Socks & Tigger

We moved to Las Vegas in January 2011, and after moving we were lonely.  We lost both of our girls (15.5 and 16.5 years old) during the previous 18 months, and we knew it was only a matter of time before we adopted new babies.  We found out that HHAS did adoption stuff at PetSmart, so 1 week after being in Vegas we stopped by.

We looked at, held, petted, and generally loved up every single cat at the event that Saturday.  But when we heard the story of Socks and Tigger, we had to take them both home.  Brothers (same home, not the same litter), who were adopted as kittens from HHAS, then returned 2.5 years later due to financial issues.  We knew we couldn’t let those 2 get separated, and adopted them both on the spot.

Bobby Sockers (Socks) and Frankie Blue Eyes (Tigger) have been in our home now for 8 months, and we could not have gotten more lucky.  They are the most loving babies, and they remind us just how truly blessed we are.  I am so glad that we were able to adopt these 2 together and give them the best home we could.  HHAS did a wonderful job during the adoption, and they took good care of these boys before we ended up with them.

Thank you HHAS for taking these 2 in and keeping them safe until their new mom and dad (us!) could get them home!

Corey and Lori

We were lucky to have our five year old Ridgeback mix Buddy to play in the snow.  For us the snow was beautiful and fun to play with Buddy in.  We never thought there would be those that may not enjoy it as much as we did.

Puppies that Weren’t as Lucky

Three little puppies from Searchlight weren’t so lucky to be able to play in the snow.  Just six or seven weeks old, their owner had left them in a cardboard box outside of a mobile home in the snowstorm.  Thankfully, someone passed by, heard them and called Amber at Happy Home Animal Sanctuary.

She took all three in, two boys and one little girl, the runt.  The boys seemed fine but the little girl seemed to have a severe infection.  Not only did she sneeze and cough non-stop, but she had discharge that flowed from her nose without any way of turning it off.

Sure, We’ll Foster Her!

We had been helping Amber with adoptions at the PetSmart in Henderson for months.  A few weeks after the snowstorm, Amber brought the three puppies in.  The two boys could be adopted as they were healthy.  The little girl, no such luck.  She needed more medical attention and help.  Barely five pounds, we fell in love immediately and said we’d help and foster her.    After all, Buddy needed a playmate for a little while as we nursed her back to health.  We named her Kona after one of our favorite vacation spots.

Kona, Age eight weeks

Fostering lasted about two hours.  When we brought her home with a sweater to keep her warm, she snuggled up to Kelly and sneezed boogers all over her sweatshirt.  She knew exactly who to sneeze, cough and work the sad doggie look on.  She was ours to keep.  Buddy now had a permanent playmate he could boss around.

Buddy telling Kona who’s boss

A Bundle of Energy but She Just Wouldn’t Shake the Cold

Despite her cold, Kona was a bundle of energy.  She would run, jump and chase Buddy around the house.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t get her cold to go away.  Countless visits to vets, medications, nebulizer treatments, very little sleep and it just wouldn’t go away.

We finally determined that she had a bacterial infection that was resistant to all forms of medication.  Unfortunately, the doctors could not find a medication that would kill the bacteria.  We were resigned to the fact she would never be completely healed.  We found a medication that seemed to keep the bacterial infection from getting worse and we hoped for the best.

The Sunbeam Doggie

Living in Las Vegas, Kona and Buddy had plenty of sunshine.  We knew that made her feel better so we let her lounge in the sun as much as possible.  Whether it was sleeping in the backyard or following the sunbeam around the house, the sun was her magic potion.  She would follow the sun room to room, chasing Buddy away so it was all hers.

Buddy & Kona

Hip Hop Kona

Because of the constant visits to the vet and for a six week span, a four shot a day routine of anti-biotics, Kona started to develop an attitude.  Since she was sick for so long, we never really had a chance to socialize her with other dogs.  She and Buddy got along pretty well most of the time but other dogs, no chance.  This was just another little challenge in the life of Kona.  As loveable and nurturing as Kona could be, she always had a way to let you know she was in charge.

Kona keeping watch making sure no dogs invaded her yard

Kona Being Kona

Talk about a love of toys.  This girl had it.  Whether it was her orange rope toy, her squeaky monkey or a pile of other toys, she was non-stop.  From the moment she woke up in the morning to the moment she collapsed in her pen at night, it was all about the toys.  She loved the orange rope toy that she learned how to swing above her head.  She learned if she had the blue part hit the ground and turned her head, the rope would act like a lasso.  She was a smart little girl.  But her biggest attachment was to her beloved monkey, she wouldn’t go to bed without it.  In the mornings, panic would set in if she couldn’t find her monkey.  She would run up and down the stairs, room to room whining until she found it.  It was the first toy she would take out of her bed and take with her as she searched for the nearest sunbeam.  There were many days when going to work was delayed while we helped search under furniture and in strange rooms to find her monkey so she could have a relaxing day.

