Another boy, inside after several years

Panther has been dining outside a home in Minneapolis for about 3 years but has been resistant to coming inside and was reluctant to be pet.  During the last really cold snap, his fosters decided it was time for him to come inside.  

Food was moved into the garage and the door pulled shut when he went in.  The next day, Christmas day, they had to coax him out but finally they cornered him and began to pet him - after being delivered to a spot in the basement he began to warm up to his new digs AND to the people who had watched over him for so long.  Now he talks to them when he hears them coming to visit.  He loves petting, brushing and attention.  

He's been to the vet, been tested for feline leukemia and fiv and was negative for both and received his shots.  Soon he will be neutered and de worming has begun.  He's having very soft stools now but a change in food and some medication to calm his gut should get him on the right track soon.  It isn't unusual for a cat who has been outside eating this and that and drinking water outside to carry several parasites.  Soon that will be a thing of the past.  

Panther is about 4 or 5 yrs. old, he has some battle scars, probably from fighting other toms. He'll have a little dental work done when he is neutered because he has a broken tooth.  This fellow has the build of a 'late' neutered male cat - he's big (he comes by that naturally, thanks to mom or dad) but his muscles and chubby cheeks are a result of the testosterone he's had in his body since reaching maturity.  

It won't be long before he is ready to go to a new home - one that will care for him as he deserves and he'll pay you back with years and years of loving!

Thank you!

Despite slippery roads and cold air, folks came to the adoption on Sunday.  

The 'berry' kittens all found new homes and Sasha did also.  If they went to homes with a Christmas tree up and decorated they will have an abundance of new toys to play with!

Thank you to all the people who have made a space in their home for one or more companion animals this year.  Many families are forced to surrender their loved pets because of the economic downturn and home foreclosures.  For cats, the overpopulation crisis is a continued problem.  

If you have the ability, help someone you know get their pet altered or donate to a group that will put the money towards spay and neuter in the community so those cats or dogs won't have a litter of 6-8 in four or five months.   We can only solve this problem by spaying and neutering one more animal at a time.  

Adoption Sun. 12/21, 1-3 p.m.

One more official cat adoption for 2008.  Pet Haven is grateful for the adopters committed to life-long pet ownership who come to us to find their new pet.  We appreciate their guardianship of the health, safety and well-being of their new family members.  We work to find the cat who will fill out your family life so you find a cat who fits your needs and vice versa!

Bart is going to the spa on Saturday and plans to come looking more handsome than ever.  He's come a long way since he had to have his coat shaved off because he was matted to the skin.  His hair is about 1/2 as long now as it will be.  He's sociable and loves to be around you, an easy going fellow with a quite easy coat to maintain.  This picture was taken of him by SarahBethPhotography at our annual fall benefit. 

We will have a litter of 6 kittens at the adoption also - The 'Berry' kids.  3 boys, 3 girls, born Sept. 2008.  Submit an application at PetHavenMn.org, click on cat and dog available for adoption.  Pictured here are two of the girls - Gooseberry and Raspberry.  

Boysenberry is one of the boys. All 6 have 'berry' names. They are very busy and playful and like people attention and interaction.

There will be many other cats and older kittens at the adoption - waiting for loving homes.  

Adopted!

Nestle and Morsel, a favorite pair of black brothers, were adopted together!  They are settling into their new home and enjoying time with new family members including another dog in their life. Beautiful boys and a lucky family!

Twice the Gift!

The Holiday season is upon us.  This year, in uncertain economic times, many people are wondering what to give that special person on their gift list.  If you have an animal lover on your gift list or would rather help a companion animal looking for a new home than receive a material gift, visit Twice the Gift to purchase a gift card or ask your givers to consider doing this for you.  

This year Pet Haven has been invited to participate in Twice the Gift, a holiday storefront underwritten by the Pohlad Family Foundation.  Thanks to their generosity, 100% of the proceeds of sale of gift cards go directly to the charities they support.  In addition to Pet Haven, gift cards are available for more than 50 Twin cities nonprofits.  If you have someone who is not an animal lover, you can still honor them by choosing from other participating nonprofits.  

Pet Haven gift cards are available in $25 and $50 amounts.  We also have fleece beds and notecards available for sale at the store.  

The front of the gift card lists the dollar amount of the donation and what the money can provide for the charity (e.g. the $50.00 Pet Haven gift card provides a spay or neuter surgery for a rescued dog or cat).  The back of the card provides a brief, general description of the nonprofit.  The gift card comes with an envelope and look very similar to a gift card you would receive from any other store but you are supporting a nonprofit that the recipient would value.  

Twice the Gift is open now an dthrough Dec. 31, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.  The store is located in Gaviidae II, 2nd floor/Skyway Level, 55 Nicollet Mall, Suite 295, Minneapolis MN.  

Gift cards can only be purchased at the Twice the Gift location and not via the Pet Haven website but you can also make a donation to Pet Haven through PetHavenMn.org and a thank you note will be sent to the recipient and to you to acknowledge your donation.  Donations can also be mailed to:

Pet Haven, Inc. of Minnesota

PO Box 19105

Minneapolis MN 55419

Pet Haven cat and dog voicemail lines are receiving more calls this year from families who have lost their jobs or are living in a house facing foreclosure - they hope that Pet Haven will be able to help find a new home for their beloved pet.  As we try to assist our vet costs go up and we need help in finding adopters also.  

