23RD ANNUAL FELINE RESCUE BREED SHOWCASE, UC DAVIS, SATURDAY, APRIL 19. PHCR is proud to have been invited by the UC Davis's Feline Medicine Club (School of Veterinary Medicine) to participate in the Showcase, to be held on Picnic Day, Saturday, April 19th, 2008 (9:00 am to 4:00 pm) at the University of California, Davis.
Picnic Day is the largest student-run event in the US, and is the annual Open House for UCD, with presentations, gifts, and entertainment galore. The Rescue Breed Showcase educates the public about different purebred cats, as well as the efforts of local breed-specific and mixed-breed rescue organizations.
Please visit us in Surge III to learn more about PHCR and visit some of our beloved rescue cats. We will be happy to share care and grooming information, as well as accept applications and individual requests for our "wish list." Note: UCD regulations do not permit us to adopt on site.
YOLO COUNTY'S SPCA's DOGGONE WALKATHON, SATURDAY, MAY 3. We are delighted to again sponsor a booth at this great event, designed to promote humane welfare and to assist the YCSPCA's efforts in helping abused, neglected, and homeless animals. All this, and so much fun. Our booth will provide informative literature, and offer our hand-poured soaps and other goodies for sale to benefit PHCR, but we will (for obvious reasons) not be showing cats. Come with a canine friend or just yourselves to enjoy the festivities and learn about other rescue organizations, and take part in the silent auction and relish the many vendors and varied entertainment. We encourage everyone to "Walk Today for Their Tomorrow." For more information, see www.yolospca.org.
THE FRANCISCAN SILVER & GOLDEN FANCIERS CAT CLUB SHOW FEATURED KENNY. On March 8 & 9, our own Kenny took home ribbons from the "Household Pet Division" at this great show! He was so laid back, pretty much napping in a fluffy bed through all the chaos of the show, which otherwise featured a lot of gorgeous cats who are used to this kind of thing. No adoptions there for us, but the Hayward Animal Shelter brought some great cats and got at least one adoption there.
THE CALL OF THE WILD CAT FANCIERS ANNUAL CAT SHOW FEATURED RYAN AND DASHER. The Feb 9 and 10 show drew lots of cat-lovers, and Ryan and Dasher were stars. Ryan was in our booth on Saturday and seemed to love it. We think he's been in shows before, since he really seemed comfortable and purred his little head off when we took him out for some combing. Dasher came with us on Sunday, and with the exception of a noon-time nap, played delightedly with everyone who came by. Neither was adopted at the show, but they got to meet a lot of people and were great "ambassadors" for PHCR.
WE'RE RE-DEDICATED TO HELPING PERSIANS AND HIMALAYAN CATS GET ADOPTED RIGHT OUT OF SHELTERS. We've always partnered with California animal shelters and other rescues by posting their cats on our web site, but we've recently started putting MORE effort into connecting people directly with pets in shelters, since this helps get pets placed faster and saves are pets the trauma of moving from shelter to rescue (which often happens when pets don't get adopted quickly from shelters -- their next move is to us!). Thanks to YOU, our viewers, watching our "cats at shelters" pages, and the tireless efforts of dedicated volunteers, we've had great success with this.
NEEDED FOR PERSIAN & HIMALAYAN CAT RESCUE: A FEW GOOD FOSTER HOMES. We need more foster homes anywhere in the SF Bay Area and Sacramento area. Join wonderful people to help amazing kitties. Call Pat at (925) 838-1838.
WE NEED DONATIONS. It is because of donations from our supporters that we are able to rescue as many Persians and Himalayans as we do. Due to their docile nature they usually do not fight back when someone abuses them so suffer more injuries from abuse than most other breeds. In addition, those gorgeous flat faces and huge eyes that we humans love so much make them more vulnerable to illness and injury in shelters. Because shelters are continually in the bind of making their budget cover as many animals as possible, they usually do not have the resources to provide treatment for such illnesses and injuries. So, far from the image of Persian cats always living a life of extraordinary luxury, the truth is that an extra large percent of them end up being put down at shelters. That is why Persian and Himalayan cat rescue groups exist - and why shelters are usually so willing to work with us: to give these wonderfully sweet kitties better odds. However, we can only rescue the kitties with injuries and illness if we have the money to provide the treatment/care they need. And that is determined by your support. So no matter if it is $1.00 or a million dollars, every dollar matters and every dollar makes the difference in how many of these darlings we can save. Thank you very much for all your past support - you have always been wonderful at responding to our requests. We hope you will be able to do so again.
