• Good News for Animals
• Success Stories
• The Story of Bob
• Help a Friend
• Signs of Illness in your Pet
• Camptonville, Downieville
• Closer to Home
• Quilt Winner

• National Pet Statistics

• Fun Statistics

• Grouting for Dollars

• In Honor Of

• In Memory Of

• My Forever Pet

• Donations

Good News for Animals

Those of you who are familiar with the Pet Adoption League know what we do, but if you are reading about us for the first time, let us give a little background.

Over the past eleven years, the Pet Adoption League has made great strides in helping animals.
Several thousand cats and dogs have found homes either by way of our foster homes or through our referral service. 

Over 10,000 animals have been spayed and neutered because of our intensive efforts in this area. 
A few thousand feral (wild) cats have been spayed and neutered through our Feral Cat Program. Not long ago, we did a conservative estimate of how many cats were NOT born to all the feral cats we had altered that year. The answer: 16,000 kittens were NOT born into a life of misery, disease and painful death. This figure covered just feral cats altered in just one year.

Every year, the Doris Day Animal Foundation designates February 26 as "Spay Day." Their campaign slogans are clever. Last year it was "2001: A Spay Odyssey." This year, it's "A Tale of Two Kitties: Don't let Fluffy breed like the Dickens!" Their campaigns are also very effective. Thousands of animals nationwide get spayed and neutered. They recommend that you get your pets altered, or, if your pets already are, get someone else's taken care of. 

We'd like to suggest that at the Pet Adoption League, every day is Spay Day because we offer financial assistance year round to everyone who needs it. We will pay for the entire cost of surgery for tame or feral cats. We will pay for all or part of the surgery for dogs. (We help with some of the cost, but if the need is there, we help with all of it.)

Since we have started offering FREE spaying and neutering for ALL cats (tame or feral), many people who are finding abandoned cats are keeping them instead of taking them to the pound/shelter. One person we help in Camptonville, takes 20 cats to the spay/neuter clinic every month. We pay for it. The cats and their people are very happy about it!

We also have given away several hundred cat and dog houses to people who couldn't afford to buy them. We give away at least 10 tons of cat and dog food every year. And our dog-obedience rebate, for people who want but can't afford dog training, has kept many dogs at home with their families rather than going to the pound. We spend about $60,000 per year on our programs.

We spend many hours helping people with pet behavior problems, thereby helping them to keep their pet. If they have other pet-related questions, we help them or refer them to someone who can. 
Our Humane Education Program helps students learn about loving and responsible pet guardianship.
Eleven years ago, we approached The Union newspaper about featuring shelter animals as Pets of the Week. We also asked KNCO radio if they would run a program about the shelter animals. Both kindly agreed. Both have been very receptive over the years about getting the word out when it comes to helping animals.

All this translates into fewer animals euthanized at the shelters. When we started doing this very worthwhile work, roughly 4,000 were being euthanized every year. Now that number is under 750. The ideal would be, of course, to bring that number to zero. 

We have been able to accomplish so much thanks to incredibly dedicated volunteers and because or your support.

Success Stories

These cats and dogs came from the pound or were abandoned elsewhere. But the endings to their stories are all happy ones thanks to the wonderful people who adopted them.

The person who abandoned Jack thought no one was looking. He was picked up and fostered by PAL until the right home came along. Long-time volunteer Maxine Robinson of Nevada City, who has adopted two other cats from PAL, decided Jack would fit right in with her family. After getting the nod from husband Terry, Maxine scooped up Jack and she was right -- he did fit right in! Being the great pet guardian that Maxine is, she is helping Jack overcome a health problem that others wouldn't have bothered with. Thanks, Maxine, for making Jack a part of your family.

Henry was taken from the shelter by one of our volunteers. She had an opening at her house for a foster pet, and he seemed like a really good guy. As it turns out, he really is! If anyone wanted the perfect dog, Henry is the one -- good natured, loving and lovable, agreeable with everyone, happy-go-lucky (we could go on and on). When Sonya Fortakoff-Freeman of Forbestown called to adopt a really nice dog, well -- obviously Henry was the one! Others passed Henry by, we think, because he didn't have a perfect body (even though his spirit and personality are). Sonya must have looked beyond his physical traits to the super dog that he is. Thanks, Sonya for adopting this great guy!

