Emma and Oliver

Emma and Oliver were first found, less than a week old, in an abandoned garage just days after the county had removed both a renter and a large population of hoarded cats.  The MC SPCA cared for these two kittens until Dennis and Michele, after falling in love with them, decided that it was time to adopt.  Here is a picture of them the day before they were adopted.  

 This is Oliver and Emma in January 2012.  What follows is what their special owners wanted to say.

We got Emma, the Siamese mix, and Oliver, the Am Short Hair, as 5 week and 3 week old rescue kittens, respectively.  We had to bottle feed Emma for just a few days until she got her first taste of canned cat food.  We continued to bottle feed Oliver for 3 weeks.  The experience was something we will never forget - so much fun and never a dull moment watching two kittens get their legs and learn to play with each other.  They were just over six months old and still playing like little kittens when these pictures were taken.  Emma is one beautiful young lady with a fabulous tail, and Oliver is one handsome young dude.  We feel very lucky to have them in our life and recommend rescue kittens to anyone who wants to add a cat or two to their home. 

Family Kittens: Elvis and Jesse

Elvis was 3 weeks old when he was found on Lebec Road, crying his heart out.  A board member promply took him home and thus his life with people began.  Always the character, Elvis joined forces with Jesse, when he was offered up for adoption by his owners.  The two kittens are now invinciable.  Their adopted family truly enjoys their character and energy, and wrote:

Here are some pictures of our new family members.  We are so grateful to have these little guys.  They have fit into our family beautifully.  They sleep on the kids beds at night.  They have completely taken over the furniture and they get into EVERYTHING !

Elvis is such a funny cat, he begs for people food, he plays fetch, and he walks around the house like he owns the place!  HE IS SOO AFFECTIONATE.  Jesse is so kind,and playful and TOTALLY fascinated with the Guinea pig and turtle -- its neat to see them interact.  Jesse is always on someones lap or in my daughters arms. I have to say he has adjusted quite well to being pampered!

WE ENJOY THEM SO MUCH!  They have brought nothing but more joy, laughter and love into our home.  Thank you for blessing our family with these wonderful little guys.
Gratefully,
Kurt, Apryl, Andrew & Amy (Jesse, Elvis, Tiny & Patrick)

He Jumped Into My Lap

Thanks to the good people of the Mountain Communities SPCA, my husband and I are no longer dogless. It had been a year, maybe to the day, since we lost our beautiful, wonderful dog Lady at 16-1/2 years old. Ron said he had always known we would get another dog. Sure enough, early on a Tuesday morning at the very end of August, one of my dearest friends called to say that the SPCA was having an event in Cuddy Hall that day and there was a little white dog we should meet. It was afternoon by the time we got there. He was cute and friendly. As I sat in a chair he put his front paws on me and looked out of big irresistible button brown eyes. Who teaches them how to do that? He was definitely a terrier - a word sometimes justly rendered "terror." We were told he had been found running the streets in Gorman. Who could do that to such a nice dog? The SPCA people had named him "Scruffy." Nobody knew his breeds or how old he was. The vet thinks he might be two.  His ribs were razor-sharp beneath his skin.

That afternoon I went back to Cuddy Hall by myself for another look. "Scruffy" obviously recognized me. He jumped in my lap; that was the moment. I stayed an hour. I know dog lovers can understand that I missed him in the intervening few days before an SPCA volunteer brought him over for us to foster. He would not be officially our dog for another ten days, just in case someone claimed him.

We immediately named him Angus MacCu (Cu is dog in Gaelic.) In the days that followed I thought of Angus Houdini, for Angus formed a strong attachment to me, and if I left the house, he did what he thought necessary to find me. Namely, he climbed up to the bedroom window, slid it open, pushed out the screen and jumped, fortunately one story, to the driveway. He did this three times. Honest. He never went far--his purpose wasn't to run away--but it was nerve-wracking nonetheless. Ron has fixed the window. We had been told Angus had "issues" from being a stray. The first week, we lost two small tablecloths, two leashes, a bath towel and part of our bathroom door--just stuff--all from attempting to leave him alone for less than an hour.

Angus is strong as well as smart. On his short bowed legs he can leave the ground and jump almost six feet to eye level with Ron, a performance he frequently gives when one of us comes home. He plays with abandon with his several toys, some of which used to be mine. I probably don't have to tell you where he sleeps. He has calmed down a lot since he came here, and I can no longer feel razor-sharp ribs. We have frequent conversations in which I tell him he has a home, food, toys, and love now, and none of that is going anywhere. I took him to the vet to have him "fixed" as well as other things he needed. I had to have him there by 8:00 a.m. and could not pick him up until 4:00 p.m. They told me he would be woozy. Not surprisingly, he started whining once I put him in the car. My talking didn't calm him, but when I sang to him, he quieted down. When we arrived at home, as soon as I opened the carrier door, the patient ran across the living room and jumped on the couch.
 
Angus has been with us six weeks now, and neither of us can imagine life without him. We have once again joined the unique and blessed fellowship of people with special dogs in their lives. And oh, yes, does anybody know where I can buy leashes by the gross?

by Barbara Edsall

Bonnie and Her Puppies

 In late September, 2009, our small group drew a deep breath and said yes to taking in a mother dog who looked like a small wolfhound and her eight pups.  Her family had moved and left their pet behind in the care of the new tenants who couldn't say no.  However, days later, the mother gave birth to 8 puppies. Good-hearted people they were, but nine dogs!  That's when we got the call.  After much debate, we said yes.

Mother and pups went into the loving care of our foster mother, Dawn, in Pinion Pines. We went into high gear to find this frisky brood permanent homes.  We took them to the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the post office, a pet fair, worked our email list, did everything we could.  And one by one the puppies found new homes. The mother, not a wolfhound but a lab/wolfhound, was the first to charm herself into the home of one of our directors. 

Here's a note from the family of a cute little cinammon brown one.

I wanted to let you know that I made it home with Askher ........now named Becca, safely.  Becca only whined to the end of your street and then stopped when I turned on the radio.  She lay down and was quiet the rest of the way pretty much. 

My husband came home early from work.  He was so excited about getting the puppy that he was waiting at the door for us.  I opened the door and she would not come out!  He laughed and said,..."This is a joke...you went and didn't get one!"  I had to pull her out.......When I did it was love at first sight! 

Becca fussed only five minutes before she went to sleep and slept all night....Had a nice bath on the 2nd day. We picked out some fun toys for her to play with, a bag of dog food,. a tooth brush and paste and new bowls.  She has learned to fetch a ball! Her favorite place to lie down is between my husband's chair and mine in the living room.... She sleeps in our bedroom at night. No accidents in the house, a couple on me but that is okay........she is a baby.. 

Becca is the most gentle and loving puppy we have ever owned.  I never thought I would find one to beat our Irish Setter but she does!  If I find anyone here who wants one of the pups, I will tell them about Mountain Communities SPCA. She has helped heal the pain of loosing our dear Gabriel..... Dogs do so much for the human heart..... We owe them much for what they give to us......

September 2009