Tag Archives: crash’s landing

Cat of the week: Devereaux

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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).


Drop-dead gorgeous Devereaux (ooh, so fancy!) came to us back in the summer of 2016 laden with intestinal parasites and looking for indoor housing. She quickly earned the title of ‘diva’, demanding constant attention and affection (the volunteers were happy to accommodate), and made her presence known to all who came to gaze upon her.


In January of the following year a love-connection was made, and Dev was adopted and taken into a home she could claim all for her own, which could not have been more perfect for this pretty princess. Jan and Dev lived quite harmoniously together for about a year and a half, but then our gorgeous girl developed some unbecoming litter box habits.


Over the next year, she was a frequent clinic visitor, Dr. Jen had many conversations about how to try to curb Miss Piddlepuss’s behavioral urination issues. Sadly everything we tried was ineffective in the long run, although multiple, hopeful respites were seen in between, Dev simply could not get her act together permanently.


So, three years after her initial arrival into our program, darling Devereaux (born in late 2013) once again graced us with her presence. Let’s just say that her return was anything but simple and serene; in fact, she had to spend several days at the clinic simply chilling in her cage in order for she and Dr. Jen to come to an agreement about handling her. With the help of a pheromone calming collar, Dev and Dr. Jen were soon seeing eye to eye, and then it was make-or-break time—to head on down to Crash’s and get acquainted and immersed into a multi-cat lifestyle once again.


As you can imagine she has had quite a bit to say about things, and we have made the following observations:


“Devereaux definitely thinks she is a princess. She hates the other cats with a passion but is doing okay since she has learned to avoid them. She likes attention, but only on her terms. As long as she has a cozy bed to snuggle down into she is very content. She needs to be an only cat—no dogs or kids. Don’t get me wrong, as she’s a very nice girl who deserves another chance, but with someone who understands she is a wee bit temperamental and is patient with her.


“There have been no reports of inappropriate litter box habits since she has been back (her bio was written about 2 months after her re-arrival).”


We completely understand that finding the perfect home for her is going to be a tall order to fill, as Jan was single, it was just the two of them and Dev still couldn’t behave. We’ve considered making her a permanent resident, but she hasn’t had a single accident outside of the box since she returned, so she deserves a second chance.


Why her manners have surfaced now is beyond us—maybe it is the fact we have boxes in every room, or perhaps she is being diligent in the hopes of being sprung from this ‘prison’ of sorts—but whatever the case is, we are happy that she is following the rules.


We are working on her entitled attitude, so we honestly do see a great deal of untapped potential waiting to emerge.

More about Devereaux:

  • Domestic Medium Hair
  • Tortoiseshell
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Large
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Prefers a home without other cats, dogs, children

Want to adopt Devereaux? 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.




Cat of the week: Davina

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Davina

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).


On Jan. 31, 2019, Dr. Jen received an email from Julie S. who befriended a cat that folks up the block from her dumped—and just as one of our nasty winter storms was blowing in. She was half-starved, shuddering and shivering and sporting a healing bite wound. Julie was kind enough to bring the kitty in out of the cold, but she wasn’t in a position to keep her, so she reached out to us. We were completely full and starting an intake waiting list, so Julie offered to house the kitty and get her the appropriate medical care in the meantime.


It took 2-1/2 months until we were able to open our doors, but by the time this 2-1/2 year old arrived (born in the fall of 2016), her caretaker was able to offer excellent insight on her personality, likes and dislikes:


“I have temporarily nicknamed her ‘Lady LongSpine’ because she stretches out soooo long when I hold her; I’m sure she will accept a name change easily. She likes being inside of a house, not outside. She prefers to explore space slowly and carefully, traveling around the edges of a room, pausing to check out the area; she tends to hide out under furniture until she feels safe enough to explore more openly. She likes to be where people are and once she has made their acquaintance, she enjoys the attention—in particular, she is fond of being stroked and cuddled like a baby. She’s a vocal girl, purring and talking to you quite a bit, letting you know if she is thirsty or hungry (again, like a baby). If she is in the mood for your attention or thinks it is time you tidied up her litter box, you will know it. She really likes to play with ‘da bird’ toy that is a bunch of feathers attached to a stick—I could swing that around for hours; she may be partial to stalking toys and chasing them around given her enthusiasm for this type of activity.


“Go easy on the nip, as she can get quite wild! She will be OK with a gentle dog that is slowly and properly introduced, and also has places to go to that a pup can’t reach. She’d also be alright with kids if they too are gentle, understand that she is timid at first and has had some hard times, and let her approach them until she gets to know them better. She may get along with other cats, but they would need a ‘getting to know you’ period of gradual adjustment. She will try to be the top cat in a home, so placement in a house of her own would suit her best; when she was on the streets she literally had to fight with other cats for food, and I believe she has a long memory of pain endured and a fear of dealing with felines she saw only as foes. Overall, she is very sweet and extremely cute—I wish I could keep her myself.”


Armed with this very detailed, helpful information, we set out to make Davina’s transition as smooth as possible, but first she needed Dr. Jen’s pre-program work-up to insure she was healthy; it was at that time Dr. Jen discovered that the bite wound Davina had suffered transmitted the feline leukemia virus. Sadly, this meant that she would not be going to Crash’s as planned, but thankfully she was going to become a resident of Big Sid’s, our sanctuary for virally infected kitties.

Easy on the ‘nip there, kitty. Wait! This is the resident imposter, Donut. See what happens when you succumb to the ‘nip?

After a few days of loving her up at the clinic, we sent her down to settle in. At the writing of her bio a month after her arrival, here are the insights the cat care team has about our lovely little gray-and-white girl:


“Davina—she was very shy when she first arrived but is slowly starting to be a little more social. She loves being up high on a tall cabinet until she sees people enter the room, then she’s right there asking for her well-deserved attention. She LOVES her wet food, treats, and back scratches.  She’s still a bit wiggly when picked up, but will sit in your lap once you sit down. She does have a feisty side to her towards the other cats, though she’s not mean or aggressive—just a girl who needs her space. She has gotten a little more brave and has been spending a lot more of her time on the windowsill watching the birds and squirrels. She would do best with only one other cat, or as the only cat. Dogs are probably too much for her.”


We couldn’t agree more with their assessment of this darling little lady, and since the virus is transmissible AND she really would like to be the queen of her very own castle, it will be our goal to secure for her the type of home life she has long been dreaming—and deserving— of.

More about Davina:

  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Gray & White
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Prefers to be an only cat

Want to adopt Davina 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.



Cat of the week: Tinker

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This guy just loooooves to climb

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).


TERRIFIC is one of many fabulous words we can use to describe Tinker, a charming little chap (born in May of 2017) who came to us mid-November, 2018. Rescue dynamo Sandi D. was out and about making her rounds on Quarry St. NW in Grand Rapids when she stumbled across this handsome black-and-white guy who had been abandoned by his owners. Not one to let any grass grow under her feet, she scooped him up and took him on home; five days later Dr. Jen was able to work him up at the clinic with the intention of taking him into our program.


Unfortunately he tested a faint positive for Feline Leukemia, a transmissible virus that befalls too many outdoor cats in our area who don’t receive proper care and vaccinations, so instead of making his way down to Crash’s he got to pack his little kitty bags and head on over to Big Sid’s. On his one month follow-up, he still retested a faint positive, so he is an official resident of our sanctuary, or Sid’s Kid as we call them. 


No worries though, as from the get-go Tinker has been absolutely thrilled with his new surroundings—he is SO darn excited to be indoors and receiving three squares a day. He cannot absorb enough attention from his human caretakers and finds it fun to hang out high above everyone’s heads where he can look down and survey the activity.


He has been known to be a bit aggressive towards certain cats, but over time he is learning that it is a hoot to engage in play versus swatting and swiping at his feline roomies. Because the virus is transmitted by sharing of bodily fluids (saliva, blood), we feel it is best he go into a home with another positive kitty—or none at all, since he would wholeheartedly enjoy being the king of his very own castle.


Everyone simply adores this little busybody! When kids come to our Meet and Greets, he enthusiastically welcomes them and shows off a bit, matching their energy and eagerness to have a good time. Tinker is going to make a spectacular addition to any household who wants an outgoing, adventurous companion. He loves to climb, so keep that in mind if you have your eye on this great guy.


We are sure that once you meet him you will come to agree that he is too cute for words.

More about Tinker:

  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Black & White/Tuxedo
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Good in a home with children, no cats

Want to adopt Tinker? 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.

Cat of the week: Dean

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This shy guy is best adopted with his buddy, Roller

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).


On March 2nd and again on March 17th, we had what we believe to be an entire family of terrified cats dumped off in carriers. ‘The Shy Seven’ were the first to arrive, and then three more joined us, rounding things out to ‘The Timid Ten’. Needless to say, it was a huge ordeal for all involved, from the stunned volunteers who kept pulling cat after cat out of cramped carriers, to the traumatized kitties who had no idea what was going on, and finally to Dr. Jen who spent the greater part of two weekends at the clinic getting them program-ready.


The latter was no small feat, as every single cat (yup, all ten of them) were intact, four of the five girls were pregnant, and all ten were clearly out of their element and having major trust issues. Adding various medical issues to the mix—like fleas and a variety of internal parasites, dental disease and chronic herpes virus—we ended up having a heaping handful of kitties who needed a great deal of help, not only physically, but probably more importantly, mentally.


It was clear from the onset that the family had been neglected and lacking human contact for quite some time, given their poor body condition, long nails and a shyness that went beyond anything we have seen before—and we have seen a lot. We have no idea where they came from or why someone thought it was a good idea to displace them as they did without regard for our space or financial capabilities, but our proposed scenario is this: a kindhearted, elderly person owned them and, for whatever reason, let them breed and multiply, running rampant in the house and growing wilder and warier as the days wore on. We suspect this person then passed (or moved away), and the cats were left to fend for themselves until a family member (or landlord) came in and booted the entire lot of them out—and onto our doorstep.


Regardless, we’d like to think they were loved by someone at some point, as this helps us believe in the goodness of people, enough so to offset the stupidity and callousness of others.


Let’s just say that for the most part, the journey we have all been on together is ever evolving—and it is going to be a long road full of bumps, setbacks and, yes, triumphs along the way. It is now over two months since their arrival, and we are just now able to share their stories, as it has taken a great deal of time (and patience) to get to this point.


We have had one shining star, jovial Jenn, who has been trying to pave the way for her siblings/uncles/cousins/aunts to follow, so really, we should have renamed the group as ‘The Timid Ten, Not Including Jenn’. She was the only girl who wasn’t or hadn’t been pregnant, as her reproductive tract was underdeveloped; just 15 months (born in later 2017, we think, along with Dean, Desna, Roller and Quiet Ann), she turned out to be quite the trailblazer, assuming the role of matriarch of her furry family.

Roller and Dean are best buddies

Dean and Roller are really good buddies, as they snuggle together all of the time. While Roller will let people pet him if they approach him slowly, Dean has made very little progress since he’s been with us. He is very comfortable here, though and is exploring more every day, although he typically runs right back into a hiding space as soon as someone enters the room. We think both of these boys will do very well in a home together once they had had ample time to bond with their owners.


At our free-roaming facility, cats like these have all of the time in the world to acclimate and adjust at their own rate—a snail’s pace if that is what is necessary. We have no cages, no time limits, no rules or regulations—each individual cat gets to stretch his legs at their own pace; each kitty gets to spread her furry little wings and fly when she is ready to leave the fold.


We offer a peaceful, secure environment to each and every cat in our care as long as they need it—and us. Slow and steady wins the race, and we firmly believe that with love, all things are possible; we surely can see endless possibilities and bright futures full of promise for this family of ours.

