2006

SUGAR  After 5 years, Sugar's life went into a tailspin because her human passed away. Although she was loved and provided for, everything was different. Sugar thought nothing would be right again. Then along came a lady with a lilting voice that was soothing and that touched Sugar's heart. Sugar felt her world stop spinning. What Sugar didn't know was that she was just what her special human had been wanting for a long time. After several years, Sugar's love brought a four- footed companion back into her special human's life. Now life is a song for both Sugar (now called Missee) and her new Mom!
BATMAN  A petite female family cat gives birth to four beautiful male kittens. The family decides all five would have a better life with other families. So the little Mom cat and her boys come to CIW. Batman was the solo type. He seemed to want to be on his own. He curled up by himself. He'd find his own corner. Along came a lady who asked,"Do you have a black kitten? I can only adopt one kitten. " The answer was "Yes!" She met Batman who curled up in her arms and did something he had never done before - he purred!
LENA & SNOOPY  Lena, aka Thumbelina, is just the sweetest little Mom cat whose biggest joys are to be cuddled by her human and to purr. She did a wonderful job raising her four boys. Now she was ready to find her forever place. Snoopy is the most adventurous, rambunctious, friendly and playful of Lena's boys. Given half a chance, Snoopy wants to explore what's on the other side of the door. A wonderful lady saw Lena at CIW's last Adoption Fair for 2006 and couldn't get her out of her mind. After she saw how Lena and Snoopy were together, she invited both Mom and son to become part of her family with her resident cat Claude who is looking for a playmate. What a happy conclusion to a year of wonderful matches!
KIMMIE & SUSI  Two little dogs were hiding out in a business park. They didn't know why they had been abandoned but they were looking out for each other. They needed to know they would stay together and give all the love they had to their humans. Along came a wonderful couple whose senior pets had passed to Rainbow Bridge and who were missing the sound of 4 feet on the floor in their home. They fell under the Kimmie and Susi charm. Kimmie raced around her new yard with such joy. She knew she was in her forever home. Susi checked out every corner and kept coming back as it to say, "This is great!" Happy, happy lives girls - You deserve it!
DITTO, FRANK & SILVER  Four wonderful kittens were left in a safe backyard when they were 5 weeks old. One sister found her "forever home" almost immediately but her sister's and brother's "forever family" didn't appear. They grew into sleet, beautiful, sweet and loving adult cats. A year and a half later along came a lady who fell in love with the three beautiful black cats. After meeting them, their new Mom couldn't stop thinking about them. What a great start for the new family! Many happy years together!!!

NAHDI  Nadhi has had angels looking after her. Her first angel rescued her from Mexico and brought her to the US but found that a puppy was more than she could handle. In came Nadhi's second angel who promised she would find Nadi a good home. This angel found CIW. Nadhi's "forever angels" appeared at a park with their little dog. The puppies became friends. The family had been looking for a companion puppy. Now this Dalmation/Border Collie little girl is home! Angels make wonderful magic, don't they?
DINI & MONKEY  To hide out in a car engine is a rough way to find a safe new home! Grease Monkey and Ms Houdini came to CIW this way. Monkey was the outgoing sister while Dini is the shyer sister but they are both growing into wonderfully social cats. Along came a family who were looking for two "dog friendly" kittens and met these wonderful sisters. The rest is, as they say, history. The children each have a kitten to cuddle and love. The kittens have a friendly canine "big" sister and a safe and happy home so they can live long and happy lives. No more car engines for these two!
CASSIDY  A young semi feral mom raised 4 beautiful kittens. Luckily for them, they were all trapped, the kittens were socialized and Mom is a work in progress. All the kittens have now found their "forever" families. Cassidy was the protective big brother but as they grew, he learned that his sister didn't need his protection anymore and he could be his own personality. Cassidy found wonderful humans and a big brother to play with. He is never going to have to be afraid of cars, or other animals that might hurt him. He's a lucky boy! Cassidy, have a long and happy life with your special family!
