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 Big Sid’s Sanctuary. 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).
Early October, 2017 brought us a treasure trove of wonderful cats, all of whom Dr. Jen named after pirates of some sort (she loves themes). Our volunteer Alana had been trying her hardest since June to catch this wily fella who had been hanging around her west side neighborhood for ages, getting beaten and banged up — but he just didn’t trust her enough. Finally he gave in and she brought him in to the clinic to assess his issues: flea infestation and skin inflammation from the biting little buggers, a variety of abrasions, infection between his toes and a fatty growth on his belly that had her worried he had suffered more serious trauma. He also tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus.
He was painfully shy, scared of his own shadow and especially of his new indoor surroundings. Once Dr. Jen treated his ailments and allowed him to recover from his neuter and acclimate for a few days, she sent Sly Cooper on down to Big Sid’s, into the capable and loving arms of our volunteers who were ready to show him what safety and security was all about.
For the few first weeks, Sly (born in the fall of 2014) spent most of his time hunkered down inside of a kitty teepee; though he would accept pets from the peeps who sought him out, he wasn’t going to venture out on his own for attention. However, slowly but surely, he gained confidence and shed his former scaredy-cat self, emerging as a confident boy who is now out and about constantly, looking for and soaking up all of the attention he can get from his human caretakers and visitors.
The transformation was incredible to observe, and it warms our heats to see him engage the activity that once frightened him so; what a complete turn-around! We are soooo looking forward to packing this guy’s bags and sending him into a home where he can be showered with the TLC that was missing from his life for so very long. Now that Sly has experienced how fantastic affection is, he cannot get enough!
More about Sly Cooper
NOTE: A $825 grant from Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA will enable Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary, to fund comprehensive exams for five Big Sid’s Sanctuary cats before going to their new home. Each exam would include a full blood panel, dental care, radiographs, urinalysis, antibiotics and pain medication, if needed. Big Sid’s caters exclusively to cats who test positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). FIV and FeLV are viruses that can, if they flare up, suppress a cat’s immune system. The shelter takes cats with FIV or FeLV from all over Michigan.
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.