One of our volunteers got a call from the people who found Cano. None of them could keep him -- they all already had a houseful of pets. Clearly on his own for awhile, he needed some major TLC. Well, they called the right person. In the volunteer's care, he became fat (well, not fat really, just filled out to normal size) and happy in no time. When Cathy Asher of Nevada City called to adopt a cat for her family, Cano was ready for a new, permanent, caring home. Cano continues to thrive with this really nice family where he's very much loved! 

Marilyn Peterson and her mom Pearl Pursche adopted Elvis (left) in 1994 an Dolly in 1999. When they moved to New York, of course they took the "kids" with them. This is truly a superb home. You can see how content and downright smug these guys are! That's what we like to see! This picture was taken when they were luxuriating on Marilyn's robe. "I have to ask permission if I want to use it," says Marilyn. Considering their sad start (both were abandoned), these two very lucky cats ended up in a very generous and loving home.

When Honey was taken out of the pound, she exhibited obvious signs of neglect and abuse. Very shy and withdrawn, Honey began to come around when she saw that the people in her foster home wanted only to love her and be kind to her. Honey was adopted by Nancy and Bill Lindgren of Grass Valley, exactly the right people for this nice dog. They were very kind and patient with her, giving her all the time she needed to continue to come out of her shell and become the incredible dog that she is!

Moose needed a new home when his guardian had to go into a care facility. Neighbors looked after him until we had an opening in a foster home. Linda and Merlin Schneblin of Grass Valley took Moose in to foster him and soon fell in love and decided to keep him permanently. Moose has a charmed life and many guardian angels -- from those who looked after him initially to the Schneblins who gave him a lifelong home. Soon after the Schneblins took him in, they discovered his passion for destroying furniture and biting people! It would have been a long time before someone agreed to adopt this older cat with these particular passions, so thank you very much to Moose's current guardian angels, Linda and Merlin, for keeping him forever!

Lennox and Petula were adopted by Ed and Judy Arnott of Nevada City. They are good friends, so their foster "mom" hoped they would get a home together. When the Arnotts called to adopt two cats, these two seemed perfect. Since they are happy, friendly, sweet cats, they adjusted quickly.
Lennox can be a bit rowdy and a little hard on the furniture, but the Arnotts wanted to make it work. We always give everyone the option to return the pets if things don't work out, but it appears that Lennox and Petula have successfully charmed their way into the kind hearts of the Arnotts.

When we placed Madeline with Pat Schutte of Grass Valley, it seemed like a good match. We thought Madeline had to be the only cat because she attacked the cats in the foster home. It turned out she would attack Pat, too! Pat kindly offered to foster Madeline until another home came along, and would "work with" Madeline in the meantime. Last we heard Pat was keeping Madeline. Seems the two have taken to each other and all is well! It's wonderful how these things work out!

Terry is SUCH a nice cat! He's an orange-and-white easy-going, mellow guy who gets along with everyone. We're not sure why someone abandoned such a sweet cat. When Cindy Brinkhurst of Grass Valley called to say she wanted to adopt a nice cat, Terry came immediately to mind. Cindy and her husband Jim opened their hearts and home to Terry and all three have been living happily ever since!

Leah Worthington adopted Ducky from PAL eight years ago. They live in Santa Maria now and Ducky, a long-haired Tortoiseshell calico, is pictured here with a friend. Ducky came from a litter of kittens that had been found in the woods. She had also been attacked and severely wounded by a predator. By the time Leah adopted Ducky, she was well and happy again. She continues to live the good life in a excellent home. "Ducky is a fantastic addition to our family," Leah wrote recently. "Ducky is a true friend, definitely family, and is enjoying her life with us as much as we enjoy her."

When Nilla came to us, we immediately thought of long-time volunteer Cindy Martin of Nevada City as an excellent home for her. Cindy had mentioned that she might be looking for a dog in the near future. We kept that in mind and when Nilla came along, it seemed like a perfect match. Nilla is a very sweet, gentle dog who was insecure after leaving her last home. At Cindy, and husband Harry's home, Nilla got back her self-confidence and has been flourishing ever since! She loves her people and other furry companions, and, when we see her, seems VERY content! She's definitely a happy girl now!

