Lots of folks send us thank you notes from time to time. Here are a selected few since we started sharing them online. Hope you enjoy and it inspires you to help care for the animals of Point Roberts.
Lucy Cat, Our Feral Feline by Madeleine & Holger
Two years ago, the dedicated people at PAWS contacted us about adopting a kitten, just returning from the veterinarian that day. We weren’t sure we were quite ready to adopt and quite unsure about a feral kitten. The PAWS team were very persuasive and encouraging as we mulled over this decision. After some time, we decided to adopt 2 of the kittens, a brother & sister. Both were a bit reminiscent of prior cats we have had. We took them home & proceeded without much/any experience or knowledge of what we were getting into. However, we were committed to take our charges & give them a good home. Support and consulting with a couple of our ‘team members’ for some advice was very helpful.
The first night was one of the more difficult times, but the next day after clearing the area of anything breakable, things went a bit more smoothly. They were, of course, very suspicious of us & reclusive. Their habitat was our bedroom and ensuite which included laundry machines. They spent a lot of time hiding in behind these appliances, especially when we were nearby. Very gradually we began moving their food dishes closer to where we would have our morning coffee & breakfast. Making sure that we were quiet and encouraging to become friends. Slowly but surely, they began to venture forth closer & closer. Who knows what they did when we weren’t there! They played together very well & provided us with lots of antics & acrobatic shows. So, we feel it was a good thing that we adopted 2 kittens at the same time.
In the spring we introduced an “open door” policy during the day. Lucy & Felix would take turns going to the open door, looking, sniffing the air & taking those first brave steps outside onto the mezzanine. Pretty soon they were venturing forth for longer periods of time but always returning for the safety of ‘home’ and food, of course.
Felix was the first to stay away too long and then unfortunately, never did return. This was quite sad and we feel sure that Lucy missed her big brother, too. Lucy, on the other hand, went on ‘adventures’ with Holger practically every morning on his way to the ‘job site’ (our new home across and down the street). She would accompany him & then show off a bit by starting to climb trees, etc. We wanted to get her used to the new house so the transition would be smooth. We brought her scratching post (a sizeable log which she had been using all along); and that probably helped, too. It only took 1 day for her to realize this was it! Smart Girl! She continues to delight us with her antics and has gotten quite comfortable in her new ‘digs’. Sometimes she will be out all night and sometimes sleeps in our bedroom – occasionally on the bed with us. She’s an ‘In & Out’ cat. Still on the small side, I think perhaps she was the runt of the litter. This might contribute to her not being able to properly meow – she justs sort of squeaks. However she is strong, lean & muscular and schmoozes a lot especially at meal time. Brushing up against our legs & sort of leaping.
Although daunting at first, we feel it was definitely worth the time & patience to gain her trust & she is truly a member of the family.
Our Lucy Cat!
Sasha’s story by Mary Edgley
PAWS recently facilitated foster and veterinary care for Sasha, a sweet older dog, whose owner had moved. Sasha was left in the care of family members who, in time, became unable to meet her needs.
Foster care was arranged and Sasha adapted beautifully to her foster placement, taking daily walks in the woods, assisting with farm work, and spending every joy-filled minute with her foster family. She loved hanging with her new doggy brother, snoozing on her plush bed in front of the TV, and scarfing down a large variety of delicious treats. She was thoroughly spoiled and deserved to be.
Thanks to committed volunteers and generous donors, PAWS was able to make the last months of this special dog’s life happy and comfortable.
Lucky’s Story by Leah White
If we hadn’t found him when we did and made the effort to trap him, I doubt he would have made it through the winter in his condition. He had to have been out there for some time as he was skin and bones with hardly any hair left. It was just so sad.
The day we got him I contacted PAWS and you guys were right on it. He was straight into the vets for a checkup and neutering. We were so happy to learn that he was in reasonable shape overall, despite being very malnourished. Of course, after all this, our family could not surrender him so we brought him home to join the rest of our pack and called him “Lucky”. We figured the name suited him given the way he’d been heading. Within a few weeks, his hair was coming back in –very thick I might add! — and he began to pack on the pounds. It was so wonderful to see!
From the very first day we rescued him from the side of the road he has been a loving and affectionate companion. He is doing so well; he ventures downstairs now and visits the family. He is sitting next to me, actually, as I type this. This cat has no fear of our dogs. In fact, they are scared of him which is so funny! He loves love and food and can’t get enough of either. He is handsome and so darn cute and is grateful to us everyday. He melts my heart.
Thank you PAWS, for Lucky, and for all that you do.
From J. Butts on Wednesday, Sept. 4th, 2o24
I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone at PAWS, that a few years ago were generous enough to provide funds to Eagle SkyeNet to buy a new spotting scope.
PAWS members were looking for someone in the community to help with expenses, and someone who was also providing a important service in helping and protecting our domestic pets and our local wildlife. We at Eagle SkyeNet have been monitoring and helping to rescue eagles here in Point Roberts since 2012.
Just before PAWS contacted us I had been walking on a local trail, and slipped in some mud, and fell quite hard on the ground. I managed to just suffer a few bruises, but as I picked up my spotting scope I saw that it was damaged. Unfortunately it was a total loss and had to be thrown away. Only a few weeks later out of the blue I was contacted by PAWS, and they asked me if their was any equipment I needed in carrying out the duties of protecting eagles? I told PAWS that yes there was, and told them how I’d managed to break our spotting scope. They explained that they had raised some money and were reaching out to other nonprofits to see if they could help in any way.
So I went online and found a good spotting scope that was within the budget they told me, and they immediately approved it, so I placed the order. I have been using the scope ever since and is an invaluable tool in monitoring our local eagles. I’d like to thank PAWS for contacting me and being so wonderful to work with, in making the generous donation to Eagle SkyeNet.
Sincerely
Jeff Butts
From M. Kennedy on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024
When Charles the feral cat started coming around, he was not looking well. He had a bit of a limp and he was often closing one of his eyes. He soon became a regular around my place, and his health steadily began to improve as I began feeding him everyday. I now expect Charles every evening and he even comes in my house through an open door to remind me it’s dinner time if I am a little late feeding him. He has gotten less skittish and although he is small, he has become the alpha cat of the area. He no longer limps and his eye appears to be perfectly healthy as well. He also doesn’t look as scraggly, he looks like a regular house cat now. He can be seen laying in the yard or on my deck, basking in the sun and the relaxation of not having to worry about his next meal. While he does not let me pet him, he sometimes follows me around while I garden. Thank you PAWS for supplying food for this sweet critter and for the other beautiful neighborhood cat, Simba who is also doing well
