Back on Oct. 20, 2006 I wrote the following article. 

It was the first of 99 articles written for Paws for Pets. Some things never change, this being the 100th article I sat down to the computer thinking which cat or subject will I write about.  I had watched the news reports this week on the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and it reminded me of the 10 Katrina cats that we received from New Orleans, and being that this is my 100th article I thought I would look back and see what I had written for my first article, and ironically it was not only about how the Cat Sanctuary began, but also on the cats we had recently received from Hurricane Katrina. So I thought this would be a great time to look back and reminisce with the faithful readers of Paws for Pets. Many things have changed since Oct. 20, 2006.  We are now in our new Adopt-A-Pet building. The dogs and cats are all under one roof and we have  welcomed many more volunteers for both dogs and cats. One thing that hasn't changed is the desire to rescue and save the homeless cats and kittens of our area. It is the combined efforts of the volunteers, and the community that we continue to do this.  And once again I give credit to the faithful volunteers who pamper, love and care for the cats and kittens at the sanctuary.  Every morning and every night, 7 days a week, 365 days a year they come.  They clean, medicate, feed, water, brush and play with the cats.  But most importantly, they give of their time and their energy to the cats and kittens that were “throw away” pets. They are truly what York Adopt-A-Pet is all about.  They rejoice and celebrate with each adoption, and they are saddened when an unexpected death occurs, but they are steadfast in their dedication to the cats that are in our care. Now back to October 2006.

October 20, 2006

The Cat Sanctuary was officially established in 2000. Up until that time I volunteered at the Adopt-A-Pet building for several years, and I also fostered small dogs until they could be placed in their new forever home. The Adopt-A-Pet building  was always filled with dogs and if I remember correctly, I “volunteered” to take a mother cat and nursing kittens home to my husband’s work shop so the mother cat could have piece and quiet without barking dogs day and night.  Welllll……that was the beginning, and over the years more and more cats found their way to Bob’s work shop that has now been completely converted to a Sanctuary for stray and abandoned cats and kittens. We are York Adopt-A-Pet, but somehow the Cat Sanctuary’s name was added to clarify where the dogs are kept and where the cats are kept. Hopefully in the near future with the plans for a new Adopt-A-Pet building, both the cats and dogs will be housed together in a new state of the art building. We offer our time and effort for the citizens of York and York County, but most importantly, we are here for the animals. We are the voice of those that have no voice. Our goal at the Cat Sanctuary is to find a forever home for each cat or kitten that comes to us. By no fault of their own they are discarded as if they don’t feel pain, hunger, cold and thirst.  Cats particularly are known as the “throw away” animal in our society. We cannot change the world, but we have changed the world for as many as 200 plus cats and kittens that pass through our doors each year. 

Each week that we are featured, I will try to give you a human interest story and introduce you to a particular cat or kitten that we have at the Sanctuary. Also, although I am certainly not an expert, after dealing with hundreds of cats I can give you a few tips on a cat’s personality and health needs. 

This week we are featuring our three cats from Katrina.  Pictured is Creole, a beautiful calico spayed female.  We have Ms. Voo Doo and Bourbon still available for adoption. I just returned from Louisiana last week visiting my mother’s family and heard many stories of not only Katrina, but also Hurricane Rita which hit the Orange Texas area of which many of my relatives reside. Their homes destroyed, the beautiful trees toppled, without food, electricity or water for weeks. To think that these cats actually survived the elements of a hurricane, were picked up off the streets, taken to a shelter and then later transported to areas of the country is amazing in itself. We received 10 hurricane cats from Hearts United located in Auburn. Their volunteers drove a van to Louisiana where they picked up more than 20 cats and 20 dogs to bring to Nebraska to be placed in new homes. If only these cats could tell us their stories it would surely make us appreciate the fact that they are safe and sound in Nebraska.  We know that Ms. Voo Doo was a pampered cat at one time; she is declawed, and was already spayed.  Please give me a call 362-4908 or Deb Sanders, 362-2102 to make an appointment to see these three great southern cats. They are deserving of a second chance to find a family who will love and care for them.  If you have any questions, you can email me @ lamoine@inebraska.com.

Check out our website as well. It has pictures and descriptions of all the cats, kittens, puppies and dogs available for adoption. www.yorkadoptapet.com.

See you in a couple of weeks. Until then, if you are missing a cat or kitten be sure to call us as we might have your little fur ball at the sanctuary.  LaMoine  

PS: All Katrina cats were adopted!!!

I recently received a story about the little Fox Terrier puppy, pictured here.

He was literally sacrificed to entertain a young child with behavior disorders.

The parents thought it would help their son to have a puppy, even though they knew he was prone to episodes of violence. Will was handed over to this young child at eight weeks of age. At that time, he was choked, thrown repeatedly against the wall and severly abused in many other ways.

It makes me sick to think that the parents did not remove Will immediately, but they didn't. Several years ago, I personally witnessed a child abuse a dog while the parents stood by and watched  him. I had  to intervene to stop him and eventually we ended up purchasing the dog to get it away from them. But, they soon got another puppy and I happened to run into them at the vet office as they were getting his shots. I remarked that the puppy would be dead within two months and sadly,he was. I could hardly look at the puppy as they carried him out of the office, because I knew what was going to happen to him and there was nothing I could do about it.

As for Will's plight, the parents finally realized that it was not working out to have him around their son. You think ? They gave him to an older man, who soon realized that there was something terribly wrong with the dog and he turned him over to a local rescue group, for he knew the problems were more than he could handle. After a checkup at the vet, it was found that Will had severe neurological problems and was blind and deaf.  All at the hands of a young boy. His eyes would roll and he would lay in a fetal position,shaking. He is frightened of everything around him, but is learning that being held and petted feels good. His spine is damaged and they are trying to see if there is some surgery that can repair it.

The point of this story is to convey the fact that pets are not for everyone.  If you have a child that exhibits behavior that could be detremental to the health and well being of the animal, then for goodness sake, don't get one.  The child is not going to change just because you brought him home a little puppy or kitten. I have seen parents let their tiny children pick up their pets only to drop them on their heads. That is one of many good reasons not to adopt to homes with small children, unless they have grown up with animals from day one.Small children don't mean to hurt them,they just don't know any better.

Little guys like Will need to be protected. It shouldn't happen. A rescue volunteer passed this on to me.  The author is unknown.

Here in this house... I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs 'out there'.

I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.

I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.

I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.

I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.

My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house... There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.

I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the words.

I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.

My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house... I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.

I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves.

I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be.

I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.

I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.

If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.

Here in this house... I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...

knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.

If I am ill, I will be doctored. If scared, I will be calmed. If sad, I will be cheered.

No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and known to be of value.

I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough.

My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.

I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house... I will belong. I will be home.

Little Pumpkin is one of many little kittens that have made their way to the cat sanctuary through the years. There are really too many to keep count.

They come and then thankfully they go. At present there are four little guys and gals that have been found in ditches, wood piles and front porches. They have no other siblings and seemingly no mothers. One was found on a rural York County farm being brought to the front porch by the family dog. Two were found in a ditch and with little Pumpkin; he was found in a wood pile by Rosie Kopcho. As with most people who find tiny baby kittens it is a daunting task to know what to feed them, how often they need to be fed, not knowing that they need to be kept warm either by a heating pad or hot water bottle. Rosie was leaving to attend her granddaughter Kelsey's wedding and called to see if I could take Little Pumpkin. She dropped him by with some KMR kitten formula and he indeed looked like a miniature Little Pumpkin.