Once we do a follow-up visit (about a month after the adoption), we usually don't hear from adopters again. Or, we hear from people all the time about their adoptees (which is GREAT)! And sometimes we hear many years later from someone who adopted a cat or dog. If you adopted a pet from us, we would love to know how you and your friend are doing. If you would like us to add your PAL to our newsletter as a success story, just let us know.

And, please, if you're looking to adopt, get a pet from the shelter. Our local shelters: Grass Valley Animal Shelter: 477-4630 and the Nevada County Animal Shelter: 273-2179 have many truly wonderful pets waiting and hoping to be adopted. If everyone who wanted to adopt, got a pet from the shelters, none would have to die there. These cats and dogs are literally at death's door. If you rescue one, that one will not die. People tell us that it's too painful to go to the shelter because even if they take one, they know that the others won't make it. But if everyone went to the shelters to adopt, all the animals would make it out alive.

After six months, he began to sleep on the mat outside the living room glass door, staring in longingly at me and my cats. I put a fruit-crate-and-rags bed outside the door, which he took to immediately. He gobbled the bowls of wet food I put out for him.

I started to feed Bob closer and closer to the door and slowly began touching him as he ate. His desire for food became slowly replaced by a desire for petting, but at the tiniest disturbance, he would scratch and bite and shoot off. 

One day I ran into a neighbor and asked if he knew anything about a tabby Manx. He said the cat had lived with another neighbor family and that the cat had always been a scratcher and a biter. He said the family got a kitten and the un-neutered Manx started beating up the kitten. The family ran Bob off with rocks and told my neighbor, "If you see him, shoot him."

First thing next morning, I picked up a humane trap from PAL. When I told Anna Drummond the story, she shook her head sadly and said, "If only he'd been neutered, none of this would have happened." I caught Bob in the trap and had him neutered.

The personality transformation was amazing. Within two weeks he was entering the house voluntarily. Within a month he was sleeping on my bed with the other cats. I was also making tremendous progress with the biting and scratching. When he did bite or scratch, I would loudly say "NO!" and immediately withdraw my affections.

Now, Bob never bites or scratches. When he runs for my lap and I stroke his thick fur and sleek muscles, I feel pity and love for him but anger and disgust at the supposed "humans" who reviled and abandoned him. I look into his eyes and hear his purr, and pledge that he will never again be betrayed by a person and be forced to live on his own.

Help a Friend

When asked what his most important piece of advice on animals is, Allen Schoen, DVM, has a ready answer. "Find an abandoned or a homeless or an abused animal friend and bring him or her into your life," he says. "Share your home with your new companion and provide as much love and nurturance as you can."

Dr. Schoen's books include Kindred Spirits and Love, Miracles and Animal Healing.

Signs of Illness in Your Pet

Subtle signs of illness could show themselves in the following ways, and could signal the onset of a problem. See your veterinary health care professional if you observe any of the following.

• Down in spirit. Lack of enthusiasm for normal activities. Dog's tail doesn't wag. Cat doesn't purr or normally high tail droops.
• Lack of affection. Your pet fails to greet you at the door or no longer enjoys being touched. Your friend fails to acknowledge favorite people, animals or places.
• Decrease in appetite. Food loses its appeal, even favorite treats are snubbed.
• Dull or coarse coat, including grease and lack of luster. Skin and coat problems are the source of nearly one-third of all veterinary visits and can often be traced to low omega 3 fatty acids in the diet.
• Foul body odor. An indication of excessive internal toxins.
• Excessive thirst and urination. Can be a sign of kidney failure, diabetes or cancer.
• Rapid weight loss. 
• Hyperactivity. Once calm and relaxed, your pet is now nervous, restless or sleep deprived.
• Nippy or suddenly aggressive. Your mild-mannered pet suddenly turns aggressive -- a physical reason may be brewing beneath the surface.
• Dull eyes. Sparkle and expression are gone, replaced by a sad, lifeless look.
• Verbal language is curtailed. Your cat stops meowing or your dog stops his affectionate whine or bark.

Source: Love of Animals newsletter. You can subscribe to this wonderful newsletter by calling 800-424-7887.

