Leon Bear’s rescue story is incredible. It began in the spring of 2011 when a series of fierce tornadoes devastated several communities in Alabama where Leon was living in a shelter waiting to be adopted. My colleagues at North Shore Animal League America deployed their Emergency Rescue Team to the area to rescue displaced and unclaimed animals. Horrifically, almost all of the animals in Leon’s shelter perished; only one cat survived, a beautiful adult black cat who was found wandering around in the rubble. That was our Leon Bear, a very lucky guy!

For the next seven years, we doted on him. Howard even painted this precious watercolor of our Leon, which I will treasure forever. Then, four years before he died, we discovered a slow-growing mass on his liver. We monitored it with ultrasounds every six months. He didn’t show any clinical signs until the last week of his life when he stopped eating and simply did not act like himself. He did not survive his surgery.

Gosh, I miss him madly. He was the one cat I’d kiss on the head when I wanted a wish granted. He knew so many secrets and he never let me down. Howard and I consider him — and all black cats — to be lucky charms. But sadly, many adopters overlook black cats and dogs in shelters. In fact, this is so common that it has a name: Black Cat (or Black Dog) Syndrome. I saw some statistics online that prove that these sweet, friendly animals have a much harder time getting adopted. However, recent studies suggest that their adoption rates have improved somewhat since rescue groups have brought this phenomenon to the public’s attention by debunking the silly myths surrounding these deserving pets

So right now, in my heart, I’m “kissing” Leon Bear on his head, which smells like warm peach pie, and sharing my wish that all black cats and dogs find loving homes soon, starting with these beauties waiting for you at Animal League America’s Bianca’s Furry Friends Adoption Center. One of our fantastic BFF volunteers wrote the charming blurbs below.

One-year-old Amari (ID: CO0079) found herself the perfect rescuer who delivered her to Bianca’s Furry Friends for a lifestyle reset; she’s all in for this major upgrade! Always dressed to impress in her stunning tuxedo, Amari is the perfect fit for experienced adopters with older kids looking for a determined lady to rule their home. She loves being the center of playtime and is always insistent about being first in line for treat parties and Churu. As the only pet in her home, she’s going to experience a lot of happy “firsts” with you, starting with her first real home! Visit Amari’s adoption profile to see her in action.

Kashmir (ID: NCR6048) is heaven here on earth! This young Southern gentleman arrived with his gentle heart open to second chances. He’d heard about all the love awaiting him at the end of his rescue journey and can’t wait to meet you so he can experience it for himself. He loves his Churu, his wand toys, and his people. All this love can be yours! Offer him a place to land, and he’ll settle right in as though he’d always known you were his home. Please visit Kashmir’s adoption profile to learn more about this handsome sweetie.

Vera (ID: NCI4192) is ready to make her debut in a new, loving home. This vivacious girl had an uneasy start, but everything changed for her when she was introduced to friendly faces. All it took was time with gentle people to give her a new perspective on human nature. In fact, as soon as she knows that your intention is to provide her with all the love and pets she could ever want, she will receive your touch with grateful purrs, proving herself to be an affectionate little lady. Start slowly to earn her trust, and your patience will pay off. A home with no other pets will give her the comfort of knowing she’s forever safe with you! To inquire about adopting this pretty girl, please visit her adoption profile.

It breaks my heart to think these deserving kitties have such a hard time finding loving homes. Still, I know their families are out there, just as I knew that my boyfriend, Sultan, would one day meet his own family. And yes! It happened on August 3rd, a day of great jubilation among all the people who knew Sultan because he was simply one of Bianca’s Furry Friends’ most popular residents.

Honestly, I can’t believe it took him so long to be adopted; I think his obesity scared people. The irony is that people gave him this problem to begin with. I shudder to think of his previous home, where he most likely had no exercise and ate really bad food. Diet is so important for a pet’s health, just as it is for ours, and cheap dry pet food has little or no nutritional value. Thank goodness he loves his “diet food,” and his awesome new family is committed to helping him reach a healthy weight. Sultan, who is such a lover, wanted to be an only pet, so that narrowed his chances a bit too. But now he is living the life of a king …or rather a Sultan…and his family is smitten with this big boy! I often said he was “more to love,” but less would be much better for his health. He’s working on it, and I’ll report his progress on my IG feed, or you can follow his journey on his IG at @sully_the_sultan.

I can’t imagine that Sultan’s previous family took him to the vet for annual check-ups, or his weight would never have gotten so out of control. Since August 22 is National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day — which may be the most important date on a cat person’s calendar — I want to emphasize that annual check-ups can save your cat’s life. Research says that 83 percent of dogs see veterinarians annually, while that number is only 64 percent for cats. Both animals often “hide” their discomfort, but cats are even more secretive than dogs about their health, and therefore, major health issues can go undetected often until it’s too late. In addition, a lot of people tell me that their cat or dog gets stressed, and so they take them to the vet only if something seems wrong. That’s a mistake because routine preventive vet care can detect problems long before your pet’s behavior shows symptoms. And the older your pet, the more important those visits are, with vets recommending six-month exams for animals over seven years of age. So, I urge you to look at the last time you took your pet to the vet and make an appointment if it’s overdue.

Stephen Hevensent and Sunnybunny at the vet, because good medical care applies to rabbits too!

Thinking ahead is one of the most important things you can do for your pet, which is why I want to mention that August is National Make-A-Will Month. I cannot count the number of fosters I’ve had over the years who were left without any support when their people died. And don’t assume your family will automatically take your pet when you’re gone; in my experience, that rarely happens. If you have a lawyer to help you, great. However, there are several free DIY sites online that are reliable and effective. In addition, Animal League America has partnered with the online site FreeWill to help you create a legally valid will to protect and care for the people and animals you love. Regardless of your estate, large or small, your legacy is important! To learn more, visit animalleague.org/freewill.

NSALA also offers another way to make sure your pets are taken care of, no matter what. It’s the popular Safe Haven Surviving Pet Care Program, available nationwide. It works like this: When you make a gift to Animal League America through your estate plan, you can rest assured that in the case of your death or incapacity, we will arrange your pet’s transportation to Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center or to our Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Canine Adoption Center. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your pet will be loved, supported, and cared for until we’re able to find a new, responsible, and loving home for your pet’s next chapter.

Nobody likes to think about things like wills and estate plans, but they are really important components of being a responsible pet “owner.” I believe these NSALA programs are a godsend for everyone, providing invaluable peace of mind. Right now, there are two lovely senior cats, Pearl (ID: SPC315) and Piper (ID: SPC314), a gentle mother-daughter duo who came to us through this unique program. Learn more about adopting these truly beautiful, very special kitties.

August 17 is also International Homeless Animals’ Day. I’m proud that NSALA has rescued many animals from around the world, including the cats from Afghanistan I mentioned in last month’s blog. Before Howard and I went on our spectacular Italian vacation last month, I imagined booking more seats on the return flight for at least a dozen homeless cats. But can you believe I saw only one cat the whole time I was there? And he was a happy kitty who welcomed all the resort guests. He wasn’t even looking for food, just pets on his chin. Thank goodness!

xo
Beth