It is a full time job to keep these little guys going, but it is so rewarding to know that you have saved these other wise doomed little babies. For those of you who have bottle fed baby kittens you know how exciting it is when they fight to grab and can nurse from the bottle. Generally you start with syringing little amounts at a time until they can become familiar with the bottle. Their little paws will flail like baby birds learning to fly and your hands are proof that that they indeed have sharp little claws. They become very vocal at feeding time and, like most little ones, have no patience if they are not first in line to be fed. I usually go in cycles and feed a little bit at a time so they don't go “crazy” as they smell the formula and are not getting their share.

Thankfully all four babies are going back to their original homes when they can eat on their own. Rosie called me yesterday to see how little Pumpkin was doing and I told her he would be ready to go “home” in a couple of weeks. As long as I am feeding three babies, what is one more for a couple of weeks. And I will enjoy the antics of these four little fur balls, to see them run across the floor when they hear the refrigerator open, all four meowing and trying to climb my legs as I attempt to fill the bottles. I have gotten smarter and now have the bottles filled before they are released from their kennels, but it is still chaotic trying to go from one to another. I will enjoy watching them learn to play with their toys, and to see them as they interact with each other.

To simplify the kitten experience is to admit that I enjoy these little guys, especially when I know they are going back to their original homes. There is a great feeling when you hear these little kittens slurping down the formula and their attempts at purring when their tummies are full. When I put them back in their beds they snuggle down to sleep and I know they are good to go for another four to five hours when it is once again the chorus of FEED ME NOW!!!

Thanks to people like Rosie we can save these little babies. There are many Little Pumpkins out there and for every one we can save it is a great feeling. For those who foster kittens you know the feeling of holding one and know exactly what I am talking about. To see a kitten with a round fat tummy, their little blue eyes watching you intently as you hold and feed them. They are so tiny and defenseless and knowing you are the only thing between their hunger and their contented purring is the best feeling you can get.

Call me at 366-0533 if you would like to join our foster program. A word of caution ... it can become addictive.

Earlier this week, about 8:30 in the evening, I got word of two dogs, with collars and tags, running on west Nobes.

My first thought was the heat and that no dog should be out running around in it. West Nobes is not far from where I live, so I was able to get there quickly and soon spotted them near Pamida parking lot.

One was a larger brown dog and the other was a medium sized black one and they were breathing hard, panting and sucking in the hot evening air. The smaller one collapsed on the grass, exhausted, and I was able to get close to her as I knelt down on my knees. She started crawling on her tummy, slowing inching her way to my open hand.

It was obvious she wanted to come to me and I was about to snap the leash on her when the larger dog sent a signal of some kind and she struggled to her feet and slowly followed him, disappearing into the trees on the north side of the road.

Neither the police department nor Adopt a Pet had received any calls on them missing. I spent another half hour driving around looking for them and I can only hope they were able to find their way home. I could not help but think to myself, here I am chasing two dogs I have never seen before, when the owners obviously were not concerned enough to even report them missing. Wouldn't you be frantic if you lost both of your dogs in weather such as this?

At least make a lost animal report if you don't feel like going out and looking for them. Fortunately, there are people doing animal rescue that do this work for others. It is not unusual to get a call of a dog that has been missing for a week. A WEEK?

Wow, thanks for the heads up. I'll get right on it.

We are still seeing dogs in vehicles at various stores around town, despite warnings to just leave your dog at home when you go shopping in weather like this. The American Humane Society says, "Never leave your pets in a parked car, even if the windows are open. Ten minutes could be too long on a hot day. By then, the temperature inside the car could reach 160 degrees, enough to cause a dog to suffer heat stroke.

Pets don't perspire as people do. They cool themselves by panting and with only hot air to breathe, they could suffer permanent brain damage within moments. Ten minutes.

Several weeks ago a lady went into a restaurant at the interchange and left her little dog in the car. She was irate when the police arrived and lashed out at the person reporting it. Meanwhile the dog had spent an agonizing 30 minutes in the car, enduring the heat, and was probably lucky to be alive.

Please use common sense when walking your dog on a hot day. Take them out early in the morning if you can. One man, here in town, was riding his bike in the heat of the day, with his small dog running beside him on a leash, desperately trying to keep up. It is sad that he had to be told by a third party that the dog was too exhausted to go on.

Keep in mind, that dogs with the flat faces, such as bulldogs, Boston terriers, Pekinese and pugs are very susceptible to the heat. About 15 years ago, I had a heartbreaking experience. I was keeping two Adopt a Pet dogs at my house, both Boston terriers, Lady and Smooch, the latter I eventually kept as my own. I had a pet door from my kitchen to the deck outside. It was a 85 degree day, not overly hot, and I left to run some errands and was gone about an hour.  When I returned, the dogs had gone outside on the deck and I found Lady in obvious distress, lying on her side, struggling to breathe. I brought her in and started cooling her down, but before I could even get her to the vet, she died in my arms.

I will never know why she didn't come back inside, but the heat on the deck apparently was too much for her and it quickly sent her into a deadly heat stroke. To this day, if I see one of those breeds outside in the heat, I feel obligated to talk to the owner. I don't want their dog to suffer the same fate as mine.

Some appreciate it, some don't.

For dogs that are kept outside, please see that they have plenty of shade and lots of fresh, cool water. Keep their coats free of mats. Spray them for flies and it is important to keep them on Heartgard to protect them from heartworm. Some dogs enjoy a small swim pool to lay in.

If you are going to have a pet, then the law says you must care for it. Several weeks ago, a man in Missouri left his puppy in a wire cage in the sun with no water for several days. The little guy nearly tore the cage apart trying to get out before he died. Congratulations to the judge. The guy is in jail where he should be. The vindictive side of me says he should have been put in a cage in the sun with no water. That would be true justification.

Some dogs just draw the short straw and end up with irresponsible owners. It is up to the public to be vigilant and report any dogs you see that are not being cared for to the proper authorities. Don't wait until it is too late.

We are the throwaways, we are the abandoned and we are the abused.

We are the cats that began as darling little kittens and we have done the “unthinkable,” we have grown into cats. We still like to play, we like to be brushed, groomed, we like to be held and inside these cats bodies are the heart and soul of a baby kitten. If you look into the eyes of a cat, some say you can look into your own self. With their unblinking stare and intelligent expressions you wonder if somehow they know more about life than we do.

Our organization, York Adopt a Pet, has moved into our new building. For those who have visited the shelter you know what a wonderful facility exists here in York, Neb. It is with pride and appreciation that I am part of such a wonderful organization. There are so many compassionate, caring and giving volunteers who work every day, 365 days a year. This includes the snow days, national holidays or unbearably hot humid summer days.

Every day volunteers arrive at the building to care for the dogs and cats. EVERY DAY.

We have cats of every size, color and age. When we receive cats or kittens at the shelter, we never discriminate. We take both old and young, we take sick and healthy. We take the sweet cats and sometimes the snarly cats. We take the ditch kittens, we take the abused, the sick and abandoned. And when space allows we take those who must be relinquished by their owners.

I feel the Cat Sanctuary has the most loyal, dedicated and compassionate volunteers ever assembled in a shelter. We have volunteers who are experts in the medical side, volunteers who are willing to take a cat or kitten home for several days to give them special care and attention. We have volunteers who see the need to clean a cupboard, scrub an unclean area. We have volunteers who are “watchers” and report anything unusual in a cat’s behavior such as, “Sassy seemed lethargic today” or “James sneezed several times while I was at the Sanctuary.”

ALL of our volunteers have a love of cats and a desire to make a difference in a cat’s life.

We have two shifts at the shelter seven days a week. The shifts are morning and evening and with some of our teachers and college students going back to school, we have several openings available and would love to have you join our cat family.

I have visited with many people through the years who say, “I would love to do this, but I would want to take them all home” or “I couldn't get attached it would be too hard to see them go.”

