Dear Friend,

North Shore Animal League America is sad to report that one of our Sponsor Program cats, Buttermilk, passed away on April 15, 2012.

Buttermilk entered the Sponsor Program in 2007, suffering from Atopic Dermatitis caused by severe skin allergies. Luckily, the condition was controllable through daily oral medication, a lifelong treatment protocol.

Buttermilk spent the last five years with a wonderful adoptive family, who also adopted his best friend and littermate, Anisette. The two cats were an inseparable pair that got along beautifully.

This Easter Sunday, Buttermilk began exhibiting unusual behavior, which was of great concern to Tara, his adoptive mother. Typically a very healthy eater with a big appetite, Buttermilk refused his food. In addition, his breathing was slightly labored.
Tara immediately brought him to the Animal League’s Veterinary Center, where tests revealed problems with Buttermilk’s liver values. He was admitted to the hospital and given fluids for dehydration.

Still unable to eat, Buttermilk was put on a feeding tube in the days that followed, and the determined cat seemed to gain strength, putting back a pound of lost weight. As Tara put it, “When we visited he seemed to be back to himself again—bright eyed, curious and cuddly.”

But test results that came back on Thursday, April 12, confirmed the family’s worst fears: the precious cat had cancer. Buttermilk was too weak to endure a biopsy to determine what kind of cancer, but the hope was that he would soon get stronger and be able to undergo treatment. Sadly, he passed away three days later.

Tara asked us to share her thoughts with all of those who have loved and supported her dear cat over the past five years: “I cannot begin to explain how heartbroken I am without him in the house. As a pet owner, you know the day will inevitably come when you see your pet get old and deteriorate. I just never expected it to be this difficult. No matter how young or old a pet is, you really don’t realize just how big a part of your day they are until they are not around.”

The Animal League extends our heartfelt sympathy to Buttermilk’s family. They, along with Anisette, are deeply feeling the loss of their beloved cat. The family asked us to thank all of you for so generously supporting Buttermilk and other pets like him through donations to our Sponsor Program.

Sincerely,
The Sponsor Team

Dear Friend,

North Shore Animal League America is sad to share the news that one of our Sponsor Program cats, Jesse, passed away on March 17, 2012. This sweet cat joined the program in 2008 suffering from two life-long conditions: a heart murmur/heart disease and hyperthyroidism. She also had a deep corneal scar that blurred her vision.

In February 2012, Jesse was diagnosed with diabetes. After three hospitalizations to regulate her insulin dose, she had appeared to be doing well. But her foster mother reported that on March 16, 2012, Jesse had what appeared to be a mini stroke and was having great difficulty walking.

The veterinarian confirmed that Jesse had, indeed, had a stroke, which she said was unrelated to her diabetes and more likely caused by her heart condition or possibly cancer. Her foster mother made an appointment for Jesse to see a specialist for an abdominal ultrasound, since the veterinarian had found fluid in the cat’s abdomen.

But Jesse took a turn for the worse that evening, becoming extremely weak. The next day, when the veterinarian saw Jesse again, her condition had deteriorated further, and she was suffering from dehydration and a subnormal temperature. The veterinarian told Jesse’s foster mother that the precious cat’s organs were beginning to shut down and that she would not recover.

Through her sadness, Jesse’s foster mother shared this with us: “I try to console myself with the fact that she spent the last years of her life in a loving home, where she was happy and well cared for. I want to thank you for all of your help and patience in answering my questions about Jesse’s care. I could not have asked for a dearer, sweeter and better behaved animal. She was truly a blessing.”

The Animal League shares in the grief of Jesse’s foster mother. We extend our deepest condolences to her foster mother, along with our thanks to all of Jesse’s devoted Sponsors, whose generosity gave this beautiful cat the medical care she needed to live out her last years in comfort and surrounded by love.

Jesse is dearly missed and will never be forgotten.

Sincerely,
The Sponsor Team

Dear Friend,

North ShoreAnimal LeagueAmerica regrets to inform you of the passing of our
wide-eyed and lovely tabby cat, Cleo.

Cleo joined the Animal LeagueÊs Sponsor Program as a very young cat suffering
from chronic frontal sinusitis and other ailments. Unfortunately, this permanent
condition made it necessary for her to undergo several surgeries, take regular
medications and caused her daily discomfort.

Yet with all of her challenges and uncomfortable remedies,Cleo remained a sweet
and loving cat and was truly happy. She enjoyed the finer feline things in life like
knocking things off shelves, snoozing in warm places and gazing out of windows.
Smart and independent,Cleo chose her human suitors discriminately.When Cleo
showed you her love, you knew you were special.

Cleo had recently taken ill, and unfortunately, could not recover. She had lost a
lot of weight and her breathing grew increasingly strained. She came to theAnimal
League for a veterinary exam when she had gone into respiratory arrest.

On April 22, 2011, at 7:58 pm, our Cleo was gone.

The Animal League is heartbroken at the loss of our feline friend, and would like
to thank her foster family for taking such incredible care of her all these years. It
was their patience and dedication that gave Cleo the happiest years of her life.
Cleo is dearly missed and will never be forgotten.

