Want to "get Lucky"?

Rocky: Artsy Catsy has been busy with woofie rescue! Last week we 'rescued' a sweet little puppy from an abusive home ... she is now named Gracie and is living about an hour from us, free and safe and happy and very, very loved.

Now we have another woofie who needs a home. We're introducing Lucky to you today, in hopes that you, or someone you know, will email us at artsycatsy(at)yahoo(dot)com saying you would like to welcome this adorable little boy into your home ...

Lucky was rescued in Indianapolis by a young couple where he was frantically running around in the middle of a busy intersection, in great danger of being hit by a car. The couple has tried everything to find Lucky's owners, but no one has claimed him. They have a baby and a small dog already and can't afford another dog … and in August they're moving to Mexico and can't take another dog with them in spite of the fact that they are getting attached to Lucky. They want to find him a good home because they will have to take him to a shelter otherwise … and they don't want to do that to Lucky. Lucky was such a mess when they saved him that they had to shave off his hair so it’s hard to tell what he will really look like. He is a small dog. He loves the baby, he loves their other dog, and is so happy and grateful and he is very playful and very energetic. And, best of all, Lucky loves cats! The couple has been unable to afford any vet care for Lucky … so they can only guess that he is maybe a year old. He hasn't been neutered and it's unknown whether he's had any vaccinations, etc. Lucky: Please pass this around to everyone you know and help me find a furever home. Just maybe I really will be “lucky”!!

Wacky & Why Wednesday

Thanksgiving-Christmas fundraiser

for Cat Friends Helping Friends at the Cat Blogosphere

and the Rescue Farm
STARTS TOMORROW NIGHT!

Rocky here: I took our blog back from my human artist because she's totally WACKED out, racing around here so fast it makes my head spin! I'm going to tell you more about WHY we chose to help the Rescue Farm and show you some more of their photos ... while my artist cooks noodles & turkey & dressing & more food than even I could eat, takes pictures of our fundraiser products, creates more products, and drives an hour away to pick up the latest ferals she rescued after their hoohaectomies, then drives them to the Rescue Farm ... hey, don't forget to feed me!!

I had to put down my paw about these ferals; I could see from the look in my human's eyes that she wanted to hire them as staff, so I had to remind her of my corporate edict: No more staff! This is the mama of the last two litters of ferals my silly human rescued, and her last two kittens. No more staff from this mama feral! Here they are at the vet, terrified of humans. (Can't blame them.) But once they escape their police trap prison and see their new home on the 40-acre Rescue Farm and meet their new mom & dad Jodi and Matt, these kitties will be happy campers!
The fact that the Rescue Farm helps us take care of feral kitties in our city is only one of the reasons we want to help them. The fact that they give a good home to cats and dogs that are sick or injured or special-needs is another reason. That they've found loving homes so far this year for more than 700 cats & dogs is another. But a big reason is that they NEED help!

Jodi told my mom, "We all know people don't go into animal rescue for the money. We're a 501(c)(3) non-profit so donations are tax deductible, but not having "humane society" or "animal shelter" in our name makes it hard to get donations. Nearly all our income is from adoption fees. Money is always tight."

Each cat they rescue is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, wormed, flea-treated and tested for Felv/HIV -- costing $60. Their cat adoption fee is $60. And this doesn't include food, shelter, medications or surgeries.

Jodi says, "We love cats, and there are so many cats euthanized just because there isn't enough room for them in shelters. We'll never stop rescuing kitties, but we can't possibly recoup the money we spend on their care. We rely on dog adoptions to help pay for cat rescue." Each dog costs $100-$200 to prepare for adoption, and their dog adoption fees are $150-$400, which doesn't cover heartworm treatments or vet care for malnourished, ill, or dogs hit by cars, which Jodi sadly says is "thousands upon thousands."

Last year Jodi & Matt spent $120,000 to operate the Rescue Farm. They brought in $104,000. "Didn't quite make it," Jodi said.

