Help support Country Animal Haven by grabbing something to munch on... Country Animal Haven is now working one of the concession stands at the Kohls Center. (Located next to section 208/209) Every home Friday and Saturday night hockey games volunteers will be there. 10% of the proceeds go towards the care of the CAH animals. Hope to see you there and GO BUCKY!

September 14th marked the 25th anniversary of the annual Dog Jog, put on by the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. The event, which is quite a sight to see, raises money for humane societies in the area with registration fees and pledges.
The day was not unlike any other day in Wisconsin, cold and wet, but over 500 dogs found it in their hearts to jump to the line and run, walk, or scoot themselves through the race. Some dogs also took the time to dress up for the occasion. Ballerinas, cheerleaders, pirates, dragons, and many other rascals ran the course with style. If only they knew they were racing for cats as well.
Volunteers from Country Animal Haven were there to partake in the event.
We would like to thank the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine for what they do for the humane societies in the area.
Hope to see you next year.

The Petsmart Adoptathon, that took place September 13th, ended up finding 5 new cats/kittens homes. We thank those of you that stopped by. If you were not able to talk to us, feel free to give us a jingle. These little kitties need a "forever" home. CAH will be there next week for more viewings.

We've got kittens galore! It is kitten season and we have an abundance of kittens in all sorts of colors and various ages, both male and female. The best way for you to see and adopt one of our kittens is to come to our adoption events at Petsmart West in Madison on Saturdays from noon until 4 pm. Hope to see you there!

by Jean Dunham

It isn't unusual to get phone calls from people who would like foster kittens. Fun little bundles of fur that, like grandchildren, aren't there to stay but give you lots of laughs until they go. It is a wonderful thing to do and we welcome those calls. The calls we don't get, however, are the ones from people who would like to foster an adult.

Fostering an adult cat is much more rewarding than kittens. These cats have been torn from life-long homes or have been turned out to survive whatever way they can. Most will have a touch of sadness in their eyes and all will have a story to tell you if you watch and listen. They want love and reassurance and a warm lap.

The major concern for most people is having animals already in their homes. I have found by giving them a quiet room of their own for a few days and gradually introducing them to the others in the household that most will be a part of the family in a few days for a couple of weeks. I’ve had some that simply walk in and say “I’m here----period”.

We've had senior cats who have come to live out their last days or months with us. They are grateful to have a warm lap, good food and a sunbeam to curl up in. Sasha was our oldest foster at 19. He was only with us for 4 months, but they were good months for him and for us. He had a favorite chair and loved to be adored. Every day he would go out in the backyard to soak up some sun and to check the yard out. Even on his last day when he could no longer manage the steps from the porch he went out to lie in the sun and look at his beloved yard. Then he came in and curled up in his favorite chair. He was still asleep there when the vet came to ease his way to his next life.

Annie came to stay with us when her people could no longer keep her because of poor health and major changes in their lives. It broke their hearts to leave her, and this shy little girl needed so much love for her own broken heart. She was with us for over a year when her family called. They were able to once more provide her with a home. There were tears of joy as she left for her new home with the people she loved.

We've had other adults that have been with us just a few days or weeks before they found new forever homes. Some were with us a year or more but all enriched our lives while they were there. Fostering an adult cat brings so much love to your lives.

Moe (the oranage tabby) with his foster brothers Tuk and Max. Moe came in as a stray. This 26 pounder was taken by the Watkins family to foster. When they came to pick him up they were told their normal cat carrier was never going to work for this guy. They took him anyway, in a borrowed dog carrier, and he has been a great addition to their home. (I'm hearing rumors he may never leave.)

It was behind an old motel that a six-week-old kitten, soon to be named Missy, was found. Trapped beneath a wooden board, she lay on her back with her legs flailing. Her brother and sister were also found nearby, but neither had sustained the trauma that Missy endured. Perhaps, there were others who were not discovered that day.

Brought to safety, Missy’s little body couldn’t quite manage as it should given the severity of her injuries. Yet, with intense determination, Missy day by day learned to get around. She would stumble and topple over and about, but she never stopped trying. “The back end didn’t do what the front end was doing,” Jean Dunham of Country Animal Haven noted.

Upon examining Missy, her veterinarians, Dr. Laura of Middleton Veterinary Clinic and the retired Dr. John Barnes, initially suspected hyperglycemia; yet, testing proved that not to be the case. Then, the possibility of a back injury or potential cerebellar hypoplasia was considered. Even meningitis was ultimately ruled out.

A definitive diagnosis remained elusive.

According to Dunham, who provided care for Missy night and day, she loved to snuggle while wrapped in warm, soft blankets. Held as a baby, she would purr and “make biscuits.”

Missy’s disabilities didn’t interfere in the slightest with her desire for or ability to offer affection.

“Kittens that are handicapped don’t know they’re handicapped. That’s their life. They just deal with it,” Dunham explained. “Everybody who met her was touched by her determination. She loved to cuddle. I think she touched people who ordinarily wouldn’t be touched by a cat. She went against the odds for a long time. Everyone was cheering her on.”

Initially kept safe within a wide, blanketed pen with her brother and sister, Missy enjoyed the company of her siblings. Yet, when they were blessed to find a foster home, Dunham felt that it was in Missy’s best interest to stay put, given the level of care she required.

As part of the transition, a maternal housemate, Isis, was brought in with Missy. Having nursed a total of 15 orphans after giving birth to her own litter, Isis was an innate nurturer, who whole-heartedly invested herself in Missy’s care. “She scrubbed her good,” Dunham reminisced. “It was just natural for Isis.”

Over the next several weeks, Missy had good days and others that were extremely touch-and-go; but, she always pulled through. Yet, the last Monday of July proved to be a day in which Missy found herself unable to rally.

“We were really hopeful. Then, she came down again; but, this time, she didn’t bounce back,” Dunham recalled. “Missy laid there and slept. She grew weaker. I just held her all day. That night, she started to cry. It was time to let her go.”

Missy passed near 10 o’clock that evening. The cause of death was ultimately deemed to be due to early trauma to her head. She was just over three months old.

For Dunham, the moral of Missy’s story is clear.

“Missy’s litter was not feral. They were dumped,” she explained. “Have your cats spayed. If it’s too late, don’t dump the kittens. Get them to a rescue. Take the responsibility, and do the kind thing.”

Kitten season is already upon us and we are receiving requests to take kittens, pregnant moms and nursing moms. We desperately need foster homes in order to help these cats and kittens survive and live to go to forever homes. The more foster homes we have the more animals we can help. We provide the food, litter and medical care, you provide the love and space. This can be a committment for as little as a few weeks until they are spayed, neuterd and ready for adoption, to several months until the kittens are old enough for adoption. If you are interested please call Mary at 212-8729 or Jean at 835-3170.