Last week in “Days of Our Nine Lives,” the cats met two new ARF furry friends.Pepper: (sighing) It is so quiet in here.
Whiskers: That’s because ARF’s four-leggeds are being adopted at record rates.
Pepper: Why doesn’t ARF have more adoptable pets, especially dogs?
Whiskers: That’s a very easy answer. All ARF dogs stay with fosters, and if there are only three fosters, then they may take in only three dogs. ARF is not a shelter, so numbers of cats and dogs are very limited.
Pepper: Do the cats go to foster homes?
Whiskers: No. They always stay at the ARF House, just as we are. It is so nice here. We have lots of room and a catio, too!
Pepper: Catio. What a great name for an outdoor room for cats.
Lulu: Back to dogs, please. What do ARF angels do when a dog comes in and there is no foster for it?
Whiskers: That puts the ARF humans into a difficult situation. They cannot keep the dog at the ARF House, so they beg for a foster. If they cannot find one, they cannot assume guardianship of the dog.
Pepper: Then what happens to it?
Whiskers: If the dog’s current guardian is trying to rehome it, then ARF helps by offering assisted adoption. If it is a “found” dog, then it just might go with animal control.
Lulu: So sad, but what else are they to do?
Whiskers: Exactly. Their hands are often tied.
Lulu: And what if it is a “found” cat?
Pepper: If it is adoptable, meaning friendly to humans, and if it does well in ARF’s open cattery, they just might take it. And it also must pass a feline leukemia test, in order to protect the rest of us.
Whiskers: So more fosters would be a huge help, yes?
Lulu: Yes!
Be sure to keep up with the animal antics of “Days of our Nine Lives” each week. And please stop in to say hello to the entire adoptable cast at the ARF House, 26890 Highway 243 on Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m.-2 p.m., or by appointment M–F by calling 951-659-1122.
Creature Corner is sponsored by Sandi Mathers.