RAYA & CONNIE  Raya and Connie are some of the lucky kittens. They were born in a barn to a feral Mom. A family scooped them up when they were very young and raised them to be wonderfully social kittens but needed help finding them a good home. CIW was able to help. The kittens have a great indoor home, two boys and a dog to love them and play with them as well as adults to make sure they are healthy, safe and take care of all their other needs. Who could ask for anything more?
MAGGIE MAE  Beagles follow their noses. Maggie followed her nose to a home that recognized that she was probably lost and should not be out on her own. Peninsula Humane Society checked Maggie over, spayed, vaccinated and micro-chipped her and waited for her family to come for her. But they never did. Maggie went back to the family who rescued her and Maggie thought she had found her forever family but very soon Maggie's energy told the family that she needed more than they could give her. CIW could help. Maggie now has a big beagle brother to play with, a big yard to run in and a Mom and Dad who understand beagles. Thumbs up and full steam ahead for a long and happy life together!

HENRY  What do you do when you're a young, scared kitten? You find someone nice and that's what Henry did. The lady who helped him couldn't keep him but she called CIW. We could help find that special family who was waiting for Henry and we did. Henry has his Mom and his home. He is still shy of loud noises and bustle but he loves to curl up in his Mom's lap and snuggle up with her at night. He is small in size but his purrs are even bigger than before. Have a long and happy life Henry!
BUDDY  A young kitten and his siblings are rescued from a life scrounging for food, trying to survive to adulthood and then staying alive against cars, dogs, cats, raccoons and the weather. Things look great for the beautiful kittens and they all find loving homes. But Buddy needs more. He wants all the attention and bullies the resident older cat until she is hiding. Much as his human loves him, this is not the "forever" home for Buddy, so he comes back to CIW. A year passes and Buddy is still looking for the special family who was meant just for him. Along came a young couple who are looking for one cat to cuddle with and who wants to spend time with his humans. A match was made! Buddy has found his family and they recognized what a wonderfully special cat he is! Three cheers for a long life together!
SHASTA  In 2003, a 3 month old kitten was adopted from Peninsula Human Society. A few months later the same kitten was surrendered to Palo Alto Animal Services. Shasta liked other cats, dogs and sort of wanted to be with people. But Shasta had an issue - he would bite - hard! He came to CIW to see if we could help him and some progress was made. A young man decided that Shasta was the companion for him, even with his issue but earlier this August CIW learned Shasta needed to be returned because his caretaker's business travel had increased and he could no longer care for Shasta. What would happen to Shasta? His future looked very grim when an animal savvy lady who had known Shasta earlier, said that she would like to give him a chance at her home. Shasta (now called Stitch) has finally found his "forever" home. He follows his new Mom around the house. He keeps an eye on her daughter and her friends. He is given attention only when he asks and he shows his new Mom in all the ways he can, what a happy boy he is. Way to go Stitch!
BASIL  Basil was rescued from a dumpster as a very tiny kitten. He grew up in a home with two older cats who were upset by this young energetic kitten who wanted to play with them. They weren't interested and soon friction grew and it was decided that Basil would be better in another home. Basil decided his foster home was where he wanted to live the rest of his life. He waited patiently until his foster family decided that they wanted to invite Basil, now Nick, to be a permanent member of the family. Now everyone's happy. Basil/Nick has his "forever family" and his Mom and Dad have a great new boy in their family, officially! Wonderful!!
DAISY  Daisy, (now PJ) A young semi feral cat raised 4 beautiful kittens. Lucky for them, they were all trapped, the kittens socialized and the Mom is a work in progress. The kittens have been finding their "forever" families. Daisy chose her foster Mom as her special person. Luckily her foster Mom and the family felt the same about Daisy. Now dainty Daisy has the other family cats to help her grow into as wonderful a cat as she is a kitten and humans to give her love and all the care she will ever need. Great combination, right?

