Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Buddy

By Jamie Morgan, Satellite Adoption Manager

Everyone has a way of dealing with stress. It took me years to stop biting my nails and while manicures are easy now, you will be hard pressed to find a pen that I haven’t chewed at the end. There are thumb suckers, hair twirlers, and teeth grinders among us, all trying to self-sooth. Cats are no different and when the world is not right they also develop habits to deal.

When you first meet Buddy you can’t see evidence of his rituals until he darts past. His sleek black fur is missing in places. Perfect circles of pink skin spot his back legs and belly. Buddy is what we’d call an over-groomer, part allergies and part anxiety; he has taken a normal kitty habit a little too far in order to cope.

How does anyone deal with stress? Routine. The more consistent and planned our days become the less we worry about what’s next. At HSSV, Buddy’s day is scheduled for him - breakfast, petting, lunch, clicker training, nap, play, dinner, sleep, repeat. A steady stream of positive associations with people = food = good and distractions through learning new tricks and play keep his focus away from his bad habits.

If you think about it, most of us are on a routine because of our animals. I wake up and let the dog out before getting my coffee. Buddy needs someone who likes routine but it doesn’t have to be boring. Surprise cuddles are always available, which we will talk about next week as our Buddy series continues towards finding his forever home. So if you are a creature of habit or know someone who’s daily grind could benefit from a furry companion, take a trip down to our Animal Community Center and meet Buddy.

Buddy is a complex kitty; you can get to know better by talking to his friends on our Adoptions team. Call 262-2133 x 150 for more information or email adoptions@hssv.org.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

500th Adoption at Sunnyvale!


Macey and her new family celebrating the 500th adoption at our Sunnyvale Satellite Center since it's opening in November 2010. Will you make 501?

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

HSSV Guests and their Favorite Things! (Part 2)



Hi! My name is Simba and my favorite thing is pretending to be King of the Jungle (I'm a Lion Head Dwarf Rabbit). I like to stand on my hind legs and pretend to roar! I also enjoy grooming my beautiful mane, and being petted!



Hi! My name is Lacy and my favorite things are longs walks (on the beach or...well, anywhere), showing off my favorite toys, snuggling with my favorite people, and generally being the center of attention! Check out my pet of the week video!



Hi! My name is Cocoa and my favorite things are chatting with my human friends, receiving pats and chin scratches, sitting in laps, and prancing around until the light catches my beautiful coat!



Hi! My name is Rocket and my favorite things are working out (I'm very fit, you know!), playing fetch, swimming, and working on my basic commands with the help of my friends. I'm really good at sit and down! I like to show off!



Hi! My name is Lotus and my favorite things are basking in the sun on my window perch, greeting my friends by rubbing against their ankles and soliciting pats, and chasing after feather wand toys.



Hi! My name is Hilo and my favorite things are sitting in a lap while being groomed (have you seen my beautiful mane?), playing with squeaky toys, showing off my superb leash manners, modeling for photo sessions, and...did I mention sitting in laps?



Hi! My name is Groucho and my favorite things are grooming my adorable mustache, holding down laps (we're done snuggling when I say so!), and curling up on the couch to enjoy an old timey movie. I bet you can guess my favorite movie star...

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Princess: Happily Ever After (Part Four of Four)

By Jamie Morgan, Satellite Adoption Manager

It was a busy morning at our Sunnyvale Satellite when in the middle of a kitten adoption the phone rang. On the line was a woman who had seen Princess online and wanted to know more about her. It just so happened one of Princess’ main advocates, volunteer Laurie, was paying a visit and gladly gave the caller details. Laurie had spent time with Princess at all three of our locations and relayed Princess’s likes and dislikes; food and being picked up respectfully.

Later that afternoon we met Leigh and her sister and our interested caller immediately fell in love. But even when it’s love at first sight, you still want to make sure your own relationship checklist is fulfilled before moving in together. On Leigh’s list was a cat that could be alone during her 12-hour work shifts. Princess easily crossed that off, as she’s a lady who knows how to keep herself busy. As for Princess’s boundary issues, Leigh had lots of experience with cats that only prefer a little bit of petting.

Next came the sensitive subject of weight loss, a must for this three-legged kitty who purrs when she eats. Since arriving at Sunnyvale for the second time around only 3 days earlier, we had placed Princess on a food motivated behavior plan. To build up positive feelings towards people entering her room we were using her daily dry food portion as “treats”. Anytime someone came into see her, she got a treat. By the second day she was up at the front of her room anytime we walked by, waiting for her snacks. This process is easily adapted to a home setting allowing Leigh to gain trust through the power of kibble. With everything out in the open, it was time to send Princess off to her new home.

It’s been a little over a week since her adoption and with each update things have gone from good to great. With no other animals around, Princess has plenty of “me time” and can focus all her attention on her new Mom. Leigh was a little surprised at first to realize how many fans her new addition has but since adopting it all makes sense. Princess’s story has a happy ending now that she has a forever person.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Guinea Pear


Who knew guinea pigs could get that big?!
Butterscotch was brought to HSSV already pregnant and placed into foster to wait out her 60-70 day gestation period. While she's due any day now we are expecting another litter of piglets tomorrow at Saratoga, keep an eye on our website for baby Abyssinians.


Here's a sneak peak at the upcoming cuteness, meet Ash!