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| | In This Edition: - The Year Tied Up in String - A Wrap Up of 2023 Rescue
- Ways You Can Help!
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| | A Thousand Stories in Kitty City
At the end of each year at FFGW, we write and mail a letter - holiday greetings, of course, but also a story. Each year, we try to select a story that best represents our values at FFGW, which story shows how your generous support enables us to be compassionate at a level that lets us reach beyond just saving the "easy" cats. Last year-end story was about Murphy, a very special cat, about a dedicated foster, and about great medical care that your donations provided - if you missed it, you can read it HERE.
In 2023, FFGW found forever homes for 310 cats and kittens - no small feat for a small, all volunteer, foster-based rescue. Of those 310 rescues, Murphy's story was just one of the many miracles that your support made happen last year, and we want to share a few more stories of rescue, little - well, not so little - reminders of how you and FFGW are making a difference in our world, one cat at a time.
And... stay tuned for many good things to come in 2024! |
| | Muggsy
No matter if you are a volunteer, a donor, an adopter or another type of supporter, you come to animal rescue out of a position of compassion. One lesson that many years in rescue teaches is to do our best not to judge other people when they find it necessary to give up an animal, as we cannot ever really know the challenges that another family faces.
When they came to us, we learned that Muggsy's family was facing health challenges, the needs of young children, and still committed to providing care for another, ill cat - but Muggsy, who they believed to be healthy, was just one more life than they could be responsible for at that moment.
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| As we do with all our intakes, we brought Muggsy to one of our partner vets, and learned that he was hiding many issues. Muggsy was so matted that his foster, usually quite good at working out mats on a longhaired cat, could barely touch his because they were twisted so tight and so up against his skin.
In addition, Muggsy had infected gums with painful, broken teeth, necessitating a full mouth extraction. Not only that... but an abdominal ultrasound revealed a cyst on his liver, a thickened pancreas, aging kidneys and thickened intestines. And... there was more. An EKG revealed heart disease - fortunately, not so severe that he would be unable to undergo surgery to repair his dental issues.
And so... we repaired him. Your continuing support allows us to provide the extensive veterinary care that a cat like Muggsy needs. Once he was doing better, we put him on our website and hoped that someone with equal compassion would want to give him a home.
That's another lesson in rescue that we have learned - never underestimate the good that is out there! |
| | Shortly before the holidays, an awesome family in Michigan saw him. They had many Himalayans before and wanted to love a senior or special needs kitty... one just like Muggsy.
We know that they are awesome, because one of Muggy's new people had a business meeting in Pennsylvania so he flew from Michigan to Pennsylvania and when the meeting was over, he rented a car and drove to Virginia picked up Muggsy and then drove home to Michigan.
It's unclear who is happier, Muggsy, his new people, or FFGW! (But considering Muggsy is now working out, we won't argue!!) |
| | | Casper
One of the shelters with which FFGW partners is King George Shelter in Virginia's rural "northern neck." Overrun last year with unspayed and unneutered cats and kittens, the shelter reached out for help with one in particular, an unusually tiny little boy who they believed was both blind and deaf.
Of course, we took him. |
| To say that Casper was tiny was an understatement. He was also quite clearly deaf, not uncommon in blue-eyed, white cats. Casper didn’t react to anything that made sound, and when he was sleeping, his foster said that "you could practically knock the house down around him, and he wouldn’t move. Not only no fear of the vacuum cleaner, but no reaction at all!"
Casper had a few surprises in store for us, though. He wasn't actually blind - though there was something wrong with his eyes as well because his depth perception was very off. Your support allowed us to take him to a specialist where he had a normal ocular exam, and they thought his lack of depth perception was something he would kind of grow out of as his eyes matured.
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Casper's next surprise for us was that he quickly found a home that loves him VERY much! He was adopted into a home with other cats and dogs, and he and one of the dogs absolutely love each other. He has adapted to his lack of depth perception, and doesn't climb or jump, but he loves cuddling with his dog friend on the ground!
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| | | Casper had one last surprise for us... Happy in his forever home, he turned out not to be a solid white cat, but to have some flame point Siamese in him - look at those orange points!
