Summer is Over!!! Hooray! But, We Need Your Help More Than Ever

Yes, a collective sigh of relief when the leaves start turning those beautiful shades of yellow, orange, red and brown.  The cool breeze in the air means cats will slow down their mating for the winter and kitten season will soon be over.  Now the big push to get cats and kittens out of the shelter to prepare for the next "kitten season" which begins in April.

                                                         
So much has happened this summer!  The highest number of animal cruelty cases since 2006.  Then came the cat hoarding situation and the filming of "Confessions: Animal Hoarding" for Animal Planet.The show hasn't aired yet, but we're hearing rumors that it will be either late November or the beginning of the new year.  There were over 200 cats in the house.  We took as many as we could,  there are still 15 cats in the house, but we ran out or places for them to go.  Even the production company from Animal Planet said they produce these shows all over the country and our case was the most difficult to find rescue groups to take the animals. 

                                                                

Then came 49 Guinea Pigs who were dumped in the brush along the banks of Cooper River.  The 49 quickly turned into 60 because many of the females were pregnant.  We still have 20 left.  If you know anyone who wants a guinea pig or two or three, we have them.  They make wonderful class room pets for teachers! And of course, some of the hoarder house cats are still at the shelter too.  Lots of kittens too!!!

                                                           

We are holding three boxers who were involved in a bite case.  They mauled a man, pack style.  The dogs are truly the victims in this case.  They are wonderful with the shelter staff but their fate must be decided by the judge. We shower them with love and attention while they wait. 

We have gotten one dog at the shelter six times.  Took the owner to court and the judge gave him his dog back.  We have had him twice since then, less than a month after he went to court.  Have the dog back again now and heading back to court soon. 

Sassy and Lisa are mother and daughter.  They are 7 and 9 years old.  Their owner's husband passed away and the owner lost her home.  Sassy, Lisa and their owner were walking around town, homeless and sleeping on the back porches of friend's homes.  Their owner refused to go to a homeless shelter until she knew her dogs would be taken care of.  Steve went and picked the dogs up and brought them to the shelter.  Their mom has been struggling to get her life back in order so she can be re-united with her dogs.  On November 1, Sassy and Lisa's owner will move into a new apartment where she is permitted to have her dogs.  This will soon be a story with a very happy ending!

Mocha, our longest resident, went home this month.  We wish Mocha and her new family a wonderful new life together.  Mocha deserves it. Someone gave Mocha to a teenage boy when she was a little 8 week old puppy.  The boy took the puppy home but his mother said the dog was not allowed in the house.  Mocha spent 4 months alone in a backyard with no shelter and many times no food or water.  When a neighbor finally told us about the situation, Mocha was 6 months old, covered with mange, emaciated and dirty.  Her tail never stopped wagging.  It took a few months to resolve her medical and behavioral issues (no manners because she lived alone in the yard), by then Mocha was a young adult pitbull mix waiting to be adopted.  We are so glad she is now living in the home.  We love you Mocha!!!!
                                                                       Pretty Mocha!

We have so much going on at the shelter, it makes my head spin.  I always talk about the fact that we were only supposed to be in this building, temporarily for 18 months to two years.  In February of 2012 it will be six years.  Our dog kennels are falling apart, they were not built for the way we are using them.  Their size is perfect, our dogs have more room than most shelters.  We have so many plans to go on and make our shelter a pet and people friendly place, but still our biggest obstacle is financial.  Adoptions are down, as well as monetary donations.  We are so grateful for the folks who bring us wish list items to help us keep going on a daily basis.  I don't believe we would have survived this summer without you.  Thank you!

We are a struggling animal shelter in a crises situation.  Everyday I try to find a way to keep things going.  I fall asleep (after working or pacing for hours) thinking about ways to keep the shelter going and spring up thinking about the same.  Sometimes the ideas work and sometimes they are "half-baked" but they are always there!! 

Today we are in the worst situation we have been in during our almost 6 years in business.  We managed to keep going through some of the worst economic times our country has seen in decades, helping people to re-home their pets when they lost their jobs and homes, providing medical attention and surgeries for animals surrendered to us because their owners were financially broken. I feel like good things and miracles happen everyday at our shelter, for both the animals and people, and we want to continue doing this great work and improve upon the services and programs we offer, to help even more.  My written plan grows every day. 