National Pet-Related Statistics

Pet Guardianship

• Number of households with cats: 34.7 million
• Number of cats in these households: 73 million
• Number of households with dogs: 40 million
• Number of dogs in these households: 73 million

Pet Overpopulation

• Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: 8-10 million
• Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year: 4-5 million
• Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year: 3-5 million
• Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by their people from shelters each year: 600,000-750,000
• Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred: 25

Source: National Pet Owners Survey 2000-2001, American Pet Products Manufacturers Association and the Humane Society of the United States

Fun Statistics

According to the 2001 Pet Owner Survey, conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association, here are some statistics we can live with:

• 63% of pet guardians tell their animal companions "I love you" at least once a day
• 59% celebrate their pets' birthdays
• 78% talk to their pets in a voice different from their regular tone
• 83% refer to themselves as their pets' "mom" or "dad"
• 52% believe their pet listens to them better than spouses, significant others, family members or friends
• 90% would not consider dating someone who disliked their pet(s)
• 36% have named someone as the future guardian of their pet(s)
• 46% have sent a greeting card from the dog or cat
• 52% are better at remembering the names of neighbor pets than human neighbors
• nearly 70% travel with their pet and 26% use a car seat, harness or pet carrier to ensure travel safety for their dog or cat 
  

Grouting For Dollars

Rebecca McCartney's students at the Nevada City School of the Arts transformed three of PAL's "Woof Over My Head" dog houses into works of art. Each year PAL distributes over 100 FREE dog and cat houses to low income pet owners. 

Rebecca and her students took houses assembled by a local Boy Scout troop and covered them with mosaic art. The dazzling results were displayed at the Brunswick Veterinary Clinic in Grass Valley, Cafe Mekka in Nevada City, and the PAL Thrift Store on Joerschke Drive.

This ambitious undertaking brought invaluable publicity to PAL's "Woof Over My Head" program as well as several hundred dollars from a raffle held by the students as part of a community service project.

Tile we meet again, THANK YOU, Nevada City School of the Arts!!

In Memory of . . . 

Kali Baltake, from Susan & Joe Baltake
Gigi Baque, from Bill Skaer
Kathleen Beebe, from Edward Beebe
Graydon Beechel, from Margret Harcourt
"One-Eye Mans Toes" Benevides, from Marra Swan
Buster Benny, from the Luther family
Sophia Bradshaw, from Dorothy Green
Sny Breen, "Beloved putty tat of Teryn & Reagan," from Peter Fulton Foss
Robert Bunyard, from Patricia Tintle
Rebecca Carasik, from Peter Fulton Foss
Scampi Carter, "a friend & companion for 15 years," from Carolyn Carter
Mama Cik, from Sandi Cik
Pepsi Cooper, from June & Richard McKenzie
Streaker Cross, from Glenn & Merridy Cross
Azores Dawson, from Marra Swan
Cuzco, Banshee & Kabuki Devereux, from Pat Devereux
Eddie Dreifuss, from Mary Deifuss
Eddie Dreifuss, from Mike & Anna Drummond
Eddie Dreifuss, from Sue Nepstead
Gus Drummond, from Mike & Anna Drummond
Cabbie Eagan, from Karen & Ridge Eagan
Honey, Sassy, Juno & Misty Egger, from Diane Egger
Dotty Gale, from Donna Lind
Eloise Gregory, from Mary Dreifuss
Eloise Gregory, from Sue Nepstead
Elizabeth Harmon, from Marge Folger
Ruth Harrison, from Karsten, Maryalyce & Dolly Hansen
Betty Hill, from Ralph Hill
Radar "the Geek" Inch, from Barbara Inch
Pipi Irish, from Patricia, Amii, Pepe, Snupes, Tummies & Suzi Irish
June Jackson, from Lynn Wolfe
Tootsie Johnston, from Ruth Johnston
Tinkerbell Lawrence, from Dean Lawrence
Sugar's Modoc, from Elsa Hazen
Mark Narveson, from Lesley Narveson Buffington
Zoro Oliver, from Jean Oliver
Coco Pixley, from Barbara Pixley
Katzen & Barney Quinlan, from Roscoe & Elaine Quinlan
Cantie Reaney, from Julie Reaney
Bill & Mac Renz, from Lee Renz
Sally Rogers, from Allan & Betty Rogers
Trusten "Scotty" Scotten, from Joyce Haire
Zilpha Skeels, from Evelyn Skeels
Rusty Stefan, from George & Jan Croft
Mike Steward, from Bill & Helene Rickets
Katie Stockle, "We miss you, Katie," from Marra Swan
Midnight Stude, from Linda & Carl Stude
Ned Taylor, from Donna Babao
Jennifer White, from Karen & Ridge Eagan
Fritz Wilshusen, "our beloved greyhound," from Carol Ann & Frank Wilshusen
Phooey Winter, from Sharon Winter
Angus Whooley, a good & faithful dog, from Gilbert & Catherine McEwen
T.J. Yerrick, from Alma Yerrick
Frank Zangara, from June & Richard McKenzie


