Rescue Blog

Aggie and Angie ADOPTED APRIL 2012!!

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:38:38 -0500

On May 15th, 2011 a call came in from the Shelby Co. Animal Shelter asking for our help. They just had five tiny newborn kittens turned into their shelter. Not only were they going to need bottle feeding but they needed immediate medical care. Of the 5 kittens three of them had their umbilical cords wrapped so tightly around their legs that the legs had been amputated. They were immediately brought to us and we had to cut away the dried cords that were still holding the rotted legs. One little gray kitten had his own cord wrapped around his leg but the two little black kittens had each others cords wrapped up so tightly that one could not move more than an inch with out the other.

There was noticeable redness and slight swelling on each babies leg where the amputation had occurred. After conferring with Dr. Gregory we set up a medication schedule and hoped for the best. We then contacted our wonderful foster mom Jo Carol who takes all of the bottle babies into her home and nurtures and feeds them. With in five minutes she was on the door step to take these babies home and begin the feeding and healing process. It was going to be a long ordeal to see how the babies would do. Thanks to Jo Carol's love and dedication to the little ones all five not only survived but thrived!

The two kittens that had all four legs were quickly adopted, the gray long haired gorgeous amputee was a real eye catcher, but the two solid black amputee babies were left behind. They had two strikes against them because they each had only three legs but worse than that was the fact that they were solid black. Their names are Aggie and Andy and you could not meet two more fantastic kittens. They are now approximately 5 months old and live at the Kitty Cottage. The fact that they have only three legs does not slow them down at all! Andy is the most mischievous and into everything but is quick to stop and come jump in your lap for love and attention. Aggie is a little love monster who loves to be held upside down in your arms like a baby and will cuddle as long as you will let her. Because they were hand raised they have no fear of people and love everyone who comes in to visit. Everyone comments on how gorgeous they are. They both are long and lean with shiny soft coats and fantastic personalities but they still leave them behind for the "prettier colored" kittens.

Aggie and Andy are very bonded still today and can always be found snuggling with each other at nap and play times. We would love to see them go home together because they love each other so much. They will live at the Kitty Cottage where we will love them dearly while we wait for someone to see the true beauty in these babies. Aggie and Andy are amazing and we know someday their Angel will come.

Lisa Lynch

Shelby Co. Humane Society

Shelter Manager

Pete and Bubby's Story

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 09:56:01 -0500

Before After

One Sunday morning in September of 2011, a knock came at the door of the Kitty Cottage. We were closed and inside caring for the animals but heard the urgent banging on the door. Outside stood a lady with tears running down her face and in her hand, wrapped in a shirt, was a little kitten. As she was driving through town she saw this little one laying in the middle of the street. His eyes were so infected that he could not see and had no way of knowing the danger he was in. People were walking around him, stepping over him, and when she stopped her car she was told by the crowd not to touch him because he was diseased. She couldn't leave him to be hit by a car so she wrapped him in a shirt and brought him to us. She was crying because her heart was broken for the little kitten and the cruelty of the people who would do nothing to help him.

Of course we took the little fellow in and immediately started antibiotics and eye ointments. His sinus and eye infection were so severe that he not only couldn't see but he couldn't smell either. He was unable to find his food so we began syringe feeding and boy was he happy about that! We named the little guy Pete and continued the antibiotics, eye ointments, and many daily feedings.

Several days later a call came in about another sick little kitten. It was found in the same general location, had the exact symptoms of little Pete so we figured it was his sibling. We took him in and started the same process. We called him Pete's little bubby and the name just stuck so Bubby he was. Pete was so happy to have Bubby join him at the Kitty Cottage. As sick as he was he purred and snuggled with Bubby constantly. Both boys had to have continued and constant syringe feedings along with medications.

Approximately seven days later little Bubby was able to smell the food and wanted to be a big boy and began eating on his own. Pete preferred the personal attention and held out for several more days. He finally decided not to be out done by his brother and started eating as well.

Today the boys are doing great. Pete still has some eye irritation and we are continuing to work on that. We expect a full recovery soon. The boys are eating like little pigs, running and playing like crazy, and can be found most days swinging from the rope on the cat tree. It shouldn't be long now that the boys will be ready for their new home and family. A special thanks to the good Samaritan that stopped in the street that day and brought little Pete to us. He has been a pure joy to be around.

