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).
This big, bold, beautiful boy with the sultry, slight pout initially came to us back in the summer of 2011, a stray that had been wandering around Eastown sowing his wild oats. He tested positive for FIV, so he was transferred to us from Focus on Ferals and headed on down to our sanctuary. He turned out to be such a lovable lug that it was no surprise when one of our volunteers and her husband took a shine to the terrific tabby—and took him home. Billy, Allison and David lived happily together in a home full of love and many other cats, all of whom Billy got along famously well with; even though he was quite large at 15 pounds, he didn’t try to be in charge, instead allowing the little ladies in the household to run the show.
Over the years, Billy (born in late summer of 2008) made a few trips to the clinic to be treated for a common inflammatory condition known as plasma cell stomatitis, something FIV cats are unfortunately prone too. We were able to manage his illness by extracting all of his teeth except his canines, and periodically with steroids . But in late 2016, it was quite apparent that not only was this physical problem starting to really affect his behavior negatively, but the birth of a human baby had also set him off-kilter. Sadly, Billy started lashing out at the others in the home, and misdirected his aggression towards the baby; his folks had no choice but to relinquish custody back to us at Big Sid’s.
When he arrived at the clinic on Dec. 1, he and Dr. Jen had a good, long heart-to-heart and she issued an ultimatum: he had to behave at Sid’s because we were his last chance. We encouraged him to embrace his return with open arms (er, paws) and to make the best of the situation, because if he did, he would experience comfort and camaraderie that would hopefully take the place of the only family he had probably ever known.
We’re not sure exactly how much Billy actually understood, but we’d would like to think that he turned over a new leaf because from the get-go; he has been nothing but a purr-fect gentleman in every sense of the word! When our cat care director learned of his return and got to spend some time with him, she had this to say:
“This cat reminds me of the bar he was initially named for—Eastown Billy’s—as he should be singing the blues, having been returned to the shelter, but NO—he is rocking it! He fit right back in like he had never left the premises, and has been so incredibly sweet to the volunteers and the other cats alike!”
More about Billy
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.
