FKSPCA Rescue Tale Saying Farewell to 2022
As we look back on 2022, there were many highlights that we will certainly remember. Here are just a few of them.
Lolly and Lucy, two 12 yr. old bonded sisters came to our Marathon shelter after their person passed away. Realizing the challenge but also the need to keep these two girls together, we put their story out on social media. A kind couple who had relocated from the Keys to Alabama saw it and had space and willingness to adopt both dogs. With the help of Batman4Paws, a non-profit transportation organization, these two sweet senior sisters made it safely to their new home in Alabama where they can remain together.
TJ the cat stood out among the other cats in a local feral cat colony. He just looked too healthy to be on his own like the others. He was brought to the Marathon shelter and scanned for a microchip. Sure enough he had one and it was traced back to a family in Tampa. A phone call to them revealed that TJ had disappeared when they were visiting the Keys TWO YEARS EARLIER! We have no way of knowing where he had been but the following day they made the trip to Marathon for a very happy reunion.
Our Key West shelter became home to a pig named Penelope and a goose named Lucy. We got six ducks surrendered to us days later! Creating suitable housing for these unusual residents was quite the challenge. Finding homes for them even more so! Over time, thanks to networking and new rescue friends throughout the state, great homes were found for everyone and our staff made the roadtrip of a lifetime, with a van filled with the sounds of oinks and quacks.
When rescue groups in western PA offered to help with our sudden influx of guinea pigs and hamsters (due to surrendered animals with babies and already pregnant), we couldn’t say no. It took 3 days of travel and 9 volunteer drivers to transport 23 animals safelyfrom Key West to Pittsburgh where they stood a much better chance of finding good homes!
Technology made it possible for Mia the Siamese cat to find her new family in the Panhandle. The meet and greets took place via face-timing, phone calls, and texting, but it all worked out and her new family made the 13 hr. trip to the Keys to adopt her!
When Clover the goat could no longer stay in his first home for head-butting reasons, we reached out to a wonderful rescue looking for a neutered boy goat to be friends with their female goat. It has turned out to be a match made in head-butting heaven for the new couple.
Under threat from Hurricane Ian, our Marathon shelter evacuated 11 rabbits, 3 guinea pigs, 40 cats, and 10 dogs into the safety of local foster homes. Fortunately, we escaped major damage, but our community was there for us as always!
In the span of only a few weeks we had 3 purebred hounds enter our Key West shelter: 2 Coonhounds and 1 Foxhound, energetic breeds not commonly seen in our shelters! However, all found wonderful homes in the area.
Mom, Dad, and ten 4-month old Husky mix puppies came into our Marathon shelter. The parents went back to their people but the puppies stayed with us until they were old enough to be adopted at 8 weeks. Before they joined their new homes, they took part in our Yoga with Puppies event. A Zen state of mind was nearly impossible to attain with 10 puppies pulling hair and nibbling toes, but fun was had by all!
Fiona the shelter bunny campaigned to become Queen of our 2022 Parade of Paws event. Although she was not crowned our Queen, her campaign drew much attention. Fiona raised $3,800 for our shelter animals, and she became the first rabbit ever to become a Duchess!
We thank everyone who helped make our 2022 a successful year, and wish you a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2023!
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