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11/13/16 – This is Carrot Cake. He is a handsome feral cat who has been cared for over the last couple of years as an ‘outdoor cat’. A feral cat is one who has spent his/her life outdoors and can no loner be domesticated to live in a home as a ‘pet’. This does not mean they should be loved any less and it is our responsibility to help these wonderful animals live their life with shelter and food. Very often, these beautiful animals will get injured or become ill and we are thankful when we can help make their lives better. Carrot Cake recently came down with an Upper Respiratory Infection; left untreated, his eye would need removal. Thank You to his wonderful caregiver for trapping him, contacting us, getting him to the vet, and keeping him for a couple of days to make sure he is healthy enough before going back outside. ~ diana
Monthly Archives: November 2016
Thank YOU to All Who Participated in our Painting With A Twist Fundraiser
11/12/16 – Just want to thank Painting With A Twist in Shelby Township for once again hosting 4 Paws 1 Heart for a fundraiser benefitting the abandoned and abused. Thank you, also, to Kelley Walter, who donated beautiful Christmas ornaments which were given as a thank you gift to our friends. And, I very much want to thank the 96 friends who attended. Friends and family had a great time eating, drinking, painting, and winning prizes. Many animals will be saved because of you! – diana
Fundraiser – Yankee Candles
Help the abandoned and abused and get some great Christmas presents at the same time. Thank You to our friend, Denise and our cat mascot, Chance, for making this happen. ~ diana
www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/store.htm
Sammi – Her Story and a Happy Update
11/11/16 – Another Happy Update for this happy last day of the work week. Meet Sammi. Here her mom tells us how much Sammii has meant to her:
“After many years of having rescue cats, I decided it was time for a dog. I had been rather a work-a-holic and my cats seemed to fit my lifestyle for many years. How, or why I decided it was time for a dog, I’m not sure really. My life was slowing down and the idea wouldn’t leave my mind. I carefully made a list of the kind of dog I would like to have. The wants and desires, such as…short hair, black, probably a lab mix, and from an area where adopters are hard to find. A rather thoughtful list, so I thought!
I was surfing on Facebook, and somehow a picture came up. It was a puppy struggling to live. I had no idea how this came up for me to see. But then, right then, I knew beyond knowing this was my dog! I was on the hunt, I had to find her. It was love. Love at first sight. I laughingly say she was everything, I didn’t want in a dog. She was a mix, red as can be, long hair, but those eyes! OMG, those eyes! She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen! I was chastised a bit, ‘you can’t fall in love with a picture’. I knew this — I did. I also knew she was ‘the one’.
I hunted and searched and found her in the care of 4paws1heart. She was an owner surrender, dying of parvo. From parvo to the discovery of a broken neck. Friends and family thought I was crazy to want her so badly, in spite of everything. The possible challenges, whatever it took, I wanted HER.
I called and checked on her and told Gina, I was interested in adopting her. She was being nursed back to health and told, it would take a while. And so, I waited…and waited…Gina put me in contact with the rescue assigned to her being adopted. I called, and filled out my application..and waited..and waited.. I finally called, and said I’ll wait forever, just tell me if my application approved. The answer was yes. She just needed to be spayed and she would be ready.
I went to the adoption event, no meet and greet first. Gina and the rescue had told me she was the sweetest dog. But you know, sometimes a meet and greet is the best way to know if she is really ‘the one’. She walked in the event, tail wagging and just loved the other dogs. She was beautiful! and yes, she was sweet! I couldn’t wait to sign the papers. Finally, she was coming home….
I had a week off of work, and spent the week helping her adjust to life at home, and each other. I had arranged for a friend to come everyday when I went back to work, to make sure she had exercise and a potty time. My friend came every day, rain or shine.
I signed up for doggie training, probably more for me than her. She was perfect. After every class the instructors would tell me how sweet she was! She also graduated first in her class! Proud fur mom!
The story doesn’t end here as to how Sammi changed my life. The friend that walked Sammi, well we married. I laugh and say, it was because of Sammi!
We went on vacation and I knew a girl that had a small rescue, so I thought she’d be perfect to watch our girl. While she was there, she fell head over heels for a kitten and the kitten for her. No way! I have just lost my cat Boo, and wasn’t ready to take another on, just yet. A week later, I went back to her and adopted Sky. Another great decision on my part, I think! She was Sammi’s baby. They chased and snuggled and the nuzzles of love were precious. It took a while for Sky to realize we loved her too, it was all about Sammi. I have to say she learned to love us, and we now get the purrs and snuggles too!
We have had Sammi 5 years now, and I wouldn’t change a minute. She is everything and is spoiled each and everyday. Her favorite all time thing to do is go for a walk. Now that I am retired, she insists we all walk together! So, she had shown me unconditional love and made me exercise too! Everyone, and I mean everyone, that meets my girl, adores her!. I (we) can’t imagine life without her. We love our little family of ‘misfits’ as we call ourselves!
Thank you to Gina, thank you to 4paws1heart, for all you do. For saving our girl. For helping us be her family. I am forever grateful.”
