Hope Pet Volunteers featured in Southwest Spotlight

Read the original article at https://www.bonitaspotlight.com/news/2017-11-01/Community/Our_Best_FRIENDS_Father_and_daughter_comfort_and_e.html

Make Friends with Tazzie

Update 12/1 Tazzie has a new home! Thank you to everyone who helped to spread the word.

Catherine's last wish was to find a good home for Tazzie, a 9-year old female calico, spayed, with claws. Catherine found her when she was about 6 months old and they have been together since. 

Tazzie is friendly with people, but has not spent much time with children. She has always been a single pet, and prefers dogs to other cats. Her personality is reserved, but she welcomes new people into her life. She would do best with a single adult or adult couple. She is perfectly content being alone for a day or two – not a needy cat, but she prefers being around people and likes to watch TV, nap together, and snuggle at bedtime.

Tazzie needs to find a new home. Hope can help you with start up supplies and support. If you are interested in adopting Tazzie, please contact Colette at (239) 985-7728.

Gage Visits Hope PACE's Winkler Location

Touched by an Angel

Update June 20: Angel has found a forever home.

Angel lived with Effie in assisted living until Effie's recent passing in Hope.  Angel is a white and grey 9-year old kitty who loves to be with her "person." She is healthy, spayed and up to date on all of her shots.  Her veterinary records will be available to her adoptive family.

Although Angel has temporary housing, she is not used to sharing a home with other animals and would greatly benefit from one-on-one attention and care.

If you are a stay-at-home person who likes to have lots of cuddle time, consider giving Angel a new home. Contact Colette at (239) 985-7728.

A Tale of Two Cats

Update May 30: Sasha and Phillip were fortunate be able to remain together, in what is described as a ‘loving home.’

Bridgette recently passed away in Hope.  She left behind two bonded sibling cats, Sasha and Phillip.

Both cats have lived with Bridgette since they were kittens. Both are male, neutered, and their front paws are declawed.  They are indoor cats only.

Sasha is approximately 12 years old. He is friendly once he knows you.  Phillip is approximately 13 years old and is the more social of the two. They get along with other cats but it is unknown as to how they would react to dogs.

A neighbor is caring for the cats, but is unable to give them permanent homes. Bridgette hoped that the cats would be able to stay together.

Contact Colette at 239-985-7728.

Gato Needs an Amigo

Update May 30: Several people expressed an interest in taking Gato home. The family chose the one that seemed the ‘perfect match.’ Gato and new family, seem very happy together!

Flor passed away in our services, leaving behind her 4-5-year old cat, Gato (‘cat’ in Spanish).  Gato is a spayed female cat that lived with Flor since she was a kitten.  She is an indoor only cat and her front paws are declawed.  She is described as friendly, loving, gentle and liked to sit on Flor’s lap, watching TV.

Can you help us find a home for Gato? Hope can help you with start up costs and supplies. Call 239-985-7728.

Spring Fling and Dog Parade

Special thanks Amber Crowley, performer, and Joe Kauanui, our guest bunny.

Hola Uno!

Carolyn recently passed away, leaving behind her 6-year old cat, Uno - a sweet, healthy, indoor cat who is up-to-date on her vaccinations. Carolyn’s son just arrived from out of state and hopes to find a new home for Uno within the week.

If you have a place in your heart for this special kitty, contact Colette at (239) 985-7728.

Team effort lands TJ a new forever home

Deborah knew a thing or two about living, loving and dying.

Dogs had been at the center of Deborah’s circle of life for a long, long time.

In the past several years, she lost two of her beloved canine kids. In between losing them, Deborah adopted TJ, now a 3-year-old Bichon Frise male, whom she described as “the best dog I ever had.” TJ became the object of Deborah’s loving spirit, and he reciprocated that affection as her constant “cuddle-bug” from her couch to her hospital bed.

When Deborah’s diagnosis landed her in the hospital and subsequently at Hope Hospice, TJ had to take up residence in a kennel. Although the kennel was top of the line, and TJ got high “good boy” marks from his caregivers there, this was not the life that Deborah wanted for her baby.

Enter Susan Conner and her Golden therapy dog, Gipper. Deborah’s room at Joanne’s House was their last stop on their visitation list in late February. Deborah had never met Susan or Gipper before, but when they walked into the room on this particular Wednesday afternoon, Deborah zeroed in on a potential source of help for TJ.

In her matter-of-fact way, Deborah told Susan, “God has punched my ticket.” She explained that before God arrived to take her home, she must find someone to “go get my puppy from the kennel he’s been in for two weeks.” Deborah was clear that she wanted to find TJ a good home before she could rest in peace. One more thing was on Deborah’s mind: She wanted to see her baby boy again.

Realizing that time was of the essence, Susan pledged her help, then immediately contacted the volunteer coordinator to get help from Hope's Pet Program.

Susan offered to spring TJ from the kennel and foster him while a permanent home could be found. First, she needed all the required authorizations to pick him up from the kennel, his shot records, and permission to have him treated by a veterinarian before she brought TJ into see Deborah or to meet her own pets.

Deborah’s sister, Amy, proved to be a terrific ally in this process. Within 24 hours, all the records were produced and permissions granted. Susan “sprung” a tail-wagging TJ from the kennel on Friday, and after a quick bath on the Conner lanai, he went straight to see Dr. Linda George, medical director at Best Friends Animal Hospital. He checked out well, got his inoculations and preventive medications updated, and was declared healthy and adorable.

