Saving Laney

Every day I interact with animals. I have a handful of my own and hundreds more at work… and I spend as much time with each of them as I can. Most of the time it is rewarding and heartfelt but sometimes it’s frustrating and hard.

This week has been an emotional one—the ups and downs are hard core. On a very good note an adorable Maine Coon, Mason Gray, one of my favorites, went home. He’s special because he’s shy and has been with us for a long time, much longer than many others. I’ve been promoting him in so many ways and making it known that he’s an amazing guy… and it’s worked. I spent some time with his new person, and she promises to stay in touch and I do actually think he finally found his calling. Mason’s departure is bittersweet… we’re losing one we love but it’s positive because they’re going home.

Not every situation is like Mason’s though. There’s another love of my life, Laney. She’s a baby Arwyn—our Lilac Point Siamese with a personality and a heart bigger than any animal I know. We adopted Arwyn just over two years ago and he has since made the family complete, bringing everyone together and giving us a companionship that we didn’t know existed. Laney is Arwyn’s identical twin in every way. She looks like him (but smaller), she has his same personality, and she just wants to shower people with affection as often as she can. Her challenge? She has a potty problem. She’s two years old and has been adopted and returned numerous times, all for the same reason…. she doesn’t always use her box.

At first we thought this could be a health problem. We’ve run numerous tests, handled a couple of small infections, and monitored her box use in a kennel…. everything has been fine.

Our second thought is that it may be behavioral. Perhaps in a home with multiple pets was too much for her, or perhaps she wasn’t a right fit for the family. Maybe a loud, busy environment stressed her out, or maybe she didn’t get enough attention. It could even be because she is declawed on all four paws—not something we as an organization or me personally believe in, but yet it happens. However, she doesn’t appear to have a physical reaction to the litter—as in, it doesn’t appear to hurt her paws.

So now we don’t know where to turn. Maybe it’s a deeper health concern that we haven’t touched on yet, or maybe she’s just picky about where she does her business. We had her in a kennel and she used the box just fine. We moved her to a small room where she could roam free with no other cats and she is using the box just fine. But given the multiple “reports” of her inappropriate potty behavior she isn’t exactly adoptable.

My immediate thought? There’s an underlying health issue. My second thought? She just hasn’t met The One. My goal? Well, something tells me our house is full so I’ve got to find her a foster home. It appears she has lived with other pets, so maybe a home with no other pets would be better. Or maybe just making sure everything in her environment is just right…. we don’t know if the homes she was in were busy, cluttered, or stressful. We don’t know how often they cleaned the box, how many pets they really had, if she had enough attention (Siamese need attention), or if she was treated nicely. The immediate reaction of most people who catch the dog or cat urinating inappropriately is anger or frustration, which leads to more stress for the pet, and anxiety. What’s to say Laney did this once and was scolded so badly that she became terrified when she had to potty and instead of using her box out in the open she found a hidden place to do it? We don’t know these things and therefore I am fighting for her.

She is young with an amazing personality and looks to match. She deserves a home. As a foster, we’ll provide any medical care. We’ll also provide food and litter as we can… and if we need a specialty litter we’ll work on that too. Someone has to be able to take her. Get her into a calm, stress free environment, with her own space and lots of TLC… multiple potty boxes…. and see how she does. There are lots of all natural calming aids and pheromone sprays which help—we’ve seen it work with many other cats. But we have to try. I have to try.

Laney deserves a good life. She doesn’t deserve to be considered less adoptable because of a challenge. Trust me, I get it and it’s no fun dealing with this challenge, but I can’t help but feel that the equation wasn’t right in some way, shape, or form. I understand that the families that had her (and let me say they each had her very briefly—so a proper adjustment to the home didn’t happen) did return her for the same reasons, but how do we know what actually happened in the home? And until we have exhausted all options how can we give her any less? 

I realize my blogs are dark and emotional, but sometimes you have to be real to get the point across. And sometimes animals have tough stories and it’s my job to overlook that and help them find the love they deserve… and I’m good at that.