Casper's story - the rescue of a deaf cat with some vision challenges (who surely would have been a sitting duck for predators - or even automobiles) is possible because of your support which means we don't have to shy away from a cat or kitten who needs a little extra medical attention. |
| | And... that's just a few more of the rescue stories from 2023. Last year is tied up with string and put away, and with your help we're ready to unpack 2024... ready for more Caspers, Muggsys and Murphys... and for the start of "kitten season" in just another month or two. Lots of ways you can help make 2024 another good year are below. |
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You CAN Help!
So many cats... so many needs. It does seem overwhelming. But we like to think of it as "saving the world, one cat at a time!" If your New Year's resolution was to do something kind... we could use your support.
1. Fosters! FFGW is primarily a foster-based rescue, and for us to rescue a cat or kitten, there has to be a temporary home where he or she can go. Fostering is really rewarding and we'll show you all you need to know - you just provide food, litter and love! Foster space will be especially important as spring approaches and "kitten season" - the time when shelters will be overflowing with found kittens - is soon upon us. You can find out lots more about fostering HERE.
2. Caretakers! A few of our cats are housed at the Leesburg PetSmart, where we have adoption events. If you aren't able to foster, you can still get the cat experience and be all warm and furry by signing up for a caretaker shift to feed, clean and play (!) with the cats at Leesburg. Contact brittany@ffgw.org for more details!
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| | 3. Drive! We often need folks who can meet a rescue transport, or pick up a cat from one of our partner vets and bring them to a foster home (or vice-versa). If you have a bit of free time, we would love to have you on our list - when you're able to drive, just respond to the email request. If you can provide some wheels, just respond to this newsletter.
4. WordPress If you have WordPress skills, we could use your help with our website. Our website is a primary driver of our adoptions, and we work very hard to keep it up to date on adoptions and new intakes - but a few more paws helping would be magnificent!
5. And of course... |
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Your generosity is what allows us to provide a great life and care for cats like Murphy, Muggsy and Casper - and so many more! |
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Check Us Meowt! On Social Media!
Facebook & Insta!
We try not to overflow your email inbox, and most months send just one Newsletter with a deep dive into all that's going on at FFGW, and some fun cat-centric stuff - but you can find out all the rescue happenings closer to real time on our social media! (And of course... see a lot more cute kitty pictures!)
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter below!
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I Feel Like Something Chewy!
Actually, not that chewy, but "Chewy"!
www.chewy.com is a pet product company specializing in home delivery of all things pet-related. FFGW has a "wish list" which you can find here:
Any products you select from our wish list will be delivered directly to us for use at our adoption center at PetSmart and by our fosters!
If you're new to Chewy, we'll even get a gift certificate for bringing in a new purchaser. It's a great way to help us in our mission to help the kitties!
Thanks to everyone who has donated food, treats, litter, beds, toys... Chewy's platform doesn't allow us to see the names of our generous donors, but please know that your support is very much appreciated! And if you drop us a line and let us know when you donate something, we'll be more than happy to send our thanks!
This post contains affilliate links. FFGW may be compensated if you buy something after clicking on these links. |
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| Shop at Walmart and Help the Kitties!
Go to the link above, designate FFGW as your charity, and each purchase will be "round up" to the nearest dollar - with that change going to FFGW. |
| | We've Gone Home!
Adopted - December (24)
Butch Cassidy, Sundance Kid, Blinky, Clyde, Kyra, Wolfgang, Bea, Winks, Juniper, Garfield, Oreo, Oatmeal Cream Pie, Fancy, Asher, Graycie, Teeni, Cricket, Hopper, Cristal, Mac, Ramen, Sushi, Rue & Wyler
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Adoption Fairs
Leesburg Weekly Fair Leesburg PetSmart - Sundays 12 - 2 pm
--Midweek Adoptions by Appointment for Cats in the Center--
We need volunteers to help care for the cats at Leesburg! Contact Brittany@ffgw.org
Looking for a new cat for your family? Get pre-approved for adoption by filling out an adoption form online today.)
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