Animal Stories
Update on Thadeus (February 2012): Thadeus' one back leg was so badly injured that it had to be removed. One of his front legs had been broken and healed crooked so he has 2 good legs and his crooked front leg balances him. But don't feel sorry for Thadeus. Open a can of wet cat food and he will come running! He has had a long recovery, but is finally ready to find a home of his own. Thadeus (“strong of heart”) needs to be an indoor cat and has had many cat friends while recuperating. A warm lap, food and lots of love in a forever home are exactly the prescription! If you can find a place in your home and heart for this true survivor, please call Barb Shepherd @ 910-944-5098. You can find Thadeus under the Animal Adoption section in this newsletter.
Posted by our Director of Operations:
"Ladies, at midnight tonight I went out back to take out the trash and to fill the ferals food bins and I stopped because I thought I heard this cat meowing in the distance which you don't hear down here unless one has been dumped. It sounded pitiful. I ran back inside and got my big flashlight because I could not see in the distance good enough w/ just the pole light and deck light, and I got a can of Fancy Feast. Ran back out and hit the treeline to the back of the parking lot w/ my light, and sure enough there was a cat laying there in the distance.
I started talking gently to it and calling and walking up easy and I was amazed and both overcome w/ heartbreak of emotion at what I saw slowly but surely trying to come to me. This cat when I got to it was nothing but bones and so very affectionate and started eating like there would not be a tomorrow. I sat there in the dirt parking lot and let it eat and tried very gently to triage things about it.
members of the First Health Fitness Center have a great view of the outside from the enormous floor to ceiling windows in front of their exercise machines. For three years many participants were able to watch a red-haired dog search the grassy knoll below them for bits of food. It didn’t take three years however for a few of the exercising gurus to feel sorry for the dog. Members began to bring moist food and other treats on each trip to the fitness center. A growing urgency began to emerge among the members to rescue this beautiful animal and give him the home he deserved. Clifford as he was named gave them quite a challenge. He was friendly and wagged his tail, but would let no one get close enough to execute a perfect capture. Hours were spent on the grassy knoll with various members hoping to win over the confidence of the skittish Clifford.
The Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation is committed to making life more bearable for children, families and pets, in need of a helping paw. With the sale of each full-sized Bearemy's Kennel Pals friend - a collection of Build A Bear Workshop plush dogs - one dollar is donated to domestic pet programs including local animal shelters, stray pet rescue and rehabilitation organizations, and pet eduction programs around the country. These funds are available to qualified non-profit organizations in the United States and Canada. Visit 
