Update!

[emily_the_spoiled]

I think that adding to the mix is that they both wanted to be "top cat" in the household. Connor is trying the same thing here but I have dealt with it differently than Julie did.

[Catty1]

Just curious, ETS - what is the difference in how you are treating Connor regarding this? I have a hunch, but want to hear your take first.

[Cinder & Smoke]

I just emailed Julie and asked for a bio of Ally to give the people at Best Friends
of her history from when she got her ....
hopefully that will give them some insight and get her some help.

From an article describing Best Friend's "Dog Town" ...

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Admissions Policy

Clearly, Best Friends cannot bring every homeless pet to this sanctuary. That's why, through the Best Friends Network, we offer numerous solutions to people who have a pet at home or have just rescued one, and feel they cannot, for whatever reason, care for him or her themselves. The best place for these pets is in a good home. And the best chance for a good home is usually right there in their own neighborhood.

Our admissions team usually only accepts animals from other shelters and rescue groups - and that's after all other options have been exhausted. So if you're looking for help with a pet who is already part of your family, or you've rescued a homeless pet in need, it's best not to assume that they can or should come to the sanctuary.

Instead, please check out http://network.bestfriends.org for resources regarding your community and your situation. You'll find communities for each state in the United States and many parts of Canada, as well as for just about every kind of animal welfare issue.

You can also post a lost/found poster or adoption request on the Network.

You can also find lots of helpful tips, articles and resources at: www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets

When you've done that, you can also contact our Animal Help office at [email protected] or at 435-644-2001 Ext. 4800. Our team here may be able to supplement the lines you're pursuing on the Best Friends Network. They receive approximately 500 calls for help each week, so they check new inquiries every day and set priorities based on the urgency of each situation. An Animal Help specialist will respond to you as quickly as possible based on the urgency of your request.

Thank you for being part of the solution.
------------------------------------------------------
Above taken from the BF Admissions Policy Statement at:
http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/admissionspolicy.cfm

/s/ Phred

[jennielynn1970]

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Admissions Policy

Clearly, Best Friends cannot bring every homeless pet to this sanctuary. That's why, through the Best Friends Network, we offer numerous solutions to people who have a pet at home or have just rescued one, and feel they cannot, for whatever reason, care for him or her themselves. The best place for these pets is in a good home. And the best chance for a good home is usually right there in their own neighborhood.

[b]Our admissions team usually only accepts animals from other shelters and rescue groups - and that's after all other options have been exhausted.

Most other options are gone. Other shelters in the area have turned her down, and the only other option is to put her in a kill shelter.

This ISN'T Ally's neighborhood. That would be Bahrain. And bacck there she'd be put to sleep very quickly.

She has to have suffered emotional trauma at some point. Normal cats donot behave the way he does.

[Catty1]

Ally's aggressiveness is a major factor - and perhaps Jenn could place Ally with BF through the rescue she is with.

That's why I posted about Lois in #73.

The initial answer that Jenn got from BF was a few more questions, not a refusal. So we'll see how that goes - especially if Ally can be sponsored (she had some funds left from her travel donations).

[Lizzie]

I'm holding my breath that B.F. can do something to help Ally (and Jenn). They have to see that this is a really serious situation for cat and humans. She'd create quite a good story for them, especially coming from Bahrain, and sanctuaries have to think that way. However, I believe there is only one Cinders suite at the sanctuary. It was created for a very elderly cat (Cinders) who was 23 when she died last year, about a year after they created the suite for her. It's a pity Lois had to take it over before they heard about Ally, although I think Lois has been rather a liability for many years having shredded scores of visitors and volunteers.

[jennielynn1970]

Heaven's Gift has turned Ally down. They said she doesn't meet their qualifications for abuse or neglect.

Edit to explain that they do take in some serious abuse cases.... so it's not like they don't consider her neglected or whatever, but they provide hospice care. I just wanted to clarify that.

[Lizzie]

I'm sorry, Jenn, that's very disappointing though I can see why they would feel they had to turn her down.