More about Dean:

  • Domestic Medium Hair
  • Tabby (tiger-striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Good in a home with other cats, no children

Want to adopt Dean? 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.


Cat of the week: Pepe LePew

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Meet Pepe LePew! (Courtesy Crash’s Landing)

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 had waited an awfully long time to find the perfect cat to name Pepe LePew, so when Sandi D. (volunteer and friend to all ferals and homeless cats) brought this spectacular specimen to Dr. Jen in early March, 2019, she knew she had found the cat she had been patiently pining for!


Not only was this 3-year-old (born in March of 2016) a stunning tuxedo, but he was extremely stinky, since he was all boy. We didn’t have an opening yet at Crash’s, but Sandi is well prepared to accommodate the wayward souls she picks up off the streets, so she fostered him in her home until we were able to take him into our program on April 11th.


And there was no question on anyone’s mind as to exactly why Dr. Jen bestowed such a moniker on him, as he was still quite malodorous—though totally adorable—upon arrival into our program.


Once at Crash’s, Pepe made himself at home, quickly winning over the volunteers with his stunning looks and spunky attitude. Here is what two of our cat care team members had to say about our beautiful black-and-white, sharp-dressed man:


“ Pepe—he’s adorable and it’s always tempting to scoop him up but he’s a little on the sassy side, and will squirm/swat until he’s put down. He’s young, playful, and maybe a bit of a stinker, but I think as he gets older he would learn to settle down and actually enjoy human affection. He’s a very handsome guy, and I have a feeling he won’t be with us long. A home with older kids, and maybe a dog to buddy up with would be perfect.”

Courtesy Crash’s Landing

“Pepe is a very social guy. He always has to be the center of attention. He does tend to bite a little when he gets overstimulated or when you are doing something he doesn’t like, such as being combed, so it would be best if he goes to a home without young children—older children though would be great for him. He also probably needs a buddy to play with.”


We find it funny that he has been described as a stinker, inside and out, which makes him all the more endearing in our opinion. As you can clearly see, he can also be inquisitive, laid-back and super social, a fantastic combination of traits to possess!

More about Pepe:

  • Domestic Medium Hair
  • Black & White/Tuxedo
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Good in a home with other cats, older children

Want to adopt Pepe? 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.

Cat of the week: Marguerite

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This little lady is a sweetie. No calico ‘cattitude’ here.

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 little lady’s family was being evicted right around Halloween 2018, so one of our volunteers stepped in and asked if she could rehome their two kitties; thankfully they accepted the generous offer. So, the rescuer took the duo home with her and set them up in temporary kitty condos until she could get them out to the clinic to see Dr. Jen for veterinary care. One of the two thought her new surroundings were the bee’s knees but the other, a sourpuss, wasn’t having any of it.


Magnificent Marguerite (born in March of 2012) checked out just fine, but at the time we didn’t have any room at Crash’s for this front-declawed calico cutie. (The sourpuss, unfortunately, didn’t meet our program requirements, attitude-wise.)


On Nov. 26, our lighthearted, lovely lady came in for a recheck (she had tested negative for both FELV and FIV) and received her second round of vaccines and deworming — we had a spot for her at Crash’s that she could claim entirely as her own. From the minute she sauntered into the shelter, Marguerite acted as though she owned the place and settled in immediately, finding her niche and fitting in very nicely.


Marguerite is a confident, yet laid-back cat who loves people sooooo much that she is never scarce when a human is around. She adores snuggling, thrives on attention and gets along famously well with her furry roomies, so finding her a home should be easy, since she will adapt to any surroundings (as long as she’s indoors). It is an understatement to say that this kitty has stolen all of our hearts. She is truly a gem of a cat, a rare find in a world of disposable pets treated like possessions and not the precious creatures they are.


Marguerite is the epitome of purrrrrrfection, and the lucky family who makes her their own will have a real treasure on their hands—and in their laps.

More about Marguerite:

  • Calico & Domestic Short Hair Mix
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Marguerite? 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.

Cat of the week: Hoobastank

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A debonair gentleman, this guy

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).


On Jan. 23, 2019, Dr. Jen’s co-worker, Allie got a text from a friend who had come across this bedraggled but beautiful intact boy near Burton and Division. She promptly got him out of harm’s way and dropped him off at Allie’s so she could bring him in to the clinic the next morning for evaluation.


The fabulous, yet filthy 4-1/2-year-old fella (born in the summer of 2014) was suffering from a nasty skin infection on his back, severe yellowing of his fur from being outside for so long, a puncture wound above his left eye that was causing it to swell, and a smaller one in the inner corner of his right eye. Antibiotics, multiple baths and, of course, long-overdue neutering got him on the right track, but if truth be told, he was still quite smelly (male hormones!), so he hung out at the clinic for a few days before Dr. Jen sent him down to our sanctuary. At that time, given his obvious history of tussling, it wasn’t a surprise that he tested FIV-positive


Over the course of the next four weeks, Hoobastank hunkered down and settled in seamlessly, abandoning whatever tomcat tendencies he may have had:


“This gorgeous guy is a super-friendly and sweet big pile of fluff. When he first came to us, he tended to get picked on a little, but the others seem to have been leaving him alone. He’s a bit docile when it comes to too much action around him, but over time he is getting better.


“He loves napping up by the kitchen window, which is ironic because he really doesn’t care for what we serve in the kitchen—he just prefers his dry kibble and Temptations. Due to his slight timidity, he may do best in a home with no other pets where he doesn’t feel threatened. Kids would be perfect for him, or retired couple or person who would have plenty of time to spend one-on-one with him.”

When Dr. Jen retested him at his one-month recheck at the clinic, he came back FIV-negative. It appears that the bite he received caused his body to produce antibodies to the virus as it was introduced into his bloodstream, but thankfully his immune system was strong enough to fight the infection off. This is fantastic news as adopting out a cat from Crash’s historically has been much easier than from Big Sid’s, though we pride ourselves on just how awesome our Sid’s Kids are and promote the heck out of them.


Regardless of his viral status, Hoobastank is a favorite of ours and we have no doubt that finding him his forever home will not be difficult. Just look at that fabulous face this super friendly guy has—and it can be all yours for loving and snuggling!

More about Hoobastank:

  • Domestic Short Hair / Black & White / Tuxedo
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Large
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Hoobastank? 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: Crumbs

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He’s been through a lot, but what a trouper!

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).


Wyoming resident Brenda R. is no stranger to the strays that populate her neighborhood; in fact over the years we have taken in quite a few wayward souls that thankfully fell under her care. She contacted Dr. Jen right after Valentine’s Day 2019 when an emaciated, darling but dirty intact male (born in late summer of 2017) crossed her path. The poor boy had obtained a bite wound to his tail when he tried to hang out with two feisty females that didn’t take kindly to his intrusion on their food bowls.


Part of the reason Crumbs was so skinny and felt as though he was starving was due to the fact he had internal tapeworms, so Dr. Jen treated him for the nasty little buggers, tended to his wound, got him neutered, tested, vaccinated and all spiffed up. A few days later Dr. Jen sent him on down to Crash’s, where he IMMEDIATELY became a volunteer favorite, so she enlisted the help of his new BFF’s to enlighten everyone on just how awesome he is:


“Crumbs is an adorable little guy that quickly became friends with everyone. He tends to hang back when there’s a lot of commotion but is right there underfoot when he knows there’s food involved. He doesn’t mind being picked up and held, he loves playing with laser toys, and enjoys his naps cuddled up next to his friends. He’d do great in any home, especially one with kids.


“Crumbs is a very happy and social boy. He loves being around people and gets along great with all of his buddies at the shelter. The only thing he likes more than being the center of attention is endless bowls of canned food. I can’t think of a home where he wouldn’t do well, he’s just that perfect.”


About three weeks into his stay with us, our beloved buff-and-white boy fell ill with symptoms of Calici virus, a highly contagious respiratory illness that unvaccinated cats are very susceptible to. He developed an acute fever and painful tongue ulcers that caused excessive drooling, but even in the thick of it all he surprised us all by pounding down bowl after bowl of delicious canned food.

Since he was hospitalized at the clinic again (for narcotics to control his discomfort and antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infection) Dr. Jen opted to retest him a week earlier than planned, and discovered that the bite wounds he had sustained prior to his arrival had transmitted the FIV virus to him. When it was time to send him back to our facility, he took up residence on the other side of our building, officially becoming a Sid’s Kid.


No worries though, as Crumbs once again made instant furry friends, and even when he was so sick with Calici, he wanted to be in the middle of everything. Although it bummed us all out to learn of his new viral status, we have no doubt that our charming, outgoing little fella is going to get himself adopted, as he hasn’t an ounce of mean coursing through his veins, and he absolutely loves everyone he comes into contact with.


It is no doubt crummy (we couldn’t resist) all that has befallen our buddy here, but in true form he takes whatever comes his way in stride and is absolutely thriving indoors, where he was always meant to be.

More about Crumbs:

  • Domestic Short Hair / Buff & White
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • FIV-positive
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Crumbs? 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: Yeti

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The tales this boy could tell!

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 late October 2018, Dr. Jen received a call from a couple up in Howard City who were desperate to help this poor kitty who had hobbled into their garage with a severely injured foot. Unable to find anyone to assist them over the weekend, they set up shelter for him and tried tending to his left rear foot—it was swollen to three times normal size.


Dr. Jen took the 18-month-old (born around May of 2017) into her care on the 30th with not a day to spare. It appears that something was tied or wrapped around his foot over bones of the tarsus (above the ankle) and since there is no fat to cushion anything that constricts, the binding ate through his flesh and tendons, exposing bone in its traumatic path.


Poor kitty!


By the time this beautiful boy arrived, Dr. Jen was concerned that his foot was damaged beyond repair and that amputation would be in his future. Luckily, when she debrided the wounds the tissue bled; that means a healthy blood flow would hopefully allow for adequate healing over time. Since the metatarsal bones were exposed in several places, Dr. Jen embarked on rounds of creative bandaging, heavy-duty antibiotics and, of course, narcotics and anti-inflammatories to control the swelling and pain.

Note regal bearing

If that weren’t enough, this big-footed fella tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). It took about a month for his injuries to heal, leaving only the slightest scar behind, which in itself is utterly amazing.


Yeti walks without a limp and appears to have no residual pain or numbness—he is actually quite athletic and graceful. He can best be described as one of our most chill and relaxed residents —we often find him snoozing all day long in one of our cozy cat cubbies. When people come to find him (as they often do), he gently rolls over and asks for belly rubs, which have become his meaning for existence.


This young man has slowly become what we call a ‘big fish in a small pond’, as he is likely to chase away other kitties when they attempt to steal the spotlight from him. Since he may have the propensity to nip to ward off furry space invaders, we feel it would be best if Yeti became the only cat in his household, but we think he wouldn’t mind a dog as long as the canine was a bit on the lazy side like Yeti.


Dr. Jen is quite enamored by this guy—heck we all are —and by spending time with him at the clinic during phases of his recovery, she can attest to the fact that whoever takes him home and makes him one of their own is going to have one of the most affectionate, adorable feline companions on their hands. He is certainly a people pleaser and would love to find himself in a home where he could be the center of attention.

More about Yeti:

  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Medium
  • Black
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Prefers a home without other cats
  • Good in a home with children

Want to adopt Yeti? 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: Burdock

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Just look at the whiskers on this guy!

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 mid-December 2018, a ‘rescue regular’ came across this stunning black-smoke-and-winter-white tom cat hanging out near one of her feral feeding stations in downtown Grand Rapids. Never one to leave an unneutered male behind, she promptly got him corralled and into CSNIP, then took him home in the hopes of helping him acclimate to indoor living by setting him up in one of her many kitty condos.