If you took a consensus of all of the volunteers, they would all assure you that, no, you won't want to take them all home ... and, yes, you do have your favorites. But trust me you will feel WONDERFUL when you know they have gone to their “forever” home and have their own family, their own sofa and all the attention of a family unit.

YAAP offers lost or abandoned cats and dogs a refuge. We are dedicated to preventing animal suffering, cruelty and to providing quality care for every cat and dog. This is what makes York Adopt a Pet so successful. It is ALL about the welfare of our dogs and cats.

We need YOU to help us care for these stray abandoned and abused cats. We are united in our quest to educate the public to spay and neuter their cats. All of our adult cats are spayed and neutered when adopted and we have a rebate program for our kittens that are adopted out.

I hope that as you read this you will think, “I can make a difference in a cat's life. I can join a great organization, meet a wonderful group of volunteers, work in a cheerful, clean and state-of-the-art building.”

But most important you will receive more gratification than you can imagine when you become a volunteer at YAAP. Call me at 366-0533 for more information about volunteering.

Remember the cats and kittens are waiting for your call.

In my last column, I spoke of Cinder, the lab/chow that had lived with an abusive family for seven years before being rescued. She now spends her afternoons happily greeting people at the York Adopt a Pet shelter, never thinking of her former life.

She is one of the lucky ones ... so many never get rescued and die without having experienced a gentle touch, a kind word or the love of a human.

It brings to mind a very fortunate little alumni of York Adopt a Pet that we acquired about six years ago. Truman was a tiny Yorkie that was living with a young family in Lincoln and developed a naughty habit of relieving himself on the baby's toys. I have no doubt that he was trying to tell them something, and in Truman's mind, it seemed like a good way to get their attention. And, it did. He soon was on his way to York after the owners made a call to Judi at Adopt a Pet, asking if they could relinquish him to us.

Now, in the past, Hardy Leggett would make occasional visits to our old shelter and tell me about his childhood dog, a bob-tailed shepherd, that used to ride on the tractor with him. He thought he would enjoy another one, but as time went on, he decided a smaller dog was more suited for them now and he requested that we notify him if we ever got in a Yorkie.

So when Truman arrived in town, Judi called Hardy right away to let him know he was available for adoption. Sally answered the phone and after visiting with Judi, told Hardy about Truman. His first reaction was, "No no, I'll just like him too much." It is a natural reaction sometimes ... people feel they will get too attached and then losing them can be so painful. We decided to hold off a few days to see if Hardy might have second thoughts on Truman. And not to our surprise, Sally called Judi and said, "Hardy said to bring that @#!% Democrat over,” and so she did, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions they ever made. That day, the granddaughters came over and played with him, welcoming him into his new home. Truman was put in a kennel the first few nights, but he was not happy and by the third night he was snuggled with them, in their bed, and was rapidly working his way into the hearts of his new family. It has not been smooth sailing for Truman. Last year he became very ill and it looked as though he was not going to survive. I visited him at the vet and nearly broke down as I saw all the needles attached to his head and body, yet he managed to get up and wag his tail for me. I recall how distraught Hardy was during this critical period. Sally was worried too, but she also had concerns for Hardy, for she knew losing Truman would be devastating to him. As Hardy put it, "He is my best pal." But Truman's resilience was amazing and he pulled through. He is a very tough little guy.

Hardy said he knows there is a good chance that they could outlive Truman, for he is 10 now and has some other health problems. I asked him if he would ever get another dog should anything happen to Truman and he didn't hesitate, “Yes, right away." I told him that was a healthy response. It tells me that he has enjoyed this dog so much that he is willing to adopt another to fill the void that Truman would leave. However, I have the feeling that Truman is going to be around for quite some time.

I had a friend relate a story to me recently about a good friend of theirs who was dean of the medical school at a major university down south.

Every day when the dean would come home from work, he and his dog would go down by a creek in the woods and talk. You could see them from the house, sitting there, as the man visited with the dog, no doubt telling him about his day, and possibly pouring out his problems to a willing listener. He happened to be out of town on a business trip when the dog died and when he returned, he was distraught, because he was not able to tell his friend good-bye. He went down to the creek and sat, crying, when he suddenly felt a nudge against his leg and he could feel the dog's presence. He shared his experience with his wife and she knew it had to be true, for this was not a man that would fantasize. To add to the story, the neighbors shared what happened to them. The dog always came over to their house, about supper time ... it was a ritual ... and they would give him a treat.

That evening, they heard the familiar scratching on the screen door, and when they went there with the treat, no one was there. They went back inside ... and again, more scratching. They found out later that evening that the dog had died earlier that day.

Job 12:10  "In whose hand is the soul of every living thing."

We should treasure our pets and treat them with respect and dignity. Offer them love and care for them as you would any other member of your family. You are missing out on what they have to offer, if you don't. Hardy and Sally know this very well. Sally laughed and said to me as I was leaving, "We are a happy mixed family of a redneck Republican, a registered Independent and our little Democrat."

As I walked to my car, I could not help but think how nice that would be for all of us.

In dealing with rescue you see the very best of people and the very worst.

Generally the worst is done in secrecy so that people are not forced to accept the consequences of their actions. They take the cowardly way out. Recently a cat was left next to a mailbox in a rural area near McCool. The couple who live there were fortunate enough to spot a kennel sitting next to their mail box as they returned from Sunday morning church. In the kennel they found a pure bred Persian cat. As the woman explained to me, thank heavens they spotted it, and were not gone for several days as the cat would have had a very slow and painful death. This cat had endured years of neglect. Her long silver gray coat was matted to approximately four to five inches thick of hair that resembled pressed card board. Unbelievable. The woman brought Theresa to Gloysteins on Monday morning and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. This once beautiful cat was matted so badly that she could not stand up straight.

I asked them to keep the fur to see exactly how much they would shave from her body. They removed it in practically one piece. Unbelievable. They told me that she had been spayed and she was declawed on all four paws. Her eyes were bright and she had this pitiful meow. When I went back to pick her up, she had been shaved and was this thin emaciated cat. Unbelievable.

I took her to YAAP and all of the volunteers, both dog and cat gathered around. Again the most common comment was “this is unbelievable.” Who would let an animal get to this point, who would not see her discomfort and suffering?

Well, when this “person” left Theresa in the kennel by the side of the mailbox in the country, she left a hand written note that said the following: “Please help me out. I have cancer & can't care for her. She is very old, so am I. I don't have the time, or money to do this. Please put her to sleep. God Bless you.”

Well guess what? This “person” had other options rather than waiting for years before the cat was in this state of neglect. Being “old” or having “cancer” is not that uncommon in the human race. What is uncommon is someone using this as an excuse to let their family pet suffer. Through the years we have taken in numerous cats whose owners have reached the age where they can no longer care for them. They don't let them get into this condition, and their main concern is to see them placed where they will be cared for, not in a hot kennel by the side of the road. They send along favorite blankets, treats and most important their love and loyalty to the well being of their faithful friends. I can certainly understand why they took the cowardly way out, I am sure they know what they allowed to happen to this cat was morally wrong and they didn't want to face the look of horror and disgust on the faces of the people they asked for “help.”

Theresa couldn't stand for the first 48 hours, she slept on a heating pad and on her kennel door the instructions for food read “Feed her anything she wants.” She was checked out by the vet, we were dealing with a cat that was an older cat, her teeth were bad, her eyes were bright and clear, but when she stood, her two back legs would slide out beside her much as a beginning snow skier would do when first learning the sport. What never changed was her eye contact when volunteers would talk and rub her terribly thin and shaved body. I decided to put her on our web site as a cat with needs.

I received a telephone call from the next day from Faye Friesen, a media library teacher from Hastings.