We have never been a wealthy shelter by any stretch of the imagination, but we have managed to get by.  Until recently that is.  This summer was overwhelming.  In 2006, we took in 699 animals for our first year.   In 2010, we took in over 1500 animals and we are closer to 1700 this year. So many people call everyday that we cannot help for lack of funds and space.  So many improvements are needed to our kennels and cat rooms. We are struggling to pay for spay/neuter surgery, medications and all the supplies needed to care for the animals and the building on a daily basis. Most of all, we need to get animals adopted so we can help even more.  Since the economy has taken a turn for the worse, both adoptions and donations have consistently decreased.  We may not survive if we cannot turn this around. 
We have several events coming up and hope that you will be able to attend one or all:
     
                                              Fundraising Events
                        
 1. "Spay-ghetti (No Balls) Dinner" to generate funds to spay/neuter all the cats and dogs before they go to their forever home. 
                     
                        Date:  Saturday, November 12
              
                        Place: St. Marks Lutheran Church
                                  409 White Horse Pike and the corner of 1 E. Haddon Ave
                                 Oaklyn, NJ 08107. 856-854-7959

                       Time:  2 pm to 7 pm
                      

                       Cost: $15 adult,s $10 kid,s $40 for take-out for a family of four, $5 for single serving

                                 leftovers. Eat-in or take-out,  Dinner includes Salad, Spay-ghetti, garlic bread

                                 and assorted desserts. 

There will be a magician for face painting and balloon creations too. We will also have a Police K-9 Demonstration  and Bed Bug Dog Demonstration, pictures can be taken with the dogs.

Hope to see you there!!!!

2.  SOS (Save Our Shelter) - Melinda's Birthday Bash!!!      
     This will be our final and most important event of the year.  We have had to borrow $15,000 from the end of this year's contract in order to survive since August.  Which means in the month of December we will not receive any funding.  We must make up that money in order to survive the month and into next year.  Any funds over and above that amount will go to support the Melinda Welsh Memorial Clinic (a soon to be established low cost spay/neuter clinic).  Melinda would never have allowed me to throw a party for her.  She would never want that much attention directed at her.  But, she would want the funds generated from an event such as this to benefit the dogs and cats at the shelter.  So, again, we endeavor to do good things for the animals in her name, honor and memory.  Please join us for this very special event. 

                                Date:  Saturday, December 10
                          
                                Time:  7 pm to 12 pm

                                Place:  Collingswood Senior Community Center Ballroom
                                            30 W. Collings Ave (next to firehouse)
                                             Collingswood, NJ

Come Party with us for the animals in Melinda's Honor.  There will be wine and beer (your are welcome to bring any other alcohol), a food buffet, desserts, a basket auction. silent auction, and lots of dancing with a great band - The Strayz - Pitbulls of Rock.  You won't be disappointed.  Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at the shelter - you can stop in and pick them up or pay by credit card over the phone (856) 663-3058 and we will mail them to you or hold them at the door for you.   You can also purchase them at The Retrospect Newspaper on Haddon Ave.

 If you have any questions or would like any further information about either of our events, please don't hesitate to contact the shelter at (856) 663-3058                                 

We wish to thank all of you who have supported us over the last 5 1/2 years.  I don't know what we would do without our wonderful volunteers.  The donations of wish list items are so important and we would not have survived this summer without them.  I hope that you will continue your support for the animals at our shelter.  We are in the midst of the most desperate situation we have ever had.  I am working as hard as I can to make sure we survive.  Great things happen for both animals and people everyday at our shelter and it would be so sad to see that end.  Again, our plan is to recover and move forward to make things bigger and better.  We need your help to do that and we need it quickly.  If you can donate now it would be so helpful.  You can send a check or call the shelter (856) 663-3058 to make a donation by credit card over the phone.  I hope to see everyone at both or one of our upcoming events.  We really do need you help. PLease don't hesitate to stop in and walk a dog or two or hang out with the cats.  Thank you for you kindness and consideration towards Almost Home Animal Shelter.  Together we can make this happen. 