Lisa Lynch

Shelby Co. Humane Society

Shelter Manager

Patches Story

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 09:38:30 -0500

Patches is a sweet 4 year old, 100 lb, short coated Saint Bernard female who came into our care one Friday afternoon in September of 2011. Shelby County Humane Society received a phone call stating Patches owners had brought her to a local veterinarians office because she had not been feeling well for a few days. The vets office performed tests and took x-rays and Patches was diagnosed with a condition known as Pyometra, a potentially life threatening infection of the uterus.

The owners declined the surgery Patches needed to save her life. They asked the vets office to euthanize her, but luckily the veterinarian asked the owners if they would allow Patches to be surrendered to them. Luckily for Patches the vets office contacted Woodstock Animal Foundation, a rescue group based out of Lexington KY asking if they could help save this sweet girl from death. Woodstock Animal Foundations founder, jumped at the opportunity and informed the vets office they would take her into their program. Woodstock then made a call to the director of Shelby County Humane Society, and asked if we could hurry over and bring patches back to our clinic. Within 20 minutes Shelby County Humane Society was at the veterinarian's office and brought Patches back to our facility where our veterinarian performed the life saving surgery needed to remove Patches infected uterus and ultimately stop the spread of the infection. It was touch and go for Patches that night, and into the next week .

Thanks to the flurry of phone calls, text messages, and emails sent out by everyone involved, and of course the dedicated commitment of our veterinarian Dr Teresa Gregory, Patches made a full recovery and was ready to go to Woodstock Animal Foundation the following week where she awaits her forever new family, one that will love and take care of her for the remainder of her life.

Thanks to all the parties involved in caring for Patches. This is what rescue is all about. All of us working together to save as many lives as we can.

God Bless.

Tracie Lennon Board President Shelby County Humane Society

Luck was running out for Sallie Mae.

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:07:25 -0400

Luck was running out for Sallie Mae. She was a very pregnant, starving coonhound, and was locked in an eastern Kentucky dog pound, awaiting her early demise. Things began to turn around when the Shelby County Humane Society van pulled up. Nine dogs scheduled for euthanasia were loaded into the van and Sallie Mae's life changing road trip to Shelbyville had begun. A quick vet exam, Sallie Mae was diagnosed as malnourished, weak, and had a life-threatening infection. Surgery was performed and she was found to be carrying eight dead fetuses and her abdominal cavity full of pus. Her life was touch and go for weeks. Then she slowly started to improve.

That's when our luck changed, too. We had recently had several sad and difficult weeks following the death of our fifteen-year-old black lab, Aretha. About that time, my husband and I began to transport adoptable pets to PetsMart in Louisville from the Shelby County Humane Society. For weeks, Sallie Mae was one of our transports, but was never adopted. After a few weeks transporting Sallie Mae to Louisville, my husband and I decided she should take just one more trip to our farm in rural Kentucky.

For her first week on our farm, I introduced her to the farm on a leash. However, she was longing to run in our fields. We feared that the coonhound genes would take over and she would run away. However, after a week, we allowed her to run and she always returns. She whoops and hollers all over the farm. She is in coonhound heaven!! She is definitely part of our family and we feel so lucky to have her. Now she rolls over for tummy rubs and spends daytime naps and evenings on her dog bed right by our bed. I reach down to pet her and I hear the thump, thump, thump of her very grateful tail. If I had a tail, I would wag it for her, too.

Happy Tails! Emma..Finally a HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:06:16 -0400

It was a sad day when we had to euthanize Punkin, our eighteen year old beagle mix. She was a member of the family and we loved her dearly. Being the Volunteer Coordinator for the Shelby County Humane Society, I am acutely aware of the number of foster dogs for whom our organization provides care. I knew my next adopted dog would be a rescue and one particular one caught my eye. Her name was Momma Pit. She had been in the foster program for years and was always passed over.

Her name was changed in hopes that would make her more attractive to a potential adopter. Meet Petunia. Well, Petunia met a lot of people, but no one was interested in giving her a much deserved home. So, why not our family? We changed her name to Emma and brought her home to live with us and our other two rescue dogs. She became one of the pack immediately. Emma is part American Staffordshire Terrier and part rhino. She is adorable. How lucky we are to have her in our lives, hearts, and family!

-Nancy Guilliom

Rescue Blog

Aggie and Angie ADOPTED APRIL 2012!!

Pete and Bubby's Story

Patches Story

Luck was running out for Sallie Mae.

Happy Tails! Emma ..Finally a HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Tails! Emma..Finally a HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!