2009

GABBY & JACK So many people and their companion animals have been affected by the economic downturn. Jack's first Mom lost her home. She couldn't find a place for her and Jack. She decided that Jack needed to find a family where he could be safe and happy and who would love him as much as she does. We will never know how Gabrielle (Gabby) turned up in a group of feral cats. The fellow who looks after the group realized that Gabby didn't belong with the group. He contacted CIW to see if we could help find Gabby the home she deserved. We were able to help both these young cats. A wonderful family was looking for 2 special kitties to join their family. They saw Jack and Gabby and knew that they had found the newest members of their family. Jack and Gabby have an older feline brother and sister and an older canine sister as well as their Mom, Dad and 2-legged sister! Lucky Gabby and Jack - lucky family!!!

BILLY Young Billy was rescued from the streets of Mountain View and taken to the Palo Alto Animal Services. He was filthy dirty with matted fur and infected, dirty ears. He had no "in-house good manners" but lots of puppy enthusiasm and bounce. He was given a bath, a grooming and a neuter. He was with CIW for some weekend fairs but we knew his stumbling block would be his behavior in the home. So Billy became a Companions' dog. It didn't take long for this smart little boy to be REALLY ready for his "forever" family. Not long afterward a young couple met Billy. They had been interviewing dogs to see which one would be a fit for their family. After they met Billy, they both said," We've found him!" Billy knew too! He has his new Mom and Dad, his own home, and lots of toys. He was beside himself with happiness! We wish you a long and happy life together!

CHAI What do you do when your world suddenly turns upside down and all the familiar faces and places are gone? What happens when you are also a shy kitty? Chai was so scared that all she wanted to do was hide in her bed and hope that when she put her head out, everything would be back to normal. She soon saw that nice folks were looking after her and her sweet personality started to re-emerge. Then there were the Adoption Fairs - OH NO! No Bed! There was no place to hide except under the mat! A wonderful mother and daughter saw Chai and recognized that she needed a quiet home with no stress - their home! Now Chai has the purrfect quiet place for a shy kitty. She has people who think she is beautiful (so she is), who love her and to whom she can give all her love! You can't beat that combination!

ELIZA In December 2008, we had a phone call from Jennifer Celestre of Able Body Pet Care. She had just rescued a very young puppy from a very bad situation. She asked if CIW would help her place the puppy when the puppy was old enough. Our answer was "Yes!" Eliza's foster moms made sure she was a healthy, happy and a good "in home" family member. We made sure that Eliza was spayed and micro-chipped. When the time was right, along came a wonderful young couple who had been looking for a puppy to join their family. They had wanted a puppy who could go hiking with them. Eliza just fit the bill. Eliza is a very lucky little girl and now she is part of a wonderful family who have adopted this "fair young lady"!

DAVY In May 2007, four young kittens were trapped and rescued at an apartment complex. One kitten is in her "forever" home. One of the boys was also adopted by a great couple but their travel life style and a resident older cat who was not happy with the kitten, made for a not peaceful, happy home life. So Davy came back to CIW where he met Whisper. These two kitties began playing together, sleeping together and were a delight to their foster family. Then one night, Davy's foster dad was holding Davy in his arms and Davy was looking at him with undisguised adoration. What was there to do?The rest is history. Davy has joined his feline sisters, Whisper and Celine and canine brothers, Trevor and Nicky as well as Mom and Dad to make one big happy family. Perfect!

DEXTER In July 2007, we had a phone call from one of CIW's wonderful volunteers. Her daughter had called to say a neighbour had just come to her door saying he and the family were moving but they weren't taking their two older brother cats. Would she find them a home? -and he left. We were asked if CIW could help? The boys received a health check and vaccinations before they came. One brother, Winston, was found to be in chronic renal failure. He passed away with us in late 2008. The other brother, Dexter, was hyper thyroid and has been getting 1/2 pill once a day. Dexter is outgoing and was the kitty social butterfly at many of the CIW Adoption Fairs. Although he was admired, as soon as people heard his age and that he had a controlled medical problem, he was passed by. Then Dex's angel and her Dad came into an Adoption Fair and she met Dexter. His age and disability didn't matter. His personality won the day. Now Dexter has his own "forever" people, two dogs and a kitty sister to get to know. You deserve the best Dexter and they've found you! How perfect is that?!

PUCK Last year the Palo Alto Animal Services was overloaded with wonderful small dogs. The problem was that their forever families were not appearing. CIW began a new program with PAAS. CIW would borrow one or two of the dogs and take them to our Fairs. They would stay in a foster home overnight. Not only did it give the dogs another chance to be seen but it gave everyone a chance to see how the dogs behaved in a home setting. Tux was one of the dogs we borrowed. We found that Tux was not completely house trained although he was 7 years old. Taking him back to the shelter was not helping him learn his household good manners. So at his age and with this problem, his chance of having a successful adoption was greatly reduced. So Tux became a CIW dog. It didn't take long before Tux was REALLY ready to find his family. We thought we had found his family but Tux knew better. Now, seeing him with his new Mom and Dad, it is very clear that Tux has found the family that was meant for him. They decided that he needed a new name. Now his mischievous personality is rewarded with a mischievous name - Puck! He won't need a love potion. The mutual love is there for all to see!!! Yeah!

LIONOX/ANNIE In Dec. '08 a call came from a friend. Her neighbor's sister was having to move and could not take her cats. She had found a home for two of the kitties but the third was not placed and time was running out. Could CIW help? The third kitty had a special feature - she was a polydactyl (she had an extra toe on each front foot). One of the ladies who had filled in an application was interested in adopting a polydactyl cat. She was contacted about taking Lionox on as an emergency foster and she agreed. As she got to know Lionox, she fell in love with her. She gave her a new name - Annie, and asked if she could become Annie's "forever mom". We were happy to agree! What a super conclusion for a beautiful young kitty in peril!

DENNIS & PEGGY SUE Early in 2008 a call came from a family, "We've got kittens in our garage! Can you help?" and help we did. Two of the siblings found their "forever family" last year. Everyone wondered why Dennis and Peggy Sue had not been discovered by their special family when out of the blue, a call came this year. The caller asked, " Are Dennis and Peggy Sue were still looking for their  "forever family?" They were but as it turned out, not for long! Dennis can romp and play with his new Dad and gentle Peggy Sue and cuddle with her new Mom. Their new family think that they have the best kittens, and so they do. We are so happy for you all!

KATIE & EMILY  In 2008, four kittens and their Mom were trapped in the parking lot of a business on El Camino Real. Two of the sisters found their family last year. Katie and her sister Emily have been patiently waiting for just the right family for them. When she was trapped Emily had a serious eye injury that caused a loss of sight in one eye. That doesn't slow her down one little bit! The sisters look out for each other, play together and are each other's best friends. We hoped that there would be a special family who would recognize what wonderful kittens these sisters are. Along came that family on our first weekend for Fairs for this year! They took one look and realized that the girls were meant to be a part of their family! Many happy years together!