Try as she might, the fearful 5-year-old (born in early 2014) just wouldn’t adjust to her gentle touch and soothing voice, and returning him to the not-so-great outdoors was out of the question.


So when she brought him in two months after his rescue for Dr. Jen to evaluate, she agreed to letting us give it a shot at Crash’s, since we have droves of doting volunteers who are pros at working diligently with the most timid of kitties. Maybe with the collective efforts of so many, Burdock would emerge from his cocoon, start to relax and enjoy life a little bit.

A month into his stay with us at Crash’s, he is still a work in progress, just as we expected him to be. Burdock is ever-so-painstakingly slowly starting to feel comfortable at the shelter, but he still terrified and very wary of people. He gets quite nervous when you climb up to the cat walk where he is hiding out, but he will let you pet him if you approach him calmly and quietly. We have caught him out walking around a few times in the middle of the day, but as soon as he sees anyone he is right back up to the cat walk; to try to socialize him we have been carrying him around the shelter with him in our arms.


His metamorphosis is going to require a great deal of patience, but we believe that he does have it in him to come out of the safety of his shell of self-preservation, overcome his fear and evolve into a confident cat. He’s not aggressive in any way, just intimidated by the other cats and his new surroundings, so we will give him all the time in the world and let him set a pace he is comfortable with. We can’t begin to imagine what on earth happened to him before he was rescued, but we have years worth of neglect to make up for, and a slow and steady approach is going to be paramount with Burdock.


We are all going to be by his side, coaxing him every step of the way until one fine day, he realizes the potential he has harbored within himself all along; what a grand day that will be for all of us!

More about Burdock:

  • Domestic Medium Hair
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Large
  • Black & White / Tuxedo
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Good in a home with other cats
  • Prefers a home without dogs, children

Want to adopt Burdock? 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: Sherwood

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Sherwood & friend

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 late January of 2019, Dr. Jen received an email from concerned cat lovers in Olivet who had befriended a very adorable, outgoing — albeit intact — male who showed up several weeks before. He had taken to hanging out on their back porch, meowing at them through the window, so they put food out for him (and an opossum buddy it seems), and he repaid their kindness by purring, head-butting and rubbing up against the husband and wife.


They took to the Charlotte Facebook pages to see if anyone had lost this orange kitty, but the only replies received were that people had seen him around as he had spent the summer at the Sherwood Forest campgrounds begging for handouts. As the weather turned colder, they made him a house on their porch and set him up with heated dishes, but when it dipped dangerously below zero, they were compelled to take him indoors.


Sadly, once he was let back out, he got into a huge fight with another feral in the area; then only a few days later, a dog attacked him; he wasn’t eating well and was looking rough, so they took him in to their vet for treatment—and discovered he was FIV+. Not having the room or cash flow for a fourth cat, and not wanting to entertain the morbid thought of having him euthanized as recommended, they reached out to us for assistance.


Since he was such a gentle cat who wasn’t phased in the least by the presence of the household kitties, even when being hissed at, they felt he deserved every chance at finding himself an indoor home that could better accommodate him. In the meantime, they boarded him at the vet’s office until they could make the trip over to us (the weather simply wasn’t obliging). On Feb. 4th, we eagerly opened our doors to the 3-1/2 year old (born in the summer of 2015), a striking, sturdy hunk aptly named Sherwood.


As is customary, Dr. Jen always does her own medical work-up when a cat enters into our program at either shelter, so she set to work on treating a multitude of issues: a bilateral ear infection with a deep left pinna laceration; an abraded and infected scrotal sac (ouchie!) that made neutering a bit of a challenge; there were small, scabby chin wounds; his upper right canine tooth had also been fractured but didn’t need extracting, thankfully.

Sherwood is still a bit shy, but he’ll warm up once he has a home of his own

By the next morning, he was feeling lots better and Dr. Jen felt he was ready to head on down to our sanctuary to start living the cushy life at the hands of our volunteers who were ready to spoil him. Initially, this 13-pound fella was quite shy, preferring to spend most of his time in one of our cozy cat cubbies, only venturing out primarily at night when the shelter was quiet and calm. But he is starting to settle in nicely and is exploring more readily. His favorite pastime, besides eating, is chilling on one of our many windowsills watching the birds come to the feeders, though he also is quite fond of being spoken softly to and is very accepting of head scratches.


He isn’t quite sure of being picked up yet, and when he gets to feeling overwhelmed by too much commotion, he will hiss and retreat to one of his safe places. We all collectively feel that he would do well in a home with another cat, though it isn’t mandatory, but that small kids would be too much for him. We also think that in time he will become an avid fan of lap lounging, though now he is perfectly content to hunker down here with us where it is safe, warm and canned food flows freely.


Ultimately, Sherwood sure would love to find himself a home of his own, but he is a happy lil’ indoor camper currently loving this new life of his!

More about Sherwood:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair — Orange & White
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats
  • Prefers a home without children

Want to adopt Sherwood? 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: Levon

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Levon, Levon likes his cat food

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).


Fabulous four-year-old Levon (born in the summer of 2014) came to us in late July, 2018 as a FIV+ transfer from the Humane Society of Mid-Michigan in Montcalm County. Seems that this dapper tabby arrived at their facility in March, but given his viral status, they weren’t making any progress on promoting his adoption; when their shelter space became limited they asked us for help in housing him and giving him better opportunities for adoption exposure.


One of our dual volunteers transported him to the vet clinic where Dr. Jen did her typical intake work-up and happily discovered he was FIV-negative. However as (bad) luck would have it, he was free-roaming in an area with other FIV+ kitties and had suffered a bite wound that no one there was aware of until she examined him (he purred the entire time), so she had to schedule another retest a month later; at that time he retested positive once again.


Cats with strong immune systems can actually clear the infection from their bodies, but since there is no effective vaccine against it, he picked it up once again after three punctures wounds on his tail drove the virus into his bloodstream. So after spending a month at Crash’s, at the writing of his bio he has become a Sid’s Kid; in a month another test will be performed to see where he will take up permanent residence until he can find a home of his very own and stop shuffling around.


The interesting thing is that initially Levon was a tough nut to crack, as he wasn’t a happy camper given the fact that his bite wounds had to be tended to twice daily and were taking their time healing, but once he was moved over to Sid’s he was like a different cat! He hooked up with a few cats with whom he formed fast friendships and began to socialize, versus hanging out on the toddler beds or sitting on the windowsills by himself; though he was quite content to engage in those solo activities, we are thrilled that he has found his niche.

And he shall be a good cat…


There is more space at Sid’s but there is also a larger population, so we can’t help but chalk up his change in attitude—his finally showing everyone the softer side Dr. Jen was privy to while he was at the clinic—to the fact that his injuries didn’t require further medical attention. Levon also doesn’t have Hamish the Handful to contend with, a tabby that can be quite the terror when he is feeling sassy and saucy (which is most of the time, so he has settled in quite nicely and is no longer trying to become a big fish in a small pond.


Now that he has found his purr again, you get to hear it not just when we approach him, but when he hunkers down next to you. He isn’t fond of being picked up, nor is he one to actively seek out human attention that often, but if given to him he is now happily accepting and affectionate in return, versus trying to high-tail it on outta there. We have no doubt that the more time he spends with us simply getting to enjoy himself as a resident versus a patient, he will fall as in love with his human caretakers as we all have with him.


Levon is a good cat who deserves a home of his own, with good feline company, an older kid or two and perhaps even a mellow dog—and a little Elton John music thrown in there for good measure.

More about Levon:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair & Tabby Mix (Tiger-striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • FIV-positive
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Levon? 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: Rochester

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This handsome guy is ready for his forever 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).


In October of 2018, rescue phenom Sandi D. set her sights on a super shy guy who had been running around Ionia St. in downtown Grand Rapids since the spring. Ever elusive, it took a large carrier loaded with canned food and the quick reflexes of our fiery little redhead to trap him so that she could get him neutered; at that time it was clear he was far too weary of humans, so she released him in his neighborhood and kept feeding and looking after him.


By December he had grown much friendlier and was allowing her to pet him, so when he fell ill with an upper respiratory infection right around Christmas she told him he had no choice—he was going home with her. Antibiotics, a warm environment and as much TLC as he would allow helped Rochester recover fully. We have a strong feeling that this timid tabby and white guy had been living on the streets for most of his life (he was born in late 2015 we guesstimate), so it was quite a culture shock to now have a pint-sized servant who doted on him.


We welcomed him into our program at Crash’s on Jan. 7th, and since then, Rochester has been slowly acclimating to his new and improved indoor life. At the writing of his bio a month later, our impressions of him show a cat possessing a lot of promise, with patience and perseverance being paramount to his reaching his full potential.


He’s still extremely shy and doesn’t interact much with the other cats, but he loves people’s attention. He’s always up high looking down with those timid eyes until he sees someone climb the stepladder and then he’s all about some belly rubs. He’s curious about what is going on, but he’s still not quite ready to join the others.


He’d make a great buddy for older kids because he’s still a bit unsure and is working on having more courage. We don’t think he’d have any problem living with one other cat, but no dogs as he’s fearful of loud noises and commotion.


Although there are a lot of blanks about Rochester’s life that will never get filled in, one thing we do know for sure is that from here on out he is guaranteed to want for nothing in his life, will be surrounded by the most dedicated and caring individuals we know, and ultimately will find the home he was always meant to have.

More about Rochester:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair — Tabby (Tiger Striped), White
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without dogs or children

Want to adopt Rochester? 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: Moe

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals,

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 not kidding you when we say that mighty Moe is undeniably one of THE most beautiful cats we have, both inside and out, the total package of purr-fection! Born in the fall of 2015, this magnificent creature came to us via a Sheridan couple that befriended and took him in last October.


Although they were absolutely in love with him (who isn’t?!) when he tested positive for FIV they were concerned with the risk of infection to their four current cats and contacted a friend who volunteers with us; we agreed to admit this handsome fella into our furry fold at Big Sid’s without hesitation. At their home he was proving to be a bit of a handful, so we don’t blame them for seeking alternative placement, but once he padded his pretty little paws into our place, Moe was all about minding his manners, mingling and meshing with his new roomies (all 49 of them)!


The general opinion regarding our new addition is as follows: “Moe is a fantastic guy! He immediately made himself right at home in our shelter and has loved every single second with us. He’s a busy guy who always seems to be right in the middle of the action. He gets along great with the other cats, but he could definitely live as an only cat too. He would be excellent with children.”


“Moe is so sweet, and is just an all around happy cat. He loves to follow us around, and enjoys being scooped up and held. He gets along great with all his new friends. He would be perfect in a home with kids-he’s very playful, and has shown no signs of aggression whatsoever. He’s quickly become a volunteer favorite.”


This majestic creature has rendered us completely smitten, and we seriously doubt he is going to grace us with his phenomenal presence very long.

More about Moe:

  • Large
  • Domestic Medium Hair
  • Tabby (Brown/Chocolate, Tiger-striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • FIV-positive
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Moe? 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: Chococat

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals,

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).

When Dr. Jen first laid eyes on Chococat back in mid-November of 2018, she immediately noticed that the kitty was in desperate need of medical care. A volunteer had come across him a few weeks prior and made work of catching and getting him in to safety, but it was clear that this middle-aged man (best guess is that he was born sometime in 2012) had survived an extremely troubling existence prior to the kindness we were finally able to show him. Not only was he profoundly underweight and intact, he was suffering from significant dental disease involving his three remaining teeth (he now has none left) that caused a fistula to form in between his oral and nasal cavity; the smell was horrendous and we can’t even fathom the discomfort he had been in.