Laney needs this chance. She’s my favorite four-legged companion in need at the shelter and I’ve got to find her a foster home. We’ll give you the tools to make it work, but she’ll make you fall in love with her all on her own. Will you give Laney the home she needs…. and so deserves?

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving may come only one day a year, but we really need to be thankful for the positives in our lives every day. Sometimes, in a very busy world, we tend to forget that, so this year, I challenge everyone to give thanks for at least one thing every day, and I promise you it will make the world look a lot brighter.

A few of the things I am thankful for? Take a look:

Brandon Wade, my soon to be husband, best friend, partner in life, and my pillar of strength

Our kids (yes, furry) Cali, Bailey, Tito, Barley, and Arwyn. I truly fall in love with them a little bit more every day, and having them in our lives brings a joy unlike any other

The ability to help and save homeless pets across the country –and watching family and friends get involved in their local shelters

My mother, father, brother, family and friends

 

 

A roof over my head, not to mention the numerous residences around the country in which we are welcome

Staying healthy and fit

My cousin, Kristen, for her ability to move forward every day no matter what she faces

Animals, especially those with special needs. They are just grateful for life and we as people need to definitely use them as inspiration

Food on the table, and if I may be specific, the talents and desire to make everything homemade, from sauces and dressings to soups, cheeses, vinegars, baked goods and more.

Being able to eat whatever I want and how much I want—I know this is a luxury. Thank you good genes and the love of eating healthy!

Thanksgiving dinner—easily my most favorite meal!

Fostering—kittens are my addiction! Saving lives is the most rewarding feeling I have ever known

Creative talents—Brandon can make/fix anything with his own hands, and both of us have a knack for interior design, writing, photography, videography and art

Growing up and living most of my life on the water, sunsets, fresh air, salty air, sugar sand, boating, palm trees and being barefoot

Siesta Key, Charlotte Harbor, St. John’s River, Lake Eola, Florida

Little Sabago Lake,skurfing, clambakes, lobster,  Portland Headlight, L.L. Bean, Coach, North Yarmouth, Maine

Lake Tahoe, Frenchman’s Lake, San Francisco hearts, the steps at Coit Tower, Ghiradelli sundaes, wine country, V’Sattui, Valley of the Moon, Riverside, Cheescake Factory, all you can eat sushi, Trader Joes

Nevada Humane Society, Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patti, Carmel

Travel, travel, travel

Musical Theatre

Time                           

Chocolate, cheese, red wine, dinners at my Dad's old house

Running, swimming, sunbathing

My career: finding homes for orphaned pets, caring for those with broken legs, illnesses, and other challenges, amazing animal lovers, making a difference, and four-legged friends

Freedom… of choice and the ability to do the right thing

Love and lots of it

A miracle for miracle

The ability to give and not expect anything in return

Naps

Weddings

Canoes and kayaks

Florida State Seminoles and the New England Patriots

Adventure

Gardening and growing our own food

Peace (for me, this is usually found on the water... or seaside)

Those who push me to do better

Trust

Those who lead by good example and provide inspiration to others

Sunsets and sunrise on the water or over the mountain

And again, Brandon, for loving me for me and putting up with all my crazies

 

The Pantera Touch

For someone who doesn’t take love lightly, falling in love with animals, especially young kittens, comes especially easily to me. Whether this goes back to my childhood days of caring for stray cats on a regular basis, or this is a recent development within the last so many years, it will forever be instilled in me. As a child, I remember loving animals, but because so many came and went, I think I tolerated, subconsciously, the fact that they never seemed to stick around. The one cat that seemed to change that was our little black kitten, Murphy, who stuck around for almost 17 years. She moved from Maine to Florida, and then stayed with my parents when we went off to college. When she finally passed away, I had just moved to Reno, but it still affected me. It was then that I became interested in Nevada Humane Society, and my dedication to homeless pets and the foster care program began.