LILLIAN & DOROTHY  Lillian (Lily) and Dorothy (Rosy) A young female cat was rescued from a feral colony. She decided she liked the family. What the family didn't know was that she wasn't spayed. In due time along came 3 kittens. One didn't survive but the the two pretty girls did and grew into very sweet and loving kittens with the help of the Mom's family. But they needed to find their "forever" family. Along came two young girls and their Mom. They fell in love with the sister kittens. Each sister found a sister. We wish them many wonderful years together!
HAILEY  It really was a dark and stormy night (actually it was hailing) when a frightened young kitten found refuge in a garage. It was dry and warm and she was in a safe place. Efforts to find her family were unsuccessful and she she had no collar, tags or microchip. She was named Hailey. She got along well with the resident cats but the house was full. Her foster family's daughter was looking for a new kitten to join the family and a match was made! Now Hailey has a safe "forever home with two big brothers, a little boy and two adults to love and care for her. No more dark, wet scary nights for Hailey!
ZAMBEDI, UMO & SUKI  Three young cats were born into a family with lots of pets. They were loved dearly but when the three were one year old the family decided to move to the East coast. The family had more pets than they could take with them. Zambedi, Umo and Suki had to stay behind. Each cat was tried in separate homes by themselves but they were miserable and all came back. They needed a home together. They waited and waited for over a year. One day a lady called to say that she and her Mother had recently lost their long time companion cat. The two ladies came to meet the three wonderful kitties and a match was begun. The two ladies say that it feels like their three new family members have been with them their whole lives. Shy Umo has found the confidence she was missing and has become the "social butterfly". Zambedi has taken Mom as her special person and gentle Suki has taken on the role as overseer in his own special way. They all love an ice cube bath. Their new Moms call them a "class act" and so they are! The three siblings have found their perfect home and the family has found their perfect companions! Many happy years together!
PIPER & GWENDOLYN  Four beautiful kittens were born under a deck to a young feral Mother cat. The mother cat raised them to be sweet kittens, healthy and ready to give lots of love. All the kittens and the Mom cat were rescued from a feral life and the kittens were easily socialized. Piper (now Ginger) and Gwen (now Nutmeg) have found their "forever family" with a Mom and Dad to care for them, two boys to play with them and teach them how to be good kittens/cats and a big friendly dog to be their big brother. What lucky kittens! What a lucky family!
ALEXANDER Alexander found himself an abandoned puppy at 3 months old. He was picked up and put in a cold shelter with lots of noise and many other animals. Lucky for him, CIW came looking for dogs they could help and little Alexander with his huge winning personality was one. Very soon, along came a wonderful family who were looking for a companion puppy. Alexander won their hearts. Now he has laps that were just waiting for him and another dog to play with who will teach him his puppy good manners. Well done Alexander!

LEWIS & EMERY  Lewis' first year of life is lost to us forever. He was picked up as a stray in Madera and taken to the animal shelter there but he was shy and scared. He wouldn't cross a threshold and had to be carried. He had not been adopted and his time was up when CIW came looking for a few dogs we could help. Lewis was one. In his foster home his sweet personality started to emerge. He played fetch by himself and was a great cuddler. At the shelter, Louis met his buddy Emery. Emery was so shy he had to be trapped to bring him to the shelter. He didn't walk. He scooted along the floor on his belly. So finding a home for this shy dog wasn't going to happen through the shelter. CIW gave him a second chance. In his foster home, his gentle personality started to emerge. His favorite things were to find a buddy to play with and to cuddle with his human. Louis give Emery confidence to do things that are scary for him by himself. Then along came a gal who had lost her long time companion dog. Both boys charmed her and everyone' wishes came true! The boys have each other to play with and a wonderful Mom with whom to cuddle. Ain't life grand!!
BUZZ  What's a puppy to do when nobody wants him and he is only 3 1/2 months old? He had no "forever family" to take care of him. He was taken to a shelter in central California where CIW found him and decided to give him a real second chance. He is a border collie mix and so mellow and easy going but also a play machine who needs a job. Along came a young couple who were looking for a playmate for their border collie mix young dog. They saw Buzz and a match was made. Because of their previous experience with border collies, they know his energy level and his need for a job to keep him happy and productive. What a perfect home for this wonderful boy!
