Tag Archives: FIV

Cat of the week: Lyanna

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The perfect mix of sweet and sassy — that’s Lyanna

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).


Gratiot Area Animals in Need (G.A.I.N.) contacted us in early July of 2019 in hopes of us being able to accommodate a FIV+ girl they had in their foster program. Although she had been with them since April, she wasn’t tested until her spay appointment in June, and when her viral status was discovered, they were in need of locating a shelter, such as ours, that caters to their special status. The only way the virus can be transmitted is through bite wounds, so at some point she was injured by another cat.


Lyanna hasn’t a mean bone in her lovely three-year-old body (born in the summer of 2016); in fact, she has proven to be one of our most outgoing, gregarious girls. In the words of our volunteers:


“Lyanna definitely goes against the “torti rules” by being the sweetest little thing. She enjoys gazing through the French doors to the lobby just waiting for one of the volunteers to pop in, scoop her up, and give her the attention she adores so much. She loves to follow us around and watch everything that is going on. I’ve seen her sass a few of the bigger boys and stand her ground when challenged, but she is not at all physically aggressive. She’d make the perfect companion for a home with kids, maybe a smaller dog, (she was fostered with dogs) and access to plenty of playtime. I’d worry a little about her trying to get outside because she does try her darnedest to sneak in to the lobby on occasion, so that should be taken into consideration.”

That. Face.

“Lyanna is the perfect mix of sweet and sassy. She loves people, but doesn’t have a ton of time to be held or sit in laps, as there is just too much to do! She is very playful and loves to chase bell toys around. She will sometimes play with other cats, but other times she wants nothing to do with them. She has one of the biggest appetites of all our residents—probably to fuel her high level of energy!”


We firmly believe that being FIV+ is not going to hinder her from finding a home as her charming personality, pawsitively stunning looks, and non-torti temperament (they are typically quite opinionated and, shall we say, less than agreeable) make her an awesome candidate for companionship. A word of friendly advice: don’t miss out on the chance to make lovely Lyanna yours!

More about Lyanna:

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

Want to adopt Lyanna? 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: Harold

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Large and in charge, Harold is just the sweetest

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 June of 2015, friend to ferals (and our volunteer) Sandi D. was helping a co-worker TNR (trap-neuter-return) some stray cats living in her southeast side neighborhood when she came across this smashing, dashing boy, whom she initially thought was a girl. CSNIP (Community Spay/Neuter Initiative Program) ‘snipped’ him and sent him back to Sandi with a recommendation to treat an eye infection he had.


Unable to turn him back outside with medical issues, and fully thinking he was a wild child, she asked Gina from Focus on Ferals to help. So Gina took him in and housed him, treating his eye and socializing him; a month later she tested him and he turned up FIV+. Sweet and social, there wasn’t a mean bone in this guy’s big body (over 14#); he was probably just overwhelmed and not feeling too well when he and Sandi first met.


Sandi is in contact with Gina often as they work closely together doing TNR, and when fall turned to winter and her boy was still waiting for a place to call his own, she asked if we would consider taking him into our program. We have a pretty good adoption rate at Big Sid’s, especially for super-handsome, stunners like Harold, and wanted to give Gina a bit more room at her place.


We took this fine fella (born in late 2010) into our sanctuary on Nov. 16, 2018, after a bit of dental work was done at the clinic. Initially Sandi had named her black beauty ‘Mario’, but since we already had a Sid’s Kid with that name and coloring, Dr. Jen asked if she could name him something else; they just happened to be at our annual Whiskers and Wine fundraiser when they chatted, and since Sandi was accompanied by her long-time beau Harold, it seemed like a no-brainer.


From the second Harold stepped foot on the premises, he was comfortable and at ease, eager to meet and greet all newcomers and current residents. Our cat care director immediately fell in love with his gentle ways, his calm demeanor and his mellow vibe. He loves just hanging out with the gang, patiently awaiting the arrival of the volunteers who shower him with love and attention, which he soaks up like a super-silky, raven-haired sponge.


Harold couldn’t be nicer or more well-adjusted, and we honestly couldn’t be happier that he is ours. We hope that Big Sid’s is simply a stepping stone for Harold, who will hop, skip and jump his way to bigger and better things (though our place is paw-some), as a cat this marvelous deserves to be doted upon in a home of his own.

More about Harold:

  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Extra large
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • FIV-positive
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed

Want to adopt Harold? 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: 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: 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: Abner

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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).

 

Most of our favorite kitties are (or have been) Sid’s Kids, those cats that probably wouldn’t have had a real chance at a long life and adoption due to their FIV or FELV status. The majority of them are male, as the viruses tend to be transmitted through fighting, which is a common problem with intact tom cats roaming the streets; however once neutered the boys typically simmer down as the hormones vacate their macho bodies, and super mellow former studs remain.