Nancy Welsh
                                                      Madison  is now our longest resident.

 "If every animal shelter in the United States embraced the No Kill philosophy and the programs and services that make it possible, we would save nearly four million dogs and cats who are scheduled to die in shelters this year, and the year after that. It is not an impossible dream."  Nathan Wonograd Tweet This

Vote for Almost Home Animal Shelter

Okay, here are the instructions:  Go to the Facebook page for Don't Be Cruel.  On the left hand side it says"Vote Now."  You will have to give them your e mail address and name and answer a few survey questions.  Then vote for Almost Home to share in the $2600 donation.  Below is the story of why you should vote for Almost Home.  Please send this to all your friends and ask them to vote too.  Thanks so much for you help.

This could be a long story, so please be patient. I will get to the point eventually. My daughter, Melinda, was born with a gentic disease called cystic fibrosis which effects the lungs, pancreas and several other functions of the body. When I was contracted to do animal control in 2001, my then 15-year-old daughter helped to establish the "Collingswood Stray Animal Fund" after finding out that a dog I took to the county shelter had been put down for a minor injury. Her and I took the dog to the veterinarian prior to taking it to the shelter. I paid for the exam and medication prior to taking him to the shelter. Because the shelter was full and he had a medical condition, they euthanized him.  Melinda began sewing and making bandanas, collar covers and cloth placemats for dog bowls. We set-up a table any place we could and sold these items, using the funds for the medical expenses for animals I picked up that were sick or injured. Then we would foster them until they were well enough to be adopted or someone who wanted to take over their care. Family, friends and neighbors refer to their pets as a "Nancy Dog or Nancy Cat". 

 

Melinda's health condition caused her to stay home from school much of the time. She didn't like being left alone, so she would come with me on animal control calls. She would hold the little ones in her arms or warm up a litter of kittens. She would even get up in the middle of the night to come with me so I wasn't riding alone. We would talk about hitting the lottery and having an animal shelter of our own with a spay/neuter clinic and everything we needed. Then one day in 2006 an opportunity presented itself.

 

A local private shelter was closed for animal cruelty violations and health code violations. That left several local towns with nowhere for their stray and abandoned animals to go. The mayors and commissioners from several local towns asked if I would open and operate an animal shelter. So, with no money, the process began. The towns chipped in and provided kennels and some cat cages. I begged, pleaded and managed to get everything else we needed donated. Almost Home Animal Shelter was establish in February 2006 as a "temporary" shelter. We were supposed to be set-up for a maximum of 18 months until an addition was built on the county shelter and then they would take in all the animals. Melinda would come in and help answer the phones, take care of customers, socialize kittens and puppies and anything her health would allow her to do. Because the disease effected her lungs, her energy level and ability to be very active was very low. Eventually she needed oxygen all the time. But she still came to the shelter everyday to help. Melinda was also a photographer, so with the help of our dog trainer, she would take all the pictures for Petfinder too. On April 29, 2009 at the age of 23, Melinda lost her lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.

 

We continue to operate and because of the economy, the county has decided it will not be building the addition to the shelter. So it seems we have become a permanent shelter. Melinda and I decided from the very beginning we would never be a typical "animal control shelter." Our goal has always been to do the best we can for each and every dog or cat who comes through our doors. I could go on and on about the many issues we face on a daily basis regarding deteriorating cages, broken washers and dryers, no air conditioning in the kennels and more. Despite all the hurdles we face, we pride ourselves on doing the best we can for each and every dog and cat who comes into our lives. So many come to us having been abandoned after both mental and physical abuse or neglect and somehow we manage to help them become whole again. (Or maybe they help us to stay whole! ) They receive medical attention and treatment for illness and injuries, grooming, bathed, vaccinated, heartworm and/or FELv/aids tested, microchipped, spayed/neutered and de-wormed. We have a dog trainer who evaluates them and we establish a plan to work with the ones who need obedience training or more behavioral modification. People come in looking to "rescue" a dog or cat from the shelter. I explain to them that we have already rescued these animals from bad situations such as abuse or neglect, abandonement on the street or situations where they were just no longer wanted. Our adopters come to give them the loving home they deserve for the rest of their lives. Our shelter is not the type of shelter an animal must be rescued from.

