Extra ordinary care

Sometimes cats and dogs come to Pet Haven needing care beyond the regular veterinary care we provide. That includes, testings, vaccinations, deworming, treatment for fleas and earmites, spay and neuter, microchipping, sometimes dental work and treatment for upper respiratory infections is not unusual.

Because our adoption fee of $130.00 - $150.00 does not cover even these 'basic' costs, we rely on donors and fundraisers to help these companion animals.

Two of the kittens who have needed extraordinary care in the last 10 months are Smokey and Wendy.

Smokey was hit by a car and stabilized at a vet clinic, ER clinic and the U of M clinic for 5 days before Pet Haven took him. He was fortunate to have a benefactor willing to support him in this way. He was 12 weeks old, unable to stand steadily, couldn't swallow and couldn't use the litterbox initially. Through many weeks of TLC he regained all of those skills and is now a normal 8-9 month old kitten who runs through the house, comes for attention and gets into mischief. He visited an eye specialist many times, had to have two teeth removed surgically from his sinus cavity and, of course, was neutered! He occasionally continues to need eye ointment applied to his right eye which has vision but has no sensation.

Wendy came to Pet Haven in March from a hoarder house. She was at least 6 months of age and weighed slightly over 2#. She was covered in feces, urine and fleas and her 'owner' had ignored her eye infection which resulted in untold pain and suffering, the rupture of one eye and scaring on the other one so her sight was very limited. Wendy learned to use a litterbox - a skill she had never learned because the hoarder did not have enough and did not keep the two in the home clean.

She has visited the opthamologist also and recently had the ruptured eye removed and the third eyelid and scaring peeled from her other eye. He is optimistic that she will have much improved vision and she is showing that in her ability to catch toys more easily - as well as noticing shadows she could not see before.

Wendy and Smokey are in the same foster home and play well together, probably fairly close in age but there is a difference in size. Smokey is looking for a new home, it will be a few more months before Wendy is able to go to a new home.

Looking for a pair of cats who have beaten the odds? They are a good match for each other although both enjoy other cats too. Wendy and Smokey also get along well with the two medium sized dogs who visit the foster home regularly.

If you are able to make a donation to help cover expenses such as theirs, or to help with the regular vet care we always provide, you may send checks to:

Pet Haven Inc. of MN

PO Box 19105

Minneapolis MN 55419

We are a 501.3(c) and all donations are tax deductible.

Adoption, Sun. May 23, 1-3 p.m.

Hope to see you at the PetCo in Richfield at 66th and Lyndale Ave. S.

We'll have a good selection of cats there - young and frisky, big cats, little cats, most colors and lots of black (!), laid-back sunny window kids and others who want to run and play very actively with you and another friend, perhaps.

Tom loves to be the greeter when friends and family come over. He's extra playful too!

Anna is a lovely lady with lots of personality and loves to keep you company. She talks to you as you sort laundry and make the bed and is happy to be around you. She is 4 paw declawed and will need help keeping her coat untangled.

Izzy is a handsome fellow who loves to be around you too. Fine with another cat or respectful dog.

Dot gets along and loves to play chase back and forth, she's another girl with medium length hair who likes to be near you and pet and she has a tiny, tiny voice.

Some of the others coming include: Derrick, Gracie, Smokey, Riley and Croquet. See you there!

Bart

We remember another of our older cats today. Bartholomew was found in one of the dog runs of a vet clinic boarding area when staff came to work one day.

He had obviously been picked up, held and dropped into the kennel. His coat was badly matted, virtually to the skin. He had the usual vet work, he had previously been neutered, and was given a 'lion cut', dental work and set about looking for a new home. He was judged to be middle aged anyway.

A favorite game was to collect his toys and place them in his foster mom's shoes!

Bart had a good prospect on a new home when he began to lose weight. Blood tests showed him to be in kidney failure and his foster home agreed to keep him and then adopted him. He fit into their home well with two other persians who enjoyed other cats although he was not as fond of the latest foster cat since she enjoyed bossing him around.

He recovered quite well from his initial diagnosis but began to fail again recently.

He was a goodlooking fellow who was well loved and cared for and had a cozy home and sunny windows, a full food bowl and family who loved him and stuck with him to the end.

Rest in peace, handsome boy.

Life is good

Keebler, now Dobie from Dobie Gillis fame, has a new friend named Daisy. He's been to the vet, has gotten used to the new house and has convinced Daisy that he is an okay fellow to be around.

