Newsletters

Seasons Greetings from Recycled Critter Rescue!

Old man winter has come a little early this year! We hope you have stayed safe and warm, same as we hope for all those cats and dogs that may be homeless or living outdoors. Adams County Shelter still has so many kittens, cats and wonderful dogs ready for adoption. If it’s a good time for you and your family to adopt a furry friend, please visit the shelter and give an animal a new “forever” home for the holidays. Even though it’s been a tough year for animal adoptions, we are still so thankful for the many happy endings, as lots of cats and dogs did find new homes. For those animals still awaiting adoption, we found many people willing to foster them. We call our foster parents the guardian “angels”, as they guard and protect these animals until a new “forever” home can be found. Our animal rescue work could not be possible without foster homes, or the volunteer efforts of each of you who help us in many other ways. Thank you all for being a part of the RCR animal “Angel Network”.

As the World Turns
As you have surely seen or experienced firsthand, this year has been financially difficult for so many people. In times like these, it’s the less fortunate and their animals that suffer most. If you know someone in need who can’t feed their animal, please let them know food banks usually carry cat and dog food. Some shelters will also give food if a family can’t afford it. RCR is currently helping a few families feed their animals so they can stay healthy and in their current homes, and not end-up in a shelter or on the streets. Just know when you give your donation to the RCR shelter you’re helping other animals from becoming homeless in the first place. Ultimately, isn’t this what it’s all about, securing and ensuring safe and loving homes for all animals?

RCR’S Feature Story
We’ve had as few as 26, but up to 42 cats, ending the year with 32 living in our cat sanctuary! The most recent arrivals are a kitten and two juniors we call Mickey Mouse, Hank and Abe. These little guys all came to us from an abusive home, but an “Angel” knew what was happening and decided to help and involved Animal Control. These kittens are so sweet and trusting, but full of life! We just say they’ve never been civilized! But, sometimes we say they’re just down right ornery! With the ‘ol squirt bottle routine and lots of love, we are teaching them to become adoptable cats. They, however, are our real teachers. They stay close together, play together, groom each other, and love like family. A true lesson for a loving, giving life!

Speaking of animal abuse, there’s a need to watch out for the animals left outside when it’s cold. Don’t be afraid to call Animal Control if you think an animal is in trouble. The animals will thank you when they’re safe and warm.

Sponsor a Cat Program (How You Can Help)
Since our last newsletter, we’ve added four more families to our “Sponsor a Cat” program! This means approximately ½ of the cats living in our sanctuary are being sponsored! This is so helpful because it insures food, litter and medical care to those specific cats. Plus, it helps us know how much money we have coming in each month to care for them. If you would like to sponsor one of our residence cats, please let us know! We will send you the cat’s life story with a photo, and all the envelopes you’ll need. All you have to do is write the check and know each time you do, there’s certainty for your sponsored cat to have a happy, healthy and safe life until their “forever” home can be found. Can we count on you? Contact me at (720) 435-8874 to learn more. A furry feline friend is just waiting for you to call!

Other Ways You can Help
Volunteers working with our shelter cats have become scarce this last year. Taking care of 32 cats is a full time job, and can sometimes be a bit overwhelming without help. RCR has decided we need to hire someone part-time to help with some daily chores. Unfortunately, the money is not in the budget to do this. We have a person coming in once a week to do a thorough cleaning, but the daily work and attention to the cats is in need of some assistance. If there is anything you can give to help pay for this part-time helper, I’d be very grateful.

Exciting News:
RCR now has two outside cat runs!! The cats love to get outside to watch the birds, the bugs, and the other wildlife. This has improved their lives tremendously. It gives them something to do and they get to feel the sunshine and smell fresh air. We have done some improvements inside the shelter, as well, such as an all glass door at the top of the basement stairs. The cats upstairs can see and hear the cats downstairs and visa versa. They spend many hours teasing each other through the glass. We also purchased many new condos and plastic cubes with beds in them. These “hidie holes”, as we call them, are great fun for hide & seek, or just a place to hide & sleep. We’re also working on re- painting and new flooring. All this was donated to us by Rachelle and Jason Hurd and Tracy Bruce. We are so very thankful for their donations to make these needed improvements!

Recognition to Sponsors and Major Contributors:
We would like to recognize our four new “cat sponsor families”. They are Lori Olson, Sally Diamond, Mary Campbell, and R.R. Roche. A big “THANK YOU” to our new sponsors, our old sponsors, and our other monthly donors like Phyllis Welsh, Cathy Cloepfil, and Vicki Ferguson. Donna Humes and Deborah Felin are major contributors to RCR whose help we couldn’t survive without. “Thank you, Donna & Deborah”! And, we thank so many others, those of you who give your time, money, and support as you are able. Without all your combined efforts for this one cause we couldn’t continue to rescue cats and kittens. We pray that God blesses you for your kindness!

And, I have a special wish this year for each of you. May you enjoy family and friends and have what you need for a Happy Holiday. May you always have love in your life, and especially from a cat or dog to snuggle with! Animals bring us great joy and their love is always unconditional.

In closing, “The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose”. (Mahatma Gandhi)

Judy Quinlivan

President/Founder