She asked many questions about Theresa and she and her college aged daughter arrived on Tuesday afternoon to see this cat who needs special care. She had recently lost her cat of 24 years to renal failure and in her words she said she saw Theresa's picture and “she looked like she wanted me and I thought, I can save this cat.” She also believes in fate. It is also uncanny that she asked why I chose the name Theresa for this sad neglected cat. I told her I named her after the patron saint of small flowers. I really don't know why I did except I wanted her to have a special name and to be named after a special person. She said that when she was expecting her daughter that her pregnancy was high risk and a very good friend suggested she have her pregnancy blessed and that when she successfully delivered a healthy little girl that she decided to name the baby Kristine Theresa Rose.

And years later she is rescuing and saving a cat who had been named after the same patron saint as her now healthy and beautiful college aged young daughter. Talk about fate. I hope the person who abandoned Theresa reads this article and I hope realizes they could have done better for this cat. Illness, age, or ignorance is no excuse to neglect your pet. Animals too, feel pain, hunger, cold, heat and the affects of age.

I am glad I didn't meet Theresa's first owner, but I am so glad to have met Faye who will love and care for Theresa. And I will add my “God bless you” to her because I truly hope He blesses you for what you are doing for sweet little Theresa.

Pictured here is Cinder, the senior dog that I rescued from Missouri a while back.

She is a dog that came from a family, well known for the abuse that took place in their home, and Cinder was often the victim. She would find places of refuge; a closet, a dark corner in a room or the bathtub. She continues to do it today, for it had become a way of life for her to find a safe place, even though she does not need it now. The family abandoned her when they moved away, leaving her behind the locked door of their house, with no food. Not giving her a second thought. A week had passed before the landlord discovered her and her fate was sealed when she was taken to a high kill shelter. She was scheduled to be euthanized and she was one of the hundreds of photos on the Internet posting the dogs that were going to be inhumanely gassed that week. When I saw her incredibly sad eyes, I was haunted by them, and knew that I must rescue her. After living seven years of abuse and surviving a week alone, with no food, it prompted me to think that this sad looking dog deserved a chance of knowing some joy in her life, and it was up to me to see that she got it. Cinder is not even close to the worst case of abuse that I have seen, and that is why so many animal rescuers get burned out. It is painful to see, day after day, what human beings can do to "man's best friend.”

Thankfully, I have never suffered from burnout and I am grateful, for there is still a lot of work to be done.

And there is always something good that will happen to help keep you motivated. Cinder is one example. She always wore the look of sadness and one evening she came into the living room where I was watching TV and sat down in front of me and just stared at me. I said, "Well, hello Cinder !" She opened her mouth a little and it looked as though she was smiling and her eyes had a twinkle in them. I was looking at happiness ... staring me right in the face. I leaned down and hugged her and gave her a kiss and though it was a simple act, it meant a lot to the two of us.

There is a bright spot in Cinder's home state of Missouri. The people have spoken and they got a petition signed to get the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act on the November ballot. Puppy mill dogs know first-hand what abuse is like and this bill may offer them some hope and relief if it is passed. It was described in one magazine that it would be the equivalent of an earthquake for the estimated 3,000 puppy mills in the state. They would be limited to only 50 breeding dogs and would have to provide nutritious food and their living space would have to be larger and temperature controlled. There are many other requirements in the bill, and my guess is many will close down because the only way they can make money is by having large numbers of dogs with minimal care given to them and as little overhead as possible. It is greed in the worst form possible and they deserve to be shut down. I admire the people of Missouri for saying enough is enough. I also am happy to see that the general public is more educated and becoming more aware of the sordid practices of the pet industry and are refusing to buy puppies at the inflated prices that they charge in pet stores, knowing full well that they have come from puppy mills. They are adopting from shelters where healthy pets are in need of homes.

As for Cinder, life just seems to be getting better and better.  She has embarked on a new venture. She has been going up to York Adopt a Pet every day and greets people as they come into the shelter. She loves it up there and does not look for a place to hide. Her kind and gentle nature is non-threatening and she seems to be wearing a constant smile! I think Cinder has arrived. She has finally figured out how to act like a dog and that is to live in the moment ... the now ... and enjoy life!

A cat is never predictable and yet they are creatures of habit. Such is a cat named Clancey whose owner and companion, Michelle Maynarich, lives in Colorado. For several years, Michelle has traveled Interstate 80 between Minnesota and Colorado visiting her 91 and 93 year old mother and father. For several years she has stopped at the west bound rest area east of York to stretch her legs, and to let Clancey stretch his legs as well. Again, I say this has been a ritual for several years. Each and every time, Michelle would take Clancey to the back of the rest area where it was usually calm and quiet. Clancey would saunter in the shade, and after a short time she would pick Clancey up and get him settled on his bed next to the driver’s seat for the final distance to their home.

Clancey had different plans for this particular trip. He did the usual stretching, checking out the area when he suddenly darted into waist high weeds. Not having a harness or leash he was quickly swallowed up by the tall grass and weeds located at the far north side of the rest area. After several hours of searching and calling, she requested the help of Susie Rousseau who works with the tourist division located at the rest areas. Susie being a “cat person” suggested that Michelle call me to see if I had any ideas on finding Clancey. I first asked Michelle if she was a patient person. She hesitated for a few seconds and said if it will help me get Clancey back, then YES I can be patient. I asked her if she saw where Clancey had disappeared into the weeds and she said yes she knew the exact spot.

I told her if she could wait until just before dusk I was certain that when it started to cool down and become quiet he would probably come out of the exact same spot. She told me later that she thought I was “slightly crazy” but she was willing to try. Clancey disappeared at 8 a.m. and our first phone call was at 11 a.m. We talked several more times that day and her worry was that someone had picked him up and left the rest area. I assured her that he was “somewhere” in the weeds and as we spoke he was probably watching her.

I picked up Judy Johnson and she and I headed to the rest area around 8:30 p.m. We brought fresh canned cat food, a live trap and a lot of anticipation. We met and introduced ourselves and the three of us fanned out, calling kitty, kitty, Clancey, Clancey kitty, kitty. Thankfully no one was there to witness our antics of trying to get Clancey’s attention. We came prepared for the cat but had forgotten about the mosquitoes. They were HUGE but my worst fear was running into a snake of which I would probably have had a heart attack.

Just as the sun was setting, Michelle gave a shriek and said CLANCEY WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I turned around and out of the weeds came this 18-pound, Rag Doll/Himalayan silver gray cat. I wish you all could have seen this big cat as he came slowly strolling out of the grassy area.

Michelle said “I can't believe it, the sun is just going down, and it is EXACTLY where he went in.”

That is when she turned to me and said, “You know I seriously thought you were nuts when I first called you. HOW did you know that he would come out and at the same exact place that he went in.”

I said it’s because cats are creatures of habit and when he was done napping in a cool spot, became ready for his evening meal, and things were quiet and cool he would return. Dogs will get scared and will run sometimes for miles, cats most generally will run a very short distance and then hide. If you wait until dusk they will generally come back to the same spot that they disappeared.

Needless to say it was a very happy reunion. Michelle was excited, Clancey was very cool, calm and somewhat smug. When she had deposited him on his bed in the car, I noticed that she had two large birds in cages in her back seat. They were rescue birds, just as Clancey had been a rescue cat. I told Michelle to PLEASE put a harness on Clancey the next time they were traveling and she wanted him to exercise. And that I hoped she never let her birds out to exercise. She laughed and said, “If you think I am ever going to let Clancey out of the car you can be assured he will never get the chance to exercise again with or without a collar.”

It was a long 13-hour day for Michelle as she kept the birds in a cool spot, watering them down several times so they would not get overheated. It was Michelle who was hot, tired, hungry and VERY grateful that her patience paid off. Now speaking of Clancey, he was as cool as a cucumber and when she put fresh water in front of him, he took a couple of laps and looked up as if to say what are you looking at?