In Honor of . . .

All the wonderful working dogs at the New York City tragedy, from Margaret Adams
Our Canine Rescue Teams, from Maryalyce Hansen
The Rescue Dogs, NYC Bombing, from Donald Runcie
Maurice Baltake, from Joe & Susan Baltake
Ann, Walker, Ben & Maggie Davis, who helped rescue some cats, with deep gratitude from Sue Nepstead
Mike & Anna's good work, from Carol Schmitz
Sabrina Eagan, from Jim & Vivian Roddy
Joyce Haire, Happy Birthday! from Shirley Nibbelin
Milo Kranz, from Alice Kranz
Claudia & Bruce Mosias, from Deborah Wills
Elvis & Dolly Peterson, from Marilyn Peterson & Pearl Pursche
Bill & Gurnile Sinay, from Deborah Wills
Lake Oswago Sinays, from Deborah Wills
Jackie Smith, from Carol McGraw
Ross/Pike Tigard Group, from Deborah Wills

There's something missing from my home.
I feel it day and night.
I know it will take time and strength
Before things feel quite right.
But just for now I need to mourn,
My heart, it needs to mend.
Though some may say, "It's just a pet"
I know I've lost a friend.
You've brought such laughter to my home
And richness to my days.
A constant friend through joy and loss
With gentle loving ways.
Companion, pal and confidante,
A friend I won't forget.
You'll live always in my heart --
My sweet forever pet. Anonymous

(Thank you, Barbara Pixley, for sending this to us.)

Camptonville, Downieville Calling

Allie Birmingham, in Camptonville, has been taking roughly 20 cats to the Animal Spay and Neuter Clinic every month. We have paid the bills, provided her with food, and helped out with cat and dog houses. Now Allie wants to start her own nonprofit in Camptonville. 

Chris Gregory is doing the same in Downieville.

There are so many ways you can help. Especially if you live in Camptonville or Downieville, this would be a great way for you to get involved and help these ladies get some very important work done!

You can reach Allie at alleygata@onemain.com or at 288-2820. Contact Chris at kats4chris@hotmail.com or 289-3561. 

Closer to Home

Sherre Beisel of Grass Valley would love to hear from you if you can take 1-2 cats. These are nice cats who aren't socialized, but they aren't wild, either. They should come around in no time. They are all spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and leukemia tested. 

These are not Sherre's cats -- they are cats she is rescuing from an area where they can no longer stay. She has been able to relocate several of them but 15 more still need homes. 

If you can help, please call Sherre at 268-1322 or email her at sherre@gv.net.

Give Us Your Tired Towels, Your Poor Blankets

If you have old towels or blankets you no longer need, instead of throwing them away, won't you give them to us? You can drop them off at our thrift store on Joerschke Drive between 10 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday. 

Thanks!

Quilt Winner

The December Quilt raffle winner was Leslie Holland, who took home the wonderful Noah's Ark theme quilt donated by Bob & Emily Wheeler. The raffle raised over $1,100 for PAL's spay/neuter programs.

Leslie adopted Montgomery, a Lab/Boxer-cross from PAL in 1995, who is also pictured here (he looks sad because he hadn't been adopted yet -- he's very happy now living with Leslie's family -- and their new quilt!).

Speaking to me through their suffering, the animals opened my heart, and gave me the chance to overcome my spiritual impasse. I realized that my newfound awareness was, quite simply, a spiritual gift.

Animals have a wisdom that is, as yet, largely undiscovered. . . . Their presence can touch your soul, heal your psyche, and restore your body. 

Mary Randour, PhD 
Animal Grace: Entering a Spiritual Relationship 
with Our Fellow Creatures