Hi Everyone:

At the close of another busy year we are sending you a few of the PAF stories to let you know of our continued work and to thank you for your support. You are part of the PAF team assisting these little ones to better circumstances and we couldn't do it without you.

MIKO GOES TO THE BARBER

Well, actually he went to the vet clinic but he got a haircut there !

Miko was a feral kitten in 2006 living in a hydro easement in the City of North Vancouver and he was gorgeous! He is probably a Himalayan/Siamese cross with a bit of Maine Coon in there because he has big paws. By the time we trapped his mother and siblings, Miko was about 12 weeks old and extremely scared.  With his long fur we knew he would have life long issues with that coat out in the bushes so we got him a loving home and hoped he would adjust to a human home. He never completely lost his feralish ways though because he preferred to stay on his own agenda, deciding when and where he would interact with people and he wasn't easy to pick up. His fur coat was on the long, thick bushy side and he would end up with mats which resulted in the occasional lion cut, which was a major production.

Miko was doing pretty well with his coat for a long time but something set him off "in one of his moods" and he retreated under the bed for a few weeks only showing himself once in awhile. He wasn't sick and was eating well though. When he was "over his mood", Willow noticed that his fur was tangly and, because he wouldn't allow brushing or combing, it was time for a lion cut. Easier said than done! When a feralish cat doesn't want to get picked up, it's a challenge!  We didn't want to put him under anesthetic if we didn't have to.

The appointed day came and Willow arrived at the vet clinic looking like she had run a marathon . . . BUT Miko was in the kennel and we went to work. Jen is a very experienced veterinary technician and has dealt with many of our feisty PAF cats. She is also a groomer and knows her way around matted cats and sharp teeth. On the exam room floor with three pairs of hands, we outnumbered the little guy who was swaddled in towels with his head carefully tucked up. Less than 15 minutes later, after carefully rolling Miko and the towels in different directions, we had a beautifully smooth little body. WE had all survived but Willow was sure he would hold it against her and make himself scarce again for weeks. However, he surprised her by coming out for dinner and he was a lot cooler for the rest of the summer so perhaps he was grateful despite his visit..

.See Miko here

SHADOW MOVES HOUSE

Another one of those little guys with feralish beginnings. Ron took Shadow in as a feral kitten hanging around his office near the Ironworkers Bridge in an industrial area of North Vancouver. While Shadow made friends with Cooper (Ron's orange cat), and Boo (Ron's sweet dog), Shadow remained aloof with Ron. He wouldn't allow Ron to touch him, much less pick him up.  He grew to be a big handsome cat, but he wasn't neutered so Ron tried using our humane trap to catch him in his house. Shadow knew exactly what was up and avoided the trap no matter what bait was in it.

Fast forward to late summer and Ron was set to move to a new place. PAF loaned Ron a big dog kennel and he planned the "blanket and capture" routine like a military campaign. It worked but, at the vet clinic, we had to transfer Shadow into a feral trap in order to sedate him safely. That was an interesting experience but we managed it. During the next two days, while Shadow recovered in the dog kennel, Ron completed his move with Cooper and Boo.

Shadow must have wondered where he landed when Ron took him to his new home but Shadow's pals were there and Ron kept Shadow in a spare room for a few days so he could get his bearings. Gradually Shadow's personality started to blossom after his neutering. He calmed down and also used the litter box properly thanks to “Dr. Elsy's Cat Attract Litter”. It really does attract cats to the litter box if they are having some issues. After a couple of months, Shadow began to follow his friends outside to share a beautiful backyard and now he's a happy, contented cat.

See Shadow  here

THE GREAT BUNNY RESCUE

Minna watches over the feral cats often found at Hastings Race Course in Vancouver. Word reached her ears this summer that a little black bunny was seen hopping around the infield grassy area of the track. Not a good place for bunnies as coyotes are often seen there!