He was also beyond filthy, had ingrown/abscessed thumbnails and a nasty bilateral ear infection; to top things off he tested a very strong positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). And, due to the lack of care and compassion he was shown on the streets, poor Chococat was terrified of human contact. In fact, he was so painfully shy that as Dr. Jen treated his laundry list of ailments and tried to interact with him (while he recovered at the clinic), she decided it was in his best interest to be fostered by his rescuer until he could settle in a bit more. Clearly indoor life was completely foreign to him.

So the rescuer took the poor guy home and set him up in his own room, where she spent as much time as possible trying to get him used to the fact that the hands that were feeding him were gentle and generous. After almost two months, it was time to introduce him to the other cats and volunteers at Big Sid’s, as the only way he was going to come out of his cocoon is if we forced him ever so tenderly to do so.


Currently, Chococat still prefers to keep to himself. He is oftentimes found in the shadows, hunkered down where no one can see him, BUT recently we have caught glimpses of him out napping on one of our toddler beds during broad daylight!

Dr. Jen asked her cat care team to offer up their observations of his progress thus far and what they feel would be ideal for him:

“Chococat is still terribly shy and fearful of humans. Honestly, I’m not sure he will ever be a cat that enjoys interaction with people. However, he is getting more and more comfortable in the shelter every day and I think he is enjoying being inside. He is slowly learning not to be afraid of the other cats, but he still doesn’t like it when they get too close. Chococat’s ideal home will give him plenty of space for as long as he needs and his owners need to be okay with the possibility of him never willingly interacting with them. I would love to see him with at least a couple other cats that can teach him not to be so fearful of humans.”

“Chococat — I hope so badly that the right person comes along and sees his potential and that all he needs is lots of patience, understanding, and his own space. I honestly think he’d eventually see that being inside, having endless bowls of wet food, and having his very own trusted human is not so bad after all. Seeing him going from room to room is unbelievable compared to hiding backwards in a teepee scared of his own shadow. He’s finding out that we aren’t so bad, and in time I just know he will be hanging out with his friends more. He’s a very handsome guy with the softest Angora-like fur.

“I noticed just tonight that if you approach him and speak very quietly without touching him he will allow you to put his food down without hissing or swatting. It’s progress. I would love to see him on a home with one or two other cats. No dogs! The perfect human would be one that looks past his current disposition and is willing to be there daily with him to build up his trust.”

So there you have it: Chococat’s sordid history as we know it and the baby steps he is making towards a better life for himself. With our help, we are praying we can assist him in making slow and steady strides over time, because if anyone deserves all the best life has to offer, it is this toothless, timid soul. And since he has no choppers, there is absolutely no risk of him transmitting FIV to another cat, so we can hook him up with a buddy or two hopefully, as we firmly believe there is power and strength in numbers.

More about Chococat:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Medium Hair — Black & White/Tuxedo
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • FIV-positive
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Very timid; prefers a home without dogs or children

Want to adopt Chocacat? 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: Marcellus

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Hi, 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 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 certainly have a lot of gorgeous guys here at our sanctuary, but magnificent Marcellus (born in late 2015) is by far one of THE CUTEST cats around! We were fortunate enough to have been contacted by Dr. Paula Sauer from Schoolcraft Veterinary Clinic in December of 2018, when a client of hers brought this adorable stray cat that turned out to be FIV+. So she and her team took him in and gave him all of the necessary veterinary care (including neutering him) and contacted Dr. Jen to see if we perhaps had a space for this fantastic feline. On December 11th she drove him on up to the clinic, where he and Dr. Jen spent a few days getting to know each other.

Marcellus is an absolute doll, as darling as they come and as sweet as pie. More than likely he was the victim of unfortunate circumstance while he was out fending for himself and got bit by an infected cat; he is a faint positive for the virus. Although initially he was on the timid side, it didn’t take long for this magnificent specimen of a cat to find his brave side once down at Big Sid’s.

More about Marcellus:

  • Large
  • Medium coat length; Orange & white
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • FIV+
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without dogs, children

Want to adopt Marcellus? 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: Patrice

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , ,

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).

 

 Pretty as a picture and as quiet as mouse is how Patrice came to us in mid-November of 2018, after having been rescued off of Putnam St. SW in downtown Grand Rapids. Born in late 2016, this stunning but shy tabby and white girl was one of many homeless cats that had been taking advantage of a feral cat feeding station; although she would enjoy meal time on a regular basis, her timid nature kept her tucked away from the humans that tried diligently to live-trap her to get her off of the streets.

 

Finally, persistence paid off and she was rescued, fixed and sheltered in her rescuer’s home. After a little over two weeks of R and R with a multitude of critters affectionately called ‘The Barnyard’, Patrice was ready to come to see Dr. Jen at the clinic. Initially she tested a very faint FIV+, which was fine as the plan was to eventually house her at our sanctuary. As luck would have it when she came back in a month later for her retest, she had cleared the virus from her system. Although still a bashful beauty, we felt it was time that Patrice head on down to our place for more socialization and schmoozing with our cats and crew.

 

It took this darling little lady quite a bit of time to settle comfortably in her new surroundings, but the patient, gentle hands of our doting volunteers won her over. As she comes out of her shell more and more, we get to see a sweet side of her that relishes attention; she won’t actively seek it out, but if you approach her while she is napping peacefully in her favorite teepee, she is all about head scratches and pets. In fact, once you start stroking her fur, she can’t get enough and practically begs you not to stop.

Patrice also likes to laze the day away in the comfort of a cozy cubby, where she can observe all of the activity and partake in the more mellow activities as she pleases. She really doesn’t seem to mind the other kitties, but it isn’t necessary she be placed into a home with another cat. We do know that small, rambunctious children would frighten her, so if a family with older, calmer kids falls in love with her, we feel that type of dynamic would better suit her needs. As long as her space is granted and respected and she isn’t forced to become a lap cat (that is going to take time and trust), she and her new family members will get along famously well; she simply needs time to feel safe, secure, accepted and adored for who she is.

More about Patrice:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without children

Want to adopt Patrice? 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: Juanita

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Meet gorgeous Juanita!

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)


On Sept. 17, 2018, a super nice gal on the northwest side of Grand Rapids contacted Dr. Jen for help in placing a kitty she had rescued a week prior that turned up Feline Leukemia-positive. Although the rescuer was totally in love with the beautiful and bubbly teenager (born in February of 2018), she wasn’t comfortable adding a cat with this virus into her furry household; FELV+ can be transmitted through saliva (grooming, shared dishes) and blood (fighting), so unless a resident cat is fully vaccinated against the virus, it isn’t smart to intermingle the two.


Dr. Jen was more than thrilled to open our sanctuary doors to this little lass, and thankfully she did at that point in time as Juanita was terribly anemic; both antibiotics and steroids were started for a blood parasite that is common in stray cats who have either been flea infested or are immuno-compromised


Ten days later, Dr. Jen’s treatment was deemed a smashing success, and she was able to spay kitty, but another 10 days after that, Juanita came down with a highly transmissible respiratory infection (calicivirus) and was quarantined until her oral ulcers healed—poor girl could not catch a break! But no worries, as jovial Juanita is a sturdy, saucy kitty who is bound and determined to take what comes her way and kick it to the curb.


Ten days later, Dr. Jen’s treatment was deemed a smashing success, and she was able to spay kitty, but another 10 days after that, Juanita came down with a highly transmissible respiratory infection (calicivirus) and was quarantined until her oral ulcers healed—poor girl could not catch a break! But no worries, as jovial Juanita is a sturdy, saucy kitty who is bound and determined to take what comes her way and kick it to the curb.


Ten days later, Dr. Jen’s treatment was deemed a smashing success, and she was able to spay kitty, but another 10 days after that, Juanita came down with a highly transmissible respiratory infection (calicivirus) and was quarantined until her oral ulcers healed—poor girl could not catch a break! But no worries, as jovial Juanita is a sturdy, saucy kitty who is bound and determined to take what comes her way and kick it to the curb.

Since her arrival at Big Sid’s, it is safe to say that she has taken the place by storm, and that everyone (human and feline) is quite enamored by her:

“Juanita — what a little doll! She is such an outgoing little girl. She quickly made friends with just about everyone, and she and Eros have been seen chasing each other around the last few days, that is when she isn’t snuggled up napping with Gordo. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her pint-sized body. She loves to hang out up high on her favorite cat walk either looking down at everything going on when she isn’t directly involved in the activity.”

“If anyone is looking for a playful kitten-like cat, she would be perfect. She will require LOTS of feather toys as they are her absolute favorite.”


In all honesty, Juanita would be just about the perfect cat companion if it weren’t for the darned virus that could hold back her chances of being adopted. Cats with FELV can and often do live healthy, happy lives, and we have known dozens upon dozens over the years who have thrived, living well into late adulthood, so her viral status isn’t an immediate threat. Yes, certain living circumstances are required to house cats like Juanita, and education is key to understanding what the virus is all about and what to watch for as she ages, but she and all of our resident Sid’s Kids are some of the most loving, agreeable and affectionate cats around, and each of them deserves to end up in a home of their very own.


We know for a fact that Little Miss Sunshine here is going to add so much joy to her adopter’s life because she is simply so easy to fall hopelessly in love with and a hoot to engage, interact and play with!

More about Juanita:

  • Small
  • Domestic Short Hair, Black
  • Young
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • FELV+
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Juanita? 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: Leonard Purrstein

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The kid is a hard worker

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).

When Dr. Jen first laid eyes on the strikingly stunning Leonard, she was impressed with how composed and sure of himself he was considering we were the third facility he had been in since June of 2018. Initially, he was transferred from Calhoun County to Focus on Ferals where it was discovered that he was FIV+. Having a bigger heart than space for these viral-bound cats, Gina committed to keeping him in her program with the hopes that someday soon there would be an opening for him at our sanctuary; luckily for them both, we were able to open our doors to the debonair Leonard Purrnstein in early August.

This muscular, 14-lb. lug (born in early 2014) was hungry for affection and couldn’t wait to repay our attention in kind with head butts and cuddle sessions. We’ve discovered that his favorite thing in the whole, wide world is wet food, wet food and more wet food—even more than people! In fact, he has become our little garbage disposal, cleaning up every single plate and bowl that the others leave behind. When he isn’t hanging out in the food prep area in our free-roaming shelter begging for handouts, he can be found snoozing away high upon a cat tree as, after all, a food coma is secondary to a full tummy.

Leonard really doesn’t care for the other cats, and at times he gets a bit too big for his britches and causes commotion, but he is surrounded by 49 other cats, so who can blame him. However, he has also has shown us his mellow, softer side so we feel that placing him in a home with a laid-back cat would be acceptable to him. Since FIV+ is transmitted through bite wounds, it is no wonder that being in close quarters with so many of the feline kind gets him a bit rattled, but food is an easy way to diffuse any tense situation with him.

Hopefully, he won’t leave our place much heavier than he arrived, but we figure he deserves a little spoiling given all that it took to get him here to us! We feel he would thrive in a home with kids and lots of things to climb; he may be part monkey, as the higher up he can get the happier he is. Overall, we adore Leonard, are enthralled by his intense good looks, and are thoroughly enjoying having him as an official Sid’s Kid until we find him his fur-ever home.

More about Leonard Purrnstein:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Short-haired Tabby (Tiger-striped), White
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Leonard Purrnstein? 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: Grey Catsby

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By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Meet Mr. Grey Catsby

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 felt it best in this case to relay the story of who this fine fella is and how he came to be in his guardian angel’s own words, as Grey Catsby (born in August of 2013) came to us under different circumstances and under the assumption that he was feline leukemia-positive (he retested negative several times). Here is his story in Augusta’s words:

“Grey is a big boy, but he’s not overweight and doesn’t overeat, he is just big-boned at 16 pounds. He’d make a great companion as he is pretty chill, but he would prefer to be the only cat in the place. His brother must have harassed him quite a bit as he wouldn’t eat or have a treat for a long time until he’d made sure no other critter was around.

