Tag Archives: Clyde Park Animal Clinic

Cat of the week: Baz

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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).

 

If Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh was a cat, boisterous, beguiling, bouncing-off-the-walls Baz would embody him for sure! This busy boy (born in March of 2017) came to us on May 31, 2018, after having been found in the yard of a Wyoming woman who lived in the trailer park just down the from the vet clinic. Initially his rescuer thought he was injured, and coming from the corner of 44th and Clyde Park, she thought perhaps he had been hit by a car and was laying in her grass, stunned and hurting; of course Dr. Jen had the rescuer bring him right down for evaluation.

 

Once Dr. Jen examined Baz, it was clear that nothing physically was wrong, so it left her wondering if he was yet another cat who was tossed out and left behind, too scared to move or cry out for help. Within a few seconds, he was trucking around the exam room like he owned the place, sporting a way too-tight collar that had probably been on him since kittenhood. Dr. Jen offered to take him in, got him neutered and program-ready with all of the required medical care. He hung out with Dr. Jen for a day or two to recover from his surgery, during which time Baz and she became fast friends. This fabulous fella has the most magnificent markings, a beyond playful spirit and is overall just a terrific tabby!

 

Once at Crash’s, he took the place by storm, acting as if he had always lived there amongst the furry fold. He is a hoot to watch as he tries to engage the other residents in a wrestling match, but sadly no one quite lives up to his activity level, so Baz is left with us humans to entertain him! We want — no NEED — to find him a home that is energetic as he is, one with kid cohorts and a cat or two that can give him a run for his money! We think he’d even do well with dogs as he is THAT easygoing and open to new experiences.

 

Nothing gets him down or stands in his way of having tons of fun; it is really fascinating to observe him in his glory, gallivanting around our place like the Energizer Bunny, with his inquisitive nature bringing big smiles to our faces. Not only is Baz adorable, he is comical and curious, promising that there will NEVER be a dull moment when he is around! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to welcome this wonderful, whimsical boy into your world!

More about Baz:

  • Medium
  • Tabby (Tiger Striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats and children

Want to adopt Baz? 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.

Cat of the week: Pumbaa

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Hey, there, handsome!

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).

This dashing and debonair buff beauty gave Dr. Jen quite the runaround for months as he dined and then darted, hiding out in a hole in the cement foundation of her front porch. For weeks on end, Dr. Jen and her son tried to no avail to coax him into their care, tempting him with treats, kibble and canned food, but the wary and worried tom cat (born in the spring of 2013) would have nothing to do with them.

 

Every time Dr. Jen caught sight of Pumbaa hanging out in the shrubbery, she told him that he would have ‘no worries for the rest of his days’ if he would only allow her to take him in, but it wasn’t until he became ill from a horribly abscessed ear (cat fight) that he begrudgingly allowed her to lay her hands on him. Armed with broth packets, she laid down on her porch and hand fed him bits of shrimp and fish until she was finally able to gently reach out, scruff him and place him into an open carrier. Surprisingly, he didn’t fight her on this until she zipped the top shut, then all hell broke loose as he, well, tried to break loose. A discussion ensued, with Dr. Jen explaining how things were going to be, and he agreed to settle down for the car ride to the clinic so she could tend to his wounds.

 

Once at the office, Dr. Jen and Pumbaa got down to business: she anesthetized him in order to surgically drain his wounded left ear, neuter him, remove an engorged tick from his back, run lab work (he was anemic), implant his microchip, vaccinate him and treat for external and internal parasites (he was loaded with intestinal worms). Given how long he had been out and about fending for himself, it was no shock when he tested positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) — it was a darn shame, but not unexpected as intact males are always getting themselves into trouble due to surging hormones.

 

Looking for a home that encourages lounging

Dr. Jen kept the former porch kitty in her half-bath at home since it was Memorial Day weekend and she didn’t want him to feel abandoned if he spent too much time alone in a strange place. However, the first two nights he spent quite a bit of time trying to get out the window that Dr. Jen had the foresight to reinforce with duct tape. He also scratched the paint on her door and windowsill. However, by day three, Pumbaa was ready to accept head rubs and didn’t protest too much when Dr. Jen cleaned his draining abscess. He spent the first few days of the following week at the clinic with her, then once she was certain he wasn’t going to flip out due to sensory overload, she packed her boy up and sent him down to our sanctuary.

 

At first Pumbaa was afraid of his own shadow, preferring to hunker down in an open-door cage, but after being on the receiving end of continuous cuddle sessions and tender handling, he soon became putty in the volunteers’ hands. In fact, the transformation from frightened and semi-feral to comfortable and laid-back was absolutely astonishing; not only does Pumbaa enjoy the spotlight now, but he simply adores being the center of attention as verified by his striking supermodel pose for his photo op here!

 

We could not be more proud of our emblazoned, bold boy who not only seeks out affection but brazenly demands it! Every single time we gaze upon his serene face we are thankful that he trusted Dr. Jen to care for him. Patience paid off as he is now living a life that suits him perfectly and we are sure it’s better than he ever could have imagined possible!

More about Pumbaa

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.

Adoptable cat of the week: Basil Wrathbone

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Sir Basil awaits a purrmanent home

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).