Out came the X-pen and "the watch started" with a bunch of the wonderful crew at the barns out there who were concerned for the little guy. Carmina suggested bananas as bait as carrots weren't working instantly. Success ! The crew called to say Mr. Rabbit was caught and Minna headed to Norgate Veterinary Hospital with him. The crew had named him Harry and it turns out he was friendly but unneutered. Obviously a dumped bunny and it was his lucky day when he got caught. After neutering at the clinic, he went to Minna's house for fostering and he was adorable !

It's not easy to find rabbits a home but we had a softie lined up! PAF had helped Bev and her husband, Mike, a couple of years ago when they found a very sick kitty near their home in Langley. We've stayed in touch and we asked Bev if her family would 'foster' Harry – LOL. The answer was YES and we knew Harry had a HOME . . . they would be bonded in a flash with their compassion! And we were right. Didn't take long before their daughter, Anna, had Harry (now re-named Moose) set up in her bedroom along with her guinea pigs who would become Moose's new buddies.

But the story doesn't end there. About a month later Bev called to say Anna and her friends had found a lone kitten by the side of a farm store in Langley. Apparently lots of animals are dumped nearby and it looked like this was the case with the tiny kitten. PAF arranged for an immediate vet visit with Murrayville Animal Hospital and the kitten was examined, dewormed, and given a basic vaccine. The vet's estimate was that the little female was about 14 weeks old.

So, guess where little “Whiskey” went to be fostered while Bev tried to find if someone was missing her? Upstairs to the Anna/rabbit/guinea pig bedroom !

Bev and Mike also have 2 rescue dogs and a menagerie of other rescued animals so Whiskey is going to have a ton of pals to play with because no one contacted Bev searching for their lost kitten.

See Moose and Whiskey here

FERAL NEWS

We are constantly encouraged by the increasing amount of positive feedback on Trap/Neuter/Return programs that are taking root in every City and Country around the world.  TNR is effective AND humane.

Effective because healthy adult feral cats are sterilized so it stops the cycle of unwanted litters, and the adult ferals usually enjoy a better quality of life once returned to their home habitat because they are vaccinated as well. Feral kittens, young enough to be socialized, are taken in for vet care and adoption to homes. Outdoor cats also help the community by being nature's best rodent catchers on the planet!  An added plus is that cities don't need to use pesticides, which hurt human health, to kill rodents.

Humane because healthy cats are not just rounded up by Animal Control agencies and killed because they can't get homes.

See   City Ferals Green a City   and LAPD enlists feral cats for Rat Patrol

PAF has practiced TNR for 20 years and a huge portion of our sterilized feral cats have lived very long, healthy lives in their colonies outdoors.  We have daily feeders but those cats still hunt too.  Often we find 'dead presents' waiting for us at the feral station.  Almost all of the initial stations started in the late 1990's have now closed down because the cats have finally passed away which proves that TNR reduces overpopulation through gradual (natural) attrition.   This past summer we lost our dear Noor from our Lonsdale colony.  She was somewhere between 16 and 17 years old and we know that because our feral station started when she was a young adult there.  She had a number of litters before we finally caught her and no further kittens have been born at that location since Noor was spayed.  Only 2 of the original colony of 38 cats (in a two block radius) are still alive now and  . . . . being fed daily by caregivers. 

The following is a good article which explains the benefits of TNR for a community.    How TNR Programs Help Community Cats and Support Pet-Friendly Cities

And we have some photos of our PAF ferals here

 FELINE FUNNIES

Some very funny photos of some of our rescues to show you ! 

For some chuckles click here

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PAF AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT !

On December 11th, we celebrated 20 years of work helping cats, dogs and bunny rabbits to better circumstances .  Together with our wonderful veterinary partners, volunteers and PAF supporters we will continue our mission in 2019.    And a big  'thank you'  to Laurie Lerner from Pet Pals and Lisa Brasso From Walkies who spearheaded the Christmas "PET DRIVE" for the 14th year in a row - this is from the North Shore News - Dec 7th - click here

Happy New Year to All from PAF !