“He’s smart and trainable, a big fan of Greenies, catnip, chicken and Lickables, though he isn’t a huge fan of canned food. He has excellent litter box manners and likes cuddles with people he bonds with, which I think he would do fairly easy with anyone who is consistent, gives him lotsa crunchy treats for basic good behavior, and only uses a loud or stern voice when he is doing something wrong (that doesn’t happen very often). He will be quite shy at first as he has been through a lot, and I don’t believe he had ever had a treat or toy in his life before I got him; he is just starting to get what toys are and feel safe enough to play.

“Until he has bonded with you, he won’t like you messing with the top of his head; he is OK with petting. but toys that are catapulted over his head or sudden, unexpected movements can freak him out. Honestly, I’ve worked with a ton of cats and this dude is really sweet. In the morning, he will wait for me to get my coffee and when I sit down with it, he will come over, look me in the eye and gently tap my arm with his right paw to ask for some cuddles; it is as if he has missed me while I was sleeping (even though he slept with me on the bed all night).

“I believe that feeling safe and secure is something he hadn’t much of, and that is probably as much to do with his nature as a nurturer. He becomes much more worried when there is a man and a woman in the house, though two woman are fine; add a man to the mix and he gets a bit skittish. He witnessed a great deal of verbal and some physical abuse in his former home, so he will just need consistency and kindness to allow him to start shining again.

“I can say with certainty that he now has the basic, but perhaps fragile, trust in believing in humans, and is learning that they can do right by him. In spite of his upbringing, he is not a lot of work, he’s cuddly without being clingy, and he’s getting happier by the day.”

Once you know his background, you can understand his demeanor with us since his arrival, and you are instantly SO PROUD of how far he has come in such a short period of time: Grey Catsby had a hard time adjusting to the hustle and bustle of shelter life but is doing much better. He still spends most of his time observing the action from the top of the catwalk, but if you call him, he will come down for pets. He will make an excellent cat for a family once he warms up to his new home. He could live with or without other cats. He is the perfect gentleman, and also very handsome.   

Grey Catsby likes people but isn’t crazy about being the center of attention. Once he comes down from the catwalk, though, he enjoys being near you — although he’s a bit shy at first. Anyone looking for a cat that has his quiet mannerisms will be very lucky. He may need a little extra time adjusting to new surroundings but would do just fine in no time. 

When Grey was sick with calicivirus, he got extra one-on-one attention, and we think that helped him be more comfortable with us (strange as that may sound). He would be perfect for any home with older kids, another cat, or a small dog.

Well, there ya have it folks, Grey Catsby in a nutshell. We are thoroughly enjoying watching him become brave and more self-assured every single day that he is with us. Augusta did a fantastic job laying the groundwork and Grey is coming in to his own with purpose and grace.

More about Grey Catsby:

  • Extra-large
  • Domestic Short-hair, Gray & White
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without dogs

Want to adopt Grey Catsby? 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.

Some of the biggest stories of 2018 for Wyoming and Kentwood

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The top 2018 story was the widening of 56th Street which included a new traffic signal at 56th Street and Ivanrest Avenue. (WKTV)

Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org


Another year is coming to a close. But before the calendar flips to 2019, we thought it would be fun to go down memory lane and take a look at some of the most popular WKTV stories of 2018.

In compiling this list, I took a look at both page views on a story, which indicates the number of people who clicked on the article, and also social media statistics. The result is a mix of both most read and shared articles from the WKTV website.

Leading the pack on both was the Widening project on 56th Street set to start around July 9. It certainly had an impact on the community, since it is a direct route to the RiverTown Crossings mall. The project, which included widening 56th Street to three lanes and adding a traffic signal to the intersection of 56th Street and Ivanrest Avenue, was completed on time and opened before the holiday season even started.

TwoGuys Brewery was another popular story coming out of Wyoming. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

The City of Wyoming snagged quite a few of the top stories as the next was On Tap: Wyoming’s new TwoGuys Brewing plans to be community catalyst. If you love beer, then you will be thrilled to know that there are more breweries scheduled to open in the area. In Kentwood, Brewery Vivant is looking to expand its operations to the city and and a brewery co-op is also set to open soon. Also, in Byron Center, they are working quickly on the Railbird Brewery.

Other top Wyoming stories:

Balancing public use, open-space, Wyoming City Council approves new Gezon Park master plan

Wyoming’s spring carnival set to open this Friday

Wyoming Gives Back in big way

Walkability, healthier lifestyles focus of new development at Metro Health Village

The Kentwood summer concert series were popular stories in 2018 including the one Big Dudee Roo. (Facebook)

The City of Kentwood also had a few top stories such as City of Kentwood to open brush drop-off site as part of community clean-up and of course, everybody is always looking forward to the city’s Fourth of July activities along with the summer concert series. Speaking of activities, people must love their ugly Christmas sweaters, because a couple of other top Kentwood stories were all about the Ugly Sweater 5K, Kentwood holiday season to start with disc golf tournament, Ugly Sweater 5k, and Kentwood’s holiday season (only) started with its Ugly Sweater 5K.

Other top Kentwood stories for 2018 were: 

Kentwood to improve community access, tries new city hall hours starting Nov. 12

Kentwood’s annual Fall Festival’s Trunk or Treat brought the family fun to community 

Crane Wives return home for gig at Kentwood Summer Concert Series 

Big Dudee Too brings ‘raw energy’ to Kentwood summer concerts series July 12

Other local stories

It is apparent that our readers love shopping local since LocalFirst offers online business directory focused on businesses right in the neighborhood was in the top ten. For Kent County, residents were focused on mental health with Responding to funding shortfall, Kent County’s mental health provider begins cuts, service reviews being one of our top stories.

From our contributors

We enjoy working with many individuals and groups who bring us stories on a variety of topics. Alan Headbloom is one of those contributors who tapes his show “Feel Like You Belong.” The show focuses on the “real stories about the real people we call migrants.” These stories cover a gamut of people who have been seasonal workers picking produce to those who have made the United States their home. One story is from Nkechy Ezeh, an award-winning educator who developed the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, and another is from refugee survivor and mentor Metta Anongdeth.

The story by Dave Thompson on the statute of former astronaut Roger B. Chaffee was among our tops stories for 2018. (NASA)

Filmmaker Daniel Deal has been working with WKTV to produce a documentary about former astronaut Roger B. Chaffee, whose parents lived in the City of Wyoming. The project lead to a statute dedicated to the astronaut earlier this year. Community contributor Dave Thompson wrote the story, Statute of former astronaut Chaffee to be unveiled this Saturday.

Curator for the Jim Crow Museum shows some of the 135 photographs by David Levinthal donated to the museum in 2018 (Ferris State University)

A little known secret is that Ferris State University houses one of the largest collection of racist memorabilia in the world at the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. In 2018, the museum received an artwork donation valued at more than $2 million with Ferris State University sharing the story with us in Jim Crow Museum of Racists memorabilia receives artwork donation valued at $2 million.

We also partnered with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Michigan to help bring awareness to this rare neurological disease.

The Grand Rapids Chorus of the Sweet Adelines was our top 2018 entertainment story.

That’s Entertainment

Entertainment stories are always popular throughout the year. This year, the Grand Rapids Chorus of the Sweet Adelines made the headlines with its regional win last May with people clamoring to see the group at its holiday concert. We’ll be checking back with the Sweet Adleines throughout 2019 as they prepare to head to the international competition in September. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s annual holiday music festival was a big hit especially since it featured several local high school groups and residents followed the success of a local group in the story GR’s own Super Future ready for big day at local Breakaway EDM festival.


Readers also enjoyed the ghost stories of the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters, who are planning to be back in 2019 with a few more tales to tell. 

Everyone loves a good holiday story and the return of the fully-restored Herpolsheimer’s Santa Rocket Express train to the Grand Rapids Public Museum resonated with many people along with the heartwarming story from another community contributor, Santa visits NICU babies.

Jennifer Lewis won the write in vote for the Wyoming Public Schools.

News from our schools

Elections were hard fought battles this year across the country. Locally, everyone waited to learn the results of the Wyoming Public Schools election which were finally released at the end of November: Wyoming Public Schools election results are in: Jirous, Lewis named new board members. Also Godfrey-Lee Public Schools continued community work, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools continues its community Executive Council meetings, also made our list.

Ready for some sports?

Brandon Kimble was named the new head football coach for Godwin Heights.

Out sports coverage kicked off bigger this year with live coverage of games and stories on local teams. Starting it all off was the New Godwin Heights football coach talks football, mentoring. All the area teams worked hard toward playoff goals:

Tri-unity rides arm, legs of senior QB to opening-round playoff win

Wyoming Lee football seniors will try to end high school careers on high note

Kelloggsville in playoff mode as Rockets face critical Friday night game

East Kentwood’s Falcons did make it to the playoffs, falling to Saline in the second round.

Jack, the therapy cat, was a huge hit with residents at Wyoming’s Vista Springs as well as the community at large.

Cat Tales

Managing Editor Victoria Mullen received a call inquiring if we would be interested in meeting Jack the Therapy cat (Jack, the therapy cat, puts a spark in the spirt). The story of Jack and his visits to Wyoming’s Vista Springs captured the hearts of many leading Jack and his owner Lynn Hopkins to win a $25,000 grant from Petco for Crash’s Landing (Therapy cat’s adoption story beats odds, hits jackpot).


In fact many of the Crash’s Landings’ cat features are popular with our social media groups. So we wanted to end 2018 on a happy note with the announcement that two of the top cats featured on the WKTV Journal, Smudgee and Otter, found their “fur”-ever homes.


Cat of the week: Karlie

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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).


Courageous Karlie’s story is nothing short of amazing—and quite unique in the fact that she came back to us in October of 2018 after having been lost for over 3 years!


Our gorgeous girl (born in January of 2012) initially came to us in early 2015 and had only spent 2 months at Crash’s before a wonderful gal adopted her and another of our kitties. Sadly, only a few months after her arrival into her new home she somehow got outside, and no matter how hard her new mom looked for her for months on end, Karlie was simply nowhere to be found.


Many of our volunteers offered their support in staking out the neighborhood, but as time wore on, our hopes were dashed and the thought of her returning to a home she was just getting comfortable in seemed improbable. To top things off, her owners ended up moving within the year, so even if our buxom beauty had tried to return to the house she darted from, there would have been no familiar faces waiting for her there. It was a heartbreaking situation.

Fast forward to a chilly autumn day when Dr. Jen received a call from the Kent County Animal Shelter stating that a kitty with a microchip registered to us had been brought in; when she was told WHO it was, she could hardly believe it as so much time had passed! Dr. Jen was extremely surprised when she went to retrieve Karlie that she was still pleasantly plump, leading the good doctor to believe that someone had been caring for this kitty—and quite well at that.


Given Karlie’s shy nature, we suspect that she may have been leery of strangers, but a food bowl—now that was an entirely different story! Regardless of where she was for the past three years, she was found just a few short blocks away from her home, which in itself is quite astounding; wherever she hunkered down proved to be a safe hiding spot as signs posted in the neighborhood and door-to-door canvasing were unrewarded efforts. 

Once back in our care, Karlie turned out to be pretty darn healthy, although she needed a fractured tooth pulled and unfortunately turned up positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), meaning that somewhere along the line she was bitten by an infected cat harboring the virus. Since this sweet girl hasn’t a mean bone in her bodacious body, there is minimal risk of her transmitting it to another cat as she prefers to spend most of her time now posing for photo ops and lounging in laps; she is definitely making up for lost time!