Dr. Jen was told that this little fella (who was born in the fall of 2014) was living under a community pool deck at an apartment complex in Byron Center, and the residents loved him as he kept the rodents away. However, no one opted to bring him indoors, and at some point this poor creature ended up with his left front paw in a wild animal trap that was hidden away in his hiding place.
Although the residents quickly noticed his perilous predicament, they couldn’t catch him as he darted out of arm’s reach; he was in terrible pain and frightened out of his mind. They were able to loosen the trap from the deck, but sadly not his foot, and off he ran with it still attached; no one saw him again for about a month.
When he hobbled on back and they caught sight of him again, he was obviously on three legs—and the bones of his foot were sticking out of the paw that had lost all of its toes. One of the concerned apartment dwellers took him in and contacted Dr. Jen through the vet clinic, and she had her bring him right down so she could assess the damage. Needless to say, there wasn’t much left that could be salvaged, but Dr. Jen was able to take him to surgery, remove the desiccated and devitalized metacarpal fragments, treat the infection present and bandage him up so that he could heal (with narcotics on board).
Suffice it to say that Basil was more than ecstatic to finally be indoors, safe and sound, cozy and warm, and get this—free from pain and the metal mess that massacred his precious little paw. He simply couldn’t get enough attention from Dr. Jen and the staff while he recuperated, but Dr. Jen didn’t think it would be wise to send him down to Crash’s with an open wound site (she couldn’t safely close it for risk of deep-seated infection developing).
Handsome kitty!

Dr. Jen took him on home for the next four weeks, until he had received his second set of vaccines and was fully up and running. He was a bit out of his element at first, but he took a quick liking to Dr. Jen’s nine cats and found her Basset hound to be very interesting, although he preferred to keep a safe distance away from the dog.

Over time Basil’s confidence rose, but his mobility was never in question as he was tackling the stairs, furniture and even counter tops from the get-go; nothing stands in this beautiful boy’s way when kitty croutons are being offered! It was an absolute delight watching him grow stronger and become more assertive, claiming the windows as his favorite bird-watching perches and tackling the motorized cat toys with dexterity and determination. He wasn’t a lap cat by nature but when picked up and held close, he would melt into our arms and purr the sweetest of melodies.
Dr. Jen knew transferring Basil to Crash’s would be a bit challenging, but she needn’t have worried. Here is what our cat care director had to say about the marvelous Mr. Wrathbone and his new life as a free-roaming shelter kitty:
“Basil has absolutely no problem getting around the shelter. He’s a bit of a work in process—he spends most of his time sleeping up on the cat walks, but when it’s quiet he does come down and ask for attention. He has great potential to make an awesome cat though, so I am sure he will come out of his shell soon. He LOVES other cats! He is almost always snuggling with someone, so I feel that he should go into a home that has a cat that will snuggle up with him. He’s a little quiet and easily started, so probably no children or active dogs.”
Whattya think? Given all that Basil has been through, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to give him the kind of home he has probably always dreamed of?

More about Basil Wrathbone

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.

Cat of the Week: Cilantro

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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).

In honor of Cinco de Mayo 2017, Dr. Jen opted to give all of the ‘newbies’ for the month names of Hispanic origin; we had already had a Cinco (and Dr. Jen is saving Mayo for a white kitty). So, here’s a little bit about Cilantro, one of May’s magnifico kiddos that became a Crash Cat.

Super cute Cilantro is a fun and fabulous fella born in early 2015 who was fortunate enough to cross paths with one of our volunteers. As part of her TNR efforts on the south side of town, the volunteer comes across MANY a cat in need, but thankfully Cilantro was pretty darn healthy, just homeless.

He initially had a difficult time adjusting to shelter life as he didn’t take too kindly to others invading his personal space, but over time he has gotten used to their company. However, we are sure he wouldn’t mind being in a single cat house as long as it is a VERY busy one, probably with a rambunctious kid or two! He can’t wait to chum around with a human that is as energetic and adventurous as he is.

Want to adopt Cilantro? 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.

 

Cat of the Week: Chesterfield

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Just look at those ears!

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet 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 Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

Montcalm County contacted us in January of 2017 for help with this rough-n-tumble tom cat that had a nasty herpes infection in his eyes causing him quite a bit of trouble. Born in early 2013, the mighty and muscular stud came in sporting tom cat toughness, a bit of an attitude and eyelids that were rolling inward, causing corneal irritation and ultimately requiring two surgeries to completely repair.

Over time, Chesterfield’s orneriness has resolved wonderfully, to the point that he has become an extremely social and outgoing guy who gets along famously well with most of the other kitties. On occasion a bigger male may bully him, but Chesterfield doesn’t let it bother him, preferring to hang out with the mellower population of feline kind at his current foster home.

We asked Chesterfield’s foster mom to speak a few words on his behalf, in the hopes of finding him a permanent home:

Listen — you can almost hear him purr!

“He LOVES being around people and typically comes out to find you wherever you are; he is definitely not shy, though he is both laid-back and fearless at the same time. He is also very opinionated about when he is finished being petted, but as long as you listen to him there is no issue. He settled right in and made himself at home immediately, but sadly can’t stay home long-term due to the brattiness of Martin [one of the foster mom’s other cats], who doesn’t think he was as cool as the humans and the other four feline residents in the household do. We will miss him!”

So how about helping a handsome hunk out and take a chance on this charming black-and-white boy with the slightly askew ears and a gaze that will peer into your soul sweetly? We promise you, you won’t be sorry!