 

I promised Melinda that her father, brother and I, along with the staff at the shelter would do great things for the animals in her name. Honestly, I don't know how I would have survived the last two years since Melinda passed away if I didn't have the dogs and cats at the shelter. I have depended on them as much as they have depended on me. I am very blessed to have had Melinda in my life, as well as all the dogs and cats we have been fortunate enough to care for. Since we are now officially a permanent shelter, our goal is to implement the programs and services, in addition to what we already do, in order to help more dogs and cats. We hope to accomplish this  by opening  a low cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinic to enable people to afford the care their animals need and deserve rather than surrendering or abandoning them. This clinic will be called the "Melinda Welsh Memorial Clinic."   The beginning of great things for animals in Melinda's name. 

 

Thank you so much for your consideration of our shelter.

 

Nancy Welsh

 

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Writing From The Heart

I'm not really sure where to start, accept from the beginning.  Rambling at first, but it will make sense by the end.

In February 2006, Almost Home Animal Shelter opened its doors to take in dogs and cats from 7 towns in Camden County.  We were operating under the assumption that we were a temporary facility for 18 -24 mnoths while an addition was built to the Camden County Animal Shelter. Once completed, our shelter would close and the county shelter would house the animals from all 9 towns that we do animal control for.

Since then, the economy has continued to worsen.  Both the county and local municipal governments area having to cut back on services and employees in order to balance their budget.  The addition to the county shelter is no longer a viable option given these circumstances.   Because of the economy, the increase of dogs and cats to Almost Home as well as every shelter across the country has skyrocketed due to foreclosures and evictions, as well as people just not being able to afford care for their animals. 

Myself and the other shelter directors in Camden County have met with representatives from the county and several towns.  Believe it or not, your local government is very concerned with animal sheltering and the increase in the number of  stray animals in every community.  They want to help by lending some of the resources of the county to the shelters to create programs and services which will help decrease some expenses, decrease the intake of animals and increase adoptions. 

One of the long term goals that I have had for Almost Home Shelter is the expansion of our building, which of course isn't possible, but renting an additional building to expand is.  In this second building (which would actually be the building at the opposite end from us, it is empty and available) we would have a spay/neuter and low cost vaccination clinic as well as a food pantry.

As most of you know, my daughter Melinda lost her lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis in 2009, at the age of 23.  When I began doing animal control, Melinda and I started the Collingswood Stray Animal Fund to help pay for the medical expenses of sick and injured animals who might otherwise be put down if an owner couldn't be found.  Melinda was very talented and creative.  She was a photographer as well.  Melinda took  pictures of the animals we fostered while they were sick or injured, then later all the dogs and cats here at Almost Home.  Melinda would make collar covers, placemats and bandanas to sell to raise the money for the stray animal fund. She was the photographer for Pet Pictures with the Easter Bunny and Santa.  As sick as she was the last few years of her life,  she came to the shelter every day to answer phones and help customers.

My goal since she has passed away was to dedicate something to do with animals in her name.  With enough support from the public and our local government, my hope is to establish the "Melinda Welsh Memorial Spay/Neuter Clinic."  I hope that all of you who are reading this will feel like you have a part in this as well.  We appreciate your continued support and will most likely be calling upon you for help as we fundraise and create this clinic.  Our "Comedy Night" Fundraiser on June 4 and our bowling fundraiser on May 1 will be the beginning to help us reach our goals.  We appreciate all that you all have done to help us and the animals over the last five years and continue to do.  Thank you.  For more information on the Comedy Night and Bowling, please contact the shelter at (856) 663-3058.  We hope you will join us in our journey and we ask that you invite friends and family as well.

If you would like to volunteer and help with the fundraisers, please call us at (856) 663-3058.  Thanks again. Tweet This

Fundraising For Summer Season

Spring has sprung,                                                                                                                                                     

the grass is riz,
I wonder where the flowers iz.
Or should I say, dogs and cats iz? All will be blossoming soon. 

