Volunteer Spotlight - All of Our Volunteers
No organization has better, more dedicated, more caring volunteers than Kingdom Animal Shelter. That has always been apparent in their reliability, their creative thinking, their concern and love for the cats. But with this new challenge, they have again stepped up to the plate, in amazing ways. Some are involved in community service, to help find needed protective gear for the hospital or deliver food to elders confined to their homes. Some offered to cover at the Shelter for others who may become ill and not be able to come in. But the most precious has been the response to a request to foster all of our in-house cats.
On Monday, Mar. 16, the Board decided first to close the Shelter to any adoption hours. We did not want to encourage visitors to come to the Shelter, perhaps in groups, and put each other and volunteers at risk. Almost immediately, however, we made the decision to shut down entirely and move the cats into volunteer foster care. This way, no volunteers had to venture out to care for the cats, no small groups of volunteers had to gather, and each cat would be in a home, cared for lovingly by their foster family. It was the timely thing to do, and the right thing to do. We do not know how long this will last. By Friday, Mar. 20, all the Shelter cats were in their new homes. By Wednesday, Mar. 25, any KAS cats at Western Ave Vets were also in foster homes. As you might imagine, the shelter is eerily quiet and empty.
We had sent out a notice to all volunteers, asking for fosters. And we got an amazingly positive response…more than we needed, really. A big thank you to all of those folks.
Here are some of their stories of their early times with their new fosters. Included are photos.
Now that most of us are home a lot…if you wish, take time and read about a few kitties each day…enjoy, feel the sweetness, perhaps laugh a little.
Kitties in Foster Care
Mittens
Mittens was first fostered by Kathy Bouffard….but he had some difficulty with her resident cats. He is now living happily with Daphne Hsieh in St. Johnsbury.
This from Kathy:
“Mittens is a beautiful, sweet boy who as soon as you go to pet him rolls on his back, tummy up. He loves to be petted, but can get rough at times. When he does try to bite I just say ut-ut, no bites and he backs off. He is very playful, loves to have his toys thrown in the air and he jumps on balls rolled on the floor to chase. He does not like other cats!!, but is fine with dogs. Having said that, he has no problem putting them in their place though. With my dog he would rub up against her and go under her belly. So, he should be an only cat in a household. He eats well and has no problem using the litter box.
He is with Daphne now and is a love since he is the only animal in the house. He follows her wherever she goes and sometimes sleeps on her bed, but prefers the bed to himself.
He has found a niche in the kitchen shelf where he curls up for naps. He is a good boy.”
Mittens was first fostered by Kathy Bouffard….but he had some difficulty with her resident cats. He is now living happily with Daphne Hsieh in St. Johnsbury.
This from Kathy:
“Mittens is a beautiful, sweet boy who as soon as you go to pet him rolls on his back, tummy up. He loves to be petted, but can get rough at times. When he does try to bite I just say ut-ut, no bites and he backs off. He is very playful, loves to have his toys thrown in the air and he jumps on balls rolled on the floor to chase. He does not like other cats!!, but is fine with dogs. Having said that, he has no problem putting them in their place though. With my dog he would rub up against her and go under her belly. So, he should be an only cat in a household. He eats well and has no problem using the litter box.
He is with Daphne now and is a love since he is the only animal in the house. He follows her wherever she goes and sometimes sleeps on her bed, but prefers the bed to himself.
He has found a niche in the kitchen shelf where he curls up for naps. He is a good boy.”
Libby
Libby is a sweet dilute torti who is about 2 years old. She was a stray in a local trailer park. She is being fostered by Jan Nutting of Lyndonville. Jan is a friend of Kathy Bouffard. Kathy talked with Jan about Libby.
“She is with Jan Nutting who has fallen in love with her. She follows her wherever she goes and loves sitting in her lap.
If she has to get up she will put Libby down and Libby will follow her and give her this look
‘Why did you get up?’
Initially when she was hungry she would cry to let Jan know she wanted to be fed. Jan now leaves dry food out for her and she eats when she feels like it. She doesn’t much care for canned food.
She is eating fine and no problem using the litter box.
Jan is very much enjoying her during this trying time and no doubt will adopt Libby.