It took Karlie a bit to acclimate and come out of her shell at our sanctuary (who can blame her for that?), but once she began to trust us, she became the biggest snuggle-bug! In fact, she adores her cat-checker so very much she begs to be carried around for hours while Amelie works—or tries to with a 13# cat in her arms. She has found comfort not only in the embrace of her caretakers but also in the company of her fellow felines, so we’d love to find her a fur-ever home with another kitty to cuddle up to.


Karlie is the epitome of a lazy, lovable lap cat but given her history, we need to be sure we place her in an environment that is not too hectic and will allow her to adjust at her own pace. If you have a heart that is open wide and arms that are longing to hold a creature that will treasure you for the rest of her days, Karlie is THE cat for you! And we have it on good authority that Karlie’s wandering days are over—she promises to stay put!

More about Karlie:

  • Extra large
  • Torbie, White
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • FIV+
  • Spayed
  • Declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats

Want to adopt Karlie? 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: Eros

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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).

Dr. Jen absolutely fell head over heels in love with this engaging and extremely charming FIV+ fella the minute she laid eyes on him, but once she picked him up and nuzzled him close, she was even more smitten! And when it came time to name this fantastic fella (born in October of 2016), she really didn’t have to do much research, as the white heart on his chest and the way he stole hers instantaneously led her to Eros, the Greek god of love.

Even though Eros was quite banged up upon arrival, bearing scars and scabs left over from his days of fighting and fending for himself, Dr. Jen found him to be a breathtaking beauty, with that adorable white locket and ivory tufts of fur between each and every toe! How could one cat be so darned handsome?!

Once at our sanctuary Eros proved to be a boisterous, busy boy who only stopped moving when a bowl of canned food came into sight. Although he was a bit timid around his caretakers at first (we think he was a bit overwhelmed by being indoors and not having to do anything to earn his keep), he took to chumming around with some of the more outgoing guys at Big Sid’s which ultimately helped him gain confidence. In fact, at the writing of this bio two months after his arrival, we can tell you that Eros has become a bit big for his britches and has needed a time out on more than one occasion.

Now that he knows he can play with the others and sometimes get them riled up with his rambunctious behavior, we have to monitor his activity— he can be quite the little instigator. Eros reminds us of that pesky little brother who delights in ruffling the feathers of his siblings simply to watch the reaction it causes; he is a little stinker sometimes but we sure do enjoy him!


We would like to find Eros a home with another FIV+ cat if possible, one that will rough-and-tumble with him when he gets things going. As far as the type of human companionship we feel he is best suited for, we can see him becoming best buds with youngsters in a household as his energy level will certainly rival theirs! Considering that this gorgeous guy is typically in perpetual motion a busy, bustling household beckons him! Come meet our enthusiastic Eros for yourself and fall in love with this social butterfly!

More about Eros:

  • Medium
  • Black
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • FIV+
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Eros? 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: Viggo

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Meet Sir Viggo, a most debonair gentleman

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).

 

Former volunteer and ‘Queen of the Stray Cats’, Rochelle M. live-trapped this striking stud-muffin who had been hanging around her Cutlerville home in mid-September, 2018. Her intention was to take #130 to CSNIP for neutering and then release him back outdoors as he kept company with members of her feral colony, but when he proved to her just how affectionate and friendly he was and was sporting some pretty nasty cat fight wounds, she contacted Dr. Jen for help.

 

It wasn’t a surprise that this stunning black and gray smoky fella (born around March of 2016) turned up positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) given the fact he was intact and a scrapper, but it was quite shocking as to the sheer number of fleas he had infesting his battered and bedraggled body; how he avoided becoming anemic was beyond comprehension, but thankfully his issues were only skin deep and healed up wonderfully well.

 

Our shelter and cat care managers have some pretty good insight as to what makes our silver fox Viggo tick: “This drop-dead gorgeous guy has come a long way since we took him in. He was a bit of a spitfire and would pick on any cat that walked past him but is doing much better now — and was even snuggling with Sia recently. He’s really started to show his cute personality by following volunteers around looking for the attention he deserves”

 

“Once in awhile he lets out a meow and I’ll pick him up and he just sits there in my arms looking up at me. He loves to nap A LOT! I think he is so fond of snoozing because he has relaxed so much since he has been with us, finally safe and able to sleep soundly.”

 

And of course we can’t overlook the obvious: he has the coolest markings and fur that you can’t help but run your fingers through, with those silver undertones that rival that of his namesake. He’d do best in a home with a companion, as we feel he would be utterly amazing with kids and probably a dog too; Viggo probably could cohabitate harmoniously with the right type of cat as well (non-confrontational, mellow and a snuggler so that no biting occurs that could transmit the virus), and most certainly would thrive in a home overflowing with humans.

 

So as you can clearly see, this debonair and dashing feline specimen really is the complete picture: affectionate, outgoing, people-oriented and overall just a gregarious guy looking for a place to call his very own. And after all that he went through to land with us, Viggo most definitely deserves it.

More about Viggo:

  • Large
  • Black, Gray/Blue/Silver, Smoke
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Viggo? 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: Stavros

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

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).

 

It’s goes without saying that scruffy little Stavros had seen his fair share of tough times before he was picked up on south campus of Davenport College in mid-August 2018. His rescuer took him in and housed him, making sure he had his basic needs met (food, water, shelter) but he still had a long way to go in filling out his bony frame (he was starving when found); he also needed to be neutered and was in dire need of a spa day.

 

When he was taken in to a local vet a week prior to coming to us, it was discovered that he was FIV+, which made long-term housing even more challenging. So the dynamic duo of Lynnette and Sue asked for our assistance, and on October 8th Dr. Jen was able to bring this stinky, skunky (yet adorable), filthy, matted and formerly flea-ridden fellow into our program, but first he had to make a long overdue pit stop at the clinic. While there Dr. Jen not only (nicely) took away his manhood but combed an entire cat’s worth of hair off of him, treated a nasty ear infection and extracted some problematic teeth.

 

Once he was bathed and beautified, stunning Stavros (born around October of 2013) was ready to head on down to Sid’s to receive lots of hands on attention, something he had clearly been missing for quite some time.

 

Since Dr. Jen only got to spend a bit of time with him at the clinic upon intake, and then again for his follow-up a month later, she asked my cat care people for some insight on our ever evolving Stavros:

 

“He is becoming a really sweet boy. He was so scared for the first couple weeks he was with us, but now he purrs and happy drools. He still spends all of his time up on the cat walk, but he will let you know when he wants attention. He seems to get confidence from being around the other cats, so he should go to a home that has at least one other cat. He does get a little nervous at times, so it is probably best he live without obnoxious dogs or young kids.”

 

“Stavros—I love this cat!! He has a secret… he LOVES one-on-one attention as long as you have the brush or comb in hand; he drools, coos, and shakes when he’s being brushed which cracks me right up. He’s always got that concerned/ puzzled look on his face which I think some perceive as “not friendly”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s a quieter, keep to himself kind of cat until you set him down either on your lap or next to you and start brushing his super fuzzy soft hair. Everything about him is just adorable to me. He’s not real crazy about a lot of the other cats near him, but has not once shown any aggression towards them. He’d do well in a quieter home with lots and lots of attention. No dogs, but possibly another non-dominant cat.”

 

We also have it on good authority that someone has a finger fetish—to the point where he will slobber and nibble on your fingertips, so you have to watch out as when he gets a bit over-enthusiastic he can’t help but give a love chomp! There exists a video of him enjoying grooming himself so exuberantly that the slurping sounds he elicited almost made the videographer gag a bit.

 

We figure that he spent so much time dirty and dread-locked that now he can finally keep him self shiny and clean he is going to make the most of it—and make sure everyone knows what he is doing! In the short time we have had him, Stavros has come such a long way, and we can’t wait to see what he has in store for us.

More about Stavros:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Medium Hair & Domestic Short Hair Mix
  • Gray/Blue/Silver, White
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without dogs, children

Want to adopt Stavros? 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: Otter

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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).

 

On October 13, 2018, Dr. Jen received this very heartfelt request: “I’ve been trying to avoid writing this email for a long time. I adopted Otter in 2009 and he’s been my best friend from Day 1. My partner and I have been living separately for the past 5 years due to his severe allergic reaction to my cat, but we’ve reached the point where we’d like to start our lives together. I have tried everything to place Otter into a home I trust but nearly everyone in my life has multiple pets and the inability to take on another. I am hoping that, even after all of this time, Otter still can have a place at Crash’s. He means the world to me and I can’t consider him going somewhere his life might be at risk. Please let me know if this is still an option. I’m heartbroken and just need to know he will be safe and loved.

 

“He’s lived the past 3 years with two rescue pit bulls, as part of the gang we affectionately call ‘Two Pitties & a Kitty’. He’s a little instigator who loved to get the pups to chase and play with him, especially taking on the laser pointer together. Otter has been through probably half a dozen moves with me and has handled change like a champ, always making himself instantly comfortable. His favorite pastimes are sleeping on the windowsill in the sun, chirping at the birds or any other wildlife he can see, and snuggling on your chest while purring in your face (his purr motor never shuts off). He loves catnip probably too much (we have had talks about it). Otter has been my one constant through so much change over the last near decade—he is part of my heart and soul.”

 

Every time we read this, we get choked up; to love someone so much and have to let them go is one of the most difficult decisions to have to make. We strive for our motto to be ‘once a Crash cat, always a Crash cat’, so there was no question about it—Otter was of course welcomed back into our furry fold. Since he is a senior citizen (born in August of 2008) and had been away from us for such a long time, Dr. Jen was a bit concerned that his world would be turned upside-down, but literally within minutes he was trucking around the place, finding himself a great vantage point on a perch and surveying his surroundings (this was of course after our grand reunion at the clinic where Dr. Jen got to personally greet him and get some long overdue lovin’ ).

 

He is such a sweet, gentle cat who more often than not can be seen being carried around in the arms of a volunteer, obviously enjoying every second of hands-on time with his new BFF’s. He is going to thrive in a home where he can be showered with attention, both human and canine-kind; you can even throw a cat or two in the mix and all will be right with Otter’s world once again.

 

He really is the perfect cat, and if you haven’t heard, 10 is the new 5, so age certainly isn’t a factor in considering Otter as your lifelong kitty companion; a full work-up at the clinic deemed him healthy after several teeth were extracted, with sensational lab work to boast about as well. As you can see from how his mom gushed about him and by how smitten our volunteers are with him already, this great guy here really is exactly the type of cat that will seamlessly transition into any happy household and add so much joy to it as well, so don’t let a cat as magnificent as Otter pass you by!

More about Otter:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Tabby (brown/chocolate, tiger-striped, white)
  • Senior
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, dogs, children

Want to adopt Otter? 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.

 

Therapy cat’s adoption story beats odds, hits jackpot

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By Victoria Mullen, WKTV

victoria@wktv.org

 

Lynn Hopkins’s bond with her rescue cat, Jack B. Nimble, is rewarding on myriad levels. Besides the close companionship the two enjoy, Hopkins and Jack share their time with seniors in assisted living environments, as well as students who are in dire need of de-stressing before exams.

 

And then, there is the little matter of a certain, er, jackpot that recently paid off big-time, thanks to Petco Foundation and Hopkins’s unwavering faith in Jack. Each year, Petco invites people across the U.S. to share the story of how their adopted pet changed their lives during Petco’s annual Holiday Wishes campaign, giving the organization that they adopted from a chance to receive a grant award.

 

Hopkins knows a sure bet when she sees it. First, she spotted Jack at Crash’s Landing a few years ago and couldn’t resist adopting him. Second, she identified in Jack certain personality traits that catapulted him into the pet therapy field. Third, this past fall, she came across Petco Foundation’s application for the Holiday Wishes campaign and knew Jack had a winning story.