Kona and monkey, a peaceful nap after a long day of play

Kona and her favorite orange rope toy

The Bacteria Finally Caught up to Her

We always knew the day would come, but hoped and prayed it would be a long time away.  Unfortunately, Kona couldn’t keep fighting off the bacterial infection.  Her energy level started to go down and she could only play for a few minutes before having to stop and rest.  She started to get more moody (imagine what a person would feel like if they’d had the flu for two years).  She went from a dog who loved to be the center of attention to a dog that just wanted to be left alone.  Her last day was spent running around the beach on the coast of Oregon.  Something she never had a chance to do before.  She didn’t catch any seagulls that day, but we could tell by the excitement on her face that it was a special day for her.

She is in a better place now, with healthy lungs and non-stop sunshine.  We miss her dearly but were thrilled to be able to make sure her short time with us was happy and fun.  She brought as much enjoyment to our lives as we like to think we brought to hers.  Kona will forever have a special place in our hearts.  As for monkey, Kelly is keeping it safe, just as Kona would want.

Amber Snethen

Happy Home Animal Sanctuary is a no-kill, no-cage, non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of abandoned and homeless cats and dogs. We have been happily serving the Southern Nevada area since 1997.

Our mission is to offer care and a peaceful living environment for abused, physically handicapped, aged or homeless animals. We provide an open space facility where these “special needs” animals can be provided with medical care, love, and attention that will ultimately lead to their adoption. If an adoption isn’t possible, the sanctuary provides a lifetime refuge for these animals.

Our goal is to protect the welfare of the animals and to promote the humane treatment and wellbeing of these animals by:

• Providing shelter and medical care for stray or abandoned animals.
• Responding with personal commitment, humane sensitivity, compassion, and technical skill to the needs of these animals.
• Actively promoting suitable adoptions of the animals.
• Encouraging the spay and neutering of dogs and cats to ensure the numbers of unwanted animals be kept to a minimum.
• Helping to prevent cruelty to animals by promoting animal welfare legislation and public education.

We are an all-volunteer group with no paid staff and as a result, we rely solely on adoption fees, donations and the generosity of cat and dog lovers around the world to continue our efforts. If you love cats & dogs, like we do, and support the humane treatment of them, we would encourage you to visit our donation page to learn more about how you can help.

Thank you for stopping by and we hope to see you again.

Amber Snethen

Happy Home Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.  A receipt for your donation will be available upon pick-up or drop-off.

We did manage to get two more kittens from the complex. Both are males, between three and four weeks old. Currently, they are being kept in the same foster home, but separate from the other nine kittens, until we’re certain they are completely healthy. As you can see in the picture, they are still pretty small. The one on the left actually has a white blaze which extends across his entire belly. He is also sporting white “mittens”. The one on the right is mostly white, with some dark grey/black markings.

They are currently eating solid (wet) food, but we’re supplementing with kitten formula. In a week or two, after they gain a little more weight and start feeling a little less nervous, we’ll give them a bath, which both desparately need! Right now, their white furr is dingy and grey with dirt. Can’t wait to get them nice and clean! It may sound funny, but after you give a kitten a bath, they really do act happier and more “bouncy”.

These little guys are dangerously cute, as all kittens are, but we’re starting to get a bit crowded at my place. I certainly don’t mind having them here. This is, after all, something I enjoy doing. The dilemma is all of our foster homes are bursting at the seams at the moment. Of course we’re happy when we manage to catch more kittens, but our feelings of joy are always tempered with the reality of simply running out of room.

We really need more foster homes. If you feel you are in a position to help, please feel free to contact us and we will let you know what is involved and discuss how you might be able to help out. Even better, try to meet us in person at our PetSmart adoption site any weekend from 11am to 4pm, so we can talk about what is involved face to face. We think you will find fostering to be a very rewarding experience!

Next time I’m going to talk a bit more about the original nine kittens. Several of them may be ready for adoption very soon, and I’m pretty excited to talk about who might be ready and how they are all doing!

This photo of Twitch sitting on the scale gives a slightly misleading impression about how this whole operation went. Even without the scale, getting one of these guys to sit still for more than three seconds before darting one way or the other is nearly impossible. Actually weighing them was an exercise in madness! Oh sure, Twitch looks nice and calm here, but approximately a half second later, he was flying off in one direction and the scale was flying off in the other.

We did manage to get them to hold still long enough to get weights on each, and as we suspected, Lucky is the lightest and Twitch is the heaviest.