This has been wonderful for Jan as she is a senior living alone and loves the companionship.
Libby is a sweet dilute torti who is about 2 years old. She was a stray in a local trailer park. She is being fostered by Jan Nutting of Lyndonville. Jan is a friend of Kathy Bouffard. Kathy talked with Jan about Libby.
“She is with Jan Nutting who has fallen in love with her. She follows her wherever she goes and loves sitting in her lap.
If she has to get up she will put Libby down and Libby will follow her and give her this look
‘Why did you get up?’
Initially when she was hungry she would cry to let Jan know she wanted to be fed. Jan now leaves dry food out for her and she eats when she feels like it. She doesn’t much care for canned food.
She is eating fine and no problem using the litter box.
Jan is very much enjoying her during this trying time and no doubt will adopt Libby.
This has been wonderful for Jan as she is a senior living alone and loves the companionship.
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Anakin
Anakin is a beautiful all black one year old feline fella. He is wonderfully personable. He is being fostered by Deb Moore, one of our Board members. Deb already adopted Sarah and Dominic from Kingdom Animal Shelter. Anakin fit right in with her other five cats…almost immediately. Apparently, he loves curling up in the sink…so Deb has made that his permanent little bed.
Anakin is a beautiful all black one year old feline fella. He is wonderfully personable. He is being fostered by Deb Moore, one of our Board members. Deb already adopted Sarah and Dominic from Kingdom Animal Shelter. Anakin fit right in with her other five cats…almost immediately. Apparently, he loves curling up in the sink…so Deb has made that his permanent little bed.
Lola
Lola is a beautiful combo of tabby and calico. She is about two years old. We were told that she was pretty unfriendly, perhaps difficult, and didn’t like to be petted. She is with Ruth Rubin of N. Danville.
Mar. 26 “Food gone, litter box used-but still no view of Lola. So I put the meds on canned food as recommended. I plan to spend some time hanging out/reading in the office today-see if she’ll emerge. I absolutely cannot figure out where she is hiding!”
Lola is a beautiful combo of tabby and calico. She is about two years old. We were told that she was pretty unfriendly, perhaps difficult, and didn’t like to be petted. She is with Ruth Rubin of N. Danville.
Mar. 26 “Food gone, litter box used-but still no view of Lola. So I put the meds on canned food as recommended. I plan to spend some time hanging out/reading in the office today-see if she’ll emerge. I absolutely cannot figure out where she is hiding!”
Mar. 26, later: “I found her-behind the bed in the tiniest of spaces. I think it will take a while before she emerges-at least I know she’s in the room! Yes she ate the food with meds! Dexter, Graybaby and Catalpa are a bit confused about their lack of access to the office - oh well, everyone is sacrificing these days. Maybe by then I will have made some inroads with Miss Lola...”
Mar. 27: “on Friday morning she emerged, and let me give her a brief petting-success!”
And a little later Lola was sitting on her lap “Wednesday to Friday-amazing!”
Mar. 27: “on Friday morning she emerged, and let me give her a brief petting-success!”
And a little later Lola was sitting on her lap “Wednesday to Friday-amazing!”
Sage and Rebecca
Both are being fostered by Brenda and Bob Sattelburger of Lyndonville.
Rebecca is a very confident 1-2 year old girl, an amber tabby. "Rebecca loves to sun herself on the bed. She is very happy and friendly. Has been exploring the room, loves to be petted and hang out on the bed with us. She is eating fine."
Sage is about a year old, a very sweet long haired gray and white feline girl. “Sage loves to snuggle and lay next to you. Friendly, quiet and laid back.”
Lilah
Lilah came into Kingdom Animal Shelter’s care in early February. She is about 11 years old and had a lot of health issues….overweight, bladder stones, incontinence, infections. She also had a reaction to an anesthetic that left her quite immobile for a while. But slowly, with the excellent care at Western Ave Vet Clinic, she is coming along very well. Kaitlyn Savard, a vet tech at WA, fell in love with her and has taken her home to foster.
