Gwenny and Oreo: A Love Story between a Dog and a Rabbit

• 

It’s only January but we think we may have The Best Adoption Story of the Year already. Seriously.

Gwenny, a 70-lb pittie adopted from Anchorage Animal Care & Control (AACC), has always been a good mother to the kittens her human family fosters for AACC. As if that wasn’t sweet enough, Gwenny showed the same urge to mother Oreo, a 15-week old rabbit, when her mom, Leah, brought him home to foster.

At that time Gwenny was going through a long and difficult recovery from hip surgeries. She was restless, anxious, and tearing out her stitches despite wearing a cone and her mom’s best attempts to keep her away from the sutures. Everyone was having a hard time.

But then…enter Oreo: “Gwenny has had a TOUGH recovery, just struggling to stay calm and not inflict further damage on herself. But ever since we brought Oreo home, she has calmly waited outside his cage for hours, patiently staying still until the moments he would grace her with sniffs and face time. This bunny has seriously been better than ANY med at keeping her laying low as she recovers.

Today I had Oreo in my lap as I worked, Gwenny watching nearby, when all of a sudden he hopped a touch closer to her and she just tucked him under her paw and fell asleep.”

• 

Any tears happening yet? Don’t lie.

As Gwenny and Oreo’s inter-species love story unfolded, their mom struggled: should she adopt Oreo and add to her already full house or let Oreo go to another home?

And then the call came from AACC – there was a potential adopter who wanted to meet Oreo. Gwenny looked on anxiously as the family prepared to leave with her rabbit. Oreo’s mom and foster sister, Josie, headed to the shelter with mixed feelings. Holding Oreo on her lap, Josie, whispered, “Maybe you should bite him and then he won’t want you.”

The adopter was supposed to meet them at AACC at 5:00. 5:05. 5:10. 5:15. Customer Service calls the adopter – no answer. 5:20. 5:25. Leah asks Customer Service for an adoption application. Soon thereafter, Leah and Josie take Gwenny’s rabbit back home, where he’ll spend the rest of his life in Gwenny’s embrace (and Josie’s!).

Didn’t we say this is the best adoption story?

Follow Gwenny, Oreo and their family on Facebook and Instagram (@leah_campbell_writes).

Advertisement

A Story for a Rainy Day: Meows from a Storm Drain

It’s a gray, chilly, drizzly day in August. Two friends are taking a walk when they hear something that sounds like a tiny meow. Where is that coming from?? Stop. Listen. There it is. It’s coming from a storm drain. And so they did what all compassionate people would do, they knelt down on the wet pavement and meowed back to the kitten and the kitten sent up a weak meow back to them.

Next, they called Anchorage Animal Care & Control and Officer Hoopingarner responded to the call. Arriving at the scene, Hoopingarner saw the two women, still kneeling and still meowing to the kitten. Only able to move the grate a few inches, Officer H. reached in with a net and catchpole. The kitten cried out again but did not come forward. He tried enticing her forward with food but, again, more meows but no forward movement. He knew he had to get into the drain if he was going to get this kitten out.

Animal Control Officer Jonsen and officer-in-trainer Chertkow arrived on scene. And so did Mitch, a 10-year old boy who was eager to help. What 10-year old boy doesn’t want to help rescue a kitten from a storm drain?! Officer H. enlisted Mitch as his assistant so Mitch happily handed Officer H. tools and took pictures for him.

And still the kitten meowed. She would cry for a minute or two and then go silent. Officer H. says, “It was tough to hear because I could tell she was exhausted.” Everyone just kept telling the kitten she was going to be OK.

John from Street Maintenance arrived and went down into the drain where he was able to spot the kitten sitting on top of a pipe. Officers Hoopingarner and Jonsen and Chertkow were busy taping snappy snares and catchpoles together. The plan was to extend the make-shift pole from another storm drain and entice the kitten to move forward into a net being held by Officer H.

• 

• 

Officer Jonsen ventured down into the storm drain and with the help of Cherkow, fed the combined snappy snares and catchpoles down the length of the drain while Officer H. laid on the wet pavement holding the net where the kitten would, hopefully, appear. Finally…the kitten poked her head out and Officer H. said, “I could hear the small audience holding their breath.”

