North Shore Animal League America is sad to share the news
that Chaz, one of our beloved Sponsor Cats, passed away
on February 19, 2013. The brave cat, who had a serious
heart murmur since he was a kitten, had been struggling
with chronic heart failure since the 2012 holiday season.

Chaz left us peacefully, surrounded by the many veterinary
technicians who loved him very much.

Chaz became part of Animal League America’s Sponsor
Program in 2003 as a young kitten, when our medical team
determined that he had a severe heart murmur. Everyone
who cared for Chaz fell for the sweet orange-and-white
domestic short-hair cat, who had the most gorgeous green
eyes and an affectionate nature.

It takes a very special person to take on the responsibility of
caring for an animal with a chronic medical condition, and
we never gave up on finding Chaz his perfect match.

After years of patiently waiting within the walls of our
shelter, Chaz finally found a family to call his own and was
adopted in 2007 into a wonderful home, where he was wellloved
and cherished for his remaining six years. He gave as
much love as he received, rewarding his family with loud,
contented purrs and lots of kisses.

All of us at Animal League America are comforted to know
that Chaz had many happy years, both with us and then
with his loving adoptive family. We are so grateful to them
for giving this treasured cat a beautiful life, and we thank all
of you whose generous monthly donations enabled us to
provide Chaz with the special care that he needed. Rest in
peace, dear friend.

Sincerely,
The Entire Sponsor Team

Marty at the park with Dad,
enjoying the fresh air!
March 2013

Victoria enjoying her favorite bean bag chair!

Dear Friend,

North Shore Animal League America is saddened to report that Kyle, one of our beloved Sponsor Program cats, passed away on September 29, 2012.

Kyle arrived at Animal League America in 2004 after being severely mistreated. Tests indicated that he had several medical issues, including a serious upper respiratory infection, a collapsed lung and thickening of the heart muscles. He was extremely frightened.
After providing Kyle with the treatment he needed to stabilize his condition, we entered him into our life-saving Sponsor Program. Through this monthly giving program, dedicated animal lovers like you provide the funds needed to care for pets like Kyle and give them the happy lives they’ve been denied for so long.

And happy Kyle was! He had a loving foster care mother to take care of him and a wonderful home life with her. He was a warm and affectionate pet from the minute we met him, often showing his happiness by loud purrs of sheer joy.

Losing Kyle has been very sad for all of us at Animal League America and we know it is for you, too. We are extremely grateful to all of his loyal supporters for giving him so many wonderful years living an amazing quality of life.

All of us at Animal League America thank you from the bottom of our hearts for continuing to support our Sponsor Program. Because of you, Kyle, and animals like him, receive the lifelong medical care that allows them to live out their years in the best health possible with loving families.

Kyle is dearly missed and will never be forgotten.

Sincerely,
The Entire Sponsor Team

Dear Friend,

North Shore Animal League America is sad to announce the loss of one of our treasured sponsor pets, Sir Kobe, who passed away at his foster home on November 4, 2012.

Debbie, Sir Kobe’s foster mom, informed us that Kobe died peacefully in his sleep, and our veterinarians have determined that cardiac disease was the cause of his death. Sir Kobe joined Animal League America’s Sponsor Program in 2002. The playful and mischievous cat suffered from a very serious heart murmur—a condition which, if left untreated, would likely have been fatal within a year.
Sir Kobe was closely monitored at our state-of-the-art Medical Center for all of his 10 years, coming in for check-ups every three months. With tender, loving care by his foster mother, Sir Kobe lived well beyond expectations. The regal cat, who loved to rule his roost of cat siblings, earned his nickname: Sir Kobe.

As with all the animals in our Sponsor Program, and all in our care, it was our unrelenting mission to ensure that Sir Kobe had the best life possible, and we are comforted to know that he lived every day to its fullest. We thank Sir Kobe’s foster mother, and all of you who donate to our Sponsor Program, for enabling this beautiful cat to live a long and happy life.

Sir Kobe is dearly missed and will never be forgotten.

Sincerely,
The Entire Sponsor Team

Dear Friends,

North Shore Animal League America has some sad news to report: one of our beautiful Sponsor Program cats, Jules, passed away on July 28, 2012.

Jules became part of our Sponsor Program after being abandoned a decade ago. Poor Jules was completely terrified when he first arrived at the safety of Animal League America. Sadly, given his level of anxiety, it was likely the poor cat had been mistreated in the past.

Upon examining Jules, our medical staff determined that he suffered from a severe upper respiratory infection. More worrisome, he was diagnosed with a heart murmur and cardiac arrhythmia, both very dangerous conditions that can prove fatal.

Thanks to the generosity of our Sponsor Program donors, Jules received the treatment he needed to begin his journey of recovery. He was adopted by a wonderful family, whose patience and kindness helped Jules transform from a traumatized cat who resisted any human contact and hid all day long to one who loved nothing more than to be petted and given tons of attention.

While losing a beloved pet is always heartbreaking, we are comforted knowing that, after a very rough start in life, Jules spent many happy years with a family who cared deeply for him.

Jules’ family, and all of us here at Animal League America, want to express our deepest gratitude to all of you who continue to support our Sponsor Program. You are the reason that Jules, and animals like him, receive the lifelong medical care they need to live out their years in loving, permanent homes.

Sincerely,
The Sponsor Team

Ron recently reported that Sasha started to limp and was not using her hind leg too much. With a lot of concern Ron took her to the veterinarian hoping it was not anything serious. Dr. Stone did not think she had a torn ACL or any major injury to her knee, just a strain. Her directions were to keep her quiet for the weekend and they would x-ray if there was no improvement by Monday. When Monday arrived, Sasha was using the leg with a slight limp when she walked, but no limp when she ran or stood. She did not seem to favor the leg much. Therefore, Ron kept her quiet for an additional week to be sure she did not aggravate or increase the injury. She still has a slight limp after running with the other dogs, but it is almost impossible to keep her quiet. She loves to run along the shore; she is like the wind, a free spirit.

SPONSOR ME!

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