finding forever homes for felines, pups

In each issue, we highlight one of the many rescue groups in Birmingham and Alabama. In this issue, let’s learn more about Oak Leaf Animal Rescue.

LEARN HOW ONE NEW BIRMINGHAM NONPROFIT IS FINDING FOREVER HOMES

By Jeana Durst

There’s a new animal rescue organization in town—they are serving a very specific need. Did you know that from March to September every year the kitten population booms? Oak Leaf Animal Rescue in Forestdale is nurturing these young ones (even bottle feeding them) and finding forever homes – not just for kittens, but cats and puppies too.

Founders Kaitlin and Trenton Giles, who moved here from Chattanooga in 2014, had been fostering animals from The Humane Society for three and a half years before deciding to open their home up as an animal rescue. “We’ve always loved animals – my husband didn’t know that he loved cats until I brought home a bunch of cats, and he realized very quickly that he loved them,” Kaitlin says.

In November of 2019, Oak Leaf Animal

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 UNI AND BUMBLE: AN ADOPTION STORY

Uni, the kitten, came to Oak Leaf scared, beaten, and covered in fleas and ticks. He came from a farm where he was constantly being attacked by the other cats, and Giles could tell he wasn’t used to humans.

For the first few days, he didn’t eat or go to the bathroom. “It was heartbreaking to see an animal so scared,” Kaitlin says. After five days, he finally gave the softest little purr. “This is how we knew he would be okay. After a few weeks, Uni was more comfortable with us, but still didn’t seem happy,” Kaitlin says.

Then they got a 6-week-old kitten, Bumble, who had been found under a friend’s car. “Bumble immediately started purring as soon as he saw Uni. Uni didn’t flinch as Bumble sniffed and walked all over him,” Kaitlin says. “To say that Bumble helped Uni to open up would be an understatement. And Uni helped Bumble learn how to “cat” by teaching him that dry food is good and how to use a litter box,” she says. Their friendship was a sweet one. One day, a friend of the Gileses wanted to foster Uni. A few short weeks later, Uni was adopted and became OLAR’s first official adoption.

After a bit, it was decided that Uni may need a buddy and they suggested Bumble. “Bumble is wild, especially compared to Uni’s very calm and relaxed demeanor, but the boys, and their dad, seem to be very happy,” Kaitlin says. It was a match well made—Uni and Bumble were exactly what each other, and their new dad, needed.

Rescue became a registered 501(c)3, and in April of this year, the Gileses began taking in animals. Already, they have taken in more than 40 cats and kittens, with plenty of room for puppy rescues too. It is the mission of Oak Leaf Animal Rescue to provide shelter and care for homeless, injured, and neglected animals with the ultimate goal of placing each animal into a loving forever home.

They work with people who would like to foster, but also provide the animals shelter on their property in Forestdale. Kaitlin wants people to understand that while fostering and home placement is a very important part of their mission, it’s not the only way that volunteers can help the organization. “We are always looking for people who want to help, and help can come in many forms. For example, if Holiday Photo Cards and Personalized Stationery Gifts for Pet-Lovers WWW.PETSPW.COM someone wants to help because they know of networking opportunities, then great! If someone else wants to help, and can’t foster but can come and play with and socialize the kittens, then that’s great too!” she says.

Because OLAR is completely funded through private donations, sending money is a great way to help them as well—it’s an advantage when they have unexpected vet bills pop up. Other donors purchase supplies from their Amazon wish list. Currently, the biggest need they have is to build a permanent structure for the rescues that are on their property but not adjacent to their personal home. It’s the next step for this growing nonprofit to provide space to serve more animals. For anyone looking to adopt, be sure to check out the website or Facebook and Instagram pages—OLAR holds adoption events at Pet Smart in Bessemer and at Good People Brewery. For more information and to learn more about how

to help, visit www.oakleafanimalrescue.org.