In 2007, I brought home my first foster kittens, little tabbies, Simba and Dolce. I fell in love within minutes. The pure joy, entertainment, and bliss that kittens bring compares to nothing else. They love you unconditionally, whether they are with you temporarily or forever. I was lucky enough to keep these two for a month, and then found them a home… with my boss! I was hooked. Several litters and several months later, I had fallen in love with fostering, and made it my goal to not only foster the kittens, but to find them homes as well. Fast forward about five years, and this pattern continues.

Meet Pantera, an adorable little gal who struck me from day one. OK, yes, they all make my heart purr, but every now and then there is one that really reaches into my soul. Pantera is that kitten. She arrived at the shelter with five other siblings… but no mom.  They went to one foster home, but were returned. We tried to find another foster, but no one stepped up to the plate. Enter… me.

Pantera and her siblings came home that night, and stayed with me for about a week. Six kittens is the largest litter we have fostered, and they were just under a month old… therefore learning to eat, use a litter box, and just becoming active. Six kittens at that age… are messy.

 

Despite their chaos, they were all amazingly charming, beautiful, and handsome. Four boys, bigger than the girls, very playful. Two girls, teeny tiny, not very active. Pantera and her sister, Camaro, turned their big blue eyes on me from day one, pleading for me to help them, care for them, make them grow big and strong. Both went through a rough patch in that first week with me—not adjusting to life, and not thriving. Force feeding the two round-the-clock and offering nothing but love didn’t quite do the job. They spent the week with me, then went to another foster—the four boys to one family, only because they could care for themselves, and the two girls, to another wonderful foster, Marcy. My attachment to the girls was strong, so Marcy kept me updated daily. Not three days later, Camaro passed away, much to my devastation.  In this business, we have to take the bad with the good. Some kittens simply don’t have it in them to thrive, and we have to be able to let ourselves go, care for them anyway, and give it our best. In the end, if they wind up looking over us instead of at us, well, we have to accept that, because otherwise we’d give up. Camaro was the one I figured would make it; Pantera, sadly, I expected to take the full turn for the worse. Marcy called me to give me the bad news, and I couldn’t understand her message—I thought she said Pantera passed. I lost it, but found out hours later that I had the wrong kitten. While it still hurts to think about it, I am so overjoyed that Pantera, who was fighting for her life at one point, has turned into a beautiful little girl. Pantera came in just a couple weeks later for her shots and it was love at first sight all over again. I was so excited to see her I almost took her back from Marcy.

September 6^th Pantera will be spayed and made available for adoption. In such a young life, this sweet girl overcame such shortcomings. She was separated from her mother, her brothers (for good reason—she needed more care), and then lost her sister. While I don’t know that animals have the same intense emotions that humans have, I do know they feel plenty. They grieve over loss and they stress in uncomfortable situations, yet they are also grateful when a person gives them the chance at life they deserve. They are resilient and tolerant and we as humans should admire them. Pantera went through so much in such a short time, yet she has come back and is now ready for love—again. She understands that while times get tough, she needs to be grateful for what she has, and no matter who walks into her life next, she will give them an unconditional love like no other. Maybe that is why I tend to choose pets over people—I know they will always love me, always be there for me, and will give me endless inspiration.

 

Pantera looked at me from day one with her big blue eyes, seeking a compassion that would allow her to grow and learn from her troubles. Even though she is now in a different foster home, she brings me joy. She is strong, playful, affectionate, and enthralled by the human touch. She is looking for a family she can truly call her own, and I hope all of you will help me find that for her. She deserves all that and more, and while I would love to find her a home before she comes back to Nevada Humane Society, I know she will find one regardless. Pantera, who taught me once again that kittens have a heart bigger than anything else, is now ready for her future.

 

 

 

A Miracle for Miracle

Another tiny being has captured my heart and soul—Miracle, a sweet natured, gracious, little kitten. Although Miracle is only about two months old, he’s developed quite the personality—with energy to match. Soon he will be available for adoption, and we’re hoping to find him the perfect home that he deserves.

