Good things come in furry packages

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A Sheltered Life – stories as told to Maggie Haylock-Capon, by Liza, resident greeter at the Loyalist Humane Society. (Photographs by Alan R. Capon)

(If you are unable to adopt a cat or kitten, there are many other important ways to help the LHS. Donations of Javex and other household cleaning products, garbage bags, grocery bags, litter, cat food and kitten food are welcome. The Loyalist Humane Society is located on County Road 4, (Talbot Street), near the intersection of Tripp Road.)

Liza, the shelter’s resident spokescat, has many other duties, among them the periodic inspection of the plumbing system. While some might accuse her of lying down on the job, she insists that she is performing her duties properly and will deliver a written report to Mrs. Moffat later this month.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!
It’s Liza reporting from the Talbot Street Tree Farm, aka, the Loyalist Humane Society. This year, for the first time ever, we are selling Christmas trees to raise funds for our shelter. Everyone is excited about this new venture, especially Franco who has been observing this project with great interest. He says he has heard that there are partridges in the trees at Christmastime and they are very tasty. I have tried to tell him that partridges appear only in pear trees, but he refuses to listen.

There has been a lot of holiday excitement here of late. A group of students from Bloomfield’s Pinecrest School visited our shelter with their teacher, Michelle Rickert. They brought with them $65 in Canadian Tire money and two bags filled with crushed cans, for our recycling initiative. And guess what? They want to sponsor Zeke, our resident aviator cat who should have been named Lindbergh. He flies through the air and lands on the shoulders of the unsuspecting at every opportunity.

The students who came to visit played with us for a long time. Two of our residents, Mrs. House and Shelley, were a big hit with them. Pebbles also enjoyed spending quality time with these children. Mrs.Moffatt was very proud of the way all of us behaved and extremely grateful to our young visitors for their kindness. Franco did not swear, even once and remembered to meow thank you when the class was leaving.

Christina McDow’s family is supplying Christmas trees to the Loyalist Humane Society as a fundraiser. The fresh sheared balsam firs are $40.

There have been several adoptions here in recent times. Morning Star, Mushroom, and Milkweed all were adopted from Picton’s Pet Valu store where they had been auditioning for forever homes. Squawky was adopted, too, but was later returned. They should have named that girl Homer.

Cain, the impressive-looking red and white mature cat who has been with us for several months, was adopted by the same family who earlier took Cremesicle.

On a sad note, one of our beloved senior residents, Cooper, crossed the Rainbow Bridge last month, as did Toffee, another dearly loved member of our family. I must also report that the sweet black and white kitten that Mrs. M. had named Girlfriend, in memory of her special feline friend who passed away this spring, has succumbed to FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). We all miss our dear friends very much and will hold them in our hearts.

Sorry, but I have to scoot. This place is a beehive of activity with all of our holiday visitors, the Christmas tree sale, and other special events. That curmudgeon Franco has just told some of our kittens that there is no Santa Cat and it’s up to me to take care of damage control. Remind me to put a lump of coal in Franco’s stocking. I’ll be back soon with more news of Christmas at our shelter.

Happy Holidays,
Liza

Tiny
Meet Tiny, a pert little tortoise-shell cat who is living proof that good things come in small packages. She would make the purrfect stocking stuffer for someone in need of a best friend. This apartment-size puss is hopeful that Santa Cat will bring her a home of her own, this year.

Tarzan
Our resident swinger, Tarzan is hoping to begin the New Year in his forever home. He has already indicated to gal-pal Jane that he may be moving on soon and she should be prepared to find a new love interest. She was then heard to meow, “But Tarzan, it’s a jungle out there.”

Big Bad John
Big Bad John is an impressive-looking cat who can bench press his own weight. Since his arrival at our shelter he has been in charge of traffic control and security. Rumour has it that he would like to retire to a forever home, preferably one with a fully equipped gym.

Sir Prize
Our unexpected guest, Sir Prize, was discovered in one of our outdoor runs one day, when curfew was rung. Someone had snuck him into our shelter when no one was looking. That’s why Mrs. M. named him Sir Prize. He is a sweet-natured cat who needs a loving home with a family who will appreciate all of his fine qualities.

Vicky Icky
Don’t let her name fool you. Vicky Icky is not “icky” at all. This young miss comes complete with a little black dress and a teddy bear who is her best friend. A little shy, Vicky has been keeping to herself, since arriving at our shelter, but would bloom in a quiet home of her own. She would be the ideal pet for a senior citizen or retired couple. She would like to emphasize that both she and her her teddy bear are litter trained and Teddy does not eat much.

George
If you are searching for someone to fill that empty place in your heart, let George do it. This tiger cat sporting the white spats was found at the pallett factory at Prince Edward Heights. His resume states that he loves children. Adults are acceptable, too.

Grey Weiner (henceforth to be known as Brando, Marlon Brando)
What’s in a name? Just ask Grey Weiner, who’s tired of being typecast as a weedy looking character who’s been dumpster diving in an alley. He’s decided to move up to the role of leading man and has chosen Brando as his stage name. He’s now reading for a part in a soon-to-be released blockbuster titled A Streetcat Named Desire. However, this handsome young man would give up his dream of a Hollywood career in a heartbeat, if the offer of a forever home were to come along.

Lily
This Calico cat is as pretty as her name, If you are searching for the purrfect gift for someone who has everything, she will be happy to help you. Elegant, intelligent, and eager to please she comes complete with fur coat and jewel-like emerald eyes. What’s not to love?

Franco
Roving reporter, Franco, is also the shelter’s chef. He’s just put a tasty meal in the microwave and is waiting to announce that lunch is ready. He reports that he has been saving his tips to buy a surprise Christmas gift for Liza. He has his eye on a realistic toy mouse at Pet Valu.

Pebbles
This perky black and white miss would be the purrfect fit in a home with children. Mrs. M. says she is “excellent with kids” and likes grown-ups, too. If you are in search of an interactive gift that will entertain your youngsters all year long, she is certain to fill the bill. No batteries required.

Vanilla Ice
Who can blame Vanilla Ice if he’s a little glum these days? A handsome young gentleman with a gentle nature he is still without his forever home and Christmas is just a couple of weeks away, If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, be sure to visit our shelter and ask to see him. He’d be the perfect accent for that red plaid wing chair in your family room. Comes with own Christmas stocking and wish list.

Dar
A senior cat, approximately eight years of age, Dar would make the ideal companion for a senior citizen in search of someone with whom to spend the Christmas holidays. He’s handsome, well-mannered, and earnestly in search of a quiet forever home. He’s eagerly waiting for an invitation to spend the festive season with that special someone. Could it be you?

Bess and Tess
This mother-daughter duo (that’s Bess on the right) have just signed a contract as spokescats for Weight Watchers. Both are a little on the plump side. This pair was in foster care for several years and obviously eating well. Their foster mom had to move, so they have returned to our shelter to find their forever homes. As Mrs. Moffatt has pointed out, their new owners will be getting a lot of cat for their dollars. We think it would be purrfect if this twosome could be adopted together. Tess is a little shy but responds well to attention.

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