How much more rewarding can it be to see an animal who has had no care in his 'home', who was covered in fleas and filth, who weighed not what a 5 week old kitten should but only 8 ounces, what a 2 week old kitten would, turn into such a handsome, personable fellow?

Sunday, May 16, 1-3 p.m.

There will be an adoption at the PetCo in Richfield.

Kellog and Keegan, brothers.

Who else will come? We have some new cats as well as some who have been looking for awhile! This is not a complete list -

Anna - a very pretty, long haired calico. She is 4 paw declawed.

Chumley

Helen, Sirocco, Melody, Brooklyn, Derrick and Smokey are some of the others.

Looking ahead

Pet Haven cats will have an adoption this Sunday, May 16, from 1- 3 p.m. and another one on Sunday, May 23, from 1-3 p.m. Both will be at the PetCo in Richfield at 66th and Lyndale Ave. S.

Karmi and Keebler are the first two of the kittens and cats from the hoarder house who are ready for adoption and were adopted into separate homes last weekend.

Karmi is a torti with white feet and she is a bundle of energy and playfulness. She loves to find cozy spots to sleep, perhaps in her mistresses' backpack, when she isn't up playing.

Kebbler is the love bug of the two - he's an instant purr-er.

Dot

This pretty girl is the last of her litter to be adopted. She was born late summer 2009.

Ms Dot, who got her name from the small dot of white her on her chest, has a medium length coat and is a black smoke. That means that if you ruffle her hair backwards, you will see the lighter coloring along each hair shaft. She's very soft and has a very quiet meow.

Dot loves to play and can sound like a herd of elephants trampling through the house with another cat when she is playing chase. For a little girl, she puts lots of emphasis on each footstep. Dot doesn't demand a lot of attention but parks herself next to or near you and also wants some petting time each day.

She's sure to amuse you and warm your heart with her winning ways.

Orange kittens

Thelma, Louise and JD are siblings who are about 14-15 weeks old. These pictures were taken about a month ago. They are busy kids, used to another, older cat in the foster home as well as a Jack Russell Terrier dog.

They love to play and could be adopted singly or with one of their siblings or with another cat or dog.

JD and one of the girls have white boots on their feet, the other girl is all orange. They plan to come to the adoption on Sun. May 16 from 1-3 p.m.

Pet Haven annual meeting May 8, 1:30 p.m.

You are invited to attend Pet Haven's annual meeting. The location is Women's Venture building at 2324 University Ave. West., Ste. 120M, St Paul, MN 55114.

Everyone may attend, an election for several board members will be held and you must already be a member to vote for them.

Prizes and interesting updates, a chance to socialize and see the results of the favorite photograph contest (of your pet or foster).

Ezra, now Loki

This handsome gray tabby wasn't with Pet Haven very long before he found his forever home. He's making himself at home, has met the original cat and they are getting along in the early days.

Loki, the trickster, loves to play and has interesting games he creates. He's at his favorite perching spot to watch the birds and squirrels outside.

Spring Garage Sale postponed

Pet Haven's spring garage sale originally scheduled for the end of May will be postponed. Unfortunately our volunteer extraordinaire (Becky) is having surgery on Monday, 5/3 and we will need to give her time to recover, as well as time to go through followup treatments. Please keep her in your thoughts and send lots of positive energy her way ... I know her Pet Haven "family" will be thinking of her! We appreciate all Becky does, and continues to do, for homeless dogs and cats! Of course, Becky tells me she is still accepting donations. And as soon as she able, a new date will be set for the garage sale.  Items that sell well are household items, yard and garden tools, books and childrens' toys and clothes. No large furniture or computers please.   All donations will go directly towards helping homeless dogs and cats! For more info and to arrange a time to drop off donations, email Becky at rebeccasheldon@yahoo.com.

Louie

We remember Louie today and rejoice in the warm and happy home he had with his adopter, a Pet Haven foster, from Feb. 20, 2010 until May 2, 2010.

He died overnight in his sleep after failing for the last few days. He had 3 large tumors in his chest.

Louie was most fortunate to have a family to love him in his last months. He had sunny windows to sleep in, soft furniture to climb up on, a bed in which he could sleep with his owner, food available when he wanted it. Quite a change from being dumped out the door to suffer frostbite and starvation.

Louie recovered well, gained weight, grew healthy hair and gave affection, had cat friends and folks who visited him too.

How old was Louie? We don't know and he wasn't telling. We knew he was elderly when he was picked up at impound. The vet who examined him looked him in the eyes and said, "Louie, you are old!"

Lucky Louie -