Not even one of them has reached three pounds yet. Considering how much these little ones eat, you would think they would weigh at least twice as much! Unfortunately, this means none of them are ready to be fixed. We really like to see them at three pounds before they are fixed, and that probably won’t happen for at least another couple of weeks.

On a slightly different note, the scale we used was just a standard, inexpensive kitchen scale. These usually go up to 10 or 20 pounds, and gives readings to 1 or 2 ounces. If you want one for yourself, pick one that has markings for 1 ounce. The 2 ounce ones simply aren’t accurate enough. A nice one should cost you between $20 and $30 at any store with a “kitchen” section. I wouldn’t, however, recommend using it in the kitchen after weighing kittens with it!

As I mentioned before, I feed the kittens by preparing their food on a large platter. Since I got tired of them climbing up my legs while I prepare their food–one actually made it all the way to the counter, once!–I don’t let them out of the bathroom until after I put the platter on the floor.

Honestly, the commotion they raise while waiting for me to open the door is completely over the top. How is it possible that kittens so small can make such loud meows? And the pawing at the door! It sounds like a pack of wolves in there!

Just take a look at this picture of the kittens, their little paws reaching under the door. Look at Ranger (I think!) on the left in mid-meow. I believe that is Butterfly next to him trying to shove her face through the one inch gap between the door and the floor. Goodness only knows who is on the right. Victoria? Grace? Either way, I can’t find words to describe the fuss she was making. These kittens are serious about their food!

When I finally do open the door, the kittens literally pour out. All of them. At the same time. They don’t even wait for the door to open more than three inches before they dive out of there. The last time I fed them, I actually think I heard a sonic boom as they flew past my feet.

If you watch carefully… and don’t blink!–you will see that this time, Grace was the first to get to the food dish. Usually it is Twitch and Floyd. Grace must have used some sort of trickery to beat those two! They are almost always first on the food, and the last off.

For the next post, I want to try to capture some action shots of them playing. I would have done it already, but it is actually pretty difficult to catch them doing something cute. You think you got the shot of Lucky in mid-air, just about to land on Victoria, but all you manage to catch is Luck’s behind as he tumbles to the floor. Time to charge up my “good” camera, and maybe call National Geographic for some hints…

We’re still not certain what happened. Perhaps one of his flying leaps off the edge of the bathtub went horribly wrong. Maybe it was one of his spring-loaded jumps of doom at a litter mate that caused the issue. Whatever the cause, Lucky suddenly found himself unable to put weight on his front legs…

We had our first clue of trouble when, after putting down the food dish, we noticed that Lucky stayed sitting on the blanket. Since he is quite the eater, we instantly knew something was up. I picked him up and placed him gently near the food dish. His front legs began to shake, and he simply laid down. Uh oh!

We picked him up again, but this time we gently felt his front legs. He meowed loudly and began to shake. Did he break his legs somehow? All we could tell was he was in a lot of pain, which is generally something cats don’t like to express. We fed him by hand and got some water in him.

Dealing with common bumps and bruises is something we can handle, but this injury appeared way out of our league. Time for a vet visit.

The vet carefully examined Lucky’s legs. Since he was clearly in a lot of discomfort, an x-ray was in order. Ten minutes later, we got the news: the x-rays did not reveal any fractures! It appeared to be a soft tissue injury. In other words, he somehow managed to sprain his legs. An injection of pain killers and anti-inflammatory medication was given, and we were instructed to keep him calm for several days. The shot, we were told, would make him feel a lot better and there was a risk he would injure himself further if allowed to be too active.

Keep a kitten calm and inactive? If Lucky was prone to being calm and inactive, he wouldn’t have gotten himself into this situation in the first place! Isolation in a carrier for a few days was the only answer. Even then, it wasn’t a sure bet.

We prepared a carrier for Lucky. A soft towel. A small litter box in the back. A water bowl in the front. That would be his home for the next few days. We planned on keeping him there until Wednesday or Thursday, which would hopefully be enough time for his legs to heal. We put him in, and he settled down for sleep almost immediately.

The following day, Lucky was clearly feeling much better. Too much better, as he tried to hold onto the carrier when I took him out for food. I prepared the food for all the kittens, but let Lucky have a shot at it first without letting the other kittens out. This worked well, at least from the perspective of Lucky. Without eight other kittens all jockeying for position, he was able to stay in one spot and didn’t have to shove anyone out of the way.

If you asked the other kittens how this arrangement worked, however, I think you would get a different story. As soon as I open the first can of food, the kittens start meowing. Since they can see under the bathroom door, you can imagine what effect seeing Lucky sitting at the food tray by himself caused! Actually, you don’t need to imagine for very long… next time, I’ll have a picture and some video you simply can’t miss!