The kitten took one small step forward but then retreated into the pipe. Officer Jonsen added another catchpole and urged the kitten forward again. One step, another step…and Officer H. had a soaking wet, cold, exhausted kitten in his net.

Everyone cheered.  And then Jessica, the Good Samaritan who called us, summed it all up with this, “You saved a kitten’s life today! Isn’t that awesome?” Yes, Jessica, it is awesome.

• 

• 

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank Jessica and her friend Christine and Mitch for caring. We also thank Street Maintenance for their assistance.  And we’re proud of our Animal Control Officers for working together to save this one little life.

Vacation with Your Cat? Yes, You Can!

Top Ten Things to Do with Your Cat:

1. Vacation

Stop right there…did we say “vacation.” Yes, we did. And we can support that claim!

Let’s introduce our feline traveler, Blessing. Blessing came to AACC in January, 2017 when he was all of a few hours old. He was immediately transferred to an experienced foster mom who understood the round-the-clock care he would need. Not only did he survive, he thrived in her care. And he stole her heart. After fostering 135 kittens, this foster mom finally “failed” and adopted one. And so their journey began.

This summer, their journey took them to that favorite Alaskan tourist town, Talkeetna. When Blessing’s mom saw that, due to COVID-19,  the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge was offering reduced rates for Alaska residents and allowing their pets to join their humans, she jumped at the chance to watch for The Mountain to show herself alongside her feline friend.

• 

  Will She show Herself?

• 

  Yes, She did.

What made Blessing’s mom even think of taking him on vacation? Because Blessing has been raised to be secure in the world outside his home. From the time he was young, she has taken him on car rides, taught him to walk on a harness and leash, and to ride in his stroller. Because of all this, Blessing has been able to accompany his mom on trips to Seward, flights to visit family in Washington, and to social gatherings.

• 

  Blessing relaxing in the room.

• 

  Blessing watching the elevator door mysteriously open.
  

Blessing’s mom takes extra precautions for his safety. For instance, when riding in his stroller, he still wears his harness and leash and she has the leash securely in her hands in case he wants to jump out to explore. And while on the trails in Talkeetna, she even attached a bear bell to his stroller. And, of course, Blessing has a microchip and an I.D. tag on his harness.

And so, this pair traveled to Talkeetna together where they enjoyed strolling through town, taking in the view from the Lodge’s deck, and making new friends – everything a vacation should be for both feline and human.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Blessing enjoying the Lodge and trails and making new friends.

We asked Blessing’s mom if she thinks he likes traveling and she told us, “He likes to be with me, which he is 24/7 when traveling.  As a cat he is curious and new sights, sounds, and smells are exciting and stimulating to him.”

Blessing’s mom has a few tips for others who may want to travel with their cat:

1. Your cat should be well-identified with a microchip and I.D. tag on a collar or harness.
2. A stroller makes air travel easier. You can push your cat through the airport in the stroller and then transfer him/her to an under-the-seat bag when you board the plane. The stroller will go down the jetway and be stored with other baby strollers in the hold just before boarding the plane.  
3. On a car trip have water available and a litter box, should they be needed.  
4. Take along a small dustpan and brush to tidy up around the litter box at your hotel/accommodation.  
5. More places allow dogs than cats, so be a neat guest to encourage hotels/motels to allow kitties as guests.  

Parting words from Blessing’s mom, “I think cats that go places around town in the car, interact with other people, and go for walks in a stroller travel well.  A cat who has only been inside his home will probably have a harder time adjusting to travel and new places.”

All photos courtesy of Blessing and his mom.

A Story of Two Kittens Who Learned to Trust

Trust:
firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of
someone or something

On May 22^nd, AACC foster mom, Diane, accepted the challenge of raising two kittens with trust issues (in other words: they were terrified of people). Not only did she have to care for their physical needs, she also had to convince them that people aren’t so scary.

And that can be tougher than you may think.