 

Nickel, a very special kitty waiting for you!

Kitten season has begun.  We already have a few bottle babies.  Spring and Summer are the highest time of intake for every shelter.  Adoptions in the Spring are generally pretty good, until the summer vacation season that is.  Then, during July and August when people are busy going on vacation, adoption and even foster homes slow down to a trickle.  That is when we need the most assistance for the little ones who keep on coming.  We still even have some young cats who came in as 4-5 week-old kittens last kitten season.  There are so many kittens, they don't always all get adopted and they grow up in the shelter, they are still  kittens.  They still need a home.  They are just out of the curtain climbing stages.  Which isn't a bad thing!   Encourage every pet owner you know to spay and neuter their pets. 

I stated in previous posts, that our shelter was supposed to be temporary when we started.  It looks like we are now a permanent shelter.  Because of the economic condition the entire country is in, and the fact that even police and firemen are being laid off, the funding to build and re-vamp the Camden County Animal Shelter has been cancelled.  What does that mean for Almost Home Animal Shelter?  Well, I hope it means that we are now a permanent part of the community.  We will continue working towards the short term goals we had and now develop long term goals to help animals and people. 

I of course, always have a head full of ideas.  First and foremost is fundraising.  The only way to put into action our goals is to have the money to fund them.  We are hoping to begin having vaccination and microchipping clinics.  Eventually, we would like to also have a spay/neuter clinic (THINKING BIG!).  So, to start this busy season off right, we have planned a couple of fundraising events. 

First, "Pins for Pets" on Sunday, May 1 from 12 to 2 pm at Baker Lanes on Cuthbert Blvd. in Cherry Hill.  $15.00 per person includes 2 hours or bowling and shoes.  Of course we will have some awards for things like highest score. Raffle prizes and lots of fun!  All of the procedes go right to helping the dogs and cats at Almost Home. Please contact the shelter at (856) 663-3058 and we will get you registered.  Bring some friends and have a team! 

"Comedy Night" will be a blast.   Come join us on Saturday, June 4 at Colleen's Caterers (formerly the Woodbine Inn) at 1444 Rte 73 in Pennsauken.  The night will feature three comedians, a full dinner buffet, cash bar, bucket auction, even a DJ and Dancing to complete the evening.  Dinner begins at 7 pm and doors will open at 6:30.  The cost is $25 per person in advance ($30 at the door).   

The Comedy Night will be our big fundraiser for the year.  The better the attendance, the more successful our programs and services will be for the dogs and cats this summer.   I hope everyone reading this will try and attend.  We really need this be a success.  

I don't know how to put this very eloquently except to say that this event will mean success or failure for the shelter this year.  I don't want to keep blaming things on the economy, but every time we hit a bump in the road, it seems the economy is a major contributing factor. 

We have come such a long way since February of 2006 when we began with basically nothing.  I am so proud of the things we have been able to accomplish for the animals and people too.  So many sick, injured and abused animals have come through our doors.  Of course, we can't forget the healthy ones too.  Regardless, they are all special and deserve the best home and care we can give.

I hope you can join us for "Pins for Pets" Bowling or the "Dog-Gone Funny" Comedy Night.  We would love to see you at both. 

Volunteers are also needed for both events.  If you would like to become involved in helping our dogs and cats, please stop in or call the shelter at (856) 663-3058.

Thank you for reading this and for considering helping the dogs and cats who reside at Almost Home Animal Shelter. 

Bless you,

Nancy

P.S. Please forward the link for this blog to all your friends and invite them to help too. 


Mocha waiting for her forever home!



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Adopters and Volunteers Needed This Weekend

THIS WEEKEND - PETSMART NATIONAL ADOPTION WEEKEND

Come meet your new best friend.  February 12th and 13th. We will have dogs at Petsmart in Cherry Hill in the Target shopping center across from the Cherry Hill Mall between 11 am and 4 pm.  Please stop and meet them. If you are one of our volunteers and you have even an hour to spare, please stop in.  If you can pick up a dog at the shelter and bring it over to Petsmart, even for just an hour or so, that would be so helpful.  Hope to see you there.  Tweet This

Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities

An Entertaining Afternoon for the Family and Helping the Shelter Animals Too!

