KITTY TALES - Mira

Street Scamp turned Foster Princess

Kitten Rescue acquires animals in every imaginable way. In this particular case, a former adopter gave their friend our information when a stray cat showed up at their apartment. Seeing as it was against the management's policy to have pets, the kind young couple who had taken to feeding the initially reticent stray, were hoping against hope that someone might be able to rescue her. Cynthia McKeag, a member of Team KR, was dispatched to get an assessment on the kitty in question, and to determine her temperament.

It quickly became her first rescue ever when the gorgeous gray tux with soft green eyes came scampering over eagerly for petting and food. The little girl had shown up, terrified out of her mind little more than 3 weeks prior. After spending a week watching her from their apartment, the young couple had begun putting out food. It only took a handful of days before the cat was hanging out at their complex and no longer shying away from every movement. In fact, she adored being petted and would roll around on the ground, asking for belly rubs. Clearly, she had been someone's pet.

After being scooped up in a carrier (yeah, no trap needed!), the young girl was whisked off to her new life off the streets. She was named Mira, and given a clean bill of health by the vet. Mira tested negative for FIV/Felv, was judged to be about 7 months old, and had already been spayed. That's right. Someone had taken the time to fix her, but then either dumped her on the streets or she got lost and couldn't find her way home. There was no microchip, and with no lost cat posters or responses to the couple's initial attempts to find her owner, Mira became an official KR kitty.

Team KR member Elicia Richardson-Ellis took the precious girl in for her isolation period, and discovered that Mira is a huge love bug. Not only that, but she is completely at ease with dogs! Mira has now been transferred back to Cynthia McKeag, who will be fostering her. We have high hopes for this sweet teenager. We will never know how it is that she ended up on the streets, but she is pretty happy to have a full stomach, a warm bed, and someone to snuggle with.

Team Member - Kathy Eshenko

When describing the ideal cat, the words “playful”, “loveable”, “healthy”, and “gorgeous”, to name a few, usually come up.  "Crabby”, “shy”, “medically challenged” and “old”, rarely make it to the top of the list.  This is why team member, Kathy Eshenko, has a big affection for these types of cats.  The “un-adoptables” as they are called.  Ones whose chances of finding a loving and committed home, through sickness and in healthy, are slim to none.

Kathy’s first rescue effort back in 2000 was the opposite.  She hand-caught a litter of four healthy adorable kittens in her boss’ backyard and paid the price, arms badly scratched up and bloodied.  She didn’t know how to properly trap cats back then but she does now!  Those feisty kittens didn’t stay feisty for long.  On their first adoption day, three of the four kittens found homes.  Kathy has been with Kitten Rescue ever since and also volunteers at the Kitten Rescue sanctuary, Casitas.  Besides fostering she actively volunteers with fundraising, such as the Furball, garage sales, bingo night, and of course, Team Kitten Rescue!

Kathy also volunteers extensively with the Wildlife Waystation and has been with them since 2006.  Her commitment and hard work earned her the privilege of being on the Llama Team and the Grass Team, where she interacts and feeds the exotic animals at the sanctuary.      

When it comes to the needs and well-being of animals, whether it be cats, llamas, lions, tigers or bears, Kathy is always there to help and volunteer her time.  Her dedication is truly appreciated and we are proud to have her as a member of Team Kitten Rescue.  Go Kathy!

To contribute to Kathy’s crowdrise page go to www.crowdrise.com/kathyeshenko

KITTY TALES - Ziggy

Pauper turned Prince

It was Saturday night around 9:30pm on October the 22nd, when Minoo Rahbar, Team KR coordinator, spotted something black by the side of the road while on her way home. At first glance, it may have been little more than a discarded garbage bag, but after turning around for a closer look, Minoo was horrified to realize she was looking at an animal. Lying in a scruffy heap at the side of the road was the still body of a black cat. For all she knew, this poor animal was the tragic victim of being hit by a car.

Not willing to just leave him lying there, Minoo got out of her car and was blessed with a soft meow as the cat in question lifted his head in her direction. It was like a scene out of movie. Minoo dropped to the ground and spoke softly, not wanting to frighten a potentially injured animal and was blessed by a display of instant affection. Without any hesitation, this handsome fellow got up and walked straight over to his rescuer and began rubbing against her legs in a quest for love. When she sat down, he hopped into her lap as if to say: Take me with you!

He was famished and bordering on dehydrated. As Minoo waited for her friend and fellow Team KR member, Melanie Teller to arrive with a carrier, a man who lived nearby informed her that the cat had just appeared out of nowhere about a month and a half ago. With no one in the neighborhood feeding him, he had taken to scavenging whatever he could find, even trying to eat the paper out of a fast food bag in the few heartbeats it took for Minoo to fetch her phone from the car to call Melanie. A quick car ride to Minoo's place via Melanie's carrier gave the hungry boy a good meal and a huge bowl of water along with as much attention as could be showered upon him. Despite his affectionate and outgoing temperament, his physical condition lead to the conclusion that he had been living on the streets for some time.

