by Lupe Gore

Feral Paws Rescue Group in Fresno will be sharing some of their animal rescue adventures with us now every month. Check out KRL’s article about Feral Paws to learn more about them. Lupe Gore is a FPRG volunteer.

Valentine’s Day is this month, and there are many, many heart-shaped boxes of chocolate candy on the shelves of stores for people to give to those they love or just eat themselves. I am going to write about another type of candy though—a beautiful long-haired dilute Calico named Candy!

Candy

Candy was rescued from the local kill-shelter by Feral Paws Rescue at the end of March 2015. She had been an owner-surrender and was already front declawed. At the time she was four years old. The shelter said she hissed at staff and other cats. Well, who would blame her after being taken from her home and dumped in a strange place? Candy remained at Feral Paws Rescue waiting to be adopted for about five months when an elderly lady who lived alone in an apartment for senior citizens asked for an indoor-only adult cat who preferably would be a Calico since she had previously had a Calico she loved very much. So in September 2015, Candy found a home and was dearly loved by this lady.

Unfortunately a year later the lady’s health declined, and she had to return Candy to Feral Paws Rescue. Instead of going back to the main rescue Candy was placed in foster care since it was felt that she would feel more secure in a home setting. This time though, Candy had other cats to deal with and at first hissed at them trying to acclimate herself to her new surroundings. Her foster parent gave her a separate food bowl for her canned food, and extra love to reassure her she would be all right. Feeling sorry for Candy having now lost two homes and knowing that she must be an indoor-only cat due to being declawed, Candy became a “foster failure” and was adopted by her foster parent. She has now adjusted well to being around other cats and loves to sleep on the bed at night next to her new human. She also loves some treats of “people food” shared by her human, such as chicken breasts, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes. She likes to take naps on top of the hutch of the computer desk and sits in the windowsill taking in what is going on outdoors. Her favorite window has a great view of a neighbor’s house where she sees birds and squirrels.

There are so many special cats at the shelters who need a home, some, like Candy who have had a home, and others who have never known what it is like to have one. Thankfully there are rescues like Feral Paws Rescue who will save their lives when the shelters deem their time is up and give them that chance. I know Candy is tremendously grateful for Feral Paws Rescue saving her and to her foster parent for giving her a “forever” home.

You can learn more about Feral Paws on their website.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section & watch for more stories from Feral Paws every other month. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to Feral Paws.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to a local animal rescue.