Miracle arrived at Nevada Humane Society in June, only weeks old and already facing quite the dilemma. He was small, his whiskers were missing, his ears were dirty, and he was hungry—very hungry. He was in distress because he was somehow tied up in a tarp and unable to move. The tarp was wrapped so tightly around him it was cutting off circulation in his front leg, keeping it pinned to his side and bent at an unnatural angle against his body. Our veterinary team was able to gently untie the tarp but his front leg was injured—it remained bent and close to his body. X-rays determined it was not broken or fractured, but he wouldn’t walk on it, or use it. He needed foster care and special treatment, and I was the lucky one who took him home that night.

Our little guy was given strict orders of cage confinement, but we didn’t have the heart to actually keep him in his kennel. Although we didn’t let him run around or play hard, we did set him on the couch between us for some serious snuggle time. He instantly looked at us gratefully, and we knew he was going to make a big difference on our lives. Brandon, my amazing fiancé, went right to work on him, using physical and massage therapy on his injured leg. Only minutes after our first touch his little paw jerked—a sign that he still had feeling despite the nerve damage. Fast forward several days… both of us were offering him as much as we could do, determined to help the little guy. It was an amazing feeling too, because after each massage, he looked up at each of us, eye to eye, with an expression so thankful that words can’t describe it. He knew we were helping him, and he wanted to make sure we knew he understood.  We worked with him every night, and the first time he stretched his leg out straight and flexed his paw it made me cry. This… was truly saving a life.

Miracle was given his very own miracle. In the beginning amputation became an option but Brandon was not taking that well. Actually, neither was I, but I see so many animals with three legs that I knew it would be ok if it had to happen. I’m glad he was the strong though, because his time spent with Miracle gave him the second chance he deserves. Miracle went from no use in his front leg to full use, with no sign that anything ever even happened.

Now, a month later, he romps and plays like any other kitten. He has bonded with us immensely and we have never had a kitten that so openly expressed emotion. He is truly grateful for us helping him get back in communication with his tiny leg, and it’s as if he isn’t taking anything for granted anymore. He’s gaining weight, he plays rough with his foster brother Arwyn (who, mind you, is nearly 2 years old!), and cuddles up to us whenever he finally tires out. When he only had the use of one front leg he learned to use his back legs more so than normal… as well as his left front paw. Now that he has the use of all four legs and paws it’s amazing to see what he can do—it’s like he’s one giant catcher’s mitt. Toss him a toy and the whole body opens for the catch!

Miracle is beyond adorable, shares his emotions and voice with confidence, and is very happy to have found humans who care. While we don’t know what happened to him, we do think it wasn’t his fault that he got caught up in a tarp. He has a mild fear of new situations, and tends to be really shy upon first meeting other people, so we still know that whatever happened made him cautious of humans. He needs a family who will be patient with him, and allow him to adjust to new surroundings slowly, but we have no doubt he’ll make a wonderful little Guardian Angel of a pet, looking over everyone around him and offering gratitude in everything he does. Miracle has been given his own little Miracle… and now he just needs the final happy ending of a new home.

If you’re interested in bringing Miracle into your family, or maybe you know someone else who is looking for a brave little kitten, please, let me know. Email me at kchandler@nevadahumanesociety.org so we can learn more about you, and you, about little Miracle. Hopefully our little man will be on his way to a new home before we know it!

Happy Anniversary Tilly!

Meet Tilly, a gorgeous Chantilly kitty, who has graced our lives for just over a year. Her story is one of compassion, emotion, and at the same time, joy. Recently we ran into her person and learned a fabulous thing—she has taken over house and home, and added more laughter and fun to her new person than we ever hoped was possible. For that, I share her story, and offer the utmost appreciation to the kind-hearted woman who took her in and gave Miss Tilly what she deserved.

Tilly was just a tiny gal when Will picked her out at Nevada Humane Society. This was long before the shelter was a no-kill organization, and therefore many animals were losing their lives unnecessarily. Tilly, with her long black fur, was more than likely overlooked by people on a daily basis, as studies show that black pets in general are usually the last to be adopted (the why will come in another blog). Despite her looks though, Tilly was one of the lucky ones. Will knew that she was the one for him, and in essence, he saved her life, because her stay at the shelter would have been very short lived.