Fauci and Zink

Here’s how it went in Diane’s own words:

“It took me at least 3 weeks to be able to pick up Zink without leather gloves. He was still hissing at me for almost a month, running and trying to hide to avoid being picked up, and even now, he must be approached in certain, slow, patient ways in order for him to allow me to touch him.  Even though he’d contentedly purr on my shoulder several times a day, the next time I would try to approach him, he’d hiss, run, hide and resist, then again melt into the petting once held.  This went on and on.  In time, he stopped hissing and running, very gradually.  He is so worth the wait though!  He is a gentle, wonderfully affectionate cat, once he is ready. One of those cats that never puts their claws out when touching me.  He will playfully bat my fingers/hand with his soft little paws without using his nails.  He loves to be held on my shoulder, and purrs madly, ceaselessly, and is never in a hurry to be put down.

Fauci was never afraid to be touched, has allowed me to pick him up from Day 1 and is way more bold, adventurous and athletic than Zink.  He flies around like an acrobat, is full of mischief, a total delight. Although he is much more outgoing and less afraid, he also hid when put in new places, along with Zink.”

Fauci and Zink observing their new foster home

“I am taking them to more rooms and an outdoor screened porch, out of their normal spot in a guest bedroom/bathroom.  They were scared the first time they were put in another room, but more curious and adventurous the next time on the screened porch, and each new location takes less time for them to settle down and enjoy.”

Learning the art of window-watching.

“They LOVE my 3-year old female cat.  When they were first here, so afraid and sick that I could not coax them out of their carrier even with food or any toy, they would come RUNNING over to see my cat, Van Gogh.  She, unfortunately, hissed at them, so I could not allow any direct contact, but I’d carry her into the room as a magnet to get them out of their corner and it worked very time.  If she comes near them, they stop whatever they are doing and run to her.  They reach their little paws through the bars that separate them from her and try go “pet” her.”

Are you my mom?

Once Fauci and Zink had resolved their trust issues, they were ready to leave the nest of their foster home. Like all good foster moms, Diane did her own social media marketing with a personal plea on her social media page:

“We are ready for our forever home, please.” Yes, Fauci and Zink are healthy, neutered, perfectly litter-box trained, and ready for a permanent home, together, with the right person who will patiently coax them past their initial shyness. The reward is two of the most playful, snuggly, purrrrrrrrring, and stunningly beautiful kitties ever.”

And her efforts paid off:

“What a happy ending to my kitty fostering adventure! These cuties’ rough start in life has turned around and they are now two of the luckiest kitties I know. They were adopted today and are now settling into their new home of kind, experienced, ardent cat lovers. I am so lucky to know where they’ve landed, and to be able to hear about how they are doing.”

Smokey (was Fauci) and Frankie (was Zink) are now settling in to their new home. Their mom tells us ““They are settling in just fine, and my granddaughters love them as much as my daughter and I do. I’m working from home, for the most part, and we had a wonderful day today. They were inquisitive and playful and VERY hungry!”

• 

• 

• 

And this is why we’re eternally grateful to our foster moms – they truly SAVE LIVES.

If you are interested in fostering, you can find more information and an application on our website.

Mowgli Learns about Cats

“Will this dog get along with my cat?”

“Will this cat get along with my dog?”

These are the two most common questions we hear from potential adopters.

When Mowgli’s family adopted him in May, they were asking themselves these questions. And although we can never guarantee that an adopted animal will get along with a family’s current pet, we can guarantee that we’ll do our best to help make the adoption work. 

Mowgli poses pretty for his Adopt Me picture at AACC.

Like all of our adopters, Mowgli’s family received an email from us asking how things were going a few weeks after his adoption. Mowgli’s mom replied that he was having difficulty settling down around her cats so our cat expert, Sue, responded with some tips to help Mowgli and his cats accept each other.

Here’s a few of the tips she gave Mowgli’s mom that might come in handy for others in this situation:

• One of the most important things is to make sure your cat has safe ways to navigate through your home to avoid chance encounters and being chased by Mowgli. I would recommend a number of things to consider….tall cat trees in different rooms or even in the middle of a hallway.  This way your cat can always have quick access to a high spot if she/he feels threatened.  Shelves on walls are another good escape route or pathway for your cat to navigate through the house.
• Consider having an area that is off limits to dogs.  This is very  helpful in reducing stress for your cat.
• Another important part is to work on ensuring Mowgli has good control with responding to basic commands, like sit and stay. If you know he wants to chase the cat but he can restrain himself because of his basic command training, that is helpful to everyone.
• Provide lots of enrichment opportunities for your cat to help him/her remain stress-free.  Setting aside time specifically for your cat can really help raise your cat’s confidence level which will help while he/she gets used to living with a new dog in the home. Consider having specific scheduled times for interactive play time with just you and your cat. In general play increases cats’ confidence levels and if your cat feels confident, it is easier for him/her to adjust to living with dogs. 
• Provide positive associations between your cat and dog. Anytime your cat notices Mowgli, reward your cat in some way.  A treat, some canned food, a food item that your cat loves but only gets when the dog is around are good ways to build positive associations. 
• A good website for additional information is the following www.catbehaviorassociates.com