As for a special suite for Ally at B.F., I think the main problem would be how they would add it on to one of their buildings. From what I've seen online, all their cat housing units are circular with outside runs almost all around the unit, so each room is like an orange segment, fitting into the whole. With a rectangular building, adding on is feasible, but not with a round one. They have quite a bit of temporary housing and perhaps they could be persuaded to use part of that, especially since they are trying to close out Pahrump and will be bringing those units back. A cat in isolation takes up more staff time so she would certainly need to be sponsored.

[phesina]

I'm sorry to learn this, Jenn. I was so hoping it would be a good new home for Ally.

Pat

Heaven's Gift has turned Ally down. They said she doesn't meet their qualifications for abuse or neglect.

Edit to explain that they do take in some serious abuse cases.... so it's not like they don't consider her neglected or whatever, but they provide hospice care. I just wanted to clarify that.

[Catty1]

Jenn - I emailed BF - and used all upper case ATTN: TAMARA

I gave her some more details and backup information, and the possibility of some funding for Ally, maybe even her own room

Hope that helps!

[jennielynn1970]

While having her own room sounds like a nice plan, I don't see it as a realistic endeavor at this point. I mean, it takes a lot of money, a lot of manpower, architects, permits and all the other things involved with adding an addition on to any building. I'd just be happy if they could take her in.

[Craftlady]

While having her own room sounds like a nice plan, I don't see it as a realistic endeavor at this point. I mean, it takes a lot of money, a lot of manpower, architects, permits and all the other things involved with adding an addition on to any building. I'd just be happy if they could take her in.

I agree Jenn, just happy if they take her.
PT donations arent going to be able to add up to what a building addition would cost. I'm guessing, minimum $20,000 that probably gets you a floor and no roof LOL

[jennielynn1970]

Ok, my resources are tapped. The shelter that I volunteer for wants nothing to do with Ally. My only promised backup cannot take her (although she still can take other fosters... ). If this comes out sounding bitter, it is. I'm just so upset that Julie has not been in contact, she has just vanished and is gone. Even her Live Journal on GMail is deleted.

What I am going to do is go to my mom and dad and go through their friends who have large, enclosed barns and see who would be able to take her. I can't guarantee she would flourish in that environment, but she'd have a chance. My parents live in the Poconos, and while we don't have an active farm any longer, many of their friends do.

So, this will be my quest. To get her a safe, warm, and hopefully a semi-happy and more at peace than she is now. Right now, I would not want to be her. I would not be a happy camper.

Will let you know what will happen. I'll make sure that any funds go with her to the farmer for her food and vet care. I have some large bags of Nutro that was just given to me, so they can go with her as well.

I look at that little face, and she breaks my heart. I know she doesn't want to be mean. I just can't think that she wants to be unloved. I'm sitting here in tears because she makes me so sad for her. I want to cuddle her and love her and make her feel safe and better, and she won't let me.

So, that will be my birthday present to Ally... I don't want to just desert her the way her owners have. She's just an innocent creature. She doesn't deserve that.

Gonna go get ready for work. Have been up cleaning since 3:30am since I couldn't sleep.

[Lizzie]

You have made a good decision and I hope your parents' friends can come through. Ally has reached a point in a her life where she can only feel aggression towards other living beings so this may be the beginning of a better life for her - we will all hope so. I know you will feel guilty because we all do, no matter what extreme measures we have taken to care for our pets/fosters, but no-one here will believe you should feel any guilt at all. You have always gone way beyond what anyone else would do to care for Ally.

My rescue group who places in barn homes that are unheated use lots of straw bales and blankets to create snuggle places within the barn. Of course, if there are other animals in the barn (large ones that she won't want to bite) their body heat will help.

[jenluckenbach]

My only promised backup cannot take her (although she still can take other fosters... ).

I am sorry :-(

I will relocate all of my fosters so Ally can come here. Nova and Lizzie and Carolyn and my beloved DaVinci will have to go live out their lives in our shelter. Cameo and Marilyn might find place in an adoption cage at Petsmart, but Cameo tends to hurt herself when left overnight in a cage. Hopefully she won't, this time. And Frazzle will just have to STAY at Petsmart whether she gets adopted or not. I'll pray that a foster home has room for the babies because they are sick and can't go to the shelter.

Then Ally can have my 3rd floor with no chance of hurting another cat.

You'll just have to give me time. And then I can be the one who is bitter.