Resilience - April Sanctuary Update - Our Companions Animal Rescue

Hi Everyone!

It feels like it took a while for spring to get up and running, but it has hit the sanctuary in a big way over the past couple of weeks. Whenever I see the various flora and fauna bursting back to life around here, especially after a harsh winter, it makes me think about the amazing resilience of nature, and then, the amazing resilience of the critters we care for here. Every dog, cat, and small animal here has been through some bad times on their journey, and yet they are all so full of hope and love, and ready to take on whatever the next thing is that life has for them. This month, I’d like to highlight three of our guests who exemplify this quality of resilience.

Eddy takes in the field of dandelions on a lovely sanctuary day

First, let’s talk about two very special cats in our care, Woody and Noelle. Woody came to us from another shelter facility. He was born with a congenital condition called cerebral hypoplasia, where the part of the brain responsible for balance and coordination doesn’t fully develop. This leads to cats who may have tremors, stumble, or as in Woody’s case, be unable to walk. Often, a cat like this in a shelter would not have much hope, but his caretakers saw his potential as a great cat and gave it their all to care for him. When it became apparent that their resources were too limited for Woody, they sought us out and we were able to bring him in to the sanctuary. Since being here, we’ve been assessing his mobility and figuring out how he can eat and get around as easily as possible. We’ve also been exploring various tools and therapies that could help him lead the most active and rewarding life possible. He has quickly become a bit of a celebrity, as his indomitable spirit and joy for life have shown through, as he vigorously plays with volunteers and his feline roommates, enjoys abundant snuggles, and even takes stroller rides around the driveway. He is truly an inspiring example of a kitty who won’t let any obstacle get between him and a fun time or a good meal.

His condition doesn’t stop him from being a playful kitten

Noelle came to us a few months ago after she was found severely injured by animal control. They sought medical care for her, which involve the amputation of her front right arm. In addition to the physical trauma she had suffered, she was very fearful and wanted nothing to do with the humans trying to care for her. We were contacted and took her in, not knowing for sure what, if any, progress we’d be able to make with her. We brought her in and gave her a quiet space to recover, while the staff slowly and patiently found ways to show her that we were not a threat. Once she was able to move around comfortably, we were even able to use play to show her that humans could even be fun. Today, Noelle has not only regained confident and surprisingly agile movement, she’s become quite affectionate and responsive to her favorite people. It’s a testament to her resilient spirit that she not only recovered physically, but also emotionally from everything she’s been through.

It only takes one arm to give a high-five!

This pretty princess isn’t letting a loss of limb hold her back from ruling her kingdom

Then, on the doggy side, we have Coal. Coal comes from the southern U.S. where he was shot as a puppy. He survived, but lost most of the movement in his back legs. Another organization transported him to New England and nursed him back to health, but lacked the resources to manage this mobility challenged teenager, so we were able to take him in here. And this guy is not about to let all this keep him from a fun time. He has acclimated quite well to wheels and other support devices, and is filled with abounding joy for everyone and everything, in spite of such horrible treatment in his youngest days. We’re currently working to get input on his condition from a wider array of veterinary experts, as well as working to help manage his potty needs. Just like Woody and Noelle, Coal is certainly a challenge, but the joy and love they give us is well worth all of the work!

Patches’ Purr-spective

While we regularly get our share of dramatic cases of pets making miraculous progress and turn-arounds here, there are a myriad of little steps forward and demonstrations of inspiring resilience that happen here everyday. It happens when a bunny like Nougat decides to take a tentative sniff of your shoe on his way to becoming a loving house bunny. It happens when, one day, after weeks of practice, big puppy Champ sees a squirrel run up a tree and choses to look back at you instead of running head long after. And it happens when my feline friend Keiko, over her four years here, slowly goes from hisses and scratches to purrs and snuggles and even finding her way to a forever home! And all of these tiny baby steps of progress happen because of you, our volunteers! Your patience and dedication, your willingness to work with challenging pets, and your attention to following the details of their progress plans, make all of this possible. We so appreciate everything you do!

Can’t wait to see you again!

Patches

While April has brought us abounding life and joy, it has also brought us some crushing losses. We had to say goodbye to long time canine resident Juno this month. It was a difficult decision, but was ultimately, the best way to bring her peace. The dog team is filled with happy memories of this sweet, intelligent, but also very challenging girl, including everything from stories of “winter-spice Juno” to tales of the worst frog hunter ever. We will desperately miss her.

In addition to losing Juno, we said goodbye to Tank this month. Tank came to us when his owner passed away, though he was quite elderly and in poor health himself. We knew his time with us was likely to be short, but he managed to fill that time with endless laughs at his silliness. He was friends with everyone, including his feline found family, GeeBee and Woody. He left a big impression in a small amount of time, and we will miss him.

Finally, there was the loss of feisty ferret Raphael. Raphael, along with his brother Gabriel, were our first ferret residents in Suzanne’s Place. They were found abandoned in a carrier in Bushnell Park. A good samaritan got them to the Program Center in Manchester where they caught a ride to the sanctuary. They were thin and a little weak, but made a quick recovery and became a highlight of the small animal program. Unfortunately, Raphael was diagnosed with an all too common pancreatic condition in ferrets and, while the medications he received kept him going for a while, we knew his time would likely be short. The small animal team, as well as the dog and cat staff who assisted with his care, have all felt his absence.

And of Course…Adoptions!!

The resilience of our guests is on full display as we look at the comings and goings in April. In dogs, our favorite mini-boxer, Angel, went to her forever home, with wheeled wonder Coal and little Frodo joining the crew. In cats, dapper buttons went home, while Spence, Magic, and Furby moved in. And in a flurry of furry activity in Small Animals, Chestnut, Charlotte, Bonnie & Clyde, and Tiny Tim all went home, making room for a group of mice, Star, Libra, Gemini, Pisces, and Max, bunny Elle, and guinea pigs Poppy and Coffee & Pudding to join the fun.