Fluff on Wheels – March Sanctuary Update
Hi Everyone!
Maybe you’ve heard it already. That rumble in the distance that slowly turns into a roar as it passes by in a flash. No sooner than the ice and snow are gone than the fleet of motorcycles and hot rods hit the roads and sing their songs of “heavy metal thunder” around our towns. Well, all that motor mayhem isn’t just for out on the roads. We have our own pair of wheeled wild men here at the sanctuary. I’m sure that you’ve all seen the pictures and videos, so I’d like to share a bit more of the deeper stories behind our resident speed demons Woody and Coal.
Woody is quite the feline wonder. He was born in early 2024 in a litter born at shelter in the southeast corner of CT. Momma and babies were all fine, but the staff quickly noticed that Woody was a bit different. He was born with a condition called Cerebral Hyperplasia, which disrupts the communication between the brain and the limbs. It is not that uncommon in cats and Woody is actually the third cat with that condition that we have cared for at the sanctuary. However, his case is by far the most severe. While many cats with CH wobble and stumble, but largely get around on their own, Woody has very limited control of his arms and legs and cannot take more than a step or two upright.
So we took him in and got to work. We modified his environment to allow for him to more easily pull himself around on front legs and started him on an exercise regimen to strengthen all of his limbs. And then, there’s the wheels. He has a four wheel cart made specifically for cats. It took a while to get it fit just right for him and even longer to help him learn how to use it and gain the confidence to move himself around on his own. It’s been a journey filled with lots of work and patience, from us and from Woody, but also lots of joy and laughs…and of course, lots of treats.
Woody has adapted very well to his condition and is living happily with his caretakers, but our hope of course, is to find him a forever home. We know there’s a family out there ready to welcome this silly little man, but we’ll keep enjoying his company until that day comes.
Then there’s our other wheeled wild man, Coal! Unfortunately, Coal’s loss of mobility was not due to a natural cause, but to human mistreatment as a puppy. He survived his injuries, but has no feeling or control of his back end. He was rescued by another organization from the south and moved to a foster home near here, but his care had become too extensive and we were contacted to help. He moved in and despite the work involved in his care, he won everyone’s hearts instantly.
He came to us already pretty adept at cruisin’ in his wheels, but there was still lots to work on with him. He has become a regular in our hydrotherapy treadmill, which helps him maintain muscle tone and flexibility throughout his body. We’ve got him on a pretty reliable potty schedule, which has made his care much easier. We’ve also made lots of headway in working this smart little guy’s mind, including starting nose work games. And most importantly, we’ve been able to expand his world to a bunch of our staff and volunteers, and he’s been able to make friends with a bunch of dogs here. He and his crew love to ramble through the trails and he even gets to have play time with some of his more gentle buddies. He even has a steady role greeting donors and visitor tours, which he loves.
Coal is a special man who spreads joy and laughter wherever he goes. Even with all the work involved in his care, the staff and volunteers love every minute with him. But we also know that this is not his final home. We know there’s a family out there ready and willing to bring this wheeled wonder into their lives.
Vinny’s View
It’s SPRING!!! I’ve officially made the move from spending all of my time on the couch to splitting my time between the couch and the window bed! But even if I couldn’t see all the marvelous birds and bugs and greenery out my window, I would know there’s been a change. There’s bounce in everyone’s step and many more smiles around. And I don’t hear Jon grumbling about snow and ice anymore. It’s a time to bloom and grow and kick life back into high gear. And we hope that includes lots more visits to the sanctuary for you all! The winter was rough on everyone and kept many people away far too much. We miss you!! So in between breaking out the garden tools and tuning up your mowers, wouldn’t it be great to fit in some extra visits to the sanctuary?! We’d love to enjoy the spring with you!
See you soon!
And of Course…Adoptions!!
March was a busy month all over the sanctuary. In dogs, beautiful husky Paloma went home and another beautiful husky mix, Periwinkle, arrived. With the cat team, handsome boys Greyson and Scooter went home making space for Tebow and Bandit to join the crew. And in small animal world, it was all about dynamic duos, with ferrets Churo and Frito, rats Wanda and Winnie, and hamsters Remington and Cocoa all going home. Arriving to fill the gaps were ferrets Zoe & Zyla and Bowie, Dulce, and Jovi, bunny Cookie Dough, and guinea pigs Winnie and Dunkin. What a month!
Cupcake
We had another loss in our world of littles this month. We all know that our tiniest friends have the shortest time with us, but that doesn’t stop them from finding a place in our hearts. Cupcake was one of many mice in our care, but set herself apart with a fun spirit and some adorable quirks. Unfortunately, a quickly progressing medical complication left few options for care other than keeping her comfortable for as long as we could. We will miss this tiny shining light.
Thank you all so much for whatever way you support us and our mission. We couldn’t do it without you.
Jon Phillips
Sanctuary Director