So why are these guys residents??
Although we try to rehab and rehome every animal that comes through our doors, sometimes it's not possible. Some animals that we get have lifetime medical issues. Some have behavioral issues. Sometimes age becomes a factor.
We're not saying some of these guys can't be adopted or fostered. We know realistically that their chances are much less than an adorable kitten.
These guys will require a home that can look past their differences. In some cases, with the behavioral issue animals, the animals have to pick the person. Not the other way round.
We're not saying some of these guys can't be adopted or fostered. We know realistically that their chances are much less than an adorable kitten.
These guys will require a home that can look past their differences. In some cases, with the behavioral issue animals, the animals have to pick the person. Not the other way round.
Jewels
Jewels has the honor of being our first resident dog.
We first met her the day we opened our doors to dogs. We had driven to a pound in rural KY with atrocious living conditions. We first found her baby girl. Then her 2 boys. But that's a different story. Jewels was kept in the lower building. It was solitary confinement. A last step before a gas chamber. The note on her cage said "mite bit." She was still full of milk and completely po'd. The pound refused to let us have her. So I made her a promise. If I wasn't able to save her, I would at least make sure her puppies had the best life ever.
We came home, but still we continued to fight for her life. We fought for a week before I got the call. "I can get her out today, don't know if they'll let me have her tomorrow." So we dropped everything. Drove to Louisville at 6pm on Friday night. She was terrified and growling. I figured if she truly was vicious, at least she would have a bed, a last meal, and wouldn't die in a gas chamber.
But it never came to that. Jewels bonded with us. And, actually..... another dog, Solomon, who caught a ride to freedom with her.
So why is she a resident?? She is fear reactive. Meaning if pushed in uncertain situations, she will attempt to bite. She has never bit anyone and is not aggressive, but we see the potential. She is also unpredictable when mixed with other animals. Solomon is the only animal she likes ;)
We are working to overcome her fear reactions, but it's going to take some intensive training since we don't know what happened to her before we got her =/
We first met her the day we opened our doors to dogs. We had driven to a pound in rural KY with atrocious living conditions. We first found her baby girl. Then her 2 boys. But that's a different story. Jewels was kept in the lower building. It was solitary confinement. A last step before a gas chamber. The note on her cage said "mite bit." She was still full of milk and completely po'd. The pound refused to let us have her. So I made her a promise. If I wasn't able to save her, I would at least make sure her puppies had the best life ever.
We came home, but still we continued to fight for her life. We fought for a week before I got the call. "I can get her out today, don't know if they'll let me have her tomorrow." So we dropped everything. Drove to Louisville at 6pm on Friday night. She was terrified and growling. I figured if she truly was vicious, at least she would have a bed, a last meal, and wouldn't die in a gas chamber.
But it never came to that. Jewels bonded with us. And, actually..... another dog, Solomon, who caught a ride to freedom with her.
So why is she a resident?? She is fear reactive. Meaning if pushed in uncertain situations, she will attempt to bite. She has never bit anyone and is not aggressive, but we see the potential. She is also unpredictable when mixed with other animals. Solomon is the only animal she likes ;)
We are working to overcome her fear reactions, but it's going to take some intensive training since we don't know what happened to her before we got her =/
Timon
Kokee
Kokee's life has not been an easy one. From the time he was born, he has had a fight. He was abandoned as a bottle baby and required feeding every several hours. His "mommy" got so attached that she ended up adopting him. Normally, this is happily ever after. Sadly, not so. His mommy was diagnosed with a rapidly spreading leukemia. With all the medication, she could not be around her baby. So mommy's boyfriend put him outside. Something bigger and stronger than Kokee got a hold of him and tore up his back hip. After surgery, Kokee got moved inside, but to the basement where he stayed with little attention from anyone. His mommy decided it was unfair to him so she brought him to a shelter. The first few weeks were rough. He didn't want to eat. He didn't do anything but stare out the door. As a volunteer there, we got attached to the grumbly old man. As his mommy's time got closer, she called the shelter and asked that he be put down when she went so he didn't have to live without her. By this time, we had grown to love him and he was our constant shadow. Since he was healthy, we were able to talk his mom into letting US take him home. And he's been terrorizing our kittens ever since ;)
Christine
Miss Christine. Her knees pop out when she walks, so she reclines in a basket (or my lap) most days. Unfortunately, she isn't a good candidate for surgery (which they don't know if it would work anyway). But they don't seem to bother her other than she's a little lazier than most :P
Abigail, Evelyn, and Carl
Abigail was brought in with 4 others from a home infused with drug and alcohol abuse. The environment was not safe for a human, let alone an animal unable to defend themselves. Abby and Evelyn are around 13 years old and will tolerate other animals, but would really prefer to be by themselves. Evelyn will jump to your hand so that you pet her head. Carl is the unofficial king of the shelter. No one messes with him and he keeps all the younguns in line.
Missy
Spook and Shadow
Spook and Shadow, to our knowledge, are not related. However, it is impossible to mention one without the other. Shadow is literally Spook's shadow. The big boys have been in a shelter situation their entire lives. At the previous shelter, they were not dealt with at all. No one tried to mess with them or make them trust people. They have come a long way since joining us. Before we couldn't get within 10 feet of them. Now Spook lets us *just* close enough to where we think he may let us touch him then moves. Spook is the more vocal of the two. Especially if we have wet food. Shadow is content to follow Spook's lead. Casper used to be part of this clique but he decided he likes back scratches better <3
Koko and Trace
Koko and Trace were lived trapped as kittens. They had limited human interaction prior to us. Trace was and still is the wild child. Being a tripod (he only has 3 legs from birth more than likely), he is wary of everything. To this day, we still cannot get Trace to trust us. Koko loves attention. He loves to be the center of it. Trace only wants us to acknowledge him when he knows we have yummy food. But whatever makes him happy. He's safe. And he loves being coddled by our resident cats <3