Thankfully, Clancey was a creature of habit, and thankfully didn't become one of many pets that are lost at rest areas. Needless to say NEVER let your cat out if you are traveling. A 15-minute stop can turn into a 13-hour ordeal. This cat put his nine lives on the line and used them all.

There is never a Fourth of July when I don't think of our dog Stormy. We saw her for the first time on July 3,1963, cowering under the eaves of Harv and Vi's Drive Inn during a loud thunderstorm. I was taking our small children, Pam, Julie and Marty out for an ice cream cone when we spotted the female collie shivering with fear. I asked Vi if she knew who she belonged to and she said she had been there for several days, eating scraps of food that people would give her. It was obvious she was terrified of loud noises and the children were begging me to help her. So we got her in the car and took her home with us.

Stormy was a good dog, very quiet , house trained and to our surprise, pregnant. The last time I saw her was on July 3, 1976, exactly 13 years later. She had just finished her morning meal and wanted to go outside. She enjoyed lying on the front porch to catch the morning sun. Shortly after, I heard some fireworks go off, so I went to let her in, but she was gone. Vanished. Our family and neighborhood children looked for days for her. I really never quit looking for several years.

In all the years I have done animal rescue, that day is one of the lowest and saddest in my memory.

During the Fourth of July, dog owners need to take special precaution with their pets. A dog's hearing is 10 times more sensitive than a human's, so when you feel the need to cover your ears during the loud booms, just imagine what it must sound like to your dog. There are some things you should never do during this time and here are some helpful hints to get you through the holiday. First, NEVER take your dog with you to a fireworks display. Not only the loud noises, but the repeated flashes of light are likely to have a traumatic effect on your dog and whatever you do ... do not leave him in the car. Remember, your dog has never heard of Independence Day and he does not understand what is going on. He needs your help to get him through it all. They are unpredictable during times like this and may panic. Always have them on a lead when you take him out to prevent them from running off. Some dogs have been known to jump through glass windows and claw through screen doors to escape the frightening sights and sounds. Keep in mind that a normally calm dog can become panicked and escape places that he normally wouldn't. Many dogs, in their younger years, show no fear, but as they get older they seem to become more terrified of loud noises. This is largely due to a change in hearing. Another thing you MUST do is to make sure that he has on a collar with ID tags attached because if he should run off, he could be miles away. It is important that you bring your dog inside when fireworks are going off. He needs to be in a place that he feels most comfortable. If he is crate trained, he may go there.

He will find his own spot and when he does, leave him alone. Do NOT lock him alone in a room. This would just add to his fears. Make sure you take him out to potty before the fireworks begin. If you can, exercise him early in the evening. For his evening meal, you can add cooked white potato, white pasta or white rice to his regular food. The carbohydrates will make him sleepier than usual. A tired and well fed dog will be less anxious.

Keep your windows and curtains closed. Have your TV on. Your dog might benefit from a massage to help relax him. Some people give their dog a Kong toy with treats inside to keep him busy. There are some that have had success with a natural soft chew called Composure and others simply put cotton in their ears. There is also an ear protector called Mutt Muff, invented by a pilot that liked to take his dog with him in the cockpit. One lady said she puts a T-shirt on her dog and that calms him down. In extreme cases, you can get, in advance, an anxiety medication from your vet. This may surprise you, but do not baby or soothe your dog too much. This can make the problem worse. I know your intent is to give them comfort, but you are basically rewarding them for their behavior by stroking them. It is teaching them it is all right to be afraid. Don't let them know you are concerned. Just treat him as you normally would.
I hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July and are able to keep your pet safe. This holiday is a nightmare for animal shelters. So many dogs are brought in. Those are the lucky ones that were found and brought to safety ... unlike Stormy, who seemed to disappear into thin air. I don't want that to happen to your dog.  I hope you have nothing but good memories of the Fourth.

Mary Margaret is such a sweet natured cat. She is very trusting and that is surprising due to the fact that Mary Margaret is blind.

Leah Thomas a young lady from York was driving on Division Ave. and her headlights illuminated a cat who was in the middle of the road. The cat acted disoriented and when Leah stopped she also discovered that she was panting and to her surprise she saw that the cat had no eyes. Many people would not have stopped but Mary Margaret was fortunate that Leah came to her rescue. We don't know if she was waiting for her owner to come back to pick her up or if she sensed that if she stayed in one place, someone would come to rescue her. She probably didn't realize that she was on a very busy street but luck was on her side. She belonged to someone at sometime because she was wearing a collar. No one called, no one inquired if we had received a blind cat. We can only assume that she was discarded by her family.

Thankfully Leah stopped her vehicle and rescued her from the middle of the road. We will probably never know how she ended up where she did, but we are thankful that she was not left to fend for herself.

She has quickly become a favorite of the volunteers and thankfully has a secure place to sleep, food and water and most importantly she is shown affection and compassion. Cats who are blind surprisingly adjust rather quickly to their affliction. Cats use their sense of smell, and if they are in a household within a very short time they know their way around, both with the litter box and their food bowl.

We have several “special need” cats and kittens that are waiting for adoption. There is Vicky who was found sitting by the front door of a local motel. She is also missing an eye, probably due to a previous infection. We have a black baby kitten named Jacob who has two deformed back legs. They are due to a birth defect. He is still nursing from his mother so we don't know how he will cope when he gets a little older. He and his mother and two siblings were found along a country road and brought to AAP. There are so many perfect cats and kittens that need homes but there is something “special” about these cats and kittens that need a “special” home. A home that knows that it is cats like these that are the ones that need a home more than any of the perfect cats. So until the time that Mary Margaret, Vicky & Jacob are adopted, we at the sanctuary will care for them, and with the past history of our other “special” cats many of us will grow more and more attached to them but we will all be excited when they are placed in their “perfect forever homes”.

Mary Margaret can't speak for herself but on her behalf I want to thank Leah for doing the right thing. She didn't have to stop, she didn't have to pick up this blind cat, she could have swerved out of the way and kept on driving, but she didn't. She stopped, and she rescued this cat, her act of kindness and compassion will surely be returned to her. And each time that a volunteer reaches down to pet Mary Margaret's head and she nuzzles their hand, as she always does, we all say thank you Leah for doing the right thing.

In my last column, I wrote about Jasper, the 8-year-old poodle that was given up because his owners had lost their home and moved into an apartment that only allowed one cat. I took Jasper to spare him from being put to sleep and he had a difficult time adjusting to being separated from the people that had loved him for most of his life. Jasper probably came from a puppy mill and was sold to a pet store and lived the first year of his life in a small cage waiting for someone to purchase him. As he grew into an adult dog, his chances of being chosen grew slim, but it was his lucky day when Alex and Diana came into the store, purchased him for half price and gave him a loving home for the next seven years. They never thought the misfortune of losing their home would ever happen to them, but it did, and I am glad I was able to help them with this sweet little guy. Jasper eventually began to feel at home with me and he settled in nicely. But I knew from the beginning I was only a stepping stone to finding him a forever home.

I didn't want to rush the process. I wanted to get to know him and see what kind of home would be the best fit for him. After several months, I felt Jasper needed to  take that next and final step, not only because he was ready, but the two of us were becoming very fond of each other and if I waited much longer, it would be even more difficult. So, I wrote my column, explaining his situation, telling about his hard luck life and asked for someone to give him a good home. The response was excellent and it was heartwarming to me to hear from so many good people that were willing to give him a loving home, despite his age.

I finally decided on a home that seemed to fit Jasper's needs perfectly. Barb Peterson lost her husband several years ago and now she shares her home with a 12-year-old, three-legged rat terrier, Pookie, two cats, Sammie and Lilly, and a guinea pig named Gizmo. She has a pet door leading to a beautiful fenced in back yard. It was perfect. So the next step was to have Jasper meet them all.