On February 26th, the Collingswood Community Theatre will dedicate the Saturday Matinee performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat  to the dogs and cats of Almost Home Animal Shelter.  The show will take place at the Scottish Rite Theater in Collingswood.  A portion of each ticket sold and concession sales will be given to the shelter. If you bring a "Wish list" item, you get a $2 discount on the ticket. Tell your friends. A great show, an excellent way to help the animals and have fun spending time with friends and family. Staff and volunteers will be there to accept "Wish List: donations and monetary donations as well. (see Wish List below)  
                                                       The brilliant colors of Joseph’s coat will brighten a dreary February winter as Collingswood Community Theatre presents the ever-popular Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”


Show Dates: February 17, 18, 19, 25, and 26 at 7:30 pm
(Matinee on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 2:00 pm)
...
Directed by Mary Baldwin
Choreography by Lisa Kain-Marcelli
Musical/Vocal Direction by Zach Wiseley

Set to an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock 'n' roll, this Old Testament tale is both timely and timeless. The production features a large ensemble of singers as well as Joseph’s 11 brothers and their wives. The CCT production will also showcase a children’s chorus as well.

Shelter Wish List Items

Bleach
Paper Towels                                   We use these three items on a daily basis to care for the dogs 
Liquid Laundry Detergent               and cats.

Hand Sanitizer
Blankets and Towels
Six foot long leashes
Dog and cat collars
Cat Litter (clay, non-scoopable)
Contractor clean-up trash bags
Canned Cat Food
Dog and Cat Treats
Dog and Cat Toys


Copy Paper
Pens
3 tab Manilla File Folders (letter size)
Steno Pads
Spiral notebooks
Receipt Books
Postage Stamps

Gift Cards: Petsmart, Petco, Target, Wal-mart, K-mart, Home Depot, Lowe's

Monetary Donations are always need for spay/neuter surgery, veterinary bills for animals with chronic illness and medical emergencies.  

These items are all important to the daily operation and care of the dogs and cats at Almost Home Animal Shelter. 

We will have a table at the show with pictures of dogs and cats and information regarding volunteering at the shelter, as well as adoption and fundraising events.

 ___________________________________________________________________

Petsmart's National Adoption Weekend

Volunteers are still needed for February 11, 12 and 13th at the Petsmart in Cherry Hill (across from Cherry Hill Mall between Target and Kohls).   We can be there from 11 am to 4 pm each day.  We could use people to transport dogs from the shelter to Petsmart and hang out with them in the store and at our table. Or you could come to Petsmart to man the table and hang out with a dog.  Even if you can spare and hour or two, we could use your help. 

Call the shelter at (856) 663-3058 to volunteer. 
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Cats and Kittens at Almost Home and Volunteers Needed

Almost Home Animal Shelter has several cats who have resided here for a very long time.  They would love to be sitting in a sunny window or curled up on the couch or a chair in a home of their own.  These cats are wonderful and truly deserve a place to call home.  Please consider adopting one of them or pass this blog along to your friends and ask them to pass it to their friends.  The more people who see it, the better the chance our kitties have of finding their forever home. 

Fluffa is now 5 years old.  Her owner passed away last year and Fluffa was brought to us.  Fluffa is a longer haired kitty who loves to be brushed and definitely needs it at least once a week to keep her coat from getting too messy.  Her owner used to have her shaved down once a year.  Fluffa is a sweetheart.  She gets along with other cats, but prefers to just be left alone by them.  She is over that kitten stage and is a sophisicated woman.  Fluffa is looking for a home to just hang out.  A perfect lap cat. 

(WooHoo! Queen went home today.  Thank you Christine! 1/24/11)

Queen is approximately 7 years old.  She is a plus size girl.  She has a medium length coat which has been getting matted at the shelter so we have shaved her in the back.  Queen is very quiet and like Fuffa, just wants to hang out.  Queen has been with us for two years.  She was brought in as a stray, but we have our suspicions that the people who brought her in were her owners.  Queen loves everybody she meets and will be a great companion.  Is there a senior citizen in your life who might like the company of Queen?

