MARTHA
 
.MARTHA was born in May, 2001 and came to PFOA in February, 2002. She loves attention and “talks” to the volunteers who regularly visit her. She was recently placed in a foster home, where she has adjusted well and has a happy home.

BUCKY
 
BUCKY is a male Lhasa Apso purchased from a pet store and sold as an 8-week-old puppy. Originally from a puppy mill, Bucky chased cats, fought with other dogs, nipped care-takers, resisted potty training and generally misbehaved. After 11 homes, he has found a wonderful foster home willing to accept his naughtiness and keep him from harm’s way. While mostly loving and affectionate, Bucky’s unpredictability makes him unsuitable for adoption, so he will remain in PFOA’s care for his protection.

FAGIN
 
FAGIN was born in April, 2003 and has been at Safe Haven since July, 2003. He is a green-eyed, short-haired black male who can best be described as a “big lug” full of love. He “head butts” and leans into his human and feline friends to show his affection. He likes brushing and belly rubs on occasion, too. Fagin is currently under dietary restriction in an attempt to lose some excess weight. He currently lives out at Barker House.

BOBBIE JO
 
BOBBIE JO is an adorable special-needs Manx kitty. She came to us in the fall of 2012 when we received a call from an elderly gentleman that there was a kitten dying under his deck. When we arrived, we found a tiny kitten in a real mess, but she had no intention of dying – this little girl is a fighter! Bobbie has done very well, but as is common with some Manx cats, she does not have good bowel and bladder control. While this has greatly improved, she still requires special care and attention, and will probably do so for the rest of her life.

[lightbox thumb=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ThistleWebLarge.jpg” width=”200″ align=”left” title=”” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]THISTLE

THISTLE was born in March, 2003 and came to PFOA in July, 2003 with his twin brother, Fagin. He was a sleek, poly-dactyl neutered male with magnificent copper colored eyes and a sweet expression. Thistle especially enjoyed sitting on the back of the couch, both for the view and the closeness to his human friends.

As a special needs kitty, Thistle received regular medication to control his diabetes, kidney failure and hyperthyroidism.  Sadly, on April 2, 2020, our beloved Thistle crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He will be very much missed by his past and current caregivers, as well as everyone at PFOA who knew and loved him.

His current caregiver, Tracy, was especially close to him.  In her own words, this is how she remembers him.

“When I got to Barker House, Thistle was a very scared cat. I locked eyes with him on the second day I was there and I was in love. He was such a loving, kind and gentle boy. It took time but the trust he gave me melted me. We would go on walks around the house on the game trail, and say hi to the neighbors and their dogs. Thistle knew I would never let anything happen to him. I got very hard head bonks and cheek rubs on my face. He was a true house panther: sleek and mysterious, beautiful inside and out. I know he tried to stay with me and his brother Fagin. At the end, when he let me know it was time to say goodbye, I promised him I would take care of his brother.  Not only did he have diabetes he was in kidney failure and hyperthyroid. We fought hard for a couple of months. I was privileged to spend an amazing 4 years with a truly amazing animal. He will forever have a place in my heart.”

FROM THE HOME FRONT
STORIES OF THE SAFE HAVEN KITTIES
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
FLICKA AND FRANKLIN
FROM THEIR SECOND STORY PORCH
OVERLOOKING THE DOWNSTAIRS CATIOS

Hi Everyone!

As you all know, our shelter is closed, which means that none of us kitties can have visitors, and our visitors can’t see how well we are all doing. So, we decided to write to all of you so that you would know we’re all OK, safe and healthy. And we hope you are too!

From our kitten room on the top floor of Safe Haven, we can go out on our screen porch and look down on all the adult kitties as they relax outside in their catios, enjoying the spring sun. When the sun shines, that is. It’s been pretty rainy lately, but occasionally we can catch one of our buddies sneaking out for a quick run in the catio.

We thought we would send this out every week to our volunteers and supporters. We miss seeing them, and we’ve heard that they feel the same way So stay tuned for weekly updates on life at Safe Haven.

We hope, for everyone’s sake, that this horrible virus won’t last too long! We miss all of you!

Affectionately,
Flicka and Franklin

[lightbox thumb=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/JulyWebLarge.jpg” width=”300″ align=”left” title=”” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]JULY (February, 2005 – February 9, 2020)

July—the name evokes memories of warm sunny days and bright fireworks and holiday fun. However, when this little tortie showed up at our doorstep late on a July Saturday in 2011 she was as quiet and cold as a January snow. Found under a bush in Carrie Blake Park, she was limp and dehydrated and suffering a traumatic injury to her spine—her rescuers thought she had been hit by a car. Already a middle-aged cat, we were not sure she would survive. We hoped for the best, and named her July.

After extensive emergency treatment, July’s condition stabilized, and she became a shelter favorite. She was sweet and funny and loved to lie in the sun in her catio. We rejoiced when she was adopted and were saddened when she came back to us several years later when her back injuries and subsequent arthritis became too severe for her owner to deal with.

With good meds and pain management and lots of TLC, July once again regained her mobility and lived with us for three more years. She became an office cat—living in harmony with Tippy and being pampered and spoiled by staff and volunteers. Many of our members came in just to say hello to July, and her last months were spent in her special orthopedic bed next to Danette, our Executive Director, who loved her dearly, as did all of the staff.

Though in hospice care for the past several months, July still enjoyed her pets and attention, a good meal, and lying in the sun till her last day with us. She happily meowed a greeting to us each morning and chatted her demands throughout the day. Her will to live and her indomitable spirit were an inspiration to us all. July was a ray of sunshine who brightened all of our lives, and Safe Haven seems a bit darker today without her warm presence.

Peninsula Friends of Animals
05/23/19 Board Meeting Agenda

President: Call to Order: Welcome Guests.
Secretary: April Minutes request for approval
Economic/financial update – Kurt Anderson

New Business:

Approval for purchase of propane tank – Danette
Approval for distribution of Walker Max lifetime care fund – Marilyn
Spring/Summer Pet Tidings – Marilyn
Change of CPA – Marilyn
Annual Meeting Preparation – All

Reports/Requests:

Executive Director:   Danette
Treasurer:   Marilyn
Media:   Marilyn
Shelter:   Nancy
Spay/Neuter:   Sharon

Executive Session

Adjourn

 
Today was a very sad day at the shelter as we said goodbye to one of our beloved office cats, Tony the Tiger. Tony came to us five years ago after his owner died in a tragic fire, and it was believed that Tony had perished as well. Amazingly, Tony, minus one of his nine lives, surfaced a few days later covered with grease and soot, and came to live with us at Safe Haven.

Tony was quite depressed upon arrival and refused to eat. We soon discovered that his English caretaker had fed him only people food, and Tony felt that he should continue with that menu! After some negotiation, we worked through the diet dilemma, and Tony settled into shelter life with us seamlessly. With the exception of a short adoption when Tony “peed his way home,” he spent the rest of his years at Safe Haven. His days were spent sunning himself on the deck and lounging on the love seat or in his heated bed receiving pets and love from all comers. Kind and mannerly, Tony was a shelter favorite and a wonderful companion to Tippy and then Lexi, as well.

Shortly after coming to us, Tony was diagnosed with early kidney failure. Due to the best vet care and wonderful support provided by our staff, we were able to keep Tony doing well until the end. Always a sweet and gentle cat, Tony departed this life as graciously as he lived — in his home and surrounded by those he loved most. In spite of our sorrow, we celebrate his life and the joy he brought to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.