Fast forward eight years, which equates to a year ago. Will was battling a severe cancer. Facing the worst, we knew his time is limited, and so did Tilly. Over time she became the kind of cat who spent more time outdoors than in, and although she loved him, she was also fiercely independent. As she discovered that something was seriously wrong with Will, she took to him more than ever. She stayed by his side day and night, and made it a point to watch over him and protect him as best she could. In the middle of all of this, people would come and go, pay their respects and offer help, as we all tried to make the best of the inevitable. Throughout it all, no one mentioned Tilly, nor did anyone make any effort to plan her future.

Brandon knew she was important to Will, and knows that animals are my passion. He briefly mentioned one day the idea of us taking her in… but we didn’t discuss it fully. I knew in my heart that there was no decision to be made—if Tilly needed help we would give it to her.

The day we all knew would come arrived, and Brandon, along with several others, spent the day with Will. It was clear to Brandon that Will was hanging on to something, that something was left unsaid, something was keeping him unsettled. He noticed that Tilly hadn’t left Will’s side all day, and when he looked her in the eyes, he saw her pain. Leaning in to Will, he spoke the words that would make the most difference to his friend in his final hours. He told Will that Tilly would be in good hands, that we would keep her as long as it would take to find her a home of her own. He promised she would be happy, and that Will would not have to wonder if she was ok—we would give her the life she deserved.

Will passed away that night and Tilly remained at the house for the next several days. She needed to grieve, as did we, but it wasn’t long before Brandon and I took her home for good.

Tilly came to us with all of her belongings. I have learned how easily cats get stressed out and that by keeping their things, their scent, with them it helps prevent any unnecessary stress. We wanted to make the transition as easy as possible for her.  Tilly moved into our home, separate at first from our existing brood (because who are we kidding—our 3 cats and 3 dogs are quite the family!) but then right into the mix of things. It definitely kept the spice in our life! Tilly has a very vibrant, strong, bold personality. She lets you know when she needs her space, but yet portrays the attitude of running the house. Our other pets bowed to her instantly, and she knew it. Her feisty cattitude even had us fearful at times! She joined us on the couch one evening and sat next to me, tail going strong. I was just waiting for her to give me a piece of her mind, but luckily, she didn’t. However, for all of her ornery characteristics, she definitely had a sweet side, which is especially revealed when she is alone with people (yes that means no other pets). She is gorgeous, and she wears it well. She loves to sun herself in a window, relax on the back of a fluffy couch cushion, and play. And treats! You should see her beg for a treat! We fell in love, cattitude and all.

Tilly resided with us for over three months, but we knew she deserved better. We promised Will we would care for her as long as was needed, but we also knew it wasn’t the best situation for her or our pets. She wasn’t as happy as she could be, and after all she went through, that wasn’t ok with us. She deserved better, so we set out to find it.

We promoted Tilly to our friends, family, and colleagues. She graced the pages of Facebook, Craigslist, and more. We found one potential home, but then decided they weren’t the right fit. Another couple of weeks went by, and then we found Dana, a regular at Wet Hen Café, Brandon’s restaurant. She saw our poster and wanted to know more. Not long after, we brought Tilly to Dana’s home for their first meeting. It was love at first sight.

Tilly made herself at home right away. She fell for Dana, and Dana, for her. Her one kitty sibling is Simon, and he has enough sense to know that she rules the roost—even though he was there first! We spoke to Dana the other day and she verified what we knew would happen. Tilly is flourishing, loves her surroundings, is queen of all the neighborhood cats, and her home. Dana is so grateful to have brought Tilly into her life and has gone above and beyond giving her the life she deserves. Simon has even been a good match for Tilly, giving her the space she needs but still expressing that kitty love when he can. Secretly, we know Tilly enjoys his company, as the two can be found sunning the same spot, or waiting for mom to come home at the end of a long day. We were so happy when Tilly moved on to a new life with Dana, and we talk about her frequently. When we visited Dana the other day, just after the one year anniversary of Will’s passing, it became even clearer that she, Dana, brought so much to those of us who cared for Tilly, and Will. Tilly needed someone who was there for her, just as Will did, and as hard as it was to see him pass, it is so amazingly joyful to know Tilly is in a better place. Looking over the four-legged has become second nature to me, but this strikes my heart for so many other reasons. We can’t wait to go visit Tilly, but until then, we know she’s happy as can be in her new home, with her big-hearted person, and we wish them the very best every day that they are together.

