Tubby & Peanut's Mom
06-09-2004, 01:53 PM
During my lunch today, as a last ditch effort to help the kitty mentioned in my poll (click here (http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50933)) I physically went to a no kill shelter on the North Side of Chicago (no one returns phone calls 'cause they're all full).
Tree House Animal Foundation (http://www.treehouseanimals.org/) is where I went. I rang the doorbell and was eventually let in by a late 20's early 30's punker type looking guy who asked if he could help me. I was a little delayed in answering because just on the other side of a second glass door sat an adorable gray and white kitty, whose hair was mostly missing, meowing to be included in our conversation. ;)
The guy could see what I was looking at so he allowed me full entry as we were talking. This is a house that has been converted into a shelter where the cats roam freely. So we went into what should be the sitting room I suppose, and I could hardly keep explaining my situation because there were kitties everywhere! They all had their own little bed and most of them were fast asleep. Sitting on the floor with an adorable tuxie in her lap was an older lady, just calmly sitting and petting - she smiled at me - I'm assuming she's a volunteer.
We finally finished our conversation when he told me they couldn't help because they only take stray, sick or injured cats - not completely healthy ones that the owner doesn't want anymore - and he kindly informed that this person "sounds like a jerk." I couldn't help but agree. ;) He told me I could spend some time petting the kitties, "These are all quite friendly." So I did! The little white and gray that first greeted us was constantly underfoot the whole time, head bumping my leg and rubbing between my legs, so he/she got first pets. Then there was an adorable all gray tabby sitting on the desk. A petite little thing that loved the head scratches she got. Then there appeared a sad sad sight. Down the hallway comes this beautiful orangie - much like Fister but smaller boned - and he was dragging his butt and back legs. I had checked out their website and they have two orangie kitties that have cerebellar hypoplasia so I asked if this was one of them. The guy said no, this guy had been hit by a car and his back legs were paralyzed. :( :( But the heartwarming part is that I don't think this kitty knew he was handicapped! He just waltzed on in and came right up to me. He absolutely adored the chin skritchies I gave him, then went to the scratching post to sharpen his claws a bit, then sauntered on over to the food bowl for a little snack.....then I had to leave. I couldn't decide whether I should cry or praise the lord that this kitty - and all the sick and injured ones there - had such a wonderful place to call home!
I know I only saw a minute part of the place - there had to be at least 20 cats I saw, and the place has over 300 in their care - but the overall feeling I got, just from the guys tone of voice when talking about the resident kitties and the way this older lady was so lovingly petting the tuxie, was that these kitties are all very much loved and adored. They are all up for adoption and looking for a furrever home, but in the meantime the home they have is really quite the place, and I'm sure any stray kitty would be more than happy to call this a furrever home.
I just wish they were closer to work. I'd volunteer on my lunch hour, but it took me a complete hour to get there and get back with maybe about 15 minutes spent inside. There has to be a place closer to work......
Tree House Animal Foundation (http://www.treehouseanimals.org/) is where I went. I rang the doorbell and was eventually let in by a late 20's early 30's punker type looking guy who asked if he could help me. I was a little delayed in answering because just on the other side of a second glass door sat an adorable gray and white kitty, whose hair was mostly missing, meowing to be included in our conversation. ;)
The guy could see what I was looking at so he allowed me full entry as we were talking. This is a house that has been converted into a shelter where the cats roam freely. So we went into what should be the sitting room I suppose, and I could hardly keep explaining my situation because there were kitties everywhere! They all had their own little bed and most of them were fast asleep. Sitting on the floor with an adorable tuxie in her lap was an older lady, just calmly sitting and petting - she smiled at me - I'm assuming she's a volunteer.
We finally finished our conversation when he told me they couldn't help because they only take stray, sick or injured cats - not completely healthy ones that the owner doesn't want anymore - and he kindly informed that this person "sounds like a jerk." I couldn't help but agree. ;) He told me I could spend some time petting the kitties, "These are all quite friendly." So I did! The little white and gray that first greeted us was constantly underfoot the whole time, head bumping my leg and rubbing between my legs, so he/she got first pets. Then there was an adorable all gray tabby sitting on the desk. A petite little thing that loved the head scratches she got. Then there appeared a sad sad sight. Down the hallway comes this beautiful orangie - much like Fister but smaller boned - and he was dragging his butt and back legs. I had checked out their website and they have two orangie kitties that have cerebellar hypoplasia so I asked if this was one of them. The guy said no, this guy had been hit by a car and his back legs were paralyzed. :( :( But the heartwarming part is that I don't think this kitty knew he was handicapped! He just waltzed on in and came right up to me. He absolutely adored the chin skritchies I gave him, then went to the scratching post to sharpen his claws a bit, then sauntered on over to the food bowl for a little snack.....then I had to leave. I couldn't decide whether I should cry or praise the lord that this kitty - and all the sick and injured ones there - had such a wonderful place to call home!
I know I only saw a minute part of the place - there had to be at least 20 cats I saw, and the place has over 300 in their care - but the overall feeling I got, just from the guys tone of voice when talking about the resident kitties and the way this older lady was so lovingly petting the tuxie, was that these kitties are all very much loved and adored. They are all up for adoption and looking for a furrever home, but in the meantime the home they have is really quite the place, and I'm sure any stray kitty would be more than happy to call this a furrever home.
I just wish they were closer to work. I'd volunteer on my lunch hour, but it took me a complete hour to get there and get back with maybe about 15 minutes spent inside. There has to be a place closer to work......