Mowgli’s cats feel safer being up high. Notice that Mowgli is on leash while observing his cats.

How are things going for Mowgli and his cats? Here are updates from Mowgli’s mom:

“In regards to Mowgli, he has made great strides since we adopted another rescue who is good with cats. It seems to be helping when he watches the other dog respond so positively to the cats and then to get rewarded himself when he does the same. We will definitely be implementing some of your suggestions that we had not considered. Thank you again! Your entire staff has been wonderful in providing us with everything needed to make it an easy transition before, during, and after the adoption.”

“He’s still in no position to be let off leash with the cats, but is making great progress! We generally hold him and let him greet and smell each of them and then have them in their high spots and continue with life as normal but with him on a leash attached to one of us.”

Mowgli watches his roomie being relaxed and comfortable around one of the family cats.

We’re proud of Mowgli for trying so hard and impressed with his mom’s dedication to making Mowgli a permanent part of the family. And we’re glad we’ve been able to help make Mowgli’s adoption a success-in-the-making.

Cooper: Transformed by Love

All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
– The Beatles

We can imagine Cooper singing this song but he would have changed the lyrics slightly to “All I need is love, love. Love is all I need.” And after a few rough starts, Cooper’s wish came true…and it transformed him.

Before he was even a year old, Cooper had made three visits to our shelter as a stray. But after his third visit, his family chose to relinquish him. Why? Because he had bitten the father. Why did Cooper bite? Because he was having his face rubbed on the floor in his urine when he soiled in the house.

Because of the circumstances of the bite we chose to make Cooper available for adoption with the recommendation that he be adopted to an adult-only home with people who understood dog training using positive reinforcement.

And on April 8, Cooper scored. And scored big. The updates we’ve received from Cooper’s family show that treating a dog with kindness and training him properly and positively can transform a dog.

We’ll let the photos and stories we’ve received from Cooper’s family tell the rest of the story:

4/15/20: He’s been a very good boy since moving in… he’s showing a little more of his personality – super playful, loving, and affectionate. He is generally a gentleman and occasionally a rough housing rascal, but always listens when it’s time to quit. 🤗 He’s been running 5-6 miles a day with us and getting lots of extra walks and hikes and had a great play date with some of my friends’ dogs at University Lake.

He’s a great running partner – and we’re working on walking nice on leash… I ordered the Weiss Walkie.

He has been so great… he is exactly the adventure buddy I needed after losing my pups of 15+ years… he’s full of energy for activities but is very content to cuddle when it’s time to relax. He loves going on car rides! 

 

4/29/20: I wanted to thank you again… it’s been 3 weeks with Cooper today!

He has done so great with meeting new dogs and people and his “mouthiness” and nibbling tendencies are almost nonexistent (we got some appropriate toys for him to chew on and are reinforcing no mouthy play on us – he picks up on things really quickly). He respects dogs that don’t want to play or socialize, and he is learning new tricks! He is doing great on and off leash and he is a very attentive listener. 

5/13/20: Cooper has been so great! He is such a good and smart guy who is so eager to be with us. We are so happy to have him! I think he’s pretty happy to be with us! We’ve been going on hikes, daily runs and walks, and trips to the dog parks.  We all run and hike together on the weekends. We’ve been working on “checking in” when we’re hiking off leash before going up and seeing people or other dogs- and he’s doing great with learning!

We are absolutely in love with him. Our days revolve around “what’s Coop doing today?”… we are slowly trying to build him up to staying at home alone for longer periods of time (we are up to 30 mins!).

 He is a perfect dog!