So how is Lucky now? By Tuesday night, Lucky was fed up with being locked in the carrier by himself. After he spilled his water bowl all over himself, his blanket and his little litter box, I figured he was well enough to go back with the rest of the gang. He’s doing great now, and there is no longer any sign of discomfort.

As for keeping Lucky calm… I’ve confiscated his batman outfit, and I’m no longer allowing any of them to receive mysterious shipments from “ACME Corporation“…

She is calm while being held and handled, but just as she starts to relax, one of the other kittens will rocket past and you can sense she wants to be somewhere else. Butterfly and Victoria were like this at first, and they’ve both opened up nicely. Phoebe seems to be taking a lot longer to come out of her shell, so we’re spending extra time with her.

Perhaps this is simply an issue of her being the last one trapped. Maybe in a few more days she’ll start to enjoy the other kittens, or maybe she’ll always be more comfortable with people instead of other cats. Until she gets a little older and more used to things here, we’re going to continue working with her.

We’re not too concerned. She doesn’t object to human contact. Some cats simply prefer not to spend their time around other cats, and would rather relax in a comfortable, out of the way spot. A place where they can see what is going on, without actually getting involved…

In the next post, I’ll tell you about poor Lucky again. He had a bit of an accident, which had us very worried. After an expensive vet visit, it turned out not to be a big deal at all, but you will need to wait to find out what happened!

Sierra was the first kitten that was rescued from the apartment complex. Only her paws were covered in foam, but that was enough to let us know this wasn’t going to be a “normal” rescue. The president of Happy Home Animal Sanctuary, Amber Snethen, took Sierra back to the sanctuary with her and began coordinating the rescue effort with the rest of the volunteers. She was reunited with the rest of the litter a few days ago, so we could get her to the vet appointment with the rest of the kittens.

Sierrra started out as a bit of a shy girl, unlike her brother Floyd who has similar markings but is quite an outgoing character. Now that she is settled in, she is beginning to show her true personality. Generally a calm kitten, she has moments of pure joy when she discovers a new toy or simply decides to pounce one of her unsuspecting litter mates…

Next we have Butterfly, who was trapped while roaming around the infamous “foamed” wall. She was fortunate enough to avoid the foam. She was in the care of, Maryanne, another volunteer at the sanctuary who does a lot of foster work. We decided to reunite her with the rest of the litter at the same time as Sierra, so she could go to the vet with everyone else. Besides… the more the merrier, right?

As you can see from her picture, she loves to snuggle, and can really purr up a storm when she is nice and relaxed like this. Her play style is actually much like Sierra’s. She will often relax in a corner, and just when you start wondering where she went, she will rocket into action and pounce a wayward toy or another kitten.

Finally, we present Lucky, a sweet little thing who was very lucky to keep his tail! Some foam on his tail was reducing the circulation. After removing the foam and some dead skin, the vet determined that while the area was a bit beaten up and probably infected, there was enough circulation that his tail would probably be fine. He is currently on antibiotics, just to make sure we get rid of any infection that may have started to take hold.

Lucky, and his brother Ranger, are the only two all black kittens in the litter. He does, however, have little white “guard hairs” sprinkled around his legs and feet. We were a bit concerned about him at first, not just because of his tail, but also because he is pretty small and wasn’t interested in eating. That changed very quickly, and he can really be quite a little pig! Even after only a few days, his tail is beginning to heal nicely. He enjoys playing with his litter mates, but isn’t so much into the “pouncing” as some of the others.

You would think eight kittens would be enough, but we knew there was at least one more kitten at the apartment complex which we suspected was from the same litter. Last night, Kristina Wood finally managed to trap her. She was reunited with her litter–now nine strong!–late last night, so I don’t have any pictures yet. She’s absolutely adorable, and looks like a mixture of all of the kittens combined into one. I’ll have pictures for the next post, and maybe I’ll try to take some “action shots” of the kittens playing after feeding time.

As soon as the plate hits the floor, food begins to fly. The floor is covered in food. The kittens are covered in food. We’re covered in food. This is when personalities really start to show. Floyd and Twitch usually battle for the center of the dish, getting their legs and bellies completely covered. Grace can be pretty pushy as well, shoving aside her more polite litter-mates.

Lucky, on the other hand, gingerly picks at his food. He’s not particularly fond of the dry, so he attempts to eat around it. Victoria quietly takes her fill, ignoring the melee around her.

After several minutes of picking up kittens and putting them back in position around the dish, most of the food is pretty much picked clean. Kittens start wandering off–tracking food with them–to find a place to relax or play. Except for Twitch. Twitch likes to eat. A lot. I swear, he was so full last night we thought he was going to burst!

Check back tomorrow as I am going to make a post about the new kittens. They are all cute as buttons, but you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see their pictures! Until then, I’ll be picking cat food out of my hair…