But in spite of their financial struggles, I saw Jodi's face light up as she explained, "Don't get me wrong - we love doing rescue; it's something we'll never give up without a fight. Spending each day helping those who give unconditional love is the most amazing feeling in the world. Working with animals who, on their own, would never have survived, is an incredible gift! We try to make life for our babies "like home" here, but our goal is to find dedicated, compassionate adopters to give our animals a true home so we can bring in more whose 'clocks are ticking'."

I saw Jodi shake her head and lament,"You know, we, as a society, live in a throw-away world. We buy something, then when a newer one comes out, we toss the old and buy the new. We do this with computers and cell phones. We do this with cars and furniture and clothes. Why are we doing this with our pets? What kind of people would do this to their pets?"

And that's why I'm so glad my human artists are helping the Rescue Farm ... and why so many of you, my blogging friends, are joining us in helping them. I mean, it's "There but for the grace of God go I." If my mom hadn't rescued all of us when we were tossed out, I wouldn't be here today and neither would my staff. ... Hmm ... maybe I should rethink that "No more staff" policy ....

Update 8:30 p.m. ....

My human artist just got back from taking the fixed ferals (Fixed? They ain't broke!) to their new home at the Rescue Farm ... and she smells like a barnyard! I'm sitting here waiting for my dinner, and she was out there giving treats to the blind horse Jeremiah, and his seeing eye cow Two Percent. Just look at her making that silly awwwww face and feeding those things treats bigger than my head!!

And if that's not bad enough, this Rescue Farm resident, Alice, got in my human artist's Jeep and tried to come back to Artsy Catsy! I saaaid .... "NO MORE STAFF!!"

Only 3 more days to the Artsy Catsy

Thanksgiving-Christmas fundraiser

for

Cat Friends Helping Friends at the Cat Blogosphere

and the Rescue Farm!

Today, I want to tell you a bit more about the Rescue Farm and I think you'll understand why we at Artsy Catsy want to help them continue their work. Much of their rescue effort is directed at saving animals from shelters who are destined to be euthanized; many of them are sick or injured and considered not adoptable. Jodi and Matt's philosophy at the Rescue Farm is every animal is adoptable and deserves to live. If they're unable to find a home for a dog or cat, they keep it themselves and give it a loving home at the Rescue Farm.

Here are a few heartbreaking stories that, thanks to the Rescue Farm, had happy endings:

Kiefer ...
Kiefer is one of more than dozen cats with chlamydia that the Rescue Farm has saved from euthanization at "humane" shelters. Jodi explains, "In cats, this condition causes the eyeball to rupture and is common in cats who end up in shelters and have received no vaccinations. It isn't uncommon for us to have enucleation (removal of eyeballs) performed on kittens from shelters."

Tommy ...

Tommy was only 4 months old when he was brought to a shelter as a stray. The shelter was going to put him down because he was born blind and no one would adopt him. But Matt and Jodi took Tommy from the shelter and found him a home with a child bound to a wheelchair. Jodi says, "They're the best of friends!"

Norton ...

The police brought Norton to the Rescue Farm after he was beaten with a hammer and left to die. After dozens of veterinary visits and an eyeball removal, Norton was adopted and now has a loving home in Carmel, Indiana.


Herbie ...
Herbie was shot by someone, and then nearly euthanized at a shelter. But Matt and Jodi saved him at the last minute and got him the surgery he needed to survive.


Not all the animals at the Rescue Farm came there under such tragic circumstances ... but the fact that Matt and Jodi focus their efforts on such special-needs animals makes them, in my eyes, deserving of all the help they can get! You can see their perfectly healthy cats and dogs up for adoption on the Rescue Farm web site, at their PetFinder site, and at area PetSmart stores ... lots of sweeties like this one:

PiazzaPiazza was dumped at PetSmart one day, but Jodi says, "We couldn't bear the thought of her going to a traditional shelter. She's super cuddly and is great with other cats. She is about 1 year old and has been spayed, vaccinated, wormed, flea-treated and is Felv/FIV negative. She's a stunning little girl with lots & lots of love to share!" (If anykitty out there would like a little sister, just email Jodi. Piazza's adoption fee is $60)