 

And now…. Cooper is helping other dogs transform:

5/18/20: I have a really sweet Cooper story I have to share – just highlighting how special he really is! We went camping with a group of friends and their dogs over the weekend. Cooper just absolutely loved it; one couple camping with us has a traumatized rescue dog that does not socialize with people or other dogs, and he runs away if you even try to make eye contact with him. He hangs out in their tent, and then when they let him out he’ll go hide up in the trees and watch everyone. If he gets around other dogs, he’s usually aggressive or runs away; but then he met Cooper! Cooper went up to him to greet, gave him some space right away – and they looked at each other curiously for a bit, and then started to play bow and jump around with each other. Merlin’s owners were in tears, they’d never seen him even try to play with another dog. Eventually Merlin started following Cooper around; and if Cooper went up to see another dog, Merlin would hang back and wait, and then eventually would come up and run and play with the other dogs and Cooper. It was the sweetest thing – and for Merlin’s owners who have had him for 3 years and have never been able to have him interact with other dogs – it was amazing! For some reason, Merlin trusted Cooper and was okay with engaging with other dogs and people if Cooper was there. They were total little buddies by the end of the trip. I am so impressed with how sweet and intuitive he is! 

Cooper says it’s exhausting being such a good dog.

 

Cooper would appreciate it if you’d take a look at these resources for
positive reinforcement dog training:

Article: What is Positive Reinforcement in Dog Training?

Karen Pryor Clicker Training

Positively Victoria Stillwell

Batman: A Cautionary Tale About Life on the Street

Ever heard the term “mean streets?” Well, Batman is here to tell you that he knows exactly what that means.

Batman’s story as we know it, started in September 2016 when he was brought to us as a stray. When no one claimed him, be became available for adoption, ready for a second chance at a home where he would be loved.

Batman in 2016

Here’s the bio we wrote for him in 2016:

Don’t let his name fool you – Batman isn’t looking for superhero adventures. BUT, he is looking for your love and he promises to be a superhero at loving you back. This striking boy is serene, composed and quietly affectionate. Well, that is until he gets a hold of catnip and then the superhero in him comes out!

Well, whether he wanted them or not, Batman got superhero adventures. But they were scary adventures. Life or death adventures.

As with every animal who leaves with his/her new family, we always hope they have found the perfect home. Sometimes they have. Sometimes they have not. Sadly for Batman, it appears he had not found the perfect home because on April 7, 2020 he came back to us, a stray once again, but this time with the signs all over his body that he had been living on the mean streets.

Batman when he was found  by Good Samaritans.

Here’s what was noted when Batman was examined:

Batman had multiple infected punctures, swollen right eyelid and scratches on his body, likely the result of being in several cat fights. He also had a severe case of ear mites with a secondary ear infection.

Batman spent from April 7th to April 20th being tended by Katelyn, AACC Veterinary Assistant. Always the gentleman, he let her clean his wounds and ears and apply antibiotic ointment.

 

As his body healed, so did his spirit and we once again saw the Batman we had known and loved – the Batman who just wants to be held, cuddled, and loved. The Batman who’s happy playing with a ball soaked in catnip. The Batman who never wants to live on the streets again.

Batman’s experience is a testament as to why cats should not be allowed to roam. It’s not safe and it’s not legal. We know Batman would have spent these past few years content as an indoor cat, watching the world from a favorite window, perched on top of a cat tree, settling into his person’s lap for a nap, and curling up in his person’s bed at night, safe and sound. This time around, he’s looking for a safe haven.

Zeus: Springs Into His New Life!

On June 3, 2019, Zeus was brought to us by Anchorage Police Department (APD) after they charged his owner with cruelty to animals. According to the police report, witnesses saw a man on a bike hitting a dog (with both open and closed hands), kicking the dog (hard enough to knock the dog’s body around), and yanking on the dog’s leash. These Good Samaritans confronted the man and an altercation ensued during which the frightened dog approached one of the Good Samaritans and attempted to hide behind him. APD responded, arrested the dog’s abuser, and brought the dog, Zeus, to our shelter.

Per Municipal Code Title 17: If an animal has been placed in protective custody due to charges of cruelty against the owner, the animal shall not be released to its owner until a final determination is made pursuant to Chapter 8.55
(Cruelty to Animals).