“I’ve known Lilah for a while as I’m a vet tech at the vet clinic that cares for the cats that come to KAS. I fell in love with Lilah the moment I met her and jumped at the chance to foster her. She was such a loving girl at the clinic but she really came out of her shell after I took her home. She made herself at home almost immediately and started walking around like she owned the place. Her favorite things to do throughout the day are cuddle in bed, play with a laser toy and be brushed. She also enjoys making biscuits. I swear the biscuit making never stops. So far she isn’t a huge fan of my dog, but she becomes more and more tolerant of her new roommate as the days go on. I can’t wait to continue to foster her and discover more of her quirky personality!”
Lilah came into Kingdom Animal Shelter’s care in early February. She is about 11 years old and had a lot of health issues….overweight, bladder stones, incontinence, infections. She also had a reaction to an anesthetic that left her quite immobile for a while. But slowly, with the excellent care at Western Ave Vet Clinic, she is coming along very well. Kaitlyn Savard, a vet tech at WA, fell in love with her and has taken her home to foster.
“I’ve known Lilah for a while as I’m a vet tech at the vet clinic that cares for the cats that come to KAS. I fell in love with Lilah the moment I met her and jumped at the chance to foster her. She was such a loving girl at the clinic but she really came out of her shell after I took her home. She made herself at home almost immediately and started walking around like she owned the place. Her favorite things to do throughout the day are cuddle in bed, play with a laser toy and be brushed. She also enjoys making biscuits. I swear the biscuit making never stops. So far she isn’t a huge fan of my dog, but she becomes more and more tolerant of her new roommate as the days go on. I can’t wait to continue to foster her and discover more of her quirky personality!”
Skittles
Skittles was very shy when he came to KAS. But he has totally blossomed into a sweet and loving boy. He is about a year old…and is a lovely soft amber tabby. Apparently he has very cute lips.
He is being fostered by Sophie Patenaude of St. Johnsbury.
Mar. 21: “Skittles is settled in. He’s always ravenous, and always ready for lap time. It looks like I’ll be working partly from home, so I’ll have more time to spend with him and Pip.
Mar. 22: “Skittles has settled in, and is enjoying his very own bedroom. One knee tap brings him right up to my lap, where he loves back scratches and burying his face into the crook of my arm. He’s a hearty eater, and loves to nap on his bed by the window, directly after breakfast and dinner.”
Mar. 21: “Skittles is settled in. He’s always ravenous, and always ready for lap time. It looks like I’ll be working partly from home, so I’ll have more time to spend with him and Pip.
Mar. 22: “Skittles has settled in, and is enjoying his very own bedroom. One knee tap brings him right up to my lap, where he loves back scratches and burying his face into the crook of my arm. He’s a hearty eater, and loves to nap on his bed by the window, directly after breakfast and dinner.”
Tuga
Tuga came to us extremely overweight and with pre-existing difficulties with her knees and elbows. That has progressed into arthritis. She is extremely affectionate and loves being around people so much, she will hobble to wherever they are. She has gone from a maximum weight of 21 pounds to 13.4 lbs at last measure.
Tuga is being fostered by Melanie Finn and her two twin daughters, Pearl and Molly. Pearl is taking the lead in this. Tuga is upstairs in her own sunny bedroom, while there are three dogs and a very sweet rat who live downstairs. The Finns are loving having Tuga in their home…and are tending very carefully with just the right amount of special food and some meds for her arthritis.
Tuga came to us extremely overweight and with pre-existing difficulties with her knees and elbows. That has progressed into arthritis. She is extremely affectionate and loves being around people so much, she will hobble to wherever they are. She has gone from a maximum weight of 21 pounds to 13.4 lbs at last measure.
Tuga is being fostered by Melanie Finn and her two twin daughters, Pearl and Molly. Pearl is taking the lead in this. Tuga is upstairs in her own sunny bedroom, while there are three dogs and a very sweet rat who live downstairs. The Finns are loving having Tuga in their home…and are tending very carefully with just the right amount of special food and some meds for her arthritis.
Mickey and Susie Q
Mickey is 10 years old, Susie Q is 3. Mickey has a very endearing bobtail. The two came to us when their owner suddenly passed away. They are bonded and thus we are looking for a home for the two to be together. They are being fostered by Christine and Tracy McIntyre. Christine is in her tenth year of volunteering with the Shelter. They are already fostering Zola, whom we almost lost to a stroke. She is doing extremely well.