MARA  A little old cat with a large roughly shaved patch on her back, appears in a garden. It turns out she has a microchip but that family aren't interested in her anymore. She comes to CIW. Soon the fur on her back grows back and she is beautiful again. She has arthritis and very few teeth. Mara only wants a nice sunny spot to laze away the days, a comfy bed and her food (she prefers crunchy dry food, thank you). Mara's foster family decided to give Mara what she most wanted. Now Mara has a wonderful sunny window in which to sleep. She has her own space where the family cats don't bother her, she gets her food and water and all the love she can handle for her golden years. What a lucky girl she is! What a wonderful family!
WIGGLES How do you find a wonderful home for a great little cat who hates all other four-footed animals?  You keep trying.  Wiggles, now called Sasha, was found terrified on a busy street.  She had started out in life as an indoor kitten whose family discovered they had allergies to cats.  Her second family had dogs that scared her so she was put outside with dry food and had to fend for herself.  We suspect that cats outdoors were not very nice to her.  When she came to the Adoption Fairs, she was so stressed that she spent her time growling, spitting and hissing.  Not a great way to find a family!  Wiggles needed an angel who could see what a wonderful little girl she is.  Almost 3 years later, a phone call brought a lady who had lost her feline companion several months earlier.  After grieving, she began looking for another companion.  Something in Wiggles' story and picture spoke to her.  Wiggles listened to what was whispered in her ear and she found her forever family.  Now she gets brushes and pets and lots of play time.  She sleeps with her new Mom, has a home that is all hers and a family who have recognized what a wonderful little girl she is.  Aren't "happily ever after" endings great?
CRYSTAL  Crystal was in a stable home for the first 6 years of her life until tragedy struck.  Her guardian took ill and felt she could no longer care for Crystal.  Crystal was adopted by a wonderful lady who found that her job demanded that she be away from Crystal longer each day than she expected.  She wanted better for Crystal than she was able to give her.  Now Crystal has found her forever home with a Mom who discovered Crystal's winning personality when Crystal snuggled under her new Mom's chin.  Now Crystal gets all the loving she deserves in a home that was just waiting for this little love bug!  The third time was Crystal's Charm!

STELLA  Stella's life was centered around her humans and her canine best bud for seven years.  Life happens and along came a baby.  Stella wan't sure about this little one who made her very nervous.  Stella's family wanted them and her to be at ease.  They decided to try to find a home where little ones would not be a concern for Stella.  CIW gave them things to consider when looking for that "right" family and they found the family they were wanting for Stella on their own.  We are happy for Stella's first family, her new family and most of all, for Stella!
CHARLOTTE  A little cat not yet one year old, abandoned, is rescued.  She already had a litter of 6 kittens in a roof gutter.  All her cute kittens found homes but no one was interested in giving little Charlotte, who was still a kitten herself, a home.  She came to a CIW Adoption Fair and along came two boys and their Mom.  The boys recognized what a wonderful little girl she is and after a family meeting, the whole family agreed they would like Charlotte to become a member of their family.  Now she has three boys and two other kitties to play with and a Mom and Dad who recognized what a special little girl she is.  Way to go Charlotte!
HARRY  Harry's family left him behind when they moved.  He survived by slipping into garages to steal food or to find a warm place to sleep.  His beautiful fur got matted and he got sick.  A caring neighbour noticed that he did not look well and took him to the hospital.  He regained his health but he had no home to go to.  So Harry came to CIW to wait for his forever family.  Several months passed and then along came a lady.  She had waited a while before she was ready to invite a new cat to be part of her family.  The description of the cat she was looking for matched Harry to a "T" and so they met.  The rest is, as they say, history!  Harry has found his forever family and she has found her purrfect companion.  Yippee!