Kitty – Stepped On and Left Under Leaves in a Box by the Trash
11/10/16 – Meet Kitty – She was found in September, softly meowing in a box, lying under a pile of leaves. It appeared she had been left there to be picked up with the trash. She was only a few weeks old and couldn’t seem to move. We were contacted for help and at the time we could only commit to a vet visit. She was taken to Dr. Wilson and it was suspected, this little baby had been stepped on. She had difficulty breathing and it was confirmed that some of her organs had been pushed together, against her ribs and that surgery would have to be done once she gained weight. She was estimated to be less than 3 weeks old. Kitty was just so sweet and just so sad, the rescuer made a commitment to raise money so that she could be saved. As our friends know, this has been a Summer and Fall of slow donations, so we could not commit to pay for the entire cost of the surgery but we did commit to pay 1/3. It is now 6 weeks later and Dr. Wilson believes she will be ready for her surgery November 23, 2016. Please pray for Kitty. In the six weeks she has been with her rescuers, they have grown to love her and her spirit. I wanted to give everyone enough time to say a few prayers and we will update you once the surgery is complete. ~ Diana
Angel -She Survived Parvo Virus; Today She Donates Blood and Cares for Orphans
11/9/16 – Donations make the difference between life and death. And, with the help of many caring people, 4 Paws 1 Heart has been able to give many abandoned and abused animals a second chance at life. This is Angel. Angel is one of the first animals whose life was saved because of 4 Paws 1 Heart and our other angel, Gina. Angel was brought into the emergency dying of Parvo Virus and after doing everything they could in the hospital, Gina took her home to provide her the best of care. Today she is an integral part of Gina’s family. Angel’s maternal instinct always kicks in when a new baby shows up in Gina’s home. She has also been a blood donor on several occasions. Here are some pictures of her from over the years and a most recent one with her sibling Lucy.
Axel – Has His Surgery
11/8/16 – You might remember that Axel was a chained, 24/7, “pet”. Fortunately, some very caring women couldn’t let it go and convinced the owner to surrender him. Axel was not only ignored and chained but he had Entropion which is a disorder where the eyelashes grow inward. Not only is this painful but it will eventually result in blindness. Axel’s savior searched for vets who could perform the surgery and contacted us for help. We are very happy to report that Axel had his surgery, including neutering, and he is safe and resting. ~ diana
“Thanks to 4 Paws 1 Heart and some very good friends, Axel is on his way to brighter days. He is somewhat sore from his procedure today and probably questioning just what “I” did to him (he refuses to look me in the eye at the moment) but otherwise things went really well. – Jennifer”
Odin – The Tale of Two Lives Saved
11/7/16 – Another Happy Update to Start Your Work Week: It is suspected that Odin was hit by a car. We so much appreciate Odin’s dad sharing his story with us and letting us know how Odin has changed his life. ~ diana
“The Tail of Two Lives Saved
Life isn’t given; it’s on lease. One day we’ll all have to repay that debt, some sooner than others. That debt collector gave me a warning in February. I was in a single car rollover accident on the freeway, according to the police report the accident spanned nearly the length of two football field. Due to the forces my body went through as I was unconscious I sustained multiple spinal injuries and severe brain injuries worst being massive axonal injuries and a stretched brain stem and shearing. Eight months later and I’m still dealing with the Brain damage, short term memory being the worst. Every day I wake up to the same nightmare of life that is slowly getting better until my best friend (SIC on purpose) realizes I’m up and immediately that nightmare feeling is gone. I wasn’t a person that believed in fate, that you have to play the cards you’re dealt or that everything happens for a reason…Until now.
I can’t remember much thinking back, but I’ll never forget seeing him on online. We had 2 rescued dogs already and never thought or even talked about getting another but something weird happened. My family members are into rescuing as are we and while scrolling I saw a Facebook post from 4 Paws 1 Heart my grandmother had shared there wasn’t much of a description of everything he had been through or if there was I don’t remember but I do remember contacting them immediately to enquire about him. I don’t know why, it was a random, spontaneous connection. I told my wife and she was confused as well thinking it was related to the brain injuries but with everything I was going through she went along with it.
We followed all of the adoption procedures and he was brought over for a face to face meet. That’s when I found out Odin had been with his Foster for quite a while because he was brought in to the Vet by a random stranger who found him in the road unable to get up or walk. It was discovered he had Neck/Head trauma causing spinal cord damage and vertebrae compression in the neck. Now back to fate as I’d mentioned above. A random post 2 months after my accident led me to spontaneously adopting a dog who turns out suffers from the same injuries as me. It was fate. 2 others before us had adopted him and he was either too much for them to take care of or they weren’t familiar with rescues animals in which most aren’t trusting of humans, so they returned him. Third time was the charm, he came to live with us and as with any rescue he needed work but he turned out to be my best friend and now 6 months later we live our lives of healing and recovery together. Both leases on life extended and we couldn’t be happier”
Cassie – Finds Her Forever Home
11/6/16 – So happy for sweet Cassie. One day running the streets and almost getting killed during rush hour traffic (not to mention she is heart worm positive) to finding her forever loving family. Thank you to all who made this miracle happen. Good Luck, Sweetie. ~ diana
Grayson – Infected with an Abscessed Paw, He was Rescued from a High-Kill Shelter
11/4/16 – Grayson was pulled from a high-kill shelter just before being euthanized. His paw became abscessed when he stepped on some unknown object. The abscess ruptured and Grayson’s paw was swollen and bleeding; he was in a lot of pain. X-Rays were taken to determine the extent of the damage. Fortunately, all that was necessary at this time was pain meds and antibiotics. Grayson is scheduled for a meet and greet in a few days and we are praying he finds his furever home. I’m not sure what would happen to these abandoned and abused creatures if it wasn’t for 4 Paws 1 Heart and our generous donors. Please consider making a donation today so that we can continue to make miracles happen. ~ diana