I watched Jasper as we drove in the car to Barb's house. He knew something was up, but I detected a look of excitement in his eyes, not anxiety. Barb welcomed us into her home and Jasper appeared confident as he explored the backyard and met Pookie. As Barb and I were visiting, he warmed up to her and let her hold him, and I was feeling pretty good about everything. My inner voice was saying this was the right place for him. The time came for me to leave and I hoped that Jasper would not run after me and make a scene. I said my good-byes and when I got to the door, I looked back and his eyes were on me, but he didn't leave Barb's side. He seemed to sense that he was not going with me. As I drove home, I felt a little empty inside. I hadn't realized how much he had worked his way into my heart in the short time I had him. It made me realize how terribly difficult it must have been for Alex and Diana to give him up.

As the days went on, I got reports from Barb that Jasper was doing well. He was sleeping in her bed at night and he and Pookie were getting along just fine. It was time to make a visit and do a follow up story, so we set up a time for me to come. I could hardly wait to see him.

As I approached the front door, I could hear the two dogs barking, sounding the alarm that someone was coming to "their" house. When I came inside, Jasper was across the room. I called out his name and he ran to me and I swept him up into my arms. I think he set a record for how many kisses a dog can give in 30 seconds. It was a joyful reunion. I needed that! Barb had groomed him. He was so handsome and I think he knew it .
His transition with moving in with Barb went much easier than the one at my house. The grieving is behind him now. He has learned that not all change is bad. He looked happy. I could tell he was content there and had settled in. It was a perfect fit for him.

Barb said she is happy getting an older dog. As she put it, there are benefits. Their bad habits are behind them and they are house trained, but most of all, they need a home. She felt good that she could give Jasper a home after all he has been through. We both agreed that more people should consider adopting an older dog.

I made a promise to Jasper when I took him, and thank you Barb, for helping me to keep that promise.

The world says patience is a virtue and I agree.

To be patient is to be accepting of the future. On May 30, 2004 a black mother cat named Judi arrived at the cat sanctuary with her seven tiny black kittens. Anyone working in cat shelters knows that black cats are the predominant color and are not adopted as quickly as calico, tigers or multi colored cats. In fact they are generally the last to be adopted. So I was very excited when after several months, Judi and six of her black babies had been adopted into their “forever” home. Sadly to say little Timber sat and waited and waited. I just couldn't understand why she was over looked month after month, which turned into year after year. She was not a skittish cat, she wasn't overbearing, she was just a sweet tempered black cat with a touch of white under her chin. Year after year Timber watched as hundreds of cats and kittens came and went. During the summer months she followed me around the back yard as I tended to my garden and flowers, if I sat on the patio, she was always sitting close by. During the winter months she followed me as I cleaned the litter boxes, added to the food dishes and put out fresh water. She never had a spot to call her own. More dominate cats would chase her from her spot but she continued to be a mellow sweet black cat.

Timber had been listed on our website and pet finder for six years. Periodically I would change her information as she went from kitten to adult.The only thing consistent thing that stayed the same was that she was a sweet cat. That never changed.

Several weeks ago I received an email from a woman who said that she noticed that Timber had never been adopted. We corresponded and her first question was what was wrong with Timber that she never had been adopted. I said that I didn't have an answer since Timber was sweet and very loving, she just had been over looked time after time.

Wendy said that she wanted to give Timber a home. She has several cats and each one has been a rescue cat. This of course was music to my ears. I simply couldn't believe that after all of this time, someone would want Timber sight unseen. We were making plans for her adoption, and I agreed to meet her in Central City to save her some driving time.
I knew it had been a long time but when I looked at my records I was surprised that it was one day short of 6 years. I smiled as I took the “dog” eared medical folder for her out of my file case. It had been shuffled through for 6 years and looked a little ragged. I loaded Timber up, she hadn't left my back yard since she was just a few weeks old. She seemed to know that a great adventure was just beginning. She sat beside me secure in her kennel and kept her big gold eyes on my every move. She wasn't nervous, she was just sitting there patiently, watching and waiting.
When Wendy reached into the kennel, I swear I think that cat was smiling. She meowed and snuggled right up to Wendy's neck and immediately started purring. Wendy was grinning from ear to ear as well. THIS is what rescue work is all about. To think that a tiny black kitten had spent 6 years in our care and now was going to have her own home. Well it doesn't get any better than that. I just received another e-mail from Wendy and new pictures. Timber has claimed a spot on her sofa, and her daily brushing has made her coat shiny & soft.

Timber has settled in, Timber has her home. Do I miss her? Yes I do, but I say with pure sincerity, “enjoy your “forever” home Timber, you certainly waited long enough and your patience paid off.”

Several months ago, a plea was sent out over the Internet through the Nebraska Animal Rescue Site, to help find a home for an 8-year-old poodle. His name was Jasper and sadly, he had spent the first year of his life in a small cage in a pet store in Lincoln, until he fortunately was purchased by Diana and Alex and was given a new lease on life. They adored Jasper, along with their other dog and three cats and life was good for the retired couple, until the economy took a plunge and soon everything they had was about to change. They lost their home to foreclosure and were forced to find a new place to live. They finally found an apartment that would allow them one cat, and they began the agonizing process of trying to place their other pets. When moving day arrived, they still had Jasper. They did not want to take him to the local humane society because of some fears that Jasper  harbored. They knew he would be terrified and out of desperation, they made arrangements with their vet to have him euthanized. When I read about him, I felt the need to help and offered to take him. My call literally came in the nick of time. They were so grateful they did not have to go through the pain of putting a dog they loved so much to sleep. We arranged to meet at a designated place near the York exit and I watched as Alex drove into the parking lot with Jasper by his side, looking out of the window, as dogs will do. I could not help but think how much he was enjoying the car ride and felt sad that soon he would enter into a world of confusion and anxiety by being left behind by his master. My heart went out to Alex as he started collecting Jasper's things ... a toy, a favorite blanket, his vet records and a note from Diana telling me all about him. And, finally, he snapped a leash on him and led him to my car. I could see the tears in his eyes as he tried to tell me some things about him, but his voice began to crack and I assured him that everything would be fine, that he was in good hands and not to worry.

Over the years many cats and kittens have entered into the sanctuary. Many are here for such a short time, but others are here as long as six years. I continue to receive updates on many of the cats and kittens adopted to their forever homes as I hear from families who have opened their homes and their hearts to the cats they have adopted.

It is usually a sad story when a cat ends up at our sanctuary. It is either the cat has been abandoned by the family it has loved and relied on for their safety and existence or they have simply been abandoned by a family who didn't take the responsibility to spay their cat and now doesn't want the responsibility of a mother and her new litter of newborns. They come to us from families who no longer want the responsibility of a cat litter box, or as often is expressed, “They were such a cute kitten but they grew up into this CAT and we just don't think its cute anymore.”

Here are the cats who are displaced because of new furniture, moving to a new home, my new husband doesn't like cats, little Susie has new allergies, our new dog doesn't like cats. Too much cat hair, scratches the furniture. I think you get the picture. Some people want to live in a “perfect” world when in reality adopting a cat is accepting the responsibility of a living breathing animal that definitely has its good points. But cats do come with cat hair, bodily functions that need litter boxes, as well as the occasional hair ball and attitude. But those who have the good fortune to own a cat know the rewards a cat gives you far outweighs the litter box and cat hair.