 

Just when we don’t think we could possibly (yeah, right) have room for one more fine fella on our Top 10 List, along comes adorable Abner, (born in the summer of 2012) a sweet-as-pie FIV guy from the Kent County Animal Shelter. He came in as a stray just two days before he transferred to us mid-July 2018 and you sure could tell he had spent a lot of time outdoors, as he was filthy, his paw pads were hard and calloused, his ears had been chronically infected, his skin was inflamed and scabby, and he needed a dental cleaning.

 

However, he spiffed up nicely and was ready to go woo the ladies at Big Sid’s just a day after his arrival, which was great for them, but Dr. Jen had already become instantly enamored by him and would have loved to have been able to spend some more one-on-one with him at the clinic.

 

Our cat care director says that if every cat was THIS easygoing and accepting of his new life with us we wouldn’t have to worry an ounce about acclimation and adjustment periods—it was as if Abner had always lived with us! From the minute he arrived, Abner was extremely comfortable in his surroundings, adventurously outgoing and beyond friendly. One of his favorite pastimes is to follow you around the shelter as you go about your chores, or else to perch up high on a cat walk or in a cubby above you so he can monitor your actions, being sure not to miss a thing.

 

Spiffy Abner will steal your heart

No matter where he is hanging out, the second you approach him he materializes directly in front of you, begging for well-deserved pets, attention and treats! He also has a very playful side, especially with plastic toy springs that he can flip and toss around with glee, and he delights in clamoring and chumming around with the other cats. We do feel he is a bit timid at times so a rambunctious dog may be too much for him, but other cats may just be a must.

 

Besides his cool markings, Abner has the prettiest sea-glass colored eyes. Overall, Abner is an absolute doll, one of THE nicest cats around, and one who should rightfully claim a home of his own in short order. Even though we would all miss him terribly, we will be thrilled when we can send him off to live in the lap of luxury with a family who has fallen head- (and heart-) first for fabulous fella!

More about Abner:

  • Extra-large
  • Orange & White, Tabby (Orange/Red)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • FIV-positive
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Abner? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

To learn about the FIV virus, go 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: Kev

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Inquisitive Kev loooooves to talk

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).

 

Chatterbox Kev (born in November of 2013) came to us from Focus on Ferals in May of 2018 since he was feline leukemia positive.

 

Kev originated from Greenville and ended up at Focus On Ferals in January of 2018. He came in with ringworm and had to be quarantined right off the bat, so he was chomping at the bit (as you can imagine) to be released. He has proven to be quite the motor mouth, going so far as to bend your ear and almost talk it off at times! He is full of kitten-like playfulness and spunk and yet also has a softer side that he displayed while sharing close quarters with two of our other residents.

 

He would do remarkably well in a home with another fully vaccinated cat (to decrease the risk of virus transmission) and perhaps even a mellow dog to keep him company. But more than ANYTHING we think Kev is absolutely jonesing for a kid (or 2 or 10) in his life, as he has SO much energy and enthusiasm it is hard to contain it inside of his body that appears at times to be bursting at the seams!

 

Lest I forget, he also enjoys bird-watching and catnip cocktails. He is a peach for his weekly nail trims and brushing, pretty much any manhandling that is required on a regular basis—as long as he is getting attention, Kev is in 7th heaven!

More about Kev:

  • Large
  • Tabby & Domestic Short Hair 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 Kev? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

To learn about the FIV virus, go 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: Lina

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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).

 

Lovely little Lina (born in June of 2015) came to our sanctuary as a FIV+ outdoor kitty that one of our volunteers had been looking after since kittenhood. Having multiple cats of her own she wasn’t in a position to take this darling in, so she did the next best thing by setting up a cozy shelter in her garage; Lina and two other strays could come and go as they pleased (after they were fixed, of course).

 

The living situation worked well enough for all of them, or so it was thought, until Lina arrived at the house with a nasty injury on her back, similar to one she had sustained previously. Knowing that our primary focus at our facilities is sick or injured outdoor cats, the volunteer contacted Dr. Jen for help.

 

As it turned out, the large lesion on her back was more of an abrasion with a secondary infection (which healed nicely with antibiotics), but Lina was also afflicted with a bilateral ear infection (chronic from the looks of her ears, though her left one was tipped way too short when she was spayed), swollen lymph nodes and a previous tail injury (dislocation/fracture) that stops her from swishing it fully.

 

As you can see, this gorgeous girl had seen her fair share of injuries and ailments, so it was about time she found the safety and comfort of an indoor environment. Her rescuer noted how outgoing and unafraid Lina was and surmised that is how she kept ending up on the wrong end of trouble; she expected everyone else to be as friendly as she was.

 

Lina loves to snuggle

Sadly, by the time we took her in, the poor thing had finally gotten exasperated by the treatment she had been receiving and put her guard up. Given the fact that Lina needed repeated ear flushes and medication infused, along with lots of vaccines, it is no wonder we have only witnessed her meek and timid side at the writing of her bio (July 21, 2018) one month after her arrival).

