By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
We are very fortunate to have an excellent working relationship with local shelters and rescues, as they will contact us if they come across a Feline Leukemia-positive stray in need of placement. We are also fortunate that we have the financial ways and means to test each and every cat that comes through our door upon arrival, versus having to wait to see if a cat’s status is negative after someone comes in and falls in love with a kitty.
Sadly, such was the case with Pudge, a FABULOUS five-year-old fella (born in November of 2013), who ended up at Harbor Humane Society back in November of 2018; none of his caretakers knew he was harboring the contagious retrovirus until someone had fallen head over heels for him. The potential adopters opted not to take a very disappointed Pudge home, probably because they had other cats that weren’t vaccinated against the disease, which is completely understandable, but sad nonetheless. And since he was now in another category, the shelter was unable to house him any longer and contacted us for help in a hurry.
So Pudge packed his little bags and made the trip from West Olive to Wyoming on Jan. 17, 2019, arriving with such an eager attitude and the brightest eyes that he was pawsitively intoxicating! He sported only two-thirds of his tail, which believe it or not made him even cuter.
However, his mouth was nothing but an inflamed, rotten mess (something that is very common in leukemia kitties), so Dr. Jen had to take him to surgery to remove every tooth present behind his canines. No worries though, as he rebounded without any issue whatsoever and has had no trouble consuming any and all types of food given to him.
The next day Dr. Jen happily sent him down to Big Sid’s, our sanctuary for FELV and FIV kitties—and what an impression he made instantaneously! We have two very important words for you: PUDGE HUGS!
“Pudge has become an instant volunteer favorite with his hugs—he will literally climb you like a tree and never let you go. The only way you can put him down is to hand him to another person. He is learning to play nice with the other cats and I actually caught him wrestling with Tinker and Stavros this week. He would do great with older kids and would probably like a buddy to play with.”
“Pudge absolutely loves people, and his trademark hugs are the best. When trying to put him down he’s been known to be a little bossy and has grabbed at faces—I would recommend being with older kids that respect his occasional outbursts. He can’t help it, he’s just happiest when he’s being carried around by as many volunteers in one shift as possible! He does pick on the others on occasion, but once you correct him he’s fine. I call him the Eddie Haskell of cats (though many people won’t get the reference). He’d do great in a home with another cat, a dog, and older kids.”
So there ya have it in a nutshell, why we are all so smitten with this big kitten. It is a hoot to stop in and see him being carted around in the arms of visitors who cannot get over how affectionate and adorable he is. We don’t think he viral status is going to hinder him from getting a happy home of his own, as his personality is so big and he is simply too amazing to pass up!
More about Pudge:
- Orange/red Tabby
- Adult
- Male
- Medium
- House-trained
- Vaccinations up to date
- Neutered
- Feline Leukemia-positive
- Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Pudge? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