Sincerely,
The Sponsor Team

Cleo’s family went away for a week at the beginning of April and “Grandma” watched the kitties (Cleo and Jules). Cleo, of course, was never far from her and was her charming hostess self. She curled around legs to insure people went where they were supposed to, climbed into laps to make sure they were not cold and reminded her Grandma “on the dot” when it was time to be fed. More recently, Cleo took a spill off of her bed on top of a desk at home. She’s always been clumsy but usually bounces right back. Cleo’s mother said she heard a ruckus, came into the room and found Cleo with her leg sticking out and hissing ferociously. She seemed to recover shortly thereafter and was even walking but her leg was sliding out from under her a bit. Later that evening and the whole next day she didn’t seem to want to move much but was still trying to eat and drink. Littermate cat Jules, with one or two exceptions (he tried to play with her the next day but learned how bad things were when she cried out in pain), was very well behaved and left her alone other than to help give her a few good grooming licks on her head. By the time Cleo was brought in to the Animal League, a day later, she was not interested in food or water and just seemed to want to sleep. The doctors found nothing in the x-rays or during their examination so they diagnosed a bad soft tissue injury and she is now on pain medication. It does seem to help and this morning, for the first time in several days, she took a couple of licks of her food (we hand fed her a very small bit last night). Because she has to be confined to a small space, her mother had to actually carry her to the litter box, where she would immediately do her business and then meow to be taken back to her bed. They had gotten her a small litter box for the space but it seems to have been rejected, probably for being too small since Cleo likes to treat her little box like a sandbox.

Dear Friend,

North Shore Animal League America regrets to inform you of the passing of our sweet and spotted canine friend, Lucky.

Lucky joined the Animal League’s Sponsor Program in 2006. He was suffering from urinary tract stones, liver inflammation and lower intestinal issues, which required lifelong care. He was also hearing impaired.

Though Lucky faced many health challenges, he always maintained a pleasant and happy attitude. His tail was always wagging and he never passed up love and affection. His inherently joyful nature made every day a beautiful day.

Only a short time ago, Lucky started developing large stage IV tumors, which required to be surgically removed. He had several surgeries, but had difficulty healing. He spent much of his time in and out of the Animal League’s Medical Center, but treated them more like social visits than doctor appointments, as he had many friends who were always happy to see him. Even in his final days, his tail never stopped happily wagging.

On February 19, 2011, Lucky passed away at home peacefully in his sleep.

The Animal League is forever grateful for Lucky’s family, friends and sponsors. Their love and support gave Lucky a very happy and full life. I know we all agree that having Lucky in our lives was a blessing. And though we will miss him deeply, we feel so very “lucky” to have known him.

Sincerely,
The Sponsor Team

August 2010: Jesse has a new home and a new adopted family. She was adopted the beginning of the month and her adopted mother, Phyllis, reports that Jesse is adapting very well. The first thing Phyllis did was take Jesse to her own veterinarian for a full physical exam and blood work. She just wanted to be sure everything was covered. The veterinarian did say she needs to lose some weight for her health and she should have her eye checked by an ophthalmologist. Phyllis is being a doting mother. The house has three stories and lots of rooms for Jesse to explore. She did leave her room for a short time, but didn’t venture too far and didn’t go down the stairs. Jesse is very vocal and really “talks” to Phyllis a lot. We think Jesse is saying, “Thank you, I love it here”.

September 2010: Jesse has fully adapted to her new surroundings and seems very happy in her new home. Her personality has changed dramatically. She is even more vocal, loves to play and gets along well with the other cats in the household as well as visitors. She has a good appetite and it looks like she may have lost a bit of weight, which is a goal. At the suggestion of her veterinarian, Jesse was taken to an ophthalmologist to confirm the graft in her right eye has healed well. The veterinarian was concerned Jesse might have a flare-up of herpes virus from the stress of the move. She was placed on Erythromycin ointment and an oral nutritional supplement and is scheduled for a check up soon.

October 2010: We are happy to report Jesse’s health is great. Her adopted mother, Phyllis took her back to the veterinarian and ophthalmologist to test her tear output. The veterinary technician said she was so sweet. She didn’t even flinch as they poked around her eyes to make sure everything was normal. All tests were passed with flying colors! Jesse is now fully adapted to her new surroundings and is happy with her new family. She adores when visitors come and she can smell them and receive lots more petting and pampering. We are very thankful for Phyllis taking our sweet Jesse home and adding her to her family.

November 2010: Jesse is doing well! Her adopted mother reports, “Jesse is doing beautifully and seems really happy in her new home”. She couldn’t ask for a sweeter, dearer, more cooperative cat. Our dear Jesse has adjusted well to her new environment. We are so very thankful she has a special mother. She will be bringing in Jesse for her regular physical and electrocardiogram. Stay tuned, we will be sure to keep you posted.

SPONSOR ME!