Johanna came to the shelter with her litter of five kittens.  Johanna was just about a year old herself and that was in March of 2009.  Her kittens are all long gone to their new homes and JoHanna is still here.  She is a very loving girl.  She gets along well with other cats.  She doesn't even mind dogs.  JoHanna would love to be in your home.  Please come in and meet her. 

Dumpling hasn't been here too long, but he came in with his mom, Apples.  Dumpling was just 8 weeks old when he got here in August.  But he hasn't gotten adopted yet.  Neither has his mom, Apples.  They are both so sweet and loving.  Mother and son have very similar personalities.  Apples is just a little over a year old herself.  They would make a great team in your home. 

Desi is one of our longest residents.  She like to run around when she first comes out of the cage.  People then think she doesn't like them.  But if you give her 20 minutes to run around and stretch, she becomes a goofball.  Desi is also very particular about her drinking habbits.  She dips her paw into the water and licks it off.  No need to get the whiskers wet drinking from a bowl.  Desi also likes to relax in the highest spot she can find.  You may find her on top of the file cabinets, on top of the bank of cages, or on a book shelf.  She really is the class clown. 

Mindy came to us as a surrender with another cat and a dog.  Duncan (the dog) went home several months ago and Derby (the other cat) went home last week.  Mindy is the last one.  The owners came in and said they had a house fire and couldn't keep their animals because of the damage to the house.  They didn't think we would check it out, but we did.  The firemen even told us they had a small stove fire but there wasn't any real damage.  They just wanted to get rid of their pets.  Mindy is a doll baby.  Her cute little pink nose will make you smile.  Mindy is around two years old now.  She has been here since August of 2009.

F.B. (aka Fat Boy, Funny Boy, Fabulous Boy) was stuffed in a small carrier and left at our door.  F.B. has been here over two years and he is one of our office cats.  He loves to be pet and scratched on his back.  His belly is ticklish, so he doesn't like a belly rub for very long.  F.B. loves to be the center of attention.  If there is a room full of people he would like to be touched by each one.  As you can see by the picture, he has a little problem with spacial relationships. F.B. weighed over 30 pounds when he came to us.  He is down a few pounds, but he prefers to think of himself as "big boned."  We would miss F.B. if he left us, but we would love to see him find a permanent home and the love of a family.

Nickel is our other office cat.  Nickel has been here since February 2010.  She actually lives on the corner of my desk.  I received an animal control call to pick up an injured cat. A family had gone into their shed to get shovels out for a coming snow storm.  Nickel was in the shed ,almost dead.  She was down and out, barely breathing and all skin and bones.  I brought her back to the shelter because I didn't think she would make it to the emergency hospital.  I put her on a blanket with a heating pad under it and I gave her some fluids.  In a few minutes she was meowing and trying to lift her head.  I made her a slurry of canned food and KMR and started putting a little bit on her tongue.  In a few more minutes she was lifting her head to lick from the bowl.  She really had the will to live.  Nickel had damaged the top of her mouth and knocked out her top front teeth from trying to chew her way out of the shed.  But don't let her fool you, she eats dry cat food and dog food (if she can get it).  Nickel also enjoys people food if you'll undulge her. And just like F.B.,  we would miss her if she wasn't here, but would love to see her go to a loving home. 

These are just a few of the many cats here at Almost Home.  There is also Jeffrery, Columbus, Captain, Girtman and more who have been here for a long time.  Please consider adopting an adult cat.  Even when you adopt a kitten, they are only kittens for less than a year.  When you adopt an adult you know exactly what you are getting.  Please pass this around to your friends and family.  Ask them to pass it along too.  The more people who see the cats, the better the chances of them finding a home.  Thank you!

P.S. Volunteers are needed for Petsmart's National Adoption Weekend on February 11, 12 and 13.  From 11 am to 4 pm/  Even if you can come for an hour or two it would be greatly appreciated.  Volunteers are also needed to transport dogs from the shelter to Petsmart.  If you can help, please call the shelter (856) 663-3058.  Thank you. 

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