 

“Petco’s application said they would only guarantee full review of the ‘first 10,000’ entries so it was pretty long odds,” said Hopkins. “The application materials said the winners would be announced in November, so the first week of November, I checked the website and found out the winners were being announced on the 16th. I didn’t tell anybody when the announcement was scheduled in case we didn’t win anything.”

 

But when it came time for the live video feed on Petco’s website, you can bet Hopkins was glued to the screen.

 

Photo courtesy Lynn Hopkins

“Other than the first prize, they did not announce the winners in any particular order,” she said. “Out of more than 10,000 entries, there were 51 winners. They were like 3/4 of the way through before our prize was announced and I was losing hope, then the picture of me with Jack in his stroller popped up and then the grant amount—$25,000. I was totally thrilled—I had fantasies about winning a big grant but didn’t really expect it.”

 

Next, it was time to share the great news with Dr. Jen Denyes, veterinarian and founder of Crash’s Landing. The timing couldn’t have been better—the organization’s annual fundraiser, Whiskers and Wine Gala, took place Nov. 17th, and this was an exceptionally welcome announcement.

 

“When I learned of the award, I was rendered temporarily speechless, and that never happens to me,” said Denyes.

 

Depending on the grant’s restrictions and requirements, the funds could go toward renovating the organization’s kitchen, a long-overdue project. The kitchen is central to the organization; it’s a hub of activity, where food is prepped, dishes washed, sundries stored, and litter boxes cleaned.

 

Keeping Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary humming along good and strong—and the cats healthy, safe, and well-fed—requires a budget of $14,500 per month. And that just covers the basics, such as rent, utilities, medical expenses, food (wet and dry), litter, and cleaning supplies (including paper towels, cleansers, and detergent). The organization relies on donations; monthly cat sponsorships; grants; and its largest fundraiser, Whiskers & Wine, to remain open.

 

Once the Petco funds are disbursed to Crash’s Landing on Dec. 18th, Denyes will know better how the money will be spent.

 

You may remember Jack’s story published here on wktvjournal.org this past September (Jack, the therapy cat puts a spark in the spirit). As we accompanied Hopkins and Jack on their rounds, it was clear that the bond between feline and human was strong.

 

So, the short version of the backstory: Jack B. Nimble is a shelter rescue who grew up to be a therapy cat.

 

“Jack’s visits bring joy to seniors and hospice patients who have had to give up pets they can no longer care for,” Hopkins wrote on the Petco application.

 

“Patients who barely respond to the people around them will respond to Jack, drawing comfort from his snuggles and purrs. Faces light up when they see him, and agitated patients become calmer while petting him. Many of the nursing home residents look forward to Jack’s visits all week. And he has given me a new purpose and mission now that I’m retired. I never would have volunteered with the Hospice program or visited the nursing homes on my own, but I cherish the opportunities I have now to share Jack with people who take so much comfort from his presence.”

 

Hopkins and Jack also participate in end-of-semester student de-stress days at a local college. The college provides activities to give students some relief from the stress of upcoming final exams, including bringing in several therapy dogs for the students to interact with—and as of last year, one very special therapy cat for students to pet and hold.

 

Crash’s Landing welcomes donations in the form of sponsorships, food, and cash. Go here to learn how to donate.

 

To learn more about Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary, go here.

 

 

Cat of the week: Aoili

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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).

 

What are the chances that this saucy, spicy kitty that is unable to hear would be discovered and ultimately rescued by an interpreter for the deaf? We couldn’t believe it either, but when former volunteer Kathy relayed the story of how this two-year-old (born around October of 2016) came to be, we were convinced more than ever that fate plays a huge part in our everyday lives.

 

This wispy little waif was literally starving out in Sandy Pines, taking up residence outside of a pizza joint and running after golf carts in hopes of scoring dinner; after spending far too many days chasing after humans for handouts that never came, and countless cold nights huddled in the rain in hopes of someone taking her in, she was literally begging for a second chance. So kindhearted Kathy took it upon herself to insure kitty had a safe place to go (Crash’s) and armed with cat food and a carrier, headed out to find, feed and cart this hungry kitty off to warmth and safety—and all before an early morning work meeting on Oct. 1, 2018.

 

Thankfully, adorable, outgoing Aoili had already been spayed before she was carelessly tossed out like the trash, but she was still quite defenseless given the fact she wouldn’t be able to hear danger presenting itself until it could have been far too late. She was filthy, flea-ridden and later developed an ear infection and nasty respiratory virus that caused oral ulceration and a high fever—as if the poor girl hadn’t been through enough already.

 

However, true to her spunky nature, she rebounded with ease and put much-needed weight back on her undernourished frame. Those first few days at Crash’s were spent filling her belly, sleeping and getting acclimated to her new surroundings, all the while letting her roomies and caretakers get to know what an independent and incredibly intriguing girl she is; suffice it to say she certainly made her presence known!

 

While she’s not one to physically pick a fight, she sure is one to let out a heck of a growl to let the other kitties know her personal space is important to her. It is safe to assume that because she’s deaf, she easily gets overwhelmed with all the other cats, and tends to be a bit hissy. She’s getting better about being picked up, gets excited when she smells treats or sees the food tray coming, and could spend all day on the window ledge watching the birds and squirrels. She really is an adorable, gorgeous girl with her baby blues and snow-white fur, but she would definitely need a home that understands she is special needs and will need some time adjusting to everything in her new environment that she can only see and smell.

 

Aioli can run very hot and cold: she can be incredibly sweet when it pleases her, but when she’s done with snuggles and loving she isn’t afraid to slap you. She also gets irritated if she is woken up suddenly as she can’t hear you coming, so it simply scares her. She prefers the other cats to keep their distance but is fine with them if they respect the spatial boundaries she has set up for herself. She would do best in a home without young kids since she does spook easily.

 

We would love to see her in a place where she could spend the afternoons dozing in the sun, then have her humans come home to spoil her with tasty little tidbits, a few pets here and there and some comfy couch time.

 

Aioli is going to be a bit more challenging to adopt out given her attitude, but it is her tenacity and take-charge demeanor that got her noticed in the first place, so we don’t fault her for being a bit demanding. Considering everything she has been through and how hard she fought to get to where she is today, everyone who meets her is instantly in awe of her survival instincts and enamored by her charm and beauty. We sure do love our saucy, sassy spitfire—and you will, too!

More about Aoili :

  • Medium
  • Domestic short hair
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Special needs: deaf, spooks easily
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without children

Want to adopt Aoili? 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: Asha

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

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 early September 2018, Caledonia resident Amanda T. came across this lovely young lady (born in early October of 2017) roaming around her property. She and her husband considered giving her a permanent home as she was exceptionally friendly and affectionate but weren’t quite sure what their resident cat would think. So they took Asha into their vet to get her checked out a few weeks later and discovered, much to their dismay, that she tested positive for Feline Leukemia. Since the virus is transmitted through the sharing of bodily fluids like saliva, they didn’t want to risk their kitty contracting it.

 

After contacting Dr. Jen and explaining the situation, the good doctor offered to take the darling girl they named Asha into our program at Big Sid’s, our sanctuary for kitties with FELV and FIV. Her name means ‘hope’, which we thought was very appropriate.

 

After spaying her (Amanda had gotten her set with deworming and vaccines prior to her arrival), Dr. Jen sent adorable little Asha on down to meet the rest of her roommates, and after a few days of rest and recovery, she dove right into the thick of things. She adores being smack dab in the middle of the action as she is young, vibrant and oh-so curious.

 

Asha finds bird watching a fantastic way to pass the time, and she is absolutely thrilled to let you rub her belly for hours on end. Initially, this little kitty was too busy to be held for very long, but over time she has discovered just how warm and tingly snuggling makes her feel. She gets along famously well with all of the other residents and is extremely playful, so a household with a few kids would really tickle her fancy!

 

Since Asha is so very fond of attention, she would be the perfect companion for someone who is home a lot and would be more than happy to offer up a lap for her to lounge on. She really is one of our sweetest girls—and considering she IS a calico that says a LOT! It’s a shame that she tested positive for the virus, though on her retest one month after her arrival she was only a faint positive, and since some cats with strong immune systems can clear the virus and not harbor the infection, Dr. Jen will be checking her again in mid-November. Fingers crossed!

 

Asha is truly an amazing cat and we are so thankful we were in a position to help out when it was most needed. There are vaccines that can be given to non-infected cats to help decrease the risk of transmission, so adoption is a very viable option in this case. It would be a shame to not let our cutie pie know the wonders or comfort of a cozy, loving home of her own. Don’t get me wrong, our place is AWESOME, but it is meant to be a stepping stone for bigger and better things. And what could be better than waking up to this fabulous feline face every single morning, or drifting off peacefully each night with her dainty paw touching your hand as you gently stroke her tummy fur, eliciting the purest purrs of contentment than you have ever heard? NOTHING is going to beat that.

More about Asha:

  • Medium
  • Calico
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
  • FELV+
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Asha? 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: Smudgee

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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).

 

Social butterfly Smudgee was initially a Belmont rescue back in February of 2018 (we think she was four years old, born in early 2014) who was taken in by Focus on Ferals (FOF). They did their typical top-notch stray work-up, discovered she was FIV+, and was told she had already been spayed due to a scar on her ventral abdomen. So imagine their surprise when April rolled around and their sweet little calico-tiger girl popped out a litter of kittens!

 

Unable to house a mom and brand-spanking newborns at their facility, FOF enlisted the help of a dual volunteer who took in the beautiful brood and provided a cozy, comfy foster home for Smudgee and her three offspring until the kittens could be weaned and placed into their adoption program. Mama then went back to FOF and awaited her turn to find a home, but as the months rolled on by and she was overlooked time and time again, FOF enlisted our help; on Aug. 6th, Big Sid’s welcomed this darling, playful little lady as our newest member of a very elite group of kitties.

 

From the get-go, Smudgee has been extremely outgoing, always seeming to be around no matter where you are or where your gaze falls. She adores attention from the volunteers and is exceptionally tolerant of her surrogate son, Just Jack, who tackles her on a regular basis in hopes of getting her to chase him around. She mingles and mixes well with the older crowd too, and honestly is so laid-back that we feel she would thrive in pretty much any type of family situation—kids, cats and perhaps even a gentle companion of the canine persuasion.

 

Soon after her arrival, she discovered the joys of what we call our ‘feeding frenzy’ and since then has been a very enthusiastic participant; in fact, we are watching her dainty waistline so that she doesn’t eat so much as to appear pregnant—again! Interestingly enough, before Smudgee came down to our sanctuary, Dr. Jen had to extract all of the teeth behind her canines as her mouth was on fire due to an inflammatory condition known as stomatitis, a condition that is fairly common in FIV+ kitties.

 

And until Smudgee had partaken in the tempting tray feeding—get this—she was consuming kibble like a boss (even though yummy canned food was offered pre- and post-op at the clinic). Also on a positive note, since she doesn’t have a mean bone in her ever-expanding lil’ body AND she has only a few teeth to claim as her own, the risk of transmission to another household cat is negligible. Plus, will ya look at that ADORABLE FACE?! How anyone can resist that is beyond us.

More about Smudgee:

  • Medium
  • Calico
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Smudgee? 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: Remington

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , ,

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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).

 

August of 2018 sure brought us our (un)fair share of cats that needed our assistance, and our sanctuary head count grew quite a bit due to the number of cats with either Feline Leukemia or FIV that were helpless and homeless. A Grand Rapids resident stumbled across this bedraggled boy, took him in to be checked out only to discover he had FELV AND an owner — who refused to contact her or the microchip company. Sadly the rescuer wasn’t in a position to keep him, and he badly needed further medical attention, so she asked for our help in getting her 6-year-old rescue (born in the summer of 2012) off the streets and into someplace safe.

 

It would be nice to say that Dr. Jen’s first meeting with this guy was love at sight — but it wasn’t. This scruffy orange and white fella wanted NOTHING to do with Dr. Jen and expressed his disdain for the situation he was in by lashing out and lacerating her with his dagger-like nails; what a little pistol he proved to be! Dr. Jen chalked up his less-than-desirable attitude to the fact his teeth were rotting out of his head and considered the fact that he was underweight (probably had tremendous difficulty eating) and had been shaved prior to his arrival in hopes of removing some of the skin-tight mats that caused focal areas of inflammation  scabbing and scaling.

 

So Dr. Jen forgave the ‘hot mess’ his momentary lapse in judgment and let it be known that if he dropped the tough guy act once and for all, life would treat him better than he could possibly imagine.

 

Needless to say, it took Remington several days to simmer down in his new surroundings and realize that not everyone was out to get him, but he took to shelter life much better than we anticipated. He still tends to growl when overwhelmed or if you come near him wielding a brush, but besides his initial attack on the good doc, he is not one to raise a paw to another cat or human to express his uneasiness. He has shown us that the way to his heart is through his stomach via endless bowls of yummy canned food; you can do no wrong when you fill his belly!

 

Remington has calmed down significantly in the month after his arrival, and secretly we think has developed a fondness for his caretakers, as he has been caught sneaking down the hallway after lights out at night to watch his humans as they depart; he may feign disinterest, but deep down we have grown on him. Besides stuffing his cheeks, Remington is most happy when he can perch on a sunny windowsill and watch the birds at the feeder. And although he doesn’t chum around with other cats, he doesn’t go out of his way to pester them, as he believes in keeping to his own space and respecting that of the others.

 

He has slowly learned to trust his food sources and is finding us to provide good company, though we feel that the type of home life that would be suit him is one where he can get comfortable at his own pace. Patience will definitely be the key to a long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationship between him and his person, but the rewards to be reaped will be worth the wait. We can see the potential in our Remi and want him to be able to find a place in this world that will provide him a gentle place for his soul to claim peace and his body and mind to finally flourish.

More about Remington:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Medium Hair
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Prefers a home without children

Want to adopt Remington? 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: Ruger

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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 August of 2018, Dr. Jen received an email from a woman who came across this gorgeous gray and buff boy (all boy, if ya know what I mean) hanging around her workplace. She took him in to her vet to have him looked over and discovered, besides the obvious frayed ear tips, greasy stud tail and enlarged jowls, that he suffered from some significant dental issues and was FIV+. So she reached out to us to see if we could help him, offering to drive him up to the vet clinic in Wyoming and pay for his additional medical costs; we didn’t even need to see the picture of his long and lanky body sprawled out on a blanket, or gaze upon his goofy grin to know that he belonged with us at Big Sid’s.

 

Dr. Jen set to work on addressing his multitude of medical needs AFTER smooching his adorable face: neutering him, treating him for fleas, tending to a nasty nail fracture/toe infection, and extracting the broken roots of his upper canines (his upper incisors were already missing, more than likely due to the same trauma that snapped his fangs) along with several other rotten teeth. Once all was said and done, Ruger (born in early 2015) looked—and smelled—absolutely remarkable, and a few days later he bopped on down to our sanctuary with a smirk plastered on his face that elicited the same from every volunteer who crossed his path.

 

Our terrific tabby proved to be one of the happiest little campers around after settling and making himself at home; the benefits of indoor life seem to suit him immensely. Of course he appears to be smiling given his lack of choppers, but the more time Ruger spends in our care the more you can truly see how giddy he is, the glee just bubbling up inside of him, so the smile he boldly wears on his face does actually reflect how he feels with every fiber of his fabulous being.

 

Ruger still is a bit skittish when there is a lot of commotion going on, so a home with noisy dogs or boisterous kids may be too much for him, but he absolutely loves the company of the other cats, Craig in particular, so placing him in a home with another feline friend is a must. And he is a lover, not a biter (that would be quite difficult in his case), so the risk of viral transmission is minimal. He isn’t one to constantly seek out attention but will hand it over readily when you want some one-on-one kitty-time; he will also ask for your hand to bestow upon his the best belly rubs you can offer. Simply put, he is content to just BE a cat—an indoor, spoiled cat but a chill, laid-back cat.

 

It is a shame that his ears look like someone took pinking shears to them, and it upsets us that his adorable facial features came about due to the fact his health was neglected, but we choose to see the silver lining in instances like this, to look at the positive versus focusing on the negative. Our beautiful boy is emotionally none the worse for wear and he sports his unique physical traits with the pride of a survivor. Ruger is pawsitively one of the coolest cats around, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to make him your very own!

More about Ruger:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair (Buff/Tan/Fawn/Gray/Blue/Silver Tabby (Tiger Striped))
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats
  • FIV+

Want to adopt Ruger? 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: Dave

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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).

 

Darling, dynamic Dave is all the rave, a stunning (yet ravenous) fella who showed up at the house of one of our cat magnets in late July 2018, making himself quite at home on the front porch, following her indoor cats from window to window, trying to convince the home owner to let him in. Because she was unsure of his health status, she first took him in to her vet (very smart on her part) to have him tested, dewormed and given flea control, but much to her dismay, this friendly fella came up positive for Feline Leukemia.

 

Sadly, the family had been prepared to take him in and make him part of their own furry fold, but Dave’s viral status forced them to look for alternative placement; that is where we came in. On Aug. 13, we opened our doors and hearts to this fabulous four-year-old feline (born in late 2014).

 

Dave needed a bit of a medical work-up–he had a nasty ear mite infection, an abraded foot pad, greasy stud-tail (he was intact), enlarged lymph nodes and a formerly fractured toe on his right rear foot. To top it off, he also had roundworms, giardia and lungworms. And shortly after he arrived at our sanctuary he broke out with calici virus which caused him to spike terribly high temps and develop painful tongue ulcers.

 

But in spite of it all, Dave never once complained, always cuddled, and took his meds like a the champ that he is; his true personality and spirit could not be dampened, as he showed us what a sweet, silly and playful boy he is, the purrfect mix of laid-back and inquisitive.

 

This beautiful boy proved to be one of those cats that will follow you around, not to bother you or beg for attention, but rather simply to see what you are up to. He is quite fond of nap time but will wake up in a hurry if a human enters the room and wants some snuggle time, though he waits patiently on his perch or in his cat cubby for his person to walk on over and rub his belly, an activity he will happily engage in until your hand falls asleep. He loves, loves, LOVES his canned food but it is pleasing people that satisfies him and fills him with contentment.

 

This awesome cat will thrive in pretty much any stimulating home environment, and we feel that he would also like to have another of the feline kind around; ideally finding him a home with another cat with FELV would be the best, but there are vaccines that offer protection against viral transmission that can be given to non-infected cats.

 

Dave is just too spectacular of a cat to pass on by—so don’t even try! Come meet him, pick him up in your arms and discover why we are all completely enamored by this cool cat.

More about Dave:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair — Tabby (Brown/chocolate)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • FELV-positive
  • Good in a home with other cats; children

Want to adopt Dave? 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: Hamish

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , , , ,

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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).

 

On Friday the 13th of July 2018, a kind-hearted, cat-trappin’ citizen contacted Dr. Jen about a pair of friendly brothers that she had on a waiting list for another local shelter. Back in June the duo was brought in to Focus on Ferals after having been taken from a large population of stray cats roaming around on the Northeast side of town; they were neutered, tested and started on vaccines in hopes of eventually going into their adoption program.

 

But one of the boys (born in early 2016) had evidently suffered a trauma so severe to his side that his body wall ruptured, leaving him with a huge herniation that continued to grow over time; in fact it had been present for so long (probably over two years) that the repair attempt by his initial vet was ineffective. So when Dr. Jen was asked to give a second opinion on the case, she offered to take the brothers in to our program and set out to fix that humongous hernia (in the words of his rescuer).

 

As it turns out, not only was Hamish’s intra-abdominal fat pooching out underneath the skin through the tear in his body wall, but his poor spleen had become adherent to the opening, so it had to be surgically removed in order to close the defect. However, we are thrilled to report that with layers of sutures, cage rest and many crossed fingers, Hamish’s hernia is a thing of the past.

 

Hamish was nicknamed ‘The Handful’ as he can be as bratty as he is cute. He is a door diver, likes to rile the other cats up by picking fights or causing them to go after him due to his over-exuberance—he is constantly in motion. We can imagine that it feels downright awesome to be able to move around without having an internal organ squish out your side, so we do give the guy a bit of a break on this.

 

He LOVES people, but when he has had enough, he will swipe or swat to let you know that your services are no longer needed. He could live with other cats as long as he can be the dominant one, but small kids we feel are out of the picture; we do however suspect a dog might be right up his alley.

 

For safety measures, his owner will need a two-door entry and exit system as he is constantly darting out into our lobby (we have a triple door system. We have had quite a bit of success with taming the wild beast running wild by squirting him with a short burst of water from our ‘naughty kitty’ bottle; slowly but surely he IS learning to play nice with the others.

 

Overall we feel he is somewhat of an overgrown kitten and is just now getting to live the life he had always wanted: crazy, carefree and with reckless abandon (versus abandonment).

 

And he is STINKIN’ CUTE!

More about Hamish:

  • Large
  • Domestic Short Hair — Tabby (Tiger-striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats; older children

Want to adopt Hamish? 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: Rockette

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , ,

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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).

 

This summer (2018) has brought us an overabundance of kitties with injured legs, so when a Kentwood resident called the clinic asking for help with a cat whom she thought had a bone sticking out of its leg, Dr. Jen had them bring the kitty right down. As it turns out, this darling little girl (born in early 2017) had suffered a traumatic injury to her right rear leg, but the amputation had occurred some time ago, leaving behind a stump just above where her hock (ankle) should have been.

 

She did come with heavy fleas, a horrendous case of ear mites, a puncture wound on her neck that wasn’t healing well, and sadly in the early stages of pregnancy which Dr. Jen discovered during spay surgery. We can’t imagine what this poor cat went through, but thankfully her skin and bones healed, and even though she is a tripod without a foot, she is fearless in her fight and fabulous with her ferocity for fun!

 

From the get go NOTHING has slowed her down: she runs, leaps, bounds, twirls, kicks and literally jumps for joy, so giving her the name Rockette seemed to fit her perfectly. The observations of our shelter and cat care managers mirrored Dr. Jen’s impression of exuberant Rockette:

“Our girl so super sweet! She has made herself at home since the minute she arrived at the shelter. Her injury doesn’t hold her back at all; she climbs, runs, and jumps just fine. She can be very sassy with the other cats so she might enjoy being an only cat. She would do very well with kids though!”

“Despite her missing part of a leg, she is purr-petually on the move. She has a very sweet personality and craves attention. While she’s not one to be held for long, she will hop up on your lap and soak up whatever attention are willing to give. I love how she holds her own against the 4-legged cats, occasionally swatting, but yet playing nicely with them MOST of the time. Loves the laser show, and sprawling out on the toddler beds. Would do well in a home with another cat or two, but I think dogs may be a bit too much.”

We’re making it our mission to find our goofy girl a home that has children that can match her energy and enthusiasm for life, yet a kid or two who also wants a cuddly companion when playtime is over; we don’t think this will be a difficult task at all. Rockette is going to be kicking up her heels (er, heel) once we find her a family of her own, and we simply can’t wait!

More about Rockette:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Short Hair (Gray/Blue/Silver/White)
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats; children

Want to adopt Rockette? 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.