The following morning, he was taken to the vet to determine the cause of his scabbed and scaly skin, along with a waterfall like amount of drooling. While no microchip was found, he was already neutered and judged to be about 9 to 10 years of age. The scabs came from the massive quantity of fleas roaming all over him, and the missing fur and scaly skin were a result of sarcoptic mange. The drooling was a result of ulcers and lesions in his mouth, coupled with horrible teeth and gums. There was also a small mass on his belly and he was suffering the effects of dehydration and severe anemia from all the fleas. After a nice bath, which was tolerable only because he was sedated to calm his terror, and flea treatment to keep the pests away, he was tested for FIV/FeLV and found to be negative for both.

Special donations helped raise the funds needed to get him on the road to recovery. This lucky man is now named Ziggy. Despite all he'd been through, a permanent home for Ziggy came swiftly to sweep him off into the lap of luxury. A former adopter of Minoo's couldn't get his sad face out of her mind and ended up adopting him. Ziggy absolutely loves his new home and mother, able to put his time on the streets behind him and enjoy life as a pampered pet.

This tale just goes to show you, that you never know where the next rescue will be, and Team Kitten Rescue are always on the look out to help animals in need at the drop of a hat.

SEE WHAT YOUR ANIMALS HAVE TO SAY!!

Here's our latest fun contest to help raise money for homeless animals: Donate exactly $17 to Team Kitten Rescue on Crowdrise between today, Thursday, Dec 15, and Sunday, Dec 18 (up to 11:59pm) and you will be included in a drawing to win a 30-minute session with Pet Psychic/Animal Communicator, Laura Stinchfield! ($85 value)!

http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamKittenRescueLAMarathon2012

FURRY TALES - Griffin the Puppy

In mid-September 2011 a Kitten Rescue volunteer found a young puppy whimpering at the bottom of a stairwell on her way to work. This puppy was taken to the vet and was diagnosed with two broken hips.  During surgery the vet found even more fractures. Griffin had damage to his growth plate in one leg, as well as multiple fractures. He had to have a plate and several pins put in.  He stayed at the hospital for one week and required three months of physical therapy. Best case scenario was that his hips and growth plate will heal and grow normally, and he will have full function of all four legs. Worst case scenario was that one leg would not grow properly and he would not be able to use it. Sadly, the nature of his injuries indicate it was caused by a human.  As of today his recovery is somewhere inbetween.  His right hind leg (with the pins) is strong, his left hind leg is weaker with less muscle mass.  Surprisingly, Griffin is active as any dog could be.  He runs, jumps and plays like crazy.  He is completely oblivious to his “handicap”.

Griffin had his photo taken with Santa at a recent adoption event.  He asked Santa for a forever loving home to celebrate Christmas.  He got his wish!  Griffin was adopted by a wonderful human and canine family who understood his physical therapy needs.  For an injured puppy who’s fate was uncertain, the volunteers who rescued him and nursed him couldn’t be more pleased to see him happy, healthy and loved.

KITTY TALES - Prentiss' Kittens part 2

Forever Loved.

When we last saw these adorable babies, they had just entered foster care. Since then, Prentiss' 4 kittens have grown strong and healthy at foster mom Suzanne's home. Black and white boy Scooter and his brother Jack, a fluffy tabby, were neutered a week ahead of their other brother and sister. They left their siblings behind in foster care and headed to the Petsmart, where they were abandoned, to stay in the enclosures where people could see them.

Tabby boy Jack never made it inside an enclosure. Former KR adopters were delighted to meet him and he was able to go to his forever home right away! Jack now has a new kitten buddy who had been adopted through a different rescue group and is loving life. Two days later, Scooter stole the hearts of a nice young couple who had just moved into a new condo. He is joining their family of two black and white kitties, so he fits right in.

The following week Jack and Scooter's siblings were finally able to get fixed. However, little fluffy black girl Vader, and her tabby and white brother Sparky never left Suzanne's. As is fairly common with new foster parents, Suzanne decided to adopt the sibling pair. Her senior male cat is already getting used to having the rambunctious babies around.

All four of these kittens ended up in wonderful new homes. With kittens, it is best for them to be adopted in pairs like Vader and Sparky or have a young kitty companion to play such as with Scooter's new home. Older cats are often irritated by kittens, and a lone kitten often ends up with behavioral problems due to a lack of feline interactive play which is very different from play with people. Whether it's an active young adult or another kitten, we always make sure our babies will never be alone.

For these four kittens, what started out as a traumatizing dump has turned into happy endings. Now, it's mom's turn to find her forever home.