Dear Valued Friend,

North Shore Animal League America regrets to inform you of the passing of our beloved and royal canine companion, King Fritz.

Fritz became a member of the Animal League’s Sponsor Program in 2006 when his owners passed away and he was left alone. Frightened and confused, the Animal League rescued Fritz from his unfortunate situation.

We found that Fritz had numerous health problems including, dental disease, severe arthritis, a dry eye condition and bladder stones. But it only took one look into his huge, sweet eyes to know that we would care for him forever. Not only was Fritz given all the medical care he needed, he was also given a new family to call his own.

As one of the most senior dogs in the Sponsor Program, Fritz was awarded the title of “King.” King Fritz was a very distinguished gentleman. His small frame showcased a handsome apricot-colored Pekinese coat, which was only rivaled by his particular brand of charm.

It comforts us to know that King Fritz led a full and happy life. He won the love of many people and enjoyed what each day had to offer. King Fritz was a little dog with a huge heart, and everyone who knew him will miss him dearly.

The Animal League would like to thank Fritz’s family, friends and Sponsors for caring for him so lovingly. We will remember our fuzzy friend forever, and we know that all of you will, too.

Sincerely,

The Sponsor Team

Dear Valued Friend,

North Shore Animal League America regrets to inform you of the passing of our treasured feline friend, Stripe.

Stripe came to the Animal League when he was just a kitten. Tragically, he had been abandoned. Early on, we discovered that Stripe had a very serious heart murmur. It wasn’t long before we realized that he was going to need constant care for the rest of his life. In 2002, Stripe joined the Animal League’s Sponsor Program.

Though Stripe’s health was guarded, he still lived life to its fullest. He lived with his wonderful foster care family and even had a feline sibling, Missy, who is also in our Sponsor Program. Lounging on his favorite window sill and absorbing the warmth of love as well as the sun, was a usual day in Stripe’s life. He spent his days surrounded by love and happiness. Stripe was a cherished member of a loving family.

We are truly grateful for the wonderful quality of Stripe’s life. Every day was a precious gift…and he shared this gift with everyone he met.

Stripe’s time with us wasn’t long, but it was full and happy. We feel sadness for the loss of our life-long friend, but we take comfort in knowing that together, we gave him all the love we had in our hearts The Animal League is so grateful to all our Sponsors and to Stripe’s foster family for giving him such an incredible life.

Stripe will be dearly missed.

Sincerely,

The Sponsor Team

These photos of Lucky were taken on March 24th at North Shore Animal League America’s Tour For Life 2010 kick-off event!

January 2010 Update: Lucky’s foster mother Vivian reports that he is doing great. He never ceases to amaze her. When she was putting up the Christmas tree, Lucky managed to jump up on the couch and cuddle with her niece. He did this knowing quite well that he’s not allowed on the furniture. The moment Vivian gave him “that look” he quickly jumped off. Lucky often acts just like a kid and it fills us with great joy to know that he can benefit from a good quality of life thanks to your commitment to the Animal League’s vital Sponsor Program for animals with special needs.

February 2010 Update: Lucky is doing well. He has trained his foster mother’s fiancé to let him out every half hour when they are home. However, when he’s home alone, he can sleep for eight or ten hours straight without the need to be let outside. Obviously, this is one smart deaf dog! He also has figured out how to spit out his pill which they sometimes find elsewhere throughout the day.

March 2010 Update: No news is always good news for the Animal League’s special-needs pets. Lucky has been doing well and there is nothing eventful to report. Health wise, he’s doing fine. However, he must have a feeling that his foster mother will be going on vacation soon, because he is acting out and showing signs of not eating a lot and not wanting to go outside as much. And we know how much Lucky loves to play and run the course of the backyard any chance he can get.

SPONSOR ME!

Dear Valued Friend,

North Shore Animal League America would like to take a moment to inform you of the passing of our adored feline friend, Lady Harmony.  

Beautiful Lady Harmony joined the Animal League’s Sponsor Program in 2008 at the age of 10 – 11 years old.  She was diagnosed with diabetes and required daily insulin shots twice a day as well as monthly check-ups. 

Animal League veterinarians suspected a previous history of urinary tract infections and possible pancreatitis.  In addition to the diabetes, they found bladder stones. Lady Harmony had a cystotomy operation to remove the stones and made a full recovery.

It wasn’t long before an associate of the Animal League’s Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center fell in love with the onyx-colored cat and brought her home to foster.

Though Lady Harmony often felt shy around her feline foster siblings, there was one special kitten who stole her heart. Lady Harmony cared for this little kitten as a mother would and we believe that this special relationship helped Lady Harmony to find peace and solitude.

The Animal League is so grateful to all our Sponsors and to Lady Harmony’s foster mother for giving her the best quality of life possible. Without this unconditional love and devotion, we would not be able to give our special-needs pets the extraordinary care we so lovingly provide.

Though we will always miss Lady Harmony, we take solace in knowing that she had a wonderful loving home and that she was cherished. Our memories of her will melt our sadness and our affection for her will make us smile once again.

Sincerely,

The Sponsor Team