Not only can the animal not be released to his/her owner, he cannot be released from protective custody. Animals in protective custody live at the shelter, spending most of their time in a kennel, dependent upon shelter staff and volunteers for care and much-needed attention. In Zeus’ case, this included walks and playtime with volunteers, and visits to the veterinary dermatologist when he developed skin allergies. To ease his discomfort, he was placed on a special diet and medications and given medicated baths twice a week for four weeks by kennel technicians.

Until the Case is Resolved

Zeus’ case was resolved on March 5, 2020 when the defendant pled guilty and was ordered to relinquish Zeus to the Municipality of Anchorage.

After living at the shelter for 8 months Zeus is finally able to move on with his life. Because of his allergies and need for continued care, he is going to one of our valued rescue partners who will ensure his adopters will be committed to his medical care. But first, we had a farewell gathering for Zeus to wish him well and let him know that he is loved.

Zeus gathered with the people who cared for him over the last eight months.

Zeus with kennel staff

Zeus with one of his volunteers who brought him a box of farewell gifts including toys, a bed, and new food bowls.

Zeus with more of his volunteers who came to wish him well.

And he partied hard!

 

And then he climbed into the car of our rescue partner, The Hound Lounge, who will find a new family for him. 

Farewell Zeus! We wish you the best.

The Faces of Protective Custody

Zeus is just one of many animals who have stayed with us under protective custody. You don’t see these animals on our social media pages but just because they aren’t visible doesn’t mean they aren’t valued.

Here are a few of the recent protective custody animals we have cared for:

Braya: 10 months in protective custody. Adopted to her new family on 11/16/17.

Bear and Petunia: 9 months in protective custody. Adopted to their new families in January 2018.

Bear and Petunia: 9 months in protective custody. Adopted to their new families in January 2018.

 

Wrangell: 10 months in protective custody. Adopted to his new family on 4/4/19.

Skye: 5 months in protective custody. Adopted to her new family on August 30, 2019.

Still in custody:
An 18-year old cat and a dog: one year in protective custody.
Case is ongoing so the information is confidential.

Spend the Day with Us: Installment One

On January 29, 2020, we debuted the first Spend the Day with us on social media with real-time posts of events at the shelter. And now we’ve compiled all those posts here.

Ready to spend the day with us? Here we go!

Post #1: Good morning Anchorage! We’re posting early today so you can follow along with us throughout our day. The day started at 7:45 am with volunteer, Allegra, picking up our cat, Trixie, to take her to Alaska SPCA to be spayed.

Post #2: by 8:15 am the Public Relations Coordinator was at MIX 103.1 with our cat Avalanche, for the weekly Pet of the Week show.

Post #3: At 9 am, Officer Winn was comforting two frightened cats who were in the night drop kennels.

Post #4: Wednesday is spay/neuter day when cats and kittens who have been adopted come back for surgery. Here’s  veterinary assistant, Katelyn, prepping one of 11 cats for surgery.

Post #6: By 11 am, the time we open to the public, kennel technician, Amanda, and kennel supervisor, Sue, had cleaned 31 kennels in the public area and given each of those animals fresh food and water. Now they’ll start cleaning another 69 kennels in the non-public area.

Post #7: Just after we opened, our rescue partner, Alaska SPCA, picked up Sprinkles, a kitten who needs medical attention they can provide at their clinic until he’s ready for adoption at their adoption center. Thank you Alaska SPCA!

Post #8: We found Dr. Leibold, our contracted veterinarian, sitting with Hazel. Hazel was terrified in the dog runs so kennel supervisor, Sue, set her up in a back office where it’s quieter. Hazel will be picked up by our rescue partner, Kitty and K-9 Connection, where she’ll be placed in a foster home that will be much quieter than our dog runs!

Post #9: Moca enjoyed some one-on-one time with volunteer Marilyn, who was waiting at the front door when we opened. Volunteers will come in throughout the day to spend time with our sheltered animals.

Post #10: Just two hours after opening, we had our first adoption of the day. Tiny is going home to live with two other parakeets. Lucky Tiny!

Post #11: At 1:15 pm, Officer Graber headed out to pick up two confined stray dogs. Because nearly 80% of the stray dogs brought to us are reunited with their families, we’re hopeful that these two will be home with their families soon.