Susan says he behaved like a champ through all of these machinations. “Deborah told me he had been through a lot in his three short years, including the death of his best canine pal and Deborah’s illness.” Despite all of the bumps in the road, he remained a sweet, amiable puppy.” His only problem was whimpering borne of insecurity. On the flip side, he proved quite adaptable and sociable around other pets. He blended instantly with the Conner boys, Gipper and Edison, two hulking Golden Retrievers who are both certified therapy dogs and frequent visitors at Hope Hospice. Their acceptance of TJ was a given. TJ had never met a cat before, but Sassy, the Conner’s Ragdoll, and TJ forged a quick truce.

By Saturday morning, the clean and healthy TJ was ready for a reunion with Deborah at Joanne’s House. Susan reported that TJ was a great passenger, but when the car stopped, he was nervously whimpering, as if to ask, “Where to now”? When he arrived at Deborah’s threshold, he made his beeline, bounding onto Deborah’s bed and cuddling on her lap into a state of total relaxation. His expression communicated, “Finally, I am back where I belong.”

Susan, who was present at the reunion, recalls: “It is one of the most moving moments I have ever witnessed. The love between Deborah and TJ was unmistakable. I will never forget that instant when they reconnected.”  The nurse on duty reported that TJ worked wonders for Deborah’s spirits.

In the two weeks that followed, TJ visited Deborah several times week while the search for a permanent home produced several suitors for TJ. After a trip to a professional groomer, who made TJ a bona fide knockout for his second visit with Deborah, interest multiplied. As Susan observed, “This puppy is so cute and so good. To know him is to love him.”

The person who emerged as TJ’s permanent owner was Jackie Mullen, who lives with her husband, Patrick, daughter Shannon, their rescue Lab-mix, Maddie, and their cat, Norma, in a nice ranch home near the Naples border with Marco Island. The only question in Jackie’s mind was whether TJ would blend well with their other pets.

So, Susan drove TJ down to their home for an audition. Again, TJ proved to be a non-confrontational guest and blended with the Mullen’s dog that very afternoon.  Their cautious cat, who fled to higher ground as a preventive measure, was reported coming back down to earth in a few days.  True to form, TJ, a certified “ladies man,” is now bonded with Jackie, who happily declared, “I think he’s mine.” That same day, Deborah said she was ready to let go of TJ, comforted by the knowledge that he had landed in a good place.

Based on a textbook example of teamwork from Deborah’s family, Hope staff and volunteers, TJ found his freedom in less than 48 hours from the time Deborah sent out her SOS . His forever home came in just 2 and a half short weeks. TJ owes his good fortune to the team effort, but first and foremost, to his beloved mistress, Deborah, who refused to rest until she found the help she needed for her faithful cuddle-bug.

Visitors Binkie, Tootie and Helen

Binkie and Tootie get so excited when Helen says, “Are you girls ready to go to work?” They race to the car and are always happy to visit at Hope. This friendly trio gets many comments from the guests and residents at the Hospice House. Some say “you made my day!” or “they’re so adorable!” So often, someone who Helen, Binkie, and Tootie are visiting will reminisce about the time they enjoyed with their own dogs. Helen says, “What a joy it is to see someone’s eyes light up with a smile on their face when we enter the room.” For those who would like the puppies to join them on the bed, it is amazing how easily Binkie and Tootie cuddle up in the blankets and enjoy simply being loved. There is nothing like a soft, warm little body to bring comfort.

Itty Bitty Mr. Kitty

Update March 2, 2017: Tera picked up Mr. Kitty and took him home to her grandparents who have experience with cats. They're excited to have Mr. Kitty in their home, and they think it will work out beautifully! 

A year ago, as an orphan, Mr. Kitty went to live with Antoinette. After she passed away, Mr. Kitty was left alone in her home, grieving and scared. Antoinette did not have any family nearby but, fortunately, she had one friend who is going in to the home to feed Mr. Kitty.

Mr. Kitty is a large, 7-year old, fixed, male cat, weighing in at around 15 pounds. He is an indoor cat, used to being the only animal in the home. Due to all of the changes in the past year, Mr. Kitty is very shy.  Antoinette’s friend told us “he is the sweetest and most scared cat” she has ever seen.  She also said that he is very loving and when he is in your arms, he only wants to be held and petted.

If you want to adopt Mr. Kitty, Hope can help you with start up supplies and support. Call (239) 985-7728.

Good Golly Miss Molly

Update February 20: Katy met Molly and the family reported that they seem like a “perfect match.” Molly is looking forward to enjoying her new lanai and playtime with Katy's son! 

Molly is a 9-yr.old American Shorthair. She lived with Daniel in a Fort Myers facility.  Daniel passed away this past week and Molly was left behind.  The staff members who feed Molly have noticed she is grieving, and everyone wants to find a new home for her as soon as possible.

Molly is spayed and current on shots. She is an indoor  cat only and is not used to being around other pets. Her front paws are declawed. She is described as "real sweet" and her favorite activity was to sleep in Daniel’s lap.

Can you help us find a new home for Molly? Call (239) 985-7728.

Get Meows from Mau - Adopt Her Today!

Update January 10:  Sarah went to meet Mau today and it appeared to be a perfect match! Though Roberta could not respond, Sarah assured her that Mau would be well cared for and loved.

Mau is a 2 year old short-haired silver tabby. She is spayed, vaccinated, house-trained - and her front paws are declawed, making her an ideal indoor cat. She has a sweet temperament.

Her current owner, Roberta, is facing the end of life. When she passes, Mau will not have a home.

If you are interested in adopting Mau, please contact Colette at (239) 985-7728.