“Mickey seems like the strong, silent type who is in heaven when he allows his human to "groom" him (using a thumb like a cat tongue around his face and neck). Susie Q is always on the go, darting here and there whenever there is sudden movement. Susie Q loves Mickey and leans on him a lot. He tries to play it cool and growls at her whenever they're being watched. Both enjoy sitting next to each other in the window, watching birds and squirrels in the yard.”
Mickey is 10 years old, Susie Q is 3. Mickey has a very endearing bobtail. The two came to us when their owner suddenly passed away. They are bonded and thus we are looking for a home for the two to be together. They are being fostered by Christine and Tracy McIntyre. Christine is in her tenth year of volunteering with the Shelter. They are already fostering Zola, whom we almost lost to a stroke. She is doing extremely well.
“Mickey seems like the strong, silent type who is in heaven when he allows his human to "groom" him (using a thumb like a cat tongue around his face and neck). Susie Q is always on the go, darting here and there whenever there is sudden movement. Susie Q loves Mickey and leans on him a lot. He tries to play it cool and growls at her whenever they're being watched. Both enjoy sitting next to each other in the window, watching birds and squirrels in the yard.”
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Jordy and Goldsworthy
Jordy is a beautiful all orange boy, perhaps 2 years old. He was very shy when he first came to the Shelter and would hide and hiss, though the hissing meant nothing. He did begin to get bolder when food was offered. But what has really brought him out is the introduction of another cat into his room. He would chortle and coo and rub up against the visiting cat. He especially made friends with a cat named Thomas, who has since been adopted. Jordy has gone to Julia Tucker and family in Lydon/Sutton. The Tuckers have a resident 3 year old cat, Delphi…and recently adopted a kitten from KAS, Goldsworthy, now called Wart.
Goldsworthy is a bit rough on Delphi. She is not thrilled with her little brother. In bringing Jordy to the Tuckers, we are hopeful that Wart and Jordy can become friends, and that Wart will help Jordy come out of his shell. It is a work in progress. The journals are written by the eldest Tucker daughter, Nicole.
Mar. 20: “Not much happened today. Jordy didn't ever leave his carrier while I was in the room, but I did catch him peaking out and watching me on occasion. When I left to have dinner he must have come out, because he had eaten his food.”
Mar. 22: “Jordy is doing well. He's decided his favorite place to be is under my dresser. Salem has managed to pet him once or twice with no negative reaction!
He is using his litter box normally now. If I leave some treats out in the room and pretend to be sleeping he will come out, eat the treats, and start wandering around, but otherwise if there's someone in the room he stays under the dresser.
Last night at around midnight he just started screaming his head off! I have no idea why. He was just walking around the room and meowing very loudly. I meowed back at him and we had a long conversation. I'm tired. “
Mar. 23: “We made a lot of progress with Jordy yesterday! He'll now come out from under the dresser and eat and play when he knows I am still awake, as long as I stay on my bed. I sat on the floor and put a treat about one foot in front of me, and he came over and ate it and then just sat there for a while. He's very pretty. “
Mar. 25: “I didn't have much to report yesterday, but we've made progress since then. Jordy will come right up in front of me when there is food there without hesitation, if I am lying down or sitting. As long as I don't move too much he will stay there. I can nearly pet him, but he will scoot away so my hands are always a centimeter away! No hissing, though.
If I start to move when he is out and about he will start to run, but if I tell him it's ok in a soft voice he'll stop and calm down. Before, he would always book to under the dresser no matter what.
I haven't been sleeping well the past few days, because he gets really active and loud once he thinks I'm asleep. He really loves some of those toys we brought with us. I have moved to a different room to sleep so I can get good rest. The other night I woke up at around 4 to the loudest bang, I swear the tv fell over or something, but I got up to find what happened and there was no evidence anywhere. I still have no idea what he did. “
Mar. 27: “Salem said that she woke up to Jordy resting on her feet this morning! He ran once she moved, but while she was sleeping he seemed fine getting close.