There are more tragic and serious reasons that we have received relinquished cats at the sanctuary. We have a 14-year-old male cat who's owner passed away and there were no family members to take in this sweet old guy. He has been with us two years and has seen many cats and kittens come and go. The volunteers dote on him and he has his special spot on the sofa sitting in the north picture window. We have had many beloved family cats turned in to us because they know that we are a no kill shelter and we will care for their pet until they are adopted. Recently I received Ivory. Her owner was only 54 and had terminal cancer. She didn't think she would be here to greet her first new grandchild who was due in the early part of April. Ivory was her faithful companion and she said she needed to have her in a secure place to help give her piece of mind. No one in her family wanted to take on the responsibility of Ivory. Ivory was a huge white snowball cat, with big blue eyes. I received her on one of the last really cold days of winter and somehow she ended up staying in my office where I spend much of my time working on “cat” records. The husband delivered Ivory to my front door. We didn't say much, he was very quiet as he handed me Ivory with her favorite blanket, toys and food. He never looked directly to me, he was a very tall man and I know he was having a difficult time. He said simply “thank you for what you are doing, it means a lot to Jackie and me,” and then he walked back to his car and drove away. She took over my office chair and we shared the space. She was such a diva cat that I wanted to give her plenty of time to adjust to being without her best friend. As with many cats who are beloved family pets they actually grieve for their owners. They tend to stop eating, they are lethargic and many times their immune systems go down and they are susceptible to upper respiratory diseases. Ivory was no exception to this and that was the reason she stayed with me. I knew she had been in a loving home and I know how hard it was for her owners to say good-bye to her. Just last week I noticed that Ivory wasn't putting back the weight she had lost in the first few days of being with me. She still purred every time I shoved her over so I could share the office chair with her, but that day I really looked at her and thought something more serious is going on. Her snow white ears were a mustard yellow on the inside, her gums above her teeth were dark yellow and her once beautiful blue eyes were ringed in yellow. Her kidneys were shutting down. After a tearful conversation with the Gloysteins, it was decided that her illness was irreversible. I of course will never know if this was by accident or by fate but what I do know is Ivory passed away. I don't know if she willed herself from grief or if it was that Jackie needed her more. All I know is Ivory has crossed the Rainbow Bridge and even though I never personally met Jackie, I know she loved Ivory enough to give her up knowing she would be given a second chance of a forever home. Who would have ever guessed that her forever home would be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge, that Jackie and Ivory would be united again. What a joyous reunion that must have been.

A paws' for pets
By Gail Nordlund

This past Sunday we had our official open house for the public at our York Adopt-A-Pet animal shelter.

It was gratifying to see approximately 400 people come through the door, sharing our joy and taking a tour of our beautiful and efficient shelter. The children were able to meet some of the cats and you can see in the photo that Lexi Daniel of Milford cannot keep from sharing a special kiss with one of them. Many of the people that entered the building were donors and finally they were able to see what they got for their buck. It took five long years of planning sessions, along with lots of fundraising to get us to this point. So many people took part in this venture that it truly is a community accomplishment.

Those of us at York Adopt-A-Pet thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Whether you gave us $5 or $100,000, it all added up. This is also an opportunity for some of you to do some volunteer work. We have an assortment of things that can be done. The younger, more able bodied can be of great use to us in the dog kennel, while the less physical work could be to volunteer in the cat area. We will need greeters every day we are open, which would mean answering the phone and sitting behind our reception desk. We will welcome dog walkers or maybe you would just like to sit and play with the cats. You could also consider mentoring one particular dog and visit him often, taking him for walks and preparing him for adoption. The more socialization he gets, the better his chance will be to find a forever home. We pride ourselves in doing everything we can to keep our dogs from being depressed. They are exercised three times a day and allowed free run in the dog park.

It should be mentioned that our main goal is to rescue lost, abandoned and neglected pets and to give them a chance at a new and better life. We will not be able to take in every request for a relinquished pet, especially if it is unadoptable. There are not many people wanting to adopt an elderly pet in poor health or an unsocialized one. This is where owner responsibility must come in.

Following our open house, we had a "How Sweet it Is" gathering for our volunteers. Brad and Mary Gloystein provided a spectacular array of fruit, cookies, cake and drink to show the volunteers how much we appreciate all that they do for us. It provided us with a lovely winding down of a perfect day. Thanks Mary and Brad.

I would like to give you an update on Bill Goodson and his monkey, Jennifer. They are now in California and Bill is seeing the doctors there and getting the rest that he needed. I have been in contact with him on a regular basis and he was at a loss for words when he received the check that was sent to him from the donations that many of you so generously sent on his behalf. These donations were a gift of the heart and I thank all of you that responded to help someone in need.

There is a very grateful man who never asked for anything except for someone to take care of Jennifer when he got sick. One of our volunteers, Claire Windle, is getting this ex-Marine some additional help through the Veterans Administration. Bill knows it was a blessing for him to get sick in York, Neb. He wanted me to express to all of you his sincere thanks. Just keep getting better Bill and give Jennifer a hug for me.

I really can't believe it ... we have moved into the new Adopt-A-Pet building.

The dogs and cats are all under one roof. It is a beautiful building. On behalf of everyone associated with York Adopt-A-Pet, we invite you to attend our grand opening this Sunday, May 16, from 1-3 p.m. Please come and share our excitement with the dogs and cats. It has been a long, long road from the first meeting approximately five years ago when we first seriously discussed the possibility of a new facility so that we could accommodate the ever growing number of homeless dogs and cats. It is with pride and extreme happiness each and every time I enter the front door. It has been a goal for many of us to know that York Adopt-A-Pet will continue to thrive in the years ahead.

Especially with the cats. I knew that no one would be crazy enough to step in and take over the cat sanctuary. Even I wouldn't be that crazy. When the cat sanctuary was established in 1998, it started with a mother cat and five babies.  Okay, so that wasn't too much to ask, and after all, it was only for a few months until something better could be figured out. Yeah right. That mother and five babies soon turned into a dozen or more, and then it just continued to grow and grow and grow. I can actually remember when I had 23 cats and I thought, wow, I must be nuts to do this. What must I have been thinking? The numbers rose to the point that (how I hate to admit this) I had 180 cats. NOTE: the key word is “had,” thankfully we are way, way below that number. But how do you say no when someone brings a half drowned little gray kitten named Mercy? Or the dozens and dozens of abandoned, starving cats that when they arrive are barely able to eat, are cold, covered with fleas, ticks and many with serious wounds. The little babies that are clinging to life by a mere thread and the old cats that have lost their owners due to failing health.

It is with such relief that I know when I am no longer able to care for the cats and kittens at my residence there is now a place for them. They have a beautiful cat area to socialize, play with their toys and to be pampered by the volunteers that see to their every need. I am now assured that the cats will always have a safe and secure sanctuary at the York Adopt-A-Pet building. There have been so many cats and kittens that have passed through my gate into the backyard, I can remember most by name, and certainly by personality, but one that seems to stand out was Sky. I wrote a story about Sky several years ago when she first came to the sanctuary. She was an 8-year-old large torte cat. Her owner was moving to Omaha and she couldn't take Sky with her. Something about the apartment wouldn't accept her cat, same story that I have heard many times over. Sky was with me for almost five years. Of course she wasn't adopted: she had an attitude with not only other cats, but most people as well. She took about three months before she accepted me. I didn't give up and Sky finally adapted to the cat sanctuary and to me. She spent her days in her high perch overseeing the lowly cats below, and no cat dared to venture into her lofty perch. She was the diva, she was the queen, she was simply Sky. I fussed and worried about Sky, thinking she would have to readjust once again to a new home when our move was complete to the new building. But as always, Sky was in charge. She simply crossed the rainbow bridge just weeks before the big move. Sky was left behind by her owner, and Sky has now left me. For all of the Skys that will come to the cat sanctuary in the years to come, she left the legacy that every cat is special, every cat will know that once they come to the sanctuary, they are at home until their “forever” home is found.

