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In the s-PAW-tlight
April is National Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month! Dedicated by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (the ASPCA), the month of April is the organizations 145 year of celebrating signing their charter in 1866. The ASPCA, which was the first humane society to be established in North America, is headquarted in New York City, but has ties to local organizations across the country.
According to the ASPCA, 5 to 7 million companion animals enter in to a shelter each year, of those 60% of dogs and 70% of cats never get to be adopted, they are euthanized due to age, health or the inability to keep them in a shelter due to space. About 65% of households have at least one pet and the estimate for the number of stray animals climbs every year, now reaching around 70 million.
The need to help out has never been greater. With the recent down turn in the economy, more and more animals are being turned into shelters because their family simply cannot financially support a pet. Donations big and small have greater effects than anyone can imagine. And if your family is looking to expand and bring home a four-legged friend, the local shelter is the perfect place to start your search.
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Pets of Paradise Photo Shoot
Dive into spring with the Pets of Paradise Photo Shoot! Julie Austin, of Julie Austin Photography will be stopping by on May 1st to capture priceless memories of your pet while he or she is on vacation with us! Julie's artistic portrait sessions use only natural light to photograph the personality and beauty of your pet. The photo session package includes a private online gallery of ten proofs from which you can choose three of your favorite images which you'll receive as high resolution digital files. A $450 value. These files can be used to have prints made, to email friends, and to share on Facebook. Call our front office today to get signed up. Even if your pet isn’t staying during the photo shoot, we would be happy to accommodate you! Check out some of Julie’s previous work at www.jaustinphotography.com.
Julie will also be participating in the Seattle Humane Society’s annual fundraiser Tuxes and Tails by photographing for their calendar. If you would like to find out more information about the big event check out www.seattlehumane.org.
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Business Hours
Mon-Fri 8am to 6:30pm
Saturday 8am to 1pm
Sunday 12pm to 6pm
Touring Hours
11am to 1pm
Monday through Saturday
425/483-DOGS (3647)
www.paradisepetlodge.com
10324 Paradise Lake Road
Woodinville, WA 98077
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Forever in my Heart
After being encouraged by several employees, I wanted to share my own rescue story with you. I have been a volunteer at Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville (formerly Hooterville Pets Safehaus), for 14 years. I have rescued 3 cats in this time, brining them into my life and my heart to become members of my family. Here is the story of Thor.
My cat Thor had a very tragic start to life. Born May 17th 1997, along with 2 littermates, he was tossed out by a careless soul who no longer wanted to care for a mother cat and her kittens. Thor and his brothers were rescued one week after birth, found at the bottom of an oil barrel, starving, filthy and living amongst their urine and feces. No shelter from the elements and no water to drink, it was only a matter of time before all of them would die. Thankfully a kind person called King County Animal Control after they heard cries coming from the barrel, knowing the kittens needed serious help. Upon realization of their extensive need for medical treatment, the kittens and their mother were turned over to Hooterville Pets Safehaus, a local, non-profit, no kill animal shelter in Woodinville.
Sadly, after giving all she could to her kittens, to support their life in their first week, mom did not survive and the kittens were teetering on the edge of joining her in heaven. The three kittens had terrible eye infections, upper respiratory infections and were covered in painful open sores, and urine burn. Mites had taken up residence in their ears, their noses were so crusted over that breathing was difficult. Round the clock care was given by the loving staff at Hooterville. Too sick to even stay in a shelter situation, Thor and his brothers were taken home by a foster family who unfortunately could not continue to care for them after a few months so they were returned to the shelter.
In a corner cage, flagged with "contagious" and "staff only" signs, all I wanted was to show them love and affection, a key piece to their recovery. I had been a volunteer at the shelter for only a few months, still too young to be there with out a parent, my mom joined me for a 3 hour shift every Sunday. Week after week I saw these kittens, now about 3 months old, 2 black and white and one long hair grey one, no one was interested, no one wanted to adopt them. Still being treated for eye infections, their weepy, crusty eyes I’m sure deterred potential new families. After all, who wants a sick cat?
The two black and white kittens were lively, very playful and vocal. The little grey one was shy and reserved and usually spent his time hanging out in the back of the cage. This little ball of grey fluff completely melted my heart the first time I held him. Too scared to do anything but burrow his face into my arms, I fell in love. Having no name, simply being known as King County Animal Control rescue #4 (KCAC #4), I had to give him a name, he needed to belong, he needed to be loved. I fondly called him "Thor", resembling a rolling thundercloud, with a purr that was equally loud. The name fit him perfectly.
A few more weeks went by; still no one was interested in Thor or his litter-mates. In November of 1997, I made the decision that he needed to be mine and finally know what it is like to have a family, he had picked us to be his, and we had picked him to be ours; signing his adoption papers that weekend and taking him home. My mom had never had a cat before, and at 12 he was my first "real" pet.