We introduced Wart to Jordy this afternoon. Things went great for the first few minutes. Jordy was suddenly so happy! After they got comfortable, Jordy was very eager to cuddle, which Wart wasn't fond of. It's funny, because Wart tries to do the same thing with Delfi, but she doesn't like that either. All Wart was doing was hissing, but we decided to let him have a break. “
Stay tuned for the exciting story of Wart and Jordy. Will they be friends? Will Wart let Jordy cuddle him?
Jordy is a beautiful all orange boy, perhaps 2 years old. He was very shy when he first came to the Shelter and would hide and hiss, though the hissing meant nothing. He did begin to get bolder when food was offered. But what has really brought him out is the introduction of another cat into his room. He would chortle and coo and rub up against the visiting cat. He especially made friends with a cat named Thomas, who has since been adopted. Jordy has gone to Julia Tucker and family in Lydon/Sutton. The Tuckers have a resident 3 year old cat, Delphi…and recently adopted a kitten from KAS, Goldsworthy, now called Wart.
Goldsworthy is a bit rough on Delphi. She is not thrilled with her little brother. In bringing Jordy to the Tuckers, we are hopeful that Wart and Jordy can become friends, and that Wart will help Jordy come out of his shell. It is a work in progress. The journals are written by the eldest Tucker daughter, Nicole.
Mar. 20: “Not much happened today. Jordy didn't ever leave his carrier while I was in the room, but I did catch him peaking out and watching me on occasion. When I left to have dinner he must have come out, because he had eaten his food.”
Mar. 22: “Jordy is doing well. He's decided his favorite place to be is under my dresser. Salem has managed to pet him once or twice with no negative reaction!
He is using his litter box normally now. If I leave some treats out in the room and pretend to be sleeping he will come out, eat the treats, and start wandering around, but otherwise if there's someone in the room he stays under the dresser.
Last night at around midnight he just started screaming his head off! I have no idea why. He was just walking around the room and meowing very loudly. I meowed back at him and we had a long conversation. I'm tired. “
Mar. 23: “We made a lot of progress with Jordy yesterday! He'll now come out from under the dresser and eat and play when he knows I am still awake, as long as I stay on my bed. I sat on the floor and put a treat about one foot in front of me, and he came over and ate it and then just sat there for a while. He's very pretty. “
Mar. 25: “I didn't have much to report yesterday, but we've made progress since then. Jordy will come right up in front of me when there is food there without hesitation, if I am lying down or sitting. As long as I don't move too much he will stay there. I can nearly pet him, but he will scoot away so my hands are always a centimeter away! No hissing, though.
If I start to move when he is out and about he will start to run, but if I tell him it's ok in a soft voice he'll stop and calm down. Before, he would always book to under the dresser no matter what.
I haven't been sleeping well the past few days, because he gets really active and loud once he thinks I'm asleep. He really loves some of those toys we brought with us. I have moved to a different room to sleep so I can get good rest. The other night I woke up at around 4 to the loudest bang, I swear the tv fell over or something, but I got up to find what happened and there was no evidence anywhere. I still have no idea what he did. “
Mar. 27: “Salem said that she woke up to Jordy resting on her feet this morning! He ran once she moved, but while she was sleeping he seemed fine getting close.
We introduced Wart to Jordy this afternoon. Things went great for the first few minutes. Jordy was suddenly so happy! After they got comfortable, Jordy was very eager to cuddle, which Wart wasn't fond of. It's funny, because Wart tries to do the same thing with Delfi, but she doesn't like that either. All Wart was doing was hissing, but we decided to let him have a break. “
Stay tuned for the exciting story of Wart and Jordy. Will they be friends? Will Wart let Jordy cuddle him?
These foster folks are incredible. They have stepped up in a time of need….and they are giving these cats wonderful homes. We wonder how many of them will have trouble giving them up???
Cats in Forever Homes
Mae
Mae has been with Kingdom Animal Shelter for over a year. She is a quiet girl, unassuming, and sweet. She began by being fostered by Janet and Jim Berrier of Ryegate in March. That foster has now turned into an adoption. We are so happy for both the Berriers and for Mae.
