Parenting - May Sanctuary Update - Our Companions Animal Rescue

Hi Everyone!

Here we are! Smack in between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day! This time of year is full of lots of perspectives, from big parties and celebrations to some more complicated emotions. It brings to mind all of the ways that the concept of parenting can impact the work we do here, how we relate to these critters who hold such an important place in our lives, and even how we relate to each other. No matter what your situation in life, we all have experience with a wide array of areas where we either do some parenting, receive parenting from others, and even a bit of both at the same time. So let’s take a look at some of the myriad forms of parenting here at the Sanctuary.

Breakfast in bed is nice, but how about pizza on couch with Bootz?!

Of course, the most obvious form of parenting here is how we care for the animal residents. It’s our mission and our responsibility to care for every pet here as if they were our own during their stay here. That means far more than just food, water, and basic health care. Our goal is for every animal here to thrive as a complete being, in their physical health, emotional health, and mental health. We make sure that all of our guests get plenty of safe exercise and get to explore and learn and sniff and mature. And then there’s the always crucial work of pets and snuggles and soft chatting to make sure they know that they are valued and wanted. As with any parenting, it’s our job to prepare them to grow and bloom here and now, and for the rest of their life to come in that anticipated future home.

It’s also been magical over the years to see the way some of the animals parent each other during their time here. We have seen cats, such as Wallace and Totti, take newcomers under their wings and help them develop healthy social skills. We’ve seen dogs like Cole and Angel graciously tolerate the impoliteness of less skilled dogs as they learn how to interact appropriately. And even now, we have the guinea pig father and son pair of Coffee and Pudding, and guinea pig Poppy has joyfully taken on the role of big sister with baby girls Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. It’s quite the endearing sight.

Frodo loves to sit on laps and hear a story or song

Reese knows the important of a good cuddle when you’re feeling down

Strollers can be expensive, so we make do with what we have!

Orion & Aries are always there for each other

Rosie showing Coal the ropes of sanctuary life

Princess believes you’re never too old to get tucked in

Then there is the various types of human parenting that go on here. I see it every day and it goes far beyond any simple matter of age. So many of our volunteers and staff come here with a variety of experiences with animals that they then develop into high functioning skills and share with others. It always makes me smile when I hear a more veteran volunteer help guide a newer one, or just offer a knowing word of support when a pet here displays a trademark bit of mischief. And there are always gestures of caring and guidance amongst the staff as the learn from each other and support each other through the good days and the more challenging days. Whether it’s an iced coffee on a hot day or a condolence card for a recent loss, there’s always some caregiving going on amongst the humans of the sanctuary as much as the pets.

Shy guy Eddy welcomes new staff Alafair into his close friends circle

Gidget and volunteer Sera are always learning from each other

Our kitties definitely use their network of volunteers to communicate how they like to be pet, brushed, and played with

And it may be a little odd to think of it this way, but there’s a kind of parenting that happens with the organization. Those who have been here since the beginning have every intention for this magical place to go on and thrive long after we’re no longer around. Parenting is so much about preparing for the future. We make every effort daily to make sure that Our Companions is financially sound, professionally operated, and well-fortified to weather what the future might hold, especially as elements of the work pass from one set of hands to another. As one of the “old guard” myself, I look at the younger staff and have every confidence for the future of Our Companions as we continue to invest in education, development, and solid infrastructure.

Our dog volunteers play a big part in training and socializing our pups

Seth and our small animal team will ensure that the next generation of little ones will always be welcome here at the sanctuary

Tammy, and all of our staff and volunteers, cherish every moment with our furry friends

Patches’ Purr-spective

It’s no secret that a big part of the story of Our Companions is recognizing the complicated past experiences of the animals here at the sanctuary. For many of us, there may have been multiple “moms” and “dads” in our lives. For others, there may have been none. For some of us, there may be memories of a life spent in the loving care of a dedicated parent that was lost to difficult circumstances. For others, having someone care for us may be a new experience. Regardless of what a “parent” might have meant to us in our old lives, the love and support we get from the staff and volunteers at Our Companions ensures that we know just how wonderful family can be and gets us ready to be a part of that again in our homes to come. We always look forward to our time with all of our “moms” and “dads” here and all of the joy it brings to our lives.

Can’t wait to see you again!

Patches

In the life of a pet parent, we all know the painful inevitability of having to say goodbye. This month, we said goodbye to one of our longest feline residents, Wavy Gravy. This special guy meant the world to all of the staff and volunteers who met him over the years. Like many cats, he was that special combination of love and attitude that warms your heart and your lap, even when you got the occasional little nip on the finger. Wavy had complicated health concerns over the years that certainly took their toll over time. He was experiencing some subtle signs of decline for some time that then took a more dramatic turn. We knew it was time to let him go. Wavy will long be remembered as one of the most endearing cats to ever grace our halls. We will miss him greatly.

And of Course…Adoptions!!

There’s been lots of adoption action this May. In the cat side of things, it’s no surprise that Furby has already found her way to a home, but we also got to celebrate long time resident Keiko going home after years of working with her to get her comfortable with a variety of human interactions. Arriving in our care were Bagel, Charlotte, and Olive. Then, with our mini-critters, guinea pigs Scott and Reese went home, along with ferret Scooter, and hamster Onyx. Joining the party in Suzanne’s Place were a guinea pig named Fluff, and five hamsters named Duck, Flamingo, Frog, Moose, and Pigeon!