As the years went on, we adopted another cat from the same shelter named "Samson" and after a few testy months, him and Thor became best buddies. Having 2 cats in a household, each of them took a liking to one person in particular. Thor was very much my cat, sleeping in my bed, following me around, eating food from my plate, and the list goes on and on. When it came time for me to leave for college, I was devastated to leave him, and leave my home.
Through the years Thor still had issues with his eyes, they were always weepy and he always got some kind of flare up during the winter. He slowly started to lose his sight and his hearing. He developed the "old man swagger" and spent most of his time sleeping. Even though he couldn’t’ hear or see that well, he always followed me around, woke me up for lovies in the middle of the night and burrowed in my bed, under the covers after I got up every morning. He was the best companion anyone could ever ask for. He filled my heart with love, filled my eyes with long-hair fuzzies, and was a true member of the family.
His kidneys began failing in January and slowly his condition started to deteriorate. He was drinking more water, not interested in food or doing anything but sleeping. I took him to see his vet a few weeks ago. She gave him fluids and we got the news a few days later that he wasn't going to be able to recover. He stayed at the vet for the remainder of the week. On Friday the vet called and gave me the ok to bring him home for a night. I picked him up that afternoon, knowing his time left was short. That night he slept in my arms. I didn’t sleep a wink, not wanting to miss one minute with him. Instead I thought about how grateful I was that he had picked me for his family and how lucky I was to have him. As I watched him breathe, tears slowly fell down my cheeks and onto his soft, grey furr. I sit here crying as I write this. I kept telling him how much I loved him and how happy he had made me, his soft and labored, once extremely loud, purr, made it seem as if he understood. I tried as hard as I could to not watch the minute hand on the clock slowly creep toward the morning hour. I couldn’t believe this was my last night with Thor.
I took him back to the vet the next morning, having made the decision that it was time to say goodbye. His vet had been with him since we adopted him as a kitten, and was devastated for our family. As I held him, wrapped in a warm and cozy blanket, I said a prayer. I hugged him tight, my tears now soaking his furr. As the injection went in, he sighed and burrowed his head into the blanket and into my arms, as he had done as a kitten the first time I held him. I kissed him on the head as he slipped into heaven.
It was pouring down rain as it often does in Seattle. As I took my box of tissue and walked with my heavy heart out of the clinic, the sun started to make a showing. And to the east, as I looked upon large grey thunder cloud, of which I had named my kitty, a bright sparkling rainbow began to appear as if to tell me he had made it safely to heaven. I tried to smile through my tears.
It has only been a short period of time since I sent Thor into heaven with a hug and a kiss. My house seems a little empty and my heart is very empty. He was my kitty. My old, blind and deaf, 14 year old kitty. And I loved him so very much.
All of those years ago that I rescued him, I had no idea that he would end up rescuing me. He was my companion when I needed a friend. My shoulder when I needed to cry. My shadow when I didn’t want to be alone. And My date when mine had cancelled. He kept my bed warm, my lap occupied and helped make my heart complete. I now know the truth behind the statement, "cats leave paw prints on your heart". My heart would not have been the same without him, my home would not have been the same without him and my life will not be the same with out him.
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Help Out!
Want to create your own rescue story? Check out some of these amazing organizations! Donate, volunteer or support. A little bit of love can go a long way.
Homeward Pet Adoption Center, a very dear rescue organization, close to my heart. Homeward is one of the area’s most known, no-kill, non-profit shelter, and the largest shelter of its kind in Washington State. Their mission is to give homeless animals a second chance through rescue, shelter, and adoption programs. Each year Homeward helps over 1,300 cats and dogs get adopted, they also provide low cost spay and neuter clinics, public pet owner programs and education along with community outreach and awareness programs. Homeward has a crew of over 200 volunteers. At its most recent fundraiser auction, they took in over $190,000 which will help support the shelters medical clinic, provide food for foster families, and continue daily help for the hundreds of animals who come to Homeward on their way to their forever family. www.homewardpet.org
Gingers Pet Rescue, a local organization that specializes in saving “death row dogsâ€. Relying solely on help from volunteers, foster families, private donations and fundraisers; Ginger’s provides much-needed medical attention, food and housing for these special dogs in need. Many are rescued just hours or minutes away from being euthanized. This past year, Paradise offered housing to some of these dogs who were waiting patiently to find their new home. www.gingerspetrescue.org
Seattle Humane Society was founded in 1997 on the basis of providing a variety of programs including adoptions, veterinary services, dog-training classes, a pet food bank, and humane education for children of all ages. The Humane Society is a private shelter that doesn’t receive any federal or state financial help. Like many other shelters, they rely a great deal on their volunteers and fundraiser programs. On Saturday May 7th, they will host their annual Tuxes and Tails event. Attendees will bid on live and silent auction items, enjoy a gourmet dinner, and celebrate the night featuring a pet fashion show! Paradise pet photographer, Julie Austin, will be there taking snapshots for the Humane Society calendar. Hurry and get your ticket before the event sells out! www.seattlehumane.org
There are many more great rescue organizations in the area like Pasado’s Safe Haven, and PAWS. Check out www.petfinder.com they have a full list of local shelters and pets available for adoption!
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