March 22:
“Things are going beautifully here--we LOVE Mae! She is a little shy of Jim but I keep telling him that it's likely that some man his size may have mistreated her in her past. We hope this will all sort out. He loves her!!! But for now, she follows me around and sleeps close!! She is incredibly sweet, affectionate and calm.
She is exploring this new big space, which must be overwhelming given where she has spent the last eleven months. More and more she is feeling more comfortable and confident--but she has just been with less than a week and we know this will take time--she will have all the time she needs.
You can share our success story with your volunteers, and tell them that she is a keeper--this couldn't have happened at a better time for us, given the crisis surrounding us.”
March 27: “ Mae is the perfect new member of our family--we absolutely love her. Jim is working hard on gaining her confidence. Little by little, she is exploring more of the house and spending more time in the same room with us. She is wonderful!!! She loves sitting in my office off the back patio, watching the chipmunks and birds. I can tell already that the outdoors is no stranger to her--we will be extra careful keeping doors closed once the warm weather arrives, when Jim and I are in and out of the house and around the yard.”
Mae has been with Kingdom Animal Shelter for over a year. She is a quiet girl, unassuming, and sweet. She began by being fostered by Janet and Jim Berrier of Ryegate in March. That foster has now turned into an adoption. We are so happy for both the Berriers and for Mae.
March 22:
“Things are going beautifully here--we LOVE Mae! She is a little shy of Jim but I keep telling him that it's likely that some man his size may have mistreated her in her past. We hope this will all sort out. He loves her!!! But for now, she follows me around and sleeps close!! She is incredibly sweet, affectionate and calm.
She is exploring this new big space, which must be overwhelming given where she has spent the last eleven months. More and more she is feeling more comfortable and confident--but she has just been with less than a week and we know this will take time--she will have all the time she needs.
You can share our success story with your volunteers, and tell them that she is a keeper--this couldn't have happened at a better time for us, given the crisis surrounding us.”
March 27: “ Mae is the perfect new member of our family--we absolutely love her. Jim is working hard on gaining her confidence. Little by little, she is exploring more of the house and spending more time in the same room with us. She is wonderful!!! She loves sitting in my office off the back patio, watching the chipmunks and birds. I can tell already that the outdoors is no stranger to her--we will be extra careful keeping doors closed once the warm weather arrives, when Jim and I are in and out of the house and around the yard.”
For you fans of Sven, from his foster, Caleb Stone and Nikki Lefebvre
Sven is eating very well these days. I put his Vetri-Lysine Immune health chew on a plate for him before breakfast and dinner and he often eats it out of my hand before it gets to the plate. He also really likes his dry and wet food. He will follow me to the tote I keep his dry food in and a few times has even tried to get into it while I'm filling his food dish!
Sven's room is like a little living room with a couch and a TV. There is also a tape player and every night for about an hour we listen to books on tape. When we first put the couch in the room he did like it and would spend time with me on the couch whenever I would visit with him. But he would use his bed whenever I wasn't in the room. About a month ago he decided he really likes the couch and now whenever I open the door he is curled up in a ball right in the middle of it waiting for food time, movie time or book time.
Sven is eating very well these days. I put his Vetri-Lysine Immune health chew on a plate for him before breakfast and dinner and he often eats it out of my hand before it gets to the plate. He also really likes his dry and wet food. He will follow me to the tote I keep his dry food in and a few times has even tried to get into it while I'm filling his food dish!
Sven's room is like a little living room with a couch and a TV. There is also a tape player and every night for about an hour we listen to books on tape. When we first put the couch in the room he did like it and would spend time with me on the couch whenever I would visit with him. But he would use his bed whenever I wasn't in the room. About a month ago he decided he really likes the couch and now whenever I open the door he is curled up in a ball right in the middle of it waiting for food time, movie time or book time.
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For Alfie’s Fan Club
Alfie was adopted just recently by Mike and Ellen Moore. Alfie was at KAS for a long time. When it seemed he was having some health issues, we asked Mike and Ellen, who were interested in him, if they would foster him while we sorted this out. Two testing sessions, one at Peak and one at East Haven Vets, he was cleared of any concerns.