Rescuer Unleashed

While living in Los Angeles I created our kitty bottle baby foster program for the Baldwin Park County Shelter's orphaned kittens with the help of Animal Advocates Alliance.

For all of you who are ready to adopt a kitten this season, here are some of my must haves:

If you have an unweened kitten, these Four Paws nursing bottles are the only way to go. The long triangular nipple can handle any sized zealous feeder!

These Durapet kitty bowls are the best. The low-profile models are shallow and easy for tiny kittens to lap up newly introduced kitten wet food. The bottoms are lined with rubber - no slipping on the floor.

The Snuggle Safe Heating Pat is a godsend. Heat it in the microwave for six minutes and it emits 120 degree heat for 12 hours. If your kitten is in a cage, make sure that your kitten has room to sleep away from the heating pad if it becomes too hot. Normal kitten body temperature is between 100-102.5 degrees F, so putting a towel or blanket in between the heating pad and the kitten is important.

The most reliable way to tell if your kitty is sick is to take it's temperature. A cat or kitten may not show obvious signs of illness until the infection or disease has gotten the better of your kitty companion.

With my foster kitties, the first inkling of something not right and my Vick's SpeedRead Digital Thermometer is in their tushies. I have avoided many sleepless nights catching illnesses early! Don't forget the vaseline!

Teaching kittens how to drink water from a bowl can be one of the biggest challenges. I have found that the original Drinkwell Pet Fountain attracts a kitten's natural curiosity. You don't have to do anything! The kitten will learn on its own. And we love to see kitties drinking their water! It's good for them!

Last but not least, the next hardest thing to teach a kitty to do is to use the litter box. Again, innovation has made this a no brainer for new baby kitten owners.

Cat Attract Cat Litter contains a scent that attracts the kitty to the box and to scratch the litter. Place your just fed kitten in the box and watch what happens: A kitty box trained Kitten!

An inspiring story that led me to Oregon

While living in Los Angeles, I met "Peaches" on a Tuesday at North Central Shelter. I found her in her run, a pathetic sight. She had made herself small enough to fit on one tiny hand towel that was placed in her run as a bed. She was clearly blind, and shaking... badly... to the point where I thought she might have some kind of nerve disorder or brain damage.

She had been bred, and was still lactating, no sign of the puppies.

When I inquired about her at the front, staffer Delicia exclaimed, "I love that dog!!! You have to meet her!" I agreed to take some pictures and network her.

Well, Delicia was right. Peaches was amazing. Super sweet and full of life. She was an owner surrender, dumped on Sunday, and red-listed because she was blind. Peaches had until Friday before they would PTS. I sent out an email blast that night.

By Wednesday afternoon, I had Luv-A-Bull Pitbull Rescue in Eugene, OR willing to take Peaches on. I had a foster lined up for her, and transport!

Thursday, I bailed her out! We promptly went to the eye doctor to have her eyes diagnosed: advanced Glaucoma due to blunt trauma. She was in severe pain (hence the nervous shaking) and needed to have an enucleation. Everyone rallied to raise funds to pay for her surgery, and a week later, her surgery was performed by Dr. Silverman at Complete Animal Eye Care, in Sherman Oaks.

Peaches recovered at my house, and three months later we were on our way to Luv-A-Bull!

Her transition to Luv-A-Bull went incredibly smoothly. She bonded instantly with the other dogs.

It was exactly what she needed, and I couldn't have been more pleased.

Peaches became particularly close to a handsome fella named "Rhino." He is pretty irresistable. Rhino would guide Peaches on the trails during their walks, and ALWAYS let her win at tug-o-war.

Peaches spent 2 months with her friends at Luv-A-Bull. Last week she was ADOPTED by an amazing family. Peaches lives in their home with their other special needs dog "Moxie" on a 40 acre farm! Peaches latest pastimes are snoozing in the sun, swimming in the creek, and riding shotgun on the ATV.

David Reeker (Peaches' new daddy) says on Facebook:

"So this is Peaches. Peaches is a rescue from a LA shelter. She has no eyes, but doesn't let that slow her down much. She is the newest member of our happy dog pack, and will live the rest of her life sniffing her way around the ranch. She is one of the sweetest beings I have ever met, and I feel very lucky to have her here."

She is truly a special girl!!!