A Tribute to Homerette

I am so passionate about being a voice for the animals.... but it certainly isn't without trial and tribulation. Recently, a tiny kitten by the name of Homerette rocked me to the core, and I am still feeling the loss and disappointment. It took several weeks to make a simple video, but now, I am glad I did, as it has helped me heal, and helped others hear my story. Fostering is an incredible experience (said as I have five foster kittens spread amongst my lap) but it does affect you in a variety of ways. Still, I encourage everyone to try it, if only once, and I guarantee you'll feel the rewards immediately.

Homerette affected me more than most... but what can I say, it's who I am. With that, my tribute to little Homerette...

And So It Begins....

Born and raised on the coast of Maine, my childhood was spent frolicking in the great outdoors. Skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing in the winters, catching lobster and having clambakes on the beach of our family’s lake house in the summers, life may have been quiet in the small towns of New England, but it was never dull. The economy took a turn for the worse just before I turned 13 though, and my parents moved us to southwest Florida.

One of my many favorite beaches in Southwest Florida

After years of vacationing in the Sunshine State, everything about it won us over and we turned a bad situation into a positive one. Florida was (is) so different from Maine—palm trees, turquoise water, sand soft as sugar and year-round sunshine—but I loved it with a passion. We literally spent life on the water when we weren’t working, whether at the beach or on the boat. Growing up I moved to Tallahassee for college, then to Orlando, then to Jacksonville. No matter where I went, living on the water was my priority, and I spent every waking minute I could in the sun.  I worked hard, but I played harder, and gained friends and experiences along the way. Life was good, but apparently something was missing, because 16 years later, in 2006, I got the bug to try something different. My Dad was living in Reno, and I decided to take some time off and visit with him for a few months, then move on to southern California. I knew it was similar enough to the Florida lifestyle I’d become accustomed, and was still thriving in real estate, my career at the time. Reno was a huge change for me, and although I consider the East Coast home, I will never regret my move to the Silver State. I was lucky enough to find and fall in love with the man of my dreams and I discovered an intense passion for a new career—saving the lives of homeless pets. Reno is still growing on me, but I am thankful for my new family out west, along with a job that makes a true difference in the world. I know I want to end up back home, as I still call it, but until we are ready to make that adventure a reality, Reno it is. I’ve got my loves (two & four legged), an amazing job, and my entire future ahead of me. I know wherever we go I will have Brandon, and a desire to speak for those who don’t have a voice—animals.  That is why I chose to begin this blog… not to speak about me, or us, but about the animals. In two short years of employment, and three years of volunteer work, I have it in me to share my stories, good and bad, with the world. I hope you will follow and share my journey, and maybe even become inclined to make a difference yourself, and help us create a world where there will be No More Homeless Pets (my credit to Best Friends Animal Society for that worldwide known slogan and mission) because that, in my opinion, is what they deserve.

I begin Arwyn’s Tail, Barley’s Paw  with my simple background, but the animal stories will follow. I may dance around when it comes to a timeline, so don’t expect these to be in any kind of order. Those stories I share first are probably those that have the biggest impact on me. My tone will vary, as do my emotions. Animals are so very delicate, but even those that bring tears to your eyes have a meaning and a mission as to why they are brought to you—to me. I can think of so many off the top of my head, some recent, some not, so please, read, share, and decide to make a difference wherever you are, because that is what is important. I may be saving lives in Reno, but I am only one person, and it isn’t unless I gain the support of many, many others that we can make that dream come true that Best Friends Animal Society has already set in motion. I understand there are so many causes across the globe, but I choose animals because they do not have a voice, and because I have learned to speak for them.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, sharing, and learning.