he sent along lots of other toys for him to share with the other cats at the shelter, as well as some incredibly soft beds and blankets.  Pedro, you’re the BEST!  You have no idea what this means to us at the shelter.  We are deeply grateful! Thank you!

Sox is still on the mend, but was absolutely thrilled by the arrival of the care package from Pedro today, as you’ll see in the video.

Mail Delivery!

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