THE STORY OF PHCR PIRATE GEORGIE - WHY MONEY SPENT ON MEDICAL CARE IS WORTH IT. Some people may wonder if it is worth it to spend the time and money on sick or injured kitties. The answer is a huge YES!! Let me tell you a personal experience with one of the PHCR injured Persians - a darling 9 year old Silver boy, Georgie, who was one of the one-eyed "PHCR Pirates." Georgie had come to PHCR and both eyes were so severely infected that one had to be removed and the other was barely saved. My husband and I accidentally came across Georgie on the PHCR website and knew we had to adopt him. We inundated Wanda with references and our 'Persian parenting' history and credentials and went and brought Georgie home the next day. He had obviously been abused by a male because he was petrified of my husband, would frantically run to hide under something whenever he heard my husband walk down the hall or come near him. He was also very worried about doing anything wrong. He was so insecure that he would sit wherever I put him and just give a little soft meow if he wanted to get water or use the litter pan - as if he was asking permission to move. However, he bonded with me immediately and would get nervous if not I was not nearby. We got a very soft bed for him - 3 actually (1 each for different parts of our house) and I carried him into whatever room I was working in to keep him near. He would cuddle and purr and his one huge and beautiful eye would gaze at me so lovingly. And he slept with us, but next to me on the side opposite my husband because he was scared of a man.
Within a few days I took him to my vet for his initial check-up. I'll never forget the effect it had on Georgie when I put him into the carrier and then the car. He totally deflated, turned his face down to the bottom of the carrier and would not look up. His eye clouded over with such sadness it made me cry. The poor little guy had been shuffled from shelter to various places and finally to PHCR, which is great but not like a kitty's very own home and family. He got so sad because he thought he was once again being rejected and carted somewhere else. I kept telling him how much we loved him and that he would never ever again not have his very own home and humans who dearly loved him, and was so glad when we got home so he could see for himself. As soon as I took him out of the carrier, he looked up at me with that wonderful one-eyed face as if to say 'Oh thank you.' He purred and purred and I cried and cried. Because his eye was still under medical care we made many more, and frequent, trips to the vet. It wasn't until the fourth trip that he was finally confident he wasn't loosing his home.
Well, now it's been a year and a half. He's still as sweet, loving, and wonderful as in the beginning. But now he plays and runs around in confidence - literally squeals with joy! And, best of all, my husband's patient and very loving attention has made Georgie secure not only with just him, but progressed to where he is secure with most men. Of course Georgie still sleeps in the bed with us -- but now it's snuggled between us! Was this guy worth the money PHCR spent to save him and treat his eyes? Absolutely yes - a hundred million times yes!!
PAWSAROTTI'S FOR PETS & PEOPLE. Persian and Himalayan Cat Rescue has started a relationship with a pet boutique in Santa Rosa, CA to help find good, loving homes for more of our cats. Susan and Chris both work with rescued animals and are totally dedicated to finding them wonderful, loving homes. It has been their dream to open a business where they could have a career working with pets and their owners. Wanda has worked with Susan on rescue cat adoptions in the past and is very pleased to be working with she and Chris again. A visit to Pawsarotti's is a truly unique and wonderful experience!
The boutique has a large confined area specially for cats, complete with a cat tree and beds for our cats. Our Cleopatra is there during the day (and at home with Susan when the store is closed). Kittens and cats from PHCR reside at the store and can be seen during store hours. The kitties extend an invitation to you all to please come and visit them:
Pawsarotti's For Pets & People
4040 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, CA 95409
(This is actually 4040 Highway 12 to Sonoma)
707-539-PAWS
Directions: 101 North. Exit Fairgrounds Highway 12. Left onto Farmers Blvd.
Right on Highway 12 (Fourth Street). Just past 'Bush Creek Road' you will see
Pawsarotti's on the right.