Please join us Sunday, come and see for yourself the wonderful new building that welcomes all of the homeless dogs and cats. All of the Barnies, Katherines, Jimmies, Karens and most important, all of the Skys that live and wait for their “forever” home.

A paws' for pets
By Gail Nordlund

This has been an extraordinary time for York Adopt-A-Pet. We have recently moved into our new shelter. The cats were settled in first and the dogs were paraded over last Friday by the volunteers. It was a moment to remember to see the look of excitement on the faces of the dogs as they high stepped their way over to their new surroundings until they are rewarded with their forever home.

We will be having an open house for the public on May 16 from 1-3 p.m., so mark your calendars and plan on attending. As fate would have it, we were quickly put to the test two days after moving the dogs in. Our dog kennel manager, Kim Hart, received a call Sunday night around 10 p.m. to assist the York Police Dept. in picking up a monkey at Petro Truck Stop near the interstate. The owner of the monkey, a truck driver, had experienced heart problems and was being taken into Lincoln to the Heart Institute. He did not want to go because of the monkey, but they assured him she would be cared for. Kim then called me and my response was, "Lets get her in, we'll figure it out."

So Tom, Kim and daughter Brooke went to Petro and retrieved Jennifer, a Macaques, more commonly known as a snow monkey of Japan. She spent a quiet night in an empty room at the shelter and early the next morning we were there to figure out the next step. Her small dog kennel was soiled and she needed to get out of there as quickly as possible. Not knowing what her disposition was like, we sought out someone that had actually owned a monkey before.   Mike Meehan came up to assist us in moving her into a clean kennel. Jennifer was terrified and lashed out during the move, leaving us with a few scratches from those lightning quick hands of hers. We knew then we had our work cut out for us. By the end of the day, she was moved again to a large kennel, formerly used by the Cat Sanctuary, where she could move freely about. She was hungry and politely accepted food as we handed it to her and would drink her water through a straw. A dish of nuts, seeds, bananas, apples and Cheerios were put into her cage and she started to fill her aching tummy. Her kennel was cleaned daily by Tom, who seemed to have earned her trust when he sat with her in the shower stall at Petro, talking softly to her to calm her anxious heart. Soon Jennifer's cage was filled with squeaky toys and a soft doggie bed she could snuggle in for her naps. She was becoming acclimated and her demeanor begin to change for the better. Every time I visited her, she would hand me one of her toys and we would play catch, bringing out laughter on my end as she would bite the toy each time she caught it. She loved to make them squeak. She understood many commands like "Give it to me" and "Do you want a drink?"

It didn't take long for Jennifer to work her way into the hearts of all of us that had contact with her. Jennifer's owner, Bill Goodson, was released from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Kim and Tom went to Lincoln to pick him up and I anxiously waited with Jennifer for their arrival. It wasn't what I expected. I thought she would be excited and fly around the cage to get to him, but instead she looked surprised to see him and shyly retreated to her bed. Bill had to reach in and coax her out, but as soon as his gentle hands touched her, she gladly went to him and snuggled comfortably into his arms and it was obvious that all her fears were gone. Despite the fact that she has been though a traumatic experience, it is Bill that has been put to the test. He had been driving his own truck, making payments to the former owner, and unbeknown to him, the man was only making half payments to the bank and keeping the other half for himself. Bill's truck was repossessed and left him and Jennifer stranded in December. They hitchhiked to California with only a sleeping bag to keep them warm. It took seven long, miserable days to get there. He was able to get a job driving for Great Farms Trucking Co. and had only been with them a short time when he experienced the heart trouble in York. I asked him about Jennifer's history.  He speaks fondly of his wife as he tells about promising to buy her a monkey that she asked for as a Christmas gift. His wife rode with Bill on the truck and she wanted a companion. When they went to pick the baby monkey up, he got out his billfold thinking it would be around $500 to purchase her. To his shocking surprise, the price was $3,500, but a promise was a promise he said and soon 2-week-old Jennifer was on the truck with them. That was almost 20 years ago. His wife took sick and died three and a half years ago and made him promise to never, for any reason, give Jennifer up. He said he will never break that promise, but he would like to put it in his will that if anything should happen to him, that she be returned to us.

Bill has no money. Through no fault of his own, he has fallen onto hard times. He needs help, but the soft spoken 64-year-old Texan asks for nothing. He cannot pay for his heart medication that he must have. He is also a diabetic. It is critical that he does not leave York without his medication. The Ministerial Alliance in York is generously helping him with a motel room and meals until he can catch a ride with a truck back to California.  At the present time, he is with Judi and Harold Nordlund, and they are working on getting his medication, one that needs to be administered through injection into his stomach. This is being done with the help of York Medical Clinic, York General Hospital and Four Corners. He is going to need cash for motel rooms and food along the way and also after he arrives in California. We are asking those of you that are able, to assist in any way with this expense, to ensure that Bill and Jennifer will not be forced to live in the sleeping bag again, and to help him get back on his feet until his health is restored.

You can contact me at 362-4959, Judi at 362-6414 or Katie at 362-3337 or mail a contribution to my home address: Gail Nordlund, 323 Academy, York, NE. 68467. This is a case of someone desperately in need of help and with your generosity, it can be accomplished.

A paws' for pets
By Gail Nordlund

For Christmas this year, I gave to each of my children and grandchildren, one of our memorial bricks for our new shelter. They could choose what to put on their brick and my granddaughter, Sammie, put "Pepper. Best dog ever."

Pepper is their little Scottie mix and he is the only dog they have ever had. Last week our family got together and Pepper always comes to my house to stay. He knows the routine when son Marty drops him off. As he enters the front door, he stands his ground while my dogs rush to greet him and subject him to their extensive sniffing process. He then marches through the house, out the pet door, into the backyard and checks out the familiar surroundings. I cannot help but marvel at Pepper. To see him, you would never know that he is between 16 and 17 years of age. He is an Adopt-A-Pet dog from the earlier days, a victim of a divorce. I am sure he spent some time at the old city pound until he was brought into my home.

Marty and his wife, Sarah, wanted to find a dog for their two little girls, my granddaughters, Jessie and Sammie. Pepper seemed to be just what they were looking for and he immediately fit into their lifestyle. He was easy going and was willing to play nonstop if it involved a ball or a squeak toy that he could retrieve. The girls have known no other dog in their home. They have grown up with him and he has always been there for them. Now, it is time to begin saying their good-byes. Pepper is now deaf. His eyesight is failing and he walks stiff legged, but his tail still wags like a puppy. Granddaughter Jessie moved this week to Washington state to continue college and pursue a job opportunity. Sammie will be leaving this summer for college in Chicago. Hopefully, Pepper will be waiting for them when they return to visit, but it is not a given. That is why Jessie's good-bye to Pepper might have been a little harder than usual. He had done his job. He has given all of himself to these girls that he loves so very much. He was available when they needed a shoulder to cry on and was always there to keep them company when they needed it. They have never experienced losing a pet. The first one always seems to be the hardest. But, I think Pepper will be ready to go, whenever the Bridge comes into sight for him.

He has served this family well and should be proud of the memories that he has created for them. No doubt, someday, Jessie and Sammie will tell their children about their first dog and the family tradition of having a pet will carry on through them.
                                
Dog (backwards) When God had made the earth and sky, the flowers and the trees. He then made all the animals, the fish, the birds and bees. And when at last He'd finished, not one was quite the same. He said, "I'll walk this world of mine, and give each one a name." And so he traveled far and wide and everywhere he went, a little creature followed Him until its strength was spent. When all were named upon the earth and in the sky and sea, the little creature said, "Dear Lord, There's not one left for me." Kindly the Father said to him, "I've left you to the end. I've turned my own name back to front and called you dog, my friend.”

– Author Unknown