Consider helping a rescued pet this year!  

Can't adopt?  Donate!  

Can't adopt?  Spread the word about Pet Haven's wonderful foster homed animals.  

Thank you for helping others - our companion animals and the people who love them.  

Senior cats?

This summer Pet Haven had 6 cats returned to us who had been adopted in 1999, 2000 and 2007.  Financial problems were given as the reason.  We've successfully placed 5 of the 6!  It is difficult for us to place a cat that is over the age of 8 yrs. even though many cats live to be 14-18 years of age or older.  

One of the cats we still have is Sadie.  She was born in 1999.  She is in good health, her teeth are in good shape and she is an affectionate and loving lady.  She came back with a partner cat who has since been adopted and is  now living as an only cat in a foster home and likes that situation well too.  

Sadie is having her food measured.  Like too many of us, having more calories around than we need makes it hard to resist eating more.  She isn't begging for extra food or meals and likes lap time and to keep you company around the house.  

Why would you want a senior cat?  

We know their personalities!  

They are appreciative and calm, but playful, housemates!  

They have lots of love and living left to share with you.  

Maybe you aren't sure you could make a commitment to a cat for 14-18 years which is what you would have to plan on if you adopted a kitten.  

Perhaps having a loving companion for 4-8 years seems like something you would be able to commit to.  Perhaps an aunt or grandpa would like a loving, calmer companion.  

Bart is another handsome dude that the vet clinic guesses to be about 9 yrs. of age.  He was put in the fenced dog run of a clinic Pet Haven works with.  His hair was matted to the skin and he needed some dental work done - all that's been taken care of.  He's an easy-going fellow with a gravelly voice. He's  handsome, likes to be around you and ok with another cat if you have one.  He's another 'older' fellow we're hoping to find a forever home for too.  

Bart's foster mom says his coat isn't hard to keep up.  She combs her own two persians every day but feels his coat will not require that much maintenance.  His hair is probably 1/2 the length it will be when it is fully grown out.  This photo was taken by SaraBethPhotography at Pet Haven's fall benefit where Bart was one of the stars!

Adoptions - 12/6 and 12/7

The cat division will have two adoptions this weekend. 

Sat. 12/6 from 11-1 p.m. at the PetCo in Richfield at 66th and Lyndale Ave. S

Sun. 12/7 from 1-3 p.m. at the PetCo on S Roberts St. in St Paul

Many cats and kittens are waiting to come in out of the cold.  Adopt a great companion who has been fostered in a home so you will know about the cat's personality and needs and Pet Haven will be able to take in another cat to fill that opening!

There will be about 14 in Richfield and 8 in St. Paul.  

Who is coming?  Here's just a sampling - 

BUSTER!

HOLLY!

NICK!

NORMA!

AND many others!  

Fat cats, lazy cats, athletic cats, lap cats, mellow cats, busy cats - all colors, all sizes, all ages, ALL with love to give and a need for a forever home.  

Aster - happy and playful

Aster came to Pet Haven from another rescue group.  She had had a miserable infection in her eyes since a young kitten and they were unable to provide successful treatment.   A visit to an eye specialist helped with new treatments and drugs.  

It was determined that Aster has the herpes virus in her eyes.  It is contagious to other felines but has not passed to the other two cats in her foster home who are young adults and in good health.  She could be adopted by someone with another cat who has the herpes virus too and then there would be no reason for concern about passing it on.  

Aster takes an immune booster supplement, lysine, once a day, and  should be on that for the rest of her life.  She loves her canned food and the powder from the capsule is sprinkled on it.  And she eats dry kibble too.  This supplement will help her to keep the virus subdued so that it doesn't flare-up in her eyes.  

She's  no longer on any other oral or topical anti-viral drugs and is ready for adoption.  

Aster is an easy girl, she loves people and children, would get along easily with another cat and really loves the dog in her foster home.  He gives her kisses and she snuggles right into all that loving.  They also sleep together on the large dog bed he has.  Playful?  Oh, yes - she's playful too!

She's a beautiful brown tabby with lots of white with sparkling eyes that are full of delight and health. How old is she?  Not yet two years old - she's a keeper.   One of many cats waiting a forever home through Pet Haven.  

One more fellow, in from the cold

Franklin stopped by a former Pet Haven foster's home awhile ago and cried under the deck and at the door.  Even though they were reluctant to take on such a responsibility, they offered to foster this handsome fellow who goes by the name of Franklin.   

Franklin came with no microchip and his former owner is unknown.  

Put out the door?  

An escape artist who got lost?  

Life on the streets wasn't kind to him.  He has a very thin hair coat and had many scrapes and scabs.  He was unable to feed himself well, even if he was a hunter, because he had had some teeth removed.  

He has icy blue eyes and is an interesting mix of colors.  He is a brown tabby who has very honey colored tones to his fur.  

He's had a few trips to the vet; first for his initial check-up and shots (he had already been neutered and had dental extractions done) and the 2nd time to have an abcess drained.  When he came in he appeared to have some scratches here and there and did have but one turned out to be a bite which is what became infected.  He's healing well and will be ready for adoption in January

 He's loving life in the sun and a warm blanket to curl up on.  

Franklin gets along with the former Pet Haven cat in the home, Takishi-do.