Post #12: AACC Director and veterinarian, Dr. Wilson, examined several dogs today. Animals are examined if staff notes any health concerns or if the animal is considered a senior.

Post #13: After spending the morning cleaning kennels, Sue switched roles and began evaluating cats before making them available for adoption. There are 10 cats waiting for evaluation today which is why Sue often doesn’t take lunch until 4:00 pm!

Post #14: Hazel is leaving the building (see Hazel’s post from earlier today). Our rescue partner, Kitty and K-9 Connection, came in this afternoon to pick her up. Hazel was pampered all the way to the door – she didn’t like the leash so Sue just wrapped her in her blanket (it’s cold out for a little dog!) and carried her. We know Hazel will be in good hands with KK9!

Post #15: Good Samaritans brought stray animals to us throughout the day, hoping to help the animals be reunited with their families. This cat talked to us the whole time!

Post #16: After bringing in his third stray dog for the day, Officer Graber takes a moment to give treats to all the dogs.

Post #17: At 4:00 pm sharp, anxious cat and kitten parents were arriving to pick up their feline friends from spay/neuter surgery. Zachary’s dad was the first one here!

Post #18: Foster mom, Debbie, picks up a kitten who hasn’t been eating well. We know this little one will gets lots of TLC in Debbie’s care.

We’ll end Spend the Day with Us on this hopeful post. Watch for Installment Two of Spend the Day with Us soon!

 

A Goodbye to Mellifluous

Keep some sorrow in your hearts and minds
For the things that die before their time.
– Counting Crows “Mercury”

What will today bring? That’s what we ask ourselves every morning.

Thursday, December 19^th, started with a man walking past our windows in the morning darkness, before the shelter was open. In his hands was a cardboard box. We went outside to offer assistance and he told us he had found an injured cat the previous night. He said the cat couldn’t stand up or walk.

Officer Winn brought the cat inside, settled her into a warm kennel and checked for a microchip. Good news – she had a chip. She ran the number in our database and found out that this was one of our own…she had come to us a stray in August and we had named her Mellifluous. She was adopted on August 21. What had happened to this sweet girl?

Mellifluous in her kennel on 12/19/19

Officer Winn contacted the adopter who said they had left her with a relative who had made her an outdoor cat. What!? Mellifluous was declawed prior to coming to the shelter and now we learn that she had been put outside, unable to defend herself. Officer Winn asked the adopter if they would like to claim their cat. They did not. She then asked if they would like to relinquish her to us. They chose to relinquish her to us.

We brought her canned food which she tried hard to eat but she struggled – biting the paper food bowl and chewing on the towel when food dropped on it. After managing to take some big gulps, she settled on her bedding to rest.

As soon as Dr. Wilson, AACC Director and veterinarian arrived, she examined Mellifluous. She suspected that she could not see because she had no “menace reflex” when she put her fingers near her eyes and had no pupil response. She was also unable to use her rear legs.  Based on these symptoms, Dr. Wilson knew further diagnostics were required, such as x-rays, to see if there was injury to the spinal cord.

Because we are not equipped to provide this level of diagnostics at the shelter, we contacted one of our rescue partners, Kitty and K-9.  They responded almost instantly – picking her up from us to take her to their veterinary clinic.

But here the mystery deepened. The examining veterinarian found that she had no broken bones but there was “central nervous system involvement.”  Mellifluous received supportive care and then went to a Kitty and K-9 foster home.

We hate to see any animal experience trauma but it is always harder when the animal had been one of our own – we had cared for Mellifluous and were happy when she found a home. And we always discourage adopters from letting their cats go outside. We warn them of the dangers, (cars, predators, ingesting toxic substances, etc…) and remind them that it is illegal in the Municipality of Anchorage to allow cats to roam. And it seems that those dangers had caught up with Mellifluous…what had happened to her outside? We wish we knew.

We also wish Mellifluous’ story had a happy ending but it doesn’t. She passed away at 10:30 pm on 12/19.

We are so grateful to the Good Samaritan who had the compassion to pick up an injured cat, shelter her in his home overnight and then bring her to us. We are also grateful to Kitty and K-9 for taking her under their wing and to the veterinarians for their care. In the last 48 hours of her life, Mellifluous knew love.

Mellifluous
? – 12/19/19