Happy holiday?

Hi all,
Midway through the holiday break, and - wow! where the heck did this month go!?!?!

I hope that your holidays were warm, safe and enjoyable - whatever your traditions or beliefs.

This Christmas was odd for me. I felt like I was running flat out and suddenly - there they were!

I usually travel to visit my family for two nights. The amount of planning and organizing that seems to take boggles even me. :o)

The dogs come along with us, but the cats and other creatures stay put and my wonderful neighbour looks in on them for me. This year it was slightly more complicated for her, with several creatures needing daily medications, but she managed just fine and I was grateful for her enabling me to get away for a couple of days.

Christmas itself was strange. My mother passed away this spring and this was our first Christmas without her. My sister has some scary medical stuff happening and my best friend and colleague is coping with yet another serious cancer in her immediate family.
It seems that everyone has something to worry about at the moment.:o(

I have been hoping for a "Christmas miracle" (or two!) I guess. Nothing really for me, although it sure would make me happy. Please consider thinking about this, and/or passing the information along. If we can make even one of these come through I will be more than pleased. Thanks!

So who are the creatures I am most worried about?

Luki is a young houndy boy and here is his story:
I knew that there was a dog in the kennel – but I could barely see his eyes waaayyyy back there. I was told he was a hound mix but with the small amount I could see of him, you could have told me he was anything and I would have had to believe you.

I sat very still, and tossed an endless stream of tiny treats through the little doorway – one treat at a time.

I could see him edge forward, grab the snack and twirl away back to the corner. We repeated this strange dance for quite awhile before he was confident enough to let me lay my hand on his shoulder.

I could feel him quiver and I knew just how scared he was.

“I don’t know what happened to you young fella”, I said softly,”but you are going to be alright – I promise.”

I picked him up to carry him out of the run and into my car. There was no way he was going to trust a leash – he had a long, long way to go before that would be an option.

We named this thin, leggy boy Luki. It became very obvious that he was sweet. Humans were scary, scary creatures to him, but he would never think about growling or lifting a lip. His strategy was just to duck and bob, weave and avoid. On the other hand – people had lots of those yummy treat things – so maybe they weren’t all bad???

Luki loves other dogs, and we decided that the best thing for his progress, would be to place him in a foster home with dogs of a similar size, who could set a good example for him. He needed confidence and to learn that people were good things.

Nancy kindly agreed to take him into her home. She is very experienced with dogs and has hosted some very tough Project Jessie fosters in the past. In fact – they were once foster dogs themselves. Her dogs are comfortable and confident with people – good role models for this scaredy boy!

Dear Luki was a mess the first few days. He had no idea what this new environment was all about – perhaps he had never been in a house before? He learned quickly though, and as his skinny body continued to grow – his mind was also growing to encompass some new ideas:

“Hey – people are okay!”
“Actually – this place is fun!”

At this point Luki has become a much more confident fellow. He is still timid in some new situations and with some new people – but he has made huge strides in a relatively short time and I think he will continue to progress given enough time and love.

The pound that he was in is one that does sell for research and Luki is a young, healthy, sweet tempered fellow. Whether he would have been used for research or killed because of his shyness I can’t say. Regardless, he would never have been adopted from there, and would never have been given the chance to know what life in a family is like, without the help of Project Jessie and the loving care of fosters like Nancy.

He is ready for a new home and a new life. Do you think he might in with YOUR family?

Adoptions this fall and winter have been super slow for kitties - even nice, beautiful cats like these.

Lindy and Frazier are siblings, and Princessa and Elliot joined in with them as friends. All 4 kitties have lived together for ages - now they are looking for homes to call their own.

If you are looking for a pair of kitties – any of these guys “mix and match” each other very well - they are ALL good friends with each other. All these kitties are just under a year old.

Gorgeous Elliot (The buff and white boy) was surrendered to a shelter when his people developed allergies.

Gentle Princessa was found wandering outdoors – lost and afraid and very pregnant. Barely out of kittenhood herself, she tried to be a good Mom – but her babies all passed away. Princessa has been sweet and lovely with everyone she has met. She likes nothing better than to be cuddled and fussed over. Doesn’t she have pretty colors?

Frazier (smokey black) and Lindy Lu (the wee tabby girl) are siblings whose Mom was an outdoor cat. Frazier came to me when he was about 8 weeks, and Lindy when she was about 12 weeks. Frazier has blossomed into a sweet, affectionate, handsome boy. Lindy Lu is still a bit shy and it takes her longer to warm up to new people. She is very happy to sit and cuddle with you once she knows you however.

All of these cats have been raised around children, other cats and are fine with gentle dogs. They have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Their adoption fee is $100 each.

I would love for Lindy to be adopted with her brother (in which case the adoption fee will be $150 for the pair). She also gets along well with Princessa and she ADORES Elliot.

If you think that one or more of these sweeties might be the perfect new friend for you, please call Shelly at 519-940-4712 or email shelly@animalalliance.ca Thanks!