Heather Shea
About Heather Shea
Posts by Heather Shea:
Are you Daisy’s adoption hero?
Daisy is a special girl who needs a quiet home where she can relax. If you’re looking for a puuuurfect companion, please visit her page under adult cats for adoption to read more!
An update on Terry – From February 13, 2022
Update on Terry the cat that was recently rescued from a local landfill, when he was found hanging from his paw on a piece of metal. Terry is coming along with his physical health. His paw that was so infected and inflamed in the end had to have some toes amputated, but he seems to be adjusting and all the inflammation and infection are gone. I believe that at one point Terry has interacted with people as he REALLY wants affection, however, he is still very nervous. So it is two steps forward and one step back. Terry is learning to trust again and once he is totally readjusted to a life with people will be available for adoption. If you are able to donate towards Terry’s veterinary costs or just want to support the good work that AlleyCATS Alliance does in the Okanagan, you can do so on our website using PayPal, www.alleycatsalliance.org or by snail mail at 332, 113-437 Martin Street, Penticton, B.C. V2A 5L1. If you wish to do an Etransfer you can do so by emailing alleycatsoffice@gmail.com. Thank you to everyone who supports AlleyCATS in our mission to change the lives of these amazing beings!
2021: An AlleyCats Alliance Year in Review
What an incredible year 2021 was! We had so many wonderful cats get vet care and loving homes and we are always so excited to pass a successful rescue onto a loving family. As always, however, there are a few that stand out for various reasons. First, there was Greyman, who had been shot by a pellet gun and his knee had been shattered and healed before he was brought to us. He was a huge fellow and shy but kind. Greyman had to have his leg amputated and then got an infection that required flushing of his incision twice a day, but he tolerated everything with grace and poise. He made a full recovery and went to a wonderful home.
AlleyCATS took in a kitten that was found on the beltline at a recycling plant! Not the first, I might add! This was a tiny kitten who was in rough shape, he was taken immediately to a Vet and again we had a cat that has Entropion, which means his eyelashes grow towards his eyes instead of away! This type of birth defect requires a specialist who also informed us that poor little Foil had had an infection in his eyes before they were even opened and that infection had ruptured both of his corneas.
It was first thought he would lose both eyes, but luck was on his side and it has turned out that he retained some sight despite his rough start. Foil is still in our care and continues with his treatment and regular visits to the specialist.
Fred Astaire came to us from another organization that was going to euthanize him because he was too feral, but given time to figure out what had happened to him he turned out to be extremely friendly! Sometimes cats are just so traumatized that they go into their fight or flight instincts and it takes a while for them to let their guard down and show who they really are. Fred was adopted and is living a great life now!
We received a call from one of the Pet Stores that sponsor our cats and kittens that they had found a cat hiding behind the shelves of cat and dog food. This little girl who we named Mystery was too spooked to come out so we set a trap and within two days she was in a foster home. She has never revealed how she came to be in the store, but that is ok, we love a little Mystery!
We also have our share of sadness in the world of rescue. One that will live in my heart forever is a cat named Pepper. He had been abandoned by his owner and we took him directly to the vet when we took possession of him from a kind neighbour. Pepper’s eyes were very infected, but it was not anything that could be cured. The bones that held his eyes in place, called the orbit, had been disintegrating for a very long time, there was no surgery that could help him. The difficult decision was made to euthanize Pepper and put an end to the pain he had suffered for so long.
Angel came to us because her owner had passed away. Angel is a senior citizen and is currently in foster care. Angel has a few medical problems but she is happy and still enjoying her life. Hopefully, we can find someone who will give her the love and care she needs for her remaining lifetime.
Abby was a kitten that came from a town where they were thinking of culling the cats as there were so many of them. Born in our care to a pregnant cat that we took in, Abby was born with a very bad heart murmur. So far it does not seem to affect Abby but her life may not be as long as it should be. Abby has been adopted by a wonderful family that are aware of Abby’s health concerns and will give her everything she needs for whatever length of time they are blessed to share with her.
Then we have the most recent addition to those who really pull at our heartstrings, Peaches! Peaches who was abandoned along with his mom and two siblings in a winery has a birth defect in his spine. Peaches’ back legs wobble, but that does not stop him, He can beat his foster mom down the stairs and give his toys the what for with those back legs when he lays on his back. Peaches will also need a special family that will be able to care for him with his special needs and realize his time may be limited. But as with all things no one knows how many tomorrows they have, we only wish that they are happy days.
So that is a little of what AlleyCATS Alliance did in 2021. We had lots of joy and laughter, some unexpected events, and some tears for those we had to say goodbye to.
In 2021 AlleyCATS Alliance rescued and assisted 261 cats.
None of this would be possible without all of the support we receive from our generous donors, those kind Veterinarians who are willing to take the time and make the effort to help these helpless, often fierce, creatures, and our volunteers who work so tirelessly. Thank you to all who are helping to make a difference in the lives of these forgotten felines!