 

Although seriously shy and very reserved, she is extremely sweet and would literally spend 24 hours a day nestled in the arms of a willing human. When she isn’t being held close, she prefers to perch high up on one of our walkways out of arms’ reach until you gently retrieve her and allow her to do one of her favorite things — bury her head into your neck and nuzzle. She does have a fear of having her ears touched, so if you approach her head-on too quickly, she will hiss and retreat, but if you approach her slowly and assure her snuggle time will ensue she will melt into your embrace.

 

Lina is mostly ambivalent towards the other cats, as long as they leave her be and allow her to have her own space — which is totally out of the spotlight. Since she herself doesn’t have an ounce of ornery in her, placing her in a home with a mellow feline companion would be fine, but honestly, our Lina needs a home where she can be treated with patience, kindness and the understanding that her love will come to her human over time, once trust has been gained and she feels safe and secure.

 

If we could find a retiree or someone who works from their home to take this sweetheart in, we would be absolutely thrilled, as she has been through so much in her life thus far that she deserves nothing but calming comfort to surround her for the rest of her days.

More about Lina:

  • Medium
  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Tabby (Gray/Blue/Silver)
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, no children

Want to adopt Lina? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

To learn about the FIV virus, go here.

 

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

 

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Pumbaa

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Hey, there, handsome!

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

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

 

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

 

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

 

Looking for a home that encourages lounging

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

 

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

 

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

More about Pumbaa

NOTE: A $825 grant from Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA will enable Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary, to fund comprehensive exams for five Big Sid’s Sanctuary cats before going to their new home. Each exam would include a full blood panel, dental care, radiographs, urinalysis, antibiotics and pain medication, if needed. Big Sid’s caters exclusively to cats who test positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). FIV and FeLV are viruses that can, if they flare up, suppress a cat’s immune system. The shelter takes cats with FIV or FeLV from all over Michigan.

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

Cat of the week: Mushka

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mushka_014732Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

Mushka (born in March of 2009) was a homeless boy whose whereabouts prior to his rescue were unknown, but he was as timid and reserved as they come.

 

During those first few days at the clinic, he cowered and shied away from Dr. Jen as she ran blood work on him and cleaned out his ears which were impacted with ear mite debris. And since he had just been neutered days before, he needed a good, old-fashioned bath to remove the grease and oils common in intact males, known as stud-tail. Usually at the end of a cat’s stay with Dr. Jen, he or she is putty in her hands, but that wasn’t the case, and Dr. Jen sent Mushka down to Big Sid’s for some much needed compassion, gentle and positive interaction and heaping doses of one-on-one! If anyone can bring out a frightened cat’s inner lion, the dedicated volunteers can for sure.

 

Mushka is as handsome as they come when his ears aren’t flat against his head. The volunteers dote on him daily and allow him to slowly open his petals and blossom; in time he will flourish and realize that life is better than good at Big Sid’s.

 

Mushka is adoptable! Go here to read about the adoption process and then fill out an application form here. Get info about Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) 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!

 

See Mushka’s Petfinder bio here.

MORE ABOUT MUSHKA

  • FIV-positive
  • House trained
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Current on vaccinations
  • Coat Length: Short

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: Meet Caspian!

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WKTV is pleased to announce that each week we will feature an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

Caspian

Just look at this handsome mug!

 

Not only is Caspian gorgeous, but more importantly, he is a genuine sweetheart who loves to snuggle — and is very good at it. This chubby-cheeked, squinty-eyed (former) Tom cat was welcomed into Big Sid’s this past Aug. 2 after being transferred from the Humane Society of SW Michigan.

 

Although he had seen a veterinarian three days after his arrival at the Humane Society in mid-July, the condition causing his lower eyelids to roll inward and rub on his corneas was not diagnosed, so the appropriate treatment was not undertaken; by the time Dr. Jen got her hands on this fabulous ‘fat-head’ (born in the summer of 2012), his right eye had suffered scarring and both lids were incredibly swollen and painful. He was FIV-positive and Dr. Jen also discovered that he had torn a toenail back to the base and was sparse in the hair coat department due to a flea infestation that has since been successfully treated.

 

Once at the sanctuary, Caspian immediately took to wooing the ladies; his heavy-lidded, half-closed glance made it appear as if he was gazing longingly at those who stepped into his line of sight, so the volunteers couldn’t help but swoon, swoop in and scoop him up for some major cuddle time — and at 13 pounds of muscle, he is quite an armful!

 

At his recheck exam on Sept. 6, Dr. Jen was dismayed to see that Caspian’s FIV test was still a firm positive, but since he was having a blast in his new home she had no worries. He had a second surgery on his eyelids and, as he did before, Caspian bounced back with flying colors, sporting fancy purple sutures once again for the next week.

 

He left the clinic with eyes wide open — something he hadn’t really done up to this point — weighing in at 14 pounds and showing off his lustrous, almost luminous coat that good nutrition and parasite control had afforded him.

 

Caspian still has a tiny scar remaining on his right eye but his vision isn’t impaired in the least; he can look deep into your soul with those baby blues and you will absolutely, paws-itively MELT!

Want to adopt Caspian? Go here to read about the adoption process and then fill out an application form here.

